Skip to main content

Full text of "History of Erie Conference ... [microform]"

See other formats 


VOLUME  1 


mmm 1 

«&*£■(  JT  ••: 


*Sf 


3Ss3GS 


Emory  University,  ga, 


AD  MAJOREM 


a*  j-j 

’0Tk-}^:3i 

Mile  "J'f/ 


*i\?  <*  -:‘'<<s*  v *J^(  ^ *&i  L 

4-^4  tpy 


i a 


Sa?# 

SKMfe 


i™a¥3,f 

is^f  t i&sk  ?m 

■ V4v*s»  * f $ ? *4,  Vi^"^?'-  • i £ 


mmm^ 


W4m 

,-'W  * , .'V,  y'V' 


tfei# 


^a/#ii 


\y±  a uS-^r.: 


3pm^ep| 

S ‘vf  / lj/.  ^}  # * *>*<  ' ',<5 


s\*%  •«*£:  ^ ’ ' , V •*  - r 


- *£>•  ?5?W>  *,$ 

fe  ^4#..  V / 


^ > c- ^ 


> O'*- 

te» 


EMORY  UNIVERSITY 


15181297 


— ■— ■ — — — 


i MS  ' OF  v 


rie  Conference 


(IN  TOO  VOLUMES) 


VOLUME  I. 


BY 

KEV.  J.  N.  FRADENBDRGH,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

A Member  or  the  Conference. 

” 

•Hieuv-ui  Ethnological  Socjcc  Mcmb?  of 
“ Arc};-  oology ; London  EE n E.-olorat  >r 

i,  London;  ] hical  Society.  ^ ington 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 


' RHICh  ! ' U> J .l.i  K}v  Loki  w r, 
‘TU'i  Ra. 


HISTORY 


OF 


Erie  Conference 


(IN  TWO  VOLUMES) 


VOLUME  I. 


— BY— 

Rev.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

A Member  of  the  Conference. 

Author  of  “Witnesses  from  the  Dust,”  “Living  Religions,” 
“ Old  Heroes,”  “ Departed  Gods,”  “ Fire  from  Strange 
Altars,  ’ “ Light  from  Egypt,”  “ Beauty  Crowned.” 
“ Life’s  Springtime,”  Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

Honorary  Member  of  the  American  Ethnological  Society;  Member  of 
the  Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology,  London ; Egypt  Exploration 
Fund,  London;  National  Geographical  Society,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 


1907 

Derrick  Publishing  Company, 
Oil  City,  Pa. 


Copyright,  1907,  J.  N.  Fradenburgh 


EMORY  UNIVERSITY 

THF0!  ocy  M'^r A RY 


PREFACE 


This  history  has  not  been  prepared  according  to  the  original 
plan  of  the  author.  In  fact,  that  has  been  changed  once  and 
again,  and  it  is  not  certain  that  the  plan  ultimately  adopted  is 
the  best;  but  it  has  been  thought  that  no  other  would  have  per- 
mitted the  condensation  of  so  much  more  or  less  important  and 
varied  historic  information  within  the  same  limits. 

It  was  soon  found  impossible  to  include  a history  of  all  the 
churches  and  appointments  and  brief  biographical  sketches  of 
all  the  preachers.  Lack  of  reliable  information  alone  would 
have  been  a sufficient  reason  for  many  omissions;  and  there 
are  but  vague  traditions  concerning  some  preaching  places  and 
societies  once  important  centers  of  Methodism.  Many  preachers 
traveled  but  a few  years  and  then  fell  into  the  local  ranks; 
some  united  with  other  denominations  more  in  harmony  with 
their  theological  beliefs  or  where  the  services  required  were 
less  exacting,  or  the  compensation  offered  more  adequate;  and 
a few  abandoned  the  holy  calling,  or  wholly  departed  from  the 
faith.  It  is  possible  to  trace  but  few  of  these  without  an  ex- 
penditure of  time  and  money  out  of  proportion  to  any  probable 
addition  to  our  present  stock  of  knowledge.  Old  records  have 
been  imperfectly  kept,  carelessly  preserveu,  and  frequently  lost 
or  destroyed.  Few  churches,  even  at  the  present  day,  have  any 
provision  for  the  safe  keeping  of  important  documents.  Many 
of  these  are  scattered  among  the  homes  of  class  leaders,  trus- 
tees and  stewards,  and  are  taken  with  them  upon  their  removal 
to  other  and  sometimes  distant  parts  of  the  country,  or  are  cast 
aside,  classed  as  rubbish,  and  burned  or  lost.  Those  left  in  the 
parsonages  have  often  disappeared  in  the  confusion  of  many 
movings,  repairs  and  renovations,  and  by  a disregard  of  their  value 
which  can  be  characterized  by  nothing  less  than  downright  care- 
lessness. Such  records  and  documents  as  remain  cannot  always 
be  made  available  for  history.  Persons  having  them  in  posses- 
sion are  sometimes  slow  to  part  with  them,  and  are  often  too 
busy  to  copy  such  parts  as  may  be  of  interest,  and  it  is  im- 
possible for  an  author  to  make  a personal  investigation. 

It  would  be  rash  to  say  the  author  had  exhausted  all  the 
available  sources  of  information,  but  it  may  be  truthfully  said 
that  no  known  source  has  been  neglected,  and  none  abandoned 
without  an  earnest  and  sometimes  persistent  effort  to  learn 


- 28524 




6 


Preface. 


what  it  has  to  say  upon  the  subject  in  hand.  In  every  case  it 
has  been  found  necessary  to  sift  the  information  and  make 
many  comparisons  in  order  to  arrive  at  the  most  probable  truth. 
In  the  reminiscences  of  old  people  we  must  remember  that 
memory,  especially  as  to  dates  and  names  is  treacherous,  and 
old  documents  are  sometimes  difficult  to  decipher.  Uniform 
spelling  of  proper  names  is  found  to  be  impossible.  When  the 
same  proper  name  is  spelled  in  half  a dozen  different  ways,  each 
equally  probable,  it  is  not  possible  to  find  a standard  with 
which  to  make  a comparison.  We  can  only  say  that  there  is  no 
orthography  found  in  this  work  which  has  not  been  justified  by 
the  authorities  upon  which  we  were  compelled  to  rely.  We 
have  not  changed  the  spelling  in  any  case  where  we  were  in 
any  danger  of  making  it  worse.  In  this  matter  we  will  not 
contend  that  we  have  always  been  consistent  with  ourselves. 

We  may  name  the  following  as  our  principal  authorities: 

1.  Of  first  importance  is  that  series  of  volumes  usually 
known  as  the  “General  Minutes,”  or  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences. But  the  fact  is  well  known  that  in  these,  especially 
in  the  earlier  volumes,  there  are  many  mistakes  and  omissions. 
In  few  cases,  at  this  late  date,  do  we  possess  the  means  for  their, 
correction.  We  know  how  impossible  it  is  to  rely  absolutely 
upon  the  accuracy  of  the  list  of  appointments  as  published  even 
in  the  later  minutes  of  the  conferences.  Some  appointments 
are  changed  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  conference  session, 
but  too  late  for  correction  in  the  minutes;  some  preachers  be- 
cause of  sickness,  or  other  sufficient  reason,  do  not  go  to  the 
appointments  to  which  they  are  assigned,  and  some  changes 
are  made  by  presiding  elders  in  the  course  of  the  Conference 
year.  Then,  too,  upon  the  death,  disability,  transfer,  or  removal 
of  a preacher  from  some  other  cause,  a new  pastor  may  take 
his  place.  It  must  not  therefore  be  cnarged  against  the  re- 
liability of  this  history  when  it  has  been  proven  that  a preacher 
other  than  the  one  assigned  is  found  to  have  occupied  any  cir- 
cuit or  station.  Such  apparent  inconsistencies  will  be  discov- 
ered, but  it  would  require  more  than  one  lifetime  to  discover 
them  all.  In  any  case,  the  general  accuracy  of  our  work  cannot 
be  successfully  impeached. 

2.  Next  in  importance  to  the  “General  Minutes”  may,  per- 
haps, be  placed  the  written  records  and  other  documents  co- 
temporaneous  with  the  events.  Such  are  the  written  Journals 
of  the  early  conferences,  proceedings  of  ministerial  associations, 
and  minutes  of  district  and  quarterly  conferences.  A large  num- 
ber of  these  have  come  under  our  personal  observation  and  have 
proved  of  great  value. 

3.  The  files  of  the  Christian  Advocates,  especially  of  the 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  have  been  sources  of  great  his- 


Preface. 


7 


torical  importance.  We  believe  every  number  of  the  Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  except  some  few  which  have  been  lost,  has 
been  examined  from  its  beginning,  as  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
Journal  in  1833,  up  to  the  last  issue.  We  cannot  overestimate 
the  assistance  derived  therefrom.  We  may,  however,  make  a 
cautionary  remark  or  two.  This  refers  particularly  to  the  ac- 
counts of  revivals.  We  have  presented  many  of  these,  mostly 
in  the  words  found  in  the  Advocates  or  other  publications.  Nec- 
essarily, this  has  been  but  a small  selection  taken  from  the  great 
mass  of  material  gathered,  and  is  unequally  distributed  over  the 
years.  Some  years  have  been  wholly  omitted,  some  have  fur- 
nished few  instances  of  revivals,  and  some  many.  In  the  later 
years  these  accounts  have  not  been  used.  Perhaps  we  can  give 
no  better  reason  for  the  selection  made  than  our  own  interest 
in  the  work  at  the  time.  But  what  we  have  presented  fairly 
represents  at  least  the  spirit  of  evangelistic  activity  within  our 
bounds  during  these  years.  The  names  of  some  appointments 
and  the  names  of  some  preachers  may  not  be  found  in  this  con- 
nection at  all.  This  must  not  be  interpreted  as  bearing  against 
the  efficiency  and  popularity  of  the  preachers  whose  names 
have  been  omitted,  or  in  favor  of  those  whose  names  most  fre- 
quently occur.  Some  hard  fields  of  labor,  for  a time,  show 
little  visible  fruit;  and  some  earnest,  godly  and  hard-working 
men  do  not  attract  the  attention  of  those  who  write  for  the 
public  press.  And  then,  too,  that  which  the  faith  and  hope  of 
some  of  our  preachers,  in  their  fresh  enthusiasm,  at  the  height 
of  the  interest  and  excitement  of  a revival — when  mere  expecta- 
tion is  so  liable  to  be  confounded  with  accomplished  results — 
that  which  they  report  must  be  interpreted  in  the  light  of  the 
history  of  the  future;  not  forgetting  to  make  generous  allow- 
ance for  the  “personal  equation.”  There  are  preachers  who 
are  silent  as  to  the  apparent  results  of  their  labors,  preferring  * 
these  to  speak  for  themselves.  Perhaps,  could  a middle  course  ' 
be  followed,  the  reports  for  the  Advocates  would  possess  a re- 
liability which,  in  some  cases,  would  not  in  the  flight  of  years, 
so  nearly  approach  the  vanishing  point. 

4.  The  “History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,”  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Gregg,  is  worthy  of  large  commendation.  Its  plan,  how- 
ever, did  not  admit  of  so  thorough  treatment  as  has  been  at- 
tempted in  this  work;  and,  furthermore,  for  such  treatment  much 
of  the  material  did  not  at  that  time  exist.  There  are  many 
inaccuracies  in  the  history  of  Mr.  Gregg,  but  those  who  have 
attempted  such  pioneer  work  will  be  the  last  to  withhold  from 
him  the  mead  of  praise  justly  due  his  patience  and  success  in 
bringing  together  so  much  of  interest  from  an  almost  unex- 
plored field.  Mr.  Gregg’s  history  closes  with  the  Conference 
year  1852. 


8 


Preface. 


5.  The  county  histories  of  all  counties  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York,  into  which  our  territory  extends,  have  been  ex- 
amined. In  many  cases  these  have  been  our  only  authorities. 


We  have  not  been  able  to  procure  the  county  histories  of  Ohio, 
but  by  earnest,  repeated  and  long-continued  appeals,  have  in 
some  measure  been  able  to  supply  the  deficiency.  We  only 
wish  that  our  success  had  more  nearly  measured  up  to  our 
effort. 


6.  The  various  volumes  of  the  Methodist  Magazine,  the 
Methodist  Quarterly  Review  and  the  Methodist  Review  (bi- 
monthly), have  been  carefully  examined;  and  also  the  lives, 
autobiographies,  journals  and  miscellaneous  writings  of  the  bish- 
ops of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South.  We  have  found  very  valuable  assistance 
in  the  lives  and  reminiscences  of  James  Quinn,  Jacob  Gruber, 
William  Swayze,  Jacob  Young,  J.  B.  Finley,  Alfred  Brunson, 
B.  G.  Paddock,  George  Peck  and  others;  and  we  believe  have 
not  omitted  from  our  studies  any  of  the  published  conference 
histories  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  We  have  sought 
information  in  many  local  papers,  souvenir  programs  of  churches, 
accounts  of  anniversaries  and  historic  sermons. 


7.  We  have  conducted  an  extensive  correspondence  and 
have  many  hundreds  of  letters  concerning  pioneer  preachers, 
old  and  new  churches,  camp  meetings  and  revivals,  and  inci- 
dents and  reminiscences  of  itinerant  life.  Without  these  this 
work  could  not  have  been  written.  Among  those  to  whom  we 
owe  a special  debt  of  gratitude  we  may  mention:  Rev.  H.  H. 

Moore,  D.D.,  of  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  who  has  freely  placed  at  our 
disposal  his  numerous  manuscripts  and  writings  intended  to 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  some  of  the  chief  men  of  our  earlier 
conference  history;  Rev.  E.  B.  Cummings,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
who  has  favored  us  with  valuable  contributions;  Rev.  C.  R. 
Pattee,  D.D.,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  who  possesses  the  historic 
instinct,  and  hence,  knows  what  is  needed  for  such  a work  as 
this;  Rev.  B.  F.  Delo,  whose  mind  is  stored  with  minute  infor- 
mation concerning  men  and  things  which  give  incident  and 
life  to  a conference  history;  Rev.  C.  W.  Darrow,  formerly  a mem- 
ber of  this  conference,  who  has  generously  forwarded  to  us  the 
documents  he  had  collected  to  illustrate  the  early  history  of  Clar- 
ion District,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  Merchant,  D.D.,  who  transferred  the 
manuscript  in  his  possession  as  former  President  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  the  Erie  Conference. 

We  are  under  obligation  to  the  office  of  the  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  and  to  Eaton  and  Mains,  publishers  of  the  New 
York  Christian  Advocate,  for  courtesies  in  permitting  the  ex- 
amination of  complete  files  of  these  periodicals,  and  other  works 
in  their  libraries. 


I 


Preface. 


9 


We  have  made  free  use  of  the  assistance  we  have  received 
from  these  and  other  sources  and,  under  a feeling  of  great  in- 
debtedness make  this  general  acknowledgment. 

In  the  biographies  of  preachers,  it  must  not  be  inferred  that 
the  space  given  to  each  is  intended  in  any  case  to  correspond 
with  the  estimate  the  author  or  any  one  else  might  make  of 
the  value  of  such  preacher’s  work,  the  spotlessness  of  his  char- 
acter, the  accuracy  of  his  Christian  judgment,  the  broadness  of 
his  views,  or  the  depth  of  his  Godly  wisdom.  It  only  measures 
the  fulness,  or  lack,  or  kind  of  information.  In  not  a few  cases 
we  have  been  able  to  find  nothing;  and  we  cannot  be  blamed 
when  we  have  imparted  all  we  have  been  able  to  gather — noth- 
ing. We  have  been  solicitous  to  obtain  reliable  accounts  of  the 
conversion  of  our  preachers  and  their  call  to  the  ministry. 
This  has  afforded  much  of  peculiar  interest. 

Of  a few  of  the  important  charges,  and  of  many  of  the  lesser 
appointments,  we  have  discovered  little  or  no  reliable  history. 
Sometimes  a history  of  a country  appointment  or  circuit  is  given 
in  fairly  full  detail,  while  a larger  church  has  received  little 
notice.  In  such  case  we  have  done  what  we  could.  It  will  be 
also  conceded  that  the  complete  history  of  a small  country 
charge  may  be  far  more  valuable  to  him  who  would  learn  the 
spirit  of  Methodism  than  that  of  a great  church  in  a large  city. 
Indeed,  without  the  history  of  our  struggling  country  churches 
we  would  possess  little  of  the  heart  of  Methodism.  And  then, 
too,  there  are  few  great  churches  which  have  not  had  their 
origin  in  the  midst  of  unfavorable  surroundings,  and  great  and 
sometimes  bitter  opposition;  and  few  which  have  not  been  com- 
pelled to  demonstrate  their  right  to  live  by  proving,  by  heroic 
striving  and  earnest  living,  their  worthiness.  That  we  are  now 
not  in  the  midst  of  such  a battle  proves  the  victory  already 
gained.  We  can  now  direct  all  our  forces  against  the  army  of 
our  real  foe — SIN. 

Large  as  the  work  has  grown  upon  our  hands,  we  have  been 
compelled  to  omit  several  important  chapters  for  which  we 
have  in  hand  much  material.  Among  the  subjects  omitted  we 
may  name:  “The  Philosophy  of  Methodism,”  “The  Influence 

of  the  Erie  ‘Conference  in  General  Conference  Legislation,” 
“Erie  Conference  Singers  and  Composers,”  “The  Chautauqua 
Movement,”  “Ministers’  Wives,”  “Local  Preachers  and  other 
Eminent  Laymen,”  and  “Temperance  Reform.” 

We  had  hoped  to  give  the  record  of  admission,  ordination  and 
appointments  of  all  Methodist  preachers  who  have  labored  with- 
in the  bounds  of  the  old  Erie  Conference  from  the  time  of  the 
settlement  on  the  Shenango  to  the  close  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Such  a record  has  been  prepared,  but  the  growth  of 
the  work,  far  beyond  all  anticipated  limits,  has  compelled  the 


10 


Preface. 


elimination  of  considerable  -portions.  There  are,  however,  few 
omissions  previous  to  1865.  We  trust  few  mistakes  will  be  dis- 
covered prior  to  1836,  and  for  such  as  may  exist  the  author 
bears  the  sole  responsibility.  Since  the  latter  date  we  have  not 
personally  proved  the  accuracy  of  our  predecessors  in  the  same 
line  of  research.  Since  1882  the  record  of  appointments  has 
been  worked  out  by  our  present  painstaking  secretary,  whose 
“Historic  Minutes”  of  1898,  have  been  followed — making,  how- 
ever, some  corrections,  filling  out  some  omissions,  and  follow- 
ing some  names — which  had  “disappeared”  or  could  not  be  traced 
— through  many  volumes  of  the  “General  Minutes.”  In  this  way 
we  have  added  something  to  the  completeness  and  accuracy  of 
the  work  of  1898.  We  regret  the  necessity  which  has  prevented 
the  admission  of  considerable  portions  of  this  matter  in  these 
volumes. 

We  have  not  prepared  biographies  of  those  brethren  who 
have  been  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  for  the  purpose 
of  filling  some  “leading  appointment,”  and  then  have,  for  like 
purpose,  been  transferred  to  another  field;  nor  have  we  sought 
the  record  of  those  who  have  been'  admitted  to  the  Erie  Con- 
ference and  transferred  at  the  same  session,  to  engage  in  mis- 
sionary or  other  work  at  home  or  abroad.  Those  worthy  breth- 
ren have  not  been  so  identified  with  our  Conference  as  to  be 
reckoned  a part  of  our  body. 

Our  history  is  comparatively  complete  up  to  1865,  though 
we  have  discarded  some  of  our  material  as  early  as  1861. 
Since  the  latter  date  we  have  selected  from  the  matter  at  our 
disposal  less  and  less  until  in  the  years  immediately  preceding 
the  opening  of  the  present  century  our  work  has  been  reduced 
to  a somewhat  meager  outline.  This  we  regret,  but  it  seemed 
unavoidable,  since  the  history,  even  after  this  considerable  reduc- 
tion, will  contain  some  eighteen  hundred  pages.  This,  how- 
ever, will  be  the  less  missed,  since  the  Conference  Minutes— 
and  especially  the  historic  volume  for  1898 — contain  material 
for  filling  out  our  incomplete  record. 

Indeed,  we  have  on  hand  enough  unused  and  interesting  mat- 
ter to  form  another  volume.  This  may,  in  whole  or  in  part,  see  the 
light  in  the  future.  However  this  may  be,  we  know  our 
preachers  and  laymen  of  the  present  will  be  more  pleased  with 
a full  history  of  the  earlier  Methodism  of  our  Conference. 

We  request  on  the  part  of  our  readers  a careful  examina- 
tion of  the  work,  and  that  corrections  and  additions  be  sent  us 
as  early  as  possible.  These  may  be  published  in  pamphlet 
form  or  incorporated  in  a third  volume.  But,  make  sure  of  the 
corrections  before  sending;  ana  consider  whether  it  is  not 
possible  that  the  author  has  had  these  before  him  and  de- 
cided against  them.  It  may  also  be  remarked  that  the  same 


Preface. 


1 1 


question  may  receive  several  answers  and  all  be  correct.  For 
example;  “When  was  Methodism  introduced  into  Ridgway?”  The 
answer  will  depend  upon  the  viewpoint  of  the  historian.  It  might 
be;  when  the  first  Methodist  moved  into  that  region  of  country, 
when  the  first  prayer  meeting  was  held,  when  the  first  sermon 
was  preached,  when  it  was  first  made  an  appointment,  when 
the  first  Methodist  Society  was  organized,  or  when  the  first 
church  edifice  was  erected.  We  have  met  with  all  of  these 
cases.  And  so  with  other  questions.  Be  sure,  then,  that  the 
correction  is  a correction. 

With  some  timidity,  and  yet  feeling  sure  of  your  sympathy 
and  appreciation,  we  submit  this  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

J.  N.  FRADENBURGH. 


August  17,  1907. 


NOTE. — This  work  is  published  in  a limited  edition  from 
type,  and  will  not  be  re-published. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTFR 


PAGE 


I.  The  Land  and  the  Man 


II.  Robert  Richford  Roberts 47 

III  Fear  Not,  Little  Flock;  it  is  Your 
Father’s  Good  Pleasure  to  Give  You 
the  Kingdom  81 

IV.  Laying  Foundations  for  Strongholds; 

and  Some  Other  Things 107 

V.  Enlisted  for  the  War:  1800-1809 141 

VI.  Two  Jacobs,  One  Joshua,  One  Benjamin. 201 

VII.  Soldiers  Still  Enlisting,  and  Some 

Stirring  Events 277 

VIII.  The  Work  Spreads;  Churches  Founded. 331 

IX.  Charles  Elliott,  D.D.,  and  Alfred  Brun- 
son, D.D.,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  James- 
town, Pennsylvania,  Captured  by 
Methodism  389 

X.  Many  Victories — Few  Defeats.  1821- 

1824  449 

XI.  Leonidas  L.  Hamline — Shouts  of  Vic- 
tory. 1825-1829  507 

XII.  Important  Churches  Founded — Great 

Debates.  1830-1832  601 

XIII.  Acres  of  Preachers — Martin  Ruter. 

1 833-1834  685 

XIV.  A Fine  Quartette:  Thomas  Graham, 

John  Bain,  George  W.  Clarke,  Homer 
J.  Clark.  Great  Progress.  1835 739 

XV.  A People  Which  Was  no  People.  Erie 
Conference  Organized — Two  Years  of 
History.  Preachers — 1835-1836  791 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Rev.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh frontispiece 

Bishop  Robert’s  Cabin . 33 

Bishop  Robert  Rich  ford  Roberts 50 

First  M.  E.  Church,  Franklin,  Pa 99 

First  M.  E.  Church,  Meadville,  Pa no 

Rev.  James  Quinn 157 

Rev.  Jacob  Gruber 204 

Rev.  Jacob  Young 240 

Rev.  B.  G.  Paddock,  D.D 258 

Rev.  David  Young 301 

Rev.  James  B.  Finley 312 

M.  E.  Church,  Willoughby,  Ohio 337 

Rev.  Charles  Elliott,  D.D 394 

Rev.  Alfred  Brunson,  D.D 401 

Epworth  Memorial  Church,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  .429 

Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore,  D.D 458 

M.  E.  Church,  Little  Valley,  N.  Y 488 

Bishop  Leonidas  Lent  Hamline,  D.D 537 

Greenville  M.  E.  Church 592 

Rev.  Martin  Ruter,  D.D 720 

Rev.  Moses  Hill,  D.D 83! 


I. 

THE  LAND  AND  THE  MAN. 

Statesmen  and  Historians,  Sociologists  and  Econom- 
ists, Reformers  and  Philanthropists — all  who  have 
studied  the  subject  with  clear  vision  and  unbiased  heart 
— have  recognized  with  large  appreciation  the  whole- 
some influence  of  those  preachers  of  the  gospel  who  lab- 
ored to  bring  to  the  homes  of  the  early  pioneer  settlers, 
in  brush  shanty  and  sodden  hut,  log  cabin  and  frame 
dwelling,  the  saving  and  comforting  knowledge  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Nothing  could  surpass  their  zeal,  nothing  ex- 
haust their  patience.  Fired  by  the  love  of  God  and  hu- 
manity, impelled  by  an  inappeasable  hunger  for  souls, 
with  tireless  energy,  with  no  hope  of  earthly  reward, 
they  urged  on  their  way.  No  danger  could  daunt  them, 
no  obstacles  could  stay  their  progress,  no  fears  could 
turn  them  back,  no  mountains  too  steep  for  them  to 
climb,  no  pass  too  treacherous  for  their  feet ; no  deep  and 
tangled  valleys  and  ravines  so  filled  with  fallen  timber, 
choked  with  underbrush  and  interwoven  vines  as  to  stay 
their  passage;  no  thick  and  bewildering  forest  hitherto 
untrodden  by  man  through  which  they  could  not  blaze 
their  way,  no  torrential  water  course  or  swollen  stream 
could  turn  them  from  their  journey,  no  storm  so  fierce 
or  wintry  blasts  so  cold  as  to  cause  them  delay.  Neither 
hunger  nor  thirst,  nor  want  of  sufficient  raiment,  nor  op- 
position, nor  threats,  nor  persecution  moved  them  from 
their  holy  purpose  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  last  man  in 
the  last  cabin  on  the  frontier.  Rough  they  may  have  been 
in  outward  appearance  or  speech,  but  this  was  in  keeping 
with  their  surroundings,  and  did  not  break  nature’s  har- 
mony. They  knew  the  way  of  salvation,  they  could  per- 
suade men.  They  were  independent,  self-reliant,  cour- 
ageous, fearless,  hardy.  They  traveled  on  foot  or  horse- 
back— they  lived  under  the  stars. 

They  are  to  be  judged  by  their  achievements.  They 
are  to  be  measured,  not  by  their  intellectual  acquire- 


2 


1 8 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ments,  the  discipline  they  had  received  in  college  or  uni- 
versity, and  their  arguments,  polished  by  rhetoric  and 
welded  by  invincible  logic,  but  by  their  all-consuming 
zeal,  tireless  devotion,  knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  the 
writings  of  the  fathers,  and  their  rich  personal  exper- 
ience of  the  things  of  God.  They  could,  when  neces- 
sary, disperse  or  conquer  a mob  or  knock  down  a bully. 
Where  the  civil  law  did  not  reach,  they  made  and  ex- 
ecuted law  in  their  own  congregation  and  camp.  Heroes 
were  they,  bold  and  true — their  names  worthy  to  be  en- 
rolled among  the  immortals. 

President  Roosevelt  says : 

“The  whole  West  owes  an  immense  debt  to  the  hard- 
working frontier  preachers,  sometimes  Presbyterian,  gen- 
erally Methodist  or  Baptist,  who  so  gladly  gave  their 
lives  to  their  labors  and  who  struggled  with  such  fiery 
zeal  for  the  moral  well-being  of  the  communities  to 
which  they  penetrated.  Whenever  there  was  a group 
of  log  cabins,  thither  some  Methodist  circuit-rider  made 
his  way  or  there  some  Baptist  preacher  took  up  his 
abode.  Their  prejudices  and  narrow  dislikes,  their  raw 
vanity  and  sullen  distrust  of  all  who  were  better  schooled 
than  they,  count  for  little  when  weighed  against  their 
intense  earnestness  and  heroic  self-sacrifice.  They 
proved  their  truth  by  their  endeavor.  They  yielded 
scores  of  martyrs,  nameless  and  unknown  men  who  per- 
ished at  the  hands  of  the  savages,  or  by  sickness  or  in 
flood  and  storm.  They  had  to  face.no  little  danger  from 
the  white  inhabitants  themselves.  In  some  of  the  com- 
munities most  of  the  men  might  heartily  support  them, 
but  in  others  where  the  vicious  and  lawless  elements 
were  in  control,  they  were  in  constant  danger  of  mobs. 
The  godless  and  lawless  people  hated  the  religious  with 
a bitter  hatred,  and  gathered  in  great  crowds  to  break  up 
their  meetings.  On  the  other  hand,  those  who  had  ex- 
perienced religion  were  no  believers  in  the  doctrine  of 
non-resistance  at  the  core.  They  were  thoroughly 
healthy  men,  and  they  fought  as  valiantly  against  the 
powers  of  evil  in  matters  physical  as  in  matters  moral. 
Some  of  the  successful  frontier  preachers  were  men  of 
weak  frame,  whose  intensity  of  conviction  and  fervor  of 
religious  belief  supplied  the  lack  of  bodily  powers,  but 
as  a rule  the  preacher  who  did  most  was  a stalwart 


The  Land  and  the  Man. 


19 


man,  as  strong  in  body  as  in  faith.  One  of  the  continu- 
ally recurring-  incidents  in  the  biographies  of  the  famous 
frontier  preachers  is  that  of  some  particularly  hardened 
sinner  who  was  never  converted  until,  tempted  to  as- 
sault the  preacher  of  the  Word,  he  was  soundly 
thrashed  by  the  latter,  and  his  eyes  thereby  rudely 
opened  through  his  sense  of  physical  shortcoming  to  an 
appreciation  of  his  moral  iniquity.” — (Theodore  Roose- 
velt, The  Winning  of  the  West.  Vol.  4,  pp.  250-251.) 

“They  were  superstitious,  of  course,  believing  in 
witchcraft,  and  signs  and  omens;  and  it  may  be  noted 
that  their  superstition  showed  a singular  mixture  of  old- 
world  survivals  and  of  practices  borrowed  from  the  sav- 
ages or  evolved  by  the  very  force  of  their  strange  sur- 
roundings. At  the  bottom  they  were  deeply  religious  in 
their  tendencies;  and  although  ministers  and  meeting- 
houses were  rare,  yet  the  backwoods  cabins  often  con- 
tained Bibles,  and  the  mothers  used  to  instil  into  the 
minds  of  their  children  reverence  for  Sunday,  while 
many  even  of  the  hunters  refused  to  hunt  on  that  day. 
Those  of  them  who  knew  the  right  honestly  tried  to  live 
up  to  it,  in  spite  of  the  manifold  temptations  to  backslid- 
ing offered  by  their  lives  of  hard  and  fierce  contention. 
But  Calvinism,  though  more  congenial  to  them  than 
Episcopacy,  and  infinitely  more  so  than  Catholicism,  was 
too  cold  for  the  fiery  hearts  of  the  borderers ; they  were 
not  stirred  to  the  depths  of  their  natures  till  other  creeds, 
and,  above  all,  Methodism,  worked  their  way  to  the 
wilderness.” — (Theodore  Roosevelt,  The  Winning  of 
the  West.  Vol.  1,  pp.  132-133.) 

# 

Another  witness  maintains : 

“Methodism  and  its  methods  were  better  adapted  to 
the  religious  wants  of  the  people  than  any  of  the  sects 
that  found  missionary  encouragement  in  the  northwest, 
and  it  was  well  said  by  Warren  Miller,  of  New  York, 
recently,  at  the  Methodist  Social  Union,  held  in  Chicago 
in  honor  of  John  Wesley — ‘that  Methodism  has  exer- 
cised a greater  influence  for  good  over  the  institutions  of* 
our  government,  from  its  origin,  and  over  the  lives  and 
character  of  the  masses  of  our  people  than  any  other 
branch  of  the  Christian  Church,  cannot  be  questioned  by 


s 


20 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


any  one  who  has  carefully  studied  the  inner  history  of 
our  government  and  of  our  people/  ” — (N.  E.  Jones, 
The  Squirrel  Hunters  of  Ohio,  p.  130.) 

The  Western  Reserve. 

The  Puritanism  of  England  was  thawed  out  and  given 
a new  impetus  of  life  in  the  new  world.  “There  was 
grafted  upon  Puritanism  in  America  a new  idea  and  a 
new  source  of  power.  Upon  Puritanism  there  was  added 
progressiveness.  Connecticut  was  its  best  and  first  out- 
come and  exemplar.  She  led  the  advance.  It  is  the 
popular  opinion  that  no  people  were  less  progressive  or 
more  stubbornly  conservative — ‘hide-bound’  is  the  ver- 
nacular of  the  condition — than  the  Puritans.  That  is 
unquestionably  true  of  them  in  a hundred  matters — civil, 
social,  and  religious;  but  it  is  equally  true  that  in  the 
great  fundamentals  they  made  easy,  quickly,  and  surely, 
colossal  strides  beyond  all  the  early  colonists  of  America.” 
— (Mathezvs,  Ohio  and  Her  Western  Reserve,  p.  11.) 

It  has  been  truthfully  said  that  if  Massachusetts  “was 
sown  with  selected  grain,”  Connecticut  was  sown  with 
“twice-winnowed  grain.”  The  first  lawful  organized  oc- 
cupation of  Connecticut  was  made  by  a few  settlers  who 
became  dissatisfied  with  Plymouth  Colony.  They  found- 
ed Windsor  in  1633.  Not  long  afterward,  another  com- 
pany settled  Wethersfield;  and  in  1636,  a larger  party 
founded  Hartford.  Thomas  Hooker,  an  English  clergy- 
man, driven  from  his  native  land  for  non-conformity,  a 
resident  in  Holland  from  1630  to  1633,  then  a settler  of 
Boston,  came  to  Hartford,  “being  dissatisfied  with  the 
illiberal  spirit  that  prevailed,  leading  into  the  wilderness 
the  broader-minded  men  who  were  willingly  his  follow- 
ers, and  among  whom,  in  their  new  home,  he  planted 
and  nourished  the  fundamental  thought  that  was  formu- 
lated in  an  instrument  on  January  14,  1639,  and  adopted 
by  the  three  towns  thus  compacted  in  a body  politic. 
This  was  the  first  written  constitution  known  in  history, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  the  ‘Union  of  Utrecht/  un- 
der which  the  Netherlands  were  then  living,  and  which 
it  is  permissible  to  call  a constitution,  and  it  was  abso- 
lutely the  first  in  America  to  embody  the  democratic 
idea.” — (Mathezvs,  Ohio  and  Her  Western  Reserve,  p. 


The  Western  Reserve. 


21 


Connecticut  has  furnished  many  great  men  to  our 
country.  As  early  as  1857,  a single  county — Litchfield 
— had  been  the  birthplace  of  thirteen  United  States  sena- 
tors, twenty-two  representatives  from  New  York,  fifteen 
Supreme  Court  judges  of  other  states,  nine  presidents  of 
colleges,  and  eleven  governors  and  lieutenant-governors 
of  states. 

In  1742,  Congregationalism  was  made  the  established 
religion  of  Connecticut.  It  was  a congealed  religion, 
stern  and  cold  in  morality,  and  choked  with  the  rubbish 
of  Calvinism.  When  it  was  transferred  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  it  was  mollified  and  melted.  “The  Yankee  in 
his  new  home  engrafted  practicality  upon  his  religion,  as 
he  did  upon  all  things,  and  gradually  the  amenities  and 
humanities  of  a wholesome  life  displaced  the  asperities 
and  austerities  of  Calvinism  without  any  noticeable  abate- 
ment of  the  spiritual  moral  force  that  had  originally 
moved  the  people  with  the  idea  of  liberty.” — (Mathews, 
Ohio  and  Her  Western  Reserve,  p.  33.) 

The  charter  of  Connecticut,  granted  by  Charles  II.  in 
1662,  confirmed  and  combined  all  former  charters  and 
deeds,  and  conveyed  to  that  colony  all  the  territory  lying 
west  of  it,  to  the  extent  of  its  breadth,  from  sea  to  sea. 
The  charter  granted  to  William  Penn  by  the  same  sover- 
eign nineteen  years  later  overlapped  by  one  degree  that 
granted  to  Connecticut.  In  1757,  Connecticut  settlers  be- 
gan to  make  a clearing  at  Cushutunk;  and  in  1762,  Wy- 
oming was  planted.  Pennsylvania  resisted  this  encroach- 
ment upon  what  she  considered  her  territory,  and  a long 
and  bitter  struggle  was  the  result.  Finally,  the  subject  of 
jurisdiction  was  left  to  a Board  of  Commissioners  which 
met  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  November  n,  1781.  After  long 
and  patient  deliberation,  the  Board  decided  in  favor  of 
Pennsylvania.  It  has  been  thought  that  there  was  a 
secret  understanding  that  Connecticut,  in  exchange  for 
her  lands  in  Pennsylvania  to  which  she  had  a clear  legal 
claim  by  priority  of  charter,  should  receive  a grant  to 
lands  farther  west.  However  this  may  be,  when  she  re- 
linquished, by  an  act  dated  May  11,  1786,  “all  her  right, 
title,  interest,  jurisdiction,  and  claim”  to  lands  within  the 
chartered  limits — “lying  west  of  a line  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  west  of  and  parallel  with  the  western  boun- 
dary line  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,”  she  reserved  this 


22  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

territory  extending  one  hundred  miles  westward  from 
Pennsylvania  and  lying  between  latitude  41  42 

deg.  2 min.  north.  This  in  time  became  known  as  the 
“Western  Reserve  of  Connecticut.”  Congress,  after  a 
protracted  debate,  accepted  the  cession  on  May  26,  and 
it  was  confirmed  by  deed  on  the  fourteenth  of  the  follow- 
ing September.  When  Connecticut  sold  her  lands,  she 
reserved  from  the  “Reserve  half  a million  acres  from  the 
western  end  of  the  tract.  T.  hese  lands  had  been  set  apart 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  had  suffered  in  the  war  and 
hence  were  called  “Sufferer  Lands  ; or,  as  most  of  the 
sufferers  had  lost  by  fire  when  Connecticut  towns  were 
burned  by  the  British,  they  were  called  “the  Fire  Lands,” 
and  the  latter  name  is  still  current. — (Mathews,  Ohio  and 
Her  Western  Reserve,  p.  I39-) 

In  May,  1796,  a surveying  party,  consisting  of  fifty 
men  and  two  women  was  sent  out  by  the  Connecticut 
Land  Company  to  survey  the  lands  which  had  been  pur- 
chased. General  Moses  Cleveland  led  the  party.  They 
came  by  water,  and  landed  at  a little  creek,  now  known  as 
Conneaut,  on  July  4,  and  from  this  circumstance  named 
the  place  Port  Independence.  In  the  spirit  of  the  fathers, 
they  fired  a salute,  pledged  themselves  in  the  water  of  the 
lake  which  they  drank  from  tin  cups,  partook  of  a bounti- 
ful dinner,  and  made  speeches.  Some  Indians  asked 
them  why  they  had  invaded  their  lands,  but  they  parried 
the  question  with  a present  of  a few  beads  and  a keg  of 
rum.  Colonel  James  Kingsbury  with  his  wife  and  three 
children  had  joined  the  party  at  Buffalo,  and  became  the 
first  settler  in  the  reserve.  In  June,  1797*  the  family 
moved  to  the  site  of  Cleveland,  and  were  the  first  perma- 
nent settlers.  Their  only  predecessor  as  an  actual  resi- 
dent of  the  Reserve  had  been  General  Samuel  Holden 
Parsons,  of  Lyme,  Connecticut.  He  was  the  grantee  of 
the  “Salt  Springs  Tract”  in  what  is  now  Mahoning 
County.  Lorenzo  Carter  and  family  became  the  first 
neighbors  of  the  Kingsburys  and  raised  the  population  of 
Cleveland  to  nine  persons.  Mr.  Carter,  by  means  of 
diplomacy  and  whiskey,  was  very  successful  in  the  man 
agement  of  the  Indians.  In  1800,  the  Reserve  was  or- 
ganized into  one  county — d rumbull  County.  d he  seat  of 
justice  was  Warren. 


The  Western  Reserve. 


23 


A steady  increase  of  population  resulted  in  the  early  de- 
velopment of  the  resources  of  the  New  Connecticut. 
They  were  strongly  entrenched  in  the  religious  and  po- 
litical faith  of  their  native  state.  Infidelity  of  the  French 
Revolution  type  was  rampant,  but  gradually  gave  way 
under  the  powerful  assaults  of  truth.  Intemperance  was 
the  most  fearful  scourge,  with  which  lawlessness  and 
crime  kept  equal  pace. 

The  Western  Reserve  became  a hotbed  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  abolition  sentiment.  Ashtabula  County  has 
been  called  “the  political  Gibraltar  of  the  western  abo- 
litionists/’ Charles  Backus  Storrs,  President  of  West- 
ern Reserve*  College,  inculcated  the  doctrine  of  freedom 
for  the  slaves,  as  early  as  1832.  Oberlin  College  fell  into 
line.  Great  men  espoused  the  cause.  We  have  only  to 
mention  the  names  of  Joshua  R.  Giddings  and  Benj.  F. 
Wade.  John  Brown,  hero  and  fanatic,  was  brought  to 
this  county  from  Connecticut,  as  a child  of  five  years. 
Just  prior  to  his  famous  raid  on  Harper’s  Ferry,  he  and 
his  associates  made  West  Andover  their  headquarters. 
After  the  raid,  John  Brown,  Jr.,  who  resided  at  Cherry 
Valley  was  summoned  to  give  evidence  before  the  United 
States  Senate,  and,  upon  his  refusal,  their  sergeant-at- 
arms  was  ordered  to  arrest  him.  Apprehensive  that  an 
armed  force  might  be  sent  to  arrest  him  and  other  fugi- 
tives, the  citizens  of  West  Andover  and  the  neighborhood 
organized  a secret  society — “The  Independent  Sons  of 
Liberty” — to  defend  these  men  with  their  lives,  if  need  be. 
They  had  their  signs,  passwords,  and  badges;  procured 
arms ; and  selected  a place  for  rendezvous.  A state  lodge 
was  organized,  and  finally  a United  States  lodge.  “Ihe 
final  object  was  to  act  politically  and  in  a revolutionary 
manner  if  .necessary  for  the  overthrow  of  slavery.  Mem- 
bers were  called,  in  common  parlance,  ‘Black  Strings,’ 
from  a badge  which  they  wore,  a black  string  tied  into  the 
buttonhole  of  their  shirt  collars.” — (Howe,  Historical 
Collections  of  Ohio,  Vol.  I.  pp.  281-282.) 

“The  whole  Western  Reserve  practically  became  an  in- 
tegral part  of  the  little  army  which  began  the  battle  for 
freedom  and  carried  it  on,  with  augmented  numbers,  to 
its  finish.  But  it  was  for  a long  time  a curiously  isolated 
integral  of  the  anti-slavery  army,  occupying  a position 
that  was  advanced  (physically  and  morally)  perilously 


24 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


near  the  frontier  of  the  enemy's  country,  and  performing 
pioneer  duty  that  demanded  the  utmost  courage.  It  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  the  region  was  the  most  con- 
spicuous and  detested  piece  of  abolition  territory  in  the 
United  States,  and  that  in  zeal  and  accomplishment  the 
Puritans  of  northern  Ohio  equaled,  if  they  did  not  sur- 
pass the  Puritans  of  New  England  and  the  Quakers  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  Reserve  unquestionably  maintained 
more  stations  of  the  secret  ‘Underground  Railroad’  than 
any  equal  district  in  the  country.” — (Mathews,  Ohio  and 
Her  Western  Reserve,  pp.  174,  175.) 

Lands  and  Purchases. 

1 he  soldiers  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  who  served  in 
the  Federal  Army  were  known  as  the  “Pennsylvania 
Line.”  As  early  as  March  7,  1780,  the  General  Assembly 
made  a promise  of  “certain  donations  and  quantities  of 
land,”  to  be  “surveyed  and  divided  off”  at  the  end  of  the 
war,  to  the  soldiers  of  the  state.  March  12,  1783,  the 
General  Assembly  passed  an  act  providing  that  “a  certain 
tract  of  country,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Mogulbugh- 
titon  Creek” — now  known  as  Mahoning  Creek  in  Arm- 
strong County — ; “thence  up  the  Allegheny  River  to  the 
mouth  of  Cagnawaga  Creek” — Conewango,  in  Warren 
County — ; “thence  due  north  to  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  state;  thence  west  by  said  boundary,  to  the  nor  Ur west 
boundary  of  the  state ; thence  south,  by  the  western  boun- 
dary of  the  state,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  lands  ap- 
propriated by  this  act  for  discharging  the  certificates  here- 
in mentioned ; and  thence  by  the  same  lands  east  to  the 
place  of  beginning;  which  said  tract  of  country  shall  be 
reserved  and  set  apart  for  the  only  and  sole  use  of  ful- 
filling and  carrying  into  execution  the  said  resolve.” 
This  territory  was  known — and  is  still  known — as  “Do- 
nation Lands.”’  It  comprises  parts  of  the  present  coun- 
ties of  Lawrence,  Butler,  Armstrong,  Venango,  Forest 
and  V arren,  all  the  counties  of  Mercer  and  Crawford, 
and  that  portion  of  Erie  which  lies  south  of  the  triangle. 
Another  act  of  the  General  Assembly  exempted  from  tax- 
ation during  life  time  the  land  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  each 
soldier,  unless  the  same  was  transferred  or  assigned  to  an- 
other person.  “The  territory  was  then  a wild  and  un- 
broken wilderness,  and ‘we  can  at  this  day,  after  a century 


Lands  and  Purchases. 


2 5 


of  progress  and  civilization,  truly  regard  this  section  of 
our  great  Commonwealth,  now  filled  as  it  is  with  a pros- 
perous and  industrious  population  that  has  wrought  won- 
ders of  advancement  and  improvement,  as  a splendid,  a 
princely  domain,  devoted  in  our  early  history  to  a noble 
purpose.” 

In  the  same  act  which  reserved  the  “Donation  Lands,” 
there  were  also  reserved  lands  lying  south,  west  of  the 
Allegheny  River  and  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  extending  to 
the  western  boundary  of  the  state.  These  lands  were 
reserved  to  redeem  certificates  which  had  been  granted  by 
the  state  to  her  revolutionary  soldiers  to  cover  the  dif- 
ference in  value  between  the  continental  paper  currency 
and  silver  and  gold,  and  were  hence  called  “Depreciation 
Lands.” — (Pennsylvania  Archives , Third  Series , Vol.  3, 
PP-  577 , 57$,  761,  7^2.) 

“In  1788,  Massachusetts  sold  to  Oliver  Phelps  and 
Nathaniel  Gorman  all  its  lands  in  Western  New  York  for 
the  sum  of  $1,000,000;  and  in  July  of  the  same  year,  a 
treaty  was  made  with  the  Indians  by  which  Phelps  and 
Gorman  acquired  the  right  of  the  former  to  2,600,000 
acres  of  the  eastern  portion  of  these  lands.  The  tract 
thus  acquired  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  a line  extending 
from  a point  on  the  Pennsylvania  line  which  is  due  south 
from  the  confluence  of  the  Canaserago  Creek  with  the 
Genesee  River  to  the  said  confluence;  thence  along  the 
Genesee  to  a point  two  miles  north  of  the  Canawagus 
village ; thence  west  twelve  miles ; thence  northwardly  to 
Lake  Ontario,  always  keeping  twelve  miles  from  the 
Genesee.  Its  eastern  boundary  is  the  line  of  Seneca 
Lake  and  Sodus  Bay.  On  November  21,  1788,  Massa- 
chusetts conveyed  this  tract  to  Phelps  and  Gorman.  May 
11,  1791,  Massachusetts  conveyed  to  Robert  Morris  all 
its  lands  west  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorman  tract,  and  De- 
cember 24,  1792,  Robert  Morris  and  his  wife  Mary 
conveyed  by  deed  a portion  of  their  lands  to  Herman  Le- 
Roy  and  John  Linklean,  and  later  to  Herman  LeRoy  and 
other  grantees  the  remainder  of  the  lands  except  ‘the 
lands  lying  east  of  a meridian  line  beginning  at  a point  in 
the  north  line  of  Pennsylvania,  twelve  miles  west  of  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorman  tract,  and 
running  north  to  Lake  Ontario.  These  lands,  bounded 
on  the  east  by  the  Phelps  and  Gorman  tract  and  supposed 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


26 

to  contain  500,000  acres,  were  known  as  the  ‘Morris  Re- 
serve.’ The  lands  conveyed  by  Roliert  Morris  by  the 
several  deeds,  about  3,600,000  acres,  were  purchased  by 
capitalists  in  Holland  and  held  in  trust  by  the  granteis 
until  the  passage  of  enabling  acts  by  the  legislature  of 
New  York  authorized  foreigners  to  hold  and  convey 
lands.  They  were  then  conveyed  to  the  ‘Holland  Land 
Companv.’  ’’ — (History  of  Chautauqua  County,  ll  . A. 
Fergusson  cr  Co.,  1894,  PP-  128-132.) 

Moravians. 

The  missionaries  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
were  not  the  first  to  penetrate  this  but  partially  explored 
territory.  The  Moravians  preceded  them  by  a hundred 
and  fifty  years  and  more.  We  must  content  ourselves 
with  a single  glance  at  their  work. 

In  1767,  an  unarmed  man,  short  of  stature,  plain  in 
address,  and  humble  and  peaceful  in  demeanor,  emerged 
from  the  thick  forests  of  the  Allegheny  River,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Seneca  towns.  T his  was  Rev.  David 
Zeisberger.  the  heroic  Moravian  missionary.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  Anthony  and  John  Papanhunk,  Indian 
guides  and  assistants  in  his  pious  labors,  and  had  pushed 
his  way  through  from  Wyalusing  on  the  Susquehanna. 
He  established  a mission  station  at  Goshgoshunk,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Allegheny,  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Tionesta.  The  Seneca  chief  at  first  had  received  him 
roughly,  but  afterwards  permitted  him  to  proceed  to 
Goshgoshunk.  warning  him  however  of  the  wickedness  of 
the  people.  It  is  said:  “Goshgoshunk,  a town  of  the 

Delawares,  consisted  of  three  villages  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio” — the  early  name  of  the  Allegheny.  The  mission 
was  established  not  without  difficulty.  There  was  a blind 
chief,  Allemewi,  who  was  awakened  and  baptized,  receiv- 
ing the  Christian  name  of  “Solomon.  The  missionary 
returned  to  Bethlehem  and  reported  the  progress  of  his 
work.  Upon  his  second  journey  to  the  mission  he  was  ac- 
companied by  Brother  Gottlob  Senseman,  and  several 
Moravian  Indian  families  from  the  Susquehanna.  They 
built  a blockhouse  and  formed  a little  hamlet.  “To  this 
a great  number  resorted,  and  there  the  brethren  ceased 
not,  by  day  and  night,  to  teach  and  preach  Jesus,  and  God 
in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself.  ” At  a 


Early  Churches.  27 

later  date  there  was  violent  opposition,  and  the  mission 
was  moved  up  the  river  to  a place  called  Lawanakanuck, 
on  the  opposite  bank,  probably  near  West  Hickory.  Here 
they  built  a chapel  and  dwelling  house,  “and  a bell,  which 
they  received  from  Bethlehem,  was  hung  in  a convenient 
place.”  This  was  the  first  bell  that  called  to  worship 
throughout  this  wild  region.  But  Indian  wars  forced 
them  to  another  migration.  They  had  been  invited  by 
the  Indian  chief  to  settle  ' in  Butler  County. 
The  congregation  broke  up  April  17,  1 77°>  anc^ 

set  out  in  sixteen  canoes,  passing  down  the  river,  by  Pitts- 
burg, to  the  mouth  of  Beaver  Creek,  and  thence  to  the  in- 
terior of  what  is  now  Beaver  County,  where  they  es- 
tablished the  new  station  of  Friedenstadt,  or  “City  )f 
Peace.” — (History  of  Venango  County , pp.  69,  70.) 


Early  Churches. 

The  Presbyterians  were  already  in  possession  of  the 
land. 

“The  Presbytery  of  Erie  was  erected  by  the  Synod  of 
Virginia  in  1801.”  The  Presbyteria  met  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  April  13,  1802— five  ministers  and 
three  elders  being  present.  The  names  of  two  other  min- 
isters were  enrolled,  having  been  dismissed  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio ; and  Elder  Ithiel  was  enrolled  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  session — thus  making  seven  ministers  and 
four  elders.  These  ministers  were  all  ‘settled’ — at  “Mount 
Pleasant  and  New  Salem,  Hopewell  and  Youngstown, 
Cool  Spring  and  Upper  Salem,  Meadville  and  Sugar 
Creek,  Rocky  Spring  and  Amity,  Moorfield  and  Neshan- 
nock,  and  Fairfield  and  Upper  and  Uower  Sandy.  Ihere 
were  ‘supplications’  for  supplies  from  ‘Slippery  Rock, 
Westfield,  Uower  Neshannock,  Breakneck,  Thorns  Tent, 
Concord,  Franklin,  Big  Sugar  Creek,  Oil  Creek,  Gravel 
Run,  Upper  and  Uower  Greenfield,.  Middlebrook,  Presque 
Isle,  Powers’  Mills,  Crossings  of  Cussawaga  and  Pvamut- 
ing.”  The  next  year  supplies  were  asked  for:  “Fair- 

view,  Westfield,  Poland,  Warren — Ohio — Trumbull, 
Beula,  Pyamuting,  Conneautee,  Outlet  of  Conneaut,  Hi- 
lands.  Salt  Spring,  Concord,  Gravel  Run,  Middlebrook, 
Beavertown,  Franklin,  Titus’s,  Hugh  McGirks  on  Pithole, 
Andrews'  on  Brokenstraw,  Jackson’s  on  Conewango, 


28 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Robert  Miles’,  Major  Gray’s  on  French  Creek,  Mt.  Ne- 
bo,  Sugar  Creek,  Smithfield,  and  Canfield — Ohio.” — • 
( Eaton,  History  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  pp.  27-42.) 

The  first  church  organizations  in  Chautauqua  County 
dated  from  about  the  year  1808;  but  previous  to  this  date 
the  gospel  had  been  preached  in  nearly  every  settlement. 
1 here  was  scarcely  a log  cabin  which  had  not  been  visited 
by  missionaries  sent  out  by  the  missionary  societies  of 
New  England  and  other  religious  organizations  from  the 
east.  1 hese  early  preachers  were  seldom  learned,  but  en- 
dowed with  large  practical  common  sense,  well  versed  in 
the  Scriptures,  and  especially  fitted  for  pioneer  work. 
Some  of  them  were  possessed  of  great  eloquence.  They 
knew  the  ways  of  the  woods,  could  put  up  with  coarse 
fare  and  rough  accommodations ; and  could  get  along  with 
a mere  pittance  for  their  services.  Rev.  Joseph  Badger, 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  did  heroic  service  in  these 
western  wilds  in  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  in  Erie  County 
in  1803 — at  Greenfield,  now  North  East — ordained  Robert 
Patterson  to  the  ministry.  Many  of  the  early  settlers 
were  Scotch-Presbyterians  and  the  first  preaching  was 
that  of  the  Calvinistic  faith.  A Presbyterian  church  was 
organized  at  the  Cross  Roads  in  1808  by  Rev.  John  Linds- 
ley,  and  was  called  the  “Chautauqua  Church.”  The  same 
year  the  first  Baptist  Church  in  the  county,  was  organized 
in  the  Canada  way  settlement,  now  Fredonia,  called  the 
“First  Baptist  Church  in  Pompret,”  of  which  Rev.  Jov 
Handy  was  the  pastor.  “Many  of  the  early  settlers  were 
from  New  England  or  were  of  Puritan  descent  and 
thoroughly  imbued  with  the  old  and  established  Calvin- 
istic doctrines  of  that  people.  Between  them  and  the 
Methodists,  who  were  of  a later  and  more  liberal  faith, 
there  existed  a strong  antagonism,  and  a polemic  warfare 
was  waged  between  them  for  many  years.  The  zealous 
and  aggressive  spirit  of  Methodism  prevailed  against  all 
opposition  and  they  made  converts  everywhere.” — (His- 
tory of  Chautauqua  County,  W.  A.  Fergusson  & Co., 
Boston,  Mass.,  1894,  PP-  I94~I97-) 

Presbyterianism  had  gained  a strong  hold. 

Rattlesnakes. 

'1  he  early  preachers  met  with  three  great  enemies — 
Indians,  whiskey,  and  rattlesnakes.  They  make  little 


w 


Rattlesnakes. 


29 


complaint  of  the  first;  we  shall  meet  with  sufficient  illus- 
trations of  the  work  of  the  second ; we  present  samples  of 
the  third.  These  might  be  indefinitely  multiplied. 

The  township  of  Stow,  like  many  other  parts,  was 
populated  by  numerous  rattlesnakes.  “The  ‘Gulf’  at 
Stow’s  Corners  was  filled  with  these  reptiles.  . 

So  numerous  were  they  and  so  dangerous,  that  the  set- 
tlers took  turns  in  watching  the  rocks  to  kill  all  that  came 
forth.  ...  It  fell  upon  Mr.  Baker  to  watch  the 
gulf  one  Sunday,  when  Deacon  Butler  was  holding  a 
class-meeting  in  a log-cabin  close  by.  While  looking 
down  into  the  gulf,  Mr.  Baker  saw  a large  number  of 
rattlesnakes  crawl  from  a crevice  in  the  rocks  and  coil 
themselves  in  the  sun.  . . . He  descended  to  the 

rock,  and  killed  sixty-five  of  the  venomous  reptiles.  The 
first  intimation  that  the  worshipers  had  of  what  had 
taken  place  was  made  known  by  a son  of  Mr.  Baker,  who 
ran  to  the  log  meeting-house  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  cry- 
ing out  with  a loud  voice:  'Oh,  Dad’s  killed  a pile  of 

snakes!  Dad’s  killed  a pile  of  snakes!’  This  adjourned 
the  meeting,  and  the  members  repaired  to  the  gulf,  to  con- 
tinue their  thanks  for  the  victory  over  the  ancient  enemy 
of  mankind.” — (Howe,  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio, 
Col.  2,  pp.  635,  636.) 

William  Fenton  built  a cabin  on  the  site  of  Warren, 
Ohio,  in  1798,  and  Capt.  Ephraim  Quinby  built  a cabin  in 
1799.  Cornelius  Feather  and  Davison  Fenton  arrived  a 
year  later.  The  following  account  is  taken  from  the  nar- 
rative of  Cornelius  Feather  and  is  preserved  in  manuscript 
in  the  Ashtabula  Historical  Society.  It  took  place  in 
Braceville  township.  The  company  of  adventurers, 
armed  with  cudgels,  proceeded  up  the  rocky  hill.  "Sud- 
denly the  enemy  gave  the  alarm,  and  the  men  found  them- 
selves surrounded  by  hosts  of  rattlesnakes  of  enormous 
size,  and  a squadron  of  black  snakes.  No  time  was  lost. 
At  the  signal  of  the  rattling  of  the  snakes,  the  action  com- 
menced, and  hot  and  furious  was  the  fight.  In  short,  the 
snakes  beat  a retreat  up  the  hill,  our  men  cudgeling  with 
all  their  might.  When  arrived  at  the  top  of  the  ledge, 
they  found  the  ground  and  rocks  in  places  almost  covered 
with  snakes  retreating  into  their  dens.  Afterwards  the 
slain  were  collected  into  heaps,  and  found  to  number  four 
hundred  and  eighty-six,  a good  portion  of  which  were 


30 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


I 


larger  than  a man's  leg  below  the  calf,  and  over  five  feet 
in  length.” — (Howe,  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio , V ol 
2 , p.  660.) 

Another  battle  with  the  rattlesnakes  was  fought  some 
time  between  1800  and  1803,  on  the  Asa  Arnold  farm, 
on  the  west  side  of  “Yankee  Ridge.”  The  record  is  taken 
from  Mr.  Garvin’s  note-book:  “John  Johnson’s  wife 

went  out  early  in  the  morning  to  get  her  cows.  In  a lit- 
tle while  she  found  herself  surrounded  with  rattlesnakes, 
and  her  retreat  cut  off.  They  appeared  to  be  in  very 
great  numbers,  and  the  woman  sought  safety  by  climbing 
a dogwood  that  stood  near  by.  Her  cries  alarmed  her 
husband,  who,  when  he  came,  was  so  astounded  that  he 
feared  trying  alone  to  relieve  his  wife.  ‘Polly,  I can’t  re- 
lieve you  alone,  there  are  so  many  of  them' ; and  running 
to  his  neighbor,  Asa  Arnold,  for  assistance,  he  came  back 
with  new  courage.  With  large  hickory  poles,  or  withes, 
these  two  cut  their  way  through  the  snakes  until  the 
beleaguered  woman  was  relieved.  Both  men  sickened  in 
their  work  of  destroying  the  reptiles,  and  had  to  desist 
and  rest  for  a time,  and  then  go  at  it  again.  The  yellow 
rattlesnakes  were  counted  and  piled,  and  numbered  no  less 
than  two  hundred,  while  there  were  many  black  and  other 
snakes  left  on  the  ground  uncounted.  Some  of  the  sets 
of  rattles  counted  as  many  as  twenty-five.” — (History  of 
Mercer  County,  Brown , Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  336.) 

We  may  judge  of  the  condition  and  dangers  of  the 
early  settler  by  reading  descriptions  of  Bishop  Robert’s 
cabin,  James  Hillman’s  adventure,  and  an  early  Chau- 
tauqua pioneer  home: 

The  Log  Cabin. 

This  cabin  was  about  twelve  feet  square.  The  logs 
were  small,  and  round  or  unhewed.  The  door  was  low, 
so  that  a person  of  ordinary  height  had  to  stoop  consider- 
ably in  entering.  It  was  made  of  clapboards,  and  hung 
on  wooden  hinges,  which  frequently  had  to  be  greased  m 
order  to  prevent  squeaking.  It  was  put  together  by 
wooden  pins,  there  being  not  even  a single  nail  in  it,  nor 
in  the  whole  house.  It  was  fastened  with  a wooden  latch, 
or  rather  a wooden  pin  on  the  inside ; and  with  a strong 
tow  string  on  the  outside,  which  was  tied  to  a pin  in  one 


The  Log  Cabin. 


3i 


of  the  logs,  when  the  inmates  went  into  the  fields,  or  from 
home.  In  the  place  of  a window,  there  was  a hole  be- 
tween two  logs,  near  the  fire  place,  which  gave  them  suffi- 
cient light  to  eat  by.  It  was  closed  when  necessary  with 
a little  board  fitted  to  its  size,  and  fastened  with  wooden 
pegs,  or  small  pins ; and  when  the  weather  was  very  cold, 
it  was  stuffed  with  some  old  garments.  Mostly,  how- 
ever, neither  the  closing  nor  stuffing  was  considered  of 
any  importance.  An  occasional  puff  of  cold  fresh  air 
was  deemed  no  annoyance,  as  they  thought  none  but  mere 
invalids,  or  the  fastidiously  nice,  would  object  to  any 
such  imaginary  inconvenience.  The  chimney  was  a 
wooden  frame  at  the  end  of  the  house.  A few  of  the  un- 
der logs  were  cut  out  about  six  feet  wide,  to  make  an 
opening  both  for  the  chimney  and  hearth.  The  frame 
was  raised  first  to  the  height  of  the  opening  and  then  to 
the  cone,  with  cap  and  clay,  or  clay  mortar  mixed  with 
chopped  grass,  and  short  pieces  of  split  oak  lath,  about 
two  feet  long,  crossing  so  as  to  form  a square  cornered 
chimney.  The  mortar  was  placed  between  the  pieces  of 
wood,  and  the  inside  and  outside  were  also  well  plastered 
with  the  same,  so  that  the  chimney,  when  finished,  had 
externally  the  appearance-  of  one  unbroken  stone,  or 
muddy  colored  brick,  which  appearance  it  retained  until 
the  rain  washed  the  mortar  away.  The  inside  of  the 
chimney,  up  to  the  cap  and  clay  part,  was  lined  with  stones 
laid  in  mud  mortar  or  with  large  flags  standing  perpen- 
dicularly. The  work  is  frequently  performed  so  careless- 
ly, that  the  fire  often  reaches  the  wood,  and  holes  are  made 
large  enough  for  animals  the  size  of  a dog  to  pass  through, 
which,  with  careless  tenants,  remain  unstopped  for  years. 
The  floor  was  of  puncheons  well  smoothed  and  tightly 
jointed  so  as  to  form  an  even  surface.  The  hearth  was 
of  rude  freestone,  fitted  in  without  the  convenience  of  a 
stone-hammer,  or  any  other  requisite  instrument,  except 
that  some  of  the  very  irregular  corners  were  knocked  off 
by  the  axe,  when  a very  large  hole  would  be  the  result  in 
some  untouched  part  of  the  stone.  The  crevices  between 
the  logs  were  filled  up  with  chunks  of  wood  in  the  inside, 
and  plastered  with  clay  mortar  on  the  outside.  The  loft 
was  supported  with  round  peeled  poles,  laid  over  with 
small  chestnut  poles,  each  peeled  and  split  in  two,  and  the 
flat  side  laid  under  on  the  joist  poles.  The  crevices  were 


32  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

filled  with  chestnut  bark,  or  thin  pieces  of  wood,  to  pre- 
vent the  clay  from  falling  through,  which  was  laid  over 
the  hole  so  as  to  form  an  even  surface  with  the  highest 
parts  of  the  poles.  The  roof  was  supported  by  rows 
of  poles  at  proper  distance,  covered  with  clap-boards, 
which  were  kept  in  their  places  by  other  corresponding 
rows  of  poles,  laid  over  the  clapboards,  so  that  the  wind 
could  not  move  them,  the  under  row  of  poles  being  called 
ribs,  and  the  upper  weight  poles.  The  latter  are  kept  in 
place  by  blocks  of  wood  called  knees,  braced  by  a button 
pole,  which  rested  on  the  eave-bearers.  These  terms  are 
peculiar  to  the  cabin  system,  and  are  familiar  to  all  who 
build  and  occupy  these  habitations.  As  a matter  of 
course  these  roofs  leak.  The  leaking,  however,  varies, 
as  the  boards  are  well  or  ill  laid,  or  as  the  wind  more  or 
less  displaces  them,  or  as  time  rots  their  edges  and  out- 
ward ends.  Or  should  none  of  these  defects  exist,  in 
high  winds  and  rains,  water  will  beat  in  between  the 
crevices  of  the  boards,  and  in  very  heavy  showers,  it  will 
run  over  their  edges,  when  they  are  not  entirely  level,  or 
where  the  joints  are  not  properly  broken. 

The  furniture  of  the  cabin  next  calls  for  a brief  notice. 
This  consisted  of  puncheon  table,  supported  by  four 
wooden  legs  of  rude  workmanship,  and  inserted  in  the 
table  by  holes  made  with  an  auger.  The  axe,  the  saw, 
the  auger  and  perhaps  the  drawing-knife,  were  the  only 
instruments  used  in  making  not  only  the  table,  but  the 
other  articles  of  furniture  also.  Rough  stools  served  for 
chairs.  The  bedstead  was  composed  of  a clapboard  bot- 
tom, placed  on  two  parallel  sticks,  or  bedsides ; and  these 
were  supported  by  crotches  or  forks,  which  served  the 
purpose  of  bed  posts.  The  bedstead  had  no  end  boards, 
the  clapboards  rendering  them  unnecessary.  A smaller 
fixture,  which  served  the  place  of  a second  bedstead,  large 
enough  to  hold  one  person,  was  placed  in  another  corner. 
A pot  and  bake-oven  were  the  principal  parts  of  the  cook- 
ing apparatus.  Other  little  conveniences  of  a smaller 
description,  completed  the  original  furniture  of  Robert  R. 
Roberts.  There  were  neither  bureaus,  chests,  trunks, 
cupboards  or  any  other  thing  of  the  kind  within  his  cabin. 
There  was,  however,  a shelf  or  two,  or  thin  puncheons  or 
board  clapboards,  upheld  by  wooden  pins,  stuck  in  auger 
holes  bored  in  the  logs,  which  served  an  excellent  purpose, 


BISHOP  ROBERTS’  CABIN. 


From  Hurst’s  History  of  Methodism 


by  permission  of  EATON  A MAINS 


3 


34 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


several  little  articles  being  placed  on  them  which  were  oc- 
casionally used.  Wooden  pins,  too,  were  plentifully  stuck 
in  the  logs  at  convenient  distances,  on  which  were  hung 
the  various  garments  not  in  immediate  or  daily  use.  Nor 
must  we  forget  the  gun  rack,  which  was  always  placed 
over  the  door,  and  consisted  of  two  little  hooked  pieces 
of  wood,  or  forked  branches,  or  eagle’s  claws,  attached  to 
the  walls,  in  various  ways  to  suit  the  different  tastes  of 
the  proprietors.  It  was  placed  above  the  door  that  it 
might  be  out  of  the  reach  of  children,  and  also  easy  of 
access  in  case  the  Indians  or  some  game  unexpectedly 
made  their  appearance.  A small  peeled  pole,  suspended 
by  strings  from  the  joists  which  was  second  in  order  from 
the  chimney,  was  also  an  indispensable  fixture,  as  on  this 
the  pumpkin  slices  were  hung  in  decorous  ringlets  until 
thoroughly  dry,  and  thus  preserved  for  future  use ; on  it, 
too,  wet  clothes  were  dried  in  rainy  weather. — (Elliott, 
Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  pp. 

Colonel  Hillman. 

Colonel  James  Hillman,  of  Youngstown,  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  the  west,  and  rendered  essential  service 
to  the  early  settlers  of  the  Western  Reserve. 

He  was  born  in  Northampton,  Pa.,  and  in  1784  was  a 
soldier  under  General  Harmar,  and  was  discharged  at 
Fort  McIntosh,  at  Beaver  Town,  on  the  Ohio,  in  August, 
1785,  after  the  treaty  with  the  Indians. 

His  acquaintance  with  the  country  now  known  as  the 
Western  Reserve  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1786,  at 
which  time  he  entered  into  the  service  of  Dunham  and 
Wilson,  of  Pittsburg.  They  were  engaged  in  forward- 
ing goods  and  provisions  upon  pack  horses  across  the 
country  to  the  mouth  of  Cuyahoga  (now  Cleveland)  ; 
thence  to  be  shipped  on  the  schooner  Mackinaw  to  Detroit. 

They  usually  crossed  the  Big  Beaver,  four  miles  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Shenango ; thence  up  the  left  bank  of  the 
Mahoning,  crossing  it  about  three  miles  above  the  vil- 
lage of  Youngstown;  thence  by  way  of  the  Salt  Springs, 
in  the  township  of  the  Salt  Springs,  in  the  township  of 
Weathersfield,  through  Milton  and  Ravenna,  crossing  the 
Cuyahoga  at  the  mouth  of  Tinker’s  Creek,  in  Bedford, 


Colonel  Hillman. 


35 


and  thence  down  the  river  to  its  mouth,  whence  thev 
entered  a log  hut  for  the  safe-keeping  of  their  goods, 
which  was  the  first  house  built  in  Cleveland. 

At  the  mouth  of  Tinker’s  Creek  were  a few  houses  built 
by  the  Moravian  missionaries.  They  were  then  vacant, 
the  Indians  having  occupied  them  one  year  only,  previous 
to  their  removal  to  the  Tuscarawas  River.  These  and 
three  or  four  cabins  at  the  Salt  Springs  were  the  only 
buildings  erected  by  the  whites  between  the  Ohio  River 
and  Lake  Erie. 

From  1788  to  1796  Mr.  Hillman  resided  in  Pittsburg, 
and  traded  with  the  Indians  in  Ohio,  principally  on  the 
Reserve,  bringing  his  goods  in  canoes  up  the  Mahoning. 
His  intercourse  with  the  Indians  during  these  eight  years, 
and  before,  afforded  him  the  opportunity  of  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  their  language  and  gaining  their  confidence, 
both  of  which  he  obtained,  and  by  means  of  which  he  was 
enabled  afterwards  to  be  of  great  service  to  the  early 
settlers  of  the  Reserve. 

In  1796,  when  returning  from  one  of  his  trading  ex- 
peditions alone  in  his  canoe,  down  the  Mahoning  River, 
he  discovered  a smoke  on  the  bank  near  the  present  site 
of  the  city  of  Youngstown,  and  on  proceeding  to  the 
spot  he  found  Mr.  Young  (the  proprietor  of  the  town- 
ship), who,  with  Mr.  Wolcott,  had  just  arrived  to  make 
a survey  of  his  lands.  The  cargo  of  Mr.  Hillman  was 
not  entirely  disposed  of,  there  remaining  among  other 
things  some  whiskey,  the  price  of  which  was  to  the  In- 
dians one  dollar  a quart  in  the  currency  of  the  country — 
a deerskin  being  a legal  tender  for  one  dollar  and  a doe- 
skin half  a dollar. 

Mr.  Young  proposed  purchasing  a quart,  and  having  a 
frolic  on  its  contents  during  the  evening,  and  insisted 
upon  paying  Hillman  his  customary  price  for  it.  Hill- 
man urged  that  inasmuch  as  they  were  strangers  in  the 
country,  and  just  arrived  upon  his  territory,  civility  re- 
quired him  to  furnish  the  means  of  entertainment.  He, 
however,  yielded  to  Mr.  Young,  who  immediately  took  the 
deerskin  he  had  spread  for  his  bed  (the  only  one  he  had), 
and  paid  for  his  quart  of  whiskey.  His  descendants  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  in  relating  the  hardships  of  their 
ancestors,  have  not  forgotten  that  Judge  Young  ex- 
changed his  bed  for  a quart  of  whiskey. 


36 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Mr.  Hillman  remained  with  them  a few  days,  when 
they  accompanied  him  to  Beavertown,  to  celebrate  the 
Fourth  of  July,  and  Mr.  Hillman  was  induced  to  return 
and  commence  the  settlement  of  the  town  by  building*  a 
house.  This  was  about  the  first  settlement  made  on  the 
Western  Reserve.  In  the  fall  of  1797  Mr.  Brown  and 
another  person  came  on. 

The  settlement  of  the  country  proceeded  prosperously 
until  the  murder  of  the  two  Indians,  Captain  George  and 
Captain  John,  at  the  Salt  Springs,  by  McMahon  and 
Story.  This  affair  had  nearly  proved  fatal  to  the  set- 
tlements, and  probably  would  but  for  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Hillman.  The  next  day  after  the  murder,  for  such  it 
undoubtedly  was.  Colonel  Hillman,  with  Mr.  Young  and 
the  late  Judge  Pease,  of  Warren,  who  had  just  arrived, 
went  to  the  Salt  Springs  with  a view  of  pacifying  the 
Indians ; but  they  had  gone,  not,  however,  without  having 
buried  the  bodies  of  their  murdered  companions.  Colonel 
Hillman  and  others  expected  trouble,  and  in  order  to  show 
the  Indians  that  the  whites  did  not  sanction  the  act, 
judged  it  advisable  to  take  McMahon  and  Story  prison- 
ers ; which  they  accordingly  did  the  same  day  at  Warren. 
Colonel  Hillman  had  McMahon  in  custody,  but  Story, 
who  was  guarded  by  John  Lane,  escaped  during  the  night. 
On  the  next  day  McMahon  was  brought  to  Youngstown, 
the  settlers  resolving  to  send  him  to  Pittsburg,  to  be  kept 

in  confinement  until  he  could  be  tried. 

The  affairs  of  the  settlement  were  at  that  time  in  a 
critical  and  alarming  state,  so  much  so  that  all  of  the  in- 
habitants, both  of  Youngstown  and  Warren,  packed  up 
their  goods  and  were  upon  the  point  of  removing  from 
the  country,  as  they  had  every  reason  to  apprehend  that 
the  Indians  would  take  speedy  vengeance.  It  was  at  this 
juncture  that  the  firmness  and  good  sense  of  Colonel  Hill- 
man was  the  means  of  saving  the  infant  settlement  from 
destruction.  He  advised  sending  a deputation  to  the  In- 
dians then  encamped  on  the  Mahoning,  near  where  Judge 
Price's  mills  now  stand,  and  endeavor  to  avert  the  threat- 
ened danger.  It  was  an  undertaking  imminently  hazard- 
ous. Few  men  would  have  dared  to  go,  and  it  is  quite 
certain  no  other  man  in  the  settlement  would  have  had  % 
any  chance  of  success.  He  was  acquainted  with  their 
language,  and  knew  their  principal  men,  and  was  aware 


Colonel  Hillman. 


37 


that  in  his  trading  intercourse  with  them  he  had  acquired 
their  confidence,  and  therefore  felt  no  fear.  Although 
urged  to  do  so,  he  would  not  take  any  weapon  of  defence, 
but  accompanied  by  one  Randall,  started  very  early  the 
next  morning  on  his  hazardous  enterprise,  and  came  in 
sight  of  the  Indians  before  sunrise.  The  Indians,  seven- 
teen in  number,  were  asleep,  each  with  his  gun  and 
powder-horn,  resting  upon  a forked  stick  at  his  head. 
Being  in  advance  of  Randall  he  came  within  three  rods  of 
them  before  he  was  discovered.  A squaw  was  the  only 
one  awake.  She  immediately  gave  the  alarm,  which 
started  every  warrier  to  his  feet  with  gun  in  hand.  But 
seeing  Colonel  Hillman  and  his  companion  riding  into 
their  encampment  without  arms,  and  unsuspicious  of 
treachery  or  harm,  they  dropped  their  guns  and  imme- 
diately gathered  around  their  visitors. 

Onondaigua  George,  the  principal  man  or  chief,  knew 
Hillman,  and  the  late  murder  became  the  subject  of  a very 
earnest  conversation ; the  chief  exhibiting  much  feeling 
while  talking  about  it.  Hillman  told  him  frankly  the  ob- 
ject of  his  visit,  and  talked  freely  of  the  affair,  condemn- 
ing McMahon  and  assuring  him  that  McMahon  was  then 
on  his  way  to  Pittsburg,  and  should  stand  a trial  for  the 
murder  he  had  committed.  Nothing  could  be  done,  how- 
ever, until  Captain  Peters  should  arrive  with  his  braves. 
They  were  then  encamped  farther  up  the  river,  near  the 

present  site  of  Deerfield,  and  were  expected  to  arrive  that 

day,  a message  having  been  sent  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  they  came.  The  countenance 
of  Captain  Peters,  as  soon  as  he  saw  a white  man  present, 
scowled  with  hatred,  revenge  and  defiance.  Hillman  en- 
deavored to  pacify  him,  but  with  little  effect.  During  the 
interview,  a conversation  was  had  between  Captains 
George  and  Peters  in  the  Seneca  language,  in  which  Cap- 
tain Peters  endeavored  to  persuade  the  other  that  they 
ought  to  kill  Hillman  and  Randall,  and  before  the  whites 
could  unite  in  defense  dispatch  them  in  detail.  But  Cap- 
tain George  would  not  agree  to  it,  unwilling  that  Hill- 
man, to  whom  he  had  conceived  a liking,  should  be  killed. 
It  was  not  known  to  either  that  Hillman  was  acquainted 
with  the  Seneca  language,  in  which  this  conversation  was 
held ; he  was,  however,  and  it  may  be  conceived  with  what 
interest  he  listened  to  it.  Hillman  succeeded  after  several 


38  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

attempts  in  drawing  Captain  Peters  aside,  and  offered  him 
a considerable  sum,  if  he  would  go  to  Cuyahoga  on  some 
business  for  the  whites.  This  bribe,  it  seems,  had  its  de- 
sired effect.  The  Indians  retired  a short  distance  and 
held  a consultation,  during  which  Randall  became  so 
alarmed  that  he  proposed  that  each  should  take  his  horse 
and  endeavor  to  make  his  escape.  Hillman  would  not  go, 
but  observing  that  the  Indians  had  left  their  guns  leaning 
upon  two  trees  near  by  told  Randall  to  station  himself, 
and  if,  on  their  return,  one  of  their  number  should  be 
painted  black  (which  Hillman  knew  was  their  custom 
when  one  was  to  be  killed)  then  each  should  seize  upon  the 
guns  and  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 

After  a lone  time,  however,  they  returned;  Captain 
Peters  holding  up  a wampum  belt  with  three  strings,  and 
saying  that  they  agreed  to  hold  a council  with  the  whites, 
on  condition  that  three  things  should  be  done,  as  their 
wampum  indicated.  1st,  that  George  Foulk  should  act 
as  interpreter;  2d,  that  the  council  should  be  held  within 
six  days;  and,  3d,  McMahon  should  be  kept  until  the 
council.  These  things  being  agreed  to,  Hillman  and  Ran- 
dall returned  the  same  day  to  Youngstown,  where  they 
found  all  the  inhabitants  assembled,  waiting  in  anxious 
suspense  to  learn  the  result  of  the  expedition,  and  every 
preparation  made  for  a sudden  flight,  in  case  it  should 
prove  unsuccessful.  Great  was  their  joy  on  seeing  Hill- 
man and  his  companion  arrive  in  safety,  and  telling  what 
had  been  done. 

The  inhabitants  immediately  set  themselves  about  mak- 
ing the  necessary  preparations  for  the  council.  On  the 
day  appointed,  two  Indians  made  their  appearance,  and 
were  conducted  by  Mr.  Hillman  to  the  place  prepared  for 
the  council.  After  the  ceremony  of  smoking,  commenced 
the  speeches,  and  it  was  generally  conceded  that  Captain 
Peters  had  the  best  of  the  argument,  and  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  consultation  showed  a decided  superiority 
over  the  whites  opposed  to  him,  in  adroitness  and  force  of 
argument,  although  our  people  had  appointed  three  of 
their  best  men  for  that  purpose  (the  late  Judge  Pease,  of 
Warren,  and  Gov.  Huntington  being  of  the  number),  all 
of  whom  had  prepared  themselves  for  this  encounter  with 
Indian  shrewdness.  The  result  of  the  council  was  satis- 
factory to  both  parties ; that  McMahon  should  be  tried  by 


Pioneers. 


39 


a jury  of  his  own  color,  according  to  the  laws  of  his  own 
country.  There  were  about  three  hundred  people  present 
at  the  council,  among  whom  were  Mr.  Hudson,  of  Port- 
age County,  and  Mr.  Eddy  of  Deerfield.  Thus  was  tran- 
quility restored,  mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mr.  Hillman,  a service  which  was  so  highly  appreciated 
by  Ephraim  Root,  the  agent  of  the  Connecticut  Land 
Company  that  he  agreed  on  the  part  of  the  company  that 
he  would  give  him  one  hundred  acres  of  land ; the  prom- 
ise, however,  was  never  redeemed. — (Howe,  Historical 
Collections  of  Ohio,  Vol.  2,  pp.  175-178.) 

Pioneers. 

The  early  pioneers  of  Chautauqua  County  were  re- 
markably generous  and  hospitable.  The  latch  string  al- 
ways hung  out.  Isolated  in  the  wilderness,  subject  to 
common  hardships,  participating  in  the  same  simple  en- 
joyments, and  living  in  complete  social  equality  caused 
true  friendship  and  genuine  benevolence  to  be  cultivated 
and  universal.  Wealth  was  not  regarded  as  a passport 
to  respectability.  Their  charity  was  not  manifestful  in 
cold  ostentatious  displays  of  liberality,  nor  was  it  that 
unaccountable  sensibility  that  only  descries  distress  in  the 
distance,  that  bestows  its  bounties  afar  off.  It  was  the 
unaffected  and  genuine  charity  taught  in  the  Scripture. 
They  would  themselves  repair  to  the  cabin  of  their  des- 
titute neighbor,  and  with  their  own  hands,  and  with  real 
kindness,  relieve  his  distress  and  administer  to  his  wants. 
Humanity  was  their  distinguishing  trait,  yet  exhibited 
in  the  rough  manner  peculiar  to  the  pioneer.  The  new- 
comer was  treated  with  a cordial  welcome.  No  unjust 
or  disparaging  reflections  were  indulged  in,  but  he  was 
received  as  an  equal  and  assumed  to  be  in  every  way  a 
worthy  companion  until  found  to  be  otherwise.  All  lent 
a helping  hand  to  assist  him  to  build  his  cabin  and  make 
his  first  clearing;  and  often  did  it  happen  that  men  of 
doubtful  character,  who  settled  among  them,  by  such 
fair  and  generous  treatment  were  made  good  citizens, 
and  maintained  ever  after  fair  characters. 

A man  with  his  family  moved  into  the  wilderness,  and 
spent  his  first  night  under  a temporary  shelter  made  of 
poles  and  boughs.  Early  in  the  morning  the  boys  were 
busy  with  their  axes  in  cutting  the  second  growth  trees 


40 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


from  the  Indian  fields  around  their  wigwams,  and  soon 
had  a cabin  16x20,  covered  with  elm  bark  fastened  in 
place  with  poles  and  withes — afterwards  covered  with 
pine  shingles  three  feet  in  length.  The  floor  was  of  spilt 
chestnut  logs,  and  the  door  was  made  of  the  same  ma- 
terial; the  fire  place  was  a notch  in  the  floor  at  one  end 
of  the  cabin,  made  upon  the  bare  earth  with  stones 
crudely  piled  against  the  wall  to  protect  it  from  the  fire, 
with  split  sticks  laid  up  in  cob-house  fashion  from  the 
chamber  floor  upwards,  being  about  six  feet  square  at 
the  base  and  tapering  to  three  feet  at  the  top,  the  whole 
wall  covered  inside  and  out  with  mud  plaster.  A “lug- 
pole”  crossed  the  chimney  at  the  floor,  from  which 
dangled  a chain  with  several  loose  hooks,  on  which  the 
good  housewife  hung  her  pots  and  kettles  in  cooking. 
The  wood  used  for  the  fire  place  was  usually  about  six 
feet  in  length.  A huge  back  log  often  two  feet  in  diam- 
eter was  brought  in  on  rollers  and  placed  against  the  back 
of  the  chimney;  on  the  top  was  a “back  stick”  about  half 
the  size  of  the  former;  in  front  a “fire  stick”  with  each 
end  resting  upon  a couple  of  holders  a foot  in  diameter, 
the  middle  being  filled  with  smaller  wood,  making  the 
most  cheerful  family  fireside  the  world  has  ever  known. 
Around  the  fire  sat  the  family  on  rude  benches  with  per- 
haps a few  splint  bottom  chairs  for  the  parents  and  older 
portion.  This  stick  chimney  was  far  from  being  fire- 
proof, and  to  protect  it  a huge  squirt  gun  stood  in  a 
bucket  of  water  in  the  corner,  which,  with  the  watchful 
eyes  of  the  family,  was  usually  an  ample  protection. 
Matches  were  unknown,  and  the  loss  of  fire  was  quite  a 
calamity  when  neighbors  were  many  miles  away.  But 
nearly  all  would  own  a flint-lock  gun  and  ammunition. 
With  these  and  a little  tow  or  “spunk”  was  a sure  and 
ample  remedy.  The  gun  was  also  the  chief  reliance  in 
supplying  the  family  with  meat,  chiefly  from  the  deer 
that  abounded  in  the  forest.  During  the  winter  venison 
hams  could  be  seen  in  nearly  every  cabin  suspended  on 
wooden  pins  to  dry  around  the  huge  chimney  or  from 
the  beams  overhead. 

The  period  of  bark  covered  cabins  was  of  short  dura- 
tion. The  body  of  the  primitive  dwelling  was  made  of 
light  poles  that  could  be  placed  in  position  by  the  help  at 
hand.  As  soon  as  the  country  became  well  settled  and 


• J 


Pioneers. 


4i 


sawmills  could  be  built  from  which  boards  could  be  ob- 
tained, the  more  substantial  log  house  took  its  place. 
These  were  quite  uniform  in  size,  usually  about  20x24 
feet,  with  a projection  of  the  roof  in  front  of  ten  feet 
resting  on  the  beams  that  supported  the  chamber  floor. 
This  projection  was  called  a “stoop,”  and  under  it  could 
be  seen  pots  and  kettles,  the  wash  tub,  the  wooden  wash 
bowl,  splint  broom,  and  many  other  necessary  utensils 
of  the  household.  This  house  was  the  first  work  of  the 
pioneer.  Straight  trees  and  of  uniform  size  were  selected 
and  drawn  to  the  place  chosen  for  the  dwelling;  the 
neighbors  were  invited  to  the  “raising,”  and  all  made  it 
a religious  duty  to  attend,  unselfishly  forgetting  the  duties 
of  home.  No  foundation  was  required,  but  the  four 
logs,  the  size  of  the  building,  laid  upon  the  level  ground. 
When  this  was  done  four  of  the  best  axe  men  each  took 
a corner,  and  cut  a saddle  and  notch  to  hold  the  logs  in 
position,  as  they  were  rolled  on  skids  to  the  proper 
place.  They  were  usually  made  a story  and  a half,  the 
upper  portion  being  the  sleeping  room  of  the  family, 
access  to  which  was  a ladder,  or  pins  driven  into  the  logs 
in  the  wall  of  the  house,  and  occasionally  rough  board 
stairs.  Three  or  four  hours  in  the  afternoon  was  suffi- 
cient time  to  raise  a log  house.  When  the  body  was  up 
the  logs  were  cut  away  for  the  door  and  windows,  the 
floor  laid  with  unplaned  boards,  the  space  between  the 
logs  filled  with  split  pieces  of  wood  and  plastered  with 
mud,  the  gables  boarded,  the  roof  made  of  pine  shingles, 
and  a stone  chimney,  with  jamb  and  an  iron  crane  for 
the  pots  and  kettles,  made  for  those  days  a very  com- 
fortable and  convenient  home. 

The  baking  was  performed  by  surrounding  the  kettle 
with  live  coals  in  a corner  of  the  fire  place,  changing  and 
renewing  as  occasion  required.  A loaf  of  bread  baked 
in  this  manner,  made  of  three  parts  of  cornmeal  and  one 
part  of  stewed  pumpkin,  was  a great  favorite  with  the 
pioneer.  No  better  bread  was  ever  made.  It  was  thought 
that  standing  in  the  kettle  over  night  improved  its  flavor. 
Remove  the  cover  in  the  morning  and  behold  a brown 
loaf  with  a yellow  tinge  and  aroma  that  would  tempt  an 
epicure.  “Johnny  cake,”  or  brown  bread  baked  upon  a 
board  or  spider  tilted  up  before  the  fire,  was  also  in  com- 
mon use.  To  cook  a spare  rib,  duck  or  turkey,  they  were 


42 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


suspended  by  a tow  string  before  the  open  fire  place,  with 
an  iron  vessel  underneath  to  catch  the  drippings  from 
which  the  cook  would  bathe  or  baste  the  parts  with  a 
ladle  or  spoon,  giving  her  charge  at  the  same  time  a 
whirl  that  all  portions  might  receive  the  benefit  of  the 
blazing  fire.  Plain  roast  potatoes  and  salt  was  often  an 
acceptable  and  even  a pleasing  meal  for  the  entire  family. 
The  open  fire  place  introduced  the  use  of  andirons  on 
which  rested  the  finer  portion  of  the  wood  in  front  of 
the  back  log  in  building  the  fire.  The  hearth  made  of 
smooth  flag  stones  three  or  four  feet  in  width  was  al- 
ways a necessary  portion  of  the  stone  chimney. 

The  windows  of  the  log  house  were  usually  made  of  a 
single  sash  of  six  or  nine  light  of  7x9  glass.  The  hinges 
and  latches  of  the  doors  were  of  wood.  The  door 
opened  from  the  outside  by  a string  passing  through  a 
gimlet  hole  and  attached  to  the  latch  on  the  inside.  A 
person  not  of  the  household  wishing  to  enter  would  rap 
with  his  knuckles  on  the  door  when  he  would  hear  from 
within  the  universal  custom  of  the  day,  “Come  in.”  He 
would  pull  up  the  latch  string  and  enter.  The  dining 
room,  sitting  room  and  parlor  were  all  in  one.  If  the 
family  were  partaking  of  a meal  the  stranger  was  always 
made  welcome  to  a place  at  the  table. 

Nearly  all  the  clothing  and  linen  of  the  family  were 
manufactured  at  home.  Every  farm  would  contain-  from 
a fourth  to  a half  acre  of  flax  from  which  was  made  the 
summer  clothing.  In  the  early  winter  it  was  the  busi- 
ness of  the  farmer  to  prepare  the  flax  for  the  spinning- 
wheel  operated  by  the  women.  To  do  this  he  made  use 
of  a simple  machine  called  a brake,  which  was  followed 
by  the  hetchel  and  swingle,  producing  a soft  and  pliable 
mass  twisted  into  a head  of  flax  ready  to  be  spun  and 
woven.  In  nearly  all  the  log  cabins  the  big  and  little 
wheels  were  in  active  operation  by  the  mother  and  girls. 
The  mother  would  be  seated  at  the  little  wheel,  distaff 
in  hand,  one  foot  upon  the  treadle,  the  other  jigging  the 
cradle  containing  a little  rosebud  of  humanity,  at  the 
same  time  singing  a low  soothing  lullaby  more  charming 
than  the  music  of  the  spheres.  One  of  the  girls  would  be 
seated  beside  a basket  of  tow,  carding  into  bolts  one  foot 


Pioneers. 


43 


long  and  two  inches  wide  with  a pair  of  hand  cards, 
while  the  sister  would  be  moving  backward  and  forward 
with  nimble  steps  beside  the  big  wheel  full  twelve  feet  in 
circumference,  and  spinning  those  bolts  into  yarn.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  and  early  spring  the  women  manufactured 
sufficient  tow  and  linen  cloth  for  the  summer  clothing  of 
the  family  and  to  replenish  the  bedding.  The  male  por- 
tion were  obliged  to  be  satisfied  with  cloth  made  of  linen 
warp  and  tow  filling.  The  cloth  was  full  of  shives  and 
for  the  first  few  weeks  was  extremely  aggravating,  es- 
pecially the  shirts,  rasping  and  scratching  the  body  as  if 
with  a thousand  needles.  The  mother  and  the  girls 
claimed  the  clear  linen,  and  for  dresses  they  would  make 
a piece  checked  or  striped  with  copperas,  and  when 
starched  or  ironed  who  will  say  that  the  girls  were  not  as 
attractive  and  winsome  as  those  of  the  present  day?  Be- 
sides the  universal  sunbonnet,  the  ladies  wore  for  many 
years  the  calash,  made  by  covering  willow  hoops  with 
gingham  or  some  fancy  chintz.  These  bonnets  would 
open  and  shut  like  a buggy  cover,  allowing  the  wearer  to 
show  to  advantage  her  bewitching  smiles  and  flowing 
ringlets.  During  six  months  of  the  year,  she,  as  well  as 
the  men  and  boys,  went  about  at  home  with  bare  feet. 
Straw  hats  for  the  men  and  boys  were  braided  and 
sewed  at  home,  and  for  winter  the  boys  wore  fulled  caps, 
with  alternate  strips  of  black  and  grey  or  blue,  brought 
to  a point  at  the  top,  usually  tipped  with  a red  tassel. 

These  tow  and  linen  clothes  being  manufactured  into 
pants,  shirts  and  frocks  for  the  men  and  boys,  and 
dresses  for  the  women  and  girls,  sheets,  pillow  cases  and 
towels  for  all,  they  were  soon  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  flannel  for  winter  garments.  Every  farmer  owned 
a flock  of  sheep  and  they  were  carefully  yarded  nightly 
to  protect  them  from  the  wolves.  The  wool  taken  from 
the  sheep  was  carded  at  home  or  hurried  off  to  the  card- 
ing machine,  where  it  was  made  into  rolls.  Soon  the 
girls  are  all  busy  again  at  the  spinning  wheel.  A piece 
of  flannel  sufficient  for  the  outer  clothing  of  the  male 
portion  of  the  family  was  sent  to  the  fulling  mill  to  be 
dressed  and  returned  for  winter  wear,  the  remainder  be- 
ing made  into  skirts  and  sheets.  For  the  women  a piece 


44  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

of  fancy  check  of  black  and  red  was  also  woven  and  sent 
to  the  mill  to  be  pressed,  and  when  made  into  clothing 
was  tidy,  tasty  and  comfortable* 

During  the  period  of  the  log  cabin  feather  beds  were 
considered  indispensable.  The  rough  boarding  of  the 
gables  would  warp,  and  it  was  no  infrequent  occurrence 
to  find  the  snow  several  inches  deep,  covering  the  floor 
and  bedding  of  the  chambers,  a condition  demanding  ex- 
tra bed  clothing.  Hence,  every  well  ordered  family  kept 
a flock  of  geese,  and  every  young  lady  on  her  marriage 
expected  one  or  two  feather  beds,  besides  the  linen  and 
flannel  which  she  had  laid  aside  for  that  most  important 
occasion  of  her  life.  Geese  feathers  were  also  a medium 
of  exchange  at  the  stores  and  with  the  wagon  peddlers, 
but  the  equivalent  value  was  always  claimed  by  the  wo- 
men of  the  household. 

The  furniture  was  always  plain,  consisting  of  square- 
legged bedsteads  with  rope  or  bark  cordage,  and  an  awn- 
ing overhead,  called  a “tester,”  around  which  was  a 
drooping  fringe  of  net  work  tipped  with  tasty  little  tas- 
sels. Sometimes  near  the  window  would  be  seen  a chest 
of  drawers,  and  near  it  a three-legged  stand  over  which 
was  the  looking  glass  with  ornamental  frame  of  jigger 
work  brought  by  the  mother  from  her  eastern  home. 
Nearby  stood  the  unvarnished  cherry  or  pine  cross- 
legged  table  and  in  the  spare  nooks  and  corners,  when 
not  in  use,  a number  of  splint-bottom  chairs.  On  shelves 
against  the  wall,  or  in  the  tall  cupboard,  are  displayed 
rows  of  bright  pewter  plates  standing  edgewise,  headed 
by  the  great  pewter  platter,  always  in  use  at  “boiled  din- 
ners” piled  with  cabbage,  turnips,  beets,  potatoes  and 
other  vegetables,  and  near  its  side  lies  the  berg  of  pud- 
ding stuffed  with  some  kind  of  wild  berries,  a tempting 
slice  of  which  is  given  to  each  one  at  the  table,  covered 
with  sweet  cream.  Then  no  carpets  were  seen  upon  the 
floors,  but  as  long  as  this  was  the  general  rule,  content- 
ment reigned  and  merriment . and  cheerful  song  were  the 
heritage  of  the  household.  Spinning  bees  were  common, 
especially  when  one  of  the  neighboring  women,  by  sick- 
ness or  want  of  help,  chanced  to  fall  behind  in  preparing 
her  web  of  tow  or  woolen  cloth  for  summer  use.  Some 

♦The  author  of  this  history  remembers  when  all  the  work  was 
done  at  home,  there  being  no  fulling  mill  within  reach. 


Pioneers. 


45 


one  of  the  family  with  a team  loaded  with  flax  would 
visit  every  house  within  two  or  three  miles,  leaving 
enough  for  a day’s  work  at  each  place,  at  the  same  time 
giving  an  invitation  to  supper  at  home  a few  days  in  ad- 
vance. No  one  was  ever  known  to  refuse  her  share  of 
the  work,  and,  at  the  appointed  time,  each,  with  her 
skeins  of  yarn  under  her  arm,  the  roses  of  health  on  her 
cheeks  and  a throb  of  joy  in  her  heart,  would  enter  this 
neighbor’s  house  where  she  was  sure  to  be  received  with 
tokens  of  affection  and  love. 

Religious  societies  were  few  and  far  between,  but 
whenever  a wandering  missionary  made  his  appearance 
and  left  an  appointment  to  preach  at  the  log  school  house 
or  private  dwelling,  everybody  turned  out  to  hear  him. 
The  general  practice  on  Sunday  was  to  call,  with  words 
of  welcome  and  good  cheer,  on  some  new  neighbor  who 
had  located  in  the  woods,  if  only  a few  miles  away.  The 
road  to  one  of  these  primitive  homes  was  made  by  cutting 
out  the  underbrush  and  fallen  timber  sufficiently  wide 
for  the  passage  of  ox  teams  and  sleds,  passing  over  roots 
and  cradle  knolls  and  winding  around  trees. 

Flour  was  seldom  kept  at  the  stores  and  a sack  of 
flour  could  not  be  bought;  if  for  sale,  few  had  the  money 
to  make  the  purchase,  so  everybody  went  to  mill.  At 
such  times  a wagon  would  be  loaded  by  the  neighbors 
with  a few  bushels  for  each,  and  with  two  or  three  boys 
for  company  and  a yoke  of  oxen  for  a team,  would  creep 
away  to  mill  at  the  rate  of  about  two  miles  an  hour,  never 
returning  until  the  next  day.  The  miller  would  gener- 
ally keep  us  over  night.  On  the  road  the  boys  would 
watch  for  the  vacancies  in  the  corn  field  where  would  be 
found  the  melon  patch,  always  free  for  all  to  help  them- 
selves, as  they  often  grew  by  the  wagon  load  from  the 
new  and  virgin  soil  and  no  market  but  home  consump- 
tion. 

Logging  “bees”  were  common  whenever  a man  fell 
behind  in  preparing  his  chopping  fallow  for  the  spring 
crop  or  winter  wheat  in  the  fall.  Then  for  several  miles 
away  the  neighbors  were  invited  with  their  ox  teams  to 
assemble  on  a certain  day. 

In  the  fall  would  always  be  seen  long  rows  of  pump- 
kins, cut  in  circular  strips  a half  inch  in  thickness,  sus- 
pended on  poles  attached  to  beams  overhead  to  dry.  This 


46 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  the  main  dependence  for  pies  and  dessert  for  the 
family  until  the  apple  tree  came  to  bearing  and  added  a 
welcome  variety  to  the  comforts  of  the  table. 

The  first  roads  were  made  by  cutting  out  the  fallen 
timber,  sufficiently  wide  for  the  passage  of  sleds,  and 
winding  around  the  larger  trees.  The  wet  and  swampy 
places  were  made  passable  by  corduroy  or  log  bridges, 
usually  called  crossways.  A wagon  would  go  jumping 
and  bounding  over  those  logs,  trying  the  patience  of  Job, 
and  the  women  would  universally  prefer  to  walk.  Deep 
and  almost  impassable  mud  holes  were  frequent  along 
the  main  highways,  and  during  half  the  year  teams  were 
often  “stuck"’  in  the  mud.  The  long  lever  would  lift 
• them  out,  and,  long  before  night,  the  men  would  find 

themselves  besmeared  with  dirt  from  head  to  foot.  Along 
the  roads  in  the  newer  settlements  woodlands  prevailed, 
and  the  occasional  log  cabin  was  always  a source  of 
pleasure,  “a  thing  of  beauty  and  a joy  forever”  to  the 
weary  traveler.  Men  of  to-day  may  be  disposed  to  con- 
dole the  pioneer  as  they  read  of  the  hardships  he  endured, 
but  the  old  man,  whoever  he  may  be,  when  questioned, 
will  say  that  he  often  sighs  for  the  return  of  those  days 
of  simplicity  and  brotherly  kindness.  Then  there  was 
no  favored  aristocracy  of  wealth  and  so-called  refine- 
ment that  marks  the  present  day,  no  “upper  tens,”  no 
sharp  lines  to  sunder  the  great  heart  of  humanity.  Very 
few  felt  themselves  independent  of  their  neighbors,  “to 
breast  alone  the  tide  of  life,”  and  so,  cherishing  the  type 
of  the  good  Samaritan,  they  proclaimed  good  will  to  the 
world. 

The  grain  harvest  was  done  with  the  sickle  and  the  hay 
crop  cut  with  the  hand  scythe  and  gathered  into  wind- 
rows with  the  hand  rake.  When  the  grain  was  not 
lodged  a good  hand  would  cut,  bind  and  put  into  shock 
one  acre  a day.  Two  acres  was  a day’s  work  in  cutting 
grass  with  the  scythe,  for  which  the  laborer  would  re- 
ceive fifty  cents.  The  day  would  begin  at  sunrise  and 
often  continue  till  an  hour  or  two  after  sunset. — ( Con- 
densed from  History  of  Chautauqua  County,  W . A.  Fer- 
gusson  & Co.,  Boston,  Mass.,  1894,  pp.  292-310.) 


m. 


II 


ROBERT  RICHFORD  ROBERTS. 

Robert  Richford  Roberts  was  born  in  Frederick 
County,  Maryland,  August  2,  1778,  and  died  in  Law- 
rence County,  Indiana,  March  26,  1843.  His  father, 
Robert  Morgan  Roberts,  was  a native  of  Cecil  County, 
and  his  mother,  Mary  Richford,  was  born  in  Kent  Coun- 
ty. His  grandfather,  John  Roberts,  left  a considerable 
estate  at  his  death,  but  according  to  the  then  laws  of 
Maryland  the  whole  property  went  to  the  eldest  son. 
The  father  was  by  occupation  a farmer,  and  the  whole 
family  were  inured  to  toil  and  the  hardships  incident  to 
frontier  life  The  parents  were  members  of  the  Church 
of  England  and  zealously  attached  to  its  articles,  homilies 
and  forms.  There  were  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  eleven  of  whom  lived  to  years  of  ma- 
turity. Robert  Richford  was  the  third  who  bore  the 
name.  “The  mother  was  so  intent  on  continuing  the 
Christian  name  of  her  husband,  and  her  own  maiden 
name,  in  the  family,  that  she  persisted  in  attaching  them 
to  the  son  that  was  born  after  the  death  of  the  two  just 
mentioned.”  There  was  little  opportunity  for  gaining 
an  education,  but  Robert  Richford  made  good  use  of 
such  advantages  as  his  father  could  afford  and  learned 
rapidly.  “The  children’s  education  consisted  only  in  the 
rudiments  of  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  which,  in 
those  days,  formed  the  entire  course  of  common  school 
instruction.” 

In  1785  the  father  sold  his  property  in  Maryland  and 
moved  with  his  family  to  Ligonier  Valley,  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Roberts  was  strictly 
Earned  by  his  minister  before  he  left  Maryland  against 
the  seceders  and  especially  the  Methodists  whom  he  rep- 
resented as  peculiarly  dangerous  people.  In  1788  the 
Methodist  preachers  came  into  the  neighborhood.  The 
older  children  frequently  heard  them,  and  amused  them- 
selves by  making  light  remarks  about  the  services.  Mrs. 


48  x History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Roberts  with  Robert  Richford  attended  once,  but  owing 
to  the  opposition  at  home  did  not  attend  again  for  more 
than  a year.  But  the  three  elder  sisters,  Sarah,  Eliza- 
beth and  Esther,  were  converted  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Sarah  urged  her  father 
to  the  duty  of  family  prayers.  He  yielded,  at  first  using 
the  prayer  book,  then,  to  please  his  daughter,  using  a 
form  of  his  own  composition.  But  she  wanted  him  to 
pray  from  the  heart,  as  the  Spirit  gave  him  utterance. 
At  length  he  said  gently,  “My  child,  pray  yourself!” 
This  she  did,  and  few  were  her  equals  in  this  respect. 

“As  their  house  was  the  place  of  worship,  the  children 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  class  meetings  and  prayer 
meetings,  as  well  as  preaching,  together  with  the  conver- 
sation and  instructions  of  the  preachers  in  the  family 
circle.  Sarah  Roberts,  the  eldest  sister,  required  Robert, 
Lewis  and  the  younger  children,  during  class  and  other 
religious  meetings,  to  sit  together  on  a bench  behind  the 
large  table ; and  she  watched  them  with  maternal  and 
Christian  solicitude,  in  order  to  see  that  all  were  present, 
and  that  they  behaved  themselves  in  a proper  manner 
during  the  various  exercises.  This  regulation  had  an  ex- 
cellent effect  upon  their  minds  and  morals,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  their  future  excellent  religious  life.” — 
( Elliott , Life  of  Bishop  Roberts , pp.  23-24.) 

Soon  the  whole  family  were  converted  and  preaching 
was  moved  to  the  Roberts  home.  Robert  Richford  gives 
the  following  account  of  his  conversion: 

“One  day  about  sunrise  in  the  month  of  May  I was 
in  a corner  of  the  fence  praying,  when,  I humbly  trust, 
my  sins  were  pardoned,  and  God,  for  Christ’s  sake,  ac- 
cepted me.  Before  that  time  I had  frequently  had  sweet 
intimations  of  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  the  Lord.  My 
heart  was  tender,  and  I felt  as  if  I could  love  God 
and  his  people.  But  yet,  until  that  morning,  my  mind 
was  not  at  rest.  Then  everything  seemed  changed.  Na- 
ture wore  a new  aspect,  as  I arose  and  went  to  my  work 
with  cheerfulness;  though  I own,  I did  not  then  know 
whether  I had  received  all  that  I should  look  for  in  con- 
version. I never  had  such  alarming  views  of  my  condi- 
tion as  some  have  experienced.  My  mind  was  gradually 
opened : and  although  I had  always  led  a moral  life,  I 
firmlv  believed  that  my  heart  must  be  changed.  Owing 


Robert  Richford  Roberts.  49 

to  my  youth,  I cannot  now  remember  the  precise  day  of 
my  conversion,  though  the  scene,  as  it  occurred  that 
morning,  has  ever  been  deeply  printed  on  my  nlemory. 
It  happened  in  my  fourteenth  year,  A.  D.  1792.” — (El- 
liott, Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  p.  25.) 

The  only  schooling  Robert  Richford  had,  after  leav- 
ing Maryland  at  seven  years  of  age,  was  less  than  three 
months  in  the  winter  of  1795-96.  Most  of  the  teachers 
of  that  day  in  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  were  Irishmen. 
Mr.  McAbee  taught  school  at  Matthew  Fisher’s,  three 
and  a half  miles  from  the  Roberts  home.  This  school 
Robert  attended,  returning  to  do  the  thrashing  on  Satur- 
days. He  “scutched”  flax  for  his  board  at  Mr.  Mc- 
Cracken’s. 

Mr.  McAbee  imported  from  his  native  land  a very  pe- 
culiar disciplinary  usage  called  “horsing.”  Whenever 
any  boy  of  his  school  remained  refractory  after  a gen- 
erous application  of  the  ferrule,  rod,  or  cat-with-nine- 
tails,  “horsing”  was  the  last  resort.  The  disobedient 
boy  was  mounted  on  the  back  of  another;  or,  if  more 
than  one  was  guilty,  they  interchanged  places  as  horse 
and  rider.  When  thus  mounted,  the  cat-with-nine-tails 
was  applied  with  peculiar  emphasis  before  the  whole 
school.  Immediately  preceding  the  castigation,  however, 
a proclamation  was-  made,  that  if  any  boy  of  good  char- 
acter would  offer  himself  as  a surety  for  the  culprit,  the 
latter  would  be  pardoned,  but,  if  afterwards,  he  were  to 
commit  an  offense,  his  surety  should  undergo  the  flog- 
ging. Now  it  happened  that  a very  bad  boy  had  in- 
curred the  penalty  of  the  “horse.”  All  preparations 
were  made  for  his  punishment.  The  school  was  in  sus- 
pense. The  proclamation  was  made,  but  all  were  silent. 
The  cruel  cat-with-nine-tails  was  about  to  descend  upon 
his  back  when  Robert  R.  Roberts  stepped  forward  and 
offered  himself  as  surety.  The  proffer  was  accepted  and 
the  boy  pardoned.  The  result  was  his  thorough  reclama- 
tion, and  young  Roberts  received  the  homage  of  the 
whole  school.  In  this,  we  may  see  an  omen  of  the  future 
influence  of  his  dignified  bearing  which  ever  commanded 
the  respect  of  all  classes  of  men. 

“In  the  spring  of  1796,  Robert  R.  Roberts,  being  then 
nearly  eighteen  years  of  age,  set  out  for  Shenango,  now 
Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  company  with  four 


4 


From  Hurst’s  History  of  Methodism  by  permission  of  EATON  & MAINS 

Bishop  Robert  Richford  Roberts. 


Robert  Richford  Roberts. 


5i 


others;  his  brother,  Thomas  Roberts,  John  Caughey, 
James  Hubanks  and  William  McLean.  The  section  of 
country,  embracing  Northwestern  Pennsylvania,  bounded 
by  Lake  Erie,  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  Ohio  and  Allegheny 
rivers,  French  creek  and  Conewango  creek,  was  then  an 
almost  uninhabited  region.  This  was  particularly  true 
in  regard  to  Mercer  County.  In  order  to  encourage  the 
settlement  of  it,  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  had 
passed  an  act  granting  four  hundred  acres,  and  allow- 
ance, to  any  one  who  would  make  actual  settlement  for 
five  years,  clear  and  fit  for  cultivation  twenty-five  acres, 
and  build  a house  or  cabin ; and  pay,  at  a certain  time, 
twenty  dollars  for  each  hundred  acres  to  the  State.” — 
(Elliott,  Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  pp.  32,  33.) 

They  traveled  on  foot,  carrying  their  provisions  on 
their  backs.  They  crossed  the  Allegheny  at  a place  near 
where  Freeport  now  stands,  and  examined  the  country 
up  Buffalo  creek.  Two  of  the  young  men  now  returned 
to  Ligonier,  but  Robert,  John  Caughey  and  James  Hu- 
banks remained.  They  continued  their  journey  in  a 
northeasterly  direction,  and  on  the  third  day  struck  the 
old  Venango  Path  which  led  from  Pittsburg  to  a point 
at  the  mouth  of  French  creek  and  followed  this  path  till 
they  came  to  the  garrison  where  Franklin  now  stands. 
Fort  Venango  had  been  abandoned  and  the  “old  garri- 
son," a strong  log  house  well  fortified,  was  more  favor- 
ably located  near  the  creek  at  the  foot  of  Tenth  Street. — 
(George  Dallas  Albert , The  Frontier  Forts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Vol.  II.  pp.  597,  308.)  Here  they  remained  over 
Sabbath. 

They  went  up  French  creek  to  what  was  then  called 
Cassewago,  where  Meadville  now  stands,  and  where 
there  were  then  a few  buildings.  The  flats  of  French 
creek,  which  were  natural  meadows,  were  beautiful  and 
pleased  them  greatly;  but  they  had  been  generally  taken 
up  by  previous  settlers.  After  spending  a few  days  at 
Cassewago,  they  went  down  French  creek  again  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  Conneaut  creek,  which  empties  itself 
into  French  creek  about  eight  miles  below  Meadville  on 
the  west  side.  From  the  mouth  of  Conneaut  they  pro- 
ceeded westwardly  to  the  head  of  Sandy  creek,  following 
an  old  Indian  path  called  the  Kuskuskia  Path,  and  lead- 
ing from  Cassewago  to  Kuskuskia,  a place  on  the  Beaver 


>»  >- 

oz 


C'O 

UlI 


<3T 

a: 

a 


^ >~ 


D C U 

^ mmmj 

5“  o 

LD  uj 


EMORY  UNIVERSITY 


28524 


5-2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


river.  When  they  passed  over  Sandy  creek  they  stopped 
for  the  night.  This  place  was  about  four  miles  northeast 
from  Georgetown. — (Elliott,  Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  pp. 
57,  38.)  Leaving  their  knapsacks  concealed,  they  went 
to  the  headwaters  of  Little  Shenango,  and  encamped  near 
this  stream  three-quarters  of  a mile  north  of  the  place 
where  John  Leech,  Sr.,  afterward  built  his  residence. 
They  had  no  provisions  except  one  squirrel  which  Robert 
Rich  ford  fastened  to  a stick  to  cook  before  the  fire,  but 
fell  asleep  and  allowed  to  burn  to  a cinder.  Now  we 
have  a narrative  of  many  adventures;  how  they  got  lost 
as  they  attempted  to  find  their  camp  next  morning;  their 
falling  in  with  two  other  young  men  selecting  claims; 
building  a cabin;  and  the  failure  of  their  supply  of  pro- 
visions. Robert  succeeded  in  borrowing  a little  money 
from  Caughey.  “They  proceeded  to  Cassewago,  and  got 
a supply  of  provisions,  which  they  carried  on  their  backs 
upward,  as  the  path  then  was,  of  twenty  miles.  The 
price,  too,  was  high,  as  they  had  to  be  brought  from 
Pittsburgh  up  the  Allegheny  to  the  mouth  of  French 
creek,  and  then  up  this  creek  to  Meadville.”  They 
cleared  and  planted  a few  acres,  carrying  seed  corn  and 
potatoes  from  Meadville,  paying  for  the  potatoes  three 
dollars  and  for  the  corn  two  dollars  a bushel.  The  nar- 
rator says : “The  crop  turned  out  to  be  a very  poor  one. 
The  new  country  swarmed  with  ground  squirrels,  which 
devoured  the  greater  part  of  the  corn  before,  or  just 
after  it  germinated.  The  potato  crop,  however,  did  well, 
and  was  their  principal  resource.”—  (Elliott,  Life  of 
Bishop  Roberts,  pp.  42 , 43.)  Roberts  and  Hubanks  now 
returned  home  to  assist  in  harvesting.  Reaching  the 
mouth  of  French  creek  they  hired  themselves  to  the  cap- 
tain of  a keel-boat  bound  for  Meadville,  and  thence  in 
the  same  boat  worked  their  way  down  to  Pittsburg, 
from  which  place  they  walked  home. 

In  1797  Robert  Richford  returned  to  Shenango  with 
his  brothers,  Thomas  and  Lewis.  Several  others  joined 
the  company.  Thomas  Roberts  selected  a tract  of  land 
and  with  his  brother  Lewis  returned  home,  leaving 
Robert  Richford  four  dollars  for  * necessary  expenses. 
About  the  last  of  March,  Robert,  Stephen  Riley  and  Wil- 
liam Lindsay  started  for  an  Indian  camp  on  Sandy 
creek  to  buy  sugar.  Robert  spent  his  four  dollars  for 


i 


Robert  Rich  ford  Roberts. 


53 


sugar;  they  got  lost  on  their  return;  there  was  a heavy 
storm  of  rain ; they  could  have  but  a little  smoldering 
fire  because  everything  was  soaked  with  water;  a panther 
prowled  about  their  camp;  and  the  sugar  all  melted  away 
because  of  the  rain  from  which  it  could  have  no  protec- 
tion. They  had  started  for  Sandy  Lake  on  the  Sabbath 
because  they  could  then  have  an  Indian  guide.  Robert 
thought  it  was  a judgment  on  them  for  breaking  the 
Sabbath.  Their  provisions  and  money  were  exhausted. 
They  had  nothing  but  squirrels  and  salt  for  three  weeks 
and  became  poor  and  emaciated.  Robert  started  for 
French  creek  to  pawn  his  rifle  for  provisions,  but  at  the 
distance  of  five  miles  from  the  cabin  met  his  two  brothers, 
Thomas  and  Lewis,  his  father  and  his  sister  Elizabeth. 
They  brought  four  horses  laden  with  provisions,  and 
four  cows. 

Robert  R.  Roberts  went  to  Connellsville  and  pur- 
. chased  a piroque  to  bring  provisions  down  to  Beaver, 
and  up  the  Beaver  and  Big  and  Little  Shenango.  On 
his  way  to  Connellsville  he  stopped  at  the  house  of  Rev. 
Jacob  Gurwell,  a local  preacher,  who  resided  at  Chestnut 
Ridge,  Westmoreland  County.  Mr.  Gurwell  had  a meet- 
ing at  the  house  of  James  Stevenson,  Sr.,  brother-in-law 
of  John  Caughey,  and  there  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Gur- 
well, Mr.  Roberts  delivered  his  first  religious  address. 
From  early  youth  he  had  been  exercised  in  regard  to 
preaching;  he  had  preached  out  in  the  woods  alone,  and 
to  his  younger  sister;  he  had  joined  the  Church  in  1793, 
and  had  been  appointed  class  leader  at  Ligonier;  but  his 
natural  extreme  timidity  and  feeling  of  unworthiness 
and  lack  of  ability  had  deterred  him  from  the  work  to 
which  he  felt  himself  called.  Mr.  Roberts  reached  She- 
nango by  the  new  route,  but  such  were  the  difficulties 
that  this  was  probably  the  first  and  last  time  such  a 
journey  was  ever  attempted. 

In  1798  Robert  went  back  to  Ligonier  and  conveyed 
to  the  new  residence  his  sisters  Sarah,  Nancy  and  So- 
phia and  his  maternal  grandfather,  Mr.  Richford.  They 
traveled  about  ten  miles  each  day.  They  crossed  Wolf 
creek  by  felling  trees  on  each  side,  their  tops  meeting  in 
the  middle.  Nancy  Roberts  drove  three  cows  and  two 
pet  pigs,  carrying  an  axe  on  her  shoulder  and  walking 
all  the  way.  Sarah  carried  a spinning  wheel  on  her 


54 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


shoulder,  walking  all  the  way,  and  tenderly  taking  care 
of  her  grandfather,  now  a feeble  old  man. 

The  religious  interests  of  the  settlement  were  well 
looked  after.  “The  Rev.  Jacob  Gurwell,  an  Irishman, 
and  a local  preacher  of  moderate  talents,  .but  of  excellent 
Christian  character  and  sterling  worth,  became  a per- 
manent inhabitant  of  the  new  colony.  On  his  arrival  in 
the  settlement  in  the  spring  of  this  year  (1798)  he  im- 
mediately commenced  holding  meetings.  . . . Mr. 

Gurwell  searched  out  and  found  all  who  had  formerly 
been  members  of  the  Church,  and  exhorted  them  to  re- 
member their  Christian  obligations.  It  is  probable  that 
he  met  them  in  class  for  sometime  before  any  formal  or- 
ganization took  place.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Gurwell,  another  local  preacher,  Mr.  Thomas  McClel- 
land, an  Irishman  also,  became  a settler  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  had  preached  two  years  in  Ireland,  under  the 
direction  of  John  Wesley.*  He  possessed  excellent  gifts 
as  a preacher,  had  great  zeal,  and  was  a man  of  unblem- 
ished Christian  character  and  ardent  piety.  His  labors 
were  much  blessed  to  the  new  settlement.  Indeed,  he  be- 
came, as  a matter  of  course,  the  principal  spiritual  guide 
of  the  new  settlers.  He  and  Mr.  Gurwell  labored  in 
great  harmony  together;  and  by  their  joint  labors,  the 
religious  concerns  of  the  neighborhood  received  a great 
impulse,  while  beginnings  were  then  made  whose  influ- 
ence continues  to  this  day,  and  doubtless  will  remain  in 
progress  during  all  time.” — ( Elliott , Life  of  Bishop 
Roberts,  pp.  66,  67.)  The  first  class  was  formed  in  the 
summer  of  1798,  and  Robert  Richford  deposited  his  let- 
ter and  was  chosen  as  leader.  Mr.  McClelland  was  prob- 
ably the  first  who  talked  to  him  about  preaching.  His 
sister  Elizabeth  married  William  Lindsay  in  1798,  and 
he  was  then  left  without  a housekeeper.  Previous  to 
this  John  Caughey  had  married  his  sister  Esther.  Dur- 
ing the  hunting  season  a large  quantity  of  furs  were  se- 
cured and  sold  at  Greensburg,  and  Robert  and  Lewis 
went  on  to  Ligonier.  There  Robert  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Oldham.  Two  weeks  after  their  marriage  they 
started  for  Shenango  with  four  horses.  One  Mrs. 
Roberts  rode,  the  others  were  heavily  laden  with  packs. 
One  night  Mr.  Roberts  and  his  bride  were  caught  by 

*He  had  preached  four  years. 


. 


I 


Robert  Rich  ford  Roberts. 


55 


approaching  night  while  Lewis,  with  the  pack 
horse  that  carried  all  the  provisions,  was  far  in  ad- 
vance. They  had  eaten  nothing  since  breakfast,  and  now 
must  remain  supperless.  It  was  February  and  very  cold, 
but  they  were  compelled  to  camp  in  the  open  air,  the 
wolves  howling  all  night  around  them.  Reaching  She- 
nango  they  began  housekeeping  in  a cabin  about  twelve 
feet  square,  built  of  unhewed  logs;  a door  so  low  that 
they  must  stoop  to  enter  ; for  a window  a hole  between 
the  logs  covered  by  a board  to  keep  out  the  cold ; other 
parts  similarly  .constructed ; the  whole  put  together  with 
wooden  pegs,  not  a nail  having  been  used  in  its  construc- 
tion. The  furniture  was  of  the  same  rustic  style;  and 
the  provisions  were  potatoes,  pumpkins,  turnips,  hominy, 
cornmeal,  venison  and  racoon  hams,  frosted  and  smoked. 

Sugar-making  employed  the  family  in  the  early  spring. 
In  this  work  Mr.  Roberts  was  assisted  by  his  wife,  his 
sister  Nancy  and  his  little  nephew  John,  and  was  always 
accompanied  by  his  little  dog  Yuno.  The  sugar  camp 
was  north  of  the  Little  Shenango,  a short  distance  above 
the  residence  of  William  Leech  and  about  a mile  from 
the  Methodist  meeting  house.  The  creek  at  that  place 
runs  close  to  the  high  ground  on  the  south.  The  camp 
lay  north  of  the  creek  upon  elevated  ground  and  within 
a few  rods  of  where  at  a later  date  there  was  a bridge. 
The  ground  north  of  the  camp  and  creek  where  the 
sugar  trees  were  abundant  was  much  lower.  When 
they  commenced  boiling  the  “sugar  water”  there  was 
much  snow  on  the  ground.  The  run  of  sap  was  good 
and  they  concluded  to  boil  all  night.  Shortly  after  dark 
it  began  to  rain  very  hard,  the  snow  melted,  the  Little 
Shenango  overflowed  its  banks  and  spread  over  the  bot- 
tom, and  cut  the  busy  campers  off  from  their  home.  In- 
tersecting channels  rendered  the  ground  impassable  even 
in  the  day  time  without  bridging  with  trees  or  swimming. 
The  main  creek  itself,  immediately  south  of  this  sea  of 
water,  could  not  be  crossed,  the  night  was  dark,  the 
water  still  rose  and  soon  surrounded  the  camp,  and  the 
night  became  very  cold.  To  save  the  fire  it  was  placed 
on  some  wood  in  a sugar  trough.  The  little  group  of 
adventurers  then  mounted  a fallen  tree  whose  trunk  was 
elevated  somewhat  above  the  water.  Upon  this  they 
walked  backwards  and  forth  to  keep  themselves  warm. 


i 


56 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


They  also  floated  the  trough  containing  the  fire  along 
side  the  “tree  of  refuge”  so  as  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
little  warmth  afforded.  But  the  bottom  of  the  trough 
burned  through,  and  they  were  left  in  total  darkness  in 
the  stormy  midnight,  pacing  rapidly  the  smooth  log 
above  the  flood  of  waters,  drenched  to  the  skin  and  stif- 
fened with  cold.  At  length  came  welcome  daylight,  but 
it  presented  only  a sea  which  they  knew  was  intersected 
with  many  deep  channels.  They  sought  to  escape  from 
their  perilous  position.  Mr.  Roberts  waded  on  ahead 
with  little  John  on  his  back,  feeling  his  way  carefully 
till  he  came  to  one  of  the  channels.  He  then  placed  the 
boy  on  a log  or  stump  that  stood  above  the  swollen 
waters  and  cut  down  a tree  so  that  it  fell  across  the  deep 
channel.  He  then  conducted  his  wife  and  sister  on  this 
extemporized  bridge,  holding  them  by  the  hand  as  they 
crossed  the  fallen  trunk.  Between  the  channels  they 
waded  in  water  up  to  the  waist.  Several  were  crossed  in 
like  manner  till  they  came  to  high  ground,  from  which 
they  soon  reached  home.  The  little  dog,  Yuno,  kept  his 
position  on  the  large  log  till  the  water  had  so  far  sub- 
sided that  Mr.  Roberts  could  go  to  his  rescue. — (Elliott, 
Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  pp.  84,  86.) 

Thomas  McClelland. 

Thomas  McClelland,  the  Irish  local  preacher,  convinced 
that  God  had  a special  work  for  Mr.  Roberts,  sent  him 
the  following  peculiar  communication  shortly  after  the 
Christmas  of  1801,  urging  him  on  to  the  performance 
of  his  duty : 

“My  Very  Dear  Brother:  May  grace,  mercy  and 

peace  be  multiplied  unto  you,  and  may  gospel  benefits  be 
your  portion  in  time  and  in  eternity. 

“The  reason  why  I trouble  you  with  these  few  lines  is 
to  apologize  for  my  recent  behavior  to  you  in  public, 
which,  I confess,  was  not  strictly  right,  though  well 
meant.  Pardon  my  rashness  and  Irish  bluntness,  as 
manifested  to  you  at  Brother  Gurwell’s.  If  you  suffered 
at  that  time,  I was  sharer  with  you  in  the  bitter  cup.  But 
it  is  all  past.  May  I learn  wisdom  for  the  time  to  come. 

“My  body  was  a little  afflicted  sometime  ago,  but  my 
soul  had  a comfortable  realizing  view  of  the  eternal 


Thomas  McClelland. 


57 


world.  My  thoughts  being  various,  they  at  length 
turned  to  you,  when  I had  the  following  dream : 

“I  thought  I had  got  free  from  this  region  of  misery 
and  woe,  and  was  admitted  into  the  world  of  spirits, 
standing  awhile  in  the  presence  of  God  and  the  Savior, 
and  then  ranging  the  golden  streets  of  the  eternal  city; 
also  greeting  the  blood-besprinkled  band,  and  having  fel- 
lowship with  the  saints  in  light,  joining  with  them  in  the 
song  of  Moses  and  of  the  Lamb. 

“My  mind  was  for  sometime  diverted  from  the  sweet 
employment  by  the  following  representation : 

“ ‘I  thought  I saw  your  father  in  glorious  apparel, 
having  a crown  of  righteousness  on  his  head,  and  in  his 
hands  palms  of  victory,  and  associated  with  another 
happy  spirit  that  I took  to  be  his  bosom  companion.  I 
next  beheld  bright  thrones,  which  as  far  surpassed  that 
of  Solomon  as  heavenly  things  surpass  those  that  are 
earthly.  There  was  one  in  an  exalted  station,  and  on  it 
was  placed  a crown  dazzling  with  brightness;  it  was  fixed 
near  those  of  the  prophets,  apostles,  martyrs,  and  em- 
inent ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord.  I drew  nigh 
to  behold  it,  and  was  informed  it  was  for  you. 

“I  thought  the  Savior  commanded  that  you  should  be 
brought  forward  to  see  what  was  here  in  reservation  for 
you.  In  a short  time  a seraph  fulfilled  the  high  com- 
mand, and  you  were  placed  in  the  presence  of  the  great 
King.  As  you  came  forward,  I thought  you  uttered  the 
words,  ‘Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  nor  the  heart 
of  man  known  the  joys  of  this  happy  place.’  The  Savior 
fixed  his  eyes  upon  you,  which  kindled  in  your  heart  a 
burning  love  to  him,  causing  you  to  neglect  everything 
else.  I thought  he  addressed  you  in  the  language  of  soft- 
ness and  affection,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  the  throne 
and  crown,  and  saying,  ‘Come  and  see  what  I have  pre- 
pared for  thee.’  Being  strengthened  by  these  gracious 
smiles  and  words,  you  meekly  cried  out, 

“ ‘ ’Tis  mercy  all,  immense  and  free, 

For  O!  my  God,  it  found  out  me.’ 

“Overcome  by  the  Divine  Presence,  you  fell  at  the  glor- 
ious feet  of  the  Savior,  and  poured  out  a flood  of  grati- 
tude. He  then  gave  you  a divine  touch,  at  which  you 
arose,  and  also  said  to  you,  ‘Son,  thou  art  ever  with  me. 
All  this  glory  shall  be  thine.  It  is  true,  the  happiness  is 


5« 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


■ 


great,  and  the  reward  is  excellent ; yet  the  way  thereto  is 
not  only  difficult,  but  contrary  to  flesh  and  blood/  I 
thought  you  replied,  ‘Make  known  to  me  the  way,  and 
in  Thy  strength  will  I walk  therein/  He  then  said,  ‘Go 
quickly  forth  among  the  numerous  crowds  of  earth,  and 
let  love  and  pity  raise  thy  voice  aloud  to  inform  them 
that  I am  willing  to  save  the  chief  of  sinners  from  hell 
and  a dreadful  eternity.  Tell  them  that  they  must  re- 
pent, obtain  pardon,  be  made  holy,  and  be  thus  prepared 
for  this  place  of  endless  joy/  I thought  the  words 
rested  on  your  soul  with  the  weight  of  a mountain,  and 
you  became  pale  and  motionless,  till  at  length  the  Lord 
gave  you  a second  touch,  and  revived  your  drooping 
spirits.  Being  strengthened,  you  said,  ‘Let  it  not  offend 
Thee,  and  I,  who  am  but  dust,  will  speak.  I have  thought 
it  my  duty  to  preach  the  gospel ; but  I feel  myself  all  un- 
fitness for  such  a task/  The  answer  given  was,  ‘I,  who 
have  called  thee  to  the  work,  can  qualify  thee  for  it/ 
You  replied,  ‘That  which  deters  me  most,  is,  I am  not 
holy  enough  to  stand  before  those  who  outshine  me  in 
real  piety,  and  to  give  them  instruction/  The  Savior 
then  said,  ‘If  thou  hadst  faithfully  followed  the  teach- 
ings of  my  Spirit,  thou  wouldst  have  been  holy,  and 
might  have  been  useful  to  mankind ; but  the  time  past 
cannot  be  recalled/  To  this  you  replied,  ‘If  I had  gifts, 
as  many  ministers  have,  I think  it  would  be  no  cross  to 
me/  The  command  was  then  given  you,  ‘Improve  what 
thou  hast  and  more  will  be  imparted/  At  this  you  said, 
‘With  shame  I acknowledge  that  in  me  pride  remains, 
and  I know  an  honest  preacher  is  despised  by  many/ 
The  answer  was,  ‘Read  that  part  of  the  first  chapter  of 
first  Corinthians,  which  begins  at  the  twenty-sixth 
verse/  You  then  said,  ‘Let  me  speak  but  once  more.  I 
have  brothers  and  friends  that  sometimes  criticise,  and 
before  them  I have  not  courage  to  speak/  The  answer 
to  this  was,  ‘Such  of  them  as  love  me  will  greatly  rejoice 
that  thou  doest  my  will ; and  such  as  are  not  in  the  way  of 
heaven,  let  love  constrain  thee  to  warn  of  their  danger. 
Remember  what  he  said  who  lifted  up  his  eyes  in  tor- 
ment, “I  have  five  brethren!”  Let  the  thought  come 
home  to  thy  heart.  Warn  them  honestly.  It  may  be 
they  will  hear  thy  words.  But,  remember,  if  thou  dost 
not  follow  me  in  the  way  I mark  out,  thou  shalt  have  in 


Thomas  McClelland. 


59 


the  lower  world  crosses  and  disappointments,  hardness 
of  heart  and  few  consolations,  and  if  by  my  aid,  thou 
dost  at  last  reach  this  blessed  place,  it  will  be  through 
the  fire,  and  thou  shalt  suffer  loss.  But  if  thou  takest 
up  this  cross,  and  dost  follow  me,  doing  my  work,  thou 
shalt  be  gainer  in  time,  and  shall  reap  immortal  joy 
throughout  eternity !’ 

“After  this  you  were  conducted  back  whence  you  came. 
I thought  you  moved  heavily  along,  and,  after  a deep 
sigh,  uttered  these  words:  ‘Woe  is  me,  if  I preach  not 

the  gospel.’  The  distress  I felt  on  your  account  awoke 
me,  and  put  an  end  to  my  dream.” — (Elliott,  Life  of 
Bishop  Roberts,  />/>.  92-95.) 

Thomas  McClelland  was  born  in  Monaghan  County, 
Ireland,  March  17,  1767.  His  parents  were  members  of 
what  is  called  the  Seceder  Church,  and  Thomas  was  edu- 
cated in  the  principles  of  that  faith.  He  was  brought  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  under  Metho- 
dist preaching,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  united  with 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1790,  and  soon  appointed  to  a station.  He 
traveled  as  an  itinerant  four  years  when  ill  health  com- 
pelled him  to  desist.  In  1797  he  came  to  America  and, 
with  his  family,  settled  in  New  Castle,  Delaware.  He 
then  removed  to  Maryland,  where  he  joined  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  officiated  one  year  as  a local 
preacher.  Hearing  of  some  of  his  relations  residing  in 
Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania,  he  removed  to  that 
neighborhood.  He  labored  successfully  as  a loca1 
preacher,  preaching  at  camp  meetings  and  as  a supply  as 
providence  opened  the  way.  In  June,  1821,  he  attended 
a camp  meeting  on  Beaver  Circuit,  where  his  weakened 
condition  showed  that  his  end  was  near.  He  started  to 
go  to  Pittsburgh  and  reached  its  vicinity  on  Wednesday. 
The  next  morning  he  did  not  awaken — God  had  taken 
him. 

“Many  were  the  excellencies  'of  our  deceased  brother. 
He  gave  evidence  at  an  early  period  of  life,  of  regenera- 
tion ; and  from  that  time  till  his  death  he  walked  circum- 
spectly before  men,  and,  we  believe,  uprightly  before 
God.  Among  his  Christian  friends,  he  was  considered 
and  treated  as  a father  in  Christ ; and  while  honored  and 
esteemed  by  all,  he  manifested  a willingness  to  be  the 


6o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


servant  of  all.  Humility,  indeed,  shone  conspicuously 
among*  the  other  graces  of  the  Spirit  with  which  he  was 
adorned.  He  sought  and  obtained  perfect  love;  and  both 
by  precept  and  example,  he  led  the  flock  of  Christ  into  this 
rich  pasture. 

“As  a minister  there  was  something  truly  apostolic  in 
his  appearance  and  manner;  and  on  all  occasions  he 
evinced  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
He  endeavored  to  keep  at  an  equal  distance  from  dry 
metaphysics  on  the  one  hand,  and  disgusting  dogmatism 
on  the  other.  His  was  the  simple,  yet  dignified  preach- 
ing of  the  primitive  evangelists.  He  studied  much;  and 
most  of  all,  he  studied  to  be  useful.  This  was  his  con- 
stant end.  And  though  mot  so  extensively  useful,  on  ac- 
count of  the  restricted  sphere  in  which  he  moved,  as  many 
of  his  brethren,  yet  he  has  left  a track  behind  him,  in 
which  others  may  tread,  and  a name  that  will  long  be  re- 
membered with  gratitude  and  veneration.” — (Methodist 
Magazine , Vol.  4 , pp.  338,  359.) 

Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop. 

“According  to  some  accounts,  Robert  R.  Roberts  ob- 
tained license  to  exhort  from  Rev.  Thornton  Fleming  at  a 
quarterly  meeting  at  Mumford's,  near  Meadville,  in  the 
summer  of  1800.  If  a license  was  then  given  to  him,  he 
must  have  been  licensed,  according  to  the  economy  of  the 
church,  before  that  time;  as  licenses  are  not  granted  at 
quarterly  meetings  to  exhort.  They  are  only  renewed  on 
these  occasions.  It  is  probable  that  the  preacher  of  the 
circuit,  without  any  application  from  him,  gave  the  license, 
he,  however,  making  no  use  of  it,  and  that  this  license  was 
renewed,  in  common  with  others,  by  Mr.  Fleming,  at  the 
time  referred  to.  At  any  rate  it  is  certain  that  no  use  was 
made  of  the  license,  and  that  the  grant  of  it  was  intended 
to  urge  him  to  do  what  all  believed  was  his  duty.  A 
conversation  occurred  between  Bishop  Roberts,  Thornton 
Fleming,  and  H.  B.  Bascom,  in  Mr.  M’Granahans  tent,  at 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  camp  meeting  in  1828,  the  pur- 
port of  which  was  that  Mr.  Fleming  had  licensed  him.” 
— (Elliott,  Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  p.  90.) 

His  father,  Robert  Morgan  Roberts,  died  in  great  peace 
at  Shenango,  February  28,  1801.  “He  was  a meek  and 
pious  man;  and  lived  and  died  a devoted  Christian.”  The 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  . 61 

same  year  Mr.  Roberts,  at  the  earnest  request  of  James 
Quinn,  exhorted  at  a watch-night  service  held  some  time 
in  the  summer  at  the  house  of  James  Stevenson,  Sr. 
Joseph  Shane  was  sent  that  year  by  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference to  the  Shenango  circuit  which,  however,  did  not 
include  the  Roberts  neighborhood.  James  Quinn  was  on 
the  Erie  circuit,  and  these  two  eminent  preachers  helped 
one  another  by  exchanging  labors.  Both  preached  on 
this  occasion.  Mr.  Roberts’  first  regular  sermon  was 
preached  at  James  Stevenson’s  in  the  early  part  of  1802. 
His  text  was,  “O  Lord,  revive  thy  work !”  He  was  then 
recommended  by  the  society  to  the  quarterly  conference 
for  license  to  preach,  and  his  license  was  given  at  Holmes’ 
meeting  house  on  Short  Creek,  Ohio,  on  the  West  Wheel- 
ing circuit,  and  at  the  same  time  he  was  “recommended 
to  travel.”  From  this  place  he  went  to  Doddridge’s  meet- 
ing-house, in  Spah’s  neighborhood,  Virginia,  to  hear  the 
presiding  elder,  Thornton  Fleming.  The  latter  not  ar- 
riving in  time,  Mr.  Roberts  preached.  James  Quinn 
gives  an  account  somewhat  different.  He  says  that 
“some  time  in  March,  1802,  Brother  Roberts  came  to  one 
of  my  appointments,  informing  me  that  he  had  had  no 
rest  in  his  mind  since  we  parted,  and  that  he  had  de- 
termined to  leave  all,  and  that  he  was  now  on  his  way 
with  his  wife  to  offer  himself  to  the  Baltimore  Confer- 
ence. This  startled  me  a little,  for  he  had  never  been  li- 
censed either  to  exhort  or  preach,  neither  had  he  a 
recommendation  from  the  society  of  any  quarterly  con- 
ference. I paused  a little.  He  observed  the  expression 
of  hesitancy  in  me,  and  I also  saw  an  affecting  embar- 
rassment in  him,  which  I endeavored  to  remove  by  ob- 
serving that  as  Shenango  was  missionary  ground,  and  the 
circuit  had  not  been  fully  organized,  I thought  we  could 
get  his  case  brought  before  the  Quarterly  Conference  of 
one  of  the  old  circuits,  and  as  Brother  Fleming,  the  pre- 
siding elder,  would  hold  a quarterly  meeting  at  Dod- 
dridge’s meeting-house,  in  Ohio  circuit,  the  following  Sat- 
urday, I would  write  to  him  and  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence, and  I doubted  not  they  would  take  action  in  his 
case.  He  spent  the  night  in  restless  tossings  to  and  fro, 
and  in  the  morning  concluded  he  had  better  return  home. 
At  length  he  reluctantly  took  the  letter  and  went  to  the 
quarterly  meeting.  Brother  Shane  providentially  was 


62 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


present  on  the  occasion,  upon  whose  recommendation, 
along  with  my  own,  the  conference  licensed  him  to  preach, 
and  recommended  him  to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  at 
which  he  was  admitted  on  trial.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  V ol.  I,  pp.  43,  44.) 

When  Mr.  Roberts  commenced  “traveling,”  he  sold  to 
a neighbor,  his  dog,  gun,  and  bear-trap ; and  the  money  he 
received  from  the  sale  of  these  articles  furnished  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  his  outfit.  Dr.  Charles  Elliott  came  into 
possession  of  the  bear-trap  which  he  deposited  in  the  In- 
diana Asbury  University.  Bishop  Roberts  was  the  mov- 
ing spirit  in  planting  this  school.  Dr.  H.  A.  Gobin,  in 
answer  to  an  inquiry  says : “I  have  heard  of  Bishop 

Roberts’  bear-trap.  It  was  in  the  Museum  of  the  orig- 
inal Asbury  University  building  destroyed  by  fire  in  1877, 
and  I have  not  heard  of  it  being  seen  after  that  fire." 

Bishop  Roberts  was  buried  “in  a lonely  corn-field  on  his 
own  farm  ;”  but  he  found  his  final  resting  place — January 
19,  1844 — by  the  chief  thoroughfare  in  the  Campus  of 
DePauw  University,  Greencastle,  Indiana:  “Poetic — 

yea — providential  justice  and  fitness.”  Upon  her  death, 
his  good  wife  was  laid  by  his  side. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference in  the  spring  of  1802,  and  appointed  to  the  Carl- 
isle circuit.  His  colleague  was  James  Smith  who  was  in 
charge  of  the  circuit.  He  was  now  nearly  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  In  1803  he  was  associated  with  Peter  B. 
Davis  on  the  Montgomery  circuit.  He  was  ordained 
deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1804  at  the  session  of  the 
Baltimore  Conference  held  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  and 
placed  on  the  Frederick  circuit  with  Daniel  Hitt  as  junior 
colleague.  The  next  year  he  was  sent  to  the  ShenangO 
circuit  “which  then  embraced  Butler  and  Beaver  counties, 
Pennsylvania,  and  extended  into  Ohio  as  far  as  \ ellow 
Creek,  where  Wellsville  now  stands,  and  contained  sev- 
eral appointments  in  the  Western  Reserve.  It  did  not, 
however,  embrace  that  part  of  Mercer  county,  where  his 
land  was  located,  or,  indeed,  any  part  thereof.  The  near- 
est point  to  his  home  was  between  twenty  and  thirty  miles 
distant.  At  this  time  there  was  no  Methodist  preaching- 
in  Pittsburg;  and  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Wrenshall  and 
others,  he  agreed  to  serve.  Having  no  fixed  place  to  hold 
meeting  in,  he  preached  in  the  Court  House. 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop. 


63 


He  continued  his  labors  among  them,  regulating  the  so- 
ciety, and  making  a favorable  impression  on  the  public 
bv  his  able  ministrations,  his  kind  manner,  and  dignified 
demeanor.” — ( Elliott , Life  of  Bishop  Roberts , pp.  128, 
129.)  At  the  close  of  his  second  quarter  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Erie  circuit  by  his  presiding  elder,  James 
Hunter,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  live  in  his  own  home. 
His  colleague  was  Joseph  A.  Shackelford,  “a  man  of 
great  faith  and  zeal,  and  mighty  in  prayer.”  At  the  ses- 
sion of  the  conference  in  Baltimore  he  was  ordained  elder 
by  Bishop  Asbury  and  returned  to  Erie  District.  “The 
circuit  was  large,  embracing  all  the  territory  now  included 
in  Erie  Conference,  except  the  part  in  New  York  State. 
It  required  six  weeks  to  go  round  it.” — ( Elliott , Life  of 
Bishop  Roberts,  p.  34.)  But  his  zeal  overstepped  the 
bounds  of  his  circuit,  and  he  preached  at  the  Beech  Flats, 
near  Jamestown,  New  York.  While  he  was  preaching  in 
Meadville  in  a tavern  one  cold  winter  night  with  his  over- 
coat on,  he  said : “If  you  want  honor,  it  is  more  honor- 

able to  serve  God  than  the  devil.  If  a man  wants  pleas- 
ure, he  need  not  go  to  Satan  for  it,  as  he  has-been  a 
stranger  to  it  for  more  than  five  thousand  years.  If  he 
wants  riches,  were  he  to  sweep  hell  he  could  not  find  a six- 
pence." At  this  a man  in  a corner  of  the  house  called 
out:  “Why,  sir!  then  money  is  scarce  there  as  well  as 

here.” 

“At  Conneaut,  near  \\  aterford,  there  was  a large  con- 
gregation. On  one  occasion  the  snow  was  deep,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  he  was  late,  and  on  his  arrival  the 
congregation  had  collected.  He  preached  and  met  class. 
They  had  a lively  meeting,  and  it  was  proposed  to  have 
preaching  in -the  evening,  which  was  agreed  on.  Many 
of  the  people  remained.  There  was  no  sign  of  dinner, 
and  as  he  had  eaten  nothing  since  early  in  the  morning, 
he  took  the  liberty  of  going  into  the  kitchen  just  before 
night  and  getting  a supply  of  what  was  indispensable 
under  the  circumstances.  The  meeting  continued  till 
nine  or  ten  o'clock,  the  exercises  being  very  interesting. 
On  the  following  day,  as  he  was  about  starting  to  Lex- 
ington the  lady  of  the  house  proposed  to  ride  along 
with  him  a few  miles  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  a friend. 
As  snow  had  fallen,  of  course  the  surface  of  the  road 
was  not  perceptible.  In  passing  through  a beech  flat 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  lady’s  horse  stepped  on  some  roots  and  his  foot  got 
so  entangled  among  them  that  he  could  not  extricate  it 
with  all  his  best  endeavor.  Mr.  Roberts,  therefore,  went 
to  the  nearest  house  and  borrowed  an  axe ; and  by  apply- 
ing it  to  the  roots,  set  the  horse  at  liberty.  This  so  de- 
tained him  that  night  began  to  come  on  when  eight  or 
ten  miles  from  his  appointment.  There  was  no  path  or 
track,  and  he  had  to  steer  by  the  blazes  or  marks  on  the 
trees  which  pointed  out  the  course.  About  sun-down  he 
arrived  at  a small  uncomfortable  cabin  and  found  only 
some  children  in  it,  the  parents  not  being  at  home.  He 
asked  if  he  could  stay  all  night,  and  the  oldest  informed 
him  that  he  could.  He  hesitated,  not  knowing  what  to 
do  for  the  best.  To  reach  his  place  of  destination  ap- 
peared impracticable,  as  he  could  not  see  the  blazes  on 
the  trees.  The  appearance  of  things,  however,  in  and 
around  the  house,  together  with  the  absence  of  the  par- 
ents, seemed  to  urge  him  to  go  on;  the  children  were 
very  duty,  being  covered  over  with  bear’s  grease,  and 
everything  around  was  in  keeping  with  their  persons. 
While  thus  pondering  the  matter  over,  and  asking  the 
children  some  questions,  the  mother  arrived,  her  per- 
sonal appearance  being  no  better  than  the  children’s.  He 
inquired  of  her,  also,  if  he  could  have  the  privilege  of 
staying  during  the  night,  to  which  she  cordially  assented, 
though  she  informed  him  that  they  no  bread,  nor  any- 
thing to  make  it  of.  He  alighted,  and  a short  time  after- 
ward the  father  himself  came  home  from  hunting.  He 
was  open  and  friendly,  and  treated  the  stranger  with 
every  mark  of  hospitality,  kindly  welcoming  him  to  the 
best  he  had.  He  had  no  grain  for  his  horse,  but  was 
abundantly  supplied  with  good  hay,  which  he  furnished 
most  willingly.  On  the  day  previous  he  had  killed  a 
large  bear  of  three  hundred  pounds  weight,  and  this  ac- 
counted for  the  greasy  clothes  and  faces  and  hands  of 
the  whole  family,  as  well  as  the  glossy  appearance  of 
some  of  the  household  utensils,  well  besmeared  as  they 
were  with  the  oil.  For  supper  the  kind  woman  put  a 
plentiful  supply  of  fat  bear’s  meat  in  a large  kettle  over 
the  blazing  fire,  and  then  after  a while  filled  it  up  with 
potatoes.  When  this  mixture  was  well  boiled  a quantity 
was  put  into  dishes  and  set  on  a table  made  of  a slab. 
They  sat  down  to  the  repast,  but  such  was  its  uninviting 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  'Bishop. 


65 


i, 


appearance  that,  though  hungry,  Mr.  Roberts  could  eat 
but  very  little.  They  had  no  regular  bed  for  their  guest 
to  sleep  on;  they  furnished,  however,  as  a substitute  a 
moderate  supply  of  straw  spread  on  the  floor  before  the 
fire.  On  this  he  lay,  with  his  feet  toward  the  fire,  his 
saddle  bags  serving  for  a pillow  and  his  great  coat  for 
covering.  As  the  night  was  cold  he  did  not  get  much 
sleep.  Next  morning  the  same  dish  was  prepared,  but  in 
somewhat  better  order,  which  rendered  it  more  palatable ; 
or  rather  an  increase  of  hunger  had  so  far  sharpened 
the  appetite  of  the  preacher  as  to  overcome  his  fastidious- 
ness. 

“During  his  stay  he  .held  considerable  religious  con- 
versation with  the  father  of  the  family,  who  seemed  to 
feel  the  force  of  what  was  said.  Indeed,  the  religious 
views  and  feelings  of  bettef  days  were  revived.  In  his 
secluded  situation  he  had  very  little  means  of  spiritual 
improvement,  and  the  call  of  the  minister  reminded  him 
of  other  times.  At  his  earnest  request,  Mr.  Roberts  bap- 
tized several  of  his  children,  adding  such  words  of  ex- 
hortation as  were  best  calculated  to  make  good  impres- 
sions on  the  minds  of  the  whole  household,  who,  as  al- 
ready stated,  entertained  him  with  the  very  best  they 
had  in  the  kindest  manner. 

“He  set  out  after  breakfast  for  Lexington,  his  next 
appointment,  which  was  on  the  Sabbath  day.  Three 
persons,  those  who  professed  to  have  experienced  re- 
ligion some  time  before,  and  who  had  been  raised  under 
Baptist  influence,  wished  to  be  immersed.  He  had  never 
before  witnessed  baptism  by  immersion,  and  was  at  some 
loss  how  to  proceed  in  the  most  appropriate  manner. 
The  weather  was  very  cold.  After  preaching  he  went 
to  Conneaut  creek  and  immersed  them.  He  then  had  to 
walk  about  half  a mile  to  the  place  where  he  lodged.  On 
arriving  there  his  clothes  were  frozen  quite  stiff.  He, 
however,  suffered  no  injury.” — ( Elliott , Life  of  Roberts , 
pp.  I37-I40-) 

In  the  spring  of  1807  he  was  appointed  to  the  Pitts-  . 
burgh  circuit.  “It  embraced  at  that  day  all  the  tract  of 
country  lying  between  Laurel  Hill  and  Allegheny  river.” 
He  passed  beyond  the  bounds  of  Erie  Conference  and 
did  not  labor  on  his  old  field  again  till  he  came  in  his 
episcopal  capacity.  A camp  meeting  at  which  Bishop 


5 


66 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Roberts  was  present,  was  held  in  1828  at  Shenango, 
within  sight  of  his  first  camp;  and  in  1841  he  held  the 
Erie  Conference  at  Warren,  Ohio.  His  later  appoint- 
ments were:  West  Wheeling,  1808;  in  November  he 

was  changed  to  Light  Street,  Baltimore,  to  which  he  was 
re-appointed  in  1809;  Fell’s  Point,  1810;  Alexandria, 
1811;  Georgetown,  1812;  1813  and  1814,  Philadelphia; 
Schuylkill  District,  1815,  and  in  1816,  May  14th,  Enoch 
George  and  Robert  R.  Roberts  were  elected  to  the  epis- 
copacy. The  plan  of  this  history  does  not  permit  us  to 
follow  Bishop  Roberts  in  his  extensive  travels  made  nec- 
essary by  the  duties  of  the  episcopal  office.  While  travel- 
ing the  Erie  Circuit,  he  built  a mill,  thinking  that  his 
family  could  be  maintained  by  its  proceeds,  and  that  he 
would  be  relieved  from  anxiety  on  that  account.  The 
enterprise,  however,  did  not  answer  his  expectations,  and 
besides  this,  subjected  him  to  uncharitable  criticism.  One 
more  zealous  than  wise  was  heard  to  make  the  remark : 
“It  would  be  well  for  the  people  if  his  wife  were  dead 
and  the  mill  swept  down  the  river.’’ 

In  1842,  thirty-seven  years  after  this  enterprise,  Mr. 
Roberts,  commenting  on  the  subject,  said:  “I  would 

here  advise  all  preachers  never  to  quit  the  work  of  the 
Lord  to  serve  tables.  However  fair  their  prospects  of 
making  money  may  be,  they  are  frequently  delusive,  and 
such  ministers  are  losers  in  the  end.  As  I had  little  sup- 
port from  quarterage,  I thought  my  family  could  be 
maintained  by  a mill,  and  I should  be  better  able  to 
travel  without  anxiety.  But  it  was  not  so ; it  embarrassed 
my  mind  and  took  up  my  attention ; and,  though  for  a 
while  it  did  well,  it  eventually  proved  a loss.” 

Bishop  Roberts  was  always,  in  his  feelings  and  sym- 
pathies, a westerner  and  a pioneer.  His  humble  log 
cabin  on  the  Shenango  became  his  episcopal  residence, 
and  when,  a few  years  later,  he  changed  his  residence, 
it  was  to  plunge  into  the  wilderness  and  settle  in  Law- 
rence County,  Indiana,  where  a little  cabin  had  been 
erected  for  his  reception  by  his  brother  Lewis.  It  was 
without  chimney,  door,  windows,  floor  or  “loft.”  The 
wolves  howled  about  the  cabin  the  first  night  of  its 
occupancy ; but  a,  large  fire  kept  burning  in  front  of  the 
open  space  where  a door  was  yet  to  be  placed  intimi- 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  6 y 

dated  the  gang.  This  was  his  last  move.  Death  called 
him  away  March  26,  1843. 

We  wish  that  we  knew  more  of  the  family  of  Robert 
Morgan  Roberts.  We  have  almost  no  information  of 
Bishop  Robert’s  mother.  She  drops  from  our  sight  with- 
out mention.  We  have  already  seen  that  his  oldest  sis- 
ter, Sarah,  was  the  religious  leader  of  the  family.  Eliza- 
beth, his  favorite  sister,  was  noted  for  her  kindness  and 
liberality.  Dr.  Elliott,  speaking  of  her  first  year  at  She- 
nango,  says : “She  would  carry  with  her  own  hands 

provisions  to  the  hungry  within  her  reach.  And  when 
the  neighbors  called  at  their  cabin  or  passed  by,  she 
would  inquire  if  they  wished  to  eat,  and  would  always 
give  them  freely  of  the  best  she  could  furnish.  And, 
moreover,  when  she  saw  persons  passing  near  the  house, 
whom  she  suspected  of  being  hungry,  she  would  go  to 
the  fence,  hail  them  as  they  passed,  carrying  them  vic- 
tuals to  relieve  their  hunger,  if  they  could  not  stop,  or 
inviting  them  in  to  partake  of  her  supplies.  But  her 
benevolence  did  not  stop  here.  From  Ligonier  she  took 
with  her  four  coarse  linen  under  bed  ticks ; and  as  many 
of  the  new  settlers  were  very  much  in  need  of  clothing, 
she  cut  them  all  up  to  make  clothes  for  those  who  needed 
them  most.  In  short,  she  became  the  common  benefac- 
tress of  the  hungry,  the  ill-clad,  the  houseless  and  the 
stranger;  and  whenever  any  were  sick  her  best  services 
were  rendered  to  them  most  freely  and  kindly.  She  was 
the  first  woman  who  went  to  that  settlement.  There 
was  no  other  nearer  than  where  Mercer  now  stands,  a 
distance  of  nineteen  miles,  or  Meadville,  a distance  of 
twenty-two  miles.”  She  married  a religious  man,  Wil- 
liam Lindsay. — ( Elliott , Life  of  Bishop  Roberts , p.  51.) 

“The  character  of  Bishop  Roberts  is  a theme  for  pious 
rather  than  curious  minds.  It  displays  nothing  bold,  and 
is  associated  with  nothing  tragic  or  romantic.  He  never 
commanded  conquering  armies,  nor  directed  the  sacking 
and  burning  of  towns  or  cities.  He  never  met  a chal- 
lenged foe  or  friend  in  mortal  combat.  He  knew  not  that 
he  ever  fell  among  thieves,  or  escaped  an  ambush,  or  suf- 
fered imprisonment  or  shipwreck.  His  life  is  not  a 
region  of  mountains  and  valleys — those  so  deep  and 
covert  that  the  sunbeams  cannot  penetrate  them,  and  those 
so  lofty  as  to  be  crowned  with  summer  snows.  Yet,  like 


68 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


a rolling  country,  it  has  charms  of  some  sort,  even  as 
the  prairie,  with  its  groves,  and  wild  flowers,  is  by  no 
means  devoid  of  nature’s  graces  and  enchantments.  He 
who  loves  nothing  but  crags  and  cataracts,  need  not  read 
this  description;  but  whoever  delights  to  trace  a stream 
in  its  gentle  meanderings  through  fields,  which  it  moistens 
and  fertilizes,  may  feel  some  interest  in  this  brief  notice. 

"‘Bishop  Roberts  was  comely  in  his  person.  His  stature 
was  about  five  feet,  ten  inches.  His  frame  was  heavy  and 
robust,  and  in  middle  and  later  life  corpulent.  But  his 
old  age  was  not  helpless ; and  up  to  within  a year  of  his 
death,  (beyond  which  we  do  not  see  him),  his  walk  and  all 
his  motions  indicated  that  he  was  formed  for  physical  ac- 
tion and  endurance.  God,  who  called  him,  at  a given 
period,  to  a work  which  demanded  much  physical  force, 
endowed  him,  in  this  respect,  for  his  vocation.  He  sat. 
stood  and  moved  with  great  dignity,  in  private  and  in 
public,  without  any  effort  or  stiffness.  There  was  great 
uniformity  in  his  appearance  and  manners.  He  was 
never  caught  in  a slight  overt  swell,  or  momentary  pomp- 
ousness, as  though  the  inner  man  were  slightly  high- 
blown, or  the  sails  of  his  soul  were  unreefed  under  the 
sudden  pressure  of  a breeze  of  favor  or  applause.  And 
as  he  was  not  easily  puffed  up — a mood  which  we  chal- 
lenge all  willing  or  unwilling  witnesses  to  charge  on  him 
— so  neither  was  he  wont  to  be  cowered.  He  endured 
ill  treatment,  if  necessary,  with  the  calm  dignity  of  un- 
affected meekness.  We  once  saw  him  tested  in  this  way; 
and  in  no  circumstances  did  he  ever  win  from  us  greater 
admiration. 

“He  had  large — not  gross — features.  His  countenance 
expressed  as  much  of  manly  benignity  as  the  human  face 
can  well  set  forth.  His  eye  was  blue;  and  its  calmness 
was  particularly  noticeable.  _ Under  provocations  to  in- 
ward change,  it  did  not  report  much  that  seemed  worthy 
of  notice,  except  that  the  provocation  had  taken  little  or 
no  effect.  In  a word  it  was  not  a kindling  eye.  It  did 
not,  under  the  colorings  of  inward  emotion,  sparkle  with 
inflamed  lustre.  We  cannot  describe  the  feature  of  the 
Bishop  better  than  to  say  he  had  a calm,  blue  eye.  His 
personal  presence, — "tout  ensemble’ — was  truly  vener- 
able, and  commanded  great  respect. 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  69 

“His  manners  were  wholly  suited  to  his  profession  and 
his  sphere.  He  was  exceedingly  unaffected,  which  is 
more  important  than  any  other  single  item  in  reckoning 
up  the  severalities  of  what  is  called  ‘good  manners.’  His 
artlessness  was  manifest  to  all,  for  it  was  unequivocal  as 
sunshine.  Every  glance,  and  smile,  and  cadence,  was  in 
the  spirit  and  style  of  true  simplicity.  This  being  uni- 
form, imparted  a particular  charm  to  his  cheerful  domestic 
and  social  fellowships.  He  was,  in  heart  sincere.  And 
when  an  actor  is  without  disguise,  his  movements  will,  of 
course,  seem  unconstrained.  His  were  so.  In  private 
and  in  public,  naturalness  was  so  prominent  in  the 
Bishop’s  character,  that  the  most  unpracticed  observer 
would  scarcely  fail  to  remark  it. 

“We  shall  err,  if  we  conclude  that  this  simplicity  had  in 
it  any  thing  improperly  juvenile  or  childish.  Incompe- 
tent judges,  who  know  not  his  station  and  character, 
might  blunder,  and  infer  that,  as  he  was  plain  and  unpre- 
tending, so,  also  he  was  without  merit  and  consideration ; 
but  there  was  little  danger  that  he  should  be  so  mistaken 
by  sagacious  and  experienced  observers. 

“Nor  must  it  be  inferred  that  he  had  not  the  talent,  or 
inclination,  to  judge  of  the  manners  of  those  with  whom 
he  mingled.  None  noticed  more  promptly  than  he  did, 
the  improprieties  of  behavior  which  occurred  under  his 
observation.  We  have  seen  him  blush  like  an 
embarrassed  child,  at  the  errors  and  self-exposure  of 
others  in  the  conference-room,  when  he  had  no  manner  of 
concern  in  the  misfortune,  except  an  interest  of  sympathy 
for  the  perpetrator  of  the  folly.  On  one  occasion,  when 
a rule  of  conference  prescribed  that  no  member  should 
speak  the  second  time  on  any  resolution,  till  all  others, 
who  desired  it,  had  enjoyed  the  opportunity,  two  brethren 
arose  together.  The  Bishop  awarded  the  floor  to  the 
elder,  who  had  not  yet  spoken.  But  the  younger,  who 
had  already  made  two  efforts,  commenced  declaiming  in 
the  most  impassioned  tones:  ‘That  brother,’  said  the 

Bishop,  ‘is  now  up  the  third  time,  and  here  is  a much  older 
brother  on  his  feet,  who  has  not  spoken  at  all.  The  rules 
give  him  the  floor,  and  I wish  he  might  be  permitted  to 
speak — I think  the  conference  wish  to  hear  him.’  Mean- 
while, 4:he  younger  speaker  was  under  full  way  and,  in  the 
heat  of  his  endeavor,  never  paused  to  hear  what  the 


70  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Bishop  said.  The  members  on  all  sides  were  staring  at 
his  effrontery  with  astonishment,  and  could  scarcely  re- 
strain their  indignation.  The  Bishop  said  no  more;  but 
his  face  was  crimsoned  with  blushes  for  the  misfortune  of 
the  young  orator,  who  had  placed  himself  in  a position 
so  repulsive  before  his  brethren  and  the  spectators. 

“The  religion  of  Bishop  Roberts  was  deep,  ardent,  uni- 
form and  active.  His  piety  was  deep.  Early  subdued 
by  divine  grace,  the  spirit  of  religion  had  become  as  a 
second  nature. 

“Some  of  us  were  so  late  in  our  return  to  God,  (blessed 
be  His  name  that  we  were  ever  brought  to  love  Him!) 
that  our  religion,  though  it  makes  joyful  in  Christ,  seems 
scarcely  to  sit  easy  or  naturally  upon  us,  as  it  does  on 
those  who  were  early  and  faithful  in  their  profession. 
Like  scholars  without  early  advantages,  who  are  always 
apt  to  betray  the  defects  of  juvenile  training,  by  incor- 
rect orthography,  or  some  little  matter,  and  whose  science, 
though  extensive,  does  not  appear  to  form  a part  of  their 
mental  constitution,  (as  it  does  in  cases  of  precocious 
scholarship)  ; so  sinful  tempers  and  habits,  long  indulged 
and  strongly  fortified,  do  sometimes,  after  the  heart  is 
changed,  mar  the  symmetry  of  Christian  character.  But 
Bishop  Roberts  was  an  example  of  the  intimate  blending 
of  our  holy  religion  with  all  the  sanctified  elements  of  the 
being.  There  was  an  unconstrained  religiousness  in  all 
hi's  types  of  manner — in  every  mood,  which  was  exceed- 
ingly proper  and  attractive.  He  never  seemed  to  strive 
to  be  religious,  but  appeared  to  be  spontaneously  so. 
Doubtless,  he  did  strive ; but  the  effort  itself  had  become 
so  much  a habit,  that  it  did  not  look  like  striving. 

“His  piety  was  ardent.  It  was  not  light  without  heat 
— a phosphorescence  which  could  neither  kindle  nor  con- 
sume. It  is  true,  that  he  was  well  trained  in  Christian 
doctrines  and  ethics.  He  was  sufficiently  meditative ; and 
his  intellect  was  religious. . But  this  is  so  common,  es- 
pecially with  the  ministers  of  Christ,  that  it  need  not  be 
testified  of  those  who  occupied  prominent  ecclesiastical 
stations.  But  ardent  devotion  is  another  thing — less 
common,  and  not  certainly  to  be  inferred  from  any  man’s 
sphere,  however  responsible  or  prominent.  But  none 
could  be  intimate  with  the  Bishop,  and  note  his  manners 
in  private  and  in  public,  without  gathering  sufficient 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  71 

proofs  that  his  heart,  as  well  as  his  understanding,  was 
deeply  imbued  with  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  and  was  con- 
trolled by  the  impulses  of  charity  and  inward  godliness. 

“On  this  point,  we  testify  what  we  have  witnessed  in 
various  circumstances,  and  at  different  times.  We  never 
saw  him  at  class  meeting ; but  we  observed  him  at  prayer 
meetings  and  love  feasts.  There  he  seemed  to  forget 
that  any  other  dignity  ever  attached  to  him  than  that  of 
the  humblest  follower  of  the  Lamb.  In  1841  we  saw  him 
rise  to  speak  in  a large  love  feast.  He  commenced  thus : 
‘Brothers  and  sisters,  I feel  a desire  to  rise  and  tell  you 
what  Jesus  has  done  for  my  soul.’  Struck  with  the  sim- 
plicity and  the  commonness  of  his  language,  we  imme- 
diately treasured  it  up  in  our  memory.  Had  a stranger 
to  Bishop  Roberts  entered  the  door  at  that  moment,  he 
would  probably  (but  for  his  position  in  the  pulpit)  have 
set  the  speaker  down  as  a plain  old  farmer,  of  good  sense 
and  sincere  piety,  but  far  less  episcopal  in  his  manner  than 
half  of  the  brethren  present.  And  he  would  have  in- 
ferred, from  his  manner,  that  his  whole  heart  was  ab- 
sorbed in  the  one  and  great  and  glorious  interest  of  per- 
sonal religion — of  seeking  and  enjoying  the  in-dwelling 
God.  Sanguine  temperaments,  though  chastened  and 
subdued,  when  kindled  by  fire  from  heaven,  as  was  the 
heart  of  Bishop  Roberts,  are  apt  to  glow,  as  his  did,  with 
intense  ardor.  We  have  said  he  had  not  a kindling  eye; 
but  he  had  a flaming  heart.  He  was  no  stranger  to  deep 
emotion.  We  have  seen  him  when  grace  was  a flame  in 
the  soul,  and  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  express  his  rapture. 
We  remember  that  once,  as  he  sat  behind  a preacher  who 
spoke  with  great  zeal,  he  burst  out  in  a loud  and  passion- 
ate exclamation,  and  might  have  been  pronounced,  by  cer- 
tain Christians  of  the  colder  sort,  ‘beside’  himself. 

“But  it  may  be  asked,  how  so  much  ardor  could  have 
been  blended  with  the  calmness,  or  evenness,  which  we 
have  ascribed  to  him.  We  answer,  that  it  depends  in 
part,  that  his  religion  was  also  uniform.  It  did  not 
kindle  up,  to  blaze  a moment,  and  then  expire.  It  was  a 
lamp  well  fed,  and  always  lighted.  We  often  find  ardor 
blended  with  variableness;  and  this  begets  a prejudice  in 
our  minds  against  it.  But,  then,  this  variableness  is  an 
accidental,  not  a necessary  accompaniment  of  glowing 
Christian  zeal.  Angels  are  all  ardor,  yet  never  waning  in 


7 2 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

their  holy  zeal  and  raptures.  So  of  glorified  saints,  who 
‘rest  not  day  nor  night.’  And  as  in  heaven,  so  on  earth 
there  may  be  in  us  unremitted  ardor.  Paul,  Fletcher,  and 
(near  the  close  of  life)  the  godly  Payson,  are  ex- 
amples to  the  point.  Bishop  Roberts  belonged  to  the 
same  class  in  the  great  teacher’s  school. 

“His  piety  was  active.  No  monkish  tendencies  re- 
strained his  inward  zeal.  In  a hermit’s  cell,  or  the  ascetic’s 
cloister,  he  would  have  been  as  an  eagle  caged.  A con- 
tinent was  narrow  enough  for  him.  Like  the  'angel  fly- 
ing through  the  midst  of  heaven,’  his  charity  sought  audi- 
ence of  nations.  Think  of  the  expanded  field  of  his  min- 
istry ; and  instead  of  gradually  diminishing  it,  as  advanc- 
ing age  might  have  suggested,  in  the  very  last  spring 
months  of  his  life  he  breaks  away  from  the  assigned 
bounds  of  his  episcopal  toil,  and,  unappointed  by  all  but 
God,  plunges  into  western  wilds,  on  extra  missions  toward 
the  setting  sun.  We  know  not  how  the  miasmatic  agen- 
cies of  the  unsettled  regions  through  which  he  then 
traveled  affected  his  health,  or  were  remotely  connected 
with  his  death ; but  we  think  of  him  in  these  extreme 
wanderings  as  we  think  of  the  setting  sun,  when,  in  his 
pure  and  cloudless  Occident,  he  seems  to  pour  his  brightest 
beams  over  the  landscape,  as  he  pauses  a moment  to  bid 
the  hemisphere  adieu. 

“As  a preacher,  his  manner  was  earnest  rather  than  im- 
passioned. He  spoke  with  great  fluency,  and  his  words 
were  well  chosen.  They  did  not  seem  to  be  'sought  out,’ 
and  yet  they  were  'acceptable.’  He  never  labored  for 
thoughts  or  language.  They  came  spontaneously,  like 
water  flowing  downward.  He  was  a student,  yet  his 
sermons  never  ‘smelt  of  the  lamp.’  To  the  writer  he  was 
one  of  the  most  impressive  speakers,  and  yet  we  can 
scarcely  tell  why.  He  had  the  same  unaffected  manner  in 
the  pulpit,  which  rendered  him  so  agreeable  in  private. 

“His  discourses  were  didactic,  yet  by  no  means  want- 
ing in  hortatory  effect  or  pathos.  They  were  very  syste- 
matic, without  any  apparent  labor  or  pains  to  make  them 
so.  His  eye,  as  we  have  already  described  it,  did  not 
speak  to  the  audience  by  intense,  wild  flashings,  but  its 
calm  and  benevolent  expression  most  pleasingly  impressed 
the  hearer.  He  was  free  from  defect — was,  as  an  orator, 
in  this  respect  perfect. 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  73 

“It  is  said  of  Curran,  that  in  his  common  moods  he  was 
rapid  and  wholly  uninteresting — that  his  person  was  dim- 
inutive and  his  attire  slovenly — that  his  gestures  were  un- 
graceful, his  countenance  spiritless,  and  his  eye  perfectly 
destitute  of  the  sparkle  of  genius,  or  even  the  light  of  in- 
telligence. When  he  commenced  a forensic  address,  the 
witnesses  say  he  was  inanimate  and  repulsive,  and  that  a 
stranger  would  have  been  tempted,  by  his  unpromising  ap- 
pearance, to  withdraw  from  the  court  room.  But  as  he 
pursued  his  argument,  and  his  heart  waxed  warm  under 
its  inspiration,  the  man  was  strangely  transformed  into 
the  orator.  It  is  affirmed  that  his  very  stature  seemed 
to  change,  and  he  rose  in  the  eye  of  the  spectator  into  a 
form  of  the  most  imposing  and  commanding  dignity. 
His  unmeaning  features  were  remolded,  and  became  all 
animate  and  seemingly  immortal  with  the  kindling  fervors 
of  his  roused  and  glowing  genius,  until — to  use  the  lang- 
uage of  a celebrated  writer — ‘he  alone  seemed  to  be  ma- 
jestic in  creation.’ 

“This  was  not  Bishop  Roberts.  He  was  no  such  orator 
as  Curran.  Yet  he  was  an  orator.  We  hazard  nothing 
in  emphatically  re-affirming  that  he  was  an  orator.  For 
eloquence  is  as  various  as  beauty.  It  is  now  a torrent, 
and  now  a gently  flowing  stream — now  a rushing  tempest, 
and  now  a soft  refreshing  breeze.  But  it  is  always  some- 
thing that  charms  the  inward  sense,  which  was  precisely 
the  effect  of  the  Bishop's  happy  efforts. 

“His  delivery  was  uniform.  It  was  a full  current  from 
the  beginning,  and  flowed  on  evenly  to  the  end.  He  com- 
menced with  a pitch  of  the  voice  which  all  could  hear 
distinctly.  He  never  committed  the  most  glaring  of  all 
errors  in  a public  speaker — that  of  restraining  the  voice 
at  the  beginning,  so  that  not  a fourth  of  the  audience  can 
gather  his  meaning  for  the  first  ten  minutes,  and.  of 
course,  must  lose  the  force  of  what  remains.  Unlike  Cur- 
ran and  many  others,  the  first  sentence  of  his  lips  began 
to  find  favor  with  the  hearer. 

“We  will  add — not  so  much  for  his  memory's  sake,  as 
for  the  good  of  Christ's  living  ministers — that  Bishop 
Roberts  preached  from  experience;  not  that  he  spoke  of 
himself,  but  from  himself ; that  is,  he  testified  what  he  had 
felt  and  therefore  knew.  When  he  proclaimed  that 
‘Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save,’  it  was  not  a 


74 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


mere  speculation,  affirmed  to  him  by  Scriptural  authority, 
sacred  as  it  is ; but  it  was  also  an  experimental  verity,  as- 
sured to  him  by  unequivocal  consciousness — by  the  wit- 
nessing- of  the  Divine  Spirit  with  his  own.  He  was  not — 
as  we  fear  many  are  in  the  sight  of  the  great  Shepherd — 
a hireling,  whose  profane  end  is  worldly  gain.  He  made 
merchandise  of  none.  He  was  not  a nurse  applying  the 
spoon  or  bottle,  to  feed  others  on  what  himself  had  never 
tasted,  and  could  not  relish.  He  first  feasted  his  own 
soul  on  the  life-giving  promises,  and,  then,  like  a mother 
to  her  infant,  he  poured  out  the  ‘sincere  milk  of  the  word’ 
from  his  own  overflowing  bosom,  to  the  precious  nurs- 
lings of  Christ’s  growing  family.  Happy  pastor,  who 
thus  cherishing  the  flock,  is  himself  fed  in  distributing  to 
others ! 

“Let  us,  in  conclusion,  glance  at  the  character  of  Bishop 
Roberts,  as  it  was  unfolded  in  his  last  and  most  respon- 
sible relation  to  the  Church.  The  functions  with  which 
he  was  clothed, -by  the  free  and  competent  suffrages  of  his 
ecclesiastical  peers,  (and  by  the  act  of  the  whole  Church, 
represented  in  his  peers),  brought  upon  him  the  severest 
embarrassments  of  his  ministerial  life,  and  afforded  the 
surest  test  of  his  integrity  and  worth. 

“He  was  a Bishop.  That  office  he  derived  from  the 
purest  source,  and  executed  by  the  highest  warrant  known 
upon  earth.  In  harmony  with  its  holy  origin  and  perfect 
sanction,  (we  speak  not  now  of  carnal  successions,  or 
other  wanton  fables),  his  episcopal  duties  were  exceed- 
ingly onerous,  and  influential  to  an  unrivaled  extent.  His 
incumbency  was  not  like  that  of  a mere  diocesan,  with  a 
flock  of  two,  five,  or  ten  thousand  souls.  His  concurrent 
jurisdiction  was  over  hundreds  of  thousands.  The  clergy 
alone  of  his  supervisions,  were  more  than  the  membership 
of  three  or  four  surrounding  dioceses  of  a sister  Church. 

“In  this  elevated  sphere,  he  proved  to  all  how  richly, 
for  self-control  and  public  duty,  the  grace  of  God  en- 
dowed him.  He  still  ‘magnified  his  office.’  What  was 
worthy  of  special  notice  in  his  episcopal  career,  may  be 
set  forth  under  the  heads  of  meekness,  diligence,  decision 
and  discretion. 

“And  first  in  order  was  his  meekness.  In  him  the 
‘Bishop’  did  not  spoil  the  man,  nor  mar  the  Christian, 
nor,  by  exalting,  minify  the  minister.  Bishop  Roberts 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop. 


75 


was  never  in  the  way  of  Mr.  Roberts,  Brother  Roberts,  or 
Rev.  R.  R.  Roberts.  The  apostle  did  not  hinder  the  dis- 
ciple. If  primus  inter  pares,  (first  among  equals),  he  did 
not  forget  the  important  fact  that  his  peers  placed  him 
first,  and  that  through  them  ‘the  Holy  Ghost  made  him 
overseer.’  It  was  a pleasant  thing  to  sit  beside  him  in 
the  parlor,  or  before  him  in  the  conference  room,  and  note 
with  what  Christian  modesty  and  meekness  he  indulged 
his  free  communings  with  all  the  flock  of  God. 

“Tn  183-  a declaimer  against  Bishops  lectured  in  N., 
where  we  were  stationed.  He  described  them  as  lordly 
and  tyrannical,  passing  through  the  country  in  a style  not 
much  less  magnificent  than  that  of  the  finical  Borgia,  the 
pompous  son  of  the  Pope.  The  citizens  became  indignant 
at  Methodism,  which  fostered,  as  they  supposed  a high 
blown  aristocracy.  A few  weeks  later,  Bishop  Roberts 
providentially  came  along,  and  spent  a Sabbath  with  us. 
The  news  spread  on  all  sides,  that  one  of  the  puffed  up 
magnates  would  preach  at  eleven  o’clock.  The  house  was 
early  over-filled  with  the  curious  and  the  prejudiced,  to 
witness  display.  In  due  time  forth  came  the  Bishop  in 
his  worn  calico  ‘robe,’  (which  probably  cost  twelve  and  a 
half  cents  per  yard),  and  all  other  vestments  in  strict 
keeping  with  its  splendor.  Seldom  were  a people  more 
surprised  than  at  his  appearance  and  address.  And  as  the 
good  old  man  preached  Jesus  in  his  usual  artless  tones 
and  manner,  the  strong  premature  current  of  indignation 
was  changed  to  the  most  unbounded  admiration.  The 
next  day  the  irreligious  on  all  sides  were  uttering  cold 
denunciations  against  ‘the  hypocritical  vilifier  of  Metho- 
dist Bishops’;  and  not  long  after,  the  seceders,  to  whom 
that  man  had  lectured,  gave  up  their  new  church,  returned 
in  a body,  and  left  no  relic,  as  we  are  aware,  of  their  for- 
mer disaffection  towards  Episcopal  Methodists  or  their 
Bishops. 

“As  to  his  diligence,  enough  has  been  said  to  nrove  that 
he  was  not  an  idler  in  the  vineyard.  No  man  could  conse- 
crate his  energies  more  undividedly  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Through  the  infirmities  of  age  and  the  power  of  disease, 
he  failed  in  a few  instances  to  perform  the  labor  which 
fell  to  him  in  the  division  of  the  work.  But  the  only 
wonder  is,  that  he  did  not  oftener  fail.  And  it  is  ad- 
mirable that  some  of  his  colleagues,  as  though  a new  life 


y6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

inspired  their  sinking  age,  and  renewed  in  them  their 
palmy  vigor,  should  continue  to  traverse  the  continent, 
like  the  apostle  ‘taking  pleasure  in  infirmities,  that  the 
power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  them.’  We  have  had,  as 
yet,  no  sinecures  in  the  high  places  of  Zion;  and  from 
what,  is  past,  there  seems  no  special  need  to  guard  with 
dread  suspicion  against  that  misfortune.  The  spirit  of 
our  superintendents  has  been  strongly  antagonistic  there- 
to; and  if  more  than  are  needed  for  their  duties  were  set 
apart  for  the  office  we  presume  the  evil  would  find  a cure. 
The  course  of  Dr.  Fisk,  and  the  voluntary  surrender  of 
his  prerogatives  by  Bishop  Roberts,  in  1836,  which  the 
conference  so  suddenly  (and  perhaps  wisely)  declined  to 
accept,  warrant  the  hope  that  Bishops  will  not  so  multiply 
as  to  become  an  irreformable  reproach,  or  an  over-burden 
to  our  Zion.  God  grant,  in  His  mercy,  that  like  Roberts 
and  his  colleagues,  we  may  retain  in  this  high  office  men 
who  shall  continue  abundant  in  labors,  and  who  shall  feel, 
‘it  matters  not  where  I fall  so  that  I fall  at  my  post.’ 

“Decision  was  a trait  in  the  character  of  Bishop  Rob- 
erts. When  necessary  for  public  ends,  he  was  immovable 
as  a rock.  Not  that  he  was  obstinate.  It  is  a legal  prin- 
ciple that  ‘the  law  minds  not  little  things.'  Neither  did 
Bishop  Roberts.  He  would  not  contend  for  trifles,  nor 
for  what  merely  concerned  himself.  There  must  be 
something  which  he  deemed  worthy  to  inspire  decision, 
and  then  it  was  inspired.  If  the  Church  was  concerned 
in  some  measure  that  seemed  to  threaten  danger  or  ex- 
pose to  harm,  he  stood  in  the  breach.  Peaceable  as  he 
loved  to  be,  and  retiring  and  self-sacrificing  as  he  usually 
was,  when  duty  demanded,  he  was  ready  to  ‘speak  with 
the  enemy  in  the  gate.'  In  our  Church  judicatories,  when 
disorder  arose  and  long  forbearance  proved  unavailing, 
with  what  effect  did  he  finally  put  forth  his  presiding 
power,  to  reprove  inattention,  and  command  order  in  busi- 
ness and  debate.  Many  will  recollect  examples  in  which 
he  instantly  hushed  the  confusion  of  the  conference-room, 
and  secured  the  prompt  and  decorous  attention  of  every 
listless  member  to  the  subject  in  hand.  Yet  all  this  was 
generally  done  with  a spirit  and  manner  so  conciliatory, 
as  to  provoke  no  other  than  the  kindest  feelings. 

“Finally,  though  he  was  decided,  he  was  also  discreet. 

Like  a judicious  commander  in  the  battlefield,  he  would 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop.  77 

throw  himself  into  any  posture  of  responsibility  or  dan- 
ger, if  some  exigency  rendered  it  his  duty.  But  never 
would  he  do  it  wantonly,  or  for  mere  love  of  power.  He 
invoked  no  episcopal  prerogatives  where  the  law  of  the 
Church  did  not  prescribe  their  use.  Like  the  high  priest 
of  the  theocracy,  he  would,  when  permitted,  gladly  lay 
aside  Urim  and  Thummin.  He  loved  his  robe  of  office 
only  when  he  must  execute  its  functions.  He  knew 
when  as  well  as  how  ‘to  be  exalted  and  abased;’  and  of 
the  two,  the  latter  was  preferred. 

“It  follows  that  he  was  concentric  in  his  official  move- 
ments. He  never  plunged  into  spheres  which  did  not 
need  and  claim  him.  He  was  as  careful  not  to  transcend, 
as  he  was  prompt  to  approach  the  line  of  duty.  Like  the 
morning  star  (for  thus  had  Christ  appointed  radiant  go- 
ings forth),  he  was  content  to  shed  a lustre  on  his  own 
ordained  circle,  without  infringing  on  remote  or  smaller 
bodies,  for  he  remembered  that  all  the  stars  are  held  ‘in 
His  right  hand’ ; and  that,  if  harmony  prevails,  each  lends 
a grace  to  others,  by  diffusing  another  charm,  or  reveal- 
ing another  glory,  in  that  moral  hemisphere  which  does 
contain  them  all.”* — (Elliott,  Life  of  Bishop  Roberts,  pp. 

392-403-) 

“It  is  certainly  no  small  tribute  to  his  character  to  say 
that  the  greatest  apparent  defect  was  the  excess  of  a very 
amiable  quality — modesty.  In  his  early  life  it  rendered 
him  painfully  diffident,  and  throughout  his  career  it  de- 
terred him  from  many  bold  and  energetic  measures 
which  his  position  and  abilities  justified,  and  which  have 
been  of  wide  influence  in  the  Church.  He  often  referred 
facetiously  to  instances  of  his  early  diffidence.  For  a 
long  time  after  his  appointment  as  class  leader  among 
his  rustic  neighbors,  he  could  not  assume  courage  enough 
to  address  them  individually,  and  he  had  actually  to  be 
superseded  by  another  leader  till  he  conquered  this  tim- 
idity. In  his  first  attempt  at  public  exhortation  he  sud- 
denly sat  down,  appalled  at  the  intent  look  of  a good 
man,  whose  favorable  interest  he  took  for  disapproba- 
tion. At  another  time  when  he  was  expected  to  exhort, 

♦This  appreciative  article  was  contributed  to  the  Ladies’  Re- 
pository, April  1844,  by  Rev.  Leonidas  Lent  Hamline,  D.  D.,  edi- 
tor, elected  to  the  Episcopal  office  by  the  General  Conference 
which  met  in  May. 


78  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

he  was  so  alarmed  as  to  retire  in  agony  and  conceal 
himself  in  a barn.  In  the  third  attempt  he  proceeded 
some  time  with  good  effect,  but,  fearing  he  had  made  a 
blunder,  stopped  short  in  confusion.  In  after  years  this 
extreme  diffidence  became  a subdued  modesty,  not  inter- 
fering with  his  ordinary  duties,  but  deterring  him  from 
most  novel  or  experimental  plans,  however  hopeful,  and 
leading  often  to  ludicrous  mistakes  among  those  who  did 
not  know  him.  When  stopping  in  his  travels  among 
strangers  he  usually  assumed  no  other  pretentions  than 
those  of  a private  Christian,  and  frequently  it  was  not 
until  the  family  worship  disclosed  his  spirit  and  talents 
that  his  ministerial  character  was  supposed.  Under 
such  circumstances  he  has  sometimes  attended  class  meet- 
ing with  his  host,  and  received  warm  and  pointed  exhor- 
tations from  zealous  leaders.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , Aug.  28,  1844 ; quoted  from  Zions  Herald.) 

Zachariah  Paddock  relates  the  following  anecdote  of 
Bishop  Roberts: 

In  1821-22  I was  preacher  in  charge  of  the  French- 
creek  Circuit,  which  included  a part  of  the  territory  em- 
braced in  what  was  my  brother's  ample  mission  field. 
Bishop  Roberts  commenced  his  ministry  in  the  same  re- 
gion some  fifteen  or  twenty  years  previously,  and  was 
still  widely  known  and  eminently  popular.  Indeed,  it 
was  doubtful  whether  any  other  preacher  in  all  that 
country  was  held  in  anything  like  equal  estimation.  Go 
where  one  might  every  tongue  was  eloquent  in  his  praise. 
Anecdotes  innumerable  were  told  of  him,  some  of  which 
are  well  worth  repeating.  The  following  may  be  ac- 
cepted as  a specimen : “Mr.  Roberts,  dressed  very  plain- 
ly, mounted  a French  pony,  and  wearing  a huge  Quaker 
hat,  was  on  his  way  to  an  appointment,  when  converg- 
ing roads  brought  him  into  company  with  a gentleman, 
also  on  horseback,  who  at  once  evinced  a disposition  to 
be  sociable — it  may  be  offensively  so.  He  soon  asked 
Mr.  Roberts  where  he  was  going.  The  response  was  T 
do  not  exactly  know.’  ‘You  know  what  you  are  going 
after,  do  you  not?’  asked  the  gentleman.  ‘Yes,  very 
well,’  was  the  answer.  ‘Well,  then,  what  is  it?’  ‘I  am 
in  pursuit  of  my  Master’s  sheep,  sir,’  replied  Mr.  Rob- 
erts. ‘Your  master’s  sheep!  Plow  long  have  they  been 
lost  ?’  ‘About  six  thousand  years,’  returned  Mr.  Roberts. 


Roberts — Itinerant  and  Bishop. 


79 


Here  the  gentleman  again  scanned  Mr.  Roberts  from 
head  to  foot,  and,  utterly  failing  to  comprehend  him,  said : 
‘Go  on,  you  fool,  I guess  you’ll  find  them.’  When  he 
put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  was  soon  out  of  sight.  Reach- 
ing a small  house  of  entertainment  a few  miles  further  on, 
he  ordered  a mess  of  oats  for  his  horse;  and,  going  out 
to  the  horse  shed  with  the  landlord,  began  to  tell  him 
what  a strange  sort  of  a man  he  had  passed  on  the  road. 
‘And  don’t  you  think,’  said  he,  ‘the  fool  told  me  he  was 
looking  for  sheep  which  had  been  lost  six  thousand 
years!’  The  landlord  at  once  comprehended  the  case, 
and  said  to  him : ‘I  am  sure  from  your  description  that 

the  man  you  passed  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts,  one  of  the 
ablest  preachers  in  all  our  country;  you  did  not  under- 
stand him.  Using  a Scripture  figure,  he  spoke  of  fallen 
men  as  wandering  sheep;  and  you  know  it  is  about  six 
thousand  years  since  the  first  transgression.'  While  he 
was  yet  speaking  Mr.  Roberts  came  in  sight.  ‘Yes,’  said 
the  host,  ‘it  was  Mr.  Roberts,  as  I supposed;  yonder  he 
comes;  I was  expecting  him  at  my  house  to-day.’  The 
stranger  now  saw  what  a terrible  blunder  he  had  com- 
mitted; and  feeling  he  could  not  face  a minister  of  the 
gospel  whom  he  had  treated  with  such  indecency,  said  to 
the  landlord:  ‘Put  the  bits  in  my  horse’s  mouth,  and  let 
me  go;  Mr.  Roberts’  horse  may  eat  the  oats.’  The  un- 
fortunate man  had  barely  time  to  retreat,  when  Mr.  Rob- 
erts rode  up,  and  enjoyed  greatly  the  close  of  the  drama.” 
(Zachariah  Paddock , Life  of  Benjamin  G.  Paddock , pp. 

Ill , 112.) 

On  returning  to  the  West,  after  a General  Conference, 
he  once  applied  at  the  house  of  a Methodist  family  to 
which  he  had  been  recommended  for  entertainment.  He 
was,  as  usual,  humble  in  dress,  and  dusty  and  weary.  The 
family,  taking  him  to  be  a rustic  traveler,  permitted  him 
to  put  up  and  feed  his  horse,  and  take  his  seat  in  the  sitting 
room.  Supper  was  over,  and  no  one  took  the  trouble  to 
inquire  if  he  had  taken  any  on  the  way.  The  preacher 
of  the  circuit  was  stopping  at  the  same  house;  he  was 
young,  frivolous  and  foppish,  an  occasional  though  very 
rare  example  among  Methodist  preachers,  and  spent  the 
evening  in  gay  conversation  with  the  daughters  of  the 
family,  alluding  occasionally  and  contemptuously  to  the 
‘‘old  man,”  who  sat  silently  in  the  corner.  The  good 


8o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


bishop,  after  sitting  a long  time,  with  no  other  attention 
than  these  allusions,  respectfully  requested  to  be  shown 
to  bed.  The  chamber  was  over  the  sitting  room,  and, 
while  on  his  knees  praying  with  parental  feeling  for  the 
faithless  young  preacher,  he  still  heard  the  gay  jest  and 
rude  laugh.  At  last  the  family  retired  without  domestic 
worship.  The  young  preacher  slept  in  the  same  room 
with  the  bishop.  “Well,  old  man,”  said  he  as  he  got  into 
bed,  “are  you  asleep  yet?”  “I  am  not,  sir,”  replied  the 
bishop.  “Where  have  you  come  from?”  “From  east  of 
the  mountains.”  “From  east  of  the  mountains,  aye — 
what  place?”  “Baltimore,  sir.”  “Baltimore,  aye — the 
seat  of  our  General  Conference — dM  you  hear  anything 
about  it  ? We  expect  Bishop  Roberts  to  stop 
here  on  his  way  home.”  “Yes,  sir,”  replied 
the  bishop,  humbly,  “it  ended  before  I left.”  “Did 
you  ever  see  Bishop  Roberts?”  “Yes,  sir,  often;  we  left 
Baltimore  together.”  “You  left  Baltimore  together?” 
“Yes,  sir.”  “What's  your  name,  my  old  friend?” 
“Roberts,  sir.”  “Roberts!  Roberts!  Excuse  me,  sir,  are 
you  related  to  the  bishop?”  “They  usually  call  me  ' 
Bishop  Roberts,  sir.”  “Bishop  Roberts!  Bishop  Roberts! 
Are  you  Bishop  Roberts,  sir?”  asked  the  young  man, 
leaping  out  of  bed,  and  trembling  with  agitation.  Em- 
barrassed and  confounded  he  implored  the  good  man’s 
pardon,  insisted  on  calling  up  the  family,  and  seemed 
willing  to  do  anything  to  redeem  himself.  The  bishop 
gave  him  an  affectionate  admonition,  which  he  promised 
never  to  forget.  The  venerable  and  compassionate  man 
knew  the  frivolity  of  youth;  giving  him  much  parental 
advice,  and  praying  with  him,  he  would  not  allow  the 
family  to  be  called,  though  he  had  eaten  nothing  since 
breakfast.  The  next  morning,  after  praying  again  with 
the  young  man,  he  left  before  the  family  had  risen,  that 
he  might  save  them  a mortifying  explanation.  This  fact 
was  a salutary  lesson  to  the  young  itinerant;  at  the  next 
Conference  he  called  upon  the  bishop,  a renewed  man; 
he  wept  again  as  he  acknowledged  his  error,  and  became 
a useful  and  eminent  minister.  Bishop  Roberts  often 
alluded  to  the  incident,  but,  through  a commendable  kind- 
ness, would  never  tell  the  name  of  the  young  preacher. 
— (Stevens'  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Vol.  IV.,  pp.  90-91.) 


III. 


“ FEAR  NOT,  LITTLE  FLOCK;  IT  IS  YOUR 
FATHER’S  GOOD  PLEASURE  TO  GIVE 
YOU  THE  KINGDOM.” 

Shenango  and  Salem  Classes. 

As  we  have  already  learned,  Robert  R.  Roberts, 
Thomas  Roberts,  John  Caughey,  James  Hubanks  and 
William  McLean  moved  from  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1796,  and  settled  within  the  bounds  of 
the  present  Salem  Charge.  This  settlement  was  east  of 
the  Little  Shenango,  and  about  two  miles  from  the  pres- 
ent location  of  the  old  Salem  Church.  Robert  R.  Rob- 
erts was  the  leading  spirit  of  this  little  band  of  pioneers. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
before  coming  to  the  settlement,  and  it  is  supposed 
brought  a certificate  of  membership.  These  early  settlers 
were  soon  followed  by  others  of  their  Methodist  neigh- 
bors, among  whom  were  Jacob  Gurwell  and  Thomas  Mc- 
Clelland, both  Irishmen  and  local  preachers,  who  com- 
menced holding  meetings  in  log  cabins  and  groves  where- 
ever  a little  group  could  be  gathered.  The  first  sermon 
was  preached  in  the  log  cabin  of  James  Stevenson  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  his  grandson.  In  the  summer  of 
1798  they  formed  the  first  class  within  the  bounds  of 
Erie  Conference.  The  following  were  the  names  of  the 
class : Robert  R.  Roberts,  Lewis  Roberts  and  wife, 

Thomas  McClelland  and  wife,  James  Stevenson  and 
wife,  William  Lindsay  and  wife,  John  Caughey  and 
wife,  William  McGranahan  and  wife,  John  McGranahan 
and  wife,  John  Rogers  and  wife,  John  Hornell  and 
wife,  William  McLean  and  wife,  William  Stewart  and 
Nancy  Wilson.  The  wives  of  Lindsay,  Caughey  and 
John  McGranahan  were  sisters  of  Mr.  Roberts.  Subse- 
quently Thomas  Dumars  and  wife  were  added  to  the 
class.  Mrs.  Dumars  also  was  a Roberts.  She  is  de- 

6 


82  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

scribed  as  '‘a  woman  of  large  frame,  strong,  agreeable 
voice,  and  of  remarkable  gift  and  power  in  prayer;  and 
she  would  be  called  upon  frequently  to  offer  prayer  at 
the  close  of  the  public  service.”  When  Roberts  entered 
the  ministry  in  1802  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Mc- 
Lean as  leader  of  this  pioneer  class.  Mr.  McLean  was 
a man  especially  well  qualified  for  a class  leader.  Not- 
withstanding a very  serious  difficulty  in  his  hearing, 
making  it  necessary  to  use  an  ear  trumpet,  the  class 
would  not  consent  to  his  resignation,  and  he  held  the 
position  until  his  death  in  1839.  About  the  year  1802 
a second  class  was  formed,  called  the  “South  Class, 
consisting  of  twenty-two  members,  among  whom  were: 
George  McFetridge  and  wife,  I homas  Dumars  and  wife, 
James  Dumars  and  wife,  John  Waters  and  wife,  Jacob 
Gurwell  and  wife,  Bradson  Gibbins  and  wife,  William 
Gurwell  and  wife,  Thomas  Jolly  and  wife,  James  Wal- 
ker and  wife,  and  Morris  Dunlavy  and  wife.  John 
Leech  and  wife  were  added  the  same  year  at  a little  later 

date,  and  completed  the  twenty-two  members  credited 

to  this  class.  Mr.  Leech  settled  at  Leech’s  Corners.  He 
was  an  ardent  Methodist  and  became  prominent  both  in 
Church  and  State.  He  died  in  1864  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-seven  years.  A very  large  number  of  his  de- 
scendants are  now  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  These  societies  belonged  to  the  old 
Shenango  Circuit  of  the  Baltimore  Conference.  In  1802 
the  preacher  in  charge  was  Joseph  Shane,  and  the  mem- 
bership numbered  sixty-two.  In  1805  Mr.  Roberts  was 
appointed  to  the  Shenango  Circuit.  In  1812  the  mem- 
bership had  increased  to  four  hundred  and  fifty-six,  and 
the  territory  extended  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Ohio  river 
at  Beaver. " From  this  date  the  Ohio  Conference  sup- 
plied the  charge  with  ministers  until  1820.  In  1817  the 
charge  became  a part  of  the  Erie  Circuit.  From  1820 
to  1825  it  belonged  to  the  Genesee  Conference.  In  1822 
the  Erie  Circuit  was  divided,  and  the  southern  part  was 
called  “Mercer  Circuit.”  In  1825,  at  the  first  session  of 
the  Pittsburgh  Conference,  Alfred  Brunson  and  Edward 
Stevenson  were  appointed  to  the  charge.  This  confer- 
ence held  its  session  at  Salem  in  1828,  Bishop  Roberts 
presiding.  A camp  meeting  was  held  in  connection  with 
the  Conference  on  the  ground  now  owned  by  George 


Shcnango  and  Salem  Classes. 


83 


Emrick,  at  which  there  were  more  than  one  hundred 
conversions.  The  sessions  were  held  in  the  church  im- 
mediately adjoining  the  lot  where  the  present  church 
stands.  In  1834  Salem  became  a distinct  charge,  with 
Theodore  Stowe  and  Alfred  Sturgis  as  circuit  preach- 
ers. It  was  a central  point  in  the  Conference,  and  before 
the  advent  of  railroads  was  frequently  visited  by  distin- 
guished preachers.  At  the  first  session  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1836,  Ahab  Keller  and  C.  C.  Bert  were  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge  which  still  embraced  a large  terri- 
tory. Other  charges  and  appointments  were  set  off  until 
1854,  when  the  following  societies  belonged  to  the  Salem 
Circuit : Old  Salem,  Linn’s  school  house,  Sugar  Grove, 
North  Salem,  Bethel,  the  society  which  constituted  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  Centenary  Church,  the  society 
where  Fredonia  now  stands;  Cottage  Chapel  and 
“Harry  of  the  West.” 

In  1861  the  charge  was  divided,  leaving  to  the  Salem 

Charge,  Sugar  Grove,  North  Salem  and  Fallowfield.  The 
first  class  organized  at  North  Salem  was  as  early  as 
1842.  It  met  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Jones,  now  the 
J.  Lawton  place.  Special  meetings  had  been  held  in  Mr. 
Jones’  log  barn  by  Henry  Winans  and  Rufus  Parker. 
Among  the  first  members  were  Cornelius  McLean,  Sam’l 
Chess  and  wife,  Benjamin  Jones  and  wife,  Mrs.  Armit- 
age  and  Mrs.  Palm.  The  class  met  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Chess;  Mr.  McLean  was  the  leader.  At  about  the  same 
time  another  class  was  formed  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood which  met  at  James  Taylor’s.  John  Stevenson 
was  the  leader.  The  North  Salem  Church  was  erected 
in  1856,  and  the  two  classes  united. 

The  first  class  at  the  Sugar  Grove  appointment  was 
organized  at  the  house  of  David  McGranahan,  near  At- 
lantic, in  1829,  by  Thomas  Carr,  and  consisted  of  the 
following  members:  James  Kilpatrick,  leader;  Thomas 

Leech  and  wife,  John  Cline,  George  Cline,  Margaret 
Cline,  Samuel  Watt,  Francis  Orwig  and  wife,  Drusella 
McGranahan  and  Ruth  Jacqua.  The  meetings  were  held 
at  the  houses  of  David  McGranahan  and  Thomas  Leech, 
and  at  the  Falling  Mill,  and  school  house.  In  1867, 
under  the  pastorate  of  G.  H.  Brown,  the  society  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  present  house  of  worship. 


84 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

About  the  year  1807,  the  first  meeting  house  was  built 
at  Old  Salem  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  present  church. 
It  was  about  26x32  feet,  and  constructed  of  hewed  logs, 
with  shingle  roof.  Another  church,  about  40x45  feet> 
took  its  place  in  1828.  “The  pulpit  was  a semi-circular 
box  with  ‘pounding  board’  around  the  top  as  high  as  a 
man’s  waist,  and  was  entered  at  the  side  by  a flight  of 
some  half  dozen  steps.”  This  was  replaced  by  a third 
church  in  1852.  A parsonage  was  built  at  the  “Corners” 
about  1833.  It  was  sold  twenty  years  later,  and  another 
parsonage  erected  near  the  church. 

The  first  class  at  Fallowfield  was  organized  at  a very 
early  date.  Preaching  services  were  held  in  private 
houses  until  1843  or  i844>  when  a small  frame  church 
was  built  near  where  Clinton  Hazen  now  lives.  Adam 
Kean  and  wife  and  John  McEntire  and  wife  were  among 
the  first  members.  This  chapel  served  as  a place  of  wor- 
ship until  1874,  when  the  present  neat  and  comfortable 
church  was  erected  on  a lot  donated  by  R.  Hanna. 

A Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the  Old  Log 
Church  at  an  early  date,  and  has  been  continued  up  to 
the  present  time.  In  the  winter  of  1831  a remarkable 
revival  occurred  among  the  Sunday  school  children,  re- 
sulting in  many  conversions.  In  1851  a school  was  or- 
ganized at  North  Salem;  and  in  1833  one  was  organized 
in  the  house  of  Thomas  Leech  at  Sugar  Grove.  This 
school  was  subsequently  moved  to  the  school  house,  and 
later  to  the  church.  There  was  also  an  early  organiza- 
tion at  Fallowfield. — (History  of  Mercer  County,  Brozvn, 
Runk  & Co.,  Publishers ; pp.  603,  604 ; Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference ; Vol.  I,  p.  30;  Prof.  J . A. 
Leech,  Manuscript  Centennial  History  of  Salem  Charge, 
,898.) 

It  would  be  an  interesting  task  to  trace  the  history  of 
the  members  of  these  pioneer  classes  of  Methodists,  but 
records  are  few  and  traditions  uncertain.  We  must  con- 
tent ourselves  with  the  mention  of  a few  names. 

A.  C.  McLean,  in  a letter  to  Prof.  J.  A.  Leech,  of 
Leech’s  Corners,  says:  “William  McLean  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Ligonier  Valley,  Westmoreland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania., his  father,  Andrew  McLean,  having  settled 
there  with  his  family  shortly  after  the  Revolution.  Both 
his  father  and  mother  were  devout  members  of  the  Meth- 


Shenango  and  Salem  Classes. 


85 


odist  class  at  Ligonier.  His  father  was  known  as  a local 
' preacher,  and  left  in  manuscript  form  a book  of  his  ser- 
mons, which  he  closes  with  the  following  prayer,  from 
which  we  may  judge  something  of  his  Christian  life  and 
character : 

“ ‘O  Lord  Jesus,  Thou  who  didst  suffer  as  man,  hun- 
ger, cold,  nakedness,  perils,  and  sword,  contradictions  of 
sinners  against  Thyself  and  at  the  last  gave  Thyself 
freely  up  to  death  to  purchase  a universal  redemption 
for  a fallen  world.  Give,  Lord  Jesus,  Thy  children, 
grace  and  strength  according  to  their  day,  and  supply 
with  food  and  other  necessaries  of  life  convenient  for  us, 
and  give  us  hearts  to  receive  all  things  with  gratitude 
and  thankfulness,  with  a good  heart  and  good  will,  not 
grudgingly,  nor  with  sinful  covetousness.*  Stamp  Thy 
image  on  our  hearts,  O Lord,  and  may  we  be  so  changed 
as  to  become  in  our  measure  as  meek  and  as  lowly- 
minded  as  Thyself.  Be  mindful  of  the  world  universally, 
and  may  the  powers  of  anti-Christ  be  broken,  and  may 
the  long  prayed-for  period  usher  in  Thy  Kingdom  Come. 
O Lord! 

“ ‘Now,  Lord,  with  humble  submission,  I give  all  up 
to  Thy  disposal,  believing  all  that  Thy  prophets,  Thyself, 
and  Thy  apostles  said  will  surely  come  to  pass  in  due 
order  and  time  and  place.  So  be  it,  so  be  it,  Lord.  Amen.’ 

“His  mother  was  Margaret  Bell, a sister  or  near  relative 
of  Rev.  Bell,  through  whose  influence  the  name  of  Rob- 
ert Richford  Roberts  was  enrolled  on  the  class  book  of 
the  Methodist  Society  at  Ligonier,  an  act  for  which  the 
grand,  good  bishop  afterwards  said  he  was  never  sorry. 

“When  the  Roberts  family  left  Ligonier  and  settled 
on  the  Shenango,  William  McLean  was  among  the  first 
to  join  them,  taking  with  him  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Ross, 
and  settling  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  J.  T.  McLean. 
They  were  among  the  original  founders  of  the  Shenan- 
go, or  old  Salem  Methodist  Class,  the  first  class  formed 
in  what  is  now  the  Erie  Conference  District,  and,  after 
Bishop  Roberts,  their  first  leader,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  many  years,  and  was  esteemed  as  an  excellent 
Christian  man,  and  a zealous  and  devoted  leader. 

“He  raised  a family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom 
were  active  and  earnest  members  of  the  Old  Salem 
Church.  They  were:  Andrew,  John,  Margaret,  Wil- 


86 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


liam,  Cornelius,  Jane  (Leech),  Eliza  (Stevenson),  James 
Ross  and  Jacob  Young.  Three  of  these  sons,  John,  Wil- 
liam and  Cornelius,  became  Methodist  preachers,  and  the 
other  three  were  at  different  times  class  leaders  of  the 
Old  Salem  Church.  It  was  at  a meeting  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  held  at  Salem  in  1828,  and  presided 
over  by  Bishop  Roberts,  that  John  McLean  was  received 
on  trial.  He  served  as  an  active  minister  for  forty-four 
years,  during  which  time  he  filled  some  of  the  highest 
stations  in  the  Pittsburg,  Erie  and  Eastern  Ohio  Con- 
ferences. He  preached  in  Cleveland  when  it  was  a small 
village.  I have  heard  my  father  tell  about  him  preaching 
in  Butler  in  homespun  clothes — spun  and  woven  by  his 
mother  and  sisters,  and  pulled  into  what  was  called  thick 
cloth  by  Thomas  Leech.  I want  to  be  present  at  the 
centennial  meeting  of  the  church  if  possible.  Old  Salem 
has  a glorious  history,  of  which  the  people  thereabouts 
should  feel  proud.  The  influence  on  the  development 
and  highest  good  of  our  country  that  went  out  from  the 
labors  of  these  founders  of  Methodism  has  been  as  great 
as  has  the  influence  emanating  from  Bunker  Hill  or  Stony 
Point,  and  our  children  may  as  profitably  learn  something 
of  the  lives  of  those  men  as  the  lives  of  our  heroes  in 
war/' 

The  excellency  and  triumph  of  the  Christian  religion 
was  exemplified  in  the  happy  death  of  George  McFet- 
ridge,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  20th  of  April,  1839, 
at  his  residence  in  Salem  township,  Mercer  County,  Pa. 

He  was  one  of  the  veterans  of  Christ,  who  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  under  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wesley.  From  that  time  to  his  death,  he  was  a 
firm  and  constant  member  of  the  Church.  He,  with  his 
family,  emigrated  to  America  in  A.  D.  1784,  and  settled 
in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  in  1798  removed  to  what  was  then 
called  the  back-woods,  (now  Mercer  county),  where  he 
endured  many  hardships  and  privations,  which  are  com- 
mon to  new  settlements,  and  where  the  yell  of  the  savage 
and  howl  of  the  wild  beast  often  greeted  their  ears.  But 
the  heralds  of  salvation  found  their  way  to  those  scat- 
tered settlers  in  the  wilderness ; this  caused  Mr.  McFet- 
ridge  again  to  rejoice ; and  his  house  became  a home  to  the 
weary  minister  of  the  gospel,  as  well  as  a place  of  wor- 
ship, which  he  esteemed  as  a great  privilege  to  his  last 


Shcnango  and  Salem  Classes. 


8 7 


hours.  It  was  his  delight  to  have  ministers,  and  pious 
persons  visit  him. 

When  his  children  would  visit  him,  he  would  call  them 
around  him  to  join  in  prayer  with  him;  and  he  frequently 
requested  his  neighbors  to  hold  prayer  meetings  at  his 
house.  The  Sabbath  before  his  death,  when  a meeting 
was  held  in  his  room,  he  requested,  one  more  class  meet- 
ing with  his  friends  below,  to  hear  their  prospects  above. 
While  he  commenced  to  sing  with  his  usual  strength  the 
first  verse,  his  voice  failed,  but  he  would  still  respond, 
“Amen''  to  suitable  sentences.  He  lingered  a few  more 
days  on  the  shores  of  time,  frequently  speaking  of  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ,  and  the  unbounded  love  of 
God,  that  had  preserved  him  so  many  years.  \\  hen  one 
told  him  he  had  served  God  so  many  years,  he  would  reap 
his  reward,  he  replied : “No,  no,  if  one  good  word, 

thought,  or  action,  would  save  me  I would  be  lost.  I feel 
the  most  worthless,  the  least,  indeed,  of  all  His  followers. 
If  I am  saved,  it  will  be  through  the  mercy  and  grace  of 
God.  O how  free  for  every  child  of  man!  Who  will 
accept  of  it  on  the  most  glorious  terms  ? Who  will  not 
be  a follower  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  ?" — (Pittsburg 
Conference  Journal,  Aug.  i , 1839.) 

Hon.  John  Leech,  son  of  Thomas  Leech,  and  Phoebe, 
his  wife,  of  Warrington,  York  County,  Pa.,  was  born 
November  29,  1767,  and  died  May  1,  1864,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  nearly  ninety-seven  years.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Morrison,  November  25, 
1783.  Mr.  Leech  moved  to  the  Glades,  Somerset  County, 
in  1792;  and  in  1802  to  Salem,  on  the  Little  Shenango, 
Mercer  County,  Pa.  He  was  reared  a Quaker,  but 
shortly  after  his  marriage,  he  was  converted  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  for  many 
years  a member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature,  both  in 
the  House  and  Senate. 

In  April,  1861,  a census  of  his  family  showed  ten  sons 
and  two  daughters,  104  grandchildren,  136  great-grand- 
children, 47  grand-children-in-law,  and  6 great-grand- 
children-in-law — a total  of  305 — with  himself  and  wife, 
307- 

“As  a religious  man  and  a Methodist,  he  was  warmly 
attached  to  his  Church,  without  bigotry,  and  his  services 
in  that  way  as  a member,  a leader,  a steward,  a trustee, 


88  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

and  sometimes  as  sexton,  had  a great  influence  in  build- 
ing  up  the  Church  in  the  entire  region  where  he  lived. 
• • At  their  log  cabin,  before  it  was  chunked, 

Bishop  Whatcoat  preached  within  its  walls,  and  slept  be- 
fore bedsteads  were  put  up.” 

Dr.  Elliott  was  with  him  the  Sabbath  before  his  death, 
and  says:  “I  had  much  interesting  conversation  with 

him,  and  there  found  him  waiting,  like  Simeon  of  old,  for 
the  coming  of  his  Savior.”— (Dr.  Charles  Elliott  in  The 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Aug.  6,  1864.) 

“C.  M.  H.,”  of  Jefferson,  Ashtabula  County,  O.,  re- 
turning from  a visit  to  a camp  meeting  on  Curllsville  cir- 
cuit in  the  fall  of  1857,  says:  “We  called  on  an  old 

veteran,  who  has  seen  ninety  winters — J.  Leech.  He  was 
sitting  in  his  room  reading  his  Bible,  and  that  without 
glasses ; though  he  had  used  them  for  forty  years,  yet  for 
some  four  years  he  can  do  without  them.  -•  He  had  read 
his  Bible  through  forty-six  times,  and  was  reading  it 
through  the  forty-seventh  time.  He  spoke  of  his  love  for 
God  and  his  Church,  and  his  hope  of  heaven,  saying  he 
was  waiting  his  Lord’s  coming,  with  readiness  to  meet 
him.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Oct.  6,  1857.) 

John  Leech  raised  a large  family,  all  of  whom  were 
active  and  earnest  workers  in  the  Church.  Three  of  his 
sons,  John,  Samuel,  and  Joshua,  became  Methodist 
preachers,  and  served  as  active  ministers,  traveling  or  lo- 
cal, many  years. 

Samuel  Leech  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa., 
in  1801.  He  grew  up  to  manhood  in  Salem,  attending 
such  schools  as  the  neighborhood  afforded  at  that  time. 
He  embraced  religion  in  1816,  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
I&34>  and  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1836.  “Mr.  Leech  was  a large  man,  well  built  for  service 
and  endurance  in  the  itinerancy,  of  sandy  complexion,  and 
quick,  impulsive  feelings,  that  required  a good  amount  of 
grace  and  watchfulness  to  control.” — (Gregg,  History  °f 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  2,  pp.  23,  24.)  He 
located  in  1846,  and  lived  on  his  farm.  He  served  the 
Church  well  in  the  local  ranks.  He  died  at  Leech’s  Cor- 
ners, March  30,  1875. 

Joshua  Leech  was  born  at  Leech’s  Corners,  April  2, 
1808.  1 he  early  part  of  his  life  was  spent  as  a steam- 

boat captain  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  and  along 


Shenango  and  Salem  Classes. 


89 


the  southern  coast.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  in  Leechburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  still  later  in  the 
same  business  at  Leech’s  Corners.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Long,  of  Little  Shenango,  in 
1833.  He  engaged  in  farming  in  Clarion  County  soon 
after  his  marriage.  Here  he  was  licensed  as  a local 
preacher,  and  in  1841  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  He  was  discontinued  in  1842  and  moved 
into  Western  Ohio  where  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  At  a later  date  he  removed 
to  Missouri  where  he  died  Oct.  4,  1868,  after  twenty- 
three  years  spent  in  the  ministry. 

John  Leech  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1826,  and  appointed  to  Mercer  Circuit.  He 
had  been  ordained  previously  a local  deacon.  He  was  re- 
ceived into  full  connection  and  ordained  elder  in  1828. 
His  appointments  were : 1826,  Mercer ; 1827,  Meadville ; 

1828,  “Peregrine  Buckingham  and  John  Leech  without 
stations,  at  their  own  request “ ; 1829,  without  appoint- 
ment, “in  consequence  of  affliction”;  1830,  name  disap- 
pears from  “General  Minutes,”  doubtless  located. 

John  Riley  was  born  in  Queen  Ann  County,  Maryland, 
Dec.  19,  1779.  He  moved  with  his  parents  into  Somer- 
set County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1783,  and  thence  to  West- 
moreland County.  In  1800  he  removed  into  Mercer 
County,  and  settled  on  a farm  now  owned  by  Cyrus  Mc- 
Granahan,  about  one  mile  northwest  from  the  old  church, 
where  he  lived  all  his  days.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Barbara  Simons  in  1804.  To  the  worthy  couple  were 
born  ten  children.  John  Riley  was  a life  long  Methodist, 
and  a local  preacher  for  many  years.  He  was  recognized 
as  one  of  the  greatest  Bible  students  of  his  day.  He  died 
March  19,  1864,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
— ( Communication  from  a descendant  of  the  family  writ- 
ten in  1 8 pp.) 

John  McGranahan  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  Nov.  12,  1780,  and  died  at  his  residence  in 
Sugar  Grove,  Mercer  County,  Sept.  2,  1868.  He  settled 
in  Mercer  County  with  Robert  R.  Roberts  and  others  in 
1879.  He  married  Nancy  Roberts  in  1801  by  whom  he 
had  twelve  children.  He  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1804.  He  was  an  earnest  student  of 


90 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


the  Bible  and  Clarke's  Commentary.  During  the  last  ten 
years  of  his  life  he  was  blind.  All  this  long  night  he 
was  never  heard  to  complain,  but  always  said : “It  will 

be  all  right  by  and  by."  When  the  last  struggle  came 
and  he  could  no  longer  speak  save  in  monosyllables,  his 
daughter  asked  him  : “What  is  your  prospect  ? Is  it  all 

right  before  you?"  He  replied,  “yes”  and  quietly  passed 
away. 


All  this  long  night  he 


Esther  Caughey,  wife  of  John  Caughey,  and  sister  of 
Bishop  Roberts,  died  at  the  residence  of  her  son  in  Salem, 
Mercer  County,  Pa.,  March  8,  1839.  She  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland,  July  2 5,  1878.  When 
about  six  years  of  age  her  father  with  his  family  moved 
to  \\  estmo reland  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  lived 
until  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  John  Caughey,  a 
native  of  Ireland.  Soon  after  her  marriage  they  removed 
to  Salem  and  settled  on  the  same  farm,  where  she  died. 
She  was  one  of  the  first  four  women  who  visited  this 
then  howling  wilderness  before  there  was  one  acre  of 
land  cleared  and  with  her  own  hands  split  the  first  rail 
ever  made  in  all  this  region  of  country.  She  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the  age  of  thirteen  and 
remained  a faithful  member  until  called  to  join  the  Church 
triumphant.  She  endured  the  trials  and  deprivations  of 
a new  country  with  fortitude  and  hailed  with  joy  the  visits 
of  the  Methodist  preachers.  It  was  always  a pleasing  re- 
flection to  her  as  well  as  to  many  others,  that  this  settle- 
ment was  commenced  in  a truly  religious  manner;  the 
first  prayer  meeting  being  held  beside  a log  before  a cabin 
was  built.  She  was  remarkable  for  her  liberality  and  de- 
light in  waiting  upon  the  people  of  God  on  quarterly  meet- 
ing and  camp-meeting  occasions,  and  was  peculiarly  fond 
of  entertaining  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  Her  hus- 
band died  October  11,  1834.  She  was  the  subject  of 
great  affliction  for  a long  time  and  was  unable  to  talk 
much  during  the  last  few  weeks  of  her  life.  When  Wil- 
liam McLean  visited  her  and  sung  a hymn;  she  seemed  in 
ecstacy  and  strove  with  her  remaining  strength  to  clap  her 
feeble  hands.  She  lingered  until  the  morning  of  the 
eighteenth  when  her  spirit  took  its  flight  so  quietly  that 
it  was  scarcely  known  when  she  ceased  to  breathe. — 
(Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  April  4,  1839.) 


Springfield. 


9i 


Springfield. 

The  early  introduction  of  Methodism  into  Springfield, 
Pa.,  may  be  traced  to  the  marriage  of  Mr.  John  Mershon 
to  a Methodist  lady.  He  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
the  town  in  1796,  cleared  a few  acres  of  land  and  built  a 
log  house  one  mile  south  of  where  the  Methodist  church 
of  west  Springfield  now  stands,  but  managed  to  spend  the 
winter  for  two  or  three  years  in  Greene  County  where  he 
had  two  sisters  married  to  brothers  named  Brush — all 
substantial  Methodists.  Mr.  Mershon,  though  strictly  a 
moral  man,  was  not  a professor  of  religion,  and  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Bathsheba  Brush  in  1799,  was  the  occasion 
of  her  prompt  expulsion  from  the  Church.  But  her 
Christian  life  so  soon  atoned  for  the  breach  of  discipline 
that  she  was  deemed  worthy  of  a church  letter  which  she 
brought  with  her  to  Springfield.  In  the  spring  of  1800, 
having  heard  of  a local  preacher  at  Franklin,  Ohio,  named 
Joseph  Bowen,  Mrs.  Mershon  induced  her  husband  to 
write  to  him,  inviting  him  to  preach  at  their  house.  He 
came  in  September  and  preached  six  sermons.  Later  in 
the  season  he  came  again,  thus  preparing  the  way  for 
James  Quinn,  the  presiding  elder  of  Erie  District,  who 
organized  the  class  soon  after  Conference  in  the  spring 
of  1801,  “near  Lexington,”  a government  trading  post, 
five  miles  distant,  and  at  that  time  the  only  place  that  had 
a name , west  of  Erie.  Mr.  Mershon’s  house,  where  this 
class  was  formed,  was  of  the  better  class,  having  a good 
bark  roof,  with  floors  of  the  same  material  above  and  be- 
low, while  some  of  Mr.  Quinn’s  preaching  places  were 
without  floors  of  any  sort.  In  this  house  also  the  first 
quarterly  meeting  in  Erie  County  was  held,  Dr.  Bostwick 
acting  as  presiding  elder  in  the  place  of  Thornton  Flem- 
ing. Like  most  of  the  early  quarterly  meetings,  it  was 
the  scene  of  converting  power.  The  members  of  this 
first  class  were : John  and  Bathsheba  Mershon,  Daniel 

and  Elizabeth  Monroe,  brother  and  sister  of  Rev.  Joshua 
Monroe  and  Andrew  Stull.  Though  Mr.  Mershon  was 
appointed  class-leader,  he  had  no  witness  of  pardon  until 
the  next  year.  While  John  Cullison  was  preaching  on  the 
text,  “We  would  see  Jesus,”  the  troubled  leader  “felt 
eternal  life  spring  up  in  his  50111/'  The  year  1804  was 
memorable.  Andrew  Hemphill  found  nine  members  in 
the  society  ; four  were  awakened  under  his  first  sermon. 


92 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


eleven  under  the  second,  seventeen  under  the  third,  and  at 
the  end  of  his  year  there  were  one  hundred  members, 
nearly  one-third  of  the  members  of  Erie  Circuit  being  at 
West  Springfield.  Mrs.  Mershon's  brothers  came  in  1803, 
and  on  the  land  of  one  of  them,  Jared  Brush,  was  built 
the  first  church  edifice  in  the  old  Erie  Conference,  known 
in  our  early  annals  as  “Brush’s  Meeting-House.”  Mr. 
Gregg  says  it  was  “erected  previous  to  1810.”  The  exact 
date  is  1804,  the  year  of  the  great  ingathering  under 
Hemphill.  Joshua  Monroe  describes  it  as  a “house  built 
of  round  logs,  and  covered  with  clapboards.”  It  stood 
in  a dense  forest. 

In  1805  David  Best  and  James  Shackelford  were  ap- 
pointed. Soon  after  Conference,  Mr.  Best  and  Mr.  Rob- 
erts, who  was  on  the  Shenango  Circuit,  were  authorized 
to  exchange  places,  but  Mr.  Roberts  continued  to  live  in 
his  own  house  at  Shenango.  The  appointment  lay  in  a 
circuit  of  four  hundred  miles,  and  the  average  of  travel 
for  each  preacher  was  one  hundred  miles  per  week.  In 
1806  Mr.  Roberts  was  returned  to  the  Erie  Circuit  with 
James  Watts  as  junior  preacher.  The  work  was  so  en- 
larged that  it  required  six  weeks  to  go  round  and  the 
regular  work  of  the  preacher  was  one  sermon  on  each 
week  day,  and  two  on  every  Sabbath. 

Robert  R.  Roberts  gives  an  account  of  his  labors  at 
this  church  on  an  “exceedingly  cold”  Sabbath  in  1806-7. 
Having  been  unexpectedly  detained  Saturday  night  in  a 
cabin  in  a “beech  woods” — a belt  of  which  still  exists — 
1876 — south  of  Conneaut  Lake — by  starting  very  early 
Sabbath  morning,  he  reached  the  place  just  in  time  for 
service.  After  preaching  he  immersed  three  persons  in 
Conneaut  creek,  one  of  which  was  John  Randall,  a pillar 
of  Methodism.  It  is  stated,  in  Gregg’s  “History  of 
Methodism”  that  “Rev.  George  Stuntz  was  powerfully 
awakened  by  a sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Jacob  Gruber, 
presiding  elder,  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  Brush 
Meeting-House  in  July,  1810,  from  the  text,  “Be  not  de- 
ceived ; God  is  not  mocked.”  He  labored  successfully  as 
a local  preacher  for  about  fifty  years.  Judged  by  its  ef- 
fects this  was  a most  remarkable  discourse,  for  at  least 
forty  other  persons  are  known  to  have  been  awakened  at 
the  same  time.  In  the  fall  of  1814,  Gary  Ball  ran  away 
from  home  to  attend  a Methodist  meeting  near  Keepville 


Springfield. 


93 


and  was  soundly  converted.  His  testimony  created  a 
stir  in  the  neighborhood.  Prayer  meetings  were  held, 
and  on  the  7th  of  January,  1815,  John  Graham  formed  a 
society  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  at  the  house  of 
William  Webber,  now  known  as  the  “Fair  Haven” 
church.  Of  the  original  members,  fourteen  in  number, 
six  were  received  into  full  connection,  as  follows:  Wil- 

liam and  Susanna  Webber,  Alexander  and  Nancy  Davis, 
and  James  Salisbury  and  wife.  The  following  were  re- 
ceived on  probation  at  the  same  time : Daniel  and  Cath- 

erine Ball  and  their  daughter,  Susanna,  Henry  and  Han- 
nah Ball  and  their  son  Noah,  and  Samuel  and  Catherine 
Gulliford — all  relations  of  Mr.  Webber,  who  was  appoint- 
ed class  leader.  Daniel  and  Catherine  Ball  were  Presby- 
terians, and  soon  returned  to  that  Church;  but  of  their 
fourteen  children,  thirteen  became  Methodists.  Some 
time  prior  to  1815  “Brush’s  Meeting-House”  was  aban- 
doned, and  services  were  held  in  a log  school  house  on  the 
Ridge  Road.  This  was  burned  in  1825,  and  the  society 
met  until  1829  in  the  log  house  of  Amasa  Stewart.  In 
1821,  a personal  difficulty  between  two  members  divided 
the  society.  Twenty-one  members  seceded,  and  formed 
a “Reformed  Methodist  Church,”  with  Levi  Cass  as  their 
pastor.  This  “reform”  movement  was  characterized  by 
one  of  the  preachers : “These  Reformers  are  sheep  with- 

out a fold,  who  can  only  live  by  picking  straw  through 
the  fence.” 

A new  organization  was  formed  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  town  in  March,  1823  or  1824.  This  was  another  re- 
sult of  the  secession.  This  class  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing members : Jonathan  and  Eunice  Snow,  Gary  and 

Polly  Ball,  and  Walter  and  Delia  Derby.  Mr.  Derby  was 
appointed  leader.  A small  log  building  was  erected  on 
the  corner  of  his  farm,  principally  at  his  own  expense, 
where  the  Church  held  meetings  until  1833.  1825,  a 

parsonage  was  provided  for  the  preachers  at  West  Spring- 
field,  built  of  hewed  logs,  and  having  one  large  room  with 
a “recess”  across  one  end  for  two  beds.  Nathaniel  Reeder 
was  the  first  occupant,  and  two  or  three  years  later  the 
families  of  both  the  circuit  preachers  lived  in  it.  In  1833, 
a frame  house  with  two  good  rooms  was  built,  in. which 
the  first  to  live  was  Lewis  C.  Todd.  He  had  just  re- 
nounced L niversalism,  and  during  the  year  wrote  and 


94 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


published  his  book  against  the  soul-destroying  heresy ; but 
soon  after  he  renounced  Methodism  most  heartily,  and  re- 
turned to  his  former  faith. 

In  the  spring  of  1858  another  parsonage  was  built.  In 
1867  a good  brick  church  was  erected  at  East  Springfield 
and  dedicated,  free  of  debt,  by  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 

The  “Cottage”  church  was  commenced  in  1830,  but 
was  not  finished  until  1836.  It  consisted  of  two  parts, 
each  25x30  feet,  separated  by  a board  partition  which 
could  be  swung  up  to  the  ceiling  and  fastened  with  hooks 
when  all  the  room  was  needed.  This  was  occupied  until 
the  brick  church  was  erected  in  1854,  on  a site  donated 
by  Mr.  Z.  Thomas,  and  East  and  West  Springfield  were 
formed  into  a pastoral  charge. 

One  feature  of  Methodism  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
history  of  the  venerable  church  of  W est  Springfield. 
During  the  first  seventy-five  years  of  its  existence,  it  had 
ninety  preachers,  including  supplies,  but  never  had  a 
“vacancy”  in  its  pastorate.  Churches  with  a “settled 
ministry”  can  produce  no  parallel  case  in  all  their  history. 
— (Rev.  J.  S.  Albertson,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, Dec.  2i,  1876;  E.  M.  Kernick,  Manuscript. 
He  gives , up  to  the  close  of  his  pastorate,  twenty-seven 
presiding  elders  and  ninety-six  preachers.) 

In  1833  the  church  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  was 
abandoned,  and  the  next  year  a frame  church  was  erected 
at  Springfield  Cross  Roads,  now  East  Springfield,  and 
seated  with  slab  benches.  When  finished  several  years 
later,  it  had  a high  pulpit  and  a “gallery “ 'on  three  sides. 

This  circuit  furnished  at  least  seven  preachers : Jared 

Mershon,  Israel  Mershon,  D.  E.  Day,  Edwin  J.  Kinney, 
Ansel  \\T  ebber,  Edward  A.  Squier  and  George  J. 
Squier;  and  two  missionaries,  Louisa  E.  Blackmar  and 

Henry  H.  Hall. 

Franklin  Methodism. 

The  first  white  man  settled  within  the  bounds  of  Ve- 
nango County  was  a Scotchman,  John  Frazer  by  name, 
who  was  engaged  in  business  at  Venango.  In  1753  Ed- 
ward Shippen,  of  Lancaster  County,  wrote  to  Governor 
James  Hamilton:  “Weningo  is  the  name  of  an  Indian 

town  on  Ohio” — now  Franklin — “where  Mr.  Frazer  has 


X 


Franklin  Methodism. 


95 


? 


had  a gunsmith’s  shop  for  many  years;  it  is  situate 
eighty  miles  up  the  said  river  beyond  Logstown,  and 
Cassewago  is  twenty  miles  above  Weningo." — (Min- 
utes of  the  Provincial  Council  of  Pennsylvania — “Col- 
onial Records' — Vol.  5,  pp.  659-661.)  7 

The  Baltimore  Conference  in  April,  1804,  appointed 
Thornton  Fleming  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Monongahela 
District,  and  Andrew  Hemphill,  preacher  in  charge  of 
the  Erie  Circuit,  which  included  Franklin.  That  year 
Mr.  Hemphill  organized  a class  at  Gregg's,  now  Pioneer, 
on  Oil  creek,  of  which  John  Gregg,  Hannah  Gregg  and 
Sallie  Stevenson  were  members.  He  also  organized  the 
class  at  Pithole  settlement,  composed  of  the  Dawsons,  Sig- 
gins,  Kinnears,  Hendersons,  Alcorns  and  others.  Some 
time  in  the  fall  of  this  year  Mr.  Hemphill,  in  company 
with  William  Connelly,  who  served  as  a guide,  traveled 
from  where  Titusville,  on  Oil  creek,  now  stands,  to 
Franklin,  Pa.,  along  a blind  path.  He  had  an  appoint- 
ment to  preach  and  was  refused  the  privilege  of  occupy- 
ing the  school  house;  thereupon  taking  his  stand  under 
an  old  chestnut  tree  on  the  diamond,  he  delivered  the 
first  Methodist  sermon  to  which  the  Franklin  people 
ever  listened.  There  were  probably  at  that  time  no 
Methodists  in  Franklin,  and  but  few  members  of  any 
denomination. 

Franklin  is  the  place  where  George  Washington  held 
his  celebrated  conference  with  the  wily  Captain  Joncaire, 
when  the  French  claimed  all  the  western  territory.  It 
was  in  1753.  In  his  journal  Washington  says:  “We 

set  out  about  nine  o’clock  with  the  Half  King  Jeskakake, 
“White  Thunder"  and  the  Hunter,  and  traveled  on  the 
road  to  Venango,  where  we  arrived  the  4th  of  December, 
without  anything  remarkable  happening  but  a continued 

series  of  bad  weather.  This  is  an  old  Indian  town,  situ- 
ated at  the  mouth  of  French  creek,  on  the  Ohio,  and 
lies  near  north  about  sixty  miles  from  the  Logstown,  but 
more  than  seventy  the  way  we  were  obliged  to  go.’’ — 
(History  of  Venango  County,  />.  57. ) 

Christian  Frederick  Post,  Moravian  missionary,  came 
within  sight  of  Ft.  Venango  Aug.  7,  1758,  when  it  be- 
longed to  the  French,  and  says:  “I  prayed  the  Lord  to 

blind  them,  as  he  did  the  enemies  of  Lot  and  Elisha,  that 
I might  pass  unknown.  . . . The  Lord  heard  my 


96 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


prayer  and  I passed  unknown  till  we  had  mounted  our 
horses  to  go  off,  when  two  Frenchmen  came  to  take  leave 
of  the  Indians,  and  were  much  surprised  at  seeing  me, 
but  said  nothing.” — (Post's  Journal,  Early  History  of 
Western  Pennsylvania,  Appendix  X.) 


William  Connelly,  one  of  the  earliest  Methodists  of 
Franklin,  settled  at  Oil  Creek — that  being  the  name  of 
the  settlement  where  Titusville  now  stands — in  1801  or 


1802.  Afterwards  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Mead- 
ville,  where  he  taught  school,  and  subsequently,  about 
1809,  to  Franklin,  where  he  resided  until  his  decease  in 
1871  in  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  his  age.  In  1795 
William  Connelly  had  passed  through  Franklin,  or  Fort 
Venango,  as  one  of  the  surveying  party,  with  his  uncle 
Reese,  to  survey  the  triangle  at  Erie.  In  1810  Jacob 
Gruber  was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Monongahela  Dis- 
trict and  John  Monroe  preacher  for  the  Erie  Circuit. 
Among  his  appointments  in  Venango  County  that  year 
were  “Pithole”  and  “Mrs.  Mitchell's.”  The  appoint- 
ments to  preach  were  then  private  houses,  except  at  Mer- 
cer, where  the  school  house  was  used,  and  Brush’s  meet- 
ing house — now  West  Springfield,  Erie  County — built 
of  logs,  believed  to  be  the  first  meeting  house  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  The  same  year  Mr.  Monroe  formed  a class 
at  Franklin,  consisting  of  seven  members — William  Con- 
nelly, wife  and  daughter,  Rebecca;  John  Lupher  and 
wife,  and  William  McElheny  and  wife. 


In  1812  Jacob  Young  was  Presiding  Elder  of  Ohio 
District,  and  on  his  second  round  of  quarterly  meetings, 
he  went  to  “the  mouth  of  French  creek,”  or  Franklin. 
William  Connelly,  who  was  a local  preacher,  accompan- 
ied him  on  a mission  to  Brokenstraw  and  the  “mouth  of 


Conewango,”  or  Warren.  James  B.  Finley  seems  to 
have  held  his  first  quarterly  meeting  at  Oil  Creek,  Ve- 
nango County,  November  9 and  10,  1816.  The  year 
following,  with  John  P Kent  and  Ira  Eddy,  he  held  a 
quarterly  meeting  a few  miles  south  of  Franklin,  pos- 
sibly at  the  old  meeting  house  on  Sandy  creek.  In  1816 
William  Connelly  donated  a lot  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice,  but  the  building  was  not  commenced  un- 
til 1833.  It  was  completed  the  following  year.  The 
cornerstone  of  the  present  building  was  laid  in  1867  dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Tagg,  and  the  new  church  was 


Fran klin  Methodism. 


97 


dedicated  by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson — who  had  also 
laid  the  cornerstone — in  1869. 

The  General  Conference  of  1820  changed  the  bound- 
ary line  between  the  Genesee  and  Ohio  Conferences,  run- 
ning it  from  Erie,  Pa.,  to  Waterford,  thence  down 
French  creek  to  the  Allegheny  river,  placing  all  north  of 
this  line  in  the  Genesee  Conference.  This  change  of 
boundary  divided  Franklin,  giving  a part  to  each  of  the 
conferences. 

Centennial  Anniversary  of  Methodism  in 

Franklin. 

The  author  can  do  no  better  than  to  present  an  account 
of  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  of  Methodism  in 
Franklin,  which  he  prepared  for  the  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate  in  its  issue  of  July  21,  1904. 

“Beginning  last  Friday  afternoon,  and  continuing  four 
days,  appropriate  exercises  commemorate  fittingly  the 
centennial  of  Methodists  in  Franklin.  An  event  so  rare 
in  the  changeful  oil  regions,  where  whole  communities 
have  flourished  a brief  space  and  vanished  utterly,  very 
naturally  attracts  unusual  attention.  For  the  nonce  John 
Wesley’s  ardent  followers,  grazing  knee-deep  in  rich 
pastures,  own  the  town  and  all  its  belongings.  Their 
cup  of  rejoicing  overflows.  To  them  everybody  takes  off 
his  hat,  and  extends  joyous  greetings,  for  ten  decades  of 
ceaseless  labor  in  the  Lord’s  vineyard  is  something  to 
cherish,  to  talk  about,  and  to  be  proud  of.  Congratula- 
tions and  kind  wishes  crowd  thick  and  fast,  warming  the 
heart  and  quickening  the  pulse  of  people  second  to  none 
on  top  of  God’s  green  earth  in  high  endeavor  and  Chris- 
tian activity.  The  best  in  the  shop  is  their  just  desert, 
and  it  is  given  ungrudgingly.” 

Such  is  the  beginning  of  a report  of  our  centennial 
from  the  versatile  pen  of  that  veteran  newspaper  writer 
and  author  known  throughout  all  Oildom,  J.  J.  Mc- 
Laurin.  This  most  appreciative  report  appeared  in  the 
Oil  City  Derrick,  and  many  other  papers  have  given  large 
space  to  this  rare  occasion. 

In  1804  Thornton  Fleming,  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  Monongahela 
District.  There  were  at  that  time  two  circuits  within 
the  bounds  of  the  present  Erie  Conference — Shenango, 


7 


98  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

with  Joseph  Hall  as  circuit  preacher,  and  Erie,  with  An- 
drew Hemphill,  who,  the  previous  year  had  been  admitted 
to  the  itinerant  ranks  on  trial.  He  was  a gospel  preacher 
in  the  best  sense — “affectionate  in  his  address,  simple  in 
his  manners,  original  in  thought,  pure  in  heart.”  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  in  1824,  1828  and 
1832.  He  passed  to  his  heavenly  home  August  27,  1837, 
his  last  words  being,  “Happy,  happy/’ 

Mr.  Hemphill  had  formed  a class  at  Gregg’s,  on  Oil 
creek,  below  Titusville,  near  Pioneer,  consisting  of  three 
members — John  Gregg,  Hannah  Gregg  and  Sally 
Stevenson.  Mr.  Gregg  in  his  “History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,”  gives  him  credit  for  the  organization 
of  the  first  class  at  Pithole. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  names  of  the  original 
members : Henry  Kinnear,  George  and  Jane  Siggins, 

James  Dawson,  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Thomas  and 
Hannah  Dawson,  James  Dawson,  Jr.,  Phoebe  Dawson, 
William  and  Mary  Kinnear,  Andrew  and  Dinah  Kin- 
near,  and  the  Widow  Allender.  The  first  quarterly  meet- 
ing in  this  part  of  the  country  was  held  in  a barn  at 
Gravel  Run,  near  Waterford,  in  1802.  George  Siggins 
and  Isaac  Connelly  walked  all  the  way,  and  from  this 
meeting  a great  revival  spread  throughout  the  whole  sur- 
rounding country. 

At  Titusville  Mr.  Hemphill  had  made  an  appointment 
to  preach  at  the  mouth  of  French  creek.  Mr.  Connelly 
had  helped  survey  the  district,  and  knew  every  blind  path 
and  blazed  frail,  and  offered  his  services  as  a guide,  and 
so  the  two  trudged  on  through  the  woods.  Reaching 
Franklin,  Mr.  Hemphill  was  refused  the  school  house  in 
which  to  preach,  and  took  his  stand  under  a chestnut 
tree  on  the  “common”  and  preached  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  of  which  we  have  any  record  in  Franklin,  the 
congregation  standing  or  seated  on  the  green  grass.  The 
' traditional  tree  was  protected  by  Judge  Irwin  and  Dr. 
Gillett,  and  remained  as  a historic  landmark  until  de- 
stroyed by  a bonfire  kindled  to  celebrated  the  surrender 
of  General  Lee,  in  1865. 

The  first  class  at  Franklin  was  organized  in  1810  by 
Joshua  Monroe,  who  traveled  Erie  Circuit  with  Jacob 
Dowell  as  “second  preacher.”  The  names  of  the  mem- 
bers were:  William  Connelly,  wife  and  daughter,  Re- 


First  M.  E.  Church,  Franklin,  Pa 


98 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


with  Joseph  Hall  as  circuit  preacher,  and  Erie,  with  An- 
drew Hemphill,  who,  the  previous  year  had  been  admitted 
to  the  itinerant  ranks  on  trial.  He  was  a gospel  preacher 
in  the  best  sense — “affectionate  in  his  address,  simple  in 
his  manners,  original  in  thought,  pure  in  heart.”  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  in  1824,  1828  and 
1832.  He  passed  to  his  heavenly  home  August  27,  1837, 
his  last  words  being,  “Happy,  happy.” 

Mr.  Hemphill  had  formed  a class  at  Gregg's,  on  Oil 
creek,  below  Titusville,  near  Pioneer,  consisting  of  three 
members — John  Gregg,  Hannah  Gregg  and  Sally 
Stevenson.  Mr.  Gregg  in  his  “History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,”  gives  him  credit  for  the  organization 
of  the  first  class  at  Pithole. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  names  of  the  original 
members:  Henry  Kinnear,  George  and  Jane  Siggins, 

James  Dawson,  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Thomas  and 
Hannah  Dawson,  James  Dawson.  Jr.,  Phoebe  Dawson, 
William  and  Mary  Kinnear,  Andrew  and  Dinah  Kin- 
near,  and  the  Widow  Allender.  The  first  quarterly  meet- 
ing in  this  part  of  the  country  was  held  in  a barn  at 
Gravel  Run,  near  Waterford,  in  1802.  George  Siggins 
and  Isaac  Connelly  walked  all  the  way,  and  from  this 
meeting  a great  revival  spread  throughout  the  whole  sur- 
rounding country. 

At  Titusville  Mr.  Hemphill  had  made  an  appointment 
to  preach  at  the  mouth  of  French  creek.  Mr.  Connelly 
had  helped  survey  the  district,  and  knew  every  blind  path 
and  blazed  frail,  and  offered  his  services  as  a guide,  and 
so  the  two  trudged  on  through  the  woods.  Reaching 
Franklin,  Mr.  Hemphill  was  refused  the  school  house  in 
which  to  preach,  and  took  his  stand  under  a chestnut 
tree  on  the  “common”  and  preached  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  of  which  we  have  any  record  in  Franklin,  the 
congregation  standing  or  seated  on  the  green  grass.  The 
r traditional  tree  was  protected  by  Judge  Irwin  and  Dr. 
Gillett,  and  remained  as  a historic  landmark  until  de- 
stroyed by  a bonfire  kindled  to  celebrated  the  surrender 
of  General  Lee,  in  1865. 

The  first  class  at  Franklin  was  organized  in  1810  by 
Joshua  Monroe,  who  traveled  Erie  Circuit  with  Jacob 
Dowell  as  “second  preacher.”  The  names  of  the  mem- 
bers were:  William  Connelly,  wife  and  daughter,  Re- 


IOO 


History" of  Eric  Conference. 


becca,  John  Lupher  and  wife,  and  William  McElhaney 
and  wife.  The  first  church  building  was  erected  in  1833, 
on  Buffalo  street.  The  present  edifice  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Simpson  in  1869.  The  membership  of  the  church 
is  now  650.  Its  piety,  its  missionary  enthusiasm,  its 
strong  organization,  its  liberal  benevolence  and  its  re- 
ligious work  made  it  one  of  the  foremost  churches  of  the 
city. 

The  program  of  the  grand  anniversary  was  admirable, 
and  felicitously  adapted  to  the  auspicious  occasion.  The 
services  were  inaugurated  Friday  afternoon.  Mounds  of 
flowers  adorned  pulpit  and  platform.  Dr.  J.  N.  Fraden- 
burgh,  Presiding  Elder  of  Franklin  District,  read  a paper 
full  of  historic  incident,  on  ‘‘Methodism  of  the  Olden 
Days  in  and  About  Franklin.”  He  spoke  of  the  strug- 
gles and  achievements  of  the  pioneer  Methodists,  and 
paid  generous  tribute  to  their  courage,  fidelity  and  endur- 
ance. The  work  of  the  early  Presiding  Elders  was 
briefly  reviewed,  with  anecdotes  illustrative  of  their  char- 
acter and  the  times  in  which  they  lived.  Jacob  Gruber 
was  appointed  in  Monongahela  District  in  1810.  It  em- 
braced all  the  country  between  Laurel  Ridge  and  Lake 
Erie,  including  Clarksburg,  in  Virginia,  and  Armstrong 
County  in  Pennsylvania.  The  circuits  of  four  weeks  em- 
braced thirty  or  forty  appointments  each,  and,  with  one 
exception,  were  supplied  with  a single  preacher.  Mr. 

Gruber  said  to  them,  as  they  went  forth  to  their  work: 

“Hard  work,  but  good  and  certain  pay — bread  and  meat 
given,  and  water,  living  water  sure,  including  grace  and 
glory;  everything  that  is  good  here,  and  a crown  here- 
after.” The  Rev.  Henry  Boehn  says  of  him:  “He  had 

a German  face  and  a German  tongue,  and  often  looked 

quizzical.  He  wore  a drab  hat,  and  a suit  cut  in  Quaker 

style.  With  a rough  exterior  but  a kind  heart,  it  was 

necessary  to  know  him  in  order  to  appreciate  him.  A 
more  honest  man  never  lived ; a nobler  soldier  of  the 
cross  never  wielded  ‘the  sword  of  the  Spirit.’  As  a * 

preacher  he  was  original  and  eccentric.  His  powers  of 
irony,  sarcasm  and  ridicule  were  tremendous,  and  woe 
to  the  poor  fellow  who  got  into  his  hands ; he  would  wish 
himself  somewhere  else.  I heard  him  preach  scores  of 
times,  and  always  admired  him;  not  only  for  his  origin- 


Franklin  Methodism . 


IOI 


ality,  but  at  all  times  there  was  a marvelous  unction  at- 
tending his  word/’ 

In  1812  Ohio  District,  which  embraced  Franklin, #was 
traveled  by  Jacob  Young,  one  of  the  notable  characters 
of  his  time,  “and  a man  of  such  evangelical  simplicity 
and  purity,  such  good  sense  in  counsel  and  perspicuity 
and  pertinence  in  speech,  so  entertaining  in  conversation, 

and  of  such  cordiality  in  manners  and  saintliness  of 
character  that  the  most  obstinate  opposers  and  most  fas- 
tidious critics  were  won  by  him,  notwithstanding  the 
faithfulness  of  his  administration.” 

In  1816  James  B.  Finley  became  Presiding  Elder,  and 
did  heroic  work  for  the  Master.  He  was  a great  man,  and 
was  always  master  of  the  situation,  a great  camp  meet- 
ing preacher,  ‘‘with  a voice  like  thunder.”  These  Presid- 
ing Elders  visited  Franklin  as  often  as  their  herculean 
labors  would  allow,  and  make  frequent  mention  of  the 
Franklin  class. 

William  Swayze  followed  in  1819.  Hon  John  Swayze 
McCalmont  was  baptized  by  Elder  Swayze.  When  his 
parents  presented  him  for  baptism,  they  gave  his  name  as 
“John."  Mr.  Swayze  inquired  whether  he  had  a middle 
name.  They  answered  that  he  had  not.  Mr.  Swayze 
said : “He  ought  to  have  a middle  name,  John  Swayze,  I 
baptize  thee,  etc."  And  John  Swayze  it  was.  Other 
early  Presiding  Elders  were  Gideon  Draper,  Glezen  Fill- 
more, Wilder  B.  Mack,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley and  Alfred  Brunson.  We  have  no  space  to  speak  of 
their  work.  We  may  judge  of  the  character  of  the 
pastors  when  we  learn  that  of  the  thirty  who  served  from 
the  organization  of  the  Conference  in  1836  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  present  century,  fourteen  were  made  Pre- 
siding- Elders  and  sixteen  members  were  elected  dele- 
gates to  General  Conferences. 

Among  the  Methodist  ministers  who  joined  the  Erie 
Conference  from  Franklin  Charge  may  be  named  J.  W. 
Lowe,  W.  M.  Bear,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  John  Graham, 
R.  S.  Borland  and  S.  H.  Prather,  four  of  whom  have 
been  Presiding  Elders  and  members  of  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Friday  evening  a fellowship  meeting  packed  the 
church  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Pastors  of  the  various 
churches  in  the  city  felicitated  Franklin  Methodism  on 


102  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

its  splendid  record,  and  former  Presiding  Elders  W.  P. 
Bignell,  Milton  Smith,  J.  M.  Bray,  C.  O.  Mead,  and  for- 
mer Pastors  D.  C.  Osborne  (who  witnessed  the  greatest 
revival  ever  held  in  the  church,  in  1858-59),  and  H.  G. 
Hall  abounded  in  reminiscences,  and  spoke  tenderly  of 
deceased  preachers  who  had  served  the  appointment. 

The  feature  of  Saturday  was  an  old-fashioned  love 
feast,  led  by  D.  C.  Osborne,  followed  by  the  administra- 
tion of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  Old  mem- 
bers were  brought  in  carriages,  and  seated  in  easy  chairs 
at  the  front.  Some  had  not  been  able  to  attend  church 
for  years,  and  to  many  this  was  doubtless  their  last  visit. 
It  was  pathetic  to  listen  to  the  testimony  of  these  saints 
of  God — the  experience  of  many  running  back  more  than 
sixty  years.  The  once  familiar  faces  of  the  Plumers,  Mc- 
Calmonts,  Ridgways.  McClellands,  Lytles,  Hugheses, 
Kinnears  and  Mayses  were  gone,  or  were  represented  by 
one  or  two  survivors.  David  Smith,  J.  H.  Smith,  David 
Vincent,  John  Smiley,  John  Gildersleeve — these  and 
others  had  crossed  the  stream.  At  this  service  the  pas- 
tor, Dr.  A.  C.  Bowers,  read  a beautiful  letter  from  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Tagg,  who  was  pastor  when  the  present  edi- 
fice was  dedicated,  whom  the  infirmities  of  age  kept  at 
his  home  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  To  this  aged  saint  the  con- 
gregation sent  a loving  message. 

Sunday  morning  Bishop  Fowler  preached  a great  ser- 
mon on  a great  theme — “The  Exaltation  of  Christ” — to 
a vast  audience.  In  the  evening  the  house  was  crowded 
again  to  listen  to  President  W.  H.  Crawford,  who  deliv- 
ered an  eloquent  discourse.  The  special  feature  of  the 
day  was  the  afternoon  meeting  in  the  park.  A stand  had 
been  erected  on  or  near  the  spot  where  Andrew  Hemphill 
stood  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  Sunday  schopl 
marched  to  the  park  in  a body,  several  hundred  strong. 
The  Epworth  League  was  there,  the  Brotherhood  of  St. 
Paul  was  there,  the  church  was  there,  their  friends  were 
there — it  was  a notable  gathering.  The  Rev.  D.  C.  Os- 
borne, the  oldest  living  pastor,  was  the  principal  speaker, 
and  delighted,  uplifted,  inspired  the  audience  with  his 
cheerful  but  earnest  talk.  Dr.  Crawford  also  addressed 
the  multitude  with  words  full  of  wisdom  and  power. 

Monday  evening  Bishop  Fowler  delivered  his  lecture 
on  “Abraham  Lincoln.”  And  so  ended  this  most  inter- 


Andrew  Hemphill. 


esting  occasion  with  its  choice  program  delightfully  car- 
ried out. 

Andrew  Hemphill. 

•There  is  an  appreciative  memoir  of  Andrew  Hemphill 
in  the  “General  Minutes”  from  which  we  learn  the  follow- 
ing facts.  He  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  this  country  about  the  beginning  of  the  last 
century.  He  was  brought  to  a knowledge  of  salvation  in 
1800,  and  at  that  early  period  of  his  Christian  experience, 
he  exhibited  remarkable  zeal  and  activity  in  the  service 
of  his  Master,  and  indeed  this  characterized  his  minis- 
terial labors  throughout  his  whole  life. 

He  entered  the  traveling  connection  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1803,  and  served  the  Clarksburg  Cir- 
cuit in  the  Baltimore  Conference.  The  following  year  we 
find  him  on  the  Erie  Circuit  enduring  privations  and  hard- 
ships on  the  very  frontier  of  that  vast  field,  extending,  at 
that  time  even  to  Upper  Canada.  We  need  not  follow 
him  to  his  many  circuits  and  stations.  We  find  him  in  al- 
most every  section  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  when  a 
circuit  was  in  compass  almost  or  quite  equal  to  the  present 
greatest  districts.  In  the  remarkable  success  which 
crowned  the  labors  of  the  self-sacrificing  men  of  that  age, 
amid  obstacles  innumerable,  our  brother  had  no  inconsid- 
erable share.  “He  was,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word,  a re- 
vivalist; he  acted  on  the  principle,  that,  he  is  the  best 
preacher  who  wins  the  most  souls  to  Christ.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  grave,  simple,  sincere,  pure  in  doctrine, 
original  in  thought,  affectionate  in  address.  He  per- 
formed all  the  duties  of  a Methodist  preacher.  He  was 
careful  to  fold  the  sheep  of  the  Lord’s  pasture,  he  kept  the 
fence  in  good  order,  he  paid  particular  attention  to  the 
organization  of  the  societies,  and  the  improvement  of 
Church  property.  He  was  scrupulously  punctual  as  to 
time,  and  until  his  afflictions  toward  the  close  of  life  con- 
siderably embarrassed  his  movements,  hardly  ever  missed 
an  appointment.” 

He  was  appointed  to  the  Carlisle  District  in  1834,  and 
this  proved  to  be  his  last  appointment.  His  vigorous  con- 
stitution was  undermined  by  many  a storm  and  his 
strength  gave  way.  He  was  importuned  by  his  friends 


104 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


to  take  a needed  rest  which  he  so  well  merited,  but  lie 
could  not  be  persuaded. 

“During  a ministry  of  upward  of  thirty-four  years  he 
had  never  faltered  in  his  itinerant  course,  and  the  very 
idea  of  location  was  abhorrent.  He  determined  to  die 
in  the  front  rank  of  veterans  and  effective  soldiers.  He 
never  gave  up  his  sword  until  Christ  called  him  from  the 
walls  of  Zion ; then  he  surrendered  it  to  the  hand  which 
gave  it,  but  carried  the  honors  of  his  triumph  to  the  city 
of  his  repose.  The  religion  which  he  professed  and 


recommended,  sustained  him  when  severe  affliction 
pressed  heavily  upon  him ; and  although  he  was  sick  a 
long  time,  yet  he  never  uttered  a murmuring  word,  but 
cheerfully  bore  his  sufferings  as  a Christian.  He  re- 
marked that  he  was  not  tired  of  life;  but  if  it  pleased  God 
to  order  it  otherwise,  he  was  ready.  The  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death  was  illumined  as  he  approached  it,  and 
over  death  and  the  grave  he  shouted  ‘glory/  His  last 
words  were,  ‘happy,  happy!'  He  died  fifteen  minutes  be- 
fore five  o'clock  on  Sabbath  morning,  August  27,  1837, 
after  a severe  illness,  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age.  His 
funeral  sermon  was  preached  on  Monday  by  his  old  friend, 
Henry  Smith,  at  his  own  request,  to  a large  and  sympa- 
thizing congTegation,  from  Acts  xi,  24:  ‘He  was  a good 

man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  faith : and  much 
people  was  added  unto  the  Lord.’  " — ( Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  11.,  pp.  575,  5?6-) 

Among:  the  pious  laymen  who  did  so  much  for  early 
Methodism,  George  Siggins  deserves  mention.  He  was 
the  elder  son  of  John  Siggins,  and  was  born  in  the  parish 
of  Drumkliff,  County  of  Sligo,  Ireland,  in  1 77&-  V hen 
fifteen  years  of  age.  his  father  emigrated  to  America,  and 
settled  at  Spring  Creek,  Centre  County,  Pa.  Here  in 
1800,  George  was  married  to  Jean,  eldest  daughter  of 
Rev.  William  and  Jean  Young,  of  the  same  place.  His 
mother-in-law's  maiden  name  was  Simpson.  The  chron- 
icle which  I am  following,  written  by  the  grand-daughter 
of  George  Sig'gins,  says : “The  father  of  \\  illiam  and 

John  Simpson  was  the  great-ereat-grandfather  alike  of 
General  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant,  Jefferson  Davis,  and  my 
father,  George  Simpson  Siggins."  In  1801,  George  Sig- 
gins moved  to  Pithole,  Venango  County,  Pa. ; thence  to 
Warren  County,  below  Tidioute,  and  finally  to  what  is 


* 


, 


Methodism  in  Y oungsville. 


K>5 

now  known  as  West  Hickory,  Forest  County.  “One  of 
my  first  memories  of  my  grandfather,  George  Siggins,  is 
one  of  the  family  sitting  before  the  great  fire-place,  where 
huge  logs  fed  the  flames  that  were  roaring  up  the  black 
throat  of  the  chimney;  and  of  step-grandmother  cooking 
and  baking  before  the  fire,  where  on  the  ample  hearth  she 
had  drawn  the  glowing  coals.  Here  they  would  gather 
night  and  morning  for  family  worship.”  At  “Hickory- 
town,”  he  was  instrumental  in  having  a little  meeting- 
house built,  and  also  a school  house.  He  organized  de- 
bating clubs,  and  encouraged  the  young  people  to  take 
part.  He  attended  Methodist  quarterly  meetings  far  and 
wide,  and  was  ever  ready  to  assist  in  the  services. 

George  Siggins,  after  having  served  the  Church 
long  and  well  in  his  generation,  passed  to  that  better 
country  in  1865.  He  was  a man  of  courtly  bearing;  gen- 
erous in  all  his  impulses ; sincere  and  cordial  in  his  kindly 
and  Christian  greetings,  to  all;  strict  in  integrity;  firm  in 
adhesion  to  principle ; and,  all  in  all,  a noble,  manly  man. 
He  maintained  a high  standard  of  morals,  and  sought  to 
model  his  life  after  the  example  of  Christ. — (Two  manu- 
script volumes  of  Records  of  the  Siggins,  Dazvson,  Con- 
nelly and  Kinnear  Families.) 

Methodism  in  Youngsville. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  the  first  or- 
ganized in  Brokenstraw  township.  William  Connelly,  a 
local  preacher,  preached  near  the  site  of  Youngsville  in 
1809.  In  1812  Jacob  Young  and  Bishop  William  McKen- 
dree  spent  a night  at  the  house  of  Darius  Mead,  and  on  the 
following  day  the  Bishop  preached,  and  Mr.  Young 
formed  a class  consisting  of  the  following  members: 
John  Gregg  and  wife,  Jacob  Goodwin  and  wife,  William 
Arthur  and  wife,  Anna  Mead  and  Philip,  her  son;  Betsey 
Ford,  Polly  Arthur,  and  Polly  Campbell — eleven  persons. 
In  1813,  this  appointment  became  a part  of  Chautauqua 
Circuit,  Ohio  District,  Ohio  Conference — John  Mc- 
Mahon, preacher-in-charge,  Jacob  Young,  presiding  elder. 
In  1820  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  became  an  appointment 
of  the  Genesee  District,  Genesee  Conference;  and  in  1825 
it  was  connected  with  the  Erie  District,  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference. In  1 828  Youngsville  was  formed  from  Chau- 
tauqua Circuit;  and  in  1834  it  became  a part  of  the 


Jamestown  District.  For  the  year  1840  only,  the  district 
was  named  the  “Youngsville,  Warren,  and  Smethport.” 
In  1850  Lottsville  and  Wrightsville  were  taken  from  the 
circuit.  In  1874  Garland  was  added  to  the  charge. 

From  the  beginning  until  1818,  the  meetings  were  held 
in  private  houses,  barns,  and  school  houses.  The  congre- 
gation then  entered  their  first  house  of  worship,  the  build- 
ing of  which  was  commenced  the  preceding  year.  This 
was  replaced  by  a commodious  church  edifice  in  1827 
which  continued  in  use  until  1882  when  the  demands  of 
the  large  congregation  required  a still  larger  building. 
— (History  of  Warren  County , D.  Mason  & Co.,  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  1887,  pp.  418,  419.) 


IV. 


LAYING  FOUNDATIONS  OF  STRONGHOLDS; 
AND  SOME  OTHER  THINGS. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  Northwestern  Pennsylva- 
nia was  at  or  near  Meadville.  In  1787  David  and  John 
Mead,  “who  had  been  inhabitants  of  the  beautiful  Wy- 
oming Valley,  but  at  this  time  and  for  two  years  previous 
had  been  living  in  the  town  of  Sunbury,  attracted  by  the 
reports  of  a goodly  country  on  the  borders  of  the  Venan- 
go river,  bidding  adieu  to  their  families  and  turning-their 
backs  upon  civilization,  plunged  into  the  then  unbroken 
wilderness  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  after  a weari- 
some journey  of  many  days  over  rugged  mountains  and 
across  turbulent  streams,  following  Indian  trails  and 
guided  by  that  changeless  star  w’hich  glittered  in  the 
firmament  then  as  now,  finally  reached  that  goodly  valley, 
where  since  has  grown  the  now  busy  city  which  bears 
their  name.  It  was  then  covered  by  one  dense  forest; 
but  fortunately  the  flats,  now  known  as  Dunham  flats, 
to  the  west  of  the  stream  and  above  the  confluence  of  the 
Cussawago  with  the  Venango,  had  been  cleared  and  cul- 
tivated by  some  unknown  hand,  perhaps,  by  the  French 
or  the  natives,  and  was  now  covered  by  luxurious  prairie 
grass,  above  which  the  brilliant  wild  flowers  nodded  a 
salutation  to  their  lonely  visitants  from  the  abodes  of 
civilization.  For  some  days  they  moved  up  and  down 
the  valley,  but  no  place  seemed  so  inviting  for  habitation 
as  these  fat  acres  on  Dunham  flats,  and  here  they  deter- 
mined to  fix  their  homes.”  They  returned  to  their 
homes  and  persuaded  several  sturdy  pioneers  to  accom- 
pany them  back  to  their  newly-found  lands.  In  1788 
came  Thomas  Martin,  John  Watson,  James  F.  Randolph, 
Thomas  Grant,  Cornelius  Van  Horn  and  Christopher 
Snyder.  With  the  exception  of  Grant,  they  all  settled  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  now  Valonia,  and  the  tracts 


io8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


above.  Grant  chose  the  section  on  which  is  now  Mead- 
ville,  and  made  his  home  at  the  head  of  Water  street. 
‘‘Soon  tiring  of  the  frontier,  he  transferred  his  tract  to 
David  Mead,  who  thus  became  the  proprietor  and  real 
founder  of  the  city  which  took  his  name.” — (Bates,  Our 
County  and  Its  People,  pp.  129-132.) 

Methodism  in  Meadville. 

When  the  first  Methodists  came  to  Meadville  we  can 
not  tell,  but  certainly  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century ; 
nor  can  we  tell  when  the  first  small  organization  was 
made,  but  we  know  when  the  first  organization  was  made 
that  grew  into  a church  that  still  thrives.  Methodism 
was  organized  into  societies  in  the  surrounding  country 
before  it  was  organized  in  Meadville.  The  territory 
was  embraced  in  the  Pittsburgh  District  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference  until  1804,  when  the  name  was  changed  to 
Monongahela  District,  and  in  1812  was  again  changed 
to  Ohio  District,  and  became  a part  of  the  newly-formed 
Ohio  Conference.  In  1821  this  district  was  attached  to 
the  Genesee  Conference,  the  Buffalo  or  Erie  District,  and 
so  remained  until  the  formation  of  the  Pittsburgh  Con- 
ference in  1825.  Meadville  was  a part  of  the  old  She- 
nango  Circuit,  and  then  of  the  Erie,  French  Creek  and 
Meadville  Circuits  before  it  became  a station. 

In  1800  Peter  B.  Davis  was  on  the  Circuit,  and  formed 
a class  at  “Mumford’s,”  about  six  miles  from  Meadville, 
near  French  creek,  now  in  Fairfield  township.  Classes 
at  “Benn’s”  in  what’  is  now  Troy  township,  at  State 
road,  four  miles  east,  and  at  Woodcock  precede  that  at 
Meadville.  The  first  record  of  Methodist  preaching  was 
in  1806,  by  Robert  R.  Roberts,  then  traveling  the  Erie 
Circuit.  It  was  in  a tavern  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  Public  Square  and  Strawberry  alley,  now  Centre 
street.  No  organization  seems  to  have  been  formed  until 
1824  or  1825,  though  itinerants  and  local  preachers  had 
proclaimed  the  gospel  in  various  places,  especially  in  the 
old  log  Court  House,  which  stood  where  the  office  of  the 
late  Judge  Derickson  now  stands. 

One  of  the  early  itinerants  says : “Salem,  or  Leech’s, 

Mercer  County,  was  the  head  of  the  Conference.  (Cir- 
cuit he  probably  meant.)  From  Salem  we  went  zigzag 
to  Lake  Erie,  taking  two  or  three  appointments  in  the 


Meadvillc. 


109 


northeast  corner  of  Ohio;  thence  along  the  Ridge  road, 
in  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  to  some  seven  miles  short 
of  Erie,  where  we  turned  east  through  McKean  and  Wat- 
erford ; thence  south  through  Gravel  Run  to  Meadville. 
Meadville  was  not  on  the  plan,  but  I determined  to  make 
the  attempt,  and  sent  on  an  appointment,  and  after 
preaching  at  1 1 o’clock  on  Sunday  at  the  Run,  rode  ten 
miles  to  Meadville  and  preached,  my  colleague  doing  the 
same.  We  preached  at  the  Court  House  and  had  large 
congregations.  At  first  we  had  some  trouble  in  finding 
lodgings,  but  soon  numerous  doors  were  opened  to  us. 
From  thence  we  went  east  through  Titusville  to  ‘Daw- 
son’s’; thence  to  Oil  Creek  and  Franklin;  thence  to  Mer- 
cer County,  and  round  to  Salem,  four  hundred  miles.” 

The  names  of  the  members  of  the  first  class  at  Mead- 
ville were:  John  Lupher  and  wife,  Wesley  Bowman  and 
wife,  Griffith  Bennett  and  wife,  Hannah  Lowrey,  “Blind 
Betty,”  Sarah  Johnson,  and  Margaret  Johnson.  John 
Lupher  was  the  leader.  These  ten  persons  constituted 
the  germ  of  the  present  Methodism  of  the  community. 
Soon  they  were  joined  by  Nancy  Mattocks,  Richard 
Hope  and  wife.  Isaac  Myers,  and  Robert  Adrain  and 
wife,  Jabez  Goodrich  and  wife,  and  Thomas  Benn.  Their 
first  place  of  meeting  was  the  loft  of  Mr.  Lupher’s  black- 
smith shop,  of  which  the  stone  first  story  is  still  standing 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  South  Main  and  Arch  streets. 
This  was  bv  no  means  the  only  place  of  meeting.  Their 
class  meetings,  prayer  meetings  and  week  night  meetings 
were  held  in  the  houses  of  the  various  members  of  the 
class.  These  meetings  were  frequently  in  the  house  of 
Isaac  Myers,  where  many  persons  were  converted. 

The  society  exchanged  the  blacksmith  loft  for  the 
brick  church  on  Arch  street.  This  building  was  planned 
in  1829,  but  was  not  finished  for  some  time.  The  deed 
for  the  lot  was  made  August  13,  1839.  It  stood  where 
St.  Bridget’s  Church  now  stands,  the  property  having 
been  sold  to  that  congregation.  “The  church  was  never 
formally  dedicated,  possibly  because  they  did  not  quite 
know  when  it  was  entirely  finished,  which  was  not  for  a 
long  while  after  they  were  using  it,  but  it  was  conse- 
crated to  the  service  of  God,  if  ever  a church  was  so  con- 
secrated, by  the  conversion  and  sanctification  of  hundreds 
of  souls.” 


J 


Meadville. 


hi 


The  site  of  the  present  church  was  purchased  in  1865. 
The  original  Building  Committee  consisted  of  Rev.  Jona- 
than Hammett,  D.D.,  O.  Coburn  and  Harvey  Henderson. 
The  magnificent  edifice — popularly  called  “The  Stone 
Church” — costing,  together  with  the  lot,  more  than 
$80,000,  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God 
July  29,  1868,  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Morley  preaching,  and  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley  as- 
sisting in  the  dedicatory  services. — (George  W.  Haskins, 
Seventy-Fifth  Anniversary  Paper,  Meadville  Morning 
Star,  Feb.  4,  1901.) 

In  the  autumn  of  1818  Jabez  Goodrich  emigrated  from 
Chatham,  Connecticut,  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and 
thenceforth  resided  in  Meadville,  or  its  vicinity,  to  the  close 
of  his  life.  Sally  Goodrich,  his  wife,  had  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  State  Road  in  1818.  They 
were  married  in  1820.  A.  S.  Goodrich,  late  of  the  Erie 
Conference,  was  a son  of  this  worthy  couple.  In  June, 
1825,  Jabez  Goodrich  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting 
held  a few  miles  from  Meadville.  “He  returned  to  his 
home  and  family  an  exceedingly  happy  man,  and  immedi- 
ately entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  Chris- 
tian life.  He  established  family  worship  and  exhorted  his 
ungodly  neighbors  daily  to  break  off  their  sins  by  right- 
eousness, and  their  iniquities  by  showing  mercy  to  the 
poor.”  This  exhibition  of  Christian  zeal,  very  unusual 
at  that  time  and  in  this  place,  exposed  him  to  a great 
deal  of  petty  persecution,  which  he  bore  with  patience, 
and  even  counted  it  joy  that  he  was  deemed  worthy  to 
bear  the  reproach  of  Christ.  God  was  greatly  pleased  to 
honor  his  instrumentality,  for  in  a short  time  his  house 
began  to  be  thronged  at  the  hour  of  family  worship  by 
irreligious  persons  requesting  the  privilege  of  uniting 
with  the  family  in  praise  and  prayer.  Brother  Goodrich’s 
house  being  small,  a weekly  prayer  meeting  was  insti- 
tuted at  another  place  for  the  benefit  of  those  anxious  in- 
quirers ; several  were  converted  and  a Methodist  preacher 
on  an  adjoining  Circuit  was  requested  to  organize  into  a 
class  the  society  which  literally  commenced  and  for  a 
time  worshiped  in  Brother  Goodrich’s  house.  This  was 
the  origin  of  Methodism  in  Meadville.” — (President  John 
Barker,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Dec.  13, 

*859-) 


Meadville. 


1 1 1 


The  site  of  the  present  church  was  purchased  in  1865. 
The  original  Building  Committee  consisted  of  Rev.  Jona- 
than Hammett,  D.D.,  O.  Coburn  and  Harvey  Henderson. 
The  magnificent  edifice — popularly  called  ‘'The  Stone 
Church’' — costing,  together  with  the  lot,  more  than 
$80,000,  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God 
July  29,  1868,  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Morley  preaching,  and  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley  as- 
sisting in  the  dedicatory  services. — (George  W . Haskins, 
Seventy-Fifth  Anniversary  Paper,  Meadville  Morning 
Star , Feb.  4 , 1901.) 

In  the  autumn  of  1818  Jabez  Goodrich  emigrated  from 
Chatham,  Connecticut,  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and 
thenceforth  resided  in  Meadville,  or  its  vicinity, to  the  close 
of  his  life.  Sally  Goodrich,  his  wife,  had  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  State  Road  in  1818.  They 
were  married  in  1820.  A.  S.  Goodrich,  late  of  the  Erie 
Conference,  was  a son  of  this  worthy  couple.  In  June, 
1825,  Jabez  Goodrich  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting 
held  a few  miles  from  Meadville.  “He  returned  to  his 
home  and  family  an  exceedingly  happy  man,  and  immedi- 
ately entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  Chris- 
tian life.  He  established  family  worship  and  exhorted  his 
ungodly  neighbors  daily  to  break  off  their  sins  by  right- 
eousness, and  their  iniquities  by  showing  mercy  to  the 
poor."  This  exhibition  of  Christian  zeal,  very  unusual 
at  that  time  and  in  this  place,  exposed  him  to  a great 
deal  of  petty  persecution,  which  he  bore  with  patience, 
and  even  counted  it  joy  that  he  was  deemed  worthy  to 
bear  the  reproach  of  Christ.  God  was  greatly  pleased  to 
honor  his  instrumentality,  for  in  a short  time  his  house 
began  to  be  thronged  at  the  hour  of  family  worship  by 
irreligious  persons  requesting  the  privilege  of  uniting 
with  the  family  in  praise  and  prayer.  Brother  Goodrich's 
house  being  small,  a weekly  prayer  meeting  was  insti- 
tuted at  another  place  for  the  benefit  of  those  anxious  in- 
quirers ; several  were  converted  and  a Methodist  preacher 
on  an  adjoining  Circuit  was  requested  to  organize  into  a 
class  the  society  which  literally  commenced  and  for  a 
time  worshiped  in  Brother  Goodrich’s  house.  This  was 
the  origin  of  Methodism  in  Meadville." — (President  John 
Barker,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Dec.  13, 

1859-) 


1 12  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

The  Forestville  Charge. 

The  Forestville  charge  has  formed  part  of  five  Con- 

ferences : Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  Genesee,  Pitts- 

burgh, and  Erie.  It  has  been  included  in  eight  districts, 
and  four  circuits.  The  latter  were  Erie,  Chautauqua, 
Lake,  and  Forestville.  Forestville  Circuit — so-called  first 
in  1829 — embraced  Yillenovia,  Arkwright,  Perrysburg, 
Dayton,  Nashville,  Sheridan,  and  Silver  Creek.  In  the 
winter  of  1808-9,  George  Lane  of  the  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference visited  Sheridan  and  preached  at  the  house  of 
Daniel  G.  Gould  a number  of  times,  and  formed  a class 
consisting  of  Mr.  Gould  and  wife,  Stephen  Bush  and  Eli- 
jah Risley.  In  the  spring  of  1810  a class  of  10  mem- 
bers was  formed  in  Villenovia.  The  same  year  the  Gene- 
see Conference  that  met  in  a corn  barn  at  Lyons,  New 
York,  sent  three  preachers  to  the  ‘‘Holland  Purchase”  em- 
bracing all  of  New  York  west  of  the  Genesee  river. 
“Billy  Brown”  was  the  one  sent  to  Chautauqua  County. 
In  1812  Benjamin  G.  Paddock  was  sent  and  organized 
classes  in  Hanover  and  Villenovia.  The  first  sermon 
preached  at  Forestville  was  at  the  house  of  Jehiel  Moore 
in  the  winter  of  1812,  when  a class  consisting  of  William 
McClenathan  and  wife,  Samuel  Johnson  and  wife,  Daniel 
Farnham  and  wife,  and  one  other  whose  name  cannot  be 
ascertained,  was  organized.  The  first  quarterly  meeting 
was  held  in  Samuel  Johnson's  barn  by  James  B.  Finley  of 
the  Ohio  Conference,  probably  in  1816.  The  quarterly 
meetings  were  great  occasions,  and  resulted  in  many  con- 
versions. The  hospitality  of  the  people  was  most  gener- 
ous and  whole-souled.  “Men,  women  and  children  came 
from  far  and  near;  on  foot,  on  horseback,  in  wagons  or 
sleighs,  ox-sleds  or  carts;  and  the  ability  of  the  resident 
members  was  taxed  to  the  utmost  to  entertain  them  over 
Saturday  night  and  the  following  Sabbath ; some  taking 
home  with  them,  five,  ten,  twenty,  and  ‘Father  Corbin’ 
is  said  to  have  entertained  as  many  as  forty.” 

In  1851  Forestville  and  Sheridan  were  united  in  one 
charge,  and  the  remainder  of  the  circuit  set  off  as  Vil- 
lenovia Circuit.  In  1862  the  pastor,  E.  A.  Ludwick, 
raised  a company  of  volunteers,  was  commissioned  as 
Captain,  and  went  to  the  war.  In  1875  Harvey  Hender- 
son, pastor,  made  out  a list  of  seventy  preachers  who  had 
served  the  circuit  in  sixty-three  years. 


Forestville  Methodism. 


In  1825-6  a small  church,  costing  but  little  more  than 
$500,  was  erected  on  a lot  afterward  occupied  by  Julius 
Gould.  This  church  was  burned  in  1827  and  a new 
church,  with  gallery  on  three  sides  and  pulpit  about  half 
way  between  floor  and  ceiling,  was  completed  in  1834. 
When  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder,  dedicated  this 
church  the  prejudice  against  instrumental  music  was  such 
that  he  felt  it  necessary  to  inform  the  Lord:  “All  the 

instruments  of  music  we  dedicate  to  Thee,  are  these  voices 
Thou  hast  given  us” — yet  there  was  a solitary  flute  al- 
lowed to  pitch  the  tune  and  assist  the  air.  This  house  of 
worship  was  burned  in  1872 — having  been  moved  to  a lot 
on  Main  street  in  1862  when  the  new  church  was  dedi- 
cated. 

In  the  diary  of  J.  B.  Finley  for  the  year  1815  he  says: 
“Friday,  21st,  rode  sixteen  miles  further  down  the  lake 
to  Brother  W ebb's.  This  is  a new  country ; everything 
scarce  and  dear,  and  hardly  to  be  had  at  all.  Wheat  three 
iollars  per  bushel ; corn  two  dollars,  and  pickled  pork 
twenty-five  cents  per  pound.  These  new  settlers  must 
learn  to  live  by  faith  and  many  of  them  have,  and  are  a 
people  of  good  works.”  Here  is  something  worthy  of 
thought: — the  opinion  of  a physician  and  an  ardent 
Methodist  as  to  the  wonderful  excitement  in  the  early 
meetings:  “Then  shouts  of  glory!  hallelujahs!  and 

amens!  with  manifestations  of  what  was  called  ‘the 
power,’  characterized  nearly  all  good  meetings.  But 
there  were  reasons  for  these  that  can  never  be  measured 
by  the  gauge  of  piety.  Their  surroundings  with  savages 
on  the  border  and  beasts  of  prey  at  their  very  doors ; their 
isolated  locations,  far  from  neighbors ; the  stillness  of  the 
day  that  only  echoed  the  sounds  of  the  woodsman’s  axe ; 
the  ominous  silence  of  the  night,  broken  only  by  the  cry 
of  the  panther  or  the  howl  of  the  wolf,  were  well  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  awe  and  stir  their  passional  and  emotional 
natures  to  the  profoundest  depths.  Physical  conditions, 
change  of  climate,  dress  and  diet,  and  occupations,  in  a 
series  of  years  change  greatly  the  physical  constitution  of 
man.  Forty  or  fifty  years  ago  nearly  all  diseases  were 
sthenic  or  inflammatory  and  required  prompt  depletion. 
Aow,  they  are  asthenic  or  typhoid,  and  require  stimulants 
and  tonics.  Physical  changes  are  equally  manifest,  pro- 
duced by  like  causes.  It  will  be  observed  also  that  as  the 

8 


1 14  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

moral  and  intellectual  elements  of  Christian  life  and  char- 
acter are  developed,  the  emotional  element  is  held  under 
restraint,  so  that,  with  out  present  surroundings,  habits 
and  associations,  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  a 
Whitefield  with  his  eloquence,  or  Peter  Cartwright  with 
his  magnetic  power  to  arouse  the  human  soul  to  such  emo- 
tional demonstrations.” — (History  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Forestville,  N.  Y by  A . R.  Avery , M. 
D.,  printed  at  Forestvillc , N.  Y 1876.) 

Amos  R.  Avery. 

The  author  of  this  history  of  our  Church  in  Forestville 
is  worthy  of  more  special  mention  in  this  connection: 
Amos  R.  Averv,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Madison 
County,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1805,  and  died  in  New  York  City, 
April  14,  1881.  “Whatever  concerned  the  people's  good 
was  always  a matter  of  personal  interest  to  him ; whether 
it  lay  in  the  direction  of  civil,  social,  religious  or  educa- 
tional matters ; and  in  all  these  he  was  a leading  and  in- 
dispensable factor.  His  culture  was  extensive.  In  all 
departments  of  polite  literature,  as  well  as  in  the  line  of 
his  own  profession,  he  kept  abreast  of  the  times.  His 
moral  sense  was  highly  developed.  His  respect  for  real 
worth  was  great.  His  contempt  for  the  shams,  the  hol- 
low-heartedness and  illiberality  of  men  and  the  bravery  of 
his  manly  heart  made  him  appear  severe  towards  some, 
and  where  they  passed  under  his  notice  they  were  not 
spared.  The  educational  interests  of  the  town  had  in  him 
a wise  and  warm  advocate.  As  a physician,  his  success 
placed  him  among  the  first.  He  was  a tender  man.  His 
tenderness  made  him  especially  welcome  to  the  families  of 
his  patients.  He  was  a Christian  man.  His  faith  made 
him  a strong  man  in  the  room  of  suffering,  and  at  the 
bed  of  the  dying.  He  was  a member  and  lover  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Loyal,  faithful,  liberal,  a 
strong  supporter  of  all  its  interests,  a defender  of  its  doc- 
trines and  usages,  a constant  and  interested  worshipper, 
with  a warm  and  active  sympathy,  he  came  down  to  his 
latest  day,  without  abatement  of  love  or  slackening  of  zeal 
for  its  welfare."  He  came  to  Forestville,  N.  \ in  1833- 
— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , May  18,  1881.) 

Probably  the  last  piece  of  writing  of  Dr.  John  Peate 


Forestville  Methodism.  115 

was  the  following  tribute  to  his  old-time  friend,  Dr. 
Avery,  communicated  to  the  author: 

“As  my  mind  runs  back  over  more  than  fifty  years  in 
the  ministry,  many  noble  laymen  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  in  thought  rise  before  me.  Bur  take  him  for 
all  and  all  Dr.  Avery,  of  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  holds  the  most 
prominent  place.  He  was  above  the  average  size,  with 
a large,  well-formed  head,  and  a voice  that  showed  self 
control  and  high  culture.  He  was  a well  educated  ph}^- 
sician  and  practiced  his  calling  in  Forestville  for  about 
fifty  years.  He  lived  in  a pleasant  cottage  home  at  the 
edge  of  the  village,  with  a thorn  hedge  on  two  sides  of 
it.  He  had  a nice  garden  with  choice  fruits  and  flowers 
which  he  always  attended  to  himself  and  shared  liberally 
with  his  friends  and  neighbors.  He  was  a lover  of  learn- 
ing and  always  had  a new  book  on  his  table,  and  a fresh 
line  of  thought  in  his  mind ; and  yet  he  never  made  any 
boastful  display.  He  had  at  times,  like  John  Wesley,  a 
quiet  playful  humor  that  was  always  healthful  and  re- 
freshing as  a fountain  in  a desert  land.  He  was  a great 
lover  of  children  and  often  talked  to  them  in  an  instruct- 
ing and  pleasant  way  that  pleased  them  very  much.  For 
years  Forestville  was  said  to  have  the  best  district  school 
in  the  county,  and  this  was  largely  due  to  Dr.  Avery's  in- 
fluence in  securing  the  best  class  of  teachers.  His  bright, 
manly,  intelligent  ways  in  the  community  and  in  the 
church  commanded  the  confidence  of  his  fellowmen  in  a 
remarkable  degree.  His  religion  was  not  of  the  ranting, 
flashlight  kind,  that  goes  out  in  a moment  and  leaves  you 
full  of  wonder  in  the  dark.  His  life  was  like  the  gentle 
flow  of  a great  river  through  an  Arcadian  landscape,  in 
its  march  to  the  sea.  People  liked  to  meet  him  in  the 
street  and  the  oftener  the  better.  In  a quiet  way  he 
looked  after  all  the  interests  of  the  church  and  no  preacher 
ever  went  away  without  his  full  salary,  whether  he  was 
popular  or  not  in  the  community.  His  wife  was  a most 
superior  woman  and  a lover  of  learning,  like  himseif. 
About  a year  before  he  died,  he  and  his  wife  had  reac 
to  each  other  during  the  winter  nights  Bryant’s  transla- 
tion of  Homer,  besides  the  current  literature  of  the  time. 
A few  months  before  his  death  he  wrote  me  an  account 
of  his  wife’s  death,  and  of  her  loving,  hopeful  talk  about 


1 1 6 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

the  anticipated  meeting  beyond  the  grave.  His  influence 
over  my  own  life  was  elevating  in  showing  me  how  a 
hardworking  man  in  his  profession  might  rise  up  to 
knowledge,  manhood  and  the  highest  expression  of  the 
Christian  life.  His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements  so 
mixed  in  him,  that  nature  might  stand  up  and  say,  ‘this  is 
a man.’  ” 

Dr.  W.  P.  Bignell  says:  “For  intelligence,  desire  to 

advance  in  every  way,  religiously  and  intellectually,  the 
community,  for  a broad  view  of  Christianity  and  his  own 
Church,  for  charity  and  true  benevolence  and  usefulness, 
in  all  of  which  he  was  ably  aided  by  his  wise  and  devoted 
wife,  I think  Dr.  Amos  R.  Avery,  of  Forestville,  Chau- 
tauqua County,  N.  Y.,  stands  first.  That  Forestville 
church  stood  famous  among  our  appointments  for  so 
many  years,  and  that  educationally  the  Forestville  Free 
Academy,  was  so  well  known,  far  and  wide,  and  sent  so 
many  bright  students  to  the  colleges  of  New  Y ork,  was 
largely  due  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  Dr.  Avery.  A quiet, 
undemonstrative  Christian,  an  able  and  successful  physi- 
cian of  large  practice,  loving  the  Church  and  willingly 
sacrificing  time  and  means  for  its  prosperity,  given  to  hos- 
pitality, toiling  for  others  rather  than  for  himself,  he  died 
a comparatively  poor  man,  but  rich  in  the  love  and  respect 
of  the  entire  community.  A fine  writer,  he  contributed 
frequently  to  our  Church  literature,  and  the  columns  of 
the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  contained  numerous 
contributions  from  his  pen.” — (Letter  to  the  Author.) 

Our  Church  in  Sheridan. 

Francis  Webber  is  probably  the  first  person  who  lifted 
his  axe  against  the  dense  forest  around  Sheridan.  This 
was  in  1804.  Two  years  later,  a mail  route  was  opened 
between  Buffalo  and  Erie,  and  post  offices  were  estab- 
lished at  Westfield  and  Canadaway — an  Indian  name 
meaning  “running  through  the  hemlocks” — two  miles 
west  of  the  Centre.  The  first  religious  meeting  \Vas  held 
at  the  house  of  Orsamus  Holmes  in  1807,  and  was  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  John  Spencer.  This  pioneer  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  died  in  1826  and  was  buried  in 
a little  plot  of  ground  donated  by  him  to  the  town  for 
burial  purposes.  His  epitaph  reads:  “He  was  the  first 

Gospel  Minister  who  traversed  the  wilderness  then  called 


Our  Church  in  Sheridan.  , iiy 

the  Holland  Purchase,  and  was  the  instrument,  under 
God,  in  forming  most  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Congrega- 
tional Churches  which  existed  in  this  region  when  he 
rested  from  his  labors  in  1826,  aged  68  years.  He  trod 
a useful  but  laborious  path  to  immortality  in  the  ardent 
and  unremitted  exercise  of  doing  well.” — (History  of 
Chautauqua  County , W . A.  Fergusson  & Co .,  1894,  p. 
621.) 

Experience  of  Rev.  George  Lane. 

Methodism  was  not  far  behind.  From  1796  to  1812, 
Western  New  York  was  largely  unoccupied  but  was 
counted  within  the  bounds  of  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence. In  1808  a circuit  was  formed,  called  the  “Holland 
Purchase,”  which  embraced  most  of  the  state  of  New 
York  west  of  the  Genesee  river,  and  George  Lane  was 
appointed  to  this  wilderness  charge.  Sometime  in  the 
winter  of  1808-9,  he  learned  that  there  were  a few  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  west  p.art 
of  Sheridan,  and  determined  to  visit  them.  The  follow- 
ing account  of  his  journey  was  related  to  Samuel  Gregg 
by  Hon.  E.  T.  Root,  formerly  of  Jamestown,  New  York, 
as  he  recalled  the  story  told  him  by  Mr.  Lane : “Mr. 

Lane  started  from  Buffalo  in  a one-horse  sleigh  to  visit 
and  preach  to  them.  On  his  way  up  he  overtook  Mr. 
Gould  and  wife  in  a two-horse  sleigh,  who  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  resided  in  the 
place  just  mentioned,  and  who  had  been  east  on  a visit, 
and  were  returning  home.  The  snow  was  deep,  and,  as 
is  usually  the  case  in  that  region,  badly  drifted.  Night 
came  on  them  while  in  the  woods  some  distance  below  the 
Cattaraugus  creek,  and  they  became  so  buried  in  the  snow 
that  they  could  get  their  sleighs  no  further.  After  dis- 
engaging their  horses  from  the  sleighs,  each  person 
mounted  a horse,  and  rode  on  the  bare  back  to  Mack’s 
Tavern,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  the  night. 
Next  morning  they  succeeded  in  getting  their  sleighs, 
and  before  night  reached  Mr.  Gould’s  house,  where  Mr. 
Lane  spent  a few  days  and  preached  several  times,  and 
during  his  stay  in  the  place  formed  a class  consisting  of 
Stephen  Bush,  Daniel  Gould  and  wife,  and  Elijah  Risley. 
This  was  undoubtedly  the  first  Methodist  preaching  and 
the  first  class  formed  in  Chautauqua  County.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference ,”  Vol.  L,  pp.  80, 


1 1 8 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

8 1.)  This  interesting  account  of  the  hardships  connected 

with  the  introduction  of  Methodism  into  Chautauqua 
County,  we  may  supplement  by  another  still  more  thrilling 
relating  to  the  return  journey — or,  is  the  former  a pale 
reflection  of  the  latter?  Mrs.  George  Lane  furnished  the 
following  relation  from  her  husband’s  diary:  Mr.  Lane 

says:  “This  day’’ — it  seems  to  have  been  January  23, 

1809 — “I  started  from  the  house  of  Brother  Bush,  where 
I found  a Society  of  eight  members,  for  Buffalo,  a dis- 
tance of  fifty  miles. 

“At  Cattaraugus  I fell  in  company  with  a man  and  his 
wife,  and  a child  eighteen  months  old,  and  two  single 
men,  who  were  all  traveling  in  the  same  direction.  The 
gentleman  and  his  wife  and  infant,  and  one  of  the  other 
men,  rode  in  the  sleigh.  The  other  man  and  myself  were 
on  horseback. 

“When  we  came  to  the  lake  we  were  obliged  to  travel 
on  the  ice  along  or  near  the  beach.  1 he  wind  had  blown 
the  ice  into  such  ridges  it  was  nearly  impossible  to  cross 
them ; in  some  places  they  were  very  high,  and  the  cakes 
of  ice  were  frozen  togethr  so  loosely  that  we  were  in  dan- 
ger of  falling  through  into  the  water.  The  wind  blew 
like  a hurricane,  and  caused  the  snow  to  fly  as  though  it 
had  been  falling  fast  from  the  clouds.  We  were  all  the 
while  nearly  blinded  by  the  flying  snow,  and  we  found  it 
almost  impossible  to  proceed  on  our  way. 

“After  traveling  about  nineteen  miles  on  land,  and  six 
on  the  ice,  the  night  closed  in  upon  us.  What  to  do  un- 
der the  circumstances  we  could  scarcely  determine.  The 
horses  driven  to  the  sleigh  gave  out.  The  snow  had  fal- 
len to  such  a depth  that  it  came  above  the  body  of  the 
sleigh,  which  greatly  increased  the  labor  of  the  horses. 
For  some  distance  the  winds  had  kept  an  open  space  be- 
tween the  rocky  shore  on  the  right  and  the  snowdrifts 
on  the  left.  This  space  had  been  wide  enough  thus  far 
for  the  sleigh  and  horses,  until  at  length  the  drift  crossed 
the  open  space  and  closed  it  up,  so  that  we  could  proceed 
no  further.  What  to  do  we  knew  not;  we  first  tried  to 
force  our  horses  through  the  drift.  We  who  were  on 
horseback  first  made  the  attempt ; the  snow  was  not  only 
deep  but  very  hard  packed  by  the  strong  wind  and  intense 
cold.  The  horses  reared  and  sprang,  and  reared  again, 
and  struggled  hard  to  get  through,  and  appeared  as 


Our  Church  in  Sheridan.  119 

though  they  were  floundering  in  deep  mire,  and  after  a 
long  while  they  succeeded. 

“After  getting  safely  through  ourselves,  I left  my  horse 
with  the  other  gentleman  and  went  to  aid  in  bringing  the 
sleigh  through.  After  treading  down  the  snow  as  well 
as  we  could,  the  owner  of  the  horses  took  one  side  and  1 
the  other,  with  whip  in  hand,  and  tried  to  force  them 
through  the  drift,  which  was  accumulating  at  a fearful 
rate.  But  the  horses,  after  repeated  attempts,  gave  up 
the  struggle,  and  would  make  no  furher  exertion.  What 
expedient  to  try  next,  for  a moment,  we  were  at  a loss. 
The  night  was  upon  us,  the  weather  excessively  cold,  and 
our  animals  as  well  as  ourselves  exposed  to  great  suffer- 
ings. The  icicles  had  formed  upon  their  legs,  which  rat- 
tled against  each  other  as  they  traveled  or  stood  shivering 
in  the  cold.  The  wind  was  blowing  a gale  from  the 
northwest,  and  we  were  opposite  a ledge  of  rocks,  which 
rose  to  the  height  of  sixty  feet  for  some  distance  along 
the  shore,  against  which  the  snow  was  accumulating  most 
fearfully.  To  remain  where  we  were,  even  for  a short 
time,  would  be  certain  death.  Some  of  our  company  ad- 
vised to  try  to  find  an  opening  through  the  rocks  into  the 
woods  where  we  might  encamp  for  the  night,  though  we 
had  neither  fire  nor  food,  nor  shelter,  nor  sufficient  cloth- 
ing to  keep  us  warm  or  prevent  us  from  freezing.  . But 
counter  advice  prevailed,  and  it  was  soon  determined  to 
unharness  the  horses  and  leave  the  sleigh.  One  of  the 
travelers  on  horseback  gave  his  horse  to  the  lady,  and 
her  husband,  with  the  child  in  his  arms,  mounted  one  of 
the  horses  driven  to  the  sleigh,  while  the  other  was  rode 
by  the  traveler  who  gave  his  horse  to  the  lady.  Thus 
equipped,  we  determined  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  make 
a desperate  effort  to  reach  the  public  house  at  Eighteen 
Mile  Creek,  many  miles  distant. 

“To  get  clear  of  the  snow-drift  we  were  obliged  to 
strike  off  on  the  lake,  but  we  found  the  ice  exceedingly 
rough,  occasioned  by  the  high  wind  when  the  lake  was 
freezing.  The  snow-drift,  which  we  had  to  avoid  on  the 
shore,  had  increased  to  an  enormous  height,  and  was  said 
the  next  morning  to  be  sixty  feet  high.  We  had  traveled 
but  a short  distance  when  the  horse  which  carried  the  man 
and  child  stumbled  and  fell,  pitching  both  into  the  snow, 
which  so  completely  covered  them  that  they  could  scarcely 


120 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


be  seen.  They  were  dug  out,  however,  and  reseated,  and 
in  a few  moments  we  were  on  our  way  again.  My  own 
mind  had  been  greatly  sustained  and  comforted  through- 
out this  journey  of  peril,  and  I confidently  believed  that 
He  who  saved  St.  Paul  and  the  ship’s  company  from 
perishing  by  sea  would  save  us  from  perishing  on  Lake 
Erie.  About  nine  o'clock  at  night  we  arrived  safely  at  a 
public  house  kept  by  Mr.  Ingleson,  at  Eighteen  Mile 
Creek,  and  felt  we  were  under  unspeakable  obligations  to 
our  almighty  Preserver. 

“The  next  morning  the  owner,  with  others,  went  in 
search  of  the  sleigh,  but  could  find  nothing  of  it.  The 
snow  had  covered  it,  and  it  could  not  be  discovered  for 
months.  After  the  snow  had  disappeared,  the  sleigh, 
with  a hundred  dollars  of  money,  which  had  been  left  in 
it,  was  found,  and  the  faithful  dog  who  had  remained  to 
watch  it  was  also  there,  dead  by  the  side  of  his  master’s 
property. 

“I  started  again  for  Buffalo,  but  found  the  wind  so  high 
and  the  snow  so  drifted  that,  after  traveling  ten  miles,  I . 

was  obliged  to  stop  at  the  house  of  Brother  Titus.  At  & 

night  a few  travelers  came  in,  to  whom,  with  the  family,  I 
was  requested  to  deliver  a discourse;  but,  according  to  a 
long  established  practice,  I sought  a place  for  secret 
prayer,  and  for  want  of  a better  retired  to  a log  stable, 
but  found  no  room  there ; so  I went  around  the  stable  and 
cleared  the  snow  away  with  my  feet,  (for  it  was  two  feet 
deep),  and  kneeled  there  before  the  Lord  to  implore  divine 
aid  in  delivering  His  message  to  the  people;  nor  did  I ask 
in  vain,  but  found  help  from  above.” — ( George  Peck, 

Early  Methodism  Within  the  Bounds  of  the  Old  Genesee 
Conference,”  pp.  235-238.) 

The  class  was  formed  at  the  log  house  of  Stephen  Bush 
nearly  one  mile  east  of  Sheridan  Centre.  The  date  is 
1809.  Mr.  Gould  was  the  class-leader.  The  “Holland 
Purchase"  Circuit  appeared  as  “Shitockway”  in  1812. 

In  1819  Lake  Circuit  included  Sheridan  and  extended 
along  the  lake  from  North  East,  Pennsylvania,  to  Silver 
Creek,  New  York.  In  1829  Sheridan  was  on  the  Forest 
ville  Circuit;  and  in  1836  Sheridan  Circuit  embraced,  Sil- 
ver Creek,  Irving,  Versailles  and  part  of  Perrysburg. 

In  1850  Sheridan  was  connected  with  Forestville  and 


Our  Church  in  Sheridan. 


121 


Villenovia;  in  1851  Forestville  and  Sheridan  formed  a 
new  charge;  and  in  1867  Sheridan  became  a station. 

For  two  or  three  years  meetings  were  held  in  the  house 
of  Daniel  G.  Gould;  as  early  as  1812  a school  house  east 
of  the  present  town  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  main 
road  was  used.  The  house  of  William  Griswold  became 
a regular  meeting-place  at  an  early  period.  Subsequently 
meetings  were  held  in  a school  house  at  the  Centre — this 
being  destroyed  by  fire — then  Seth  Ensign’s  house — then 
the  school  house  near  the  site  of  the  present  church  build- 
ing. About  1833  or  1834  the  church  was  built. — (His- 
torical  Sketch  of  Methodism  in  Sheridan , printed  at  Sil- 
ver Creek,  1878 , /.  S.  Albertson.) 

Portland  and  Brocton. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  Methodism  was  introduced  in 
Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  by  Dr.  Lawton  Rich- 
mond, a local  preacher,  in  1809  or  1810,  and  that  he  had 
the  honor  of  preaching  the  first  sermon  for  this  denom- 
ination in  Western  New  York.  There  is  sufficient  reason 
to  doubt  the  validity  of  this  claim.  We  are  unable  to 
state  where  this  first  sermon  of  Dr.  Richmond  was  de- 
livered, but  it  could  not  have  been  far  from  the  present 
town  of  Portland,  in  which  the  village  of  Brocton  is  situ- 
ated. The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  the  second 
church  formed  in  the  town  of  Portland,  and  William 
Dunham  was  the  first  member.  As  early  as  1816  Mr. 
Dunham  held  meetings  in  his  log  cabin,  and  soon  called 
about  him  a few  of  like  spirit  who  were  formed  into  a 
class  on  the  ninth  day  of  June,  1817,  by  Curtis  Goddard, 
whose  Circuit  at  that  time  extended  from  Cattaraugus, 
New  York,  to  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  known  as 
Chautauqua  Circuit.  The  members  of  this  class  were 
ten  in  number  as  follows:  William  Dunham,  Lucy  Dun- 
ham, Isaac  Baldwin,  Parthena  Baldwin,  William  Cowell, 
Barbara  Cowell,  Abiel  Flint,  Mary  Flint  and  Simon  Bur- 
ton— one  name  not  given.  The  first  revival,  held  in  Mr. 
Dunham’s  log  cabin,  was  conducted  by  John  Summer- 
ville and  Robert  G.  Hatton.  The  meetings  were  contin- 
ued two  or  three  weeks  and  resulted  in  large  ingather- 
ings, and  old  settlers  were  accustomed  to  speak  of  this 
protracted  effort  as  the  “great  reformation.”  Three 
classes  were  formed  in  1818,  located  in  different  parts  of 


122  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

the  town ; but  they  were  subsequently  united  into  one 
class  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  preacher  who, 
in  those  days  had  a large  field  to  cover.  With  no  regu- 
lar preaching,  this  class  continued  to  flourish  and  add  to 
its  numbers.  In  1835  a church  was  erected  at  Portland 
Centre.  In  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  this  neigh- 
borhood a class  known  as  the  “Harmon  Hill  Class,” 
was  formed,  consisting  of  eight  or  ten  members.  Early 
in  the  50s  this  class,  with  a few  members  from  the  Port- 
land Church — then  residing  in  Brocton — formed  a so- 
ciety known  as  the  “Second  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church”  of  Portland  township,  which  for  many  years  was 
served  by  the  pastor  located  at  Portland,  the  charge  be- 
ing known  as  the  “Portland  and  Brocton"  Charge.  In 
1894,  when  J.  M.  Farrell  came  to  Brocton,  it  was  made 
a separate  charge.  W hen  the  society  was  first  organized, 
in  the  early  50s,  services  were  held  in  Brocton  in  the 
school  house  on  the  same  lot  where  the  new  church  now 

stands.  In  1853,  the  church  in  which  the  Methodists 
worshipped  for  many  years,  was  erected  on  the  lot  pur- 
chased of  Oliver  B.  Elmore  for  $100.  It  was  conveyed 
to  Tames  A.  Hall,  Sidney  V.  Keyes  and  Oliver  B.  Elmore 
as  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Salem, 
which  name  the  village  of  Brocton  bore  at  that  time,  and 
known  as  “Salem  Cross  Roads."  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  $2,500.  Here  the  society  worshiped  until  the 
erection  of  the  present  modern  and  commodious  edifice. 
This  is  located  on  Main  street  in  the  heart  of  the  city. 
The  lot  cost  $3,000,  and  the  new  church  property  is  val- 
ued at  about  $20,000.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  June 
14th,  1903,  and  the  building  dedicated. 

Methodist  Churches  in  New  Castle. 

In  1804  a class  was  regularly  formed  at  what  we 
know  as  “King’s  Chapel,”  and  the  first  Methodist  ser- 
vice was  held  in  New  Castle  by  William  Richards,  an  ex- 
horter.  Mr.  Richards  was  a Revolutionary  soldier  who 
located  in  the  vicinity  of  King's  Chapel,  and  is  buried  in 
the  adjoining  cemetery.  Several  persons  living  in  New 
Castle  joined  the  class,  and  meetings  were  held  alternate- 
ly there  and  in  New  Castle. 

In  1810  the  Circuit  preacher,  James  Watts,  formed  a 
class  in  New  Castle  and  established  a preaching  appoint- 


Methodist  Churches  in  New  Castle.  123 

ment  there.  The  members  of  that  class  were  John  Beven 
and  wife,  James  Squires  and  wife,  Michael  Carman  and 
wife,  Arthur  Chenoworth  and  wife.  William  Under- 
wood and  wife,  Robert  Wallace  and  wife,  Philip  Painter 
- and  wife,  and  Mary  Squires,  afterward  Mrs.  Frederick 
Reinholt. 

Jacob  Young  served  four  years  as  Presiding  Elder, 
during  the  period  of  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  left  this 
record : “Our  quarterly  meetings  were  attended  with 

great  displays  of  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God.  I 
look  back  with  great  satisfaction  on  the  years  I spent  in 
this  rough  but  delightful  field  of  labor.”  In  1815  the 
society  in  New  Castle  succeeded  in  the  erection  of  a 
meeting  house.  It  was  a plain  log  structure  which  an- 
swered a noble  purpose  in  its  day.  There  were  three 
small  windows  with  panes  of  oiled  paper.  The  seats 
were  slabs  with  round  sticks  as  supports.  The  location 
was  the  corner  of  South  Jefferson  and  Lawrence  streets, 
and  a part  of  the  lot  was  a burying  ground.  This  lot 
was  acquired  by  deed  dated  June  27,  1820,  from  Benton 
Rust  and  Jane,  his  wife,  to  William  Richards,  Marenus 
King,  James  Squires,  Robert  Reynolds,  Michael  Carman, 
trustees,  and  by  quit  claim  from  Henry  Falls. 

In  1821  New  Castle  Circuit  was  formed.  The  preach- 
ing places  were  New  Castle,  King’s  Chapel,  Eastbrook, 
Mount  Jackson  and  Edenburg. 

About  1835  the  second  church  building  was  erected  in 
New  Castle  of  brick,  one  and  a half  stories  high  with 
basement  rooms  for  classes.  A platform  ran  across  the 
front,  to  which  several  steps  led,  and  there  were  two 
doors,  one  used  by  the  women,  the  other  by  the  men,  as 
they  sat  on  opposite  sides  of  the  church.  Among  the 
members  of  this  early  day  were  the  families  of  Judge 
John  Reynolds,  James  Squires,  Michael  Carman,  David 
Crawford,  Joseph  Justice,  Henry  Emery,  John  Locke, 
Thomas  Painter,  Thomas  Campbell,  “Father”  Solomon 
Waite,  Frederick  Reinholt,  John  Cunningham,  Jacob 
Guest,  Dr.  Poppino.  Mrs.  Guest  seems  to  have  been  the 
last  survivor  of  the  little  company.  New  Castle  belonged 
first  to  Baltimore  Conference,  then  to  the  Ohio,  and  then 
to  the  Pittsburg.  In  1836  Erie  Conference  was  formed; 
and  met  for  the  first  time  in  New  Castle  in  1845,  Bishop 
Leonidas  L.  Hamline  presiding. 


124  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

In  1847  New  Castle  was  made  a station,  with  Reuben 
J.  Edwards  as  pastor.  He  is  affectionately  remembered 
as  a most  excellent  young  man  who  brought  a bride  with 
him  to  the  new  pastorate.  These  young  people  had  a 
hard  experience,  for  the  little  church  was  poor  and 
neglectful  in  the  support  of  its  pastor,  but  they  left  the 
church  better  than  they  found  it,  for  there  was  a revival 
each  year,  and  it  is  recalled  that  there  were  one  hundred 
and  sixty  conversions,  most  of  them  mill  men.  Up  to 
1847,  when  New  Castle  became  a separate  church,  with  a 
pastor,  sixty  itinerants  had  traveled  the  Circuit,  two  at  a 
time,  often  an  older  man  with  a younger.  These  were 
men  of  a heroic  stamp,  for  in  the  early  part  of  the  cen- 
tury they  faced  the  perils  of  the  wilderness.  Some  of 
them  served  both  as  preacher  and  Presiding  Elder.  They 
formed  classes,  established  societies,  organized  churches, 
conducted  camp  meetings  and  built  colleges.  They  were 
not  all  rude,  uneducated  men.  There  were  those  among 
them  who,  as  the  western  country  advanced,  became  great 
editors  and  learned  presidents  of  colleges.  Some  became 
poets  and  authors,  as  well  as  preachers  of  rare  eloquence. 
Such  were  James  B.  Finley,  Charles  Elliott,  Alfred 
Brunson,  W.  H.  Hunter  and  a long  roll  of  honored 
names.  The  first  Sabbath  School  Superintendent  whose 
name  we  can  find  is  Samuel  Swift. 

In  July,  1854,  the  second  church  building  was  torn 
down  and  a new  church  commenced  that  still  stands  at 
the  corner  of  South  Jefferson  and  Lawrence  streets.  The 
Building  Committee  consisted  of  Cyrus  Clark,  with  Jo- 
seph H.  Thomas  and  Richard  Brown.  Edward  Lewis 
was  the  architect.  John  Long  made  the  bricks,  John 
Reynolds  was  the  stonemason,  Hamilton  and  Craig  were 
the  builders.  The  dedication  occurred  early  in  1855.  The 
Brown  brothers  left  New  Castle  for  Youngstown  in 
April.  They  were  still  here  on  that  occasion.  Bishop 
Calvin  Kingsley  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  from 
the  text : “But  will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  men  on 

the  earth?  Behold,  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  Thee;  how  much  less  this  house  which  I 
have  built!”  2d  Chronicles  6-18. 

In  July  of  the  same  year  Conference  was  held  in  the 
new  church  with  Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris  presiding. 
The  New  Castle  District  was  now  formed,  Moses  Hill, 


Methodist  Churches  in  New  Castle.  125 

Presiding  Elder.  The  Women’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  was  organized,  Mrs.  Cyrus  Clark,  President. 
The  Ladies’  and  Pastor’s  Aid  Society  was  organized  by 
Dr.  Youmans  in  1875. 

In  1883  Conference  again  met  in  First  Church  with 
Bishop  Randolph  S.  Foster  presiding,  and  some  of  us 
can  still  recall  the  impression  made  by  his  sermon  Sab- 
bath morning.  The  Women’s  Home  Missionary  Society 
was  organized  during  Conference  by  Mrs.  R.  S.  Rust, 
and  we  have  the  great  honor  of  being  the  first  auxiliary 
formed  within  the  bounds  of  the  old  Erie  Conference. 
Presidents  and  Secretaries  have  come  and  gone,  but  Mrs. 
George  Greer,  as  Treasurer,  abides  with  us  to  this  day, 
faithful  still. 

When  in  1886  N.  H.  Holmes  came  to  the  pastorate, 
the  feeling  was  growing  that  a new  church  building  with 
modern  improvements  and  more  suitable  rooms  for  the 
large  Sabbath  school  would  be  needed  in  the  near  future. 
So  we  find  in  the  minutes  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  the  following  record:  “March  1,  1887, 

Trustees,  M.  S.  Marquis,  George  Greer,  C.  P.  Norris,  G. 
W.  Green;  George  E.  Treadwell,  Secretary,  and  George 
Greer,  Treasurer.  The  proposition  of  Ira  D.  Sankey  to 
donate  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  discipline,  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Jeffer- 
son and  North  streets,  valued  at  $4,000,  accepted,  and 
Trustees  engage  to  put  a church  costing  $25,000  upon 
said  lot.  On  motion,  Ira  D.  Sankey  was  added  to  the 
Building  Committee.  It  was  resolved  to  proceed  at  once 
to  collect  in  the  subscriptions  already  made  and  arrange 
for  the  building  of  the  new  church,  $3,000  to  be  gath- 
ered in  before  the  contract  is  let.” 

The  minutes  of  July  14  of  the  same  year,  record  that 
plans  of  Architect  S.  W.  Foulke  were  adopted  and  the 
cut  stone  work  was  given  to  J.  C.  Hart.  September  6 
the  pastor,  N.  H.  Holmes,  and  Architect  Foulke  being 
present,  it  was  determined  to  defer  building  for  the 
present,  by  unanimous  consent.  The  fine  foundation  was 
carefully  covered  and  left  to  stand  for  the  winter. 

The  contract  for  the  church  building  was  let  early  in 
1885  to  John  Taylor,  of  Bradford,  and  on  April  19, 
1888,  a day  so  stormy  that  very  few  could  be  present, 
the  cornerstone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  by 


126  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Alfred  Wheeler,  D.D.,  Presiding  Elder.  The  old  church 
on  South  Jefferson  and  Lawrence  streets  was  sold  to  the 
German  Catholic  congregation  and  the  Methodists  wor- 
shipped in  the  Opera  House  until  the  basement  of  the 
new  church  could  be  used.  Then  the  congregation  moved 
into  the  Sabbath  school  rooms  and  remained  there  several 
months  until  the  auditorium  was  completed. 

The  parsonage  on  North  Jefferson  street  was  sold  to 
increase  the  building  fund  for  the  church.  May  26,  1889, 
a beautiful  Sabbath,  was  Dedication  Day.  It  was  neces- 
sary to  raise  a large  sum  of  money  to  complete  payments. 
Bishop  John  H.  Vincent  preached  the  sermon  and  dedi- 
cated the  beautiful  building  to  the  service  of  God.  The 
minute  book  of  the  Secretary  is  a clear  revelation  of  the 
great  amount  of  time,  thought  and  labor  that  was  freely 
given  by  the  pastor  and  his  Building  Committee  of  five 
busv  business  men  before  this  monument  of  their  labor 
of  love  stood  complete. 

Epworth  Church  is  a legitimate  child  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  the  midst  of  a gracious  revival  in  the  spring  of 
1874.  Twenty-eight  members  of  the  First  church  formed 
the  first  class  and  later  the  foundations  of  this  strong, 
healthy,  progressive  church.  At  the  Conference  of  1874 
J.  A.  Ward  was  appointed  pastor  and  the  church  was 
called  “First  Ward.”  At  the  close  of  the  year  one  hund- 
red and  fifty  members  were  reported.  In  1876  J.  W. 
Blaisdell  was  the  pastor  and  the  church  was  called  “Sec- 
ond Church.”  In  1878  during  the  pastorate  of  O.  L. 
Mead  the  parsonage  was  burned  and  the  early  records  of 
the  church  lost  in  the  fire.  About  1881  the  name  of  the 
church  was  changed  to  “Pierson  Street.” 

During  the  pastorate  of  H.  E.  Johnson  the  church  was 
burned  and  a larger  and  finer  building  erected  and  at  its 
dedication  was  named  “Epworth.”  At  the  present  time 
( 1906)  the  church  has  six  hundred  members  and  over 
one  hundred  probationers. 

Growth  of  Methodism  in  \oungstown.  * 

“Mr.  John  Young,  for  whom  the  city  of  Youngstown, 
O.,  is  named,  with  the  help  of  Colonel  James  Hillman, 
built  the  first  house  in  this  vicinity  in  the  summer  of 
1796.  In  the  following  spring  a Mr.  Brown,  Uriah 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Y oungst own.  12 y 

Holmes,  and  Titus  Hayes  arrived  from  the  East,  and  the 
town  was  platted  in  that  year.  Colonel  Hillman  subse- 
quently became  a member  of  the  Methodist  Society.  He 
was  the  Sheriff  of  the  Western  Reserve,  a man  of  great 
force  of  character.  His  shrewdness  and  high  reputation 
among  the  native  tribes  saved  the  village  from  a general 
massacre  soon  after  the  town  was  established.  His  wife, 
Katy  Hillman,  ‘the  first  resident  white  woman  in 
Youngstown,’  was  also  one  of  the  early  members  of 
the  Church. 

“Methodism  began  its  career  in  the  wilderness  of 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  Eastern  Ohio  in  1800.  Self- 
sacrificing,  itinerant  preachers  followed  closely  after,  or 
kept  company  with  the  sturdy  pioneers,  who  grappled 
with  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  prepared  the  way 
for  the  pleasant  homes,  commercial  prosperity  and  re- 
ligious blessings  which  we  enjoy  to-day.  In  1803,  the 
Baltimore  Conference  appointed  Shadrack  Bostwick  a 
missionary  to  Deerfield  Circuit.  He  visited  Youngs- 
town, where  he  found  a small  log  house  built  by  the  citi- 
zens and  occupied  by  the  Presbyterians  for  a church. 
He  asked  permission  to  preach  in  this  humble  sanctuary, 
but  was  refused.  Judge  Rayen  invited  him  to  preach  in 
his  barn,  and  there  the  first  Methodist  services  were  held. 

“A  class  was  formed  consisting  of  Moses  Crawford, 
Isabel  Scott  Crawford,  his  wife;  John  Hogue  and  wife, 
Isaac  Powers  and  Jeremiah  Breaden,  six  in  number.  At 
this  time  Mr.  Crawford  was  conducting  a class,  about  six 
miles  distant,  walking  there  and  returning  each  Sabbath, 
with  faithful  regularity.  When  under  mental  excitement  a 
stammer  in  his  speech  was  apparent,  but  in  prayer  his 
tongue  was  loosened  and  he  became  eloquent.  His  wife 
was  a quiet  woman  of  decided  character  and  exemplary 
life.  Isaac  Powers  for  58  years  was  an  earnest  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Church  until  his  death.  May  9,  1861. 
George  W.  Maltby  records : ‘His  patriarchal  appear- 

ance, fervent  prayer  and  exhortations,  apostolic  counsels 
and  admonitions,  all  remain  fresh  in  memory.  His  ac- 
customed seat  in  the  altar  is  vacant  and  will  never  be 
filled  with  his  like  again.'  Two  years  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  society,  Mrs.  Leah  Frazee  Powers,  his  young 
wife,  became  a member  and  for  fifty-nine  years  her  sweet 
spirit  and  gentle  manner  were  a benediction  to  all  who 


128 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


met  her.  John  Hogue  was  born  at  Cookstown,  Ireland, 
near  Londonderry,  between  1775-80.  He  learned  the 
tailor’s  trade  and  went  to  Ayr,  Scotland,  to  work  as 
journeyman  tailor,  living  opposite  the  home  of  Robert 
Burns,  of  whom  he  was  a great  admirer.  About  1800 
he  landed  in  Pittsburg,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
Mr.  Carroll,  of  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  went  to  Pittsburg  to 
prove  up  his  land  title,  taking  his  -daughter,  Elizabeth, 
as  a witness.  Mr.  Hogue  met  her  and  an  attachment 
sprang  up  which  resulted  in  marriage.  Mr.  Hogue  lived 
at  the  turn  in  Front  street  opposite  Baldwin’s  mill.  John 
Fletcher  Hogue,  the  eldest  son,  who  recently  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  was  fond  of  narrating  the  incident  of 
sweeping  Judge  Rayen’s  barn,  situated  near  the  site 
where  the  Mahoning  Valley  Hospital  now  stands,  and 
extemporizing  rough  benches  for  seats,  all  of  which  he 
heard  many  times  from  his  parents’  lips.  Mr.  Hogue 
died  in  1843,  and  his  wife  in  1850,  at  Millbrook,  Mercer 
County,  Pa.,  her  old  home,  where  they  had  moved  some 

years  previous. 

“In  1804  Shadrack  Bostwick  was  again  appointed  to 
Deerfield  Circuit.  The  charge  was  then  more  than  four 
hundred  miles  in  circumference,  and  the  hardships  of  the 
four  weeks’  round  were  almost  incredible.  The  journey 
was  made  on  horseback,  along  blind  paths,  marked  by 
blazed  trees,  across  swollen,  unbridged  streams,  through 
treacherous  morass  and  swamp,  and  over  rugged  hills. 
Often  the  weary  itinerant  was  compelled  to  spend  the 
night,  cold  and  supperless,  in  the  woods,  with  no  protec- 
tion save  the  overarching  boughs  of  the  friendly  trees. 

“At  the  expiration  of  this  year  Dr.  Bostwick  located 
and  returned  to  the  practice  of  medicine,  first  in  Youngs- 
town, and  later  in  Canfield.  He,  however,  continued  to 
preach  with  great  acceptability  to  the  people  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  September  10,  1837.  A young 
man  by  the  name  of  Robert  R.  Roberts  was  appointed 
to  the  Circuit  in  1805,  who  afterward  rose  to  distinction 
in  the  Church  and  worthily  filled  the  office  of  bishop. 

“For  a time  the  little  society  worshipped  in  the  log 
school  house  which  stood  on  the  diamond.  Soon  the 
meetings  were  moved  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Crawford  (the 
first  class  leader),  a log  building  standing  on  Front 
street,  west  of  Hazel  street.  The  quarterly  meetings, 


i 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Youngstown.  129 

great  events  in  those  days,  were  held  in  such  large  build- 
ings as  could  be  secured,  the  ball  room  of  Mr.  Holland’s 
tavern  being  sometimes  used  on  such  occasions.  A lot 
was  purchased  about  the  year  1810  on  Phelps  street, 
north  of  the  present  edifice,  for  the  sum  of  $20,  and  a 
small,  unpretentious  building  was  erected  thereon.  In 
1828  the  society  built  a substantial  brick  church  on  the 
site  where  the  old  church  now  stands,  northwest  corner 
of  Front  and  Phelps  streets.  It  had  a gallery  on  both 
sides  and  at  one  end  and  accommodated  quite  a large 
congregation. 

“Two  years  later  came  the  most  serious  reverse  the 
Church  has  ever  suffered.  About  fifty  members,  repre- 
senting the  greater  portion  of  the  society,  seceded  and 
formed  a new  organization — the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church.  This  division  was  keenly  felt  by  the  remaining 
few.  Although  the  most  active  and  influential  of  the 
flock  withdrew,  the  indomitable  energy  which  character- 
ized the  early  Church  soon  succeeded  in  repairing  the 
breach.  At  the  time  of  the  schism  it  was  confidently  pre- 
dicted by  many  that  'the  days  of  the  Methodist  Church 
were  numbered.’  Whatever  the  future  may  have  in  store, 
the  prophecy  has  not  yet  proven  true.  The  past  at  least  is 
secure. 

“A  commodious  frame  building  took  the  place  of  the 
brick  church  in  1841,  which  was  enlarged  and  remodeled 
in  the  pastorates  of  G.  W.  Maltby  and  John  Peate.  The 
charge  became  a station  in  1842,  and  we  find  this  inter- 
esting entry  of  that  date : 'The  charge  estimated  for  the 
support  of  the  preacher,  consisting  of  himself,  wife  and 
one  child,  $305,  including  $40  house  rent.’  The  entire 
sum  was  paid  in  full. 

“Ground  was  broken  for  the  beautiful  temple  in  which 
we  now  worship,  in  the  month  of  May,  1883.  It  was  a 
gala  day.  Mrs.  Dr.  O.  D.  Paine,  the  oldest  living  mem- 
ber, cast  out  the  first  shovel  of  soil,  the  pastor’s  wife  the 
second,  then  many  ladies  representing  various  denomina- 
tions sprang  forward,  emulating  their  zeal.  Eighty  years 
after  the  establishment  of  the  society  the  cornerstone  of 
the  new  church  was  laid  with  appropriate  services, 
Bishop  Andrews  officiating,  and  the  building,  completed 
at  a cost  of  over  $70,000,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God  by  Bishop  Bowman,  December  20, 


9 


130 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


1885.  The  text  was  from  Acts  20:35  : ‘It  is  more  blessed 
to  give  than  to  receive.’  . . . With  the  comple- 

tion of  Trinity  Church  the  society  entered  upon  a most 
prosperous  period  and  now  numbers  1,239  members,  all 
of  whom  live  within  reach  of  the  church,  not  counting 
the  large  number  who  reside  at  a distance  and  still  claim 
a membership  with  us, 

“The  first  Sunday  school  in  Youngstown  was  organ- 
ized in  1826,  in  the  pastorate  of  Robert  Hopkins.  Wil- 
liam H.  Fitch  was  Superintendent,  Alva  W.  Upham  and 
Samuel  Black  were  teachers.  We  are  told  that  ‘Upham 
was  a Universalist  and  Black  a non-professor  of  religion,’ 
not  a very  favorable  beginning  for  a work  which  has 
since  contributed  so  largely  to  the  success  of  the  Church. 

In  1843,  35  scholars  were  reported;  in  1883,  355  5 m 
1903,  the  enrollment  is  920,  not  including  the  cradle  roll 
of  100. 

“The  coming  of  Richard  Brown  to  Youngstown  in 
1855  meant  much  more  for  both  Church  and  city.  He 
came  penniless,  but  his  rich  endowment  was  character.  Jj 

Among  the  many  self-sacrificing  men  and  women  who 
have  toiled  with  the  spirit  of  loyalty  and  devotion,  which 
we  may  well  emulate,  no  one  has  left  so  deep  an  impress 
upon  the  life  of  the  Church  as  the  one  whom  we  love  to 
call  ‘Uncle  Richard.’  While  a successful  man  of  busi- 
ness, accumulating  a fortune,  he  was  deeply  religious  and 
ever  had  an  open  hand  for  every  cause  of  philanthropy. 

Though  passionately  attached  to  the  church  of  his  choice, 
he  loved  all  churches  seeking  to  elevate  and  bless  human- 
ity. He  was  a staunch  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause, 
and  sought  by  precept  and  example  to  stay  the  terrible 
havoc  of  the  drink  habit.  His  nature,  full  of  good  hu- 
mor and  sunshine,  was  attractive  to  children,  and  for 
nearly  twenty  years  he  served  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school,  that  department  constantly  growing  in 
numbers,  interest  and  spiritual  power.  He  made  possible  * 

by  his  generosity  and  tireless  activity  the  beautiful  edifice 
in  which  we  now  worship.  Upon  him  fell  the  heavy 
burden  of  care  and  responsibility  in  its  erection,  which 
tested  to  the  full  capacity  the  powers  of  human  endur- 
ance. He  was  kingly  in  presence,  liberal  in  thought,  and 
abounding  in  charity  to  all.  He  fell  asleep  from  which 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Y oungst own.  13 1 

there  is  a happy  awakening  in  the  Land  beyond  the 
Shadows,  on  September  8,  1903. 

“The  Belmont  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
(formerly  Henrietta  Street  Church),  was  organized  Sun- 
day, September  30,  1877,  at  the  home  of  Henry  A. 
Evans,  on  the  corner  of  North  and  Lincoln  avenues.  For 
some  time  previous  to  this  date  prayer  meetings  had  been 
held  in  the  homes  of  the  people  living  in  the  vicinity  of 
Belmont  avenue,  North  avenue,  Covington  street  and  in 
the  territory  lying  between  West  Federal  street  and  the 
river  and  west  of  Spring  Common.  These  meetings, 
which  were  attended  not  only  by  Methodist  families  but 
by  people  of  other  denominations  as  well,  resulted  in  a 
request  being  sent  to  the  annual  Conference,  held  early 
in  September,  1877,  for  the  appointment  of  a pastor  to 
take  charge  of  what  was  to  become  a church.  In  re- 
sponse to  this  request  the  bishop  appointed  G.  F.  Oliver, 
who  preached  his  first  sermon  under  a cluster  of  big  oak 
trees  a short  distance  east  of  Belmont  avenue,  and  about 
where  Grant  street  is  now  located. 

“At  the  time  of  its  organization  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  composed  of  twelve  persons — Henry  A. 
Evans,  Sarah  R.  Evans,  F.  J.  Kaiser,  Henrietta  C.  kais- 
er, W.  L.  Campbell,  Kate  Campbell,  Mrs.  Ruth  LaMont, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Shaw,  Catherine  Conrad,  Abigail  McKin- 
ley, Thomas  Woolbridge  and  Mary  Woolbridge. 

“On  Sunday,  October  7,  the  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized with  Henry  A.  Evans  as  Superintendent,  and  Wal- 
ter L.  Campbell,  Secretary.  Shortly  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Church  a storeroom  situated  on  West  Federal 
street  was  secured  where  the  services  were  held  during 
the  construction  of  the  church  building  on  the  corner  of 
North  avenue  and  West  Raven.  So  rapidly  was  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  church  pushed  forward  that  the  building 
was  enclosed  by  Thanksgiving  Day,  and  early  in  Janu- 
ary, 1878,  the  church  building  was  so  far  completed  as 
to  make  it  possible  to  hold  the  regular  services  in  it.  The 
formal  dedication  of  the  church  occurred  Sunday,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1878,  Rev.  I.  C.  Pershing,  D.D.,  officiating. 
The  property  cost  about  $4,000.  The  dedicatory  services 
of  the  church  were  followed  by  a series  of  special  relig- 
ious meetings.  The  society  enjoyed  such  growth  and 
prosperity  during  the  following  years  that  in  1890  it 


132  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

found  itself  in  need  of  a larger  and  more  commodious 
place  of  worship.  The  church  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  the  State  in  September  1890,  as  ‘Belmont 
Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.’  A little  later  the 
lot  where  the  present  building  now  stands  was  purchased 
and  plans  for  the  present  church  secured  and  adopted. 
In  the  spring  of  1891  the  ground  was  broken,  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Conrad,  the  oldest  member,  removing  the  first 
shovelful  of  earth.  The  opening  services  of  the  church 
were  held  Sunday,  February  14,  1892,  sixteen  years  after 
the  dedication  of  the  first  building.  Rev.  C.  A.  Holmes, 
D.D.,  of  Allegheny,  preached  morning  and  evening.  The 
property  cost  $30,000,  and  the  amount  required  by  the  dis- 
cipline not  having  been  secured,  the  dedication  was  de- 
ferred until  Sunday,  September  23,  1900,  at  which  time 
the  present  church  building  was  formally  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Thomas  Bowman.  For  years  this  congregation 
was  burdened  by  a heavy  debt,  but  by  heroic  effort  the 
last  dollar  of  indebtedness  was  paid  in  May,  1903,  and 
on  Sunday,  June  7,  a jubilee  service  was  held,  and  amid 
general  rejoicing  ‘the  old  note  was  burned.’  The  church 
is  well  located  in  the  residence  part  of  the  city,  and  is  a 
good,  large,  substantial  church  edifice,  and  has  a strong, 
aggressive,  growing  membership. 

‘‘During  the  year  1888,  a number  of  the  Methodist 
families  residing  on  the  South  Side  conceived  the  thought 
of  holding  a series  of  meetings  for  prayer  and  counsel 
together  in  their  different  homes.  As  a result  of  these 
meetings  the  subject  of  establishing  a branch  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  the  South  Side  and  the 
providing  of  a place  of  public  worship  soon  became  a 
matter  for  thoughtful  and  prayerful  consideration.  Prep- 
arations began  to  be  made  at  once  looking  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  noble  purpose,  and  on  September 
17,  1888,  there  was  laid  at  the  intersection  of  Hillman 
and  Duquesne  streets  the  cornerstone  of  Wesley  Chapel, 
Rev.  A.  N.  Craft,  D.D.,  then  pastor  of  Trinity  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  officiating,  and  with  an  actual  mem- 
bership of  but  seventeen  faithful  and  believing  persons, 
the  work  of  the  spread  of  Methodism  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  was  begun  in  what  was  then  called  the  southern 
portion  of  the  city.  In  September,  1891,  the  name  was 
changed  to  that  of  Epworth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Youngstown.  133 

From  this  humble  beginning  has  grown  one  of  the  most 
healthy  children  of  Methodism  in  our  city  to-day.  This 
has  not  been  accomplished,  however,  without  the  church 
having  passed  through  those  seasons  of  discouragement 
and  trial,  but  with  no  backward  step  and  with  an  eye 
single  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause  of  Christ  at  all 
times.  In  1899  the  church  was  rebuilt,  and  re-dedicated 
March  18,  1900. 

“It  should  ever  be  remembered  that  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  had  a providential  beginning  in  answer 
to  prayer  and  the  keeping  of  a covenant  made  with  Al- 
mighty God  by  Frank  G.  Schafer  for  the  recovery  of  his 
wife  and  children  from  severe  illness.  In  keeping  with 
this  vow,  Mr.  Schafer  erected  a chapel  on  Wilson  ave- 
nue, called  Rose  Hill  Mission,  and  turned  it  over  free  of 
debt  to  Dr.  R.  D.  Gibson,  Prof.  E.  M.  Faust,  Prof.  F. 
Treudley,  P.  M.  Haas  and  James  Law  as  Trustees  of  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  Youngstown,  Ohio.  Union 
Sunday  school  services  were  held  on  Sabbath  afternoon, 
with  occasional  services  at  other  times.  After  a varied 
experience  in  this  line  of  work  it  was  found  best  by  the 
workers  to  turn  the  chapel  over  to  some  church  thor- 
oughly organized  for  such  work.  Mr.  Schafer  being  a 
Methodist  and  the  pastor  and  people  of  Trinity  being 
deeply  interested  in  the  Mission,  it  was  turned  over  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Accordingly,  on  January 
6,  1901,  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized. The  church  was  named  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Grace 
Schafer,  wife  of  F.  G.  Schafer.  Mr.  Schafer  conditioned 
the  transfer  of  the  property  on  the  perpetual  mainte- 
nance of  a Flower  Mission,  which  should  make  a weekly 
distribution  of  flowers  to  the  sick  of  all  classes. 

“Our  beloved  Uncle  Richard  Brown  owned  the  old 
Lett  homestead  on  the  corner  of  Shehy  street  and  South 
Forest  avenue,  which  he  was  holding  to  be  used  for  church 
purposes.  This  beautiful  corner  lot.  with  a fine  house,  he 
deeded  to  the  society  on  the  condition  a new  church  edi- 
fice would  be  erected.  Accordingly  the  Building  Com- 
mittee, Rev.  J.  W.  Van  Kirk,  Frank  G.  Schafer,  Harry 
W.  Lindsay  and  Charles  D.  Wise,  decided  on  the  present 
plan  of  a stone-veneered  building.  It  was  a great  under- 
taking for  a few  working  people.  But  with  the  untiring 
energy  of  the  committee  the  church  has  property  worth 


134 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


- 


$21,000,  with 
subscription. 


$5,500  indebtedness,  partly  covered  by 


“The  church  is  centrally  located.  It  has  a radius  of  a 
half  mile  of  a growing  and  prosperous  district  from 
which  to  draw.  It  is  on  the  opposite  corner  from  the 
Shehy  school,  to  which  hundreds  of  children  are  daily 
going.  The  church  and  grounds  are  beautiful  for  situa- 
tion, ‘the  joy  of  the  hill/  . . . The  cornerstone 

was  laid  August  24,  1902.  The  church  was  dedicated 
June  21,  1903.  The  church  was  organized  with  forty- 
seven  members  and  now  has  a roll  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five.  The  Sunday  school  has  grown  in  proportion. 

“The  Wilson  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  1883,  as  a part  of  the  Lowellville  Charge, 
of  which  J.  R.  Roller  was  pastor.  Notwithstanding  the 
many  discouragements,  the  growth  of  the  church  has 
been  marked.  Several  sweeping  revivals  have  been  held, 
perhaps  the  most  far-reaching  in  its  results  haying  oc- 
curred during  the  pastorate  of  G.  T.  Norris  in  1893. 
Upon  the  organization  of  Wesley  Chapel  (now  Epworth 
Church)  in  1888,  it  was  united  to  Haselton  Church  under 
the  pastorate  of  G.  J.  Bliss,  but  in  1889,  each  of  these 
churches  having  became  somewhat  stronger,  they  became 
stations,  and  W.  L.  Askue  was  appointed  pastor  of  Hasel- 
ton Church.  During  the  pastorate  of  G.  L.  Davis,  in 
1892,  an  elegant  parsonage  was  built  at  a cost  of  about 
$3,000.  At  the  Quarterly  Conference  in  July,  1897,  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  W ilson  Avenue  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  October  8,  1897,  a new  church  build- 
ing was  authorized  by  the  Official  Board,  and  a Building 
Committee  appointed.  Plans  were  procured  as  speedily 
as  possible,  and  on  November  8 the  contract  for  the  build- 
ing was  awarded  to  the  Heller  Bros.  Company.  Ground 
was  broken  November  11,  and  the  cornerstone  laid  with 
appropriate  services  on  Sunday,  December  4.  The  build- 
ing and  furnishing  complete  is  estimated  at  about  $5,000. 
The  church  is  well  located,  and  evidently  has  before  it  a 
promising  future.  — (The  author  is  indebted  to  the  His- 
torical Souvenir — “ Centennial  Services  of  Trinity  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church , Youngstown,  Ohio , October  18-25, 
1903.”  Rev.  E.  0.  Buxton,  D.D.,  pastor.) 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Youngstozvn.  135 

The  Conversion  of  Mrs.  Powers. 

Isaac  Powers  relates  the  conversion  of  his  wife,  and 
his  own  new  and  rich  experience.  “My  companion  had 
always  been  of  a religious  turn  of  mind,  inclining  to  the 
Baptist  Church.  She  was  entirely  unreconciled  to  my 
union  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  though  she 
never  opposed  me.  A camp  meeting  was  to  be  held  in 
the  east  part  of  Hubbard,  near  what  is  now  called  the 
Veach  Meeting  House.  Jacob  Gruber  was  then  Presid- 
ing Elder,  and  was  to  have  the  direction  of  the  meeting. 
A number  of  us  from  Youngstown  concluded  to  take  a 
tent.  We  did  so.  The  meeting  was  a powerful  one. 
One  night  there  was  an  extraordinary  display  of  divine 
power.  Saints  were  shouting,  and  sinners  were  crying 
for  mercy.  My  wife  came  to  me  and,  taking  me  by  the 
hand,  requested  me  to  go  forward  with  her  to  the  altar 
and  ask  Rev.  Mr.  to  pray  for  her.  I was  aston- 

ished, knowing  her  uniform  opposition  to  such  things. 
I,  however,  readily  complied.  The  minister  directed  her 
to  kneel,  which  we  all  did.  He  prayed  earnestly  in  her 
behalf.  In  the  midst  of  the  prayer  she  sprang  to  her  feet 
and  shouted  aloud  the  high  praises  of  God.  I took  her 
by  the  hand  and  was  conducting  her  back  to  the  tent, 
when  something  suddenly  impressed  me  that  I had  no  re- 
ligion. I became  most  miserable.  The  noise  around  be- 
came exceedingly  offensive,  and  I resolved  at  once  to  go 
out  of  its  hearing — started;  but  the  further  I went  the 
more  plainly  was  it  heard;  so  it  seemed,  at  least.  My 
misery  was  doubly  intensified.  The  very  ‘pa^ns  of  Hell 
got  hold  upon  me.’  Not  only  my  mind,  but  my  body  was 
sorely  oppressed.  Every  joint  in  my  body  was  wrench- 
ing from  its  socket.  I found  it  impossible  to  run  away 
from  my  wretchedness,  and  turned  back  to  the  camp; 
entered  the  tent  where  they  were  engaged  in  singing  and 
shouting,  and,  in  rather  an  angry  mood,  said  to  them: 
‘You  are  serving  the  devil  in  good  earnest!'  The  ill- 
natured  remark  somewhat  dampened  the  ardor  of  their 
spirits.  In  a short  time  I asked  my  wife  to  take  a walk 
with  me.  She  arose  to  go,  at  the  same  time  taking  James 
Bradford,  her  brother-in-law,  by  the  arm,  and  inviting 
him  to  accompany  us,  which  he  did.  She  afterwards  told 
me  that  she  was  afraid  of  me,  such  was  the  vindictive- 
ness of  my  look.  At  the  solemn  hour  of  midnight  we 


i36 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


started  off  from  the  encampment.  We  had  not  proceeded 
far  before  my  feelings  strangely  relaxed,  and  in  a few 
minutes  I was  entirely  relieved  of  the  terrible  burden 
which  seemed  to  be  crushing  me  to  the  earth. 

“My  mind  now  being  diverted  from  my  own  misery, 
I discovered  that  my  friend,  Mr.  B.,  was  groaning  under 
a tremendous  burden  of  agony.  At  length  he  exclaimed : 
‘O,  if  I don't  get  religion  to-night  I shall  be  in  hell  before 
morning!'  We  came  to  a halt  and  he  requested  us  to 
pray  for  him.  He  fell  flat  upon  his  face  and  groaned 
and  cried  for  mercy.  My  wife  led  in  prayer  in  his  behalf, 
and  I followed  her.  Before  the  second  prayer  was  con- 
cluded, poor  Mr.  B.  bounded  (I  feel  confident  in  saying,) 
ten  feet  from  the  place  where  he  lay.  He  did  not  first 
get  up  on  his  feet,  and  then  make  the  leap,  but  it  was 
rather  a bound  from  a prostrate  to  a standing  attitude, 
as  if  thrown  by  some  strong  invisible  hand,  which  he  al- 
ways afterward  declared  was  the  fact,  at  the  same  time 
he  roared  in  a stentorian  voice,  ‘Glory  to  God!’  He  at 
once  started  off  for  the  camp  ground,  not  walking,  but 
‘leaping  and  praising  God.’  His  conversion  was  a 
marked  one.  He  obtained  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and 
I am  quite  confident  he  never  lost  it.  He  has  gone  to 
rest.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was  the  addition  of  fifty 
to  the  Church.  It  had  another  important  result  to  me 
personally.  Up  to  this  time  I had  looked  upon  the  ex- 
perience of  Christians  as  entirely  similar,  and  this  was 
the  cause  of  the  terrible  temptation  related  above.  Now 
it  was  apparent,  upon  sober  reflection,  that  this  was  not 
fully  correct.  There  is  a sense  in  which  the  experience 
of  all  Christians  is  alike.  They  are  alike  in  kind,  not  in 
degree  and  minute  detail.  Had  I been  apprised  of  this 
fact  the  enemy  had  not  acquired  the  terrible  advantage 
he  did. 

“I  now  felt  myself  confirmed  in  the  faith  and  hope  of 
the  gospel,  and  determined,  like  Joshua  of  old,  ‘As  for 
me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord.’  And  not  only 
this,  but  that  my  house  should  be  a home  for  God’s  min- 
isters. Accordingly,  in  1806,  in  building  a new  house, 
for  we  had  hitherto  lived  in  a miserable  cabin,  I deter- 
mined to  build  also  an  apartment  for  the  preachers  who 
might  choose  to  make  a temporary  home  with  us.  So  a 
prophet’s  room  was  provided  and  furnished  with  a bed,  a 


Growth  of  Methodism  in  Youngstown.  137 

table,  chairs  and  candlestick.  Many  of  the  old  veterans 
did  me  the  honor  to  rest  in  this  humble  apartment,  and 
to  partake  of  my  homely  fare.  Among  these  I may  men- 
tion Jacob  Gruber,  Jacob  Young,  Thornton  Fleming, 
James  B.  Finley  and  Dr.  Elliott,  with  many  others  too 
numerous  to  mention.  A table  which  I made  for  Dr. 
Elliott  to  decipher  the  dead  languages  upon  is  still  a 
relic  of  my  household.” — (Reminiscences,  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  July  28,  1857.) 

The  Meeting  of  Dr.  Elliott  and  Mr.  Powers. 

Rev.  E.  B.  Cummings,  of  Indianapolis,  relates  the  fol- 

lowing incident : ( Communication  of  Mr.  Cummings  to 

the  author.) 

“In  the  spring  of  1856  the  venerable  Charles  Elliott, 
D.D.,  retired  from  active  service,  re-visited  the  scenes  of 
his  early  ministry  in  the  Mahoning  Valley.  For  a num- 
ber of  days  my  mother’s  home  in  Poland,  Ohio,  was  gra- 
ciously favored  with  his  presence,  and  I was  privileged 
to  take  him  in  our  carriage  wherever  he  wished  to  go. 
Father  Powers,  who  had  been  one  of  the  notable  laymen 
of  the  pioneer  church,  still  lived  at  his  home  about  half 
way  between  Poland  and  Youngstown.  On  the  morning 
set  apart  for  the  visit,  Dr.  Elliott  showed  unusual  alert- 
ness. He  was  eager  for  the  start.  He  had  hastened  my 
driving.  His  body  swayed  with  the  impetus  of  emotion. 
Now,  he  speaks  with  quick,  disjointed  words;  then,  in 
silence  his  eyes  were  fixed  above  and  beyond  the  passing 
scenery.  I was  profoundly  impressed  with  the  manifest 
adumbration  of  the  glory  to  be  revealed. 

“The  intended  meeting  had  not  been  pre-announced. 
W hen  we  reached  the  gate  Dr.  Elliott  evidently  recalled 
the  familiar  surroundings.  He  was  out  of  the  carriage  be- 
fore the  horse  had  stopped.  His  eager  body  outran  his 
feeble  limbs.  His  knock  at  the  door  still  sounds  in  my  ears. 
All  he  said  to  the  woman  who  opened  the  door  was,  ‘I 
want  to  see  Brother  Powers.’  He  was  directed  to  the 
open  door  at  his  right.  At  the  threshold  his  impetuosity 
was  stayed.  He  stood  still,  one  hand  outstretched,  the 
other  resting  on  the  head  of  his  staff. 

“Before  us,  in  a rocking  chair,  sat  an  old  man  gazing 
into  the  flickering  blaze  of  an  open  fire,  his  snow-white 
hair  falling  upon  his  shoulders.  He  turned  his  chair,  and 


I 


138 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


b * 


those  great  blue  eyes  began  to  widen.  The  rubbish  of 
years  rolled  away  and  he  was  young  again.  He  stood 
erect.  His  pale  features  became  aglow  with  ardent  mem- 
ories. There  was  instant  recognition,  but  no  word  had 
yet  been  spoken.  Then  Dr.  Elliott’s  cane  fell  to  the  floor. 
With  outstretched  arms,  each  embraced  the  other.  The 
white  locks  intermingled.  The  fountains  of  tears  broke 
forth.  An  inarticulate  language  conveyed  the  thought 
of  each  to  the  understanding  of  the  other — and  they 
were  comforted. 

‘‘Then  these  two  old  worthies  sat  for  hours  as  calm 
and  placid  as  though  no  storm  of  passion  had  ever  beaten 
upon  them.’’ 

Burton,  Ohio. 

Because  of  carelessly  kept  records,  and  of  there  being 
no  particular  custodian  for  them,  but  little  can  now  be 
learned  relating  to  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in 
Burton,  Ohio.  Mr.  Gregg  says : “The  class  at  Burton, 

Ohio,  was  formed  in  1811,  and  consisted  of  Samuel  Bur- 
ton. leader;  Olive  Burton,  Seth  Hayes,  Elizabeth  Hayes, 
Lydia  Hayes,  Sue  Hayes,  Polly  Russell,  Susanna  Bab- 
cock and  Air.  Durand  and  wife." — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  2,  p.  24J.)  About  all 
that  can  be  known  of  the  organization  of  the  Church  in 
Burton  is  found  in  the  Pioneer  History  of  Geauga  Coun- 
ty, from  which  we  quote  the  following  extract : “The 

date  of  the  founding  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
is  not  clear.  Mrs.  Polly  Russell  fixed  it,  and  Rev.  Witter 
states  it  in  his  semi-centennial  discourse  as  about  1806. 
It  seems  more  probable  a Methodist  exhorter  appeared 
about  that  time.  The  Revs.  Charles  and  Ewen  are  men- 
tioned as  the  first  regular  preachers.  They  were  sent  by 
the  venerable  Bishop  Asburv.  Elijah  Hayes  well  re- 
members hearing  them  preach  in  the  first  academy,  he 
thinks  about  1808.  The  first  class  was  started  by  Elder 
Winans  and  a Mr.  Riley.  After  the  society  was  formed 
Samuel  Burton  was  the  first  class  leader.” 

“Seth  Burton  says  he  was  .baptized  by  ‘pouring’  at 
Luther  Russell’s  house  in  the  year  1812  by  Elder  Young, 
and  thinks  the  church  was  organized  about  1811.  He 
names  the  members  at  that  time : Lebbeus  Herrick,  Pris- 
cilla Herrick,  Seth  Hayes,  Sr.,  Elizabeth  Hayes,  Ira 


j 


j 


Burton,  Ohio. 


139 


Hayes,  Oliver  and  Sybil  Hayes,  Enos  Hayes,  Lorin  and 
Daniel  Hayes,  Mrs.  Eli  Hayes,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hayes, 
Samuel  Burton,  Olive  Burton,  Polly  Moss,  Betsey  Moss 
and  Susannah  Babcock.  Elijah  gives  the  same  date  as 
Burton — 181 1.” 

Considerable  prejudice  existed  against  the  Methodists. 
It  is  related  that  Mr.  Coe  lectured  his  students  and  ad- 
vised them  in  school  not  to  attend  the  meetings.  When 
he  was  through  Daniel  Todd  rose,  and  in  his  cool  way, 
announced  a prayer  meeting  at  Brother  Durand’s  that 
evening  and  invited  all  who  were  present  to  attend. 

The  struggles  of  this  little  society  for  existence  in  a 
community  where  other  and  stronger  denominations 
were  striving  for  first  recognition,  were  best  known  to 
those  who  participated  in  the  struggle,  and  who  are  now 
gone  to  their  reward. 

The  society  at  first  met  for  religious  services  in  the 
homes  of  its  members,  and  afterward  for  a time,  wor- 
shipped in  a school  house,  which  stood  near  where  the 
Congregational  parsonage  now  stands. 

About  this  time  the  society  became  very  much  reduced 
in  numbers,  and  just  as  much  discouraged,  and  in  order 
to  have  a church  home,  a few  of  the  members  took  their 
certificates  of  membership  and  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  After  the  Congregational  Church  was 
erected,  which  was  in  1836,  by  an  arrangement  between 
the  two  societies,  the  Methodists  used  their  church  to 
worship  in,  holding  services  usually  in  the  afternoon. 
About  the  year  1845  *he  society  had  so  increased  in  num- 
bers that  the  members  felt  able  to  build  a church,  and 
consequently  a building  was  erected  on  the  lot  where  the 
present  Methodist  Church  now  stands.  It  seems  from 
the  records  in  possession  of  the  society  that  the  building 
was  erected  before  the  lot  was  paid  for.  In  1849,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  church  trustees,  consisting  of  Joel  T.  Mer- 
riman,  Russell  Humiston,  Asa  Wilmot,  Joseph  Hyde  and 
Burritt  Wilmot,  it  was  decided  to  start  a subscription  to 
buy  the  ground  on  which  the  meeting  house  stands.  At 
this  time  Wm.  Sampson  was  Presiding  Elder,  and  Ahab 
Keller,  preacher  in  charge.  * The  sum  required  to  pur- 
chase the  lot  was  $40,  and  was  finally  raised,  paid  over 
and  a deed  secured  May  17,  1841.  In  1872  an  addition 
of  30  feet  on  the  east  side  of  the  church  lot  was  pur- 


140 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

chased  for  $60.  Joseph  Hyde,  Elijah  Hayes,  Asher 
Forrow  and  Elizar  Hayes  were  trustees  when  this  sec- 
ond purchase  was  made,  and  H.  N.  Steadman  was  pas- 
tor. In  1889  an  addition  consisting  of  a prayer  meeting 
room  and  kitchen  was  made  to  the  west  side  of  the  build- 
ing. A.  J.  Hiatt  was  pastor  when  this  addition  was 
built. 


V. 


ENLISTED  FOR  THE  WAR:  1800-1809. 

Peter  B.  Davis  was  appointed  to  the  Shenango  Circuit 
in  1800.  The  classes  in  the  Roberts  neighborhood  being 
well  supplied  with  local  preachers,  he  confined  his  labors 
to  other  more  needy  settlements.  Mr.  Davis  became  a 
member  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1799.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  in  1802,  and  elder  in  1804.  He  served 
Allegheny  in  1799,  John  Cullison  in  charge  of  the  circuit. 
His  later  appointments  were  as  follows:  1801,  Federal. 

Baltimore  District,  again  with  John  Cullison;  1802, 
Clarksburg.  Pittsburg  District;  1803,  Montgomery, 
Alexandria  District,  with  Robert  R.  Roberts  as  junior 
preacher:  1804,  Richmond,  Virginia  Conference;  1805, 
Gloucester;  1806,  located. 

Memoir  of  Peter  B.  Davis. 

The  following  memoir  is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Heze- 
kiah  McClelland : 

‘‘  Peter  B.  Davis  was  born  in  Gloucester  County,  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  year  1771.  His  father  died  while  he  was  an 
infant,  and  before  he  had  attained  his  fifth  year  he  was 
left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  mother.  Being  thus 
left  fatherless  and  motherless,  his  education  devolved 
upon  his  uncle.  Dr.  William  Brooks. 

“In  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  awakened  to 
a sense  of  his  lost  condition,  under  the  preaching  of 
Thornton  Fleming.  In  much  bitterness  of  soul,  and  sor- 
row for  his  sins,  he  sought  the  Lord  until  Jesus  appeared 
for  his  deliverance,  and  set  his  feet  upon  ‘the  Rock.' 
Some  time  after  this,  he  united  with  the  Baptist  Church. 
Finding  himself,  however,  drawn  toward  the  people 
among  whom  he  had  received  his  first  religious  impres- 
sions, and  being  convinced  of  the  truth  of  their  doc- 
trines, he  did  not  continue  long  with  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination, but  became  a member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  When  asked  his  reasons  for  so  doing:,  he 


I 


142 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


would  modestly  reply : ‘When  I was  a child  I spake  as 

a child,  I understood  as  a child,  I thought  as  a child ; but 
when  I became  a man  I put  away  childish  things.’ 

“It  was  not  long  before  he  was  impressed  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  ‘call  sinners  to  repentence.’  This  impression 
he  resisted  by  connecting  himself  in  temporal  business 
with  a gentleman  in  Richmond  County.  The  impression, 
however,  still  followed  him,  and  to  elude,  if  possible,  the 
call  of  God,  he  left  his  present  residence,  and  set  off  on  a 
journey  to  Kentucky.  But  while  on  his  way,  in  Frederick 
County,  he  was  stopped  by  sickness,  and  for  a while  his 
life  was  despaired  of:  but  he  was  visited  by  a Methodist 
friend,  who  took  him  from  the  Inn  where  he  lay  sick  to 
his  own  home,  and  nursed  him  with  all  the  tender  solici- 
tude of  a father,  until  his  health  returned.  Mr.  Davis, 
having  thus  exhausted  his  funds,  was  obliged  to  postpone 
his  intended  journey,  and  engaged  in  business  with  his 
friend  who  had  administered  to  him  in  his  sickness,  with 
whom  he  continued  two  years.  Here  ‘the  word  of  the 
Lord  came  to  him  again' ; but  he  continued  disobedient 
until  the  Lord  chastened  him  a second  time  by  bringing 
him  near  to  the  grave ; at  which  time,  being  conscious  of 
the  neglect  of  his  duty,  he  promised  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  that  if  the  Lord  spared  his  life,  he  would  no 
longer  ‘confer  with  flesh  and  blood,’  but  would  imme- 
diately arise  and  publish  the  ‘glad  tidings  of  salvation.' 
He  was  restored — and  his  vow  was  not  forgotten. 

“How  long  he  exercised  his  gift  as  a local  preacher,  I 
have  no  means  of  knowing;  but  in  May,  1799’  was  re_ 
ceived  into  the  itinerant  ministry  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, and  was  appointed  to  the  Allegheny  Circuit. 
In  1800  he  was  sent  to  form  a new  circuit  on  the  Beaver 
and  French  creeks.  Here  he  succeeded  in  making  ‘full 
proof  of  his  ministry,’  in  the  awakening  and  conversion 
of  souls,  while  he  was  subjected  to  all  those  privations  and 
hardships  which  are  peculiar  to  newly  settled  places. 
While  laboring  here,  a circumstance  occurred,  which,  as  it 
illustrates  the  watchful  care  of  divine  providence  over 
God’s  servants,  may  be  worthy  of  recording.  Mr.  Davis 
lost  his  horse,  and  was  obliged  to  pledge  his  word  for 
part  of  the  payment  toward  another  at  a specified  time. 
The  time  had  nearly  expired,  but  he  found  himself  unable 
to  redeem  his  pledge,  which  gave  him  no  little  concern, 


/ 


* 


Peter  B.  Davis. 


• x43 


as  lie  considered  his  character  might  be  compromised  by  a 
failure  of  this  kind.  While  his  mind  was  occupied  on  this 
subject,  as  he  was  passing  the  postoffice,  the  postmaster 
called  to  him  and  asked  if  his  name  was  Davis.  Being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  the  postmaster  told  him  that 
there  was  a letter  in  the  office  for  him.  Upon  opening  the 
letter,  he  found  enclosed  the  exact  sum  he  needed  to 
liquidate  the  debt,  an  unexpected  present  from  a friend  re- 
siding in  the  circuit  which  Mr.  Davis  had  traveled  the  pre- 
ceding year.  The  letter  enclosing  the  money  contained 
these  words:  ‘You  are  travelling  in  a new  settlement, 

and  perhaps  may  want  a little  money.’  This  circumstance 
he  kept  in  grateful  remembrance,  as  he  often  mentioned  it 
as  an  instance  of  the  truth  of  that  scripture  which  saith, 
‘The  Lord  will  provide.’ 

“After  travelling  several  circuits  with  acceptance  and 
usefulness  from  this  time  till  1805,  he  entered  into  the 
married  state  with  A I i ss  Peggy  Mann,  and  the  succeeding 
year  he  located  and  settled  in  King  and  Queen  County, 
Virginia,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Though  like  most  men  who  occupy  public  stations,  he  had 
some  enemies,  he  had  many  warm  friends,  during  the 
eighteen  years  he  lived  in  this  place  as  a local  preacher. 

“On  September  15,  1824,  Mr.  Davis  was  called  to 
preach  a funeral  discourse  for  a young  man,  at  which 
time  he  complained  of  being  unwell.  He  hastened  home, 
took  his  bed,  and  continued  to  grow  worse,  until  his  dis- 
ease finally  terminated  in  death.  He  was  not  conscious, 
however,  of  the  alarming  nature  of  his  disease,  until  ap- 
prised of  it  by  his  attending  physician,  who  told  him  that 
death  was  not  far  off.  Mr.  Davis  received  the  informa- 
tion with  much  fortitude  and  composure,  saying,  ‘I  think 
I must  be  much  sicker  before  I die.’  On  Tuesday,  un- 
derstanding that  my  friend  was  sick.  I hastened  to  see 

him.  On  entering  his  room,  he  said  with  much  cheerful- 
ness, ‘I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I have  my  friends,  and  I 
have  my  particular  friends.  You  are  the  first  person  I 
thought  of  at  the  commencement  of  my  sickness,  and  had 
thought  of  sending  for  you,  but  concluded  you  would 
hear  of  my  case,  and  come  and  see  me.’  He  then  men- 
tioned the  information  he  had  received  from  the  doctor  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  added,  ‘I  was  surprised  how  little  it  af- 
fected my  mind,  but  concluded  that  if  I were  not  now 


H4 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


ready  to  go,  perhaps  I never  should  be,  for  I have  been  a 
long  time  trying  to  serve  the  Lord’ ; and  then  added,  ‘My 
temporal  and  spiritual  affairs  are  in  a pretty  good  condi- 
tion. and  my  family  are  provided  for.' 

“On  Thursday  I called  again,  and  found  him  fast  sink- 
ing under  his  disease.  He  said,  I am  very  poorly ; but  I 
want  to  be  decided.'  I did  not  fully  comprehend  what  he 
meant  by  being  ‘decided/  He  looked  wishfully  at  me  and 
said.  T know  not  how  it  is,  but  as  soon  as  I see  you  I 
think  about  preaching.'  During  the  night  he  often 
seemed  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of  eternal  things, 
observing,  ‘We  see  things  very  different  now  from  what 
we  do  in  health.’  After  slumbering  a short  time,  he 
awoke,  called  me  to  his  bedside,  and  said,  ‘I  am  now  de- 
cided : I shall  never  come  back ; I shall  return  no  more ; 
that  is.  I never  shall  get  well  again.’  I now  understood 
what  he  meant  by  being  ‘decided,’  namely,  his  being  per- 
suaded that  he  must  die. 

“ ‘We  need,’  said  he,  ‘A  great  deal  of  patience  to  die.’ 
I reminded  him  that  Jesus  would  help  him  safe  through 
the  dark  valley.  He  replied,  ‘You  can  look  at  me,  and 
see  me  die,  and  judge  how  it  will  be  with  you  when  you 
die.  O eternity!  thou  pleasing,  dreadful  thought.’ 

“At  times  his  mind,  through  the  violence  of  the  disease, 
was  somewhat  deranged ; but  on  recovering  its  wonted 
tone,  he  would  delight  his  friends  by  the  expression  of 
some  sublime  thought.  ‘I  want  to  go,’  said  he ; and  then 
repeated  as  his  last  words : 

“ ‘Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 

And  let  me  languish  into  life.’ 

* 

“ ‘Tell  me,  my  soul,  can  this  be  death?’ 

“At  half  past  eight  o’clock,  on  Saturday  morning,  his 
happy  soul  took  its  flight  to  another  world.” — (Methodist 
Magazine,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  118-120.) 

It  was  the  twenty-fifth  of  September. 

Joseph  Rowen,  Who  Explores  Erie  Circuit. 

Theophilus  Arminius  says  in  the  Methodist  Magazine : 

“In  the  fall  of  1800,  Joseph  Rowen  made  an  excursion 
toward  the  head  of  French  creek,  and  visited  Meadville, 
Waterford,  and  Presque  Isle,  and  formed  the  plan  of  a 
four  weeks'  circuit,  and  in  the  spring  of  1801,  Joseph 


Joseph  Rozven. 


Shane  was  sent  to  Chenango  and  James  Quinn  to  Erie 
Circuit ; the  latter  circuit  has  since  been  enlarged,  divided, 
and  sub-divided,  so  as  to  cover  all  the  territory  lying  be- 
tween the  Allegheny  river  and  Lake  Erie,  extending  down 
Lake  Erie  into  the  state  of  New  York.  In  the  latter  part 
of  this  year,  Thornton  Fleming,  the  presiding  elder  of 
Redstone  District,  made  a visit  through  these  circuits, 
and  his  visit  was  made  a blessing  to  the  young  preachers 
then  on  those  circuits  and  to  many  of  the  people.” 

Joseph  Rowen  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1792,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Annames- 
sex  Circuit,  with  James  Thomas  in  charge.  He  was*  or- 
dained deacon  in  1795  and  elder  in  1797.  He  was  re- 
moved to  the  Milford  Circuit  in  1793,  Walter  Fountain 
in  charge.  His  later  appointments  were:  In  1794,  Har- 
ford; 1795,  Bristol;  1796,  Rockingham;  1797-1798,  Car- 
lisle; 1799,  Montgomery;  1800,  Ohio,  with  John  Culli- 
son  as  an  associate.  From  this  he  went  back  to  the  Har- 
ford Circuit,  and  then  to  other  stations  and  circuits  in 
the  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Conferences,  and  did  ex- 
cellent service  in  the  cause  of  his  Master  until  death 
called  him  home.  Ohio  remained  as  a Circuit  in  1801, 
but  the  Erie  Circuit,  which  Mr.  Rowen  “explored,”  was 
formed  and  James  Quinn  was  appointed  to  this  new  field. 

Joseph  Rowen  was  born  in  Dorchester  County,  Mary- 
land. January  19,  177°-  His  parents  were  respectable 
people  and  nominally  attached  to  the  Church  of  England. 
Joseph  was  converted  under  Methodist  preaching  in 
1787,  and  was  received  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  by  Rev.  Joseph  Everett.  His  soul  was  not,  how- 
ever, at  peace,  and  it  was  a year  before  he  found  the  long- 
sought  rest.  He  says:  “The  power  of  God  broke  into 

my  soul,  and  my  will  seemed  to  be  swallowed  up  in  the 
will  of  God.  Unbelief  in  a moment  gave  way,  and  the 
Lord  lifted  upon  me  the  light  of  His  countenance!  The 
guilt,  burden  and  condemnation  of  sin  were  gone,  and 
my  heart  was  filled  with  love,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.”  He  died  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  31,  1838. 

“His  sermons  were  always  marked  by  zeal,  intelligence 
and  success.  Those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  hear 
him  will  witness  to  the  extraordinary  power  which  ac- 
companied the  delivery  of  his  discourses,  even  in  his  old 
age.  His  abilities  as  a minister  of  Christ  were  above 


10 


146  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

mediocrity.  Many  very  many,  precious  souls  were, 
through  his  instrumentality,  happily  converted  to  God; 
many  of  whom  are  already  gone,  and  become  gems  in  the 
crown  of  His  rejoicing.’' — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol. 
2,  pp.  667,  668.) 

The  Gregg  Family. 

Brother  Gregg,  in  his  history  says : “During  the  sum- 
mer of  1799  the  author's  grandfather,  Samuel  Gregg, 
who  had  several  years  before  emigrated  from  Ireland 
and  settled  his  family  in  Center  County,  Pennsylvania, 
removed  them  across  the  mountains  and  through  the  wil- 
derness, along  a blind  path,  to  Oil  creek,  and  purchased 
a farm  on  the  banks  of  that  stream,  a few  miles  below 
Titusville,  in  Venango  County,  Pennsylvania.  In  cross- 
ing the  Clarion  river  his  oldest  son,  David  Gregg,  was 
drowned.  The  entire  family,  with  all  their  effects,  were 
brought  on  pack  horses.  Mr.  Gregg  was  not  a member 
of  any  church,  but  his  wife,  our  paternal  grandmother, 
was  converted  under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  John  Wesley, 
and  united  with  the  Methodists  in  Ireland,  and  had  united 
with  them  again  in  America : and  on  arriving  at  her  new 
home  on  Oil  creek  embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
invite  the  Methodist  ministers  to  her  humble  log  cabin 
in  the  wilderness,  which  for  several  years  was  both  their 
lodging  place  and  sanctuary." — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  p.  34.) 

The  Baltimore  Conference,  1801. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  held  its  session  at  Pipe 
creek,  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  May  1,  1801,  Bishop 
Asbury  presiding.  Thornton  Fleming  was  appointed  to 
the  Pittsburg  District.  Two  circuits  were  formed  with- 
in the  territory  of  the  old  Erie  Conference — Erie  Circuit, 
James  Quinn ; Shenango  Circuit,  Joseph  Shane.  These 
two  circuits  embraced  all  the  country  west  of  the  Alle- 
gheny river  and  north  of  the  Ohio  to  Lake  Erie.  But 
two  quarterly  meetings  seem  to  have  been  held  on  the 
Shenango  Circuit  during  the  year — one  at  Shenango,  and 
one  at  Mumford’s,  near  Meadville.  Mr.  Quinn  was  re- 
moved to  the  Pittsburg  Circuit  about  Christmas,  and 
Joseph  A.  Shackelford  appointed  in  his  place.  A revival 
in  the  township  of  Washington,  Erie  County,  resulted  in 


The  Baltimore  Conference , 1801.  147 

the  formation  of  a class  near  Conneaut  Lake.  Russell 

Stancliff,  who  entered  the  ministry  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  his  wife,  were  among  the  first  members.  Classes 
were  formed  about  seven  miles  south  of  Mershon’s — the 
leader's  name  was  Blackmar — and  thirteen  miles  further 
up  the  Conneaut  Valley  at  McDowell’s,  and  at  four  other 
places  which  cannot  be  located.  The  class  south  of  Mer- 
shon’s became  greatly  reduced,  but  recovered,  "when  the 
Randalls  and  Keeps,  with  other  substantial  members,  be- 
came connected  with  it,  since  which  time  its  history  has 
been  glorious,  until  it  received  a crushing  blow  from 
Wesleyanism  about  1843.” — (History  of  Methodism. 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  42.) 

Erie  Circuit  reported  to  the  Baltimore  Conference  in 
1802  sixty-five  members  from  its  twenty  appointments, 
and  Shenango  Circuit  reported  sixty. 

The  Labors  of  Thornton  Fleming. 

In  1793,  at  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  the  Seneca 
Circuit  was  formed  and  attached  to  the  Northumberland 
District,  with  Valentine  Cook  as  Presiding  Elder,  and 
Thornton  Fleming  and  James  Smith,  Circuit  preachers, 
though  by  mistake  the  name  of  Mr.  Fleming  does  not 
appear  on  the  minutes. 

“Fleming  was  a Virginian,  of  slender  form  and  light 
complexion,  a man  of  God,  and  of  bold,  original  charac- 
ter. As  an  illustration,  at  one  time  he  announced  on  one 
of  his  circuits,  that  when  he  should  come  round  to  that 
point  of  his  circuit  again  there  would  be  a great  outpour- 
ing of  the  Spirit  of  God.  It  was  revealed  to  him,  he  said, 
and  he  uttered  it  that  the  people  might  be  prepared.  The 
announcement  produced  a great  sensation  and  no  little 
curiosity,  and  at  his  next  appearance  ‘the  multitude  came 
together.'  The  prediction  proved  no  delusion.  True  to 
his  utterance,  the  Spirit  of  God  was  mightily  poured 
forth,  and  such  a revival  broke  out  that  the  people  ever 
after  called  it  ‘Fleming’s  great  day.’  He  was  well  calcu- 
lated to  win  esteem.  We  asked  a brother  who  is  now 
seventy  years  of  age,  but  was  then  a little  lad,  too  young 
to  read  character,  at  whose  father’s  house  Fleming  used 
to  put  up,  what  impression  he  retained  of  him.  ‘I  don’t 
know,’  said  he,  ‘only  that  he  always  made  me  love  him. 


148  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

We  used  to  think  a great  deal  of  him.’” — (Hibbard, 
History  of  the  late  East  Genesee  Conference,  pp.  11-13.) 

The  name  of  Thornton  Fleming  holds  a prominent 
place  on  the  roll  of  early  Methodist  itinerant  heroes.  He 
was  born  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  October  12,  1764, 
and  died  at  Elizabethtown,  Allegheny  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, November  21,  1846.  He  was  converted  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  in  1788  entered  the  ranks 
of  the  traveling  ministry.  The  general  minutes  do  not 
give  his  appointment  for  this  first  year.  The  second 
year  he  was  appointed  to  the  Berkley  Circuit.  He  was 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Pittsburg  District  of  the  Balti- 
more Conference,  embracing  a territory  much  larger 
than  the  whole  present  Pittsburg  Conference,  from  1801 
to  1804.  In  1803.  without  any  change  of  territory,  the 
name  of  the  district  was  changed  to  Monongahela.  He 
served  the  same  district  from  1806  to  1809,  eight  years 
in  all.  He  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization  in  1825.  From  1825  to  1827  he 
was  supernumerary,  and  again  from  1829  to  1834,  when 
he  was  superannuated,  and  continued  in  this  relation  until 
his  death.  He  was  effective  forty  years,  and  fifteen 
years  filled  the  office  of  Presiding  Elder.  He  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  General  Conference  of  1828.  “His  last  af- 
flictions were  long  and  often  severe ; and  a cancer  near 
the  left  eye,  and  finally  penetrating  and  exhausting  the 
eye,  added  greatly  to  his  sufferings,  but  he  bore  all  with 
the  greatest  fortitude  and  Christian  patience.  His  end 
was  emphatically  peace.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vo!. 

4, 1847,  pp.  139-14 O') 

We  learn  some  additional  facts  concerning  his  history 
from  the  memorial  sermon  preached  by  Joshua  Monroe. 

Of  his  early  life  we  have  but  little  information.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  we  find  him  acting  as  a clerk  in  a 
store  in  Williamsburg.  It  was  while  thus  employed  that 
a circumstance  occurred  which  led  to  his  conversion. 
This  circumstance  illustrates  the  superstitious  character 
of  the  people  of  his  time.  His  own  relation  is  as  follows : 
“When  about  nineteen  years  of  age  my  father  placed  me 
in  Williamsburg  with  a merchant  as  a clerk.  I loved  my 
parents  almost  to  adoration,  and  a separation  of  this  kind 
seemed  to  me  exceedingly  afflicting.  I had  learned  the 
art  of  knowing  future  events  by  cutting — as  it  was  called 


Thornton  Fleming.  149 

— a pack  of  cards.  I was  to  visit  my  parents,  according 
to  arrangement,  during  the  Christmas  holidays,  and  anx- 
ious to  determine  what  would  be  the  result  of  my  visit, 
I consulted  my  cards,  but  the  response  was  death.  I cut 
my  cards  again,  and  the  same  response  was  the  result. 
A third  trial  was  the  same  still.  My  distress  at  the 
thought  that  I could  never  see  my  parents  again  was  such 
that  I could  not  be  satisfied  without  trying  a new  pack  of 
cards ; and  lo ! the  same  fearful  response  was  given.  My 
soul  was  in  perfect  agony.  What!  Shall  I never  again 
see  my  beloved  parents?  The  thought  was  insupportable. 
I then  was  convinced  that  I was  not  prepared  to  die  and  I 
dropped  upon  my  knees  behind  the  counter  and  began  to 
pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  on  me.  Here  the  work  began, 
and  in  a short  time  the  Lord  graciously  pardoned  my 
sins.  I lived,  and  my  parents  lived  to  meet  me  at  the 
time  anticipated.  And  I could  now  interpret  the  response, 
so  often  given,  to  mean  the  death  of  sin.  This  event 
transpired  in  the  year  1784,  which  was  the  year  of  my 
conversion  to  God."  Soon  after  his  conversion  he  began 
to  exhort,  and  three  years  later  was  employed  on  a Circuit. 
He  was,  according  to  the  memory  of  Joshua  Monroe  of 
one  of  his  conversations,  the  means  of  the  conversion  of 
Mrs.  James  Monroe,  consort  of  James  Monroe,  afterward 
President  of  the  United  States. 

He  once  said  to  Brother  McGowan:  “In  the  year 

1787  I traveled  six  months  under  the  Elder,  and  during 
the  same  year  I was  admitted  on  trial  as  a traveling 
preacher,  although  my  name  does  not  appear  on  the 
General  Minutes  until  1788,”  and  then  no  appointment  is 
named.  He  served  Stafford  in  1790,  Fairfax  in  1791, 
Randolph  in  1792’  and  in  1793  his  name  does  not  appear. 

In  1794  he  was  Elder  in  the  State  of  New  York,  but 
the  field  of  his  labors  is  not  well  defined  in  the  minutes. 
Tioga,  Seneca  Lake  and  Nova  Scotia  are  mentioned.  He 
continued  in  this  district  but  one  year.  From  1795  to 
1798  he  had  charge  of  Kent,  Prince  George  and  Calvert 
Circuits,  and  in  1799  he  was  appointed  to  Pendleton  Cir- 
cuit which  embraced  parts  of  several  counties  on  the  head 
streams  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac,  Greenbriar 
and  James  rivers.  In  1800  he  traveled  the  Winchester 
Circuit. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


i5° 

His  greatest  triumphs  and  trials,  however,  were  con- 
nected with  the  western  country.  In  1801  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Pittsburg  District,  which  embraced  Red- 
stone, Pittsburg,  Shenango,  Erie,  Ohio,  Muskingum, 

Hockhocking.  Little  Kenawha  and  Clarksburg — twelve 
counties  in  Pennsylvania,  six  in  Virginia  (“now” — 1848 
— ten  or  eleven),  with  a part  of  Ohio  and  a corner  of 
Allegheny  county,  Maryland.  About  the  commencement 
of  this  year,  Mr.  Fleming  entered  into  the  marriage  rela- 
tion and  fixed  his  residence  in  Beason  (L  niontown).  In 
1803  the  district  was  enlarged  so  as  to  contain  the  Hock- 
hocking Circuit  and  Deerfield  Mission  on  the  V estern 
Reserve.  During  his  service  on  this  district  his  wife 
died.  After  serving  Annapolis  he  was  returned  to  the 
same  district  under  the  name  of  Monongahela.  In  1810 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Redstone  Circuit,  and  later  to  the 
Greenfield,  181 1 ; Monongahela,  1812  ; Connellsville,  1813  ; 

Pittsburg  and  Connellsville,  and  Ohio  Circuits,  1818-19, 
where  his  labor  was  much  blessed  of  the  Lord.  In  1814 
he  sustained  a supernumerary  relation,  but  was  appointed 
third  preacher  on  the  Redstone  Circuit,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Circuit.  In  1819-22 
he  again  labored  as  Presiding  Elder  in  the  Pittsburg 
District;  in  1823  he  traveled  the  Chartiers  Circuit,  and  in 
1824,  the  Redstone.  In  1825  he  was  made  supernumer- 
ary and  attached  to  the  Williamsport  Circuit.  He  was 
then  made  effective  and  called  to  the  Pittsburg  District 
and  labored  thereon  until  his  final  superannuation  in  1828. 

From  this  time  on  for  several  years,  either  as  supernum- 
erary or  superannuate,  he  did  much  acceptable  work  in 
the  Church.  He  died  of  cancer  in  Elizabethtown,  Alle- 
gheny County,  Pennsylvania,  November  20,  1846,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  “God’s  acre”  in  Uniontown  by  the  side 
of  his  wife.  He  had  married  a second  wife  in  1806. 

She  died  December  10,  1837;  her  last  words,  “For  me  to 
die  is  gain.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Sept.  20, 

1848.  The  memoir  of  Thornton  Fleming  was  published  9 

in  pamphlet  form,  and  stitched  with  the  sermon  preached 
by  Joshua  Monroe  on  the  occasion  of  his  death.) 

Mr.  Fleming,  in  his  declining  years,  reviewing  the 
period  of  his  active  ministry  and  the  work  of  God  dur- 
ing fifty  years,  says:  “Forty-seven  years  of  that  half 

century  I have  been  striving  to  labor  in  the  word  and 


Thornton  Fleming. 


I5i 

doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  During 
forty-five  years  I did  effective  work  in  the  church.*  I 
do  not  mention  this  to  boast — no,  I am  ashamed,  before 
God  and  the  Church — that  I have  experienced  no  more 
of  the  deep  things  of  God  than  I have.  When  I look 
back  through  the  half  of  a century  and  view  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  and  His  grace  to  me,  in  silent  awe  I adore 
Him  for  His  mercy  and  grace  to  me,  in  youth,  manhood, 
and  in  the  decline  of  life.  In  all  these  stages  I needed 
His  providence  to  direct  my  steps,  to  supply  my  wants, 
and  I yet  need  grace  to  overcome  and  fight  the  good  fight. 
In  all  these  stages  of  life,  different  temptations  grew  out 
of  them.  In  this  time  what  changes  I had  to  pass  through 
as  a Methodist  preacher,  in  different  States  and  climes — 
sometimes  full  and  plenty,  sometimes  hungry  and  naked, 
sometimes  in  ceiled  rooms,  sometimes  nothing  but  the 
heavens  above  to  cover  me,  and  the  earth  my  bed  and 
pillow,  sometimes  in  rich  valleys  thickly  inhabited,  often 
in  perils  by  water  and  perils  by  the  savages  of  the  wilder- 
ness. This,  my  friend,  perhaps,  was  the  happiest  part  of 
my  life." — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal , March  29, 
1834.) 

Presiding  Elder  Quinn. 

James  Quinn  was  born  in  Washington  County  in  1775, 
and  lived  to  be  one  of  the  most  venerable  representatives 
of  the  Church.  His  family  moved  to  Fayette  County, 
and  listened  to  the  earliest  itinerants  who  crossed  the  Alle- 
ghenies. In  the  eleventh  year  of  his  age,  James  heard  a 

sermon  delivered  with  unction  and  power  by  the  sainted 
Peter  Moriarty.  His  biographer  states  that  he  witnessed 
the  first  conference  held  beyond  the  x\llegheny  Mountains, 
in  Uniontown,  Pa.,  July  22,  1788:  but  this  is  evidently  a 
mistake.  This  conference  was  held  in  Half  Acres,  Tenn., 
as  early  as  the  first  week  of  May,  1 788.  Asbury  says : 
“Came  to  Half  Acres  and  Keywoods,  where  we  held  con- 
ference three  days,  and  I preached  each  day.  The 
weather  was  cold : the  room  without  fire,  and  otherwise 
uncomfortable.  We  nevertheless  made  out  to  keep  our 
seats,  until  we  had  finished  the  essential  parts  of  our  busi- 

*He  must  have  meant  from  the  date  of  his  first  license  which 
would  seem  to  have  followed  close  after  his  conversion,  and  he 
could  not  have  allowed  for  the  years  during  which  he  was  super- 
numerary. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


152 


ness." — (Asbury's  Journal , Vol.  11.,  f>.  yy.)  The  con- 
ference at  l niontown  was  the  second.  Mr.  Ouinn  was 
converted  in  1792  under  the  labors  of  Daniel  Fidler  and 
James  Coleman.  He  was  received  on  probation  by  the 
Baltimore  Conference  in  1799,  and  appointed  to  the 
Greenfield  Circuit  which  extended  over  three  counties ; 
and  before  the  close  of  the  year,  he  was  tossed  about  on 
at  least  three  similar  circuits.  This  was  a stern  initiation 
of  a young  -man  into  the  ministry.  He  knew  whereof  he 
spoke,  when  at  a later  period,  he  wrote:  “Methodist 

itinerancy,  as  a system,  has  hitherto  had  no  place  for 
loungers,  and  may  heaven  forbid  it  ever  should,  and  let 
all  the  people  say.  Amen.  The  plan  calls  for  men  to  cut 
loose  from  the  world,  and  cast  it  behind.  Let  us  have  the 
men  who  are  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ,  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost — men  who  can  walk  hand  in  hand  with 
poverty,  for  twice  twenty  years;  then  leave  their  widows 
to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  their  fatherless  children  to  be 
provided  for  and  preserved  alive  by  him.” — ( Wright , 
Sketches  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  James  Quinn,  p.  47.) 

In  a contribution  to  the  Western  Historical  Society  in 
1839,  speaking  of  the  scenes  of  his  first  ministerial  labors, 
Mr.  Quinn  says:  “I  was  born  and  raised  in  Western 

Pennsylvania,  and  travelled  all  the  country  called  Red- 
stone, extending  back  from  the  foot  of  Laurel  Hill  to 
Wheeling  on  the  Ohio ; thence  up  the  Ohio  to  Pittsburg, 
and  thence  up  the  Monongahela  and  Youghiogheny  al- 
most to  their  sources,  commencing  fifteen  years  after  the 
first  missionaries  entered  the  field.  Redstone  was  the 
name  given  by  those  living  on  the  east  of  the  mountains 
to  all  the  country  settled  by  the  whites  west  of  the  moun- 
tains.” 

In  1801  the  Pittsburg  District  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference included  all  the  present  Erie,  Pittsburg,  East 
Ohio,  and  West  Virginia  Conferences.  There  were  two 
northern  circuits,  the  Erie  and  Shenango,  traveled  by 
James  Quinn  and  Joseph  Shane.  The  Erie  Circuit  had 
not  a single  Methodist,  class.  Bishop  Asbury,  in  giving 
Mr.  Quinn  his  appointment,  called  him  forward  and,  em- 
bracing him,  said : “Go,  my  son,  and  make  full  proof  of 

thy  ministry."  Along  steep  and  rugged  mountain  paths, 
the  young  itinerant  pushed  his  way,  and  entered  upon  his 
work  with  true  apostolic  zeal.  The  first  class  was  or- 


James  Q it  inn. 


*53 


ganized  near  a place  called  Lexington,  in  Springfield 
township^  Pa.  One  of  the  early  settlers  says : “I  heard 

him  preach  at  the  house  of  Stephen  Maxwell,  a cabin 
twelve  by  seventeen  feet,  no  floor  in  it,  a black  ash  bark 
roof,  the  room  overhung  with  pumpkins  prepared  to  dry.” 
Quinn  says:  “I  suffered  a little  in  the  flesh  this  year. 

Breadstuff  was  very  scarce,  and  what  flesh  we  ate  was 
chiefly  taken  from  the  woods  with  the  rifle;  but  about 
midsummer  we  got  plenty  of  potatoes.  Once,  however, 
having  been  several  days  without  bread  or  meat,  I in- 
dulged. when  very  hungry,  in  eating  too  freely  of  half- 
ripe  blackberries,  which  caused  an  attack  of  bilious  colic, 
that  held  me  two  days.  Upon  the  whole,  I look  back  with 
as  much  pleasure  upon  the  labors  and  sufferings  of  that 
year  as  any  of  the  many  years  I have  been  employed  in 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.”  The  year  closed  with  some 
half  dozen  classes  and  sixty-five  members. — (Wright, 
Sketches  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  Janies  Quinn,  pp.  37, 
59;  Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
V ol.  IV.,  pp.  79,  80,  97,  92;  Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  pp  38-40.) 

Mr.  Quinn  labored  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  until 
1804  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Western  Conference. 
He  became  a member  of  the  Ohio  Conference  at  its  for- 
mation. Except  two  years  during  which  he  was  located, 
he  continued  an  influential  member  of  this  body  until  his 
death.  He  was  many  years  a presiding  elder,  and  a dele- 
gate to  seven  General  Conferences.  He  was  always  in 
the  front,  and  founded  societies  wherever  he  went. 
Bishop  Richard  Whatcoat,  who  met  him  says : “I  shall 

never  forget  the  sweet  and  heavenly  smile  with  which  he 
met  me.  While  holding  my  hand  he  said,  ‘I  first  found 
thy  footsteps  on  the  Lake  Shore  in  1801  ; next  I found 
thee  in  Winchester,  Va.,  in  1802;  then  met  thee  at  the 
altar,  in  Light-street,  Baltimore,  in  1803;  and  now  I find 
thee  here!’  ” — (Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  344,  343.)  After  more  than 
half  a century  of  strenuous  labor  he  could  address  the 
Ohio  Conference  in  happy  reminiscence : “And  now 

here  I am,  ‘a  reed  shaken  with  the  wind,'  a feeble  old  man, 
trembling  as  I lean  on  the  top  of  my  staff ; but  where  am 
I ? In  the  midst  of  a conference  of  ministers,  near  one 
hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  most  of  whom  have  been 


154 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


twice  born  since  the  time  of  which  I speak.  Among  them 
are  the  sons,  and  grandsons,  and  great-grandsons  of  those 
who  kindly  received  me,  and  to  whom  I ministered  in 
their  humble  dwellings.  No  doubt  I have  taken  some  of 
these  ministers  in  my  arms,  and  dedicated  them  to  God  in 
holy  baptism ; and  on  some  of  them  I have  laid  my  hands 
in  consecrating  them  to  the  sacred  office  and  work  of  the 
ministry.  O!  why  should  my  heart  yield  to  fear?  The 
Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  help.” 
— (Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Vol.  IV.,  pp.  8o , 81.) 

Mr.  Quinn  was  an  instructive  and  powerful  preacher. 
W hen  himself  “overwhelmed  with  his  subject,  manifestly 
endowed  with  power  from  on  high,  and  a sacred  unction 
and  divine  influence  accompanying  every  sentence,  the 
enchained  multitude  stood  in  solemn  awe,  till  finally  the 
awful  silence  was  broken  by  a sudden  outburst  of  the 
. groans  and  cries  of  sinners,  and  joyful  acclamations  of 
Christians  from  all  parts  of  the  densely  crowded  congre- 
gation.”— (Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church , Vol.  IV.,  p.  81.) 

His  form  was  manly  and  well-proportioned;  his  fore- 
head broad  and  prominent ; and  his  dark,  deeply-set  eyes 
were  shaded  by  heavy  brows.  His  manner  blended  dig- 
nity and  kindliness.  He  was  in  every  sense  a gentleman. 
He  had  conducted  one  hundred  and  thirty  or  forty  camp- 
meetings,  and  had  witnessed  many  thousands  of  conver- 
sions. He  triumphed  in  death — an  appropriate  termina- 
tion of  his  long  and  useful  life.  His  family  were  kneeling 
at  his  bedside,  and  the  voice  of  prayer  was  heard.  It  was 
his  own  request.  “For  nearly  a minute  he  turned  his 
eyes  upward,  and,  like  Stephen,  seemed  to  look  ‘stead- 
fastly into  heaven,’  as  though  he  saw  the  commissioned 
convoy  of  angels  descending  to  escort  him  to  his  heavenly 
inheritance.  He  then,  with  apparent  design,  drew  down 
his  eye-lids,  till  they  were  nearly  closed,  and  laid  his  hands 
across  his  breast.  Then  the  attenuated  thread  of  life  gave 
way.”  This  was  December  i,  1847. — (This  account  is 
from  Rev.  J . F.  Conrey  zvho  zeas  at  the  bedside — Wright, 
Sketches  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  James  Quinn,  p.  310.) 

James  Quinn  writing  from  “near  Hillsboro,  O.,”  under 
date  of  January  30,  1844,  speaks  of  his  conversion  and 
call  to  the  ministry : “This  day  I took  up  an  old  number 


James  Quinn. 


155 


of  the  Advocate,  for  March  30,  1842,  and  the  first  article 
on  which  my  eye  rested  was  an  account  of  Ohio  Circuit, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  given  by  brother  Weirich,  upon 
which  I experienced  some  thrilling  sensations,  as  my  mind 
was  thrown  back  on  scenes  and  circumstances  which  had 
transpired  more  than  fifty-two  years  ago,  and  so  1 began 
to  scribble.  In  that  circuit  I was  born  the  second  time; 
there  I began  to  preach ; from  that  circuit  I was  rec- 
ommended to  the  Baltimore  Conference, — but  to  be  a little 
more  minute;  in  1790  or  1791,  the  Methodist  preachers 
began  to  hold  meetings  at  Capt.  Beck’s.  There  I attended 
preaching,  and  heard  a Garrett  Thompson,  Jacob  Lurtin, 
George  Cannon,  James  Coleman,  and  others,  and  soon  felt 
that  I was  a sinner,  and  must  be  born  again.  After  some 
time  a small  class  was  raised,  consisting  of  Capt.  Beck, 
his  wife,  and  his  brother,  Alexander  Beck,  Mary  Logan, 
Archibald  McKinley  and  Anna,  his  wife,  and  Mary  Ogle, 
widow  of  Capt.  Ogle,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  or 
near  Wheeling,  and  a few  others.  Jesse  Stoneman  was 
appointed  the  first  leader  of  this  class ; he  was  a pious 
young  man,  and  a warm-hearted  exhorter.  He  was  called 
from  this  charge  into  the  itinerant  field,  in  which  he  la- 
bored extensively  and  usefully  a number  of  years,  then 
located  and  finally  settled  in  Perry  County.  Ohio,  where 
he  served  the  Church  faithfully  as  a local  elder  some  twen- 
ty-five years,  during  which  time,  by  the  dint  of  industry 
and  economy  he  made  ample  provision  for  his  family,  at 
the  same  time  liberally  sustaining  the  interest  of  the 
Church  in  pecuniary  matters ; for  although  he  was  rigidly 
economical  he  never  was  penurious,  and  so  he  continued 
to  the  last.  His  race  is  run,  and  the  Master  has  called 
him  home,  and  now  his  flesh  resteth  in  hope  in  the  Metho- 
dist graveyard  at  Thornville,  in  said  county.  Of  his  fam- 
ily, two  went  before,  and  two  soon  followed  after;  only 
the  aged  widow  and  one  daughter  are  left  to  sorrow*,  re- 
joice, and  wait  for  their  chance,  when  it  is  believed  that 
the  whole  of  this  interesting  family  will  meet  again,  and 
meet  to  part  no  more.  O Jesse!  I loved  him  much,  as 
he  was  my  first  class-leader. 

“Well,  the  class  at  Capt.  Beck’s  held  on  the  even  tenor 
of  its  way,  gradually  increasing,  and  I lingered  around  a 
year  or  more,  but  at  length  with  fear  and  trembling,  1 
went  up  to  the  preacher  and  asked  to  be  admitted  on  trial. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


156 

as  one  desiring  to  ‘flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  be 
saved  from  my  sins/  I was  admitted  by  James  Coleman, 
a good  young  man,  then  a probationer  of  the  first  year. 
Soon  after  this  he  was  sent  as  a missionary  to  Upper 
Canada,  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  Methodism,  and 
after  some  years  returned  to  the  United  States  with  a 
broken  constitution,  and  for  many  years  sustained  a super- 
annuate relation  to  the  New  York  Conference,  and  then 
fell  asleep.  Dr.  Bangs  makes  honorable  mention  of  him 
in  his  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Peace 
be  to  his  memory ! O may  I meet  him  in  heaven ! When 
I went  to  join  the  society,  I arose  from  a small  chest  be- 
hind the  door,  which  was  the  seat  I had  frequently  oc- 
cupied before,  with  a guilty  conscience,  an  aching  heart, 
and  weeping  eyes.  Those  days,  and  that  seat,  I have  not 
yet  forgotten  and  think  I never  shall.  After  having  sus- 
tained my  private  membership,  in  that  vicinity:  Capt. 

Beck’s,  West  Liberty,  Kadesh  Chapel,  and  Short  Creek — 
all  mentioned  by  brother  Weirich — for  some  years,  I was 
literally  thrust  out  into  the  itinerant  field,  green  enough 
the  Lord  knows — but  he  despiseth  not  the  day  of  small 
thing's.” 

Thirty  years  later  Mr.  Quinn  visited  “old  sister  Beck,” 

and  found  the  very  same  chest  behind  the  door  from  which 

he  had  arisen  to  give  his  hand  to  the  Church  nearly  forty 

vears  before.  He  savs:  “I  cannot,  and  therefore  shall 

• * 

not  attempt  to  describe  my  feelings;  but  I laughed,  and 
cried,  and  blessed  the  Lord  whose  grace  had  brought  me 
safe  thus  far.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Feb. 
21,  1844.) 

About  Christmas,  Mr.  Quinn  was  removed  and  sent  to 
the  Pittsburg  Circuit,  and  Joseph  A.  Shackelford  em- 
ployed in  his  place.  “During  the  following  winter  a re- 

*The  following  is  a complete  record  of  the  work  of  James 
Quinn;  1799,  Greenfield;  1800,  Pittsburg;  1801,  Erie;  1802,  Win- 
chester; 1803,  Redstone;  1804,  1805,  Western  Conference,  Hock- 
hocking;  1806,  Scioto;  1807,  1808,  located;  1809-12,  Muskingum 
District;  1812-1815,  Ohio  Conference,  Scioto  District;  1816,  super- 
numerary; 1817,  Pickaway;  1818,  1819,  Cincinnati;  1820,  1821, 
Chillicothe;  1822,  Deer  Creek;  1823,  Brush  Creek;  1824,  Zanes- 
ville station;  1825,  1826,  Fairfield;  1827,  Chillicothe;  1828,  1829, 
Hillsborough;  1830,  Wilmington;  1831,  Straight  Creek;  1832, 
Washington;  1833,  Hillsborough;-  1834,  Sinking  Spring;  1835, 
Lebanon  District;  1836-1838,  Chillicothe  District;  1839,  1840, 
Wilmington;  1841,  name  not  in  the  “General  Minutes”;  1842, 
supernumerary;  1843,  superannuated. 


158  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

vival  of  religion  took  place  in  the  township  of  Washing- 
ton, Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  a class  was  formed  near  the 
Conneaut  Lake  by  Mr.  Shackelford.  Rev.  Russel  Stan- 
cliff  and  wife  were  among  the  first  members,  both  of 
whom  have  long  and  well  sustained  the  interests  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.” 

Shackelford  and  Shane. 

“Mr.  Shackelford  formed  another  class  the  same  winter 
about  seven  miles  south  of  Mr.  Mershon’s;  the  leader's 
name  was  Blackmar.  The  names  of  the  members  are  not 
known.  They  were  rather  transient,  and  the  class  be- 
came reduced,  until  1806,  when  the  Randalls  and  Keeps, 
with  other  substantial  persons,  became  connected  with  it, 
since  which  time  its  history  has  been  glorious,  until  it 
received  a crushing  blow  from  Wesleyanism  about  1843. 
Another  class  was  formed  about  the  same  time  thirteen 
miles  up  the  Conneaut  Valley  at  McDowell  s,  but  the 
names  of  the  members  are  not  known.  There  were  four 
other  classes  formed  on  the  Erie  Circuit  this  year  by 
Messrs.  Quinn  and  Shackelford,  but  where  they  were  lo- 
cated, or  who  were  members  of  any  of  them,  we  cannot 
tell.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , 

Vol  L,  pp.  41,  42J  ' . 

Mr.  Shackelford  was  a local  preacher  at  the  time,  and 
is  the  same  as  the  “Joseph  A.  Shackelford,  Jr.,  men- 
tioned later  by  Mr.  Gregg,  who  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1804,  ordained  deacon  in 
1806,  and  located  in  1808.  His  appointments  were: 
1804,  Ohio  Circuit,  with  Thomas  Daughaday,  preacher  in 
charge:  1805,  Erie  and  Deerfield,  with  David  Best  in 
charge  of  the  circuit;  1806,  Pendleton;  and  1807,  Monon- 
gahela,  with  Asa  Shinn,  preacher  in  charge.  ‘‘He  was 
an  excellent  preacher,  and  greatly  beloved  by  the  people 
on  the  Erie  Circuit,  where  he  was  instrumental  in  the 
conversion  to  God  of  a large  number  of  souls.” — ( Gregg , 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  /.,  p.  65.) 

Joseph  Shane  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1800,  and  was  appointed  third  preacher  on 
Federal  Circuit,  Christopher  Spry,  presiding  elder.  His 
later  appointments  were:  1801,  Shenango;  1802,  Nan- 

tucket, New  England  Conference.  His  health  would  not 
permit  him  to  take  an  appointment  in  1803/  His  name 


y 


Shackelford  and  Shane.  159 

appears  in  the  list  of  deacons,  but  is  not  connected  with 
any  work.  In  1804,  we  find  his  name  recorded  under  the 
question : “Who  are  under  a location  through  weakness 

of  body,  or  family  concerns  ?” 

The  Old  Erie  Circuit. 

Joshua  Monroe — in  1855 — writes  of  the  old  Erie  Cir- 
cuit in  a reminiscent  mood : 

“The  tract  of  country  lying  between  the  Allegheny 
river  and  the  Ohio  line,  and  embracing  Erie  and  Crawford 
Counties,  and  part  of  Venango  and  Mercer  Counties,  was 
explored  in  1800  by  Joseph  Rowen,  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, assisted,  to  some  extent,  by  Peter  B.  Davis,  who 
was  then  on  the  Shenango  Circuit.  A few  societies  were 
organized  and  a circuit  formed,  which  they  named  ‘Erie,’ 
.which  was  returned  to  conference  in  the  spring  of  1801, 
with  thirty-seven  members,  and  James  Quinn  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge  of  it.  This  was  a judicious  ap- 
pointment ; there  were  but  few  men  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference better  qualified  to  represent  the  interests  of  Meth- 
odism, and  present  in  a strong  and  forcible  manner  the 
claims  of  Christianity,  than  the  said  James  Quinn,  whose 
history  is  well  known  in  the  western  country,  and  who, 
though  he  be  dead,  yet  lives  in  the  memory  and  affection 
of  thousands.  Under  his  faithful  labors  souls  were  con- 
verted, new  societies  were  formed,  and  the  circuit  en- 
larged. And  he  reported  to  the  next  conference  sixty- 
five  members. 

“From  this  time  up  to  1810  the  circuit  had  the  services 
of  John  Cullison,  Noah  Fidler,  David  Best,  J.  A.  Shackel- 
ford. Robert  R.  Roberts,  James  Watts,  Caleb  Reynolds, 
Job  Guest,  James  Charles,  and  others.  Some  of  them 
men  of  mighty  faith  and  burning  zeal ; and  under  their 
labors  the  work  was  greatly  enlarged  so  as  to  embrace  a 
number  of  towns  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  required  the 
labors  of  three  preachers.  At  the  conference  in  the  spring 
of  1810  the  circuit  was  divided,  and  that  part  lying  in 
Ohio  was  called  Hartford  Circuit,  and  James  Charles  and 
James  Ewen  were  appointed  to  it,  and  I was  appointed 
alone  to  Erie — a four  weeks'  circuit  of  twenty- four  ap- 
pointments and  between  four  and  five  hundred  members 
— among  these  there  were  many  persons  of  deep  exper- 
ience in  the  things  of  God,  whose  lives  and  conversation 


i6o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


furnished  the  most  conclusive  evidence  that  the  seed  sown 
by  Christ’s  ambassadors  had  fallen  on  good  ground.  I 
am  persuaded  that  there  was  at  that  time  more  vital  god- 
liness among  the  Methodists  of  Erie  Circuit  than  I ever 
witnessed  in  any  other  circuit  on  which  it  was  my  lot  to 
labor,  and  there  are  but  few  circuits  which  have  given  to 
the  Church  more  ministers.  I could  count  ten  or  twelve, 
and  one  of  them  who  filled  the  Episcopal  chair  with  honor 
to  himself  and  usefulness  to  the  Church. 

“Among  those  most  noted  in  this  circuit  for  their  deep 
experience  and  lively  faith  was  Nicholas  Charlton,  known 
commonly  as  ‘Father  Nicholas.’  He  was  a native  of 
Sweden,  who  had  been  among  the  early  settlers  on  French 
Creek,  where  he  had  secured  a title  to  a small  tract  of 
valuable  land,  on  which  he  had  erected  a cabin,  where  he 
lived  by  himself.  In  this  state  of  solitude  he  was  by  some 
means  brought  to  a sense  of  his  guilty  and  lost  estate  as  a 
sinner,  and  began  in  good  earnest  to  seek  relief  for  his 
burdened  heart,  but  being  alone  and  having  no  one  to 
counsel  or  assist  him,  he  became  so  overwhelmed  with  a 
sense  of  his  guilt  and  corruption,  that  he  concluded  there 
was  no  mercy  for  a sinner  so  vile  as  he  saw  himself  to  be 
and  the  temptation  was  presented  to  his  mind  that  he  was 
a reprobate  for  whom  no  atonement  was  made,  or  that 
he  had  sinned  away  his  day  of  grace.  L nder  this  tempta- 
tion. he  sunk  into  dark  despair,  his  suffering  became  in- 
supportable, and  he  concluded  that  hell  itself  could  be 
no  worse  than  the  anguish  he  now  endured,  and  he  would 
put  an  end  to  his  present  sufferings  and  risk  what  awaited 
him  hereafter.  Accordingly  he  prepared  the  fatal  rope, 
and  the  time  fixed  upon  for  this  dreadful  deed  had  come, 
when  he  concluded  he  would  once  more  try  the  strength 
of  prayer;  accordingly  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and  cried 
mightily  to  God  for  help,  hope  sprang  up  in  his  breast,  the 
snare  of  the  devil  was  broken,  and  soon  after  this  he 
found  peace  in  believing  and  received  the  evidence  of  his 
adoption  as  a child  of  God.  So  thorough  was  the  work 
of  grace,  and  so  clear  the  witness  of  his  acceptance,  that 
he  seemed  never  to  doubt,  but  was  'strong  in  the  faith, 
giving  glory  to  God.’  When  I saw  him  his  light  seemed 
always  to  burn  brightly,  his  sky  was  ever  serene  and  clear, 
and  no  change  of  season  or  place  seemed  to  make  any 
change  in  his  mind.  And  so,  as  I have  been  informed,  he 

o 


. 


The  Old  Eric  Circuit. 


1 6 1 


continued  for  many  years  after  that,  always  rejoicing  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  until  he  was  called  to  join  the 
redeemed  in  the  heavenly  state,  to  renew  with  them  his 
anthems  of  praise  to  his  Almighty  Redeemer. 

“The  twenty-four  appointments  on  this  circuit  were  all 
in  private  houses,  except  one.  In  Springfield  township, 
Erie  County,  they  had  a meeting-house  built  of  logs,  and 
covered  with  clap-boards.  Nor  had  we  any  preaching 
place  in  Meadville,  nor  Erie.  In  Franklin  we  preached  in 
a part  of  the  old  prison,  and  stopped  with  William  Con- 
nelly. the  keeper,  and  during  the  year  we  organized  a class 
of  six  members.  We  occasionally  visited  Mercer  and 
preached  in  the  school  house,  but  we  had  no  society  there. 
I preached  twice  in  Erie  in  the  Court  House.  I stopped 
at  a tavern  kept  by  a Mr.  Bealer,  who  treated  me  with 
great  politeness,  and  on  my  second  visit  he  introduced  me 
to  ’Squire  Colt,  and  invited  him  to  chat  with  me  after 
preaching  at  night,  having  stated  to  me  before  the  intro- 
duction, that  the  ’Squire  was  the  only  religious  man  they 
had  in  town — judge  what  was  the  state  of  morals.  No 
church  organization  of  any  kind,  and  only  one  man  who 
made  a profession  of  religion!  To  what  extent  he  was 
influenced  by  religious  principles  I cannot  say.  He 
treated  me  like  I would  expect  to  be  treated  by  a gentle- 
man, but  he  gave  me  to  understand  that,  though  they  were 
pleased  to  have  me  preach  for  them  occasionally,  they 
were  not  disposed  to  become  Methodists,  and  we  need  not 
expect  to  establish  a society  there.  My  subsequent  afflic- 
tions prevented  me  from  visiting  the  place  again.  How- 
ever, I introduced  preaching  in  a neighborhood  some  four 
miles  up  the  road  from  Erie,  where  we  met  with  but  little 
encouragement,  yet  we  returned  it  as  a preaching  place, 
and  I have  since  learned  that  after  some  years  of  labor 
bestowed  on  this  sterile  spot,  the  seed  sprang  up  and  be- 
came quite  productive,  so  that  a fine  society  was  estab- 
lished there.” — (Joshua  Monroe  in  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , Feb.  6,  1855;  Feb.  T3>  J^55-) 

John  Cullison  and  Asa  Shinn. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  Baltimore,  April  1, 
1802.  Bishop  Asbury  presiding.  Thornton  Fleming 
was  returned  to  the  Pittsburg  District;  John  Cullison 
was  sent  to  Erie,  and  Asa  Shinn  to  Shenango. 


II 


1 62  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

John  Cullison  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1797,  though  his  name  does  not  appear  in 
the  “General  Minutes"  until  the  next  year,  when  it  is  re- 
corded under  the  question:  “Who  remain  on  trial?" 

He  was  appointed  junior  preacher  on  the  Calvert  Circuit 
under  Thornton  Fleming,  preacher  in  charge.  In  1799 
he  was  appointed  to  Allegheny — having  Peter  B.  Davis 
as  an  associate  and  was  ordained  deacon.  In  1800  he 
traveled  the  Ohio  Circuit,  Joseph  Rowen  preacher-in- 
charge;  and  in  1801,  Federal,  with  Peter  B.  Davis  as  an 
associate,  and  was  ordained  elder.  In  1802  his  appoint- 
ment was  Erie;  in  1-803,  West  Wheeling;  and  in  1804,  he 
located. 

Asa  Shinn. 

The  father  of  Asa  Shinn  was  J.  Shinn,  who  was  of 
Quaker  origin.  He  settled  in  Clarksburg,  Virginia,  where 
he  resided  when  visited  by  James  Quinn.  Writing  in 
1839,  Mr.  Quinn  says:  “Forty  years  have  passed  away 

since  I preached  and  met  class  in  this  good  man’s  house. 
At  that  time  Asa  was  seeking  salvation  with  a broken 
spirit — a broken  and  a contrite  heart ; we  prayed  together 
in  the  woods,  and  I have  loved  him  ever  since.  This 
young  man  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1801,  although  he 
had  never  seen  a meeting  house  or  a pulpit  before  he  left 
his  father’s  house  to  become  a traveling  preacher.” 

Gregg  says:  “He  was  quite  awkward  in  his  appear- 

ance, but  possessed  a mind  of  uncommon  strength  and 
brilliancy,  which  he  cultivated  with  commendable  dili- 
gence, which  soon  brought  him  into  public  notice  and 
favor,  and  placed  him  among  the  first  ministers  of  the 
famed  Baltimore  Conference.” 

Stevens  gives  an  appreciative  sketch  of  his  life.  “He 
began  to  itinerate  in  1800  on  Pittsburg  Circuit,  though 
he  was  not  received  in  the  Conference  until  the  next  year. 
( Sprague , p.  363.)  He  was  a pioneer  of  Methodism  in 
many  regions  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Virginia  and  Ken- 
tucky, suffering  much  from  miasmatic  fevers  and  mobs. 
In  his  later  ministry  he  occupied  prominent  appointments 
in  the  Eastern  States.  He  wielded  a strong  and  sharp 
pen,  and  became  a champion  of  the  secession  which  led 
to  the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 
Four  times  he  suffered  attacks  of  mental  derangement, 


Asa  Shinn. 


163 

and  died  in  an  insane  asylum  in  1853.  He  published 
several  works  of  no  ordinary  ability;  in  1813,  'An  Essay 
on  the  Plan  of  Salvation;’  in  1820  a treatise  on  ‘The  Be- 
nevolence and  Rectitude  of  the  Divine  Being;’  in  1824 
he  commenced  his  numerous  and  spirited  articles  on 
Methodist  ‘reform’  in  the  ‘Mutual  Rights,’  a periodical 
of  Baltimore.  He  was,  at  least  in  his  later  years,  a ro- 
bust, corpulent  man,  with  an  expressive  eye,  an  ample 
forehead,  large  mouth,  pale  complexion,  black  hair  and 
rich,  mellow  voice;  his  intellect  was  of  the  highest  order 
found  among  the  strong  but  uneducated  men  of  the 
Methodist  ministry  of  his  time.  As  a preacher  he  was 
pre-eminently  able  and  powerful;  logical,  clear  and  full 

of  suasive  force.  ‘Among  all  the  sons  of  men,  I never 
found  one  superior  to  him  in  ministerial  qualifications,’ 
writes  one  who  knew  him  during  forty  years — Rev.  Geo. 
Brown,  D.D.  He  had  no  imagination,  no  poetical  orna- 
mentation ; his  power  arose  solely  from  concentrated 
thought  and  moral  feeling.  Throughout  the  remainder 
of  the  present  period  he  did  brave  service  for  the  Church 
on  Redstone,  Shenango,  Hockhocking  and  Guyandotte 
Circuits.” — (Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Vol.  2,  pp.  343-344;  Vol.  4,  p.  83;  Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  p.  48.) 

The  Dicksonburg  Church. 

Joseph  A.  Shackelford,  in  the  spring  of  1802,  organized 
a class  at  the  house  of  James  McDowell,  in  what  is  now 
Summerhill  township,  consisting  of  James  McDowell  and 
wife,  George  Nelson  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Johnson.  When 
the  Meadville  Circuit  was  formed — in  1826 — it  probably 
became  an  appointment  on  that  circuit.  The  Summerhill 
Circuit  was  formed  in  1833,  and  belonged  to  the  Mead- 
vil’e  District.  The  circuit  was  a large  one,  and  com- 
prised the  following  classes  : Conneautville,  McDowell’s, 
Harmonsburg,  Spring,  Pierpont,  Huntley’s,  Penn  Line, 
Frey’s,  Moorehouse,  Cussawago,  Hickernell’s,  Thomas’, 
Holton’s  and  Smith’s.  Theodore  Stowe  was  the  preacher 
in  charge  of  “Somerhill,”  as  the  name  appears  in  the 
General  Minutes,  and  Reuben  Peck,  who  was  admitted 
to  the  Conference  the  year  following,  was  employed  as 
an  assistant.  Mr.  Gregg  does  not  mention  this  circuit. 
The  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  to  Harmonsburg  in 


; 


164 


History  of  Eric  Conference . 


1834.  Each  preacher  held  service  at  each  appointment 
once  in  four  weeks.  Many  of  the  services  were  held  on 
week  days.  It  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  around 
the  circuit.  The  journey  was  made  on  horseback,  the 
preacher  carrying  Bible,  hymn  book,  and  two  or  thiee 
works  on  theology  in  his  saddle  bags.  Much  of  his  prep- 
aration for  the  pulpit  was  made  in  the  saddle  or  at  his 
places  of  entertainment.  Services  were  held  in  school 
houses  and  cabins  until  the  people  were  able  to  erect 
houses  of  worship. 

This  was  the  origin  of  the  Dicksonburg  Church.  The 
charge  called  by  that  name  comprises  Dicksonburg,  Har- 
' monsburg,  Little’s  Corners  and  Smith’s.  Little’s  Corners 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  at  Hayfield 
in  1852  with  nine  members  by  J.  K.  Halleck,  the  first  pas- 
tor. The  early  meetings  were  held  in  a school  house, 
but  in  1853  a church  edifice  was  erected  at  a cost  of 
$1,700. 

The  Smith  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  1825  with  the  following  members:  Nelson  Smith, 
a local  preacher;  Edmund  Greenlee,  Andreas  Bagley, 
Daniel  Bagley  and  Elisha  Curtis.  The  services  were 
held  in  an  old  log  school  house  until  the  erection  of  a 
church  in  the  50's. 

The  Coon’s  Corners  Church  was  organized  about  a 
mile  east  of  Hayfield  by  I.  T.  C.  McClelland  with  twelve 
members.  In  1848  a neat  frame  church  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $700. 

Noah  Fidler. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  held  its  annual  session  in 
Baltimore,  April  1,  1803,  Bishop  Asbury  presiding. 
Thornton  Fleming  was  re-appointed  to  the  Pittsburg 
District.  Noah  Fidler  was  sent  to  the  Erie  Circuit,  and 
George  Askins  to  the  Shenango.  The  Deerfield  Circuit 

was  formed,  to  which  Shadrack  Bostwick  was  appointed. 

Noah  Fidler  was  received  on  trial  in  1801,  and  located 
in  1807.  He  formed  a class  at  Henry  Kinnear’s,  near 
where  the  Titusville  and  Meadville  road  crosses  Sugar 
creek,  in  Crawford  County.  The  class  was  afterward 
removed  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  Benn,  who  became  a 
useful  local  preacher.  Another  class  was  formed  in  the 
Daniels  neighborhood,  about  twelve  miles  northeast  of 


Noah  Fidler. 


Meadville.  One  of  the  early  members  was  Abram  Dan- 
iels, who  became  a traveling  preacher.  His  circuit  took 
Mr.  Fidler  into  Ohio,  and  he  formed  a class  in  the  town 
of  Hubbard.  Two  useful  local  preachers  and  their  wives 
belonged  to  this  place — Amos  Smith  and  William  Veach. 
Besides  these,  there  were  Mr.  Parish  and  wife,  Mr.  Fra- 
zier and  wife,  Amos  Snyder,  Thomas  Snyder,  Joshua 
Snyder,  William  Burnet,  Enos  Burnet,  and  a few  others. 
This  class  met  about  one  and  a half  miles  west  of  the 
center  of  the  town;  and,  at  a later  date,  a class  was 
formed  about  the  same  distance  east  of  the  center.  These 
classes  united  in  the  center  of  the  town  some  years  after- 
wards.— ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , 
Vol.  i,  pp.  51-53.) 

Noah  Fidler  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1801 ; ordained  deacon  in  1803,  and  elder 
in  1805.  His  appointments  were:  1801,  Frederick,  sec- 

ond preacher,  Joseph  Stone  in  charge  of  the  Circuit  and 
H.  Willis,  third  preacher;  1802,  Pittsburg,  junior 
preacher  with  Benjamin  Essex;  1803,  Erie;  1804,  Prince 
George's;  1805,  Bottetourt,  with  Samuel  Phillips  as  an 
associate;  1806,  Staunton;  1807,  located.  He  was  a con- 
scientious worker,  earnest  and  plodding  rather  than  bril- 
liant. Joshua  Monroe  says — I think  it  was  Mr.  Monroe, 
I have  mislaid  the  reference : "His  sermons  were  brief 

and  not  delivered  with  much  energy." 


George  Askins. 

George  Askins  was  appointed  to  the  Shenango  Circuit 
in  1803.  He  had  been  admitted  to  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, according  to  the  "General  Minutes,"  in  1801 ; 
and  had  served  the  Montgomery  and  the  Ohio  Circuits. 
From  the  Shenango  Circuit  he  passed  to  those  of  Mus- 
kingum and  Little  Kanawha.  He  labored  in  Kentucky 
on  the  Limestone,  Kinkstone,  Lexington,  Danville,  and 
Shelby  Circuits.  Then  he  was  appointed  to  the  Scioto 
Circuit;  and  in  1810,  returned  to  the  Baltimore  Confer- 
ence, and  traveled  the  Bottetourt,  Staunton,  Berkley, 
Chambersburg,  and  Frederick  Circuits.  He  served  six- 
teen circuits  in  sixteen  years. 

"His  last  discourse  was  delivered  on  Sabbath  evening, 
the  1 8th  of  February,  1816,  in  Fredericktown,  to  a large 
congregation,  with  more  than  usual  zeal  and  acceptability, 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 66 

when  an  inflammatory  fever  immediately  ensued,  which 
he  bore  with  great  patience  and  resignation  to  the  will  of 
Heaven. 

“On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  he  had  a severe  conflict 
with  the  enemy  of  his  soul ; but  was  enabled  to  declare  that 
God  had  delivered  him,  and  immediately  commenced  sing- 
ing, ‘Glory!  glory!  glory!  hallelujah!’ 

“The  evening  preceding  his  death,  his  afflicted  com- 
panion asked  him : ‘My  dear,  are  you  going  to  leave  us  ?’ 

To  which  he  replied,  ‘Leave  that  to  the  Lord — if  I go,  I 
shall  go  happy.’  A few  minutes  before  his  departure,  he 
saw  his  affectionate  wife  kneeling  by  the  bed,  and  asked 
her  if  she  was  willing  to  let  him  go.  She  replied : ‘That 

is  hard  to  say,  but  I desire  to  be  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God.’  ” He  answered,  ‘That  is  right.’  and  took  his  leave 
of  her.  During  his  illness,  he  continually  gave  himself 
up  to  his  God  in  prayer,  frequently  calling  upon  the  sur- 
rounding friends  to  sing  and  pray,  expressing  an  un- 
shaken confidence  in  God,  and  a desire  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ,  and  even  to  his  last  moments  would  raise  his 
hands  and  praise  God. 

“He  retained  his  senses  to  the  last,  and  about  ten  min- 
utes before  his  exit,  asked  his  Christian  friends  to  sing, 
‘O  glorious  hope  of  perfect  love.’  Some  of  his  last  words 
were,  ‘The  Lord  our  God  is  my  God.'  ‘O  what  a beauti- 
ful prospect  lies  before  me!’  ‘Holiness  is  the  way  to 
Heaven.’  ‘Be  ye  clean  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord 
— get  all  you  can  in  the  way  to  heaven — my  God  is  mine 
and  I am  his — I have  been  in  the  dark  mountains,  but 
King  Jesus  has  given  me  complete  victory — glory,  honor, 
praise,  and  power  be  to  God !’ 

“He  died  on  Wednesday  morning,  about  four  o’clock, 
the  28th  of  February,  1816,  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  and 
with  a hope  full  of  glorious  immortality.” — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  I.,  1816,  pp.  277,  278. ) 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  his  “Autumn  Leaves,” 
in  speaking  of  Mr.  Askins,  says : 

“George  Askins  was  another  one  of  the  early  preachers 
in  this  country,  although  he  was  a native  of  Ireland.  I 
am  not  able  to  say  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  but 
he  joined  our  traveling  connection  in  1801,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  ministerial  life  in  the  west.  He  was  a 
man  of  small  stature,  and  a cripple,  one  of  his  legs  being 


George  Askins. 


167 

withered  up  to  the  hip;  yet  he  was  more  active  on  foot 
than  any  cripple  I ever  saw.  Notwithstanding  this  bodily 
infirmity,  he  was  full  of  spirit,  and  a stranger  to  fear. 
No  threats  could  deter  him  from  speaking  his  sentiments, 
no  matter  who  might  hear  them,  and  he  would  reprove 
sin  wherever  or  by  whomsoever  committed.  In  doing 
this  he  often  gave  great  offense,  and  on  one  or  two  oc- 
casions suffered  personal  inj  ury.  He  was  a great  stickler 
for  the  peculiarities  of  Methodism,  and  used  to  say  that 
class  and  love-feast  meetings  were  green  pastures  beside 
the  still  waters.  I remember  when  I was  a boy  to  have 
gone  with  my  mother  to  class-meeting  held  by  him,  and 
received  impressions  under  his  admonitions  which  were 
never  erased  from  my  mind,  and,  I have  no  doubt,  had  a 
salutary  influence  on  my  after  life. 

“Askins  was  a good  preacher  because  he  preached  a 
pure  gospel  in  the  power  and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit. 
He  was  fond  of  combating  the  various  doctrines  opposed 
to  Methodism,  and  managed  his  subjects  with  consider- 
able adroitness,  although  he  was  sometimes  a little  too 
severe,  especially  when  pursued  by  an  opponent.  He  was 
an  impassioned  and  often  eloquent  orator,  and  I have  seen 
whole  congregations  stand  aghast  while  he  was  descant- 
ing upon  the  punishment  of  the  wicked.  A certain  man, 
after  hearing  him  upon  one  occasion,  said : ‘I  do  not  like 

to  hear  Askins : he  makes  me  feel  as  if  I was  in  the  very 
suburbs  of  hell;  and  that  is  a position  I do  not  like  to 
occupy.’  From  those  harrowing  descriptions  of  torment, 
he  often  passed  to  an  eloquent  discourse  on  the  joys  and 
triumphs  of  heaven,  growing  more  and  more  rapt  until 
lie  and  his  audience  together  broke  forth  into  the  joyous 
exclamation,  ‘Hallelujah!  The  Lord  God  Omnipotent 
reigneth!’” — (Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper , in  his  “ Autumn 
Leaves ” published  in  “ Home  Circle  ” Vol.  III.,  pp.  212 , 
214.) 


Dr.  Shadrack  Bostwick. 

In  1803,  Shadrack  Bostwick  was  the  first  preacher  sent 
out  to  the  W estern  Reserve.  He  was  appointed  to  a mis- 
sion circuit  with  Deerfield,  Ohio,  as  its  centre.  Mr.  Bost- 
* wick  was'  born  in  Kent  County,  Maryland,  in  1769;  he 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  in 
1791,  and  his  labors  had  already  extended  over  Delaware, 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 68 

Maryland,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Connecticut,  and  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  served  the  Pittsfield  District  three  years ; 
and  it  was  while  employed  in  this  work  that  he  called 
Bishop  Elijah  Hedding  into  the  active  ministry.  The 
latter  was  indebted  to  Mr.  Bostwick  for  wise  counsel  and 
appreciative  encouragement,  and  speaks  of  him  as  “a 
glorious  man.”'  Mr.  Bostwick  “had  been  educated  for  a 
physician;  and  his  talents  were  of  a commanding  order 
that  would  have  secured  him  eminence  in  any  department 
of  life.  As  a preacher  he  stood  foremost  in  rank,  and 
through  all  the  extensive  regions  of  his  labors  he  was 
famous  for  the  intellectual  and  evangelical  power  of  his 
sermons.  His  discourses  were  systematic,  profound, 
luminous,  and  often  overwhelming;  his  piety  was  deep 
and  pure ; his  manners  were  dignified  and  amiable. 
Hundreds  will  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  in  the  final  day. 
His  example  and  talents  could  not  but  fire  the  hearts  and 
stimulate  the  energies  of  his  young  preachers.” — (D.  W. 
Clark , Life  and  Times  of  Rev.  Elijah  Hedding,  D.D.,  pp. 
82,  83.) 

.Mr.  Bostwick  married  a daughter  of  Mr.  Daniel  Diver. 
The  latter  removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  Deerfield  where 
in  1802  he  assisted  Henry  Shewel,  a local  preacher,  in 
organizing  a Methodist  class.  Mr.  Diver,  while  en- 
deavoring to  pacify  several  Indians  who  had  a grievance 
against  his  brother  John,  was  shot  by  one  of  their  num- 
ber, John  Mohawk,  and  both  eyes  destroyed.  This  was 
in  1806. — (Howe,  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio,  Vol. 
II.,  p.  436.)  It  was  through  the  invitation  of  his  father- 
in-law  that  Mr.  Bostwick  came  to  this  western  wilder- 
ness. He  was  eminently  a pioneer  preacher.  His  circuit 
in  this  wild  region  extended  among  sparse  villages,  far 
distant,  the  one  from  the  other,  and  required  extraor- 
dinary labors  and  sacrifices.  He  followed  Indian  trails 
or  was  guided  by  “blazed  trees”  as  he  pushed  his  way 
through  mud  and  snow,  across  rivers  and  through  for- 
ests, in  fulfilling  his  mission  to  the  lost.  He  formed  the 

first  societies  in  that  new,  rich  and  populous  country.  At 
the  next  Conference  he  was  able  to  report  sixteen  church 
members.  He  continued  these  Herculean  labors  until 
1805,  when  because  of  domestic  necessities  he  was  granted 
a location,  and  the  appointments  he  had  made  were  con- 
nected with  the  Erie  Circuit,  then  under  the  charge  of 


Dr.  Shadrack  Bostwick. 


169 


David  Best  and  Joseph  A.  Shackelford.  From  the  date 
of  the  pioneer  labors  of  Dr.  Shadrack  Bostwick  Method- 
ism has  kept  “ an  even  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  set- 
tlements and  the  improvements  of  society/’ — (Bangs, 
History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Vol.  II.,  p. 
80.)  Methodism  was  already  fully  on  its  march  across 
the  continent,  leaving  everywhere  a song  of  triumph  and 
shout  of  victory  in  the  air.  During  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Bostwick  on  Deerfield  Circuit,  he  visited  Youngstown, 
Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  but  was  refused  a place  to 
preach.  At  length  Judge  Ragen,  who  was  not  a profes- 
sor of  religion,  offered  his  barn,  and  here  the  first  Metho- 
dist sermon  was  preached.  Mr.  Bostwick  formed  a class 
consisting  of  Moses  Crawford  and  wife, 'and  John  Hogue 
and  wife,  Isaac  Powers,  a Mr.  Braden,  and  some  others. 
He  was  returned  to  Deerfield  Circuit  the  second  year  and 
extended  his  labors  as  far  west  as  Hudson,  Summit 
County,  where  he  preached  in  the  home  of  Capt.  Gaylord. 

In  1807  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Canfield,  Mahon- 
ing County,  where  he  continued  to  serve  the  Church  as  a 
minister  and  the  community  as  a physician. 

His  labors  as  a local  preacher  were  extensive  and 
greatly  blessed  of  God.  J.  B.  Finley  met  him  at  the 
Zuver  Camp-ground  on  Beaver  Circuit  and  calls  him 
“that  veteran  pioneer  preacher,”  and  says  further:  “He 

was  a most  amiable  man,  and  had  a lovely  family,  beloved 
and  respected  by  all.  Such  was  his  piety,  and  uniform 
consistency  of  character,  that  he  won  the  affection  and  es- 
teem of  all.  His  letters  breathe  an  ardent  spirit  of  piety. 

I have  several,  which  I shall  keep  as  precious  mementos  of 
affection.”  He  met  him  again  at  the  Deerfield  camp- 
meeting in  1818,  and  says:  “He  seemed  as  Moses  on 

the  Summit  of  Pisgah.” — (Finley,  Autobiography,  pp 

295-301  A* 

1'he  work  on  Deerfield  Circuit  was  prepared  for  Dr. 
Bostwick.  Henry  Shewel,  a local  preacher,  whom  we  - 
have  already  met,  a native  of  New  Jersey,  had  resided 

for  some  time  in  Redstone,  Pa.,  but  removed  in  the  spring 

*Mr.  Bostwick  served  the  following  appointments:  1791,  Mil- 

ford; 1792,  Talbot;  1793,  Bethel;  1794,  Flanders;  1795,  Elizabeth- 
town; 1796,  Cambridge  and  Saratoga;  1797,  New  London;  1798- 
1802,  presiding  elder  on  districts  afterwards  named  New  London 
and  Pittsfield,  two  years  on  the  former,  three  years  on  the  lat- 
ter; 1803,  1804,  Deerfield,  missionary;  1805,  located. 


170 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


of  1802  to  Ohio  and  settled  at  Deerfield.  Methodist 
families  from  Deerfield,  Massachusetts,  had  settled  on  this 
distant  frontier  as  early  as  1799,  and  gave  Mr.  Shewel  a 
glad  welcome  to  the  young  community.  He  was  a fine 
specimen  of  an  old  fashioned  Methodist  local  preacher — 
not  educated,  faulty  in  language,  but  well-read  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  with  a good  memory,  a deep  religious 
experience,  an  ardent  temperament,  and  boundless  zeal 
He  preached  with  divine  unction  and  holy  enthusiasm, 
and  thrilled  and  moved  his  audience  with  his  powerful 
and  melting  appeals.  He  formed  a little  class  consisting 
of  Henry  Shewel  and  wife,  Lewis  Ely  and  wife,  Ephraim 
Hubbard  and  wife,  Simeon  Card  and  wife,  Daniel  Diver 
and  wife,  and  Lewis  Day.  The  first  child  born  in  the 
township  was  the  granddaughter  of  Lewis  Day;  and  the 
first  wedding  was  the  marriage  of  Lewis  Ely’s  daughter 
to  John  Campbell — the  justice,  Calvin  Austin,  Esq.,  walk- 
ing from  Warren,  Ohio,  a distance  of  twenty-seven  miles, 
to  perform  the  ceremony. — (Hozvc,  Historical  Collections 
of  Ohio , Vol.  II.,  pp.  435,  436.) 

“Father  Shewel,”  the  Methodist  Pioneer. 

In  the  spring  of  1814,  “Father  Shewel”  removed  his 
family  to  Rootstown,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  com- 
menced preaching  at  several  points  in  the  vicinity.  He 
formed  a class  at  Bacon  Hill  in  the  southern  part  of  Ran- 
dolph. This  consisted  of  the  following  members : John 

Tickner,  leader,  and  his  wife  and  father,  Cozans  Bacon, 
Sally  Bacon,  Ebenezer  Cutler  and  wife,  and  Ezekiel  Tup- 
per  and  wife.  He  also  established  an  appointment  in  his 
own  log-cabin,  and  formed  a class  of  eleven  members ; Na- 
than Sears  and  wife,  Stephen  Coulton  and  wife,  Samuel 
Redfield  and  wife,  Margaret  Shewel,  Salina  Shewel,  and 
Nancy  Coe.  Mr.  Shewel  preached  in  an  old  log  school 
house  in  Rootstown,  near  the  place  where  the  Cleveland 
and  Pittsburg  Railroad  Depot  was  subsequently  located. 
Another  appointment  was  established  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town  of  Ravenna,  where  he  formed  a class  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  Abel  and  wife,  and  his  son  and  wife,  Mr. 
Granger  and  wife,  and  Mr.  Greer.  “Father  Shewel”  was 
a faithful  pioneer,  pushing  his  way  into  new  settlements, 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  little  groups  of  settlers  which 
he  might  be  able  to  call  together,  forming  new  societies, 


Father  Shewel.  171 

and  preparing  the  way  for  the  coming  of  the  regular 
itinerants. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  I.,  pp.  1 18,  1 IQ.) 

Thomas  Carr  says:  “Henry  Shewel  was  born  in 

Greenwich,  Hunterdon  County,  New  Jersey,  June  13, 
1765.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was  converted  to  God 
under  the  ministry  of  Ezekiel  Cooper,  and  soon  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Mercy  Hagan  soon  after  he  experienced  religion. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Hagan,  who  was  the 
first  to  take  in  the  Methodist  preachers  in  Hack- 
ettstown,  Warren  County,  on  Flanders  Circuit. 
The  preachers  who  labored  then  in  those  parts  were  Hag- 
erty,  Fidler,  Phoebus,  Cox,  Ezekiel  Cooper,  Jesse  Lee 
and  John  Lee,  of  whom  he  often  spoke  with  the  most 
grateful  and  affectionate  recollection,  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  In  1795  he  removed  to  Waynesburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  number  in  class  was  but  five.  But 
few  as  they  were  they  continued  steadfast  in  the  faith, 
and  the  Lord  was  good  to  them,  and  they  increased  in 
grace  and  numbers.  When  he  left  them  there  were  thirty 
in  the  society.  In  1810  he  moved  to  Deerfield,  Ohio. 
About  this  time  he  became  a local  preacher,  and  finding 
only  three  here  who  had  ever  professed  religion  before, 
he  had  ample  scope  for  all  his  zeal,  grace  and  talents, 
which  he  put  forth  with  all  diligence,  and  the  Lord  often 
manifested  His  favor  and  power  to  some.  This  country 
was  all  new  at  that  time,  and  he  went  into  every  open 
door,  improving  every  opportunity  to  help  on  the  travel- 
ing preachers,  and  the  enlargement  of  the  Church.” 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  December  4,  1844.) 

“Mr.  Shewel  was  one  of  the  very  best  specimens  of  old- 
fashioned  local  preachers.  His  education  was  quite  lim- 
ited, and  his  language  very  imperfect.  But  his  strong 
memory  was  well  stored  with  a knowledge  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  which  enabled  him  to  bring  out  ‘the  treasury 
things,  new  and  old/  His  great  theme  was  Christian  ex- 
perience. Enjoying  a deep  and  rich  experience  himself, 
and  possessing  an  ardent  temperament,  with  almost  un- 
bounded zeal,  attended  with  much  of  the  divine  unction, 
enabled  him  when  dwelling  upon  this  subject  especially, 
to  produce  a most  thrilling  effect  upon  his  congregation ; 
and  for  many  years  he  served  as  a pioneer  in  carrying 


172 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


the  gospel  into  the  new  settlements  as  they  were  being 
formed.”  (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  i,  pp.  49-50.) 

Introduction  of  Methodism  in  the  Western 

Reserve. 

In  the  summer  of  1801,  Obed  Crosby,  a local  preacher, 
organized  in  the  township  of  Vernon,  Trumbull  County, 
Ohio,  a Methodist  class,  which  was  the  first  in  the  Con- 
necticut Reserve;  in  fact,  in  all  of  that  part  of  the  State 
north  of  a line  drawn  westward  from  Jefferson  County. 
The  class  met  in  Mr.  Crosby's  cabin  some  six  months, 
and  then  in  Mr.  Crosby’s  hewed  log  house  about  a year. 
After  this,  meetings  were  held  in  the  extreme  north  part 
of  Hartford,  about  one  and  a half  miles  south  of  Mr. 
Crosby’s,  in  a log  barn  belonging  to  Colonel  Richard 
Hayes,  and  subsequently  in  school  houses.  The  settle- 
ment in  the  north  part  of  Hartford  was  early  called 
Burgh  Hill,  and  took  the  name  of  “the  Burgh,"  by  which 
it  was  and  is  now  known. 

Joseph  Shane  was  the  first  regularly  ordained  Metho- 
dist minister  that  ever  preached  in  Vernon.  This  was  in 
1801,  at  Mr.  Crosby’s  house.  Robert  R.  Roberts  was 
the  regular  circuit  preacher  for  the  Crosby  class  in  1806. 
An  off-shoot  from  this  class  was  organized  about  1816  in 
the  east  part  of  Vernon,  about  one  mile  east  of  the  Pyma- 
tuning  creek,  and  known  as  “No.  4.”  After  some  twenty 
years  it  was  either  divided  or  abandoned,  part  of  the 
members  going  to  Orangeville,  and  the  remainder  to  the 
most  convenient  points.  Hartford  was  another  off-shoot, 
and  a church  was  built  at  the  center  about  1836. 

The  Burgh  was  an  appointment  probably  as  late  as 
1848,  when  it  was  abandoned  as  a regular  preaching  place 
by  the  Methodists.  In  1826  the  Presbyterians  built  a 
brick  church  at  the  center  of  Vernon.  At  the  time  the 
Burgh  was  abandoned  a class  was  undoubtedly  formed  at 
Vernon  Center,  and  met  in  the  old  brick  church.  In  the 
summer  of  1853  they  fitted  up  a warehouse,  and  met  there 
one  year,  after  which  they  went  back  to  the  “old  brick.” 
In  1864  the  Burgh  school  house  was  again  made  a regu- 
lar preaching  point,  and  in  1867  the  center  of  Vernon 
was  discontinued.  In  November,  1869,  the  class  rented 
the  building  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Pruden  in  the  village 


- 


Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve. 


l73 


of  Burgh  Hill.  In  1871  they  used  an  old  building  a little 
north  of  where  Mr.  Moran  lived  until  a church  was  built 
in  June,  1872,  and  dedicated  September  7,  1876.  In 
1897  this  building  was*  abandoned,  and  a fine  church  built 
at  Vernon  Center.  With  the  exception  of  from  five  to 
seven  years,  this  old  class  has  had  nearly  one  hundred 
consecutive  years’  existence,  and  has  met  all  that  time  at 
less  than  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  spot  where  it 
organized  in  1801. 

As  Mr.  Crosby  preached  in  Vernon  in  1800,  before  the 
class  was  formed,  he,  so  far  as  the  writer  can  learn,  is 
entitled  to  the  distinction  of  having  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon ever  delivered  by  any  Methodist  preacher  in  that 
part  of  Ohio  north  and  west  of  Jefferson  County. 

Older  members  will  remember  the  labors  of  Milton 
Graham,  a local  preacher,  at  the  center  of  Vernon,  and 
of  David  King  and  wife,  through  whose  instrumentality 
principally  the  church  erected  in  1872  was  built  at  Burgh 
Hill.  Calvin  Kingsley,  afterwards  bishop,  and  intimate 
friend  of  Rev.  David  King,  at  one  time  taught  school  in 
Vernon,  and  thus  was  associated  with  this  old  class. 
( Barker , History  of  Ohio  Methodism,  pp.  438-440.) 

Mr.  Crosby  came  from  Connecticut.  He  visited  the 
town  of  Vernon  in  1800,  and  spent  a few  weeks  making 
preparations  for  the  settlement  of  his  family.  He  un- 
doubtedly preached  a few  times  during  this  visit.  The 
year  following  he  brought  his  family.  They  came  by  the 
way  of  Pittsburg  in  an  open  wagon  drawn  by  an  ox  team. 
One  of  the  oxen  died  soon  after  leaving  Pittsburg,  but 
our  pioneers  were  full  of  expedients,  and  Mr.  Crosby 
yoked  up  a cow  with  the  other  ox,  and  continued  the 
journey  in  triumph.  He  found  one  Methodist  family  in 
Vernon.  The  first  class,  consisting  of  himself  and  wife, 
Ewing  Wright  and  wife,  and  a Miss  Bushnell. 

Crosby,  Shewel  and  the  Western  Reserve. 

J.  Truesdale,  of  Canfield,  Ohio,  writes  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve : 

“1'he  beginnings  of  important  events  are  often  more 
or  less  clouded  in  obscurity  and  uncertainty;  but  in  rela- 
tion to  the  case  in  hand  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt 
as  to  who  is  entitled  to  the  honor  of  having  preached  the 
first  sermon  and  organized  the  first  class  of  Methodists 


174 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


within  the  limits  of  the  Reserve.  In  the  spring  of  1800, 
Obed,  or  Obediah  Crosby,  a local  preacher,  came  from 
Connecticut  to  a settlement  commenced  in  1798  in  what 
afterwards  came  to  be  known  as  Vernon  township,  Trum- 
bull County,  adjoining  the  Pennsylvania  line.  His  pur- 
pose was  to  select  and  purchase  a tract  of  land,  erect  a 
cabin,  and  make  other  improvements  preparatory  for  a 
permanent  home  for  himself  and  family.  While  thus  en- 
gaged he  embraced  the  opportunity  to  proclaim  the  word 
of  life  to  his  fellow  settlers.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  returned  to  his  native  State,  and  in  the  spring  of  1801 
came  back  with  his  family.  We  doubt  not  he  immediate- 
ly resumed  his  ministerial  work,  for  we  learn  that  dur- 
ing the  summer  he  organized  a class  of  Methodist  be- 
lievers consisting  of  himself  and  wife,  Ewing  Wright 
and  wife,  and  Eunice  Bushnell.  As  new  additions  to  the 
settlement  were  constantly  being  made,  Mr.  Crosby  found 
a growing  field  of  labor,  not  only  in  Vernon,  but  also  in 
adjacent  settlements,  in  preaching,  visiting  the  sick,  and 
speaking  words  of  comfort  and  hope  to  the  bereaved ; and 
so  continued  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 

in  1813.  He  was  one  of  the  victims  of  the  terrible  epi- 
demic of  that  year,  which  was  a year  of  pestilence  and 
death,  added  to  the  panic  and  dread  caused  by  a mis- 
managed war.  The  historical  records  of  Vernon  town- 
ship speak  of  Mr.  Crosby  as  a man  held  in  high  esteem 
for  his  many  excellent  traits  of  character.  Most  truly  his 
works  have  followed  him ; the  band  of  five  has  increased 
to  a great  multitude  in  the  vicinity  of  his  faithful  mini- 
strations. An  ordinary  church  bell,  centrally  located, 
would  suffice  to  call  together  for  worship  the  members 
of  four  distinct  Methodist  congregations. 

“The  lay  preacher  of  John  Wesley’s  day,  and  the  local 
Methodist  preacher  in  the  new  settlements  of  this  coun- 
try, have  done  more  to  advance  ‘Christianity  in  earnest’ 
than  we  at  present  apprehend.  There  was  a necessity 
for  such  men.  In  this  country  this  class  of  preachers,  es- 
pecially on  the  Reserve,  were  mostly  landowners,  and 
labored  during  the  week,  and  on  Sabbath  went  where 
opportunity  presented,  breaking  the  bread  of  life  to  the 
spiritually  destitute  dwellers  in  the  wilderness.  Having 
themselves  a rich  and  warm  experience,  it  was  natural 
for  them  to  offer  to  others  what  they  possessed  them- 


Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve. 


selves.  It  is  true  they  were  generally  unlettered,  but  the 
same  was  true  of  their  audiences.  They  could  pray  with 
power  and  unction,  and  make  a plain  presentation  of  the 
plan  of  salvation. 

“We  have  space  barely  to  refer  to  one  more  local 
preacher  of  the  kind  described.  In  1802  Rev.  Henry 
Shewel  came  from  the  East  and  settled  in  Deerfield,  Port- 
age County.  A few  settlers  from  Connecticut  had  pre- 
ceded him,  among  whom  were  two  or  three  Methodist 
families,  who  greeted  Mr.  Shewel  with  genuine  Metho- 
dist cordiality.  Without  delay,  under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  Shewel,  these  were  organized  into  a class  made  up 
of  eleven  persons.  This  class,  formed  in  1802,  no  doubt 
was  the  second  one  on  the  Reserve,  and  for  years  after 
the  largest  and  most  influential  one,  and  gave  its  name  to 
the  first  circuit  formed  within  its  limits.  In  passing  we 
may  say  that  this  church  thus  founded  in  Deerfield,  lack- 
ing but  a few  months  of  being  one  hundred  years  old, 
still  exists  in  a flourishing  condition,  and  from  the  first 
has  been  the  dominant  Christian  church  in  that  township. 
Just  when  we  are  not  able  to  state,  a large  and  roomy 
edifice  for  worship  was  erected,  and  for  long  years  it 

served  its  purpose  until  a few  years  ago  it  was  abandoned 
for  a more  modern  edifice. 

“Deerfield  has  been  the  home  and  final  resting  place  of 
several  itinerants.  I have  no  doubt  that  the  Revs.  Caleb 
Brown  and  Stephen  Hubbard  lie  beneath  its  soil,  and 
maybe  that  noted  evangelist,  William  Swayze:  we  know 
certainly  that  when  an  old  man  he  made  his  home  on  the 
Mahoning  river  south  of  the  village.  If  I may  be  allowed 
this  personal  reference,  I would  like  to  say  that  Father 
Swayze ’s  face  is  fresh  in  my  memory.  • It  was  at  a meet- 
ing conducted  by  him  in  the  village  of  Poland,  in  1835. 
I gave  my  name  and  adherence  to  the  Methodist  Church. 
Perhaps  no  minister  that  has  appeared  among  us  from 
the  beginning  to  this  time  has  been  more  instrumental  in 
winning  souls  to  Christ  in  our  frontier  settlements  than 
William  Swayze. 

“Father  Shewel  did  not  confine  his  labor  of  love  and 
zeal  to  Deerfield,  but  pushed  out  ‘into  all  the  religious 
roundabout,’  breaking  the  bread  of  life  in  destitute  and 
neglected  communities,  and  where  possible  organizing 
converts  into  classes.  In  this  way  he  continued  his  work 


176 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


in  and  about  Deerfield  for  about  twelve  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Rootstown,  where  he  renewed  and  continued 
his  successful  labors  until  disabled  by  the  infirmities  of 
age.  I am  unable  at  this  late  day  to  state  the  number  of 
societies  formed  by  Mr.  Shewel,  more  than  to  say  there 
were  many,  and  when  formed,  where  possible,  these 
classes  were  handed  over  to  the  minister  in  charge  of  a 
circuit. 

“We  learn  from  the  sketches  of  the  Rev.  S.  Gregg,  that 
Mr.  Shewel  formed  a class  of  the  kind  referred  to,  in 
1810.  at  Milton,  on  the  Mahoning  river.  This  class,  af- 
ter some  changes  in  location  and  an  entire  change  of  mem- 
bership. still  lives  in  a substantial  form  at  Pricetown. 
This  society  furnished  two  former  members  of  the  old 
Erie  Conference,  namely,  Isaac  and  Henry  Winans,  the 
first  of  whom  was  an  able  and  influential  member  in  his 
day,  with  a fine  physique  and  good  mental  powers,  was 
more  than  once  intrusted  with  the  charge  of  a district 
but  being  a hater  of  American  slavery,  and  not  being  dis- 
posed to  yield  to  the  unreasonable  demands  of  his  Con- 
ference to  abstain  from  agitating  the  question,  he  with 
other  good  men  with  similar  views  voluntarily  withdrew 
from  the  Conference.  Oh  what  a change  since !” 

“The  settlements  on  the  Western  Reserve  can  scarcely 
be  said  to  have  begun  before  1798,  after  which  the  immi- 
grants increased  in  number  year  after  year  up  to  and  in- 
cluding 1803.  During  this  interval  of  five  years  many 
townships  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  Reserve  were  occu- 
pied by  families  in  numbers  from  one  to  twenty,  and  per- 
haps in  a few  places  even  more,  though  many  townships 
as  they  now  exist  were  totally  unsettled. 

“This  strong  current  of  immigration,  mostly  from  Con- 
necticut, attracted  the  attention  of  Christian  people  of 
various  denominations,  among  them  the  Methodists.  At 
the  annual  session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  held  in  the 
spring  of  1803  it  was  decided  to  send  one  of  their  num- 
ber to  this  opening  field  of  missionary  enterprise.  The 
one  selected  for  the  work  was  the  Rev.  Shadrack  Bost- 
wick,  who,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  volunteered  his 
services,  and  perhaps  suggested  the  idea.  Mr.  Bostwick 
was  born  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  March  9, 
1769.  We  learn  from  Bishop  Simpson’s  ‘Cyclopedia  of 
Methodism,’  that  in  early  manhood  Mr.  Bostwick  had  pre- 


I 


Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve.  1 77 

pared  himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  had  even 
begun  the  practice  of  it;  but  after  his  conversion,  deem- 
ing he  had  a call  to  the  ministry,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Baltimore  Conference  in  1791,  and  given  work  which 
gradually  pushed  him  northward,  until  we  find  him  in 
1802  presiding  elder  on  Pittsfield  District,  embracing  a 
vast  region  of  wild  country,  taking  in  parts  of  three  states 
and  a slice  of  Upper  Canada.  While  on  this  district,  he 
came  across  a young  exhorter  by  the  name  of  Elijah  Hed- 
ding,  to  whom  he  gave  the  charge  of  one  of  his  circuits. 
This  young  man  in  after  years  developed  such  power 
and  ability  that  in  1824  he  was  selected  bishop.  Near  the 
close  of  Bishop  Hedding’s  life,  at  the  request  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  he  prepared  the  materials  for  a biography 
of  himself,  to  be  edited  and  published  after  his  death.  In 
this  he  was  pleased  to  speak  in  the  most  complimentary 
way  of  first  presiding  elder,  using  such  phrases  as  ‘a 
glorious  man/  ‘a  prince  and  great  man  in  Israel/  ‘fore- 
most in  rank/  ‘discourses  systematic,  profound  and  lumin- 
ous, often  overwhelming/  ‘hundreds  in  the  last  day  will 
rise  up  to  call  him  blessed/  Other  writers  and  men  of 
note  who  knew  Doctor  Bostwick  speak  of  him  as  one  en- 
titled to  be  honored  as  an  able  and  successful  pioneer  of 
Methodism. 

“Bishop  Asbury  by  precept  and  example,  dissuaded  the 
young  preachers  from  encumbering  themselves  with  a 
family.  There  were  good  reasons  for  so  doing.  It  was 
often  found  in  his  day  that  efficient  ministers  with  families 
were  compelled  to  a6andon  their  itinerant  work,  and  seek 
other  employments,  in  order  to  procure  an  adequate  sup- 
port for  those  dependent  upon  them.  Mr.  Bostwick  com- 
plied with  this  usage  until  he  was  thirty-three  years  of 
age,  when  he  married  Miss  Maria  Diver,  of  Granville, 
Massachusetts,  February  14,  1802. 

“In  the  spring  of  1803,  m compliance  with  his  appoint- 
ment to  Deerfield  Circuit,  Mr.  Bostwick  and  his  wife 
made  their  wearisome  journey  of  many  weeks  to  that 
place.  The  reason  that  Deerfield  was  chosen  as  their 
place  of  residence,  and  which  gave  name  to  the  proposed 
circuit,  no  doubt  grew  out  of  the  fact  that  a Methodist 
class  was  already  in  existence  there  of  which  Mrs.  Bost- 
wick’s  parents  were  members.  I11  one  respect  it  was  not 
a favorable  place  to  operate  from.  Deerfield  at  that  time 

12 


178  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  an  isolated  settlement,  separated  from  other  and 
stronger  ones  by  many  miles  of  dense  forests.  The  first 
care  and  duty  of  the  doctor  would  be  to  provide  a home 
for  his  family  on  a small  tract  of  land  donated  by  Mrs. 
Bostwick's  father.  * 

“That  he  was  joyfully  received  by  the  little  band  of 
Methodists  in  the  place  as  their  spiritual  guide,  we  can 
have  no  doubt,  but  away  from  there  it  is  likely  none  could 
be  found  in  sympathy  with  him  in  church  relationship. 
The  classes  at  Vernon  and  Hubbard,  on  the  eastern  border 
of  the  Reserve,  were  not  included  in  Deerfield  Circuit. 
These  were  cared  for  by  the  preacher  in  charge  of  Erie 
Circuit* nearly  all  of  which  was  in  Pennsylvania.  How- 
ever, without  these  he  had  ample  room  for  work.  He 
might  if  he  chose,  go  a thousand  miles  to  the  west  and 
fifty  miles  to  the  east  without  trespassing  upon  the  work 
of  others. 

“As  soon  as  possible  our  missionary  began  his  work, 
preaching  at  places  where  a Methodist  minister  had  never 
been  seen  before,  and  to  a people  who  had  never  heard 
one.  We  are  unable  to  state  all  the  points  he  reached 
further  than  a few  of  the  more  important  settlements, 
such  as  Youngstown,  Warren,  Ravenna,  Hudson  and 
Mantua.  At  the  end  of  his  first  year  he  reported  a mem- 
bership on  the  charge  of  sixteen,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
second  vear,  of  thirty.  These  returns  indicate  that  no 
new  classes  were  formed  during  his  first  year — the  six- 
teen mentioned  evidently  embraced  only  the  class  at  Deer- 
field ; the  second  year  he  organized  a class  in  Youngstown, 
which  swelled  the  number  to  thirty.  In  1805  Doctor. 
Bostwick,  at  his  own  request,  located,  but  did  not  cease 
from  ministerial  work,  and  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that 
his  labor  and  influence  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Reserve 
during  his  after  life  of  twenty-two  years  constituted  the 
more  valuable  part  of  his  work  in  developing  and 
strengthening  Methodistic  sentiment  among  our  people. 

“The  fruit  gathered  while  on  Deerfield  charge  may 
seem  at  first  sight  to  be  meager,  when  compaied  with  Di. 
Bostwick’s  former  success.  We  do  not  think  so.  His 
field  required  careful  preparation  for  the  seed  sown  which 
has  since  ripened  into  a product-harvest.  Even  if  only 
one  small  class  was  formed,  that  one  has  grown  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  present  Trinity  Church  of  Youngs- 


Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve. 


179 


town,  with  its  twelve  hundred  members  and  a church 
property  valued  at  $86,000.  And  then  again,  Trinity 
may  be  said  to  be  the  mother  of  a number  of  other  strong 
and  promising  churches  in  that  city." — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , J902,  March  6;  March  13.) 

Amos  Smith. 

Amos  Smith  was  one  of  the  band  of  useful  local  min- 
isters providentially  raised  up  to  become  the  advanced 
heralds  of  Methodism  in  our  western  country.  He  was 
born  in  Kent  County,  Maryland,  in  1757,  and  made  his 
way  westward  where  the  barbarity  of  the  Indians  awak- 
ened him  to  a sense  of  his  lost  condition  as  a sinner.  He 
sought  and  found  redemption  in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  and 
began  to  hold  meetings  in  which  many  souls  were  con- 
verted. Soon  after,  the  itinerating  Methodist  preachers 
found  him,  and  encouraged  him  in  his  work.  A class 
was  formed  in  Hubbard,  Ohio,  and  he  became  the  first 
leader.  He  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1795  ordained 
to  the  office  of  local  deacon.  ‘‘In  the  discharge  of  his 
Christian  and  ministerial  duties  he  was  faithful  and  suc- 
cessful. But  the  seven  last  years  of  his  life  he  suffered 
much,  and  exhibited  an  undeviating  example  of  patience 
and  resignation,  continuing  to  preach  as  long  as  his 
strength  would  permit.  The  complaint  of  which  he  died 
was  dropsy.  His  attendant  physician.  Rev.  Shadrack 
Bostwick,  did  all  in  his  power  to  alleviate  his  distress 
without,  however,  any  hope  of  seeing  him  restored  to 
health.  At  the  request  of  Brother  Smith,  Brother  Bost- 
wick appointed  meetings  at  his  house.  The  evening  pre- 
vious his  physician  spent  with  him,  principally  occupied 
in  conversing  on  the  subject  of  death  and  the  things  of 
eternity,  in  all  which  he  manifested  a perfect  resignation. 
‘From  a particular  impression,'  says  Brother  Bostwick, 
‘I  was  led  to  choose  for  my  text/  “I  am  now  ready  to  be 
offered,"  etc.  After  sermon  the  old  man  requested  the 
people  to  take  their  seats,  as  he  had  a message  to  deliver 
them.  Sitting  in  his  chair,  he  then  addressed  them  in 
substance  as  follows : ‘With  most  of  you,  my  brethren, 
I have  had  many  happy  meetings,  and  in  all  probability 
this  will  be  the  last  in  this  world.  I have  been  satisfied 
for  more  than  twenty-five  years  that  the  most  dangerous 
ground  to  build  our  hopes  of  heavon  on  is  merely  a de- 


i8o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


sire  for  religion;  a present  salvation  from  sin  being  es- 
sential to  future  happiness/  He  concluded  his  address 
by  observing  that  ‘there  is  nothing  like  the  religion  of 
Jesus  to  support  one  under  the  afflictions  of  this  life;  and 
I now  leave  it  as  my  last  will  and  testament,  for  the  com- 
fort of  my  family  and  friends,  that  I would  not  exchange 
what  I now  feel  in  my  soul  for  a thousand  worlds  like 
this!  I feel  no  disposition  to  murmur  or  complain  on 
account  of  my  affliction.  If  it  should  please  the  Lord 
to  permit  me  to  get  well  I am  contented;  if  it  please  Him 
that  I should  linger  along  for  two  or  three  years,  I am 
resigned ; or  if  it  please  Him  to  remove  me  in  a few 
minutes — Amen.’  He  then  reclined  his  head  back  in  the 
chair  and  said : ‘My  strength  is  gone’ — and  he  instantly 

expired  without  a struggle  or  groan,  in  the  presence  of 
most  of  his  family  and  the  congregation.  His  affection- 
ate physician  exclaimed,  ‘Oh!  he  has  often  prayed  that 
he  might  die  in  a meeting  with  his  brethren,  and  his 
prayer  is  now  answered/  A solemn  awe  pervaded  the 
assembly,  such  as  cannot  be  described.  Thus  ended  the 
mortal  pilgrimage  of  this  man  of  God.  His  talents  as  a 
preacher  were  good,  though  not  splendid.  He  was  a 
faithful  steward  over  his  household,  scrupulously  apply- 
ing what  was  entrusted  to  his  care  with  economy,  and 
administering  according  to  his  ability  for  the  support  of 
God’s  sacred  cause.”  His  death  took  place  March  i, 
1821. — (Methodist  Magazine , Vol.  5,  pp.  39-40.) 

John  Mershon. 

John  Mershon  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and 
died  at  Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  May  29,  1851,  in  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age.  He  settled  at  Springfield 
when  twenty-three  years  of  age.  In  1799  be  married 
Miss  Brush,  an  ardent  Methodist.  In  1800  he  wrote  to 
Joseph  Rowen,  who  was  preaching  in  Franklin,  Ohio,  to 
visit  his  neighborhood.  He  came  and  preached,  and 
formed  the  Erie  Circuit,  and  in  1801  James  Quinn  formed 
the  first  class  at  West  Springfield,  consisting  of  five  mem- 
bers. John  Cullison  succeeded  Mr.  Quinn  the  following 
year,  and  under  his  labors  Mr.  Mershon  was  converted. 
“Father  Mershon  has  ever  been  regarded  a worthy  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  his  choice.  . . . Liberal  in  his 

contributions  to  the  support  of  Christian  institutions, 


Several  Ministers , Local  and  Traveling.  1 8 1 

courteous  and  hospitable  in  his  intercourse  with  men,  and 
ardent  and  unwavering  in  his  love  of  God  and  his  Church, 
we  have  good  hope  that  he  has  gone  to  reap  the  reward 
of  those  who  die  in  the  Lord.” — (M.  H.  Bettes,  in  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  July  8,  1851.) 

Preachers  Appointed  in  1804. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  session  in  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Asbury,  April 
23,  1804.  The  name  of  the  Pittsburg  District  was 
changed  to  “Monongahela,”  to  which  Thornton  Fleming 
was  returned.  A new  circuit  was  formed  called  “Deer- 
field,” but  remained  as  a separate  circuit  only  one  year. 
Shadrack  Bostwick  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
work  on  this  new  circuit.  Andrew  Hemphill  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Erie  Circuit,  and  Joseph  Hall  to  the  She- 
nango. 

Andrew  Hemphill  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Balti- 
more Conference  in  1803,  and  continued  in  the  active 
work  until  his  decease,  August  27,  1837.  “He  was  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  word  a revival  preacher ; affectionate 
in  his  address,  simple  in  his  manners,  original  in  thought, 
pure  in  heart ; his  only  aim  seemed  to  be  to  see  how  many 
souls  he  could  bring  to  Christ.”  We  have  given  his  bi- 
ography in  another  connection. 

Joseph  Hall  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1801.  He  located  at  the  close  of  the  year’s 
service  on  the  Shenango  Circuit,  “most  likely  for  the 
want  of  sufficient  health  to  endure  the  hardships  of  the 
itinerancy  in  so  new  and  rough  a country.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  pp.  57- 
59 ■) 

He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1803.  His  appointments 
previous  to  his  introduction  to  Erie  Conference  territory 
were:  In  1801,  Ohio  Circuit,  with  Benjamin  Essex  in 

charge;  in  1802,  West  Wheeling,  and  in  1803,  Lancaster. 

William  Richard,  an  exhorter  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  came  from  Center  county,  Pennsylvania,  to 
Lawrence  county,  and  settled  four  miles  north  of  New 
Castle  and  one  mile  east  of  Shenango  creek.  He  held  re- 
ligious services  in  his  own  house,  and  invited  the  circuit 
preacher  to  visit  the  neighborhood.  A class  was  soon 
formed  consisting  of  William  Burchard  and  wife,  Robert 


182  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Simonton  and  wife,  Arthur  Chineworth  and  wife,  Mary 
Rav,  Rachel  Fisher,  John  Bibben  and  wife,  Michael  Car- 
man and  wife,  William  Underwood  and  wife,  Robert 
Wallace  and  wife,  Philip  Painter  and  wife  and  Rebecca 
Farber — nineteen  members.  Marinus  King  and  family 
moved  into  the  neighborhood  and  united  with  the  little 
society  soon  after  its  organization;  and  in  1830  gave  an 
acre  of  land  for  church  purposes.  A little  log  school- 
house  was  occupied  as  a place  of  worship,  and  was 
known  as  ‘‘King's  Chapel." — (Gregg,  History  of  Metho- 
dism, Eric  Conference,  JTol.  I,  pp.  59-60. ) 

The  centennial  anniversary  of  “King’s  Chapel  was 
duly  celebrated  on  July  2 and  3,  1904.  There  were  ser- 
mons, addresses,  greetings,  music,  testimonies,  and  picnic 
dinners — a time  of  congratulations  and  rejoicings. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  session  in  Win- 
chester, Virginia,  April  1,  1805,  Bishop  Asbury  presid- 
ing. James  Hunter  was  appointed  to  the  Monongahela 
District,  Robert  R.  Roberts  to  the  Shenango  and  David 
Best  and  Joseph  A.  Shackelford  to  the  Erie  and  Deerfield 
Circuit.  Soon  after  conference  David  Best  and  Robert 
R.  Roberts  exchanged  places.  The  latter  had  already 
served  the  Carlisle,  Monongahela  and  Frederick  Circuits, 
and  was  now  ensconced  again  in  his  own  log  cabin,  and 
traveled  a circuit  four  hundred  miles  in  circumference. 

James  Hunter  and  David  Best. 

James  Hunter,  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1796, 
and  ordained  deacon  and  elder  in  regular  course.  Prev- 
ious to  his  introduction  to  Monongahela  District,  his  ap- 
pointments were:  1796,  Huntingdon;  1797-1798,  Berk- 

ley; 1799,  Harford;  1800,  Green;  1801,  Holston  and 
Russell  ; 1802,  Russell,  it  would  appear,  but  six  months 
and  then  transferred  to  Harford;  1803,  Clarksburg; 
1804,  Redstone;  1805,  Monongahela  District;  1806, 
Redstone  ; and  later  appointments  beyond  our  borders  as 
follows:  1807,  Carlisle;  1808-1810,  Carlisle  District; 

181 1-1812,  Lyttleton;  1813-1814,  Auchwhick;  1815,  lo- 
cated. 

David  Best  was  a native  of  Ireland,  where  he  joined 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Society.  He  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  he  was  about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  in 


Several  Ministers , Local  and  Traveling.  183 

1801  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence and  appointed  to  the  Newburgh  Circuit.  In  1802 
we  find  him  on  the  Broadkiln  Circuit,  with  Samuel  Budd 
as  an  associate;  in  1803,  he  was  the  third  preacher  on  the 
Cecil  Circuit,  the  others  being  Edward  Larkins  and  T. 
Everard;  in  1804,  he  was  preacher  in  charge  of  the 
Lyttleton  station,  with  Nicholas  Willis  as  an  associate; 
in  1805,  as  we  have  seen,  he  traveled  the  Erie  and  Deer- 
field Circuit;  in  1806,  Federal  and  Annapolis,  third 
preacher,  with  Nelson  Reed  and  Hezekiah  Harriman ; 
in  1807,  had  charge  of  Berkley  Circuit,  with  Alfred  Grif- 
fith as  second  preacher;  and  in  1808,  he  was  re-trans- 
ferred to  the  Philadelphia  Conference. 

“He  filled  various  appointments  with  honor  to  himself, 
and  profit  to  the  people,  until  in  the  spring  of  1835  he 
yielded  to  increasing  infirmities,  and  attained  a super- 
numerary relation,  and  continued  to  preach  as  his  health 
permitted.  He  was  warmly  attached  to  the  doctrines 
and  discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
heartily  engaged  with  her  ministers  and  members  in 
spreading  peace  and  prosperity  through  all  her  borders. 
He  was  a man  of  strong  mind,  sound  judgment,  and  un- 
flinching firmness  in  the  cause  of  truth.  As  a preacher, 
his  talents  were  more  than  ordinary,  and,  according  to 
his  ability,  he  declared  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  Many, 
we  believe,  will  shine  as  stars  in  his  crown  of  rejoicing, 
and  praise  the  Rock  of  their  Salvation,- that  they  were  di- 
rected by  his  preaching  to  the  sacrifice  of  Calvary.  His 
last  illness  was  painful  and  protracted,  but  he  bore  it  with 
Christian  resignation,  and  while  happy  in  the  love  of  God 
shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost  given  unto 
him.  and  exulting  in  the  clear  prospect  of  a glorious  im- 
mortality, he  met  the  king  of  terrors  with  fortitude  and 
triumph,  and  finished  his  earthly  career  on  the  23d  of 
December,  1841,  in  the  forty-first  year  of  his  itinerant 
ministry,  and  about  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
leaving  an  affectionate  wife  and  seven  children  to  mourn 
his  loss/’* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  V ol.  3,  1842 , p. 
2 5°') 

*Mr.  Best’s  later  appointments  were:  In  1808,  Tioga;  1809, 

Somerset;  1810,  Caroline;  1811,  Dorchester;  1812,  Kent;  1813, 
Dauphin;  1814,  Philadelphia;  1815,  Bergen;  1816,  Lancaster; 
1817,  Antalany;  1818,  Burlington;  1819-20,  Sussex;  1821,  Free- 


184  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  Baltimore  March 
14,  1806,  Bishop  Asbury  presiding.  Thornton  Fleming 
was  again  appointed  to  his  old  tramping  ground  on  the 
Monongahela  District.  Robert  R.  Roberts,  with  James 
Watts  as  junior  preacher,  was  appointed  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit of  six  weeks ; and  James  Reid  to  the  Shenango  Cir- 
cuit. 

. Mantua  Methodism. 

A class  was  formed  in  Mantua,  Portage  County,  Ohio, 
in  1806  by  Robert  R.  Roberts  and  Joseph  A.  Shackelford, 
consisting  of  Baser  Winsor,  Joshua  Mills,  Paschal  P. 
McIntosh  and  wife,  Rufus  Edwards,  and  Silas  Pinney 
and  wife.  1 he  way  had  been  prepared  by  Shad  rack 
Bostwick,  who  had  preached  the  gospel  in  Mantua  in 
1803.  Mr.  Shackelford  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Baltimore  Conference  in  1804  and  located  in  1808.  “He 
was  an  excellent  preacher,  and  greatly  beloved  by  the 
people  on  the  Erie  District,  where  he  was  instrumental  in 
the  conversion  to  God  of  a large  number  of  souls.” 

L.  Chapin  writes  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate 
on  “Early  Methodism  in  Mantua,  Ohio:”  (His  mem- 
ory may  have  been  at  fault  in  one  name.) 

In  the  summer  of  1798  two  men  and  one  woman 
penetrated  through  a vast  wilderness  and  came  to  this 
town  to  make  themselves  homes.  Their  names  were 
Rufus  Edwards  and  Abraham  Honey  and  wife.  It  was 
not  long  before  others  followed  them  here — the  Har- 
mons, Atwaters,  Snows,  Judsons  and  others.  The  first 
death  that  occurred  in  the  settlement  was  that  of  a Mrs. 
Judson,  by  taking  poison  accidentally.  The  faithful 
Methodist  preachers  were  on  the  frontier  at  that  day, 
ready  for  the  Lord's  work.  Elder  Shadrack  Bostwick 
being  here,  preached  the  funeral  sermon.  It  was  the  first 
ever  preached  in  this  town. 

“In  1807  we  had  two  faithful  servants  of  the  Lord  on 
a vast  circuit  without  roads.  Their  names  were  Robert 
R.  Roberts  and  Brother  Shackelford.  Their  privations 
must  have  been  great.  ...  In  September  of  that 
year  Brother  Roberts  formed  a class  of  five  members  in 

hold;  1822,  Lewistown;  1823,  Hamburg;  1824-25,  Essex  and  Staten 
Island;  1826-27,  Warren;  1828,  Lancaster;  1829,  Reading;  1830, 
Strasburg;  1831-32,  Dauphin;  1833,  Waynesburg;  1834,  Radnor; 
1835,  supernumerary  until  his  death — frequently  supplying  work. 


Mantua  Methodism.  185 

this  town.  Their  names  were  A.  Mills,  R.  Edwards,  P. 
P.  McIntosh  and  wife  and  Father  Winsor. 

Since  that  day  there  have  been  great,  delusions  in  this 
part  of  the  land.  The  Mormons  came  into  this  town, 
and  Hiram  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet,  and  Sid- 
ney Rigdon  were  their  orators.  Great  crowds  followed 
them,  and  some  good  members  went  off  with  them.  Dur- 
ing the  stay  of  these  Mormon  leaders  it  is  said  that 
about  forty  men  capie  one  dark  night  to  the  house  of  a 
Mr.  Johnson,  bringing  two  buckets  of  tar  and  plenty  of 
feathers,  and  taking  Joseph,  the  Prophet,  out  of  his  bed 
into  the  field,  applied  the  compound  to  his  acknowledge*! 
dissatisfaction.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Rigdon  shared  the 
same  fate.  The  Mormons  gave  up  building  their  temple 
here,  and  located  it  in  Kirtland  Flats. 

“The  next  delusion  was  Millerism,  which  spread  to 
some  extent,  taking  seven  members  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  this  town. 

“After  them  the  Spirit  Rappers  came  here.  They  also 
spread  rapidly  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Some  went 
crazy.  One  in  this  town  hung  himself  and  was  found 
dead  some  days  after. 

“The  next  delusion  was  more  local,  and  but  few  em- 
braced it.  They  are  called  Nortonites,  and  pretend  to 
have  angels  with  them.  Sometimes  they  call  them  min- 
istering spirits.  This  delusion  had  a bad  effect  on  the 
tongue  and  passions.  Some  of  them  pretend  to  great 
purity  of  heart. ” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Sep t. 
16 , 1865.) 


James  Watts  and  His  Work. 

James  Watts  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1804,  and  appointed  third  preacher  on 
Stafford  Circuit  with  David  Stevens  and  William  Steel. 
In  1805  he  traveled  the  Ohio  Circuit  with  David  Stevens 
in  charge.  In  1806  we  find  him  on  the  Erie  Circuit  with 
Robert  R.  Roberts  in  charge;  in  1807,  the  Shenango  with 
Thomas  Church  as  assistant;  in  1808,  the  Wills  Creek  in 
the  Western  Conference;  1809,  the  same  circuit  six 
months,  and  the  last  six  months,  on  Greenbrier  Circuit, 
Baltimore  Conference;  1810,  Shenango;  1811,  Erie,  with 
James  Ewen  as  an  assistant;  1812,  the  same  circuit  with 
Jacob  Gorwell  as  junior  preacher;  after  the  meeting  of 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 86 


the  Ohio  Conference  in  October,  he  returned  to  the  She- 
nango  Circuit.  He  now  permanently  passes  beyond  our 
borders. 

There  is  no  memoir  of  Mr.  Watts  in  the  “Minutes  of 
Conferences."  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Rev.  James  Watts 

closed  up  his  valuable  labors  in  this  region  the  present 
year — 1812 — but  continued  to  preach  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Ohio  Conference  until  1816,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  where  he  continued 
in  the  regular  work  until  1827,  when  he  was  appointed 
presiding  elder  on  the  Rockingham  District,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  regular  pas- 
toral work  until  1852,  when  on  account  of  declining 
health  he  was  superannuated.  After  spending  fifty- 
three  years  in  the  ministry,  forty-eight  of  which  were  in 
active  service,  he  died  in  great  peace  and  full  assurance  of 
faith  and  hope  in  1857.“ — (Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism. Erie  Conference,  Vol.  /.,  p.  114.) 

James  Watts  and  the  Erie  Circuit. 

James  Watts  writes  of  the  Erie  Circuit  in  1806  as  fol- 
lows : 

“In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1806,  I was  appointed  to 
travel  on  Erie  Circuit,  with  Rev.  Robert  R.  Roberts. 
Our  circuit  was  very  extensive,  taking  in  parts  of  Mer- 
cer, Crawford,  Venango,  and  Erie  Counties,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  embracing  some  part  of  the  state  of  Ohio  also. 
Brother  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  was  appointed  to  Mahoning 
circuit  alone,  being  a large  tract  of  country  called  New 
Connecticut.  At  the  request  of  our  presiding  elder  we 
united  the  two  circuits  in  one,  and  made  a six  weeks' 
circuit.  Here  we  had  much  labor,  many  appointments, 
and  long  rides.  We  had  bad  roads,  much  mud,  and 
many  roots  to  encounter.  We  often  thought  of  Dr. 
Clarke’s  advice  to  young  preachers  about  leaving  saddle- 
bags, overcoat,  etc.,  in  the  lobby,  and  not  to  take  them  in 
the  sitting  room.  But  in  Erie  Circuit,  our  hall,  our  bed 
room  and  chapel,  were  sometimes  the  same  room;  while 
the  preachers  and  their  friends  were  glad  to  see  each 
other,  and  yielded  to  many  inconveniences.  Our  friends 
treated  us  according  to  the  best  of  their  abilities,  and  we 
received  their  kindness  with  cheerful  and  contented 
minds.  We  met,  however,  with  opposition,  and  some 


I John  Watts  and  the  Erie  Circuit.  187 

severe  trials.  I recollect  in  our  town,  after  preaching  to 
an  attentive  congregation  in  a court  house,  and  having 
retired  to  rest,  a while  before  day  I heard  a noise,  and 
paying  attention  for  some  time  found  a company  of  wild 
persons  had  gathered  to  annoy  the  preacher;  and  they 
cried:  ‘Where  is  that  Methodist  preacher?’  And  they 

would  say,  ‘Glory,  glory,  glory!’  Then  they  would  ex- 
press some  word  made  use  of  in  the  sermon,  and  again 
shout,  ‘Glory,  glory,  glory!’  And  in  this  way  they  con- 
tinued for  a long  time,  intermingling  with  all  vile  words 
and  profane  expressions.  I had  a full  view  of  them,  but 
did  not  think  they  saw  me.  I remained  all  the  time  very 
calm,  but  pitied  their  folly. 

“Our  last  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  a place  called 
Pithole,  about  the  7th  and  8th  of  February,  1807.  . When 
I started  for  that  meeting  I had  nearly  one  hundred  miles 
to  ride  to  get  there.  The  weather  was  extremely  cold, 
and  the  day  before  the  meeting  began  I had  one  of  my 
ears  frozen  in  crossing  French  creek,  near  Meadville,  Pa. 
On  Saturday  our  meeting  began,  but  I had  a long  ride 
that  morning  through  the  cold  to  reach  the  place  in  time 
for  the  meeting,  but  the  Lord  met  us  and  comforted  our 
souls.  Our  friends  were  kind,  and  kept  up  great  fires, 
and  made  us  as  comfortable  as  they  could.  That  year 
was,  in  many  respects,  a good  one  to  our  poor  souls,  for 
we  were  the  messengers  of  peace  to  many  who  were  in- 
quiring the  way  to  God.  We  had  to  travel  in  a new 
country,  where  we  had  but  few  books,  and  little  time  to 
read  ; and  were  not  favored  with  a chamber  on  the  wall, 
with  a bed  and  a table,  a stool  and  a candlestick,  but  we 
fared  as  we  could,  and  felt  grateful  to  God  and  his  people 
while  we  had  food  and  raiment,  and  the  unspeakable 
pleasure  of  proclaiming  salvation  to  our  dying  fellow- 
men,  in  the  mighty  name  of  Jesus.  We  were  much  de- 
lighted there  to  find  that  the  Gospel  proved  to  be  the 
power  of  God  to  the  salvation  of  all  who  did  heartily  em- 
brace it.  and  acted  according  to  its  sacred  principles. 
Many  changes  have  taken  place  there  since  that  time, 
many  of  our  dear  brethren  have  ended  their  race  on 
earth,  and  now  live  in  glory  ; with  them  I hope  to  sing 
salvation  to  God  and  the  Lamb  for  ever. 

“A  Traveling  Preacher.”* 


♦Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  Oct.  1,  1840. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 88 


Rev.  William  Osborne,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
writing  from  Baltimore  under  date  of  February  25,  1907, 
says : 

“ 1 he  State  of  Ohio  presented  an  inviting  and  promis- 
ing field  to  the  early  circuit  preachers  of  fourscore  years 
ago.  As  early  as  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Eastern  Ohio  were 
supplied  with  Methodist  itinerants  from  the  Baltimore 
Conference,  among  whom  were  the  Revs.  Henry  Fur- 
long and  James  Watts,  the  latter  preaching  on  the  4 West- 
ern Reserve’  as  early  as  1812,  with  whose  venerable 
widow  (long  since  deceased),  the  writer  was  conversant 
in  her  West  Virginia  home  forty  years  ago  and  whose 
incidents  of  those  self-sacrificing  years  were  worthy  to 
be  inscribed  in  letters  of  gold  on  our  most  conspicuous 
Methodist  monuments  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Mother 
\\  atts  said : ‘T  hey  went  to  their  wilderness  appoint- 

ment, partly  on  horseback,  and  lived  in  a humble  log 
cabin,  and  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  Conference  year 
Brother  M atts  received  only  twenty-five  cents  in  money, 
with  sufficient  family  supplies  of  provisions  to  keep  ab- 
solute want  from  their  humble  cabin.  The  second  quar- 
ter (she  said)  he  received  the  sum  of  twelve  dollars  in 
money,  and  felt  they  were  living  on  the  top  shelf.’  ” — 
(Western  Christian  Advocate,  March  13,  1907.) 

James  Reid. 

James  Reid  was  born  in  Annapolis,  Maryland,  Jan- 
uary 1 2,  1780.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
and  admitted  to  the  Baltimore  Conference  on  trial  in 
1804.  Two  years  later  we  find  him  on  the  Shenango 
Circuit.  He  entered  into  rest  on  the  Holy  Sabbath, 
June  16,  1850.  “Brother  Reid  occupied  various  fields  of 
labor  through  a series  of  years,  with  ability  and  useful- 
ness. As  a preacher  he  was  remarkably  and  variously 
gifted ; his  intellect  was  sound  by  nature  and  improved  by 
application ; his  voice  was  one  of  uncommon  compass  and 
sweetness,  and  his  action  and  utterance  dignified  and 
highly  graceful.”  Among  his  closing  utterances  were: 
“I  die  in  great  peace  with  God  and  all  men.”  “God  is 
with  me,  and  lights  up  the  gloomy  pathway.”  “Christ 
is  mine,  and  I am  His  saved  and  redeemed  servant;  for 
such  a hope  as  this  let  the  world’s  foundation  be  cast 


Ministers  Sent  Forth  in  1807-08. 


189 


away.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  IV,  1851,  p. 

551-) 

Revs.  Divers,  Reynolds,  Daniels  and  Church.  . 

March  2,  1807,  the  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  Balti- 
more under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Asbury.  No 
change  was  made  in  the  eldership  of  the  Monongahela 
District.  The  Erie  Circuit  had  three  preachers : Caleb 

Reynolds,  Abraham  Daniels,  and  Timothy  Divers;  and 
the  Shenango  Circuit,  two,  James  Watts  and  Thomas 
Church. 

Mr.  Divers  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference in  1806,  but  was  discontinued  at  the  close  of  the 
year  of  service  on  Erie  Circuit. 

The  “General  Minutes”  dismiss  Caleb  Reynolds  with 
this  brief  mention:  “He  was  born  in  Anne  Arundel 

County,  Maryland,  in  1785.  In  1802,  under  the  Metho- 
dist ministry,  he  was  made  a partaker  of  the  pardoning 
grace  of  God.  In  1805  he  entered  the  traveling  ministry 
in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  in  which  he  continued  until 
his  death. 

“Brother  Reynolds  was  laborious  and  successful  as  a 
minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  many  precious  souls  can 
experimentally  witness.  He  departed  this  life  in  peace 
and  triumph,  on  the  seventh  of  October,  1827,  at  the 
parsonage  house  in  Montgomery  Circuit,  Maryland.” — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  /.,  1827,  p.  573.)  His 
appointments  previous  to  that  in  our  conference  were: 
1805,  third  preacher  on  the  Stafford  Circuit  with  E. 
Matthews  and  J.  Smith;  1806,  Bottetourt,  with  Samuel 
Phillips  in  charge  of  the  circuit.*  He  was  ordained 
deacon  in  1807,  and  elder  in  1809.  He  was  effective  ex- 
cept for  four  years,  sustaining  a supernumerary  relation 
two  years,  and  a superannuated  relation  the  same  length 
of  time.* 

“Abraham  Daniels  was  licensed  to  preach  and  rec- 
ommended to  the  Baltimore  Conference  by  the  quarterly 
conference  of  Erie  Circuit,  and  was  the  second  man  sent 

*His  later  appointments  were:  1808,  1809,  Winchester;  1810, 

Stafford;  1811,  Loudoun;  1812,  Stafford  and  Fredericksburg; 
1813,  1814,  superannuated;  1815,  Stafford;  1816,  Stafford  and 
Fredericksburg;  1817,  Frederick;  1818,  Alexandria;  1819,  1820, 
Chambersburg;  1821,  1822,  Carlisle;  1823,  1824,  Jefferson;  1825, 
1826,  Frederick;  1827,  Montgomery. 


190 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


out  from  this  territory  into  the  itinerant  ministry.  He 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  March 
14,  1806,  and  appointed  junior  preacher  on  the  West 
W heeling  Circuit,  and  now  in  1807,  second  preacher  on 
the  Erie  Circuit.  At  the  end  of  this  year  he  was  re- 
ceived into  full  connection  and  ordained  a deacon,  and 
in  1810  an  elder.  He  served  Fell’s  Point  City  in  1808; 
Pittsburg  in  1809;  New  River  in  1810;  Monongahela  in 
1 8 1 1 ; Grand  River  in  1812;  1813,  his  name  is  among 
those  who  located,  and  is  on  the  roll  of  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference. 

“Mr.  Daniels  was  large  in  stature,  robust  in  health, 
possessed  a clear,  strong  mind,  and  was  a stern  defender 
of  Methodist  doctrines  and  discipline,  and  might  have 
become  one  of  our  first  and  best  men.  But  becoming 
discouraged  with  the  hardships  and  sacrifices  of  the  itine- 
rant work,  he  located  in  1813,  and  returned  to  his  former 
home  in  Randolph,  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  where  he 
finally  died,  we  trust,  in  the  Lord.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  77.) 

Thomas  Church  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1802.  He  was  appointed  to  Montgomery 
the  same  year;  to  Frederick,  in  1803 ; to  Calvert,  in  1804; 
to  Pittsburg,  in  1805;  to  Greenfield,  in  1806;  to  She- 
nango  with  James  Watts,  in  1807;  to  Ohio,  in  1808;  to 
West  Wheeling  in  1809;  and  located  in  1810,  and  re- 
mained in  this  relation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Warrenton,  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  June  8,  1847,  111  the 

I eighty-first  year  of  his  age.  “Brother  Church  main- 

tained a good  character  while  he  lived : he  was  considered 
in  some  respects  a very  singular  man,  and  powerful  in 
prayer.  He  bore  his  afflictions  with  some  tolerable  de- 
gree of  patience,  and  gave  evidence  that  he  had  not  be- 
lieved in  vain  on  the  Savior  of  Sinners.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  Aug.  18,  1847.) 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  Georgetown,  D.  C., 
March  2,  1808.  Thornton  Fleming  returned  to  the 
Monongahela  District.  Job  Guest  and  William  Butler 
were  sent  to  Erie,  and  James  Charles  to  Shenango.  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  there  were  reported  from  the  district 
nine  hundred  eighty-nine  members,  an  increase  of  sixty- 
one.  “Erie  Circuit  is  again  compressed  into  a four 
weeks’  circuit.” 


Ministers  Sent  Forth  in  1807-08. 


191 


Job  Guest. 

Job  Guest  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference in  1806.  His  first  field  of  service  was  Harford 
with  Solomon  Harris  in  charge;  his  second,  Huntingdon 
where  he  labored  as  third  preacher  with  Morris  Howe, 
and  C.  Warfield ; and  his  third,  Erie.  He  was  but  one 
year  on  Erie  Conference  territory.  We  take  the  follow- 
ing from  the  memoir  in  the  “General  Minutes” : 

“Rev.  Job  Guest,  a man  of  God,  full  of  days,  full  of 
good  works,  and  rich  in  all  the  virtues  which  adorn  min- 
isterial character,  died  December  15,  1857,  aged  seventy- 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1806,  this  faithful  servant 
of  God  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Annual 
Conference.  In  1808  he  was  received  into  full  connec- 
tion and  ordained  deacon  by  Francis  Asbury;  in  1810  he 
was  ordained  elder  by  William  McKendree.  As  to  his 
toils  and  sufferings,  he  might  justly  have  adopted  the 
language  of  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles : ‘In  labors 
abundant,  in  fastings  oft,  in  persecutions,  in  afflictions,’ 
etc.  From  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  on  the  north,  with  all 
the  intermediate  territory  on  the  south  to  the  waters  of 
the  Chesapeake  Bay,  together  with  all  Western  Mary- 
land, Western  Pennsylvania,  and  Northern  and  South- 
western Virginia,  was  formed  the  field  over  which  his  la- 
bors were  distributed  by  the  proper  authorities : and  nobly 
did  he  fulfil  his  mission,  ‘to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God.'  And  God  gave  him  great  acceptability 
among  the  people,  and  much  success  in  winning  souls  to 
Christ.  He  was  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  talents, 
and  was  instrumental  in  adding  many  hundreds,  not  to 
say  thousands,  to  the  fold  of  the  Redeemer  during  a 
ministry  of  nearly  fifty  years  of  effective  service.” 

William  Butler  and  James  Charles. 

He  was  “a  man  of  great  amenity  of  manners,  uni- 
formly polite  and  courteous  in  his  intercourse  with  so- 
ciety, and  was  generally  regarded  as  a fine  model  of  a 
Christian  minister  and  Christian  gentleman.” — (Minutes 
of  Conferences , Vol.  VII'.  1858,  />/>.  8-9.) 

William  Butler  was  born  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  Ire- 
land, Sep.  .13,  1783  : and  in  1786  his  father  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Pennsylvania.  In  very  early  life  he  was 


192 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


convinced  of  his  need  of  salvation,  but  there  was  no 
friend  to  show  him  the  way  and  lead  him  into  the  bles- 
sing. In  his  nineteenth  year  he  moved  to  Carlisle  where 
he  heard  Methodist  preaching.  He  united  with  the 
Church  as  a seeker  July  22,  1802;  and  under  the  preach- 
ing of  \\  ilson  Lee  at  a quarterly  meeting,  his  soul  was 
set  at  liberty.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1807.  Erie  was  his  second  appointment. 
With  the  exception  of  two  years,  during  which  he  was 
superannuated  by  sickness,  he  continued  in  the  work  until 
1844  when  he  was  made  supernumerary.  He  died  at 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  January  11,  1852.  ‘‘It  appears 
from  his  own  diary,  that  on  the  different  circuits  which 
he  traveled,  nearly  four  thousand  souls  were  added  to  the 
Church:  William  Butler  was  a man  of  deep  piety,  and 
of  great  consistency  of  character.  He  was  esteemed  by 
those  who  knew  him,  as  a sincere  and  ardent  friend  and 
a holy  man  of  God.  As  a preacher,  though  not  possess- 
ing talents  of  the  first  order,  he  was  always  acceptable 
and  useful.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  V.,  1852, 
pp.  8,  p.) 

James  Charles  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1806,  ordained  deacon  in  1808,  and  elder 
in  1810.  He  located  in  1815.  His  appointments  were: 
1806,  Lyttleton,  with  John  Holmes  in  charge  of  the  cir- 
cuit: 1807,  Lycoming,  with  William  Wolfe  as  his  as- 
sistant; 1808,  Shenango;  1809,  Erie,  with  J.  M.  Hanson 
and  J.  Decellum  as  second  and  third  preachers;  1810. 
Hartford,  with  James  Ewen  as  second  preacher.  He 
served  New  River  in  1811;  Randolph  in  1812;  Green- 
brier in  1813;  Walker’s  Creek  in  1814,  and  located  in 
1815. 

Holland  Purchase  Circuit  and  George  Lane. 

“In  1807  the  ‘Holland  Purchase  Circuit,’  with  Batavia 
for  its  most  important  center,  was  entered  on  the  minutes 
as  mission  ground,  and  two  missionaries  -were  appointed 
to  that  field” — Peter  Van  Ness  and  A.  Jenks.  In  1810 
this  circuit  returned  260  members. 

“The  Philadelphia  Conference  sent  out  its  pioneers 
along  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware,  and  their  tribu- 
taries, and  into  the  region  beyond,  and  held  jurisdiction 
over  all  the  territory  of  the  present  Wyoming  Conference, 


Holland  Purchase  Circuit  and  George  Lane.  193 

and  of  all  the  State  of  New  York  west  of  the  meridian 
of  Cayuga  Lake,  and  over  the  northern  tier  of  counties 
of  Pennsylvania.  This  resulted  simply  from  the  different 
lines  of  immigration,  and  this  latter  again  by  the  natural 
facilities  of  river  transportation.  The  preacher  followed 
the  track  of  the  new  settlements,  close  upon  the  debark- 
ation of  the  settlers. " — (Hibbard,  History  of  the  Late 
Genesee  Conference , pp.  14,  17.) 

George  Lane  was  born  near  Kingston,  Ulster  County, 
N.  Y.,  April  13,  1784.  His  ea~ly  life  was  marked  by  the 
toils  and  hardships  common  to  a new  country.  His 
Puritan  mother  exerted  a strong  religious  influence  over 
his  young  life.  He  was  convicted  in  1803  under  the 
preaching  of  Rev.  James  Heron  and  soon  after  converted 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
was  recognized  as  a man  of  Christian  virtue  and  mental 
power.  In  1804  he  was  employed  by  the  presiding  el- 
der of  the  Genesee  District  to  travel  the  Tioga  Circuit 
as  second  preacher.  In  1805  he  was  admitted  on  trial 
in  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  and  appointed  to  Scipio 
Circuit,  New  York,  which  was  six  hundred  miles  in  cir- 
cumference. The  next  year  he  was  appointed  to  Ac- 
comac  Circuit,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Virginia,  and  in 
1808  to  the  Holland  Purchase,  embracing  all  the  state 
of  New  York  west  of  Canandaigua.  This  was  mission 
work  indeed.  Often  he  would  travel  thirty  or  forty 
miles  without  seeing  a house.  Hunger  and  cold  were 
frequently  his  companions.  His  health  broke  under  these 
toils  and  exposures  and  he  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the 
work.  He  re-entered  the  traveling  connection  in  1819, 
but  was  again  compelled  to  locate,  after  years  of  toil  in 
the  Master's  service.  He  was  re-admitted  to  the  Oneida 
Conference  in  1834.  Later  he  became  a member  of  the 
New  Jersey  Conference.  He  continued  in  the  work  un- 
til 1852,  when  lie  was  superannuated.  In  1836  he  was 
elected  Assistant  Book  Agent,  and  in  1840  he  was  elected 
principal  agent.  He  was  connected  with  our  publishing 
interests  sixteen  years.  After  superannuation  he  lived  in 
Mount  Holly,  New  Jersey.  May  6,  1859,  “the  weary 
wheels  of  life  stood  still,  and  his  blood-washed  spirit 
went  home  to  God.” 


13 


194 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Preachers  for  1809. 

The  Baltimore  Conference  held  its  session  in  Harrison- 
burg, Virginia,  March  2,  1809.  .The  following  appoint- 
ments were  made : Monongahela  District,  Thornton 

Fleming;  Erie,  James  Charles,  J.  M.  Hanson,  John  De- 
cellum;  Shenango,  Jacob  Dowell,  Eli  Towne.  The  Erie 
Circuit  became  a six  weeks’  charge.  John  Decellum  was 
admitted  on  trial  this  year,  but  discontinued  at  its  close. 

James  M.  Hanson. 

James  M.  Hanson  served  on  Erie  Circuit  as  second 
preacher  one  year,  and  his  work  did  not  bring  him  again 
within  our  bounds.  He  was  born  in  Hampshire  County, 
Virginia,  in  1783;  and  died  at  Reisterstown,  Baltimore 
County,  Maryland,  March  15,  i860.  He  ivas  converted 
when  a youth,  licensed  to  preach  in  1808,  and  admitted  to 
the  Baltimore  Conference  on  trial  in  1809.  In  1815  he 
located,  but  was  re-admitted  in  1819.  After  the  con- 
ference of  1835,  his  name  was  connected  with  the  super- 
numerary and  superannuated  relations  until  the  close  of 
his  life.  He  was  a delegate  to  several  General  Confer- 
ences, and  on  one  occasion  was  elected  unanimously.  He 
was  “a  man  of  superior  ability,  both  as  a preacher  and  an 
administrator  of  ecclesiastical  law.  He  naturally  pos- 
sessed an  active  and  inquiring  mind ; and  though  his  early 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  he,  nevertheless,  by 
industrious  effort  and  studious  devotion,  so  triumphed 
over  discouragement  as  to  achieve  an  enviable  reputation 
for  intelligence  as  well  as  piety.  . . . Toward  the 

close  of  his  life  his  mind  became  very  much  impaired, 
which  was  no  less  a source  of  regret  to  the  Church  than 
of  affliction  to  his  family.  He  was,  however,  favored  by 
a kind  providence,  during  his  final  affliction,  with  lucid 
intervals,  when  he  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  con- 
fidence in  the  atonement  of  Christ.”* — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  VIII.,  1861,  pp.  11,  12.) 

*Mr.  Hanson’s  appointments  were:  1809,  Erie;  1810,  Monon- 

gahela; 1811,  Pittsburg;  1812,  Ohio;  1813,  Baltimore  City;  1814, 
Frederick  and  Fredericktown ; 1815,  name  disappears  from  the 
“General  Minutes”;  1819,  1820,  Loudoun;  1821,  1822,  Jefferson; 
1823,  1824,  Hagerstown;  1825,  1826,  Jefferson;  1827,  1828,  Balti- 
more City;  1829,  1830,  East  Baltimore;  1831,  1832,  Foundry; 
1833,  1834,  Georgetown;  1835,  supernumerary,  or  superannuated 
until  death. 


i95 


Preachers  for  1809. 

Jacob  Dowell  and  Eli  Towne. 

Jacob  Dowell  joined  our  itinerant  ranks  in  the  Balti- 
more Conference  in  1807,  was  ordained  deacon  in  1809, 
and  elder  in  1810.  In  1807  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Carlisle  Circuit  with  James  Hunter  in  charge;  and  in 
1808,  to  the  Montgomery  Circuit  with  Thomas  Budd  in 
charge.  He  was  with  us  at  Shenango  in  1809.  In  1810, 
his  appointment  is  “Indiana.”  Mr.  Gregg  says  that  he 
did  not  succeed  in  forming  a circuit  in  the  then  far  west, 
and  was  sent  by  the  elder  to  the  Erie  Circuit  to  assist 
Joshua  Monroe.  He  continued  to  “travel”  and  labor  un- 
til 1816  when  he  located — having  filled  the  following 
work:  1811,  Ohio;  1812,  Pittsburg;  1813,  Greenfield; 

1814,  Connellsville ; 1815,  Pittsburg. 

Eli  Town  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference in  1804.  He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1806,  and 
elder  in  1808.  His  name  disappears  from  the  “General 
Minutes”  in  1813  without  notation — he  having  served 
Federal,  West  Wheeling,  Calvert,  Severn,  Greenbrier, 
Shenango,  Great  Falls,  Frederick,  and  Juniata,  each  one 
year. 

Origin  of  Certain  Methodist  Customs. 

A number  of  customs  popularly  supposed  to  have  be- 
longed to  earliest  Methodism  were,  in  fact,  introduced  at 
a later  date.  This  may  not  be  an  inappropriate  place  in 
which  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  camp  meeting,  protracted 
meeting,  and  “mourners’  bench.” 

John  and  William  McGhee  were  brothers,  the  former  a 
Methodist  local  preacher,  the  later  an  ordained  Presby- 
terian minister  who  was  serving  a church  in  Sumner 
County,  Tennessee.  They  often  arranged  to  attend  meet- 
ings together.  In  1796,  living  contiguous  to  the  Green 
River  Country,  Kentucky,  poorly  supplied  with  ministers, 
yet  rapidly  filling  with  immigrants,  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  summer,  they  made  appointments  for  two  days’  meet- 
ings, in  a number  of  places  reaching  to  the  Ohio.  The 
first  of  these  appointments  was  at  the  Red  River  Meet- 
inghouse, one  of  the  congregations  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  James  McGready,  a Presbyterian  clergy- 
man. Revs.  William  Hoge  and  John  Rankin  were  also 
present  at  the  meeting.  On  Saturday,  William  McGhee 
preached.  On  the  Sabbath  William  Hoge  officiated  with 


196 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


an  opening  sermon,  and  was  followed  by  John  McGhee. 
The  congregation  filled  the  old  log  house,  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Ghee began  to  sing: 

/ 

“Come,  holy  spirit,  heavenly  dove, 

With  all  thy  quickening  powers, 

Kindle  a flame  of  sacred  love. 

In  these  cold  hearts  of  ours.” 

As  lie  sang,  he  noticed  Mrs.  Pacely  and  Mrs.  Clarke 
singularly  moved,  and  apparently  responding,  the  one  to 
the  other,  in  sentiments  of  praise.  He  passed  down  from 
the  pulpit,  and  began  to  shake  hands  with  the  people  as 
he  approached  these  two  happy  Christians.  Instantly  the 
congregation  began  to  fall  to  the  floor  as  he  passed  along, 
some  crying  for  mercy,  others  praising  God.  Among 
the  latter  was  William  McGhee.  Astonished  at  this  con- 
fusion in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  McGready,  Hoge,  and 
Rankin  made  out  of  the  door,  and  whispered  among  them- 
selves as  to  what  was  to  be  done.  Mr.  Hoge  now  re- 
turned to  the  door,  and  seeing  all  praying  or  praising, 
said  to  his  brethren:  “We  can  do  nothing.  If  this  be 

of  Satan,  it  will  soon  come  to  an  end.  But  if  of  God, 
our  efforts  and  fears  are  vain ! I think  it  is  of  God,  and 
will  join  in  giving  glory  to  His  name.”  The  three  min- 
isters then  re-entered  the  house.  There  was  no  place  for 
preaching  that  day.  Cries,  of  mercy,  and  shouts  of  praise 
filled  the  house.  That  evening  thirty  or  forty  professed 
conversion. 

The  next  appointment  was  at  the  Beech  Meeting-house, 
situated  a little  southeast  of  the  Cumberland  Ridge,  ten 
miles  west  of  Gallatin,  Sumner  County,  Tennessee,  and 
seventeen  miles  northeast  of  Nashville.  The  meetings 
were  held  on  Saturday  and  Sabbath.  The  news  of  the 
scenes  at  the  Red  River  Meeting-house  had  traveled 
rapidly.  At  this  point  similar  scenes  were  enacted,  and 
about  one  hundred  were  saved. 

The  next  meeting  was  at  Muddy  River,  three  miles 
east  of  Russellville.  Here  a vast  multitude  had  gathered 
from  one  hundred  miles  around.  The  house  could  hold 
but  a small  fraction  of  a congregation  so  immense.  A 
temporary  pulpit  was  erected  in  a contiguous  grove,  and 
seats  were  made  of  large  timbers  felled  for  that  purpose. 
Here  the  thousands  seated  themselves,  and  the  scenes  of 
former  occasions  were  repeated.  Men,  women,  and  chil- 


Origin  of  Certain  Methodist  Customs.  197 

dren  strewed  the  ground  like  forest  leaves — some  in 
ecstacies  of  joy  and  praise;  some  pleading  for  mercy. 
Never  had  such  a meeting  been  known  before — so  great 
was  the  number  of  “the  slain  of  the  Lord,”  as  it  has 
sometimes  been  called. 

“With  some  apprehension  of  mind,  some  of  those  who 
lived  nearest  the  place,  saw  night  approaching,  while  the 
meeting  grew  hourly  more  solemn  and  interesting,  the 
seekers  of  salvation  every  moment  increasing — and  be- 
gan to  think  how  these  mighty  multitudes,  so  great  a dis- 
tance from  their  homes,  after  night,  were  to  find  shelter, 
and  to  be  fed.  It  was  believed  by  them,  all  dwellings  for 
ten  miles  round,  put  in  requisition,  would  not  give  them 
shelter.  What  was  to  be  done?  ‘Eight  or  ten  of  us,’ 
said  the  venerable  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson,  ‘began  to  think 
of  the  same  difficulties  at  the  same  time.  We  hurried 
together,  as  if  by  accident,  and  began  to  talk  about  it. 
One  proposed  one  thing,  and  another  something  else.  I 
proposed  that  I and  my  neighbor.  Col.  Daniel  M.  Good- 
win, should  take  three  or  four  of  the  many  wagons  on 
the  ground,  hasten  to  our  treading  yards  and  barns,  and 
bring  all  the  straw  we  had  to  spread  the  ground.  Others 
to  go  to  sewing  together  wagon  sheets,  and  others  cutting 
forks  and  poles,  on  which  to  spread  the  same,  together 
with  counterpanes,  coverlets,  and  bed-sheets,  secured  to- 
gether likewise,  to  make  tents  or  camps,  while  others 
should  be  dispatched  to  town,  and  all  the  nearest  houses, 
to  gather  all  the  bacon,  flour,  and  meal,  and  cooking  uten- 
sils necessary,  in  which  to  prepare  the  provisions  for  the 
multitudes.  In  a few  hours  it  was  a sight  to  see  how 
much  was  gathered  together  for  our  encampment,  and 
food  for  the  hungry.  Soon  we  strewed  a half  acre,  at 
least,  with  the  straw,  pushed  up  a large  tent,  spreading 
over  the  pulpit  and  for  a distance  in  front,  and  then  ten 
or  twelve  smaller  ones,  in  order,  ranging  round  the 
ground  where  the  straw  and  people  were  spread,  standing 
and  sitting.  Fires  were  built,  cooking  begun,  and  by 
dark  candles  lighted  and  fixed  on  a hundred  trees  around 
and  . interspersing  the  ground  surrounded  by  the  tents, 
showing  forth  the  first,  and  I believe  still,  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  camp-meetings  the  world  has  even  seen.” 

The  meeting  continued  four  days  and  nights,  and  sev- 
eral hundred  professed  conversion. — ( Condensed  from 


198  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Legends  of  the  West,  by  T.  M.  Smith,  Esq.,  as  quoted  in 
the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Oct.  16,  1835.) 

The  Mourners’  Bench. 

Inviting  penitents  to  the  altar  was  not  a custom  of  the 
primitive  Methodism  of  England  or  America.  Joshua 
Monroe  says:  “When  I joined  the  Church  in  1803,  it 

was  common  for  penitents  to  be  invited  to  stay  in  class, 
and  then  the  preacher  or  leader  would  talk  to  them,,  and 
sometimes  special  prayer  would  be  offered  for  them. 
The  same  course  was  sometimes  pursued  at  prayer  meet- 
ings. But  in  1804,  Daniel  Hitt  was  superseded  in  the 
district  by  James  Ward;  and  during  his  term  of  service 
on  the  district,  there  was  a glorious  revival.  Many  were 
the  awakenings  and  powerful  conversions  which  took 
place  under  the  labors  of  this  zealous  and  faithful  little 
man.  At  camp-meetings,  and  sometimes  at  quarterly 
meetings,  humble  penitents  would  be  found  in  different 
parts  of  the  congregation,  and  sometimes  there  would  be 
a cluster  here,  and  another  there,  all  through  the  con- 
gregation, laboring  and  praying  with  these  penitents. 
This  sometimes  produced  great  confusion,  as  one  com- 
pany would  often  be  singing  while  another  were  engaged 
in  prayer.  Sometimes  the  penitents  were  so  numerous 
that  there  was  not  suitable  persons  enough  present  to 
labor  with  them  in  this  detached  and  scattered  situation. 
To  avoid  these  and  other  inconveniencies,  by  the  direc- 
tion of  Elder  Ward,  the  penitents  were  collected  to  one 
place ; — if  in  a church,  they  were  brought  near  the  pulpit ; 
if  at  camp-meeting,  near  the  stand,  to  a place  prepared 
for  that  purpose.  This  was  sometimes  called  the  ‘mourn- 
ers’ bench,’  and  afterwards  it  came  to  be  called  the 
‘altar.’  In  those  days  it  was  not  common  to  invite  per- 
sons to  the  altar  unless  there  were  clear  indications  of 
awakenings  in  the  congregation.  We  then  had  very  few 
protracted  meetings,  and  those  which  received  that  appel- 
lation were  such  in  reality,  protracted  beyond  the  time 
originally  intended,  or  ordinarily  devoted  to  one  place. 
Such  a meeting  they  had  in  Harrisonburg,  Rockingham 
County,  Virginia,  in  1802,  when  their  quarterly  meeting 
was  protracted  for  nine  days,  and  for  many  years  after- 
wards was  spoken  of  as  a most  remarkable  season,  on 
account  of  the  marvellous  displays  of  the  power  and  grace 


Origin  of  Certain  Methodist  Customs.  199 

of  God  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  sinners. 
Such  was  the  state  of  things  that  the  preachers  could  not 
bring  the  meeting  to  a close.  The  church  was  crowded 
day  and  night,  the  stores  and  shops  in  town  were  closed, 
all  business  suspended,  and  scarce  anything  talked  of  but 
religion.  Some  went  to  church  full  of  the  spirit  of  oppo- 
sition, and  in  a little  time  they  were  seen  trembling  under 
the  mighty  power  of  God.  Some  yielded,  and  obtained 
pardon  and  peace.  Others  fled ; and  some,  after  they 
reached  their  homes,  found  no  rest  for  their  spirits,  and 
either  returned  to  the  church,  or  sought  a secret  place  to. 
pray.  Some  found  peace  along  the  streets,  some  in  their 
stables,  and  some  in  their  own  houses,  so  that  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  was  heard  everywhere  throughout  the 
town.  Another  meeting  of  this  kind  was  held  in  Cum- 
berland, December,  1804.  It  commenced  on  Saturday, 
and  was  protracted  till  Tuesday  afternoon,  which  was 
New  Year’s  day;  during  which,  sixty-nine  persons  pro- 
fessed to  find  peace  with  God,  through  faith  in  Christ 
Jesus.  In  these  exercises  I participated  to  some  extent, 
being  present  through  most  of  the  meeting.  The  preach- 
ers who  were  present  and  labored  at  this  meeting  were : 
James  Ward,  James  Painter,  James  Reid,  Lewis  Chas- 
tene,  William  Crowens,  and  a number  of  local  preachers. 
This  was  the  most  remarkable  season  that  I ever  wit- 
nessed. While  Brother  Chastene  was  preaching  on  New 
Year’s  day,  a young  woman  who  was  of  a very  retiring 
and  quiet  disposition,  but  for  several  years  had  been  a 
sincere  seeker  of  salvation,  broke  out  in  shouts  of  praise, 
giving  glory  to  God  for  her  New  Year’s  gift  ; and  she 
rode  home  that  evening,  a distance  of  fifteen  miles,  and 
notwithstanding  it  was  bitter  cold,  and  snowing,  she 
scarcely  felt  the  cold,  such  was  the  happy  state  of  her 
mind. 

“The  practice  of  inviting  sinners  to  the  altar  for  prayer, 
has  been  continued  from  that  time  down  to  the  present, 
and  has  no  doubt  been  attended  with  good  results ; and  it 
would  seem  that  other  denominations  have  been  con- 
vinced of  the  excellency  of  the  plan,  for  they  have  adopted 
a similar  custom.  For  whether  we  call  it  ‘the  mourners’ 
bench,’  The  anxious  seat,’  or  The  altar  of  prayer,’  the  ob- 
ject to  be  gained  is  the  same.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  Feb.  14,  1854.) 


VI. 


TWO  JACOBS,  ONE  JOSHUA,  ONE  BENJAMIN. 

In  1810,  the  Monongahela  District  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Lake  Erie,  on  the  east  by  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tains, on  the  south  by  the  Greenbrier  mountains,  and  on 
the  west  by  the  setting  sun.  Jacob  Gruber  was  appointed 
to  this  District  by  the  Baltimore  Conference,  which  met, 
under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Asbury,  in  Baltimore, 
March  9,  1810.  Bishop  William  McKendree  was  also 
present  at  this  Conference.  Joshua  Monroe  was  sent  to 
the  Erie  Circuit.  The  old  Erie  Circuit  had  been  divided, 
and  the  present  circuit  was  taken  from  its  eastern  part. 
Jacob  Dowell  was  junior  preacher.  The  western  part 
of  the  old  Erie  Circuit  was  called  “Hartford  Circuit,’’ 
and  James  Charles  and  James  Ewen  were  the  circuit 
preachers.  James  Watts  was  appointed  to  the  historic 
Shenango  Circuit. 

Mr.  Monroe  says : “Erie  was  now  a four  weeks'  cir- 

cuit, of  about  two  hundred  miles,  with  twenty-three  ap- 
pointments. The  most  prominent  of  these  were.  Brush's 
meeting-house,  in  West  Springfield,  Erie  County ; 
Leech's,  on  Little  Shenango;  Mumford's,  near  Mead- 
ville;  Pithole;  Mrs.  Mitchell's,  in  Venango;  and  Ford’s, 
on  French  Creek  Flats,  in  Erie  County.  Our  appoint- 
ments were  all  in  private  houses,  except  Mercer,  where 
we  used  the  school  house,  and  Brush's  meeting-house. 
This  was  built  of  round  logs  and  covered  with  clap- 
boards.” 

Jacob  Gruber  and  His  Eccentricities. 

Jacob  Gruber,  a blacksmith  by  trade,  was  an  original 
character,  always  and  everywhere  the  same.  "He  never 
lost  his  individuality  as  one  of  the  most  humorous,  witty, 
and  yet  withal  grave  and  earnest  preachers  of  his  day.” 
He  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  3, 
1778.  He  joined  the  Conference  at  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century,  and  was  soon  recognized  as  a young  man  of 


202 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


great  promise.  He  had  listened  with  amazement  to  itiner- 
ant preachers.  “There  was  such  a fervor  in  their  prayers, 
and  such  a zeal  and  earnestness  in  their  preaching,  full  of 
home,  practical  truths,  and  such  a power  in  their  songs, 
that  he  was  entirely  fascinated,  and  soon  became  con- 
vinced of  the  need  of  conversion.”  He  was  converted 
and  began  to  exercise  his  talent  as  an  exhorter.  His  fam- 
ily turned  against  him  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave  home. 
His  first  appointment  was  to  the  Tioga  Circuit,  and  for 
six  months  labor  he  received  a salary  of  five  dollars  and 
sixty-seven  cents.  In  1807  he  was  made  presiding  elder 
of  the  Greenbrier  District  of  the  Baltimore  Conference. 
At  the  Conference  of  1810  he  was  appointed  presiding 
elder  of  the  Monongahela  District  which  embraced  all  the 
country  between  Laurel  Ridge  and  Lake  Erie,  including 
Clarksburg  in  Virginia,  and  Armstrong  County  in  Penn- 
sylvania. The  circuits  of  four  weeks  embraced  thirty  or 
forty  appointments  each,  and  with  one  exception  were 
supplied  with  a single  preacher.  Mr.  Gruber  said  to  his 
preachers  : “Hard  work,  but  good  and  certain  pay ; bread 

and  meat  given,  and  water,  living  water  sure,  including 
grace  and  glory,  everything  that  is  good  here,  and  a crown 
hereafter.” 

Many  stories  are  related  which  illustrate  his  eccentric 
methods.  On  coming  to  one  of  his  Circuits,  he  heard 
loud  complaints  on  account  of  the  length  of  the  sermons 
preached  by  the  young  minister  who  had  been  appointed 
to  this  work.  Mr.  Gruber  concluded  to  say  nothing,but  to 
judge  for  himself.  He  requested  the  young  minister  to 
preach  the  sermon  Saturday  evening.  Mr.  Gruber  sat 
more  than  an  hour  listening  to  the  first  head  of  the  ser- 
mon. As  he  branched  off  on  the  second  head  he  re- 
marked, “Here  a vast  field  opens  to  our  view.”  Gruber 

could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  raising  his  hands  in  fear  and 
dread,  exclaimed  : “Coot  Got,  put  up  dem  pars  and  don’t 

let  him  into  dat  pig  field  or  we’ll  not  get  him  out  to-night.  ’ 
The  sermon  was  brought  to  a speedy  close,  and  the  con- 
gregation were  grateful. — (Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism, Eric  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  87,  88.) 

Mr.  Gruber  was  especially  severe  upon  the  fashions  of 
the  times.  He  said  that  some  preachers  did  not  hit  the 
mark  because  their  arrow  was  “stopped  in  the  trimming, 
rigging,  muff,  dresses,  bustles,  and  fashionable  gear  of 


The  Eccentric  Jacob  Gruber.  203 

their  wives  and  daughters.”  He  did  not  like  the  “fash- 
ionable flummery”  of  the  cities.  He  detested  as  an  abomi- 
nation “the  petticoat  and  habit”  of  the  times.  At  a camp- 
meeting held  near  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  a number  of 
ladies  appeared  in  this  fashionable  attire.  He  determined 
to  administer  a public  rebuke,  and  did  this  in  his  original 
way.  During  a prayer-meeting,  several  of  these  ladies 
were  seated  together.  He  gave  out  a hymn,  which  was 
then  popular,  with  the  chorus  : 

“I  want  to  get  to  heaven, 

My  long  sought  rest.” 

The  ladies  sung  with  animation,  and  Mr.  Gruber  joined 
in  the  singing,  taking  a seat  near  them.  It  was  soon  dis- 
covered that  he  had  changed  the  chorus,  singing : 

“I  want  to  get  to  heaven, 

With  my  long  short  dress.” 

Soon  he  was  left  to  sing  alone,  which  he  did  most  lust- 
ily: 

“With  my  long  short  dress.” 

This  fashion  disturbed  him  no  more.*  He  was  severe 
in  his  rebuke,  but  amusing  and  quaint. 

A young  preacher,  who  held  Mr.  Gruber  in  high  ad- 
miration, wrote  him,  asking  his  advice  as  to  how  he  might 
improve  his  oratory  in  which  he  took  not  a little  pride. 
Now,  this  young  man  had  contracted  the  habit  of  pro- 
longing his  words,  especially  when  under  the  influence  of 
great  excitement.  Mr.  Gruber  recognized  this  as  his 
greatest  defect  in  his  elocution ; and  wrote  him  as  follows : 

“Dear-Ah ! Brother- Ah ! — When-ah  you-ah  go-ah  to-ah 
preach-ah.  take-ah  care-ah  you-ah  don’t-ah  say-ah  Ah-ah ! 

“Yours-ah, 

“Jacob-ah  Gruber-ah.” 

A cane,  a cigar,  gloves,  anything  beyond  the  severest 
simplicity  in  manners  and  dress  greatly  afflicted  him.  He 
was  an  enemy  to  tea  and  coffee.  He  liked  nothing  of 
gracefulness  or  polish  in  sermons.  At  times  he  seems  to 
have  tried  to  be  rough  and  uncouth. — (Strickland,  Life 

♦Joshua  Monroe  doubts  the  historicity  of  the  story;  but  it  at 
least  illustrates  the  popular  belief  as  to  the  eccentricities  of  Mr. 
Gruber.  Mr.  Strickland’s  Life  of  Gruber  was  evidently  prepared 
in  haste  and  not  worthy  of. the  subject. 


From  Hurst’s  History  01  Methodism 


by  pern. ission  of  EATON  & MAIN! 


Rev.  Jacob  Gruber. 


The  Eccentric  Jacob  Gruber. 


205 


of  Jacob  Gruber , pp.  78-80,  86,  89.)  He  possessed  great 
versatility  of  talent,  inexhaustible  wit,  and  readiness  ui 
powerful  repartee  which  made  him  a favorite  with  many. 

The  following  story  is  still  repeated.  On  one  occasion, 
when  ready  to  commence  preaching,  he  met  with  con- 
siderable difficulty  in  getting  the  congregation  seated. 
A number  were  standing  on  the  seats,  and  among  them 
were  several  ladies.  Gruber  made  another  effort.  Rais- 
ing his  voice,  he  said : “If  those  young  ladies  only  knew 

what  great  holes  they  have  in  their  stockings  they 
wouldn’t  be  standing  on  the  bench  where  they  can  be  seen 
by  everybody.”  This  was  effectual.  One  of  the  preach- 
ers afterwards  asked  him  how  he  knew  the  ladies  had 
holes  in  their  stockings.  “Why,”  he  replied,  “did  you 
ever  know  stockings  without  holes  in  them  ? How, 
otherwise,  could  they  get  their  feet  in?” 

It  has  been  affirmed  that  “he  performed  more  work, 
preached  more  sermons,  endured  more  fatigue  and  hard- 
ship, with  less  abatement  of  mental  and  physical  energy, 
than  perhaps  any  other  minister  of  his  time.” — (Stevens, 
History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Vol.  III.,  p. 
432-)  ' 

The  following  rules  for  a preacher,  found  among  his 
papers,  may  still  be  read  with  profit : 

“1.  Let  your  eye  be  single;  seek  nothing  but  God;  let 
your  schemes,  plans  and  views  begin  and  end  in  Him. 

“2.  Make  not  this  man  or  that  man  your  model ; be 
yourself,  and  aim  and  reach  toward  the  true  model  of  all 
excellence,  that  is,  Jesus  Christ. 

“3.  Avoid,  as  much  as  may  be  consistent  with  your 
duty,  all  conversation  and  unnecessary  intercourse  with 
the  young,  gay,  volatile,  and  vain. 

“4.  Fly  from  idleness,  lounging,  gossiping,  etc. ; your 
Bible  and  other  valuable  books,  prayer  and  meditation, 
and  your  duty  as  a preacher,  will  leave  no  time  to  run  to 
waste.  Weeds,  briers,  and  thorns  take  possession  of  un- 
cultivated fields. 

“5.  Remember,  it  is  a great  mercy  that  although  you 
may  be  greatly  useful  in  the  Church  and  instrumental  in 
doing  much  good,  yet  all  this  is  hid  from  your  eyes,  or  at 
least  you  see  no  more  than  barely  suffices  as  an  encourage- 
ment to  proceed  in  your  work.  It  is  a mercy,  because  if 
you  saw  much  fruit  it  might  prove  a temptation  of  a most 


206 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


dangerous  kind.  Again,  if  you  saw  none  you  would 
doubt  your  call,  be  discouraged,  and  your  spirit  sink. 
Therefore  it  is  good  for  us  to  aim  high,  strive  to  convert 
the  world,  and  put  out  all  our  strength  to  pull  down  the 
pillars  of  Dagon's  temple.  Yet  be  contented;  indeed, 
rather  pray  to  God  that  you  may  see  but  little  in  this 
world,  but  much  in  the  day  of  eternity. 

“6.  Do  not  forget  a Methodist  traveling  preacher  has 
every  year,  in  every  new  circuit,  a character  to  establish. 
The  eyes  of  all  are  upon  him.  Do  not  say,  nay,  do  not 
even  think,  I don't  care  what  people  say  of  me.  This  is 
not  the  language  of  humility.  They  will  indeed,  it  may 
be,  think  and  say  too  much  evil  of  you ; but  certainly  you 
must  be  careful  to  give  them  no  cause.  Remember,  they 
that  have  great  obiects  in  view  can  sacrifice  little  things. 

. Your  dress,  your  food,  your  company,  your 
very  looks  and  whole  deportment  must  all  say  to  all  men, 
I am  crucified  with  Christ.  Therefore  for  a man  who  has 
thus  solemnly  devoted  himself  to  God  to  make  a fuss 
about  his  food,  be  nice  and  particular  in  his  dress,  to  show 
a fondness  for  a fine  horse  and  gaudy  trappings  about  his 
horse,  etc.,  to  sleep  and  doze  away  his  mornings  and  even- 
ings when  in  health,  or  to  be  surly,  tart,  crusty,  and  hasty 
in  conversation,  all  show  a little,  vain  mind,  and  want  cf 
grace  or  want  or  understanding  or  both. 

“7.  Feed  your  horse,  clean  your  boots,  . 
help  the  family  make  the  fire,  be  courteous,  humble,  con- 
descending ; let  love  sparkle  in  your  eyes,  expand  your 
heart,  give  agility  to  your  feet,  tune  and  oil  the  organs  of 
your  speech,  and  let  all  your  words  and  works  show  that 
your  heart  and  conversation  are  in  heaven. 

“8.  Call  no  man  master,  yet  reverence,  respect,  and 
greatly  venerate  men  of  holy  lives,  especially  the  old 
prophets  of  the  Lord ; yet  no  man’s  ipse  dixit  is  to  be  your 
creed.  Think  for  yourself;  speak  modestly;  yet  some- 
times you  must  do  this  firmly,  in  matters  of  great  mo- 
ment; and  a man  may  maintain  a firm,  unshaken  mind, 
when  at  the  same  time  his  words  and  manners  may  be  all 
meekness,  humility,  and  condescension ; and  this,  in  fact, 
is  the  very  spirit  and  temper  of  a Methodist  preacher  if  he 
has  the  spirit  of  his  station.” 


d 


The  Eccentric  Jacob  Gruber.  207 

The  following  sketch  is  from  the  “General  Minutes” : 

“Rev.  Jacob  Gruber,  the  subject  of  the  following 
memoir,  who  has  been  so  long  and  so  extensively  known 
as  a laborious  and  faithful  watchman  on  the  walls  of 
Zion,  and  who  in  the  early  part  of  the  past  year  closed  his 
protracted  career,  was  born  in  County,  Pennsyl- 

vania, February  3,  1778. 

“His  parents,  Peter  and  Plantina  Gruber,  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent  and  dialect,  and 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  religious  ex- 
perience dates  back  to  his  juvenile  years;  for  he  was 
awakened  and  converted  to  God,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, when  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  old,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Methodist  ministry.  So  deep, 
thorough,  and  genuine  was  the  work  of  God  in  his  heart, 
and  so  consistent  was  his  life,  even  at  this  early  period, 
that  no  trials,  no  afflictions,  however  severe,  not  even  ex- 
pulsion from  the  parental  roof,  could  shake  his  consis- 
tency, or  frighten  him  from  duty.  At  the  earliest  op- 
portunity, and  against  the  remonstrances  of  his  parents, 
he  threw  himself  into  the  bosom  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church : and  his  strong  and  ardent  attachment  to  her 
doctrines,  discipline,  and  usages,  never  afterwards  abated. 
As  a class-leader  and  exhorter,  though  but  a youth,  his 
faithfulness  and  zeal  were  crowned  with  remarkable  suc- 
cess; and  when  pressed  to  the  necessity  of  making  his 
election  between  an  abandonment  of  his  religion,  or  of  his 
father's  house,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  choose  the  latter. 
Such  were  the  circumstances  under  which  he  was  literally 
thrust  into  the  ministry,  being  a little  more  than  twenty- 
two  years  old. 

“He  was  admitted  on  trial,  as  a travelling  preacher,  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  spring  of  1800. 
and  continued  to  labor  with  almost  unparalleled  zeal  and 
industry  for  fifty  years,  without  an  intermission  of  four 
consecutive  weeks  at  any  one  time  from  any  cause  what- 
ever. The  General  Minutes  show,  that  his  work  was  dis- 
tributed as  follows : The  circuits  he  traveled  were : 

Tioga,  Oneida,  Cayuga,  Dauphin,  Carlisle,  Win- 
chester, Rockingham,  Frederick,  Bristol,  Lancaster,  Bur- 
lington, Chester,  Gloucester,  Salem,  Waynesburg,  Port 
Deposit,  Lewiston,  Mifflin,  Trough  Creek,  Warrior’s 
Mark,  Shirleysburg,  and  Huntingdon.  The  stations  he 


208 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


filled  were : Baltimore  City,  St.  George’s  in  Philadelphia, 

Sharp  Street  and  Asburv,  in  Baltimore,  and  Ebenezer,  in 
Washington.  He  was  presiding  elder  on  Greenbrier, 
Monongahela,  and  Carlisle  Districts,  making  thirty-two 
years  on  circuits,  seven  on  stations,  and  eleven  on  dist- 
ricts. 

“It  may  well  be  said  that  he  was  a singular  and  extra- 
ordinary man, — singular  as  well  for  his  strength  and  orig- 
inality of  mind,  energy  of  character,  depth  of  piety,  pro- 
digious labors,  powers  of  endurance,  and  extensive  use- 
fulness, as  for  the  abstemiousness,  simplicity,  economy, 
and  regularity  of  his  habits. 

“hie  was  a man  of  untiring  energy  and  industry.  Ilis 
energy  was  kindled,  his  principles  moulded,  and  his  habits 
formed  in  the  school  of  early  Methodism,  and  after  the 
model  of  some  of  the  most  efficient  Methodist  preachers. 
And  though  generally  harsh,  and  often  severe,  perhaps  to 
an  excess,  yet  he  was  always  sincere  and  honest.  Of  him 
it  mav  be  said  with  truth,  that  he  was  ‘in  labors  more 
abundant.’ 

“His  naturally  strong  and  vigorous  mind,  which  seemed 
to  ripen  and  mature  with  his  years,  exhibited  no  diminu- 
tion of  strength  up  to  the  last  hour  of  his  earthly  ex- 
istence. 

“As  a theologian  he  was  sound  and  orthodox. 
Thoroughly  read  up  in  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  from 
the  works  of  Wesley  and  Fletcher,  and  catching  the  living 
inspiration  from  the  lips  of  Asbury,  Whatcoat,  McKen- 
dree,  and  others,  these  doctrines  became  his  system  of 
divinity,  in  the  defense  of  which  he  never  faltered.  As  a 
preacher  his  pulpit  discourses  were  generally  good,  and 
sometimes  overwhelming.  In  exposing  false  doctrine,  or 
unmasking  false  religion,  he  was  always  caustic,  and  often 
successful. 

“Though  provided  by  Providence  with  a constitution  of 
extraordinary  strength,  and  favored  with  good  health  for 
half  a century,  yet  gathering  infirmities  admonished  him 
that  the  evening  of  his  life  of  toil  was  at  hand.  He 
finished  his  work  on  Lewiston  Circuit.  Unable  to  at- 
tend the  Conference  at  its  last  session,  he  sent  on  a re- 
quest that  he  might  be  permitted  to  retire  from  active 
service,  and  enjoy  his  jubilee  after  fifty  years  of  hard 
work,  which  was  granted,  and  his  name  was  transferred 


The  Eccentric  Jacob  Gruber. 


209 


to  the  superannuated  list.  But  disease,  which  had  been 
gradually  undermining  his  constitution  for  a considerable 
time,  hastened  in  its  progress  by  excessive  toil  and  ex- 
posure, soon  developed  fearful  symptoms,  that  baffled 

all  medical  skill,  and  in  less  than  three  months  reached  its 
fatal  termination. 

“Not  allowing  himself  to  indulge  any  certain  hope  of 
recovery,  he  adjusted  his  temporal  affairs,  anticipated  ap- 
proaching dissolution  with  great  composure,  and  joyfully 
awaited  the  summons  of  his  Lord  from  a couch  of  suffer- 
ing to  a crown  of  glory.  He  was  graciously  sustained 
throughout  his  extreme  affliction,  and  often  rejoiced  amid 
paroxysms  of  agony.  The  hour  of  his  departure  came, 
and  found  him  ready  to  meet  it,  calm,  peaceful,  and  happy. 

“A  few  hours  before  he  expired,  he  inquired  of  a 
preacher  at  his  bedside  whether  he  thought  it  possible  for 
him  to  survive  through  another  night,  and  was  answered 
in  the  negative,  whereupon  he  exclaimed : ‘Then,  to- 

morrow I shall  spend  my  first  Sabbath  in  Heaven ; last 
Sabbath  in  the  Church  on  earth,  next  Sabbath  in  the 
Church  above' ; and  with  great  emotion  continued,  ‘where 
congregations  ne'er  break  up,  and  Sabbaths  never  end.' 

“He  had  expressed  a wish,  that  when  he  was  about  to 
depart,  if  it  could  be  ascertained,  a few  brethren  and  sis- 
ters should  be  present  and  'see  him  safe  off,’  and  all  join 
and  sing  in  full  chorus : 

‘On  Jordan’s  stormy  banks  I stand, 

And  cast  a wishful  eye,’  etc. 

This,  his  last  wish , was  gratified.  Perceiving  that  he  was 
fast  sinking,  he  was  asked  if  he  felt  that  he  was  on  the 
banks  of  Jordan,  to  which  with  great  difficulty  he  replied, 
(and  these  were  his  last  words,)  feel  that  I am:'  The 
hymn  he  had  selected  was  commenced,  and  before  it  was 
concluded,  his  consciousness  was  gone,  an  overwhelming 
sense  of  God's  presence  filled  the  room  and  melted  every 
heart — a minute  more,  and  his  happy  spirit  passed  away 
to  its  long-sought  rest,  without  a struggle  or  a groan. 
So  calmly,  so  peacefully,  did  he  fall  asleep  in  Jesus,  on 
the  25th  day  of  May,  1850,  aged  seventy-two  years,  three 
months,  and  twenty-two  days. 

“His  divine  Master,  in  His  infinite  wisdom,  deemed  it 
proper  to  change  the  place , the  period , and  the  character 
of  his  much-desired  jubilee , from  earth  to  Heaven;  from 


14 


210 


' History  of  Erie  Conference. 


a year  to  an  eternity  of  rest : instead  of  a body  of  infirmity 
and  suffering  to  mar  its  enjoyment,  he  has  received  a 
crown  of  glory,  honor,  and  immortality.” — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  IV.,  1851,  pp.  549,  55°-) 

James  Ewen  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1809,  ordained  deacon  in  1811,  and  elder 
in  1813.  He  located  in  1814.  His  appointments  were: 

1809,  Huntingdon,  with  David  Stevens  in  charge;  1810, 

Hartford,  with  James  Charles  in  charge;  1811,  Erie; 
1812,  third  preacher  on  Carlisle  Circuit,  with  W.  Houston 
and  N.  Lodge;  1813,  Harford,  with  Jacob  Snyder  in 

charge. 

Joshua  Monroe. 

During  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  in 

1810,  one  day  Bishop  Asbury  looked  over  the  assembly  of 

preachers  and  said : “Hard  times,  who  will  go  to  New 

River?  Who  will  go  to  Monroe?  And  who  will  go  to 
Erie?”  Joshua  Monroe  was  sitting  near  Jacob  Gruber, 
and  leaning  over  whispered  in  his  ear,  ‘Tell  him  I will  go 
to  Erie.”  The  next  day  the  Bishop,  raising  his  glasses, 
asked:  “Who  is  this  Brother  Monroe?  I want  to  see 

him.”  Mr.  Monroe  arose  and  bowed,  and  resumed  his 
seat.  The  Bishop  said  nothing,  but  resumed  the  business 
of  the  Conference.  Mr.  Monroe  went  by  way  of  Pitts- 
burg, through  Harmony  and  Mercer,  to  Mr.  Crows  on 
the  Little  Shenango,  and  on  Sunday,  April  1 8th,  preached 
at  Jared  Brush’s,  Springfield  Township.  It  was  a four 
weeks’  circuit  embracing  Mercer,  Franklin,  Meadville, 
and  Erie.  He  says : “At  that  time  we  had  no  society  in 

any  of  the  above  named  towns,  nor  any  regular  preaching 
except  in  Franklin,  where  I formed  a class  of  six  members 
before  I left  the  circuit.”  Jacob  Dowell,  his  colleague, 
was  removed  from  the  District  before  the  close  of  the 
year  and  his  place  supplied  by  a local  preacher.  Mr. 
Monroe  preached  in  Erie  but  once.  There  was  little  to 
encourage  work  in  that  place.  He  continued  to  preach  in 
Mercer  but  formed  no  society ; and  preached  occasionally 
in  Meadville.  He  speaks  of  his  attempt  to  reach  Kinzua : 
“I  set  off  from  Mitchell’s  on  Oil  creek,  about  the  second 
of  January,  1811,  and  late  in  the  evening,  by  a most 
lonely  route.  I reached  ’Squire  Mead’s  on  Brokenstraw, 
where  I was  hospitably  entertained.  Next  day,  pursuing 


Joshua  Monroe. 


2 II 


my  way  to  Warren,  a very  small  village,  I stopped  and  fed 
my  horse  at  a tavern.  And  now  I found  the  Conewango 
river  to  be  impassable,  so  that  I had  to  abandon  my  pur- 
pose of  visiting  Kinzua.”  He  preached  at  ’Squire  Jack- 
son’s, in  Warren,  at  Mr.  Murphy’s,  “up  the  Conewango/' 
and  at  Mr.  Meddaugh's,  “in  the  Beech  Woods,”  eight 
miles  out  from  Mr.  Murphy’s.  He  then  returned  to 

'Squire  Mead's  and  preached,  and  turned  his  face  toward 

his  circuit,  stopping  over  night  “up  Brokenstraw  in  a 
westerly  direction.”  The  snow  was  melting  rapidly  and 
a heavy  rain  was  falling  in  torrents.  In  the  morning  he 
found  the  house  surrounded  with  water,  the  streams  over- 
flowing their  banks,  the  bottoms  covered  with  water,  and 
it  seemed  hazardous  to  proceed.  Mr.  Monroe,  however, 
determined  to  make  the  effort.  His  host  accompanied 
him  to  the  place  of  crossing.  “When  we  reached  the 
main  current/’  continues  the  narrative,  “it  had  a frightful 
appearance  indeed,  being  exceedingly  rapid;  but  as  I had 
great  confidence  in  the  goodness  of  my  horse,  and  the 
gentleman  thought  it  would  not  require  him  to  swim,  I 
ventured,  and  had  proceeded  but  a few  steps  until  mv 
horse  was  swimming,  and  I was  carried  by  the  weight  of 
the  current  far  below  the  landing,  to  where  the  banks 
were  abrupt,  and  I found  it  impossible  to  gain  the  land- 
ing, the  water  still  reaching  my  saddle  skirts ; after  a fruit- 
less attempt  to  ascend  the  bank  in  which  I was  in  great 
danger  of  falling  backward  into  the  rolling  stream,  I suc- 
ceeded, bv  the  help  of  a bush  which  grew  on  the  bank,  in 
gaining  it  myself,  and  then  bracing  myself  I assisted  my 
poor  horse  with  all  my  strength,  and  by  a mighty  effort, 
he  gained  the  bank  also.  ...  I pursued  my  way, 
having  twelve  miles  of  dismal  road,  without  a house,  at 
which  to  refresh  or  to  dry  my  clothes;  but  the  weather 
was  ,still  very  mild  for  the  season.  When  I reached  the 
wraters  of  French  creek,  I found  they  overflowed  all  the 
bottoms,  and  in  many  places  spread  over  the  roads,  so  that 
I was  in  great  danger  of  passing  where  bridges  had  been 
swept  from  their  places.”  But  the  intrepid  Methodist 
pressed  on,  only  once  his  horse  being  forced  to  swim,  un- 
til at  eight  o'clock  at  night  he  reached  the  house  of  An- 
drew Simson.  He  says  thankfully  that  the  good  family 
“seemed  desirous  to  make  me  forget  the  perils  of  the  day 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  hospitalities/’  Mr.  Monroe 


212 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


continued  his  work  on  the  circuit  till  the  latter  part  of 
February.  Afterward  he  said  of  this  year  of  hard  labor 
for  the  Master:  “And  now,  after  having  spent  more 

than  thirty  years  in  the  ministry,  and  had  the  opportunity 
of  forming  an  acquaintance  with  many  pious  people  in 
different  places,  if  I were  asked  where  I had  seen  Chris- 
tianity in  all  its  spirit  and  power  most  clearly  and  fully 
developed,  I should  answer,  on  Old  Erie  Circuit  in  1810 
and  1811.” — (Reminiscences  in  Pittsburg  Conference 
Journal,  Vol.  VII.,  Feb.  27,  1840.) 

Joshua  Monroe  was  of  stanch  Scotch  descent,  and  was 
one  of  eight  brothers,  four  of  whom  became  Methodist 
preachers.  He  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Mary- 
land, January  14,  1786;  and  died  in  Beaver,  Pennsylva- 
nia, January  5,  1874.  He  was  received  on  probation  in 
the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1808,  and  became  a member 
of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organization.  “As  a 
preacher,  Brother  Monroe  was  of  fair  medium  abilities — 
sound  in  doctrine,  sober  in  judgment,  concise  and  indus- 
trious in  the  application  of  the  truth,  dealing  honestly 
and  faithfully  with  his  hearers  and  parishioners.  In  his 
hortatory  efforts  he  was  often  exceedingly  forcible  and 
impressive.  His  prayers  were  appropriate,  solemn  and 
fervent.  As  an  administrator  of  the  discipline  he  was 
careful,  prudent  and  strict.  In  his  intercourse  with  fam- 
ilies his  gravity  and  decorum  were  tempered  with  cheer- 
fulness and  quiet  pleasantry.  He  carried  his  piety  with 
him  wherever  he  went.  He  was  extremely  regular  and 
temperate  in  his  habits,  very  conscientious  and  devout. 
His  Christian  character  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  all 
who  knew  him,  and  highest  by  those  who  knew  him  best.” 
— (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XV.,  18J4 , p.  28.) 

“He  was  a wise  counsellor,  greatly  concerned  for  the 
prosperity  and  welfare  of  the  church.  No  man  com- 
manded more  respect  and  attention  in  conference  business 
than  Brother  Monroe.  He  had  a tender,  loving  heart ; in 
appearance  he  was  grave,  plain  in  his  dress,  stern  and  uni- 
form in  habit,  not  given  to  levity,  but  sober  and  watch- 
ful. His  everyday  life  was  in  accord  with  the  divine  re- 
quirement.”— (Rev.  J.  Montgomery,  in  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  March  28,  1889.) 

Mr.  Monroe,  speaking  of  his  conversion,  says:  “On 

Sabbath  morning  I was  pondering  the  subject  of  my 


Joshua  Monroe. 


213 


thoughts,  when  the  following  words  were  powerfully  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind : 

‘Be  wise  to  know  your  gracious  hour, 

And  fight  against  your  God  no  more.’ 

“I  was  deeply  afflicted  and  concluded  that  probably 
the  Spirit  which  had  been  so  often  grieved  by  me  was 
striving  for  the  last  time,  unless  I turned  at  once  to  the 
Lord.  I went  to  church  under  these  solemn  thoughts, 
and  heard  a sermon  by  Rev.  D.  Hitt.  His  thought  was: 
‘The  kingdom  of  heaven  shall  be  taken  from  you  and 
given  to  a nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof.’  This 
was  followed  with  an  exhortation  by  Rev.  J.  Pitts,  under 
which  the  assembly  were  deeply  affected.”  (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , March  21 , 1868.) 

On  his  seventy-ninth  birthday  Joshua  Monroe  writes : 
“Seventy-nine  years  ago,  in  a cabin  on  Cresap’s  Bottom, 
on  the  north  branch  of  the  Potomac,  about  ten  miles  from. 
Cumberland,  I was  born.  Three  years  after  my  father 
moved  with  his  family  over  into  Virginia — Hampshire 
County — where  I lived  and  worked  on  a farm  until  the 
twenty-second  year  of  my  age,  when  Rev.  Jacob  Gruber 
employed  me  to  fill  a vacancy  on  Pendleton  Circuit,  in 
charge  of  Rev.  N.  B.  Mills.  Since  that  time  full  forty 
years  of  my  life,  including  the  time  I was  employed  by 
the  Presiding  Elder,  have  been  spent  in  the  active  duties 
of  a Methodist  itinerant.  Four  years  I was  the  second 
on  the  circuit,  fourteen  years  I had  charge  of  circuits, 
eight  in  stations,  and  fourteen  on  districts.  Five  years  I 
was  local,  during  which  I preached  nearly  every  Sunday 
when  my  health  would  allow  it;  and  I led  two  classes — 
one  on  Sunday  morning  at  six  o’clock,  and  the  other 
Thursday  afternoon.  In  those  days  we  had  class  meet- 
ings. Now  I have  been  on  the  superannuated  list  ten  or 
eleven  years.  This,  I believe,  was  an  error.  I could 
have  rendered  efficient  services  to  the  church  at  least  five 
years  longer.  I do  not  mention  it  as  a matter  of  com- 
plaint, but  it  is  my  settled  conviction  that  our  Conference 
has  erred  in  placing  men  on  that  list  who  are  neither 
physically  nor  mentally  superannuated. 

“Now,  in  reviewing  my  life,  I see  much  that  is  cause 
for  deep  humility  and  self-abasement,  and  nothing  that 
is  matter  of  self-commendation;  all  I have,  all  I am,  all 
that  I now  enjoy  or  hope  to  enjoy  in  the  future,  I owe  to 


■ 


214  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

the  grace  of  God,  bestowed  on  me  through  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Savior. 

“There  are  a few  things  connected  with  my  history, 
which  I will  mention,  for  which  I feel  no  regret.  I do 
not  regret  that  I never  learned  to  smoke  or  chew  tobacco ; 
that  I never  learned  to  dance  or  play  at  cards,  nor  any 
other  species  of  gambling.  I never  united  with  any  se- 
cret society;  how  much  I have  lost  by  this  omission  I 
know  not,  nor  do  I care  to  inquire ; regrets  could  avail  me 
nothing  now ; I must  remain  in  ignorance  of  their  mys- 
teries. But  if  I can  be  numbered  among  those  to  whom 
‘it  is  given  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven’  I shall  be  satisfied.  If  spared  I may  in  a subse- 
quent paper  trouble  you  with  some  incidents  in  my  life 
and  experience.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Janu- 
ary 21 , 1865.) 

Monroe’s  Experience  on  the  Erie  Circuit. 

Mr.  Monroe  favors  us  with  an  account  of  his  journey 
to  his  new  appointment,  Erie  Circuit : “Soon  the  preach- 
ers were  on  their  way  to  their  new  fields  of  labor,  and 
Bishop  Asbury,  as  his  custom  was,  was  soon  far  out  of 
the  city  and  of  hearing  any  complaints  about  the  appoint- 
ments. In  leaving  the  city  I missed  the  company  and  felt 
very  lonely  as  I was  pursuing  my  way  and  thinking  of 
the  long  journey  which  lay  before  me,  when  I provi- 
dentially fell  in  with  a kind  man  returning  from  market, 
who  lived  near  the  road.  He  invited  me  to  go  home  and 
spend  the  Sabbath  with  him,  stating  that  his  wife  was  a 
Methodist,  and  they  had  a meeting  house  near  them, 
where  they  expected  preaching  the  next  day.  I gladly 
accepted  the  invitation,  and  was  kindly  received  and  en- 
tertained by  the  good  sister  and  her  friendly  husband. 
Sunday  I attended  church,  tried  to  preach,  and  attended 
prayer  meeting  in  the  evening.  Before  daylight  on  Mon- 
day morning  I was  on  the  road,  pushing  westward,  anx- 
ious to  reach  as  soon  as  possible  the  scene  of  my  future 
toils.  By  hard  riding  I reached  home  on  Wednesday, 
and  after  spending  a few  days  to  rest  and  refit,  I started 
in  company  with  J.  M.  Hanson  to  cross  the  Allegheny 
mountains,  and  in  two  days  we  got  to  Uniontown.  Here 
I met  with  Thornton  Fleming,  to  whose  kindness  I was 
greatly  indebted  for  information  as  to  the  best  route, 


Joshua  Monroe. 


215 


suitable  stopping  places,  etc.  Saturday  evening  I got  to 
Pittsburg  and  put  up  at  Thomas  Cooper’s,  who  resided 
in  the  stone  house  on  the  bank  of  the  Monongahela,  above 
Smithfield  street.  I was  received  and  entertained  with 
great  cordiality  and  kindness  which  was  peculiar  to 
Brother  Cooper  and  his  excellent  wife.  Their  house  was 
the  home  of  the  traveling  preachers  when  in  the  city,  and 
it  was  also  the  preaching  house.  On  Sabbath  I preached 
in  the  morning  and  again  at  night,  when  we  had  a mov- 
ing time.  Several  persons  presented  themselves  as  seek- 
ers of  salvation,  and  two  or  three  professed  to  find  peace 
in  believing.  By  invitation  I remained  on  Monday,  visited 
some  of  their  manufactories,  and  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  a number  of  pious  friends,  most  of  whom  are  gone 
to  the  spirit  land;  among  these  were  J.  Wrenshall,  Edw. 
Hazelton,  N.  Holmes,  J.  Phillips  and  wife,  Thomas 
Tackaberry’s  family,  McElheny’s,  and  Walker’s.  These, 
with  their  families,  were  the  principal  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city,  and  a noble  band 
they  were,  of  zealous,  devoted  Christians,  whose  light 
shone  around  them,  and  their  religious  influence  was  felt 
wherever  they  were  known.  These  were  the  days  in 
which  Methodism  appeared  in  its  native  simplicity  and  its 
original  dignity  and  grandeur,  and  it  is  not  strange  that 
some  of  us  old  people  should  sigh  and  wish  for  the  return 
of  those  days  of  primitive  Methodism.  But  our  wishes 
are  fruitless,  and  we  only  have  to  wait  a short  season 
till  we  shall  be  united  with  the  society  of  those  with 
whom  we  shared  in  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  those  early 
days.  Courage,  my  fellow  pilgrims!  deliverance  soon 
will  come. 

“Tuesday  I left  the  city,  and  in  bidding  farewell  with 
Father  Wrenshall  he  very  kindly  admonished  me  to  be 
more  temperate  in  my  exercises,  stating  that  I would 
bring  upon  myself  premature  old  age.  At  the  time  I 
thought  lightly  of  his  kind  advice,  but  I subsequently 
learned  by  sad  experience  that  I had  greatly  needed  such 
admonition.  I crossed  the  Allegheny  river  in  a ferry 
boat  and  had  a lonely  ride — passing  through  Harmony, 
then  a new  settlement,  and  stopped  for  the  night  with 
’Squire  Christy,  a pious  seceder,  where  I had  the  privi- 
lege of  uniting  with  the  family  in  their  devotions.  Wed- 
nesday I passed  through  Mercer,  and  in  the  evening  I 


216  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

reached  Mr.  Edward  Crow’s,  in  the  Leech’s  settlement, 
on  the  Little  Shenango.  Here  I was  most  cordially  and 
kindly  received.  And  now  I was  within  the  bounds  of 
Erie  Circuit,  but  I pushed  forward  the  next  day  toward 
the  farther  side  of  the  circuit  on  the  lake  shore,  a dis- 
tance of  forty  miles.” — ( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
June  p,  1857.) 

The  experience  of  Mr.  Monroe  on  the  Erie  Circuit  was 
very  trying.  He  continues  his  narrative : “Thursday  I 

rode  to  Father  McDowell’s.  The  old  folks  were  from 
Scotland,  and  retained  much  of  their  native  dialect.  They 
received  me  with  kindness  and  the  old  lady  by  inquiry 
found  out  that  I was  brother  to  Daniel  Monroe,  with 
whom  they  were  well  acquainted,  of  whom  she  said  he 
was  a ‘guid  mon.’  This  woman,  before  her  conversion, 
had  been  bitterly  opposed  to  Methodism,  but  now  she 
was  one  of  its  firmest  adherents,  and  one  of  the  most 
deeply  devoted  and  pious  persons  that  I have  had  the  privi- 
lege of  becoming  acquainted  with.  Here  my  health, 
which  had  been  declining  for  several  months,  gave  way, 
and  I was  taken  with  diarrhoea,  from  which  I suffered 
much  for  several  months,  and  for  many  years  I had  fre- 
quent returns  of  it. 

“Friday,  in  a feeble  state,  I reached  my  brother-in- 
law's,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  greeting  my  sister,  whom 
I had  not  seen  for  nine  years.  When  I rode  up  and  in- 
quired if  A.  Talbott  lived  there,  my  sister  supposed  I 
might  be  the  preacher  sent  by  the  Conference  to  the  cir- 
cuit; but  she  did  not  know  who  I was  until  I informed 
her.  This  greatly  affected  me,  to  think  that  in  so  short  a 
period  she  should  have  lost  all  recollection  of  my  counte- 
nance and  appearance. 

“Sabbath  came  and  I commenced  my  labors  at  Brush’s 
meeting  house,  the  only  meeting  house  on  the  circuit,  and 
it  was  built  of  rough  logs  and  covered  with  clapboards. 
Here  I consulted  Dr.  Hastings,  a member  of  our  church ; 
he  advised  medicine,  the  relief  from  which  was  very  tran- 
sient. But  I went  on  to  fill  the  appointments  which  I had 
made  on  my  way  out.  I was  now  on  a four  weeks’  cir- 
cuit, embracing  parts  of  Erie,  Crawford  and  Venango 
counties.  At  that  time  there  was  no  church  of  any  sort 
in  any  of  these  county  towns.  We  preached  in  Franklin, 
but  had  no  society;  and  it  added  much  to  my  affliction 


Joshua  Monroe. 


217 


that  I had  no  colleague  to  share  with  me  the  labors  and 
responsibilities  of  the  charge. 

“When  I got  to  Meadville  I consulted  Dr.  Kennedy, 
who  gave  me  an  emetic  and  directed  the  use  of  wine  and 
barks.  This  gave  me  temporary  relief,  but  the  emetic 
increased  my  debility,  which  now  became  so  great  that  I 
frequently  had  to  lie  down  immediately  on  reaching  my 
appointment;  then,  when  the  people  were  gathered,  I 
would  rise,  preach  and  meet  class,  and  directly  return  to 
my  bed.  And  now,  in  addition  to  my  bodily  sufferings, 
my  mind  became  subject  to  deep  depression,  and  the  most 
painful  and  distressing  doubts  respecting  the  genuine- 
ness of  my  experience  and  my  call  to  the  sacred  office. 
Sometimes  I was  strangely  tempted  to  abandon  my 
charge  and  return  home,  but  I had  ‘set  my  hand  to  the 
plow’  and  I did  not  dare  to  look  back.  I was  also  fre- 
quently greatly  blessed  in  my  exercises,  both  in  preach- 
ing and  in  class  meetings.” 

Mr.  Monroe  visited  Harmony  and  consulted  with  Dr. 
Miller,  who  gave  him  “some  physic  and  a parcel  of  bitter 
roots  and  herbs,”  but  the  relief  found  in  these  remedies 
was  but  of  transient  duration.  He  again  visited  Har- 
mony in  August,  and  later  went  to  Pittsburg  to  consult 
Dr.  Vandershot.'  Jacob  Gruber,  the  Presiding  Elder, 
upon  his  first  visit  to  hold  the  quarterly  meeting,  brought 
Jacob  Dowell  as  an  assistant  on  the  Erie  Circuit,  and  the 
work  was  left  with  him.  Dr.  Vandershot  requiring  some 
time  to  prepare  the  medicine,  Mr.  Monroe  visited  the 
camp  meeting  on  Pike  run,  Washington  County,  where 
he  met  with  Bishop  Asbury  and  other  prominent  minis- 
ters. Here  he  preached  once  and  exhorted  once,  and  re- 
marks : “I  believe  the  Lord  gave  me  one  seal  at  least  to 

my  feeble  ministry.”  He  continues  his  narrative:  “I 

returned  to  Pittsburg,  got  the  medicine  which  the  doc- 
tor had  prepared  for  me,  and  returned  to  my  sister’s, 
where  I used  the  means  prescribed  and  soon  found  some 
improvement  in  my  health  and  strength. 

From  that  time  I was  able  to  attend  regularly  to  appoint- 
ments to  the  end  of  the  year;  and  although  I traveled 
through  great  difficulties,  in  consequence  of  bodily  weak- 
ness, bad  roads,  high  waters  and  great  temptations,  yet 
the  Lord  owned  my  labors4  and  we  had  a blessed  work 
of  grace  on  many  parts  of  the  circuit,  and  a goodly  num- 


2l8 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


ber  were  converted  and  added  to  the  Church,  and  we 
organized  a society  in  Franklin  of  six  members.  I often 
reflect  with  pleasure  of  the  time  spent  on  the  old  Erie 
Circuit.  So  much  godly  sincerity,  so  much  of  primitive 
Christianity  in  all  simplicity  and  spirituality,  I have 
never  since  witnessed  among  many  people.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  June  16,  1857.) 

Monroe’s  Early  Life. 

At  a still  later  date  Mr.  Monroe  writes : 

“Twenty-one  years  of  my  life  were  spent  on  a farm, 

and  from  the  time  I could  lift  a hoe  or  axe  I was  taught 
to  earn  my  bread  by  my  labor.  During  this  period  I in- 
dulged in  the  innocent  amusements  of  backwoods  country 
life.  A portion  of  this  time  was  spent  at  school — the 
best  we  had,  and  that  was  very  indifferent.  In  the 
eighteenth  year  of  my  age  I united  with  the  Church  as  a 
seeker  of  religion.  This  I considered  as  one  of  the  most 
important  transactions  of  my  life,  for,  as  I heard  a man 
once  say,  T enlisted  during  the  war.’  And  now,  after 
having  tried  the  service  over  fifty-seven  years  I have 
never  repented  taking  that  step  at  that  time.  In  the 
twenty-second  year  of  my  age  I commenced  my  itinerant 
career,  and  having  traveled  nine  years  and  seven  months 
I located,  in  feeble  health,  with  shattered  constitution. 
During  the  nine  years  I had  traveled  Pendleton,  Rocking- 
ham, Randolph,  Erie,  Ohio,  Redstone  and  Greenfield 
Circuits.  Then  we  had  circuits  requiring  a travel  every 
four  weeks  of  from  two  to  three  hundred  miles,  and  to 
preach  and  meet  class  nearly  every  day,  and  commonly 
twice  on  the  Sabbath.  I had  hard  toiling,  poor  fare,  and 
great  exposure  of  health  and  life,  but  I also  had  great 
satisfaction  in  my  labors  and  comfort  in  my  own  soul. 
God  gave  me  satisfactory  assurances  that  I had  not  mis- 
taken my  calling.  And  now,  in  reviewing  that  part  of 
my  history  I feel  thankful  that  it  was  my  lot  to  share 
with  many  holy,  self-denying  men  in  the  hardships  inci- 
dent to  that  period  in  our  history,  most  of  whom  have 
finished  their  course  and  received  their  reward.  My  life 
has  been  marvelously  lengthened  out,  so  that  I seem  to  be 
left  behind  by  most  of  those  who  were  my  fellow  laborers 
in  that  period  of  our  history. 


Joshua  Monroe. 


219 


“My  five  years’  experience  as  a local  preacher  taught 
me  some  useful  lessons,  and  although  I was  called  to 
drink  deep  of  the  cup  of  affliction,  I was  graciously  sup- 
ported under  the  severe  trials  through  which  it  pleased 
God  to  lead  me.  The  lessons  I then  learned  have  been 
of  special  benefit  to  me  through  all  my  subsequent  life 
and  labors.  Though  my  relation  was  that  of  a local 
preacher,  I was  not  idle.  I usually  preached  once  each 
Sabbath  when  my  health  would  admit  of  it.  I also  led 
two  classes,  one  met  at  six  o’clock  Sunday  morning  in 
summer  and  winter,  and  the  other  met  on  Thursday ; and 
besides  this,  I often  had  to  visit  the  sick  and  bury  the 

dead  in  both  town  and  country  around. 

“My  health  having  greatly  improved,  my  conviction  of 
duty  to  return  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  which  I had 
left  for  the  want  of  health,  came  back  with  great  force, 
and  after  many  struggles  and  much  prayer  for  divine  di- 
rection, I applied  for  and  was  re-admitted  into  Baltimore 
Conference  at  its  session  in  Baltimore,  in  April,  1822.  I 
was  appointed  to  Chartiers  Circuit,  and  had  Norval  Wil- 
son for  my  colleague.  This  was  in  many  respects  a pleas- 
ant and  prosperous  year ; a goodly  number  were  added  to 
the  Church,  and  many  were  made  partakers  of  the  faith 
which  justifies  and  gives  peace  of  conscience. 

“In  1823  I was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  Pittsburg 
District,  on  which  I continued  to  travel  and  labor  till  the 
organization  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  the  fall  of 
1825,  when  I was  appointed  to  Steubenville  Circuit. 
Since  that  time  I held  the  relation  to  the  Conference  of 
effective,  twenty-eight  years;  supernumerary,  one  year, 
and  superannuate,  seven  years/’ — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , June  11 , 1861.) 

Catharine  Monroe,  wife  of  Joshua  Monroe,  was  a 
noble  specimen  of  Christian  womanhood.  In  an  apprecia- 
tive tribute  to  her  memory,  Rev.  J.  Murray  says : 

“Mother  Monroe  was  of  a retiring  spirit,  modest  in 
her  professions,  and  humble  in  her  pretentions,  though 
strong  in  her  confidence  in  God,  she  felt  that  she  was 
nothing  in  herself.  Others  would  say  for  her,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Paul,  Tf  others  have  whereof  they  may  boast,’ 
she  more.  In  natural  parts  she  was  equal  to  most  of  her 
sex;  but  in  the  improvement  of  her  mind,  she  was  ex- 
celled by  few.  She  carefully  read  Coke’s,  Clarke’s  and 


220 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Benson's  Commentaries  regularly  through  from  first  to 
last.  Watson's  Institutes  and  Sermons,  Wesley's,  Mor- 
ris' and  Massilon’s  Sermons,  Biographies  and  Church 
Histories;  in  short,  there  was  nothing  in  Methodist  theol- 
ogy to  which  she  was  a stranger ; but  the  great  excel- 
lency of  her  reading  has  yet  to  be  named;  she  read  the 
Bible  through  in  order  every  year.  After  saying  what  I 
have  it  might  be  thought  superfluous  to  add  that  she  was 
deeply  pious.  The  unconverted  said  when  she  died:  ‘If 

Mother  Monroe  does  not  go  to  heaven  there  is  no  use 
in  any  one  trying.'  It  is  not  enough  to  say  that  she  had 
no  enemies,  but  the  idea  is  better  expressed  when  I say 
she  was  loved  and  admired  by  all  who  knew  her.  Bishops 
and  distinguished  divines  were  her  guests,  both  in  early 
and  later  years,  and  through  all  her  life  it  was  her  delight 

to  entertain  them,  and  enjoy  their  spiritual  conversation. 
But  she  is  gone  to  the  home  of  the  pure  and  the  blessed, 
and  has  left  behind,  for  a short  space,  the  companion  of 
her  youth.  For  forty-seven  years  they  walked  together, 
united  by  the  bonds  of  a purest  wedlock.  These  bonds 
have  been  severed  by  death,  and  that  which  seemed  by 
long  association  to  have  became  a unit,  has  been  divided ; 
part  has  gone  and  part  remains ; but  the  separation  will 
not  be  long.  The  strong  man  trembles,  sight  and  hear- 
ing are  nearly  gone,  but  faith  more  than  supplies  the 
place  of  defective  vision,  and  as  earth  fades  in  the  shad- 
owy distance  the  heavenly  appears  in  sight." — ( Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , May  25,1867.) 

“Billy”  Brown. 

William  Brown  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New 
York  Conference  in  1809,  and  appointed  to  Herkimer, 
with  Joseph  Willis  in  charge  of  the  circuit.  In  1810  we 
find  him  in  the  newly  organized  Genesee  Conference  and 
appointed  to  the  Holland  Purchase,  with  John  Kimber- 
lin  in  charge.  F.  W.  Conable,  in  his  “History  of  the  Gen- 
esee Annual  Conference,"  p.  40,  says  that  Mr.  Brown  was 
not  admitted  into  full  connection  in  1811  “owing  to  some 
oddities  in  his  manners , and  instability  in  his  mind.”  He 
was  admitted  in  1812,  and  ordained  deacon.  His  elder- 
ship ordination  was  in  1814.  He  was  superannuated  in 
1818,  and  located  in  1819.  Mr.  Gregg  says  he  located  in 
1817,  but  this  is  another  William  Brown  who  was  ad- 


“Billy"  Brown. 


221 


mitted  to  the  Genesee  Conference  on  trial  in  1815.  Mr. 
Gregg  says  of  “Billy'’  Brown,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called : “Mr.  Brown  possessed  a great  knowledge  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  loved  to  search  and  expound  diffi- 
cult and  obscure  passages  that  other  people  would  pass 
over  with  indifference.  He  was  also  remarkable  for  his 
faith  in  prayer ; was  very  odd  in  his  actions  and  gestures, 
eccentric  in  his  ideas  and  illustrations,  was  much  sought 
after  by  some  and  greatly  disliked  by  others.’’  His  work 
on  the  “Holland  Purchase*’  brought  him  into  Chautauqua 
County.  He  removed  into  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1823. 
where  he  did  efficient  service  in  the  local  ranks  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  suddenly  in  1850.  He  was  sent 
to  Chautauqua  in  answer  to  the  earnest  request  of  John 

P.  Kent,  of  the  Villenovia  class,  and  Justin  Hinman,  of 
the  Sheridan,  who  visited  the  session  of  the  Genesee  Con- 
ference held  in  Father  Dorsey's  corn  barn  in  the  village 
of  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  in  1810. — (Gregg,  History  of  Method - 
ism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  pp.  94-95.) 

The  Sharox  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

It  is  probable  that  there  was  Methodist  preaching  by 
the  itinerants  who  traveled  the  Shenango  Circuit  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sharon  not  much  later  than  the  year  1800. 
“Isaac  Patterson,  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Church, 
came  to  this  region  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  in 
1802  or  1803,  and  was  an  early  convert  to  Methodism. 
In  an  address  made  in  the  church  on  the  present  site,  in 
1855,  he  announced  that  he  was  converted  on  their 
grounds  among  the  hazel  bushes  fifty  years  ago.  From 

this  statement  it  is  inferred  that  Methodism  had  some  ad- 
vocates in  the  vicinity  of  Sharon  as  early  as  1805  or  1806. 
The  venerable  James  Bentley  informed  the  writer  that  the 
earliest  opening  in  the  dense  forest  of  hazel  bushes  which 
covered  the  present  borough  of  Sharon,  was  on  the  site 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  It  was  a small  Indian  bean 
patch,  about  30x40.  the  cultivating  being  done  by  the 
dusky  savages  with  sharpened  sticks.  As  a mere  boy  he 
joined  with  them  in  their  crude  agricultural  employment. 
As  early  as  1820  meetings  were  held  in  a log  school 
house  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Exchange 
Hotel.  Afterward  they  were  conducted  in  Reno's  barn. 
The  first  class  was  organized,  it  is  said,  in  1810,  though 


222 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


individual  members  had  lived  here  prior  to  that  date,  but 
had  membership  elsewhere.  Among  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  were:  Isaac  Patterson  and  his 

wife,  Margaret;  Hezekiah  Reader,  James  Reader  and  his 
wife,  Nancy;  Matthias  Mount,  John  Dunlap  and  his 
wife,  Elizabeth;  Janies  Patterson,  Joseph  McDowell  and 
his  wife,  Esther;  William  Ulp,  Sarah  Newcomb  and 
others.  The  first  church  structure  was  erected  on  State 
street,  above  the  present  Baptist  house,  in  1831.  Isaac 
Patterson  and  Matthias  Mount  were  trustees.  It  was  a 
frame  building,  and  is  now  used  by  George  Burnett  as  a 
livery  stable  on  Dock  street,  in  the  rear  of  the  American 
House.  The  next  was  likewise  a frame  structure,  about 
36x50,  erected  in  1842.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent building.  In  1866  it  was  repaired  and  enlarged  at  a 
cost  of  $3,300,  a basement  being  put  under  it  for  Sunday 
school  purposes.  It  was  burned  down  on  New  Year’s 
eve,  1877,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  O.  L.  Mead.  The 
present  comfortable  and  commodious  frame  structure 
was  erected  in  1878  at  a cost  of  some  $14,000.  The  par- 
sonage was  bought  in  1880  for  $2,200,  and  repaired  at 
an  expense  of  about  $400.  In  1887  the  building  of  the 
Lake  Shore  railroad  branch  in  front  of  the  church  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a damage  of  $3,000  to  the  property. 
This  sum  was  invested  by  the  trustees  in  several  lots,  to- 
gether with  the  accompanying  buildings,  near  the  Central 
school  building.  The  rents  afford  quite  a handsome  divi- 
dend on  the  investment.  Some  day  the  church  hopes  to 
build  on  the  newly  acquired  site.” 

R.  S.  Borland  says  that  a log  church  preceded  that  of 
1831  on  the  same  site,  and  also  states  that  “in  1862  a 
small  house  was  purchased  opposite  the  church  for  a par- 
sonage. In  1872  a house  on  South  Water  street  was  pro- 
cured, and  in  1882  this  gave  way  in  turn  to  one  at  North 
Water  and  Boyce  streets.  This  house  was  sold  in  1889, 
and  in  1891  the  present  house  on  South  Penn  street  was 

purchased  and  re-fitted  for  the  pastor’s  residence.” 

Among  the  additional  members  in  early  years  were: 
William  Moore,  Septimus  Dunlap  and  Esther  Dunlap. 
In  later  years  were : William  Budd  and  wife,  Gersham 

DeForest  and  wife,  Samuel  DeForest  and  wife,  Jones 
Blackstone  and  wife,  Henry  Boyd  and  wife,  David  Clark, 
Mary  Clark  (afterwards  Mrs.  Rev.  W.  M.  Bear),  the 


Sharon  Methodism.  223 

Reno  family,  from  whom  came  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Reno  and 
the  Rev.  Perry  A.  Reno;  Isaac  Reynolds  and  family, 
David  Strawbridge  and  wife,  Susan  Strawbridge,  George 
Morris  and  family,  W.  C.  DeForest  and  wife,  and  J.  De- 
Forest  and  wife. 

In  1906  the  building  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
Reno  Chapel,  at  an  expense  of  some  $3,000. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  about  600, 
and  the  Sunday  school  membership,  including  the  Home 
Department,  is  1,075.  The  estimated  value  of  the  church 
building  and  grounds  is  $20,000.  The  parsonage  is  val- 
ued at  $3,500. 

In  1849  the  name  “Sharon”  first  appears,  the  circuit 
stands  as  Clarksville  and  Sharon.  In  1851  the  circuit  is 
called  Clarksville.  In  1852  Sharon  stands  alone.  From 
1854  onward  Sharon  is  managed  as  a station  till  the 
close  of  i860.  The  three  following  years  Brookfield  was 
connected  with  Sharon.  From  1864  it  has  continued  as 


a station. — (History  of  Mercer  County,  Brown,  Rusk  & 
Co.,  1888,  pp.  386-387;  Sharon  Daily  Telegram,  Indus- 
trial Number,  March,  1903;  History  of  the  First  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  Sharon,  Pa.,  compiled  by  Rev. 
R.  S.  Borland,  D.D.) 

Rockville,  Gravel  Run,  Mumford’s. 

Rockville  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  as 
the  Gravel  Run  church  in  1810  by  Joshua  Monroe  at  the 
dwelling  of  John  Shearer,  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
Cambridge  Township.  In  1817  a log  meeting  house  was 
built  immediately  northwest  of  the  Woodcock  borough 
limits,  and  therein  services  were  held  until  1839.  This 
church  was  the  scene  of  many  glorious  meetings  to  which 
the  Methodist  classes  would  gather  from  all  the  surround- 
ing country.  A parsonage  was  built  in  the  early  days 
of  the  church,  but  was  not  used  after  1871,  and  in  1879  a 
new  one  was  erected  at  a cost  of  $700.  We  were  ac- 

Iquainted  with  an  old  Methodist  saint — Mrs.  Hannah  De- 
Woody,  of  Franklin,  Pennsylvania — who  dreamed  that 
she  was  in  Heaven,  and  while  she  was  passing  from  place 
to  place,  she  Saw  many  groups  of  glorified  saints,  their 
souls  filled  with  endless  joy.  Her  attention  was  especially 
directed  to  one  group,  whose  countenances  lighted  up 
with  a brighter  glory,  and  whose  songs  possessed  a 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


--4 


sweeter  harmony.  She  im|uired  of  her  celestial  guide 
who  these  happy  people  were.  He  replied:  “Why,  do 

you  not  know?  Those  are  the  Gravel  Run  Methodists.” 
Indeed  many  early  Methodists  considered  this  humble 
church  as  near  Heaven  as  they  ever  expected  to  be  while 
on  earth.  In  18.30  a brick  church  was  erected  within  the 
Borough  of  Woodcock  at  a cost  of  $1,800.  Rockville 
Circuit  was  formed  in  1844.  In  1885  the  Circuit  em- 
braced the  following  appointments : New  Richmond, 

Old  Richmond,  Van  Scoders’,  Tarvis’,  and  Pinney’s. — 
(History  of  Crawford  County,  Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  pp. 
7°s.  jo's.) 

David  Mumford  was  a native  of  New  Jersey.  He 
came  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Washington  County, 
but  in  1797  removed  to  Crawford  County  and  took  up 
land  near  the  center  of  Union  Township.  He  had  been  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  a Methodist. 
“He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  intelligent  of 
the  pioneer  settlers,  and  continued  the  work  of  clearing 
and  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death,  in  1816.  His  descend- 
ants still  reside  in  the  township.”  Soon  after  the  year 
1800,  a Methodist  society  was  organized  in  his  cabin.  Tt 
included  three  families,  those  of  David  Mumford,  Andrew 
McFadden,  and  John  Leech,  but  the  latter  lived  in  Mercer 
County.  Meetings  were  held  for  many  years  in  Mum- 
ford’s  cabin,  and  it  became  a center  of  much  religious  in- 
fluence. At  a later  date  services  were  held  in  school 
houses.  In  1826,  the  Mount  Pleasant  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  was  organized  by  Rev.  John  Leech  and  Hiram 
Kinsley,  of  the  Mercer  Circuit,  with  twelve  members. 
Services  were  still  held  in  cabins  and  school  houses  until 
about  1858,  when  a house  of  worship  was  erected. — 
'Bates,  Our  County  and  its  People,  1899,  pp.  637,  639.) 

The  original  class  at  Mumford’s  seems  not  to  have  been 
permanent.  Indeed  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “It  did  not  con- 

tinue many  years.”  The  name,  however,  remained.  An- 
other Mumford’s  chapel  was  erected  in  1861  at  a cost  of 
$1,200.  The  class  was  organized  with  twenty-five  mem- 
bers two  years  previous  by  John  Abbott,  of  the  Cochran- 
ton  Circuit,  and  the  appointment  was  attached  to  this  cir- 
cuit. Methodist  services  had  been  held  in  this  locality  as 
early  as  1830.  Among  the  early  Methodists  were  Newell 
Bligh,  Wiliiam  Hart,  Perry  Jewell,  Irwin  May,  and  Wil- 


Mill  Village. 


225 


liam  Armour. — f History  of  Crawford  County,  Warner, 
Beers  & Co.,  1885,  p.  552.) 

Mill  Village. 

I lie  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Mill  Village  dates 
in  its  beginning  prior  to  1810  when  the  Erie  Circuit  re- 
quired four  weeks  to  make  the  “round”  of  twenty-four 
appointments  requiring  two_ hundred  miles  of  travel.  At 
that  time  Joshua  Monroe  was  in  charge,  and  Jacob  Dowell 
was  second  preacher.  The  chief  appointments  were : 
Brush’s  meeting-house  in  West  Springfield:  Leech’s,  on 
Little  Shenango;  Mumford’s,  near  Meadville:  Pithole: 
Mrs.  Mitchell’s,  in  Venango  County;  and  Ford's,  on 
French  Creek  Mats.  The  last  named  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  Mill  Village  church.  The  first  preaching  was  in 
the  dwelling  of  Capt.  Robert  King,  and  subsequently  in 
that  of  one  of  the  Fords.  1 he  first  church  building  was 
erected  in  1850.  and  was  located  about  one-half  mile  south 
of  the  village.  Some  years  later  this  was  destroyed  bv 
fire,  when  a more  substantial  and  commodious  edifice  was 
erected  in  the  village  which  was  enlarged  in  1878.  The 
appointment  belonged  to  the  V aterford  Circuit  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  the  Mill  Village  Circuit  was  formed 
in  1865. — (History  of  Erie  County,  Warner,  Beers  & 
Co..  Chicago,  1884,  />.  70J.J 

Services  were  held  in  a school  house  at  Edenville  in 
1839,  and  the  present  church  building  erected  in  1855. 

1 he  present  church  building  was  erected  at  Manross 
by  J.  W.  Manross,  and  given  for  the  use  of  any  religious 
body  which  might  desire  to  hold  divine  service.  The  first 
minister  was  C.  L.  Barnhart,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  the  church  has  been  used  almost  exclusively 
by  that  denomination  since  its  erection  in  1869. 

VlLLENOVIA. 

D.  R.  Palmer  has  given  a history  so  full  of  information 
that  we  present  it  with  but  few  changes  and  omissions : 

“The  first  three  or  four  families  who  settled  in  Vil- 
lenovia,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  in  1810.  were 
Methodists.  Daniel  Whipple  who  came  first,  knelt  by  the 
stump  of  the  first  tree  he  cut  down  and  prayed  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Christian  Church  in  the  new  settle- 


15 


226  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ment.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dunham, 
of  Nashville,  a local  preacher.  He  also  preached  the  first 
funeral  sermon.  These  settlers  soon  commenced  to  hold 
religious  meetings  and  in  1810  a society  was  organized. 
This  territory  appears  to  have  been  included  in  Chau- 
tauqua Circuit  from  1810  to  1819,  when  it  was  changed 
to  Lake  Circuit. 

“Bishop  Asbury  appointed  William  Brown,  better 
known  as  ‘Billy  Brown,’  who  is  known  to  have  visited 
this  settlement.  No  records  of  the  organization  or  early 
history  of  the  society  are  to  be  found,  but  the  following 
persons  are  known  to  have  been  members  of  the  Church 
at  or  about  that  time : Daniel  Whipple,  and  Betsy,  his 

wife;  Revs.  John  and  Eli  Arnold,  Anna  and  Wealthy, 
their  wives;  John  and  Mary  Kent,  Roderick  and  Mary 
Wells,  Electa  Wells,  and  John  P.  Kent.  Soon  after  there 
were  added,  Daniel  Whipple,  Jr.,  and  Eliza,  his  wife, 
David  and  Mary  Arnold,  Mrs.  Mary  Dighton,  Anna 
Kent,  Wealthy  and  Rachel  Arnold.  In  1813,  after  the 
death  of  his  wife,  John  Arnold  returned  East,  joined  the 
Genesee  Conference  and  commenced  the  work  of  an  itiner- 
ant preacher,  receiving  his  first  appointment  from  Bishop 
Asbury.  He  died  a member  of  the  Oneida  Conference, 
aged  ninety-two  years.  Eli  Arnold  remained  here  until 
his  death  at  eighty-five  years,  serving  the  Church  as  a 
local  preacher.  He  was  universally  beloved  and  esteemed 
and  was  largely  instrumental  in  maintaining  the  stability 
and  growth  of  the  Church.  Roderick  Wells  was  for 
many  years  a class-leader,  and  also  an  exhorter;  was  a 
faithful,  zealous  and  useful  man.  John  Arnold  was  the 
first  class  leader. 

“John  P.  Kent  entered  the  traveling  ministry  in  1815, 
receiving  his  first  appointment  from  Bishop  McKendree. 
He  supposed  himself  to  be  the  first  man  in  Chautauqua 
County  who  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  and  John  Arn- 
old at  one  time  went  on  foot  to  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  to 
attend  a quarterly  meeting,  praying,  rejoicing  and  prais- 
ing God  as  they  went;  and  the  first  night  slept  on  the 
floor  without  supper.  John  P.  Kent  was  a member  of  the 
Genesee  Conference  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1880.  Leonidas  L.  Hamline — afterwards  Bish- 
op— was  converted  at  an  evening  prayer  meeting  held  at 
the  house  of  Daniel  Whipple,  through  the  instrumentality, 


Villenovia.  227 

in  part  at  least,  of  Mrs.  Mary  Moffat,  sister  of  John  P. 
Kent.  The  meeting  was  led  by  William  Barris,  a local 
preacher  and  member  of  the  society  at  the  time.  After 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  the  society  was  divided,  so  that 
there  was  a class  at  Wright’s  Corners  as  well  as  at  Kent’s 
or  Whipple’s.  The  leaders  of  the  class  at  Wright’s  Cor- 
ners were  Daniel  Wright,  an  influential  man,  many  years, 
William  Pierce,  both  leader  and  steward  several  years, 
John  Wavne  and  others.  At  the  Whipple  appointment 
Luther  Peck,  father  of  the  Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck,  was 
leader  some  years,  then  his  son  William  was  leader  until 
he  went  east  to  prepare  for  the  ministry. 

“A  class  was  formed,  probably  between  1820  and  1825 
at  John  Prosser’s,  in  the  northeast  part  of  Villenovia, 
which  was  afterwards  known  as  the  ‘Block  School  House 
Society.’  It  stood  as  an  appointment  of  Forestville  and 
Villenovia  circuits  until  1852,  when  it  was  disbanded  and 
the  remaining  members  transferred  to  Nashville.  Lead- 
ers of  this  society  were  John  Prosser,  James  McIntyre, 
Daniel  Stillson,  I.  L.  Ostrom  and  others.  Ostrom  was 
also  steward  several  years. 

“On  Christmas  night,  December  25,  1823,  at  Hamlet, 
in  Obadiah  Warner’s  house,  John  Prosser  organized  a 
class,  consisting  of  the  following  named  persons : P.  T. 

Judd  and  Polly  his  wife,  Obadiah  and  Rebecca  Warner, 
Diadema  Warner,  Polly  Smith,  Milton  and  Lois  Foote, 
Lura  Nunn,  Polly  Baker,  and  soon  after  Hiram  Kinsley, 
afterward  Rev.  Hiram  Kinsley,  D.D.,  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. P.  T.  Judd  was  the  first  leader  and  held  the 
office  until  his  death  in  1871.  He  was  a pillar  of  the  so- 
ciety. The  members  of  the  class  were  baptized  the  fol- 
lowing spring  after  organization  by  Rev.  Richard  Wright. 
Hamlet — formerly  Omar — became  an  appointment  about 
1828  and  in  1846  the  appointments  in  the  east  part  of 
the  town — Whiople’s  and  Wright’s  Corners — were  taken 
up  and  the  societies  merged  into  the  Hamlet  society. 
This  society  in  1838  commenced  gathering  material  for 
a church.  Obadiah  Warner  had  deeded  to  the  society  a 
piece  of  ground  for  church  purposes.  The  building  was 
raised  in  1839,  when  Revs.  Theodore  Stowe  and  E.  J.  L. 
Baker  were  circuit  preachers.  Brother  J.  Tiffany,  who 
was  putting  on  the  roof,  said  one  morning:  ‘If  I had  a 

man  to  help  me  that  could  lay  as  many  shingles  as  I can. 


228 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


we  could  finish  the  roof  to-day/  Brother  Baker,  then  a 
young  and  energetic  man,  said  ‘I  ni  your  man,  and  they 
went -at  it,  finishing  the  roof,  but  Brother  Baker  did  very 
little  getting  around  for  a week  after.  Some  rough  tem- 
porary seats  were  put  in  and  they  commenced  using  the 
church.  It  was  three  years  before  it  was  completed. 
The  men  worked  by  day’s  work  in  every  way  to  get 
their  church,  and  thus  struggling  and  toiling,  completed 
a ‘House  for  the  Lord/  in  1842,  at  a cost  of  about  $1,500. 
The  names  of  the  trustees  were  P.  T.  Judd,  Dr.  Pierce, 
Obadiah  Warner,  Jesse  M.  Tiffany  and  Nathaniel  Smith. 

“In  1 828  the  name  of  the  Circuit  was  changed  from 
‘Lake’  to  ‘Forestville/  and  in  1842  Forestville  Circuit 
was  divided  and  Hamlet  Circuit  formed.  In  1867  Ham- 
let Charge  was  divided  and  Dayton  Charge  formed. 

“Rev.  John  Akers,  in  April,  1861,  organized  a class  at 
Pine  Valley,  consisting  of  twenty-four  members,  Frank- 
lin Brown,  leader.  J.  Brown,  George  Brown,  Clark 
Oakes,  Jesse  Pyle  and  H.  C.  Mason  have  been  leaders  of 
this  society.  In  1859  the  church  at  Hamlet  was  enlarged 
and  otherwise  repaired  at  a cost  of  $1,200,  the  women 
spinning  the  yarn  and  weaving  the  carpet,  thus  giving  the 
church  a much  more  modern  air.  When  Forestville  Cir- 
cuit was  divided,  a parsonage  at  Hamlet  became  a neces- 
sity, but  not  until  1848  did  the  society  secure  one.  This 
they  bought  of  Jesse  M.  Tiffany  for  five  hundred  dollars. 
In  '1862,  when  J.  R.  Lyon  was  sent  to  this  charge,  the 
house  was  so  much  out  of  repair  that  the  tiustees  sold 
the  main  part  which  was  moved  off  and  then  a new  up- 
right was  built  at  a cost  of  about  $600,  which  made  a very 
• comfortable  place  for  a Methodist  preacher  s family. 
Meanwhile  the  society  at  Pine  Valley  had  been  using  the 
school  house  for  their  meetings.  The  Buffalo  and  South 
Western  Railroad  was  built  and  Pine  Valley  began  to  de- 
velop quite  a village.  The  school  house  was  too  small  to 
accommodate  the  people.  A church  building  began  to  be 
talked  about.  The  proper  notice  was  given  and  the  so- 
ciety came  together  in  the  little  schoolhouse  on  September 
22,  1879,  elected  five  trustees  according  to  law,  and  in- 
corporated themselves  into  the  First  M.  E.  Society  of 
Pine  Valley,  G.  W.  Chesbro,  pastor,  and  Jesse  Pyle,  Clark 
Oakes,  George  Young,  Jr.,  E.  A.  Chase  and  Luther 


Villenovia. 


229 


Pierce,  Trustees.  A subscription  of  seven  or  eight  hund- 
red dollars  was  secured  and  then  the  project  halted.  In 
September,  1 881  ^ the  Conference  sent  D.  R.  Palmer,  who 
took  hold  of  the  matter  with  energy  and  persistency,  push- 
ing the  building  on  to  completion.  It  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  R.  W.  Scott,  presiding  elder  of  the  District.  The 
building  is  a neat,  commodious  Gothic  structure,  costing 
about  $2,000. 


Camp  Meetings  and  Revivals. 

“The  camp  meetings  held  in  this  vicinity  number  nine. 
Doubtless  there  will  be  found  some  errors  in  this  account, 
but  we  believe  it  to  be  substantially  correct.  The  first  one 
was  in  June,  1825,  near  Forestville,  Henry  Knapp  and 
John  Scott,  circuit  preachers,  and  William  Swavze,  pre- 
siding elder.  It  was  a good  meeting,  but  at  this  date — 
January  22,  1883 — it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  num- 
ber of  conversions. 

“The  next  was  held  on  Ira  Jones’  farm,  near  Wright’s 
Corners,  and  was  called  ‘ John  Kent’s  camp  meeting.’ 
Job  Wilson  and  John  P.  Kent  were  circuit  preachers,  and 
William  Swavze  Presiding  Elder.  It  was  a powerful 
meeting.  Scores  thronged  the  prayer  altar  until  more 
than  two  hundred  were  converted.  Francis  A.  Dighton 
and  Alexander  Barris,  afterward  members  of  Erie  Con- 
ference, were  converted  at  this  camp  meeting,  June  4, 
1827. 

“The  third  camp  meeting  was  on  the  old  grounds  near 
Wright’s  Corners,  July,  1828,  William  Swavze,  Presid- 
ing Elder.  It  was  a season  of  very  great  religious  inter- 
est. Leonidas  L.  Hamline,  afterward  Bishop,  attended 
this  meeting  and  read  to  the  rowdies  the  statutes  of  Xew 
York  State,  concerning  disturbing  religious  meetings.  At 
the  close  of  the  first  sermon  the  preacher  made  a most 
pathetic  and  successful  appeal  to  both  saints  and  sinners. 
A rush  was  made  for  the  altar  and  scores  were  seeking 
God.  Mr.  Hamline  says  he  felt  a ‘solemnity,  an  awe  so 
great  that  a faintness  came  over  him.’ 

“The  fourth  camp  meeting  was  held  in  June,  1832. 
The  circuit  preachers  were  David  Preston,  John  Robin- 
son and  Nelson  Henry;  Presiding  Elder,  W.  B.  Mack. 
This  meeting  was  on  the  old  grounds  near  \\  right’s 


230 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Corners.  It  was  a good  meeting,  the  conversions  num- 
bering about  two  hundred. 

“The  fifth  camp  meeting  was  held  on  Fred  Smith's 
place,  south  of  Hamlet,  in  June,  1838.  Timothy  Good- 
win and  Moses  Hill  were  the  circuit  preachers,  and  R.  A. 
Aylworth,  the  Presiding  Elder.  About  sixteen  conver- 
sions and  an  excellent  meeting. 

“Just  before  the  Conference  of  August,  1842,  as  David 
Preston  was  closing  his  work  on  Jamestown  District  and 
Darius  Smith  and  Daniel  Pritchard  were  circuit  preach- 
ers on  Forestville  Charge,  they  planned  a camp  meeting 
to  be  held  near  the  Block  school  house  in  Villenovia.  It 
resulted  in  a great  number  of  conversions,  mostly  young 
people  and  children. 

“The  Conference,  August,  1842,  divided  Forestville 
Circuit,  and  Hamlet  Charge  was  formed.  H.  J.  Moore, 
a Canadian,  was  sent  to  Hamlet.  Dillon  Prosser  told 
the  Presiding  Elder,  J.  J.  Steadman,  that  that  would  not 
answer.  Mr.  Moore  went  back  to  Canada,  and  Potter 
Sullivan,  through  the  efforts  and  suggestions  of  Mr. 
Prosser,  was  employed  by  the  elder  to  fill  the  work  for 
the  year.  He  was  quite  acceptable  and  secured  another 
camp  meeting  near  the  Block  school  house,  June  27,  1843. 
There  were  about  twelve  conversions. 

“This  camp  meeting  was  held  on  P.  T.  Judd’s  place, 
near  Hamlet,  September  6,  1858.  John  Crum  was  the 
circuit  preacher,  and  J.  H.  Whallon,  the  Presiding  Elder. 
There  were  about  thirty  preachers  in  attendance.  The 
outlook  was  barren,  indeed,  until  Sabbath  evening.  The 
elder  said : ‘Brother  Crum,  you  must  preach  to-night,’ 

and  Brother  Crum  preached  a wonderful  and  powerful 
sermon.  The  congregation  would  not  break  up.  Soon 
the  announcement  was  made  for  prayer  meeting  in  one 
of  the  tents,  but  none  of  the  preachers  would  lead  it. 
After  some  effort,  some  one  was  engaged  to  pray.  The 
prayer  meeting  lasted  nearly  all  night  and  there  were  a 
few  conversions;  but  during  Monday  and  Tuesday  con- 
versions multiplied  until  two  hundred  and  one  professed 
faith  in  Christ.  The  oldest  people  confessed  never  before 
to  have  seen  it  on  this  fashion.  The  meeting  was  to 
have  broken  up  Wednesday  morning,  but  such  was  the 
rejoicing  that  it  was  nearly  night  before  the  people  could 


Villen  ovia. 


231 


be  induced  to  go  to  their  homes.  The  people  were  called 
to  the  church  the  following  week  and  about  twelve  more 
were  converted. 

“The  same  preachers  were  continued  the  following 
year  and  another  camp  meeting,  the  ninth,  was  held  on 
Brother  Judd’s  place  September  12,  1859,  and  resulted 
in  about  twenty  conversions. 

“We  may  mention  three  great  revivals.  A revival  oc- 
curred in  the  winter  of  1837  and  1838  under  the  labors 
principally  of  Moses  Hill.  He  began  the  meeting  in  the 
Pope  school  house  on  the  Forestville  road.  The  Lord 
graciously  saved  more  than  a score  of  souls,  and  then  in 
the  Round  House  many  more  were  wonderfully  converted 
to  God.  The  quarterly  meeting  that  followed  was  held 
in  Brother  Smith’s  barn,  in  Hamlet.  Brother  Darius 
Smith,  after  preaching  the  Sabbath  morning  sermon, 
gave  the  invitation  for  candidates  for  baptism  to  come 
forward,  and  from  scaffold,  hay  and  floors,  the  people 
came  until  between  fifty  and  sixty  stood  before  him 
eager  in  the  gladness  of  their  new  life  to  receive  the  out- 
ward seal  of  the  inward  cleansing.  This  was  a sight  to 
rejoice  the  heart  of  any  toiler  in  the  Master’s  vineyard. 

“In  1842  the  Lord  greatly  blessed  the  labors  of  Potter 
Sullivan,  so  that  many  of  the  hardest  cases  were  con- 
verted and  added  to  the  Church. 

“During  the  three  years,  1864-1866,  of  W.  W.  War- 
ner’s pastorate,  revival  succeeded  revival  until  every  point 
on  Villenovia  Charge  was  blessed  with  conversions.  At 

Wright’s  Corners  the  people  built  an  addition  to  the 

school  house  to  accommodate  the  multitudes  who  came 
thronging  night  after  night  to  hear  the  gospel.  The  rec- 
ord shows  two  hundred  and  sixty  received  on  probation, 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  baptisms.  Many  other 
revivals  of  less  note  occurred  in  which  the  societies  were 
greatly  quickened  and  increased. 

“When  the  society  at  Hamlet  had  dedicated  their 
church  they  organized  a Sunday  school.  This  was  in 
April,  1840.  It  continued  through  the  summer  months 
only.  Every  spring  it  was  reorganized  until  1869,  when 
it  was  continued  through  the  year.” 

The  following  preachers  have  gone  out  from  this  cir- 

cuit besides  Bishops  Leonidas  L.  Hamline  and  Calvin 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


T 


232 

Kingsley:  John  P.  Kent,  F.  A.  Dighton,  Lorenzo  Whip- 
ple, Alexander  Barr  is,  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser,  John  Pross- 
er, Dillon  Prosser  and  John  Arnold.  Eli  Arnold  was  a 
local  preacher.  He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  Roderick  Wells  and  Ira  K.  Jones  were  ex- 
horters. 

In  the  summer  of  1810,  Tillinghast  Mowry  moved 
from  Connecticut  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Milton, 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  one  mile  west  of  the  center.  The 
preachers  on  the  Hartford  Circuit  for  many  years  made 
his  house  a home  and  preaching  place.  Under  the  labors 
of  “Father’’  Shewel  a class  was  formed,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Mowry  and  wife,  Jacob  Allen  and  wife,  Joseph  De- 
pue,  Margaret  Hudson  and  a Mr.  Cole  and  wife,  with 
perhaps  a few  others — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  i,  p.  pj.J 

George  Stuntz. 

Mr.  Gregg  gives  an  account  of  the  conversion  of  George 
Stuntz,  an  eminent  local  preacher.  He  was  “powerfully 
awakened  by  a sermon  preached  bv  Tacob  Gruber,  presid- 
ing elder,  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  Brush  meet- 
ing-house in  the  month  of  July,  1810,  from  the  text,  'Be 
not  deceived,  God  is  not  mocked,'  and  immediately  joined 
the  class  on  probation  and  commenced  praying  in  his  fam- 
ily, but  obtained  no  peace  of  mind  until  the  following  Sep- 
tember, at  a camp-meeting  held  by  Mr.  Gruber  on  the 
banks  of  French  creek,  below  Meadville,  Pennsylvania, 
where  many  souls  were  converted.  He  went  to  the  al- 
tar repeatedly,  but  still  found  no  relief ; partook  of  the 
sacrament,  but  instead  of  finding  in  it  a blessing  as  he  ex- 
pected, was  tempted  to  believe  that  he  had  eaten  the  body 
of  the  Lord  ‘unworthily,'  and  exclaimed  in  the  bitterness 
of  his  anguish,  ‘Is  mercy  clear  gone?  Will  He  be  favor- 
able no  more?'  In  this  state  of  despair  he  went  outside 
of  the  encampment  and  prostrated  himself  under  an  oak 
tree  to  'bewail  his  sad  fate.'  While  there  he  says  'I  ven- 
tured my  all  on  Jesus,  by  faith  saw  the  Savior,  was  re- 
lieved of  my  burden,  light  and  joy  inexpressible  filled  my 
soul,  and  all  things  appeared  new  to  me.’  He  was  li- 
censed to  exhort  in  April,  1814,  and  to  preach  in  Salem 
meeting-house  July  22,  1815  ; was  ordained  a local  deacon. 


George  Stunts. 


233 


by  Bishop  Enoch  George  September  18,  1820,  and  an 
elder  by  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  in  1836.”  He  was  an  ac- 
ceptable and  efficient  local  preacher  for  many  years. — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  L, 
PP • Sp,  90.) 

\ 

Hartford  Circuit,  Loring  Grant  and  the  “Holland 

Purchase.” 

The  Baltimore  Conference  met  in  Baltimore.  March 
20,  1811,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Asbury.  Jacob 
Gruber  was  returned  to  Monongahela  District;  James 
Watts  and  James  Ewen  were  appointed  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit ; William  Knox  to  the  Hartford,  Abel  Robinson  to  the 
Shenango,  and  Elijah  Metcalf  to  the  Chautauqua.  The 
last  appointment  was  made  by  the  Genesee  Conference, 
which  met  at  Paris,  New  York,  July  20.  1811 — Bishops 
Asbury  and  McKendree  both  being  present  and  presiding. 

The  Hartford  Circuit,  under  the  labors  of  Joshua  Mon- 
roe and  William  Knox,  extended  its  bounds  toward  the 
west:  and  a class  was  formed  in  the  town  of  Northamp 
ton,  Summit  County,  Ohio,  consisting  of  Abraham  Yan- 
hining — who  was  leader — and  his  wife.  William  Prier, 
Elizabeth  Perkins,  John  Cockran,  and  Catharine  Prier. 
A little  later  a class  was  organized  in  the  town  of  Stow, 
of  which  Mr.  Vanhining  became  leader,  leaving  his  wife 
to  lead  the  former  class.  The  Stow  class  established 
preaching  on  Darrow  Street  in  the  town  of  Hudson 
where  it  flourished  several  years. — ( Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol  L,  pp.  98,  99.) 

In  1 8 1 1 the  Genesee  Conference  sent  Loring  Grant, 
Elijah  Metcalf  and  Marmaduke  Pearce  to  the  “Holland 
Purchase  and  Caledonia."  The  work  of  Mr.  Metcalf 
brought  him  down  into  Chautauqua  County.  He  ex- 
tended his  labors  as  far  as  Warren,  Pennsylvania, 
“preaching  in  a new  settlement  on  the  Conewango,  and  at 
Mother  Reece's  on  the  Allegheny  river,  one  or  two  miles 
below  Warren,  and  also  on  the  Brokenstraw  creek,” 
where  the  parents  of  Mr.  Gregg  then  resided,  having 
moved  from  Oil  Creek  in  1808. — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  J'ol  L,  p.  98 .) 

Mr.  Metcalf  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  York 
Conference  in  1809,  but  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the 


23  4 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


list  of  appointments.  In  1810  he  traveled  the  Wyoming 
Circuit  as  junior  preacher  with  Thomas  Wright.  He  was 
received  into  full  connection  in  1811.  There  is  no  record 
of  his  ordinations.  He  seems  to  have  been  left  without 
appointment  in  1812 ; and  in  the  following  year  he  located. 

Of  the  extent  of  the  “Holland  Purchase  and  Caledonia’’ 
Circuit,  Mr.  Grant  says:  “This  charge  included  all  the 

present  Genesee  Conference,  and  nearly  all  the  Erie  Con- 
ference; all  of  Western  New  York  from  the  Genesee 
river;  one  county  in  Pennsylvania — Erie — and  all  below 
Cleveland,  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  This  part  of  Ohio,  how- 
ever, was  not  explored  to  any  great  extent.  We  had  la- 
bors more  abundant,  and,  thank  God ! we  had  success,  the 
eastern  part  increasing  from  three  to  six  hundred.” 
Again  he  says : “There  we  had  mud,  log-houses,  smoky 

cabins,  and  hard  fare.’’  Another  writer  exclaims:  “O 

the  cold  houses,  the  snow,  the  mud,  the  sage  tea,  the 
baked  beans!’’ — ( Conable , History  of  the  Genesee  An- 
nual Conference,  pp.  48,  49.) 

The  name  of  the  Monongahela  District  was  changed  to 
the  “Ohio”  at  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference 
held  in  Leesburg,  Virginia,  March  20,  1812,  Bishops  As- 
bury  and  McKendree  both  being  present,  and  Jacob 
Young  was  appointed  presiding  elder.  James  Watts 
and  Jacob  Gorwell  were  appointed  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit, and  William  Knox  to  the  Shenango.  The  Hart- 
ford Circuit  was  divided.  The  northern  part,  extending 
along  the  lake  shore,  was  called  the  “Grand  River  Cir- 
cuit”; and  the  southern  part,  the  “Trumbull.”  The  for- 
mer was  manned  by  Abraham  Daniels,  and  the  latter  by 
Thomas  J.  Crockwell  and  John  Summerville.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference,  which  met  in  May,  transferred  the  dis- 
trict to  the  Ohio  Conference.  At  the  session  of  this  Con- 
ference held  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  October  1,  1812,  Jacob 
Young  was  continued  as  presiding  elder,  but  everything 
else  was  changed:  John  Graham  to  the  Erie  Circuit, 

James  Watts  to  the  Shenango,  James  McMahon  to  the 
Trumbull,  and  John  McMahon  and  Robert  C.  Hatton  to 
the  Grand  River.  Robert  C.  Hatton  was  soon  trans- 
ferred to  the  Erie  Circuit,  where  his  services  were  de- 
manded by  the  exigencies  of  the  work.  Lemuel  Lane,  a 
local  preacher  from  the  Western  Reserve,  was  employed 
to  labor  on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit.  He  formed  a class  at 


Fredonia , New  York. 


235 


Silver  creek  “consisting  of  A.  Clothier  and  wife,  S.  Spink 
and  wife,  and  a few  others.” 

Fredonia,  New  York. 

In  1805  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  itinerant  made  his 
appearance  in  Fredonia,  New  York,  but,  like  the  Tishbite 
of  old,  he  proclaimed  his  message  and  passed  on,  only  oc- 
casionally returning  until  1811,  when  Elijah  Metcalf, 
preacher  in  charge  of  Chautauqua  Circuit,  organized  a 
class.  The  territory  at  that  time  belonged  to  the  Ohio 
Conference.  Among  the  members  of  the  society  were 
Justin  Hinman  and  wife,  Daniel  Gould  and  wife,  William 
Ensign  and  wife,  and  Jeremiah  Baldwin  and  wife.  In 
1812  Benjamin  G.  Paddock  was  pastor.  At  the  General 
Conference  of  1820  the  territory  was  given  to  the  Genesee 
Conference  and  Lake  Circuit  was  formed  including  the 
territory  between  North  East,  Pa.,  and  Silver  Creek,  N. 
Y.,  with  John  Summerville  as  pastor. 

In  1824  the  General  Conference  transferred  Chautau- 
qua County  and  a part  of  Cattaraugus  to  the  Pittsburg 
Conference,  and  the  year  following  Henry  Knapp  was 
sent  to  the  circuit  with  John  Scott  as  assistant.  In  1829 
the  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  to  Forestville,  James 
Gillmore  being  sent  as  pastor  and  Allured  Plimpton,  as- 
sistant. Fredonia  first  appears  as  a charge  in  1834,  Wil- 
liam Todd,  pastor,  Lorenzo  Rodgers,  assistant. 

August  2,  1843,  the  annual  Conference  held  its  eighth 
session  in  Fredonia,  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  presiding.  The 
Conference  met  in  the  new  church  on  Centre  Street,  this 
was  the  last  visit  of  Bishop  Soule  to  a conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  he  was  one  of  the  number 
that  separated  from  the  Church  in  1844  and  formed  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

The  first  church  building  was  begun  in  1822  and  com- 
pleted in  1824.  It  stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
A.  Lapham,  on  East  Main  Street.  Afterward  it  was 
moved  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  Green  Streets.  The 
second  church  was  built  in  1839  on  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Barker  Streets.  In  the  early  fifties  a parsonage  was 
bought  on  the  opposite  corner.  The  present  property  was 
purchased  in  1867  and  the  church  erected  in  1868-9.  The 
whole  costing  about  $28,000.  The  dedicatory  services 


in 


236  History  of' Erie  Conference. 

were  conducted  by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  and  the 
Rev.  B.  I.  Ives,  May  12,  1869.  During  the  pastorate  of 
J.  A.  Kummer,  the  present  parsonage — the  John  P.  Hall 
Memorial  Parsonage — was  built  at  a cost  of  $2,700.  The 
Epworth  League  was  organized  in  1890,  and  the  Junior 
League  in  1893. 

The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work. 

A notable  character  appears  as  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
Ohio  District  in  1812.  “Jacob  Young,  a man  of  such 
evangelical  simplicity  and  purity,  such  good  sense  in  coun- 
sel, and  perspicuity  and  pertinence  in  speech,  so  enter- 
taining in  conversation,  and  of  such  cordiality  in  man- 
ners, and  saintliness  of  character,  that  the  most  obstinate 
opposers  and  most  fastidious  critics  were  won  by  him, 
notwithstanding  the  faithfulness  of  his  administrations, 
and  some  obvious  defects  made  the  more  obnoxious  to 
criticism  by  the  peculiar  recitative  tone  of  his  preaching.” 
( Stevens . History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Vol.  4,  p.  1 17.) 

He  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania, 
March  19,  1776,  near  where  Adam  Poe  had  his  famous 
conflict  with  Big  Foot,  an  Indian  chief.  His  childhood 
was  beset  with  frontier  hardships  and  Indian  perils.  His 
mind  was  early  impressed  with  religious  truths  and  ob- 
ligations. He  says:  “One  night,  after  the  family  were 

all  asleep — I was  about  ten  years  of  age — I became  great- 
ly alarmed;  I rose,  and  sat  some  time  by  the  fire,  in  dis- 
tress of  mind  almost  beyond  endurance.  But  suddenly  a 
change  took  place,  and  my  burden  appeared  to  fall  off; 
something  whispered  in  my  ear,  ‘Be  of  good  comfort, 
your  sins  are  forgiven.”  I then  went  to  bed  with  great 
comfort,  and  for  a number  of  months  was  a very  happy 
boy.” 

When  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  removed,  with  his 
family,  into  Kentucky,  and  settled  on  the  frontier  of 
Henry  County.  He  lost  his  religious  enjoyment,  and 
ran  into  many  excesses  of  sin.  When  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  he  was  powerfully  wrought  upon  under  the 
preaching  of  young  Lewis  William  Hunt,  “one  of  the 
earliest  martyrs  to  the  western  itinerancy.”  Listening  to 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  237 


another  sermon  Sunday  morning,  he  “wept  bitterly."  In 
the  evening  Daniel  Woodfield  preached,  and  the  circuit 
preacher  exhorted.  The  congregation  were  moved  as  by 
“a  storm  of  wind.”  Nearly  all  fell  to  the  floor,  crying  for 
mercy,  or  shouting  for  joy.  “A  pious  man”  spoke  to 
Jacob.  He  attempted  to  reply,  but  had  lost  the  power  of 
speech.  His  tears  flowed;  his  knees  trembled:  his 
strength  failed ; he  fell  to  the  floor — the  great  deep  of  his 
heart  broken  up.  For  several  hours  he  cried  unto  God — 
it  availed  nothing.  He  met  with  a cold  reception  upon  his 
return  to  his  home.  He  says : “I  soon  retired  to  the 

solitary  grove  and  sought  the  Lord  with  all  my  heart — 
wandering  from  tree  to  tree,  moaning  like  a dove  that 
had  lost  its  mate,  and  crying  like  the  crane  in  the  desert.” 
In  the  evening  he  returned  to  the  scene  of  his  conviction. 
The  lady  of  the  house  began  to  sing  a hymn.  Mr.  Young 
relates : “I  fell  to  the  floor,  and  there  I lay  many  hours, 

having  no  recollection  of  anything  that  passed,  only  that 
mv  mind  was  dark  and  my  soul  greatly  distressed. 
Toward  midnight,  the  light  appeared  to  shine  from  the 
south  part  of  Heaven,  and  God,  in  mercy,  lifted  up  the 
light  of  his  countenance  upon  me,  and  I was  translated 
from  the  power  of  darkness  into  the  kingdom  of  God's 
dear  Son,  and  rejoiced  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory.  I arose  from  the  floor  praising  God  with  a loud 
voice." — (Jacob  Young,  Autobiography  of  a Pioneer,  pp. 
-V-  40-43-) 

In  1799,  he  labored  as  an  exhorter  in  the  great  revivals 
then  prevailing  in  Kentucky;  in  1801.  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  William  McKendree,  afterwards  Bishop  Mc- 
Kendree;  in  1802,  he  was  called  to  the  itinerancy,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Salt  River  Circuit.  In  six  weeks,  he 
traveled  five  hundred  miles,  preached  fifty  sermons,  held 
many  class  and  prayer  meetings,  visited  many  families, 
and  rejoiced  over  his  field  of  labors  as  the  happiest  scene 
of  his  life.  Such  were  his  labors  until  he  was  transferred 
from  the  Western  to  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1810. 
The  Baltimore  Conference  held  its  session  in  Leesburg. 
Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  and  Mr.  Young  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Ohio  District. 

Mr.  Young  says:  “About  the  first  of  May,  1812,  I 

crossed  the  Ohio  river  and  went  to  Steubenville.  Here 
I formed  a plan  of  my  district ; I found  it  covered  a very 


238 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


large  territory ; part  of  the  country  very  rough — another 
part  might  with  propriety  have  been  called  a swamp.  I 
went  by  the  way  of  New  Lisbon,  Canfield,  Youngstown, 
on  the  Mahoning,  Hubbardsville,  and  Smithfield — here  1 
crossed  the  Pennsylvania  line — Salem  Township,  Mer- 
cer County,  moved  on  through  mud  and  water  till  I came 
to  Oil  Creek,  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania.  Here  I 
held  my  first  quarterly  meeting,  in  a barn.  The  alarm  of 
war  was  spreading  through  that  country.  Crowds  of 
people  attended  the  quarterly  meeting.  James  Watts  and 
William  Connelly  were  my  helpers.  I found  the  neigh- 
borhood under  revival  influence,  and  had  a very  comfort- 
able quarterly  meeting. 

“Next  week  I returned  again  to  the  Western  Reserve, 
and  held  quarterly  meeting  in  the  town  of  Hartford. 
Thomas  Crockwell  and  John  Summerfield  were  the  cir- 
cuit preachers.  Nothing  out  of  the  common  order  took 
place  at  this  meeting.  The  prospect  looked  rather  dis- 
couraging. 

“Next  week,  through  mud  and  water,  I made  my  wa> 
to  the  town  of  Burton,  and  held  quarterly  meeting  in  Seth 
Hays’  barn.  Here  I found  a very  large  congregation, 
considering  the  newness  of  the  country.  This  was  a 
profitable  meeting.  Abram  Daniels  was  circuit  preacher. 
After  keeping  up  the  meeting  for  several  days,  we  closed 
it,  and  parted  in  great  harmony.  So  I passed  on  by  the 
way  of  Canton,  New  Philadelphia,  Coshocton,  Zanesville, 
Cambridge,  in  Guernsey  County,  Barnesville,  in  Belmont, 
St.  Clairsville;  thence  to  my  little  home,  on  Pleasant 
Point,  Ohio  County,  Virginia. 

“I  had  a long  and  laborious  tour.  My  horse  was  nearly 
worn  out,  and  looked  as  if  he  never  would  recover.  My 
clothes  were  pretty  ragged,  and  my  pockets  nearly  empty. 
During  the  whole  time  I did  not  receive  twenty  dollars. 
I found  my  wife  in  very  good  health,  and  our  little  house 
well  filled  with  good  things.  I spent  a few  days  at  home, 
had  my  garments  repaired,  obtained  another  good  horse, 
and  set  out  on  my  second  round  of  quarterly  meetings, 
pursuing  nearly  the  same  route,  holding  quarterly  meet- 
ings every  week,  often  preaching  at  night,  and,  frequently, 
our  meetings  would  continue  till  after  midnight.  Re- 
vivals became  common  throughout  the  whole  District,  es- 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  239 

pecially  on  Shenango  Circuit,  under  the  labors  of  the 
pious  Abel  Robinson.  The  work  prospered  well  on  Erie 
Circuit  this  year. 

“I  had  not  proceeded  far  on  this  round,  till  I heard  the 
cry  of  distress  from  many  families.  Bread-stuff  had  be- 
come very  scarce,  and  sold  at  very  high  prices;  flour,  in 
some  places,  was  sixteen  dollars  per  barrel.  Most  of  the 
families  were  poorly  supplied  with  bread,  and,  report  said, 
some  lived  without  it.  Meat  was  then  about  as  scarce 
and  high  as  bread.  -Along  the  Lake  shore  the  alarm  of 
war  spread  terror  among  the  inhabitants. 

“I  went  next  to  the  mouth  of  French  creek,  on  the  Alle- 
gheny river.  Here  William  Connelly,  a local  preacher, 
undertook  a mission  to  Brokenstraw,  and  the  mouth  of 
Conawango,  where  the  people  were  expecting  a quarterly 
meeting,  though  there  were  no  traveling  preachers  in  that 
part  of  the  country  at  that  time.  The  Genesee  preachers 
had  left  them  out,  and  they  were  like  sheep  having  no 
shepherd.  When  I came  on  to  the  appointed  ground,  I 
found  a stand  erected  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  very 
convenient  seats,  and  a kind  of  a large  tent,  into  which 
we  could  retire.  About  ten  o’clock  the  people  began  to 
gather,  in  great  numbers.  Some  on  horseback  and  some 
on  foot,  and  a goodly  number  came  down  the  Allegheny 
in  canoes. 

“Here,  for  the  first  time,  I met  with  John  P.  Kent,  who 
was  then  a smooth-faced  boy,  and,  I suppose,  about  as 
polite  as  any  young  French  gentleman  in  Paris,  and  as 
kind  and  accommodating.  He  had  a large  company  with 
him,  of  which  he  appeared  to  be  the  chief  man.  One  of 
his  company  was  a local  preacher,  by  the  name  of  Arnold. 

“Just  about  the  time  I was  going  to  commence  divine 
service,  up  rode  Bishop  McKendree.  as  large  as  life,  filled 
with  health  and  animation.  He  had  two  preachers  with 
him,  George  Harmon  and  Brother  Metcalf.  He  just  took 
time  to  shake  hands  and  ask  me  how  I was,  then  mounted 
the  stand  and  commenced  sendees,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  preached  one  of  his  flaming  and  awakening  sermons. 
Harmon  exhorted.  We  had  a prayer  meeting.  Many 
tears  were  shed,  and  a good  deal  of  shouting  was  heard. 

“McKendree  and  all  the  preachers  but  myself,  rode  off 
to  a small  town  called  Warren,  to  procure  refreshments. 
There  were  two  places  called  public  houses  there,  but  I 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  241 


called  them  low  grog-shops.  The  Bishop  rode  up  to  the 
first,  and  they  played  the  fiddle  at  him.  He  went  on  to 
the  next,  where  he  made  out  to  stay  all  night.  I sup- 
pose they  got  their  supper  and  something  for  their  horses, 
and  left  me  to  hold  quarterly  conference. ” — (Jacob 
Young , Autobiography  of  a Pioneer , pp.  279-282.) 

“I  preached  in  the  evening,  and  held  a prayer  meeting 
— the  congregation  dispersed,  and,  leaving  me  a little  like 
my  Divine  Master,  in  one  respect,  for  I had  not  where  to 
lay  my  head.  No  one  asked  me  to  go  with  him.  After 
wandering  awhile,  I found  an  old  log  barn,  with  some 
half-rotten  hay  in  it.  There  I laid  me  down  and  slept  till 
daylight. 

“Before  sunrise,  I was  invited  to  take  breakfast  on  the 
bank  of  Allegheny  river,  where  a number  of  people  had 
encamped.  They  had  neither  tables  nor  chairs,  but  they 
spread  their  clothes  on  the  ground.  We  worshiped  God 
together,  took  a hearty  breakfast,  and  conversed  freely  on 
our  prosoects  for  getting  to  another  world.  The  congre- 
gation gathered  early,  and  the  preachers  with  them,  and 
we  had  an  excellent  love-feast.  There  was  certainly  the 
shout  of  the  King  in  the  camp. 

“Having  dismissed  the  congregation,  after  preaching 
the  next  morning,  we  mounted  our  horses,  rode  away  to 
Brokenstraw — upward  of  twenty  miles — that  night,  and 
staid  with  ’Squire  Mead.  The  Bishop  preached  again  a 
good  little  sermon,  and  we  all  retired  to  rest.” — (Jacob 
Young , Autobiography  of  a Pioneer , pp.  283,  284.) 

“We  took  our  breakfast,  and  rode  down  to  William 
Connelly's,  Franklinton,  mouth  of  French  creek.  Next 
day,  we  rode  to  Edward  Crow’s,  Salem  Township,  Mer- 
cer County,  Pennsylvania,  and  tarried  there  that  night. 

“I  accompanied  the  Bishop  to  Youngstown,  on  the 
Western  Reserve;  Harmon  and  Metcalf  having  turned 
back.  From  this  place  we  went  on  to  Steubenville.  Here 
I turned  my  course  toward  Ashtabula ; held  my  quarterly 
meeting  in  the  court  house.  Methodism  was  very  new  in 
that  part  of  the  country  at  that  time.  On  Saturday  and 
Saturday  night,  everything  went  on  very  smoothly. 

“On  Sunday  morning  we  had  a pleasant  love-feast. 
While  I was  preaching,  the  congregation  began  leaving 
the  house,  sometimes  as  many  as  nine  or  ten  at  a time. 
I could  not  tell  what  was  the  matter,  but  closed  services 

16 


d 


242  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

as  soon  as  I could  conveniently.  When  I went  to  th^ 
door, -I  met  one  gentleman  dressed  in  uniform,  another 
beating  the  drum,  another  playing  the  fife,  one  holding  a 
banner — the  stars  and  stripes  flying.  I asked  them  what 
all  that  meant  ? They  told  me  that  Hull  had  surrendered 
Detroit  to  the  British,  and  that  nine  hundred  British  and 
Indians  were  on  their  way  down  the  Lake  toward  that 
country : that  they  had  no  time  to  lose ; they  must  try  to 
raise  force  enough  to  hold  them  in  check  till  we* could 
organize  the  militia. 

“I  staid  all  night,  and  tried  to  comfort  the  people  in 
the  best  manner  I could.  Next  day  I crossed  the  Penn- 
sylvania line,  and  stopped  at  a little  kind  of  village  to  get 
our  horses  shod,  and  told  the  doleful  news.  Some  be- 
lieved it,  and  some  did  not;  some  were  frightened,  and 
some  were  very  angry.  One  man  swore  most  profanely, 
loud  and  long.  I tried  to  reason  with  him,  and  to  re- 
prove him,  but  to  no  advantage.  He  said  it  was  right  t <.> 
swear,  and  he  would  swear ; if  Hull  had  sworn  more,  he 
would  not  have  lost  Detroit. 

' “I  rode  on  to  ’Squire  John  Leech's,  and  put  up  for  the 
night.  Here  I found  the  people  greatly  alarmed ; a good 
many  preparing  to  leave  the  country,  and  go  to  Pitts- 
burg— some  had  actually  began  to  pack  up  their  goods. 
I called  them  together,  and  tried  to  preach  to  them ; then 
endeavored  to  dissuade  them  from  their  purpose  of  leav- 
ing their  homes,  alleging,  in  the  first  place,  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  the  Indians  or  British  to  get  where  we  were, 
and  that  if  they  were  still  afraid,  they  had  better  set  up 
pickets  and  make  a strong  fort,  than  for  a part  of  the 
families  to  go  off  and  leave  the  rest  exposed.  The  gentle- 
men all  appeared  to  approve  of  the  suggestion,  and  were 
well  satisfied. 

“After  I had  taken  my  seat,  a large  lady  approached  me 
with  a very  angry  countenance  and  uplifted  hand.  The 
first  word  she  spoke  was:  ‘Sir,  I believe  the  devil  sent 

you  here  to-day,  for  we  had  just,  by  much  persuasion, 
prevailed  on  our  husbands  to  go  to  Pittsburg,  and  now 
you  have  confirmed  them  in  their  old  opinions,  and  they 
will  not  go.  We  shall  be  murdered,  and  our  children — 
and  our  blood  will  be  upon  your  head.’  My  reply  was: 
’O!  madam,  there  is  no  danger.’  She  replied:  T know 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  243 


better.  We  and  our  families  are  all  in  danger  of  being 
destroyed.’ 

“I  left  her,  clamoring  away,  and  crossed  over  into  the 
Western  Reserve,  where  we  had  appointed  a camp  meet- 
ing ; but  the  news  of  Hull's  surrender  had  so  alarmed  the 
people  that  they  had  given  up  holding  any  camp  meet- 
ing. I,  thinking  they  had  acted  very  improperly  in  giving 
up  the  meeting,  gave  them  two  or  three  severe  lectures, 
and  they  lectured  back;  so  we  parted.’' — (Jacob  Young, 
Autobiography  of  a Pioneer,  pp.  285-288.) 

In  May  the  General  Conference  transferred  the  Ohio 
District  from  the  Baltimore  to  the  Ohio  Conference. 
The  Ohio  Conference  met  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  Mr. 
Young  was  returned  to  the  same  district. 

Among  the  many  camp  meetings  held  during  this  year, 
one  near  Meadville  may  be  mentioned. 

“The  people  in  that  section  appeared  to  be  both  hungry 
and  thirsty  for  camp  meeting.  They  selected  a beautiful 
spot  of  ground,  and  built  a great  many  very  comfortable 
tents.  The  congregation  was  very  large  on  the  first  day-. 
Many  ministers  were  present. 

“Bishop  McKendree  was  with  us  and  preached  every 
day,  and  took  a lively  interest  in  our  night  meetings. 
The  literati  of  Meadville  were  nearly  all  in  attendance. 
General  Mead  himself  made  one  of  the  company.  They 
were  delighted  above  measure  with  the  Bishop's  preach- 
ing. The  rowdies,  as  we  then  called  them,  began  to  be- 
have disorderly  on  Saturday,  in  the  afternoon.  I took 
the  usual  course  to  preserve  order,  reading  the  rules,  ex- 
pounding them,  and  then  used  my  influence  by  walking 
round  the  congregation,  using  moral  suasion  as  I went 
along  to  every  one,  gentle  and  simple. 

“In  one  of  my  rounds  I was  met  by  two  gentlemen  from 
Meadville,  who  requested  me  to  give  myself  no  trouble 
about  keeping  order,  but  carry  on  religious  exercises  as 
we  had  been  doing,  and  they  would  preserve  order 
throughout  the  congregation.  Old  General  Mead  went 
on  the  stand  and-  requested  the  people  to  be  orderly, 
showing  them  the  consequence  if  they  did  not  comply  with 
the  rules.  We  had  no  more  trouble  during  the  meeting. 
The  good  work  of  the  Lord  went  on  with  very  little  in- 
termission day  and  night.  Many  professed  to  be  con- 
verted. Backsliders  were  reclaimed,  and  the  Church  edi- 


244 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


fied.  Sabbath  was  a great  day.  The  Bishop  gave  us  the 
Lord’s  Supper.  The  Lord  honored  His  table  by  pouring 
His  Spirit  on  the  congregation. 

“We  continued  the  meeting  with  success  till  Tuesday 
morning,  then  the  Bishop  gave  us  his  valedictory.  We 
closed  the  meeting  under  pleasing  circumstances,  took  our 
departure,  rode  to  John  Leech’s,  where  the  Bishop 
preached  to  a small  congregation.’’ — (Jacob  Young , 
Autobiography  of  a Pioneer,  pp.  300,  301.) 

The  Western  Conference  in  1813  was  held  at  Steuben- 
ville, Ohio,  in  October,  Bishop  Asbury  in  the  chair.  Mr. 
Young  again  returned  to  his  labors.  “The  District  re- 
mained in  pretty  much  the  same  form  as  it  was  last  year : 
Shenango,  James  Watts;  Erie,  John  Graham;  Trumbull, 
James  McMahon;  Grand  River,  John  McMahon,  Robert 
C.  Hatton;  Beaver,  Jacob  Gorwell;  Barnesville,  Archi- 
bald McElroy ; Cross  Creek,  Abel  Robinson,  William 
Knox;  West  Wheeling,  James  B.  Finley. 

“I  pursued  my  regular  round.  By  the  time  I came  to 
Erie,  on  the  Lake,  the  weather  had  become  intensely  cold. 
The  war  was  still  going  on  between  England  and  the 
United  States.  The  people  were  still  very  uneasy  along 
the  Lake  shore,  more  than  half  way  down  toward  Pitts- 
burg. They  had  not  recovered  from  the  panic  of  last 
year,  occasioned  by  Hull’s  surrender  of  Detroit ; and,  to 
heighten  our  trouble  through  the  country,  the  fever  had 
broken  out  in  the  camp  at  Black  Rock,  run  up  the  Lake, 
and  spread  out  through  the  country.  They  called  it  the 
cold  plague.  It  was  far  worse  than  either  the  British  or 
Indians.  There  was  no  guarding  against  it.  It  was  al- 
most as  bad  as  the  cholera  in  later  days.  The  doctors  did 
not  understand  it.  The  first  they  would  do  was  to  bleed, 
and  I know  of  but  one  but  that  died  soon  after  blood 
letting.  It  made  its  appearance  in  Hartford,  Trumbu’l 
County,  Ohio.  The  first  that  fell  a victim  to  it  in  that 
place  was  an  eminent  minister,  by  the  name  of  Crosby. 
I preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  buried  him.  I went 
on  to  the  town  of  Burton,  returned  the  next  week  to  Hart- 
ford, and  found  another  of  the  old  citizens  lying  a corpse 
— preached  his  funeral  and  buried  him.  Went  to  Youngs- 
town, and  held  my  quarterly  meeting,  then,  by  the  way  of 
Canfield  and  Lisbon,  to  Steubenville— found  the  cold 
plague  spreading  in  every  direction ; it  was  nearly  as  bad 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work . 245 


in  Wheeling  as  in  Meadville.  It  spread  throughout  the 
great  western  valley,  and  carried  thousands  of  our  fel  - 
low citizens  to  their  graves. 

“This  was,  in  some  respects,  a dreadful  winter.  The 
war  still  raged  furiously,  and  all  kinds  of  provisions  were 
scarce  and  high.  I suppose  many  poor  people  suffered 
for  want  of  bread. 

“The  people  were  so  much  taken  up  with  war  and  poli- 
tics, that  they  lost  their  zeal  in  the  cause  of  God.  I suf- 
fered more  with  cold  this  winter  than  ever  before.  Some- 
times, I would  have  to  give  fifty  cents  for  a peck  of  oats, 
to  feed  my  weary  horse,  and  I have  paid  as  high  as  four 
dollars  for  getting  my  horse  shod.  I was  often  entirely 
out  of  money,  but  some  one  always  took  compassion  upon 
me  and  supplied  my  wants.  Winter  was  long  and  cold: 
but,  finally,  spring  came  on.  I commenced  my  third 
round  under  more  favorable  circumstances,  but  we  had 
but  little  revival  influence  during  the  whole  year.  Yet 
peace  and  prosperity  was  in  the  Church.  The  God  of  love 
and  peace  was  with  us. 

“During  this  round,  I found  the  people  very  much 
straitened  for  breadstuif,  and  some  actually  suffering. 
This  gave  the  wealthy  an  opportunity  to  take  advantage 
of  the  poor,  for  these  were  times  of  great  speculation. 
The  rich  were  made  richer,  and  the  poor  poorer.  But, 
still,  we  had  some  benevolent  men  among  us. 

“I  will  give  you  two  cases,  which  will  represent  the 
whole.  In  these  hard  times,  I preached,  one  day,  in  the 
house  of  a local  preacher,  and  bore  down  pretty  hard  on 
extortioners,  especially  on  those  who  took  advantage  of 
the  poor  in  the  article  of  breadstuff.  Meeting  over,  the 
congregation  retired.  The  brother  came  and  took  his 
seat  by  my  side,  and  said  to  me:  ‘You  have  this  day 
partly  ruined  me,  for  I have  been  selling  corn  for  two 
dollars  per  bushel,  and  the  people  have  all  been  censuring 
me.  Now  they  will  be  worse  than  ever.'  We  debated 
the  case  all  the  afternoon.  I think  he  relented  some,  and 
I left  him  in  a very  good  humor. 

“Another  case  I will  mention,  that  took  place  on  the 
Western  Reserve.  A Methodist  brother  had  some  flour 
on  hand  for  sale,  which  he  disposed  of  to  certain  persons, 
and  took  their  notes,  to  be  paid  in  rye,  after  harvest — 
twenty-six  bushels  of  rye  for  a barrel  of  flour.  When  he 


- 


246 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


received  the  rye,  after  harvest,  he  turned  it  into  whisky, 
at  three  dollars  per  bushel,  took  that  whisky  to  the  army, 

and  sold  it  for  three  dollars  per  gallon,  getting  in  the 
neighborhood  of  two  hundred  dollars  for  a barrel  of  flour. 

“I  will  now  give  you  a case  of  another  kind.  My  old 
colleague.  Thomas  Church,  had  located  and  gone  to  farm- 
ing. This  year  he  had  on  hand  a large  crop  of  excellent 
corn,  and  sold  it  out  to  his  poor  neighbors  for  three 
bushels  per  dollar;  and  when  they  had  no  money  he  took 
work  for  his  corn.  This  shows  the  truth  of  one  of  the 
wise  sayings  of  Solomon:  ‘The  righteous  is  more  excel- 

lent than  his  neighbor.’ 

“I  commenced  my  fourth  round  early  in  the  summer. 
During  this  round,  we  held  many  camp  meetings— one  on 
that  favorite  spot,  on  French  creek,  near  Meadville,  where 
I had  a glorious  camp  meeting  the  year  before.  I rode 
to  the  meeting  in  company  with  Joseph  and  Matilda 
Crow,  of  precious  memory.  I had  heard,  previous  to  this, 

that  that  part  of  Holland  Purchase  lying  west  of  the  Cat- 
taraugus, was  destitute  of  preaching.  They  had  been 
supplied,  for  several  years,  from  the  Genesee  Conference. 
The  preachers  had  become  discouraged,  and  left  them 
destitute.  Some  of  the  young  people  in  that  part  of  the 
country  attended  our  camp  meeting : two  young  men — 
one  by  the  name  of  Bevins,  the  other  Mather — with  three 
young  ladies,  Anna  Kent,  and  two  Misses  Smith.  They 
came  to  see  if  we  could  not  supply  them  with  preaching. 
Miss  Kent  seemed  to  be  the  chief  speaker.  They  were 
resolved  to  take  no  denial — they  must  and  would  have  a 
preacher.  The  work  of  the  Lord  was  going  on,  and  they 
wanted  a preacher  to  take  charge  of  it.  They  entered 
into  the  spirit  of  the  work,  and  were  very  useful  among 
us.  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  give  us  another  good  camp 
meeting,  but  not  quite  equal  to  the  one  the  year  before.  I 
sent  on  a preacher  to  reconnoiter  the  ground,  and  report 
to  the  ensuing  Conference.  He  reported  favorably,  and 
it  was  taken  into  the  Ohio  Conference,  and  added  to  the 
Ohio  District.’’ — (Jacob  Young , Autobiography  of  a 
Pioneer,  pp.  JOJ-^ii.) 

The  Conference  of  1814  was  held  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  Mr.  Young  was  re-appointed  to  the  same  District. 
But  little  is  said  of  the  work  of  the  first  two  quarters. 
Of  the  third  he  says : “I  began  my  third  round  of  quar- 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  247 


terly  meetings  in  fine  health  and  good  spirits,  till  I came 
to  the  Mahoning  river;  here  I was  attacked  with  fever 

and  ague.  I traveled  on,  grappled  with  the  disease,  and 
preached  almost  every  day  till  I reached  Warrentown, 
Trumbull  County;  there  I had  to  halt  and  send  for  the 
doctor.  My  next  quarterly  meeting  was  in  the  town  of 
Burton ; and  as  my  labors  had  always  been  wonderfully 
blessed  in  that  place,  I could  not  think  of  missing  the 
meeting.  I told  the  doctor  I wanted  him  to  break  the 
fever  as  soon  as  he  possibly  could. 

“On  Thursday  evening  I took  a large  dose  of  calomel, 
followed  by  a large  portion  of  jalap.  On  Friday  morn- 
ing I obtained  a quart  of  port  wine,  four  ounces  of 
genuine  Peruvian  red  bark,  mounted  my  horse  very  early 
in  the  morning,  took  a large  portion  of  wine  and  bark 
every  two  hours,  rode  thirty-two  miles,  preached  at  night, 
went  through  the  labors  of  the  quarterly  meeting  with 
comfort ; and,  the  best  of  all,  God  was  with  us. 

“On  Tuesday  morning  I went  on  my  way  rejoicing, 
and  was  troubled  no  more  with  ague  that  year.  Noth- 
ing remarkable  took  place  during  this  round. 

“I  commenced  my  fourth  round  under  more  auspicious 
circumstances.  Our  quarterly  meetings  were  attended 
with  great  displays  of  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God. 

“As  I was  preparing  to  leave  the  District,  it  became 
my  duty  to  make  a close  and  thorough  examination  rela- 
tive to  the  Church  in  every  department.  First,  in  regard 
to  the  number  of  Church  members.  I compared  our 
numerical  strength  to  what  it  was  when  I came  on,  and 
found  it,  I think,  nearly  double — our  congregations  more 
than  doubled;  the  attendance  in  class  meetings  greatly 
improved — family  religion  was  on  the  advance ; our 
preachers  appeared  to  live  more  holy,  and  to  preach  with 
more  zeal  and  understanding.  I may  saw  in  truth,  the 
District,  in  every  respect,  was  in  a better  condition  than 
when  I came  on  it.  I looked  back  with  renewed  satis- 
faction on  the  three  years  and  six  months  I spent  on  this 
rough  but  delightful  field  of  labor/* — ( Jacob  Young, 
Autobiography  of  a Pioneer,  pp.  315-31/.) 

The  memoir  presented  by  the  Ohio  Conference,  at  the 
session  immediately  following  his  death,  is  so  accurate  a 
portrait  of  this  good  man,  that  we  copy  it  entire : 


248  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

“The  Rev.  Jacob  Young,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  19th  day  of  March,  1776. 
His  father  was  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  his  mother 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  though  both  were  strangers 
to  the  converting  power  of  God  until  brought  in  after 
days  to  the  feet  of  the  Savior  through  the  labors  of  their 
own  son.  It  has  been  often  said,  that  the  circumstances 
under  which  a man  is  born  and  reared  have  much  to  do  in 
the  formation  of  his  future  character,  and  that  one  com- 
ing into  life  amid  great  and  stirring  scenes,  the  offspring 
of  parents  deeply  interested  in  the  great  questions  of  hu- 
man life  and  human  liberty,  would  more  probably  be 
marked  in  his  mental  character  with  the  influences  of 
those  struggles,  and  stamped  through  life  with  the  spirit 
of  the  age.  The  subject  of  our  memoir  was  ushered  into 
life  amid  the  struggles  of  a nation  for  the  boon  of  free- 
dom, and  the  parents  who  rejoiced  in  the  birth  of  a son 
were  permitted  in  four  months  more  to  rejoice  in  the 
birth  of  a nation  by  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
The  first  years  of  the  life  of  our  brother  were  passed  amid 
the  wildest  scenes  of  frontier  peril,  and  the  objects  of 
early  familiarity  were  sites  of  renowned  conflict  and  the 
portholes  of  his  father’s  cabin.  The  high  hopes  of  his 
parents,  based  upon  his  physical  and  mental  activity,  and 
his  uncommon  natural  courage,  were  suddenly  overcast 
by  malignant  disease,  followed  by  confirmed  asthma, 
which  lasted  until  his  fifteenth  year;  but  his  active  mind 
struggled  through  the  disabilities  of  bodily  affliction,  and, 
under  the  care  of  an  affectionate  mother,  he  grappled  in 
childhood  with  many  of  those  great  thoughts  which  after- 
ward swelled  his  mature  and  manly  heart.  The  simple 
grandeur  of  the  New  Testament  made  its  impress  upon 
his  heart,  and  love  kindled  for  the  Savior  as  he  read  the 
history  and  design  of  his  sufferings.  He  looked  by  faith, 
and  heard  the  Savior  say:  'Be  of  good  comfort,  thy 
sins  are  all  forgiven.’  For  a while  he  was  joyful  and 
happy,  but  improper  association  stole  the  treasure  from 
his  heart.  His  health  having  recovered,  and  his  father 
removing  to  the  State  of  Kentuckv,  he  for  a while  divided 
his  time  between  the  hard  labor  to  which  duty  and  honor 
bound  him  for  the  maintenance  of  his  family,  and  the  wild 
sports  of  thoughtless  frontier  men.  While  thus  engaged, 
he  became  alarmed  at  the  extent  of  his  own  wickedness. 


The  Notable  Jacob  Young  and  His  Work.  249 


and  resolved  to  seek  again  the  path  of  life.  After  a 
severe  struggle  with  the  old  doctrines  of  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith,  he  turned  to  the  word  of  God  alone. 
Under  bitter  anguish  of  spirit,  and  against  the  wishes  of 
his  friends,  he  attended  the  preaching  of  the  word  by  the 
Methodist  ministry,  and  was  guided  through  his  dark  and 
painful  struggle  into  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding.  His  conversion  was  as  strongly  marked 
as  his  agony  had  been  deep  and  unutterable.  He  united 
soon  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  felt  all 
the  power  of  the  tempter,  and  learned  painful  and  bitter 
lessons,  which  were  of  service  to  thousands  in  after  days. 
Holy  men  in  the  Church  began  to  point  to  his  future  path, 
and  the  prayer  of  faith  offered  bv  many  claimed  gospel 
qualification  from  the  Holy  Spirit  for  the  future  minister 
of  Christ.  He  felt  within  him  an  irrepressible  thirst  for 
knowledge,  and  seized  with  avidity  the  means  of  improve- 
ment. The  fire  of  the  Lord  was  shut  up  within  his  soul, 
and,  under  an  impression  which  he  dared  not  farther  re- 
sist, at  the  close  of  a day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  with- 
out formal  authority  from  the  Church,  he  preached  his 
first  sermon,  saw  a congregation  bathed  in  tears,  and 
felt  in  his  own  spirit  the  anointing  from  the  Holy  One. 
In  September,  1801,  he  was  licensed  as  a local  preacher, 
and  on  the  17th  of  February,  1802,  under  the  direction 
of  that  great  master-spirit,  William  McKendree,  he  was 
thrust  out  into  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  to  fill  the 
place  of  Gabriel  Woodfield,  on  a large  frontier  circuit. 
As  an  ably  written  life  of  this  distinguished  man  of  God, 
with  the  facts  furnished  by  himself,  and  revised  by  Dr. 
E.  Thomson  and  D.  W.  Clark,  is  already  before  the 
Christian  public,  embracing  fiftv-five  years’  connection 
with  the  itinerant  ministrv,  and  affording  a rich  feast 
to  his  personal  friends,  and  the  friends  of  true  piety  and 
self-developed  greatness,  we  forbear  to  refer  to  the  es- 
pecial fields  of  his  labor,  or  dwell  upon  the  success  which 
attended  the  work  of  this  faithful  man.  It  seems  to  us 
almost  a useless  attempt,  even  to  bear  a truthful  and 
sincere  testimony  to  his  rare  abilities,  ripe  Christianity, 
and  unwearied  labors,  for  the  name  of  Jacob  Young, 
bringing  with  it  an  association  of  excellences,  is  burned  in 
imperishable  characters,  and  over  so  wide  a territory,  that 
the  kindling  of  our  feeble  lamp  would  be  obscured  bv  the 


250  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

already  ever-burning  light  in  the  mind  and  memory  of  his 
numerous  friends.  Permit  us  to  say,  that  as  helper  on 
the  circuit,  in  charge  of  the  work,  presiding  over  im- 
portant districts,  in  the  great  councils  of  the  Church,  he 
was  ever  marked  as  one  chosen  of  God,  and  the  heart  of 
the  Church  ever  thrilled  with  gratitude  at  the  thought  that 
God  had  favored  her  with  his  labor  and  his  counsel.  We 
would  speak  more  particularly  of  that  portion  of  his  life 
from  the  close  of  his  biography  to  his  happy  departure 
from  time.  He  had  fully  taught  his  junior  brethren  the 
great  lesson,  how  to  battle  with  all  the  difficulties  which 
can  surround  the  days  of  manhood,  and  which  call  forth 
the  strength  of  maturity.  It  was  his  to  teach  us  another 
lesson : how  to  be  truly  great,  and  exhibit  the  ripe  fruit 
of  Christian  experience,  and  the  fresh  treasures  of  active 
old  age,  amid  the  shades  which  often  surround  the  decline 
of  life,  and  the  felt  decay  of  once  vigorous  and  giant  , 
power.  He  was  then  great  in  the  beautiful  symmetry  of 
his  Christian  character,  his  sweet  submission  to  the  will 
of  God,  his  deep  interest  in  all  the  improvements  of  the 
Church,  and  the  more  than  martial  fire  he  infused  into  the 
hearts  of  his  junior  brethren.  His  voice  fell  on  the  ear 
of  the  juniors  as  that  of  an  oracle,  and  the  full  expression 
of  his  countenance  kindled  battle  within  the  depth  of  their 
soul.  He  had  long  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  perfect  love, 
and  in  his  last  days  that  light  was  clear,  and  that  power 
was  full.  One  year  ago,  during  the  sitting  of  our  Con- 
ference in  the  city  of  Columbus,  he  made  his  last  public 
address  in  the  college  campus,  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity. His  survey  of  early  struggle  and  early  privation 
was  full  of  interest ; his  rehearsal  of  desires  long  pent  up 
within  the  laboring  mind,  finding  vent,  and  realizing  full 
satisfaction  in  the  noble  provision  which  there  met  the 
eye  for  the  cultivation  of  the  youthful  mind  of  the  Church 
and  of  the  community,  was  a rich  feast  to  the  vast  con- 
course which  hung  upon  his  lips.  In  the  love-feast  on 
the  next  morning,  he  delivered  his  last  -testimony,  like 
Moses  about  to  be  gathered  to  his  fathers,  while  his 
countenance  beamed  with  the  reflection  of  heaven.  In 
the  home-like  sick-room,  in  the  house  of  our  Brother 
Towler,  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  he  still  spoke  such  les- 
sons as  only  fall  from  the  lips  of  the  great  and  the  good ; 
and  when  removed  to  the  house  of  his  oldest  son,  sur- 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock. 


25T 


rounded  by  the  loved  members  of  his  own  family,  and  a 
few  friends  whom  strong  attraction  had  drawn  to  the 
place,  being  ready  for  his  departure,  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1859,  breathed  his  blessings  upon  those  around 
him,  audibly  pronounced  the  words,  ‘Sweet  heaven!  sweet 
heaven !’  and  then  passed  upward  at  the  call  of  his  Master. 
On  the  following  Sabbath,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Casper 
preached  an  appropriate  funeral  discourse  in  Townstreet 
Chapel,  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  which  fell  like  a message 
from  eternity  upon  the  hearts  of  a vast  and  weeping  audi- 
ence. Devout  men  bore  his  remains  to  his  burial,  and  his 
body  sleeps  in  the  calm  quiet  of  Greenlawn  Cemetery. 
Idle  sigh  of  the  Church  responds  that  a ‘prince  and  a 
great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel.’  ” — (Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences, Vol.  VIII.,  i860,  pp.  2J3,  274.) 

Benjamin  G.  Paddock  on  the  “Shetockway” 
Circuit.  Thrilling  Experiences. 

At  the  session  of  the  Genesee  Conference  held  in  Judge 
Dorsey's  barn  at  Lyons,  New  York,  in  1812,  Benjamin 
G.  Paddock  was  sent  to  the  “Shetockway”  Circuit.  Mr. 
Paddock  says:  “In  1812  I labored  rather  as  a mission- 

ary. Commencing  near  Buffalo,  I went"  up  Lake  Erie  to 
near  the  Ohio  line,  then  off  south  and  east  to  Waterford. 
Meadville,  Franklin,  Brokenstraw,  Warren,  Maysville, 
and  other  places  of  less  note ; taking  in  Cattaraugus  and 
Chautauqua  Counties,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  Erie, 
Venango,  Crawford,  and  Warren  Counties — more  prop- 
erly parts  of  them — in  Pennsylvania.  This  was  a year 
of  hard  labor,  many  privations,  and  great  responsibili- 
ties.”— (Z.  Paddock , Memoirs  of  Rev.  B.  G.  Paddock,  p. 
94.)  Travelling  up  the  Lake,  he  seems  to  have  opened 
his  mission  at  the  first  principal  settlement.  He  meets 
with  the  usual  experiences  of  the  itinerants  of  his  time. 
His  Memoirs  say : 

”dhe  next  neighborhood  visited  by  the  young  mission- 
ary was  on  the  Canadaway  creek,  some  two  miles  from  the 
shore  .of  Lake  Erie,  now  the  flourishing  village  of  Fre- 
donia.  Here  he  found  a society  already  formed,  con- 
taining some  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  He  speaks  of 
Gould  and  Hinman  in  particular,  as  men  of  deep  piety  and 
commanding  social  influence.  Further  inland,  and  in  the 
more  sparsely  populated  sections,  he  found  others  of 


' 

252  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

kindred  character,  some  of  whom  he  had  known  and  loved 
elsewhere.  . . . Though  not  all  in  the  same  neigh- 

borhood, he  found  the  Rev.  David  Dunham,  an  ex- 
travelling preacher,  Eli  and  John  Arnold,  and  Father 
Kent,  whose  son.  Rev.  J.  P.  Kent,  afterward  a member 
of  the  old  Genesee  Conference.  But  to  visit  and  provide 
spiritual  food  for  these  scattered  sheep  required  hard 
labor  and  not  a little  suffering.  On  the  lake  shore  the 
roads  were  quite  passable,  and  the  inhabitants  in  rather 
comfortable  circumstances;  but  further  back  the  state  of 
things  was  very  different.  For  the  most  part  there  were 
no  roads,  the  itinerant  being  obliged  to  find  his  way  by 
marked  trees  or  the  mere  bridle-paths;  and  when  he 
reached  his  place  of  rest,  if  such  it  could  be  called,  it  was 
the  merest  cabin,  supplving  no  room  for  either  retirement 
or  study.  For  both  he  must  go  to  the  contiguous  forest. 

“An  incident  that  occurred  near  the  close  of  a day,  in 
one  of  these  forest  rides  is  thus  described  by  the  mission- 
ary: T was  later  than  usual  at  the  place,  the  sun  just 

then  going  down.  On  my  left  there  was  a sunken  vale, 
covered  by  remarkably  high  brakes,  higher,  indeed,  than 
one’s  head  when  standing  upon  the  ground.  Though 
growing  a little  dark,  I could  distinctly  see,  in  one  direc- 
tion, and  not  very  far  off,  the  tops  of  these  brakes  parting 
and  swaying  in  a manner  that  demonstrated  the  presence 
of  animal  life.  Conjecture  as  to  the  variety  was,  how- 
ever, utterly  at  fault.  Nor  was  I any  better  informed 
when  such  a tumultuous  yell  was  heard  emanating  from 
the  spot  to  which  my  attention  had  been  drawn  as  never 
before  fell  upon  my  ear.  It  was  as  if  a score  of  demons 
had  determined  to  try  the  most  fearful  strains.  My 
poor  horse  appeared  to  be  as  badly  terrified  as  was  his 
master.  He  not  only  trembled,  but  first  crouched  so  low 
that  my  feet  almost  touched  the  ground,  and  then  started 
with  a momentum  that  thoroughly  tried  my  horseman- 
ship. Indeed,  he  was  for  a time  utterly  unmanageable 
The  roots  cracked,  the  mud  and  dirt  flew,  and  the  other 
usual  accompaniments  of  a single  horse  race,  supplied  me 
with  most  comfortable  proof  that  I was  making  good  my 
flight  from  at  least  one  field  of  danger.  I was  soon  out  of 
the  woods,  and  told  my  good  friends  where  I stopped  for 
the  night,  from  what  a congregation  of  enemies  I had 
just  made  my  escape.  They  smiled  at  my  notions  of  the 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock. 


253 


number,  alleging-  that  three  or  four  wolves  would  be  all 
the  congregation  necessary  to  make  any  amount  of  music 
of  the  sort  I had  just  described.’ 

“Amonp-  other  physical  enemies  which  occasioned  him 
no  little  solicitude,  though  they  seem  to  have  done  him  no 
harm,  were  ‘Indians  and  rattlesnakes’ — a somewhat  un- 
usual, if  not  amusing,  classification,  it  must  be  admitted. 
But,  as  he  had  passed  his  early  life  where  either  the  one 
or  the  other  was  seldom,  if  ever,  met  with,  and  where 
stories  of  their  kindred  malignity  were  so  often  told,  it 
is  not  surprising  that  they  assumed  alarming  proportions 
now  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  them.  Though  the 
Seneca  and  Allegheny  tribes  of  Indians  were  within  the 
limits  of  what  he  regarded  as  his  field  of  labor,  and  some 
of  their  number  were  not  infrequently  seen,  yet  they  al- 
ways appeared  friendly  enough.  It  was  strongly  sus- 
pected, therefore,  if  not  actually  demonstrated,  that  much 
of  the  wrong  done  along  the  lake  shore — for  depredations 
were  frequently  committed — was  perpetrated  by  fictitious 
Indians.  Before  Perry’s  victory,  the  British  had  com- 
mand of  the  lake,  and  their  shipping  often  came  as  near 
the  American  shore  as  the  depth  of  the  water  would  per- 
mit. The  brig  Queen  Charlotte,  in  particular,  was  almost 
constantly  in  sight.  My  brother  speaks  of  having  seen  her 
repeatedly  as  he  rode  along  the  shore.  And,  as  the  thefts 
and  pillages  complained  of  generally  occurred  when  this 
vessel  was  in  the  neighborhood,  the  inference  that  she 
supplied  the  supposed  Indians  that  did  the  mischief  is  by 
no  means  a very  extravagant  one. 

“As  the  narrative  which  supplies  our  data  was  written 
more  than  half  a century  after  these  events  occurred,  their 
exact  consecutive  order  cannot  always  be  confidently  af- 
firmed. Indeed,  the  circumstances  considered,  it  would 
be  wonderful  if  events  do  not  sometimes  seem  to  come  to- 
p-ether, which,  in  point  of  fact,  had  no  immediate  connec- 
tion. The  events  themselves  cannot,  however,  be  reason- 
ably called  in  question.  They  made  too  deep  an  impres- 
sion  upon  the  mind  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence,  and 
have  since  been  too  frequently  made  the  subject  of  social 
remark  to  have  been  otherwise  remembered  than  with 
substantial  accuracy. 

“It  must  have  been  early  in  the  Conference  year  that 
he  established  an  appointment  at  the  head  of  Chautauqua 


254 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


lake,  then  the  incipient  village  of  Marysville.  Whether 
he  then  formed  a society  there  does  not  appear,  though  it 
would  seem  probable  he  did  so  before  the  close  of  the 
year.  A few  miles  further  down  the  lake  he  found  a 
small  settlement,  composed  chiefly  of  persons  from  the 
east.  As  some  of  them  were  members  of  his  communion, 
his  visit  was  mutually  refreshing.  To  him  it  was  like  a 
green  and  fertile  spot  in  the  midst  of  a barren  and  dreary 
waste : to  them  it  was  as  the  coming  of  Titus.  ‘Here,’ 
says  he,  ‘I  married  the  youngest  couple  I ever  did,  but  by 
no  means  the  smallest.  Though  the  groom  was  only 
eighteen  years  old,  and  the  bride  only  fourteen,  they  came 
but  a little  short  of  being  six-feeters!  The  parents  on 
both  sides  were  present,  and  said  the  transaction  was  quite 
satisfactory.' 

“At  the  outlet  of  the  lake  there  were  a few  dwellings, 
and  the  place  was  then  called  by  its  present  name,  James- 
town. It  is  presumed,  however,  that  no  one  imagined  it 
would  ever  be  the  home  of  the  governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  But,  then,  neither  does  Governor  Fenton  dispar- 
age the  place,  nor  does  the  place  disparage  him.  A good 
man  and  a beautiful  town  alike  honor  each  other.  At  the 
time  of  my  brother’s  labors  in  Jamestown  there  were  quite 
a number,  as  compared  with  the  size  of  the  place,  who 
honored  the  Christian  profession ; and  to  the  influence  of 
such  a population  the  town  is  largely  indebted  for  the 
prosperity  it  has  always  enjoyed. 

“Hearing  of  a destitute  settlement,  partly  white  and 
partly  Indian,  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  Allegheny 
river,  the  missionary  determined  to  visit  it.  The  place 
was  then  known  as  the  Kenjua  Flats.  Starting  from  near 
Jamestown,  he  took  an  Indian  trail  that  led  over  a spur 
of  the  Allegheny  mountains;  the  most  practicable,  if  not 
indeed  the  only,  way  to  the  settlement  he  had  in  view. 
Owing  to  the  blindness  of  the  path  and  the  ever-recurring 
obstructions,  his  progress  was  slow;  so  that,  though  he 
started  early  in  the  morning,  it  was  beginning  to  be  quite 
dark  when  he  reached  the  river,  which  he  found  banks 
full.  He  says : T could  not  go  back,  for  it  would  not  be 
possible  to  follow  the  trail  in  the  dark;  and  then  the 
woods  were  infested  with  wolves,  bears  and  other  fe- 
rocious beasts.  Nor  did  it  seem  possible  to  go  forward, 
for  there  was  neither  bridge  nor  boat  to  take  me  over  the 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock. 


255 


swollen  waters.  I could  hardly  avoid  exclaiming  again 
and  again,  “Gracious  God!  what  shall  I do?”  My  condi- 
tion was  not  unlike  that  of  the  Israelites  at  the  Red  Sea — 
I must  pass  through  the  waters  or  perish.  Ice  had  been 
formed  above,  and  was  then  floating  on  the  surface,  and 
there  was  no  one  familiar  with  the  place  to  give  me  the 
least  direction.  I was  left  solely  to  my  own  judgment  and 
the  care  of  an  overruling  Providence.  Whether  my  horse 
would  be  obliged  to  swim  or  not  was  problematical ; but, 
reining  him  to  the  margin  of  the  water,  and  bidding  him 
enter,  he  obeyed  with  more  alacrity  than  could  have  been 
expected.  He  seemed  to  understand  the  emergency  about 
as  well  as  did  his  master.  Much  of  the  way  across  I found 
the  water  up  to  and  even  with  the  skirts  of  my  saddle ; but, 
holding  to  the  horse’s  mane  with  one  hand  and  the  front 
of  the  saddle  with  the  other,  and  placing  my  legs  on  either 
side  of  the  horse’s  neck,  I escaped  with  only  a.  slight  wet- 
ting. Speaking  tenderly  and  encouragingly  to  my  beast, 
he  acted  as  if  he  comprehended  me.  putting  down  his  feet 
carefully  as  if  feeling  his  way.  Occasionally  pieces  of 
ice  would  come  against  him  with  so  much  force  as  to 
cause  him  to  stagger;  but  in  the  midst  of  all,  his  bearing 
was  calm  and  resolute.  Is  there  anything  superstitious  in 
the  supposition  that  one  of  those  invisible  beings  who  are 
sometimes  directed  to  “minister  to  the  heirs  of  salvation,” 
did,  in  this  instance,  lead  my  horse  in  the  way  he  should 
go?  The  supposition  harmonizes  not  only  with  the  plain 
teaching  of  the  sacred  text,  but  with  the  avowed  convic- 
tions of  some  of  the  wisest  and  best  of  men.  But,  apart 
from  all  speculation,  a noble  English  horse  was  my 
“Snip.” 

“ ‘That  great  deliverance  has  never  been  forgotten.  I 
never  before  experienced  anything  like  it,  nor  have  I 
since.  In  view  of  it  my  full  heart  has  taken  me  in  thanks- 
giving and  praise  to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  my  God  only 
knows  how  often. ' 

“On  crossing  the  Allegheny  he  soon  reached  the  settle- 
ment for  whose  sake  he  had  made  this  hazardous  journey, 
and  was  kindly  received  by  a poor  family,  who  were  evi- 
dently happy  to  give  him  the  best  their  cabin  afforded. 

“The  larger  portion  of  the  population  were  natives  of 
the  Cornplanter  or  Allegheny  tribes,  few  of  whom  could 
then  be  persuaded  *to  listen  to  the  gospel.  Since  that 
period,  however,  considerable  numbers  have  received  re- 


256 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ligious  instruction,  and  are  now  either  walking  in  the 
ways  of  righteousness,  or  rejoicing  with  the  redeemed 
amid  the  glories  of  the  throne.  Among  the  whites  the 
preacher  had  success.  Souls  were  saved,  and  the  church 
built  up.  The  father  of  Henry  B.  Bascom,  having  spent 
a few  years  in  this  settlement,  had  just  left  for  Kentucky. 
By  those  acquainted  with  the  family  at  that  time  it  could 
hardly  have  been  expected  that  the  son  would  achieve 

such  distinction  as  he  subsequently  did. 

♦ 

“In  this  connection  the  following  passage  from  my 
brother’s  memorandum  can  hardly  fail  to  interest  the 
reader : — ‘But  to  return  to  my  mountain  ride  through  the 
woods.  The  rattlesnakes  were  so  plenty  that  I preferred 
not  to  trust  myself  off  my  horse,  save  on  a high  log.  But 
in  this  elevated  region,  where  the  winds  had  unobstructed 
sway,  it  was  as  easy  to  find  as  many  of  these  as  the  ne- 
cessities of  my  case  might  seem  to  require.  And,  as  I 
could  not  remain  in  my  saddle  all  the  time,  I occasionally 
perched  myself  in  the  manner  indicated,  thus  finding  a 
place  for  reading  my  Bible,  for  study,  and  for  prayer. 
During  the  ride  here  particularly  referred  to,  the  day  hav- 
ing worn  away  to  past  noon,  I began  to  feel  the  keen  de- 
mands of  appetite.  For  such  a state  of  things  I was  not 
wholly  unprepared.  Foreseeing  that  I must  necessarily 
be  out  all  day,  the  good  sister  where  I had  stayed  had 
charged  me  as  best  she  could  with  provisions  for  both 
horse  and  rider.  All  that  was  requisite  for  the  repast, 
therefore,  was  a little  of  heaven’s  own  pure  beverage. 
How  great  was  my  delight,  then,  to  come  to  a gushing 
spring! — evidently  the  Indians’  resting  place.  The  un- 
dergrowth of  bushes  had  been  cut  away,  and  a consider- 
able spot  was  covered  with  sod  and  grass.  It  was,  in- 
deed, an  oasis  in  the  desert.  Here,  then,  I extemporized 
a manger  by  spreading  my  horse  blanket  upon  the  grass, 
upon  which  I emptied  the  corn  I found  in  my  valise,  and 
invited  “Snip”  to  help  himself.  Then  followed'  another 
feast.  The  good  sister  aforesaid  had  sandwiched  a piece 
of  broiled  pork  in  a “johnny  cake”  and  tidily  put  it  away 
in  my  portmanteau.  This,  with  the  water  which  I took 
as  did  Gideon’s  men  (vide  Judges  vii,  6),  was  received 
with  a relish  the  pampered  epicure  might  envy.  O how 
sweet  are  all  the  Father’s  gifts  when  accepted  with 
thanksgiving !’ 

' 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock. 


25  7 


“Not  far  from  the  place  where  this  occurred,  and  it 
would  seem  on  the  same  day,  he  came  directly  upon  a 
huge  bear.  The  encounter  was  not,  however,  a serious 
one,  as  after  a little  hesitation,  bruin  quietly  retired,  and 
left  the  way  open  for  the  missionary.  This  incident  was 
made  the  basis  of  a story  which  my  brother  often  told  at 
Sunday  school  picnics,  and  on  other  similar  occasions 
doubtless  to  the  great  amusement  and  profit  of  children, 
particularly  boys.  It  was  related  substantially  in  this 
way : 

“ ‘As  I was  riding  along  in  the  woods  one  day,  all  at 
once  my  horse  stopped,  trembled  and  tried  to  wheel  about. 
I spoke  calmly  to  him,  and,  looking  forward  perhaps  five 
or  six  rods,  saw  a great  bear  sitting  quietly  upon  his 
haunches  directly  in  my  path.  He  appeared  to  me  at 
first  sight  as  high  as  my  horse.  I guess,  however,  that 
my  glasses  were  just  then  a little  out  of  trim.  But  even 
now,  in  the  absence  of  all  excitement,  I think  he  must 
have  been  as  large  as  a good-sized  yearling  steer.  Thus 
circumstanced,  what  was  I to  do  ? It  was  important  that 
I should  go  forward,  as  I had  an  appointment  to  preach 
that  evening.  After  a little  reflection  I determined  to  try 
mild  and  pleasant  words.  Accordingly  I said,  speaking 
as  tenderly  as  I could  : “Mr.  Bruin,  I do  not  wish  to  tres- 

pass upon  your  rights,  but  really  I want  to  go  just  where 
you  are  now  sitting.  If  you  can  make  it  quite  convenient 
to  get  out  of  my  way  I shall  be  much  obliged  to  you,  but 
if  you  cannot,  or  will  not,  why  then  I must  give  you  the 
path,  and  get  out  of  the  way  myself.”  He  sat  a short 
time,  as  if  pausing  to  deliberate  on  what  I had  said  to 
him,  and  then  apparently  well  pleased  both  with  my  propo- 
sition and  the  manner  of  it,  turned  and  quietly  walked  off. 
The  moral:  Treat  everybody  tenderly  and  kindly,  and 

you  will  get  along  all  the  better  for  it.  “A  soft  answer 
turneth  away  wrath,”  whether  in  man  or  beast.  I have 
always  found  it  so  during  my  long  and  somewhat  event- 
ful life.’ 

“My  brother  visited  another  new  settlement,  still  fur- 
ther south,  on  the  Brokenstraw  creek,  Warren  County, 
Pa.  Here  he  preached  at  the  house  of  a Mr.  Mead, 
whose  dwelling,  it  would  seem,  had  been  occasionally 
used  for  a similar  purpose  by  other  preachers.  Robert  R. 
Roberts,  afterward  Bishop  Roberts,  preached  in  the  same 

17 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock. 


259 


house  at  an  earlier  day.  During  that  service  there  was  a 
very  singular  transaction,  of  which  it  is  fair  to  presume 
my  brother  gives  the  version  then  current  in  that  portion 
of  country.  But,  as  the  writer  hereof  had  the  facts  from 
the  lips  of  the  bishop  himself,  a few  years  subsequently, 
differing  in  some  particulars  from  the  version  reported 
by  my  brother,  what  follows  is  doubtless  the  true  history 
of  that  unique  transaction. 

“At  any  early  period  in  his  public  life,  and  when  he  was 
yet  quite  a young  man,  Mr.  Roberts  had  preached  a few 
times  in  the  neighborhood  referred  to  above.  Mr.  Mead 
(I  am  not  certain  that  Bishop  Roberts  gave  the  name  of 
Mead,  or,  indeed,  any  name  at  all.  The  name,  then,  is 
wholly  by  my  brother’s  authority),  who  kept  what  was 
then  called  a tavern,  invited  Mr.  Roberts  to  preach  at  his 
house.  As  there  were  then  no  churches  in  all  that  region, 
Mr.  Roberts  did  not  hesitate  to  promise  to  do  so  the  next 
time  he  should  come  in  that  part  of  his  circuit.  The  ap- 
pointment was  accordingly  given  out.  Many  people  sup- 
posed it  possible  that  the  innkeeper  was  governed  in  what 
he  did  quite  as  much  by  the  hope  of  temporal  gain  as  by 
any  higher  motive.  It  would  not  be  likely  to  secure  in- 
creased patronage  at  his  ‘bar/  but  would  give  a sort  of 
respectability  to  his  house  to  have  religious  services  held 
in  it.  But  whatever  were  the  motives,  when  the  day  for 
preaching  came  there  was  a much  larger  attendance  than 
had  been  usual  in  the  neighborhood,  especially  from  that 
part  of  the  community  who  rather  liked  to  visit  the  tavern. 
Some  of  these  were  on  hand  quite  early,  evidently  for 
other  reasons  than  those  connected  with  a fear  that  they 
might  disturb  quiet  worshippers  by  coming  late.  At  any 
rate,  it  was  observed  that  when  Mr.  Roberts  arrived  and 
was  ready  to  commence  exercises  there  were  quite  a num- 
ber of  persons,  including  the  landlord  himself,  who  were 
more  or  less  under  the  influence  of  intoxicating  liquor. 
All,  however,  came  speedily  to  order  in  the  bar-room,  for 
there  the  meeting  was  held.  When  Mr.  Roberts  was  part 
way  through  his  discourse  a man,  evidently  somnolent 
from  strong  drink,  so  far  awoke  as  to  feel  the  pressing 
need  of  additional  stimulant,  and  cried  out  very  audibly, 
‘Landlord,  give  me  a grog!’  The  host,  responsive  to  the 
call,  hastened  into  his  bar  and  began  to  prepare  the  cov- 
eted potation.  Mr.  Roberts  paused  and  mildly  said  to 


26o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


him : ‘I  think  you  had  better  omit  that  till  the  meeting  is 
closed.’  The  landlord  looked  up,  and,  cocking  his  eye  and 
striking  a very  grotesque  attitude,  said : ‘Mr.  Roberts, 

you  appear  to  be  doing  well ; I would  thank  you  to  mind 
your  own  business,  and  I will  mine.’  Under  the  circum- 
stances the  preacher  could  not  do  otherwise  than  act  in 
harmony  with  the  suggestion,  but  was  careful  not  to  put 
himself  again  in  similar  relation  to  the  same  individual. 
Possibly,  however,  this  very  service  led  to  his  reforma- 
tion : for  my  brother  says,  ‘When  I preached  at  his  house 
— probably  not  now  a tavern — he  had  learned  better  man- 
ners, as  I was  treated  by  him  like  a gentleman.’ 

“My  brother  preached  regularly  in  the  town  of  North 
East,  Pa.,  and  while  there  was  always  cordially  enter- 
tained at  the  house  of  Col.  Timothy  Tuttle,  2 gentleman 
in  high  repute,  who  went  to  that  place  a few  years  pre- 
viously from  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.  His  sudden  death 
caused  great  sorrow  throughout  the  entire  community. 
My  brother,  having  know  him  at  the  East,  and  being  a 
special  friend  of  the  family,  was  called  upon  to  officiate 
at  the  funeral.  The  discourse  delivered  on  the  occasion 
gave  so  much  satisfaction,  at  least  to  the  family,  that  he 
was  requested  to  write  out  a copy  of  it  for  publication. 
He  complied  so  far  as  he  could  recall  what  was  pro- 
nounced extemporaneously,  and  the  only  printer  then  in 
all  that  part  of  the  State,  Thomas  Atkinson,  Esq.,  of 
Meadville,  printed  for  the  family.  This  was,  I think, 
the  only  thing  of  the  kind  my  brother  ever  attempted 
during  his  long  life.  That  was  sixty  years  since,  and 
probably  not  a single  copy  of  the  discourse  could  now 
anywhere  be  found. 

“My  brother  was  in  Erie,  then  an  inconsiderable  vil- 
lage, a short  time  before  the  memorable  battle  between 
the  American  and  British  fleets  at  Put-in  Bay,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1813.  The  Hon.  Judge  Moore,  of  the  Eighth  Ju- 
dicial District,  was  holding  court  there  at  the  time.  Hear- 
ing that  a missionary  was  in  the  place,  and  ascertaining 
that  he  was  willing  to  preach,  he  adjourned  his  court,  so 
that  the  court  house  might  be  used  for  the  service  and 
he  himself  have  the  privilege  of  attending.  To  the  preach- 
er it  was  an  occasion  of  rare  interest,  as  Commodore 
Perry  and  many  of  his  officers,  as  well  as  the  marines, 
perhaps  pretty  generally,  were  present.  The  next  morn- 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock.  . 261 

ing  he  was  introduced  to  the  Commodore,  and  by  him  in- 
vited to  visit  the  navy  yard,  where  preparations  were  be- 
ing made  for  a conflict,  the  issue  of  which  electrified  the 
nation.  My  authority — the  memorandum  so  often  re- 
ferred to — speaking  of  the  Commodore  says : ‘He  ap- 

peared very  modest,  speaking  with  much  reserve,  and 
using  few  words.  The  impression  then  made  on  my  mind 
now  leads  me  to  think  that,  in  size,  personal  appearance, 
and  general  manner,  he  much  resembled  President  Grant.’ 
The  account  of  the  victory,  achieved  not  long  after,  need 
not  be  transcribed,  as  the  published  history  of  the  times  is 
so  specific  and  ample  in  respect  to  it.  My  brother  does 
not  hesitate  to  ascribe  it  to  the  interposition  of  heaven, 
whose  attributes  always  incline  him  to  stand  by  the  right. 
Humanly  speaking,  the  advantage  was  all  on  the  side  of 
the  British.  Their  squadron,  commanded  by  Commo- 
dore Barclay,  an  experienced  and  gallant  officer,  carried 
sixty-eight  guns,  while  that  commanded  by  Perry 
mounted  but  fifty-four.  The  issue  of  the  conflict  gave 
great  satisfaction  to  the  American  people,  and  the  name 
of  Oliver  H.  Perry  will  ever  occupy  a large  space  in  the 
annals  of  the  nation.  The  applause  he  everywhere  re- 
ceived did  not  in  the  least  affect  his  characteristic  humil- 
ity, unless,  indeed,  it  were  to  make  that  virtue  the  more 
conspicuous.  He  is  now  gone,  but  he  died  as  a Christian. 

“Our  subject  also  preached  in  Meadville,  then,  as  now, 
the  seat  of  justice  for  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania. 
He  may  have  made  a good  impression  on  the  community, 
but  no  society  was  formed ; at  least,  such  is  the  inference, 
as  none  was  found  there  ten  years  afterward,  when  the 
writer  regularly  visited*  the  place  as  a part  of  the  French 
Creek  Circuit.  Nor  was  there,  in  1812,  a single  place 
of  public  worship  in  Meadville.  The  Rev.  Mr.  John- 
son, whose  Church  relations  are  not  given,  had  a small 
membership  but  no  church  edifice.  He  occupied  the  court 
house  in  the  forenoon,  upon  each  successive  Sabbath ; and 
my  brother,  when  in  the  place,  did  so  in  the  afternoon. 
Since  that  day  matters  and  things  have  wonderfullv 
changed.  Meadville  is  now  not  only  a highly  respectable 
town  in  size,  but  the  seat  of  learning  for  a large  section 
of  prosperous  country.  The  college  there  is  an  honor  as 
well  as  a blessing  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
How  little  did  those  who  toiled  there  fifty  or  sixty  years 


262 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ago,  imagine  that  such  a state  of  facts  would  exist  in 
Meadville  to-dav? 

“Franklin,  then  a small  village  but  now  a considerable 
town,  situated  at  the  confluence  of  French  creek  with  the 
Allegheny  river,  also  shared  my  brother’s  labors.  Here 
he  made  the  acquaintance  and  secured  the  friendship  of 
some  of  the  leading  citizens.  William  Connelly,  Esq., 
who  afterward  became  a distinguished  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Legislature,  was  long  afterward  his  corre 
spondent. 

“The  following  extract  of  a letter  from  Mr.  Connelly  to 
my  brother,  dated  December  15,  1813,  shows  how  the 
latter  was  appreciated  in  Franklin  at  that  early  day:  ‘I 

received  vour  letter  from  the  St.  Lawrence  Circuit  in  Oc- 
tober last,  and  was  most  happy  to  hear  from  you.  The 
Conference  Minutes  gave  us  your  appointment,  and  it  is 
pleasing  to  know  that  you  are  still  determined  to  toil  on 
in  the  great  Master’s  vineyard.  When  I look  at  the  al- 
lurements held  out  to  young  men,  and  the  many  tempta- 
tions to  which  they  are  exposed,  it  is  matter  of  thankful- 
ness that  “none  of  these  things  move  you.*' 

I wish,  Brother  Paddock,  that  you  would  prevail  on  your 
Conference  to  allow  you  to  come  to  ours,  (Franklin  was 
now  in  the  Philadelphia  Conference,)  so  that  you  may 
take  our  Circuit  again.  I am  sure  such  a measure  would 
give  everybody  here  great  satisfaction.  Your  acquaint- 
ances often  inquire  about  you,  and  I am  thankful  I can 
now  answer  at  least  some  of  their  inquiries.’ 

“He  left  his  impression,  too,  uoon  Waterford,  a beauti- 
ful village  in  Erie  County.  Judge  Vincent,  though  not  a 
Methodist,  made  him  welcome  at  his  house,  and  otherwise 
treated  him  with  gratifying  consideration.  My  brother 
records  an  incident,  in  this  connection,  which  shows  some- 
what forcibly  the  spirit  of  the  times.  An  appointment 
had  been  given  out  for  him,  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  at  the 
Block  House,  a building  that  had  been  erected  as  far  back 
as  the  time  of  General  Washington’s  visit  to  the  place, 
during  the  French  war,  and  now  the  only  place  for  public 
meetings  in  the  little  village.  The  resident  minister  and 
his  wife  attended,  each  having  a child  in  charge.  Some- 
thing was  said  by  the  preacher,  rather  incidentally,  about 
the  universality  of  the  atonement  and  the  freedom  of  sal- 
vation, when  the  reverend  gentleman  arose,  and  laying 


Benjamin  G.  Paddock.  263 

down  his  sleeping  child  upon  the  seat,  very  deliberately 
walked  out.  The  next  morning  he  called  at  Judge  Vin- 
cent’s, not  to  apologize  for  his  rudeness,  but  to  convince 
the  young  preacher  of  his  grievous  error.  So  it  appeared 
after  the  introduction.  He  began:  ‘Mr.  Paddock,  I 

suppose  you  thought  it  strange  that  I left  the  meeting 
yesterday?’  T did,’  was  the  reply.  ‘Well,’  said  he,  ‘I 
did  not  believe  what  you  advanced,  and  thought  best  to 
leave.’  Without  at  all  replying  to  that  part  of  my  dis- 
course which  had  such  a moving  effect  upon  him,  he 
struck  off  upon  the  doctrine  of  predestination,  referring 
to  those  of  whom  St.  Jude  says,  ‘they  were  of  old  ordained 
to  this  condemnation.’  ‘Please  observe,’  I replied,  ‘that 
the  Apostle  says  nothing  about  the  character  of  the  wicked 
men  of  whom  he  speaks  being  ‘of  old  ordained,’  but  simply 
of  their  doom.  It  involves  a high  reflection  upon  the 
character  of  God  to  suppose  that  he  would  first  ‘ordain' 
_ that  men  should  do  wickedly,  and  then  ‘condemn’  them 

for  doing  just  what  he  foreordained  they  should  do.  It 
was  not  only  ordained  ‘of  old,’  but  is  a standing  decree  of 
God,  that  those  who  willingly  and  wilfully  sin  against 
him  shall  be  ‘condemned’  and  punished.  But  all  of  this 
is  in  perfect  harmony  with  what  I said  yesterday.’  No. 
reply  being  made,  I continued:  ‘Mr.  M.,  your  leaving 

meeting  did  me  no  harm ; and  yet  for  your  own  sake,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  common  cause,  I am  sorry  you  did  it. 
You  cannot  reasonably  suppose  that  all  of  your  hearers 
will  agree  with  you  in  everything  you  may  think  it  right 
to  say.  In  this  imperfect  state,  men  do  and  must  differ  in 
respect  to  what  is  merely  speculative,  or  even  doctrinal,  ;n 
the  Christian  system.  Now  suppose  some  of  your  hearers 
on  Sabbath  next,  disagreeing  with  you  in  something  you 
may  utter,  shall  get  up,  take  their  hats,  and  walk  out,  can 
you  complain,  seeing  you  have  set  them  the  example?’ 
He  paused  a short  time,  and  then  said,  T think  I was  a 
little  too  fast.’  On  leaving  he  appeared  much  better  than 
he  did  when  he  came.”  Nearly  sixty  years  after  this  oc- 
currence my  brother  spent  a winter  in  this  same  village, 
and  speaks  of  the  treatment  he  received  from  everybody 
there  with  great  satisfaction. 

“From  this  condensed  view  of  my  brother’s  labors,  dur- 
ing 1812-13,  it  will  be  seen  that  what  was  then  called  the 
Chautauqua  Circuit  embraced  the  larger  portion  of  the 


264  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

territory  now  covered  by  the  Erie  Conference.  But  no 
adequate  idea  has  been  given — or,  indeed,  can  be  given — 
of  the  amount  of  labor  performed,  or  of  the  privations  and 
sufferings  endured,  while  in  that  large  mission  field. 
Some  portions  of  the  southern  part  of  the  Circuit  had 
been  previously  visited  by  preachers  from  the  Philadel- 
phia Conference,  who  had  formed  a few  small  societies  in 
different  and  distant  neighborhoods.  Some  of  the  north- 
ern portions  of  it  had  also  been  visited  by  the  preachers 
who  labored  in  what  was  called  ‘Holland  Purchase  Mis- 
sion.’ 

“It  could  hardly  be  said  that  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
passed  through  any  one  scene  of  personal  suffering  and 
danger,  while  on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit,  still,  however, 
it  was,  from  beginning  to  end,  a year  of  trial.  What 
would  now  be  regarded  as  in  a sense  the  essential  com- 
forts of  life  were  then,  for  the  most  part,  wholly  unknown. 
The  people  were  as  kind  as  could  be  desired,  but  they 
could  not  give  what  they  themselves  did  not  possess. 
Outside  of  the  little  scattered  villages,  retirement  could  be 
found  only  in  the  woods.  Either  there  or  on  horseback 
secret  prayer  must  be  offered,  the  Bible  read,  and  sermons 
made.  Streams  were  to  be  forded,  a ride  of  four  hund- 
red miles  to  be  performed  every  four  weeks,  and  that,  too, 
through  swamps,  over  mountains,  generally  without 
roads,  frequently  destitute  of  food,  and  always  more  or 
less  exposed  to  beasts  of  prey.  Though  in  going  around 
his  circuit  he  had  to  preach  from  thirty-five  to  forty 
times,  this  was  regarded  as  mere  pastime  when  compared 
with  the  severity  of  his  other  trials.  It  is  not  wonderful 
that  such  a year  of  labor  and  suffering  should  have  told, 
as  it  did  very  materially,  upon  his  bodily  health  in  all  after 
life.” — (Memoir  of  Rev.  B.  G.  Paddock,  by  Z.  Paddock , 
D.D.,  pp.  93-124.) 

Knox,  Crockwell,  Summerville  and  Gorwell. 

William  Knox  was  born  in  the  county  of  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, June  8,  1767,  and  departed  this  life  June  16,  1851. 
In  his  seventeenth  year  he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  1787  he  was  authorized  to  preach 
and  labored  as  a local  preacher  during  a period  of  thir- 
teen years.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1791,  and  in 
1800  began  his  itinerant  career  as  a probationer  in  the 


Knox , Crockwell,  Summerville  and  Gorwell.  265 


Baltimore  Conference.  His  appointments  in  that  Confer- 
ence were : Allegheny,  Stafford,  Pendleton,  Rockingham, 
Pittsburg  (at  different  times  three  years),  Redstone, 
Ohio,  West  Wheeling,  Monongahela,  Hartford  and  She- 
nango..  His  appointments  in  the  Ohio  Conference  were: 
Cross  Creek,  three  years;  Knox,  Barnesville,  Zanesville, 
West  Wheeling,  Steubenville  and  Duck  Creek.  His  ap- 
pointments in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  were:  Lisbon, 

Barnesville,  Leesburg,  Cross  Creek,  St.  Clairsville,  Grave 
Creek,  Dover,  Ohio;  Moorefield,  three  years;  Deersville, 
Richmond,  New  Philadelphia  and  Smithfield.  From  1800 
until  he  was  granted  a superannuate  relation  in  1844,  he 
was,  excepting  one  year  (1820)  always  effective,  and 
that  year  he  had  a supernumerary  relation. 

“Never,  perhaps,  has  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
been  blessed  with  the  labors  of  a minister  more  diligent 
or  punctual  than  Father  Knox.  To  perform  with  fidelity 
the  work  assigned  him,  was  for  forty-four  years  his  only 
business.  Rarely,  if  ever,  while  effective,  did  the  most 
inclement  weather  cause  him  to  disappoint  a congrega- 
tion. Even  when  burdened  with  the  infirmities  of  age, 
with  a promptness  and  regularity  worthy  of  imitation,  he 
was  exceedingly  careful  to  fill,  if  possible,  every  appoint- 
ment. ...  In  and  out  of  the  pulpit  his  deport- 
ment was  uniformly  that  of  an  ambassador  of  God.  Habit- 
ually artless  and  cheerful,  affable  and  dignified  in  his 
manners,  and  strictly  conscientious  in  his  walk  and  con- 
versation, he  won  and  retained  the  affection  of  his  breth- 
ren, and  the  veneration  of  all  who  knew  him.  During 
the  last  two  years  of  his  life  his  pains  and  afflictions  were 
very  great,  but  they  were  all  borne  with  becoming  pa- 
tience and  resignation.  In  tranquility  and  hope  his  soul 
reposed  upon  the  atonement  of  Christ,  and  the  precious 
promises  of  that  gospel  which  for  about  sixty-four  years 
he  had  so  faithfully  preached  to  others,  were  his  support 
and  his  consolation. ” (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , 
July  8,  1851 ; Minutes  of  Conference,  Vol.  4,  1851,  pp. 
601-602.) 

Thomas  J.  Crockwell  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference  in  1807,  though  his  name  does  not  ap- 
pear in  the  General  Minutes  in  the  list  of  appointments, 
nor  yet  under  the  question : “Who  are  admitted  on 

trial?”  In  1808  his  name  appears  under  the  question. 


>66 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


“who  remain  on  trial  ?’’  He  traveled  the  Guilford  Circuit, 
with  Edmund  Henly  in  charge.  He  was  appointed  to  the 
Orange  Circuit,  with  Joel  Avington  in  charge,  in  1809. 
1'he  same  year  he  was  ordained  deacon.  In  1810  he  was 
second  preacher  on  the  Williamsburg  Circuit,  with  Cannel- 
lem  H.  Hines,  and  the  following  year  he  was  ordained  el- 
der and  located.  He  was  re-admitted  by  the  Baltimore 
Conference  and  came  to  our  territory  in  1812.  We  find, 
however,  in  the  General  Minutes  no  notation  of  his  re-ad- 
mission. In  1813  he  was  transferred  to  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence and  appointed  to  the  Paint  Creek  Circuit,  Isaac 
Pavev  in  charge.  In  1814  he  again  located. 

John  Summerville  was  born  in  the  County  of  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  March  1,  1782.  His  father  belonged  to  the 
Church  of  England,  but  united  with  the  Methodists  when 
Wesley's  preachers  visited  that  part  of  the  country. 
When  John  was  eleven  years  of  age,  the  family  emigrated 
to  the  United  States.  His  father  dying,  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  a tailor  whose  treatment  of  the  boy  was  so  cruel 
that  his  mother  was  obliged  to  secure  his  release,  and  a 
more  kind  master  was  found.  When  his  time  had  ex- 
pired, he  followed  his  friends  and  settled  in  Beaver 
County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  converted  at  Chambers- 
burg,  returned  to  the  west,  and  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  year 
1810  or  18 1 1,  and  two  years  later  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Baltimore  Conference  and  appointed  second  preacher  on 
Trumbull  Circuit,  Ohio.  He  became  a member  of  the 
Ohio  Conference,  and  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  their 
organization.  He  travelled  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky, 
and  Pennsylvania  on  very  laborious  charges. 

In  1825  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marv 
Kane. 

He  filled  the  following  charges  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference : Deerfield,  New  Lisbon,  Canton,  Hartford,  But- 

ler, Mercer,  Centerville,  Kittanning,  Elizabeth,  Waynes- 
burg,  and  Birmingham.  He  was  superannuated  in  1837, 
and  settled  near  Beaver,  on  the  road  leading  to  New 
Castle.  Here  he  was  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  a 
new  church.  He  passed  to  his  reward  October  6,  1850 — 
a Sabbath  day  on  which  he  had  two  appointments  to 
preach. 


Thomas  Branch — Our  First  Martyr.  267 

Joshua  Monroe  says : “Brother  Summerville  was  a 

man  of  great  probity  and  uprightness ; plain  and  artless  in 
his  manners;  pleasant  and  agreeable  as  a companion.  As 
a Christian,  he  was  without  guile,  humble  and  deeply  de- 
voted to  God  and  to  his  cause.  . . . The  writer 

had  a long  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  him,  and  he  is 
free  to  say  that  he  was  among  the  holiest  and  happiest  men 
with  whom  it  has  been  his  privilege  to  form  an  acquaint- 
ance, and  he  feels  that  in  his  death  he  has  lost  a special 
friend.” — ( Joshua  Monroe  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, Nov.  13,  1850.) 

Jacob  Gorwell  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1811,  and  appointed  to  Connellsville.  In 
1813  he  was  ordained  deacon  and  received  into  full  con- 
nection. He  served  Erie.  James  Watts  in  charge,  in 
1812;  at  the  organization  of  the  Ohio  Conference  he  was 
sent  to  Beaver;  1813,  Shenango;  1814,  located. 

Thomas  Branch — Our  First  Martyr,  and  Xorth 
East  Methodism. 

Thomas  Branch  was  doubtless  the  first  Methodist 
preacher  within  the  bounds  of  the  present  charge  at  Xorth 
East,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in  Preston,  Connecti- 
cut, commenced  preaching  in  the  winter  of  1800.  and  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  York  Conference  in  1801. 
“So  rapid  was  his  progress,  and  eminent  his  talents,  and 
great  his  usefulness,  that  in  1806.  he  was  appointed  pre- 
siding- elder  on  the  New  London  District,  outstripping 
both  his  illustrious  compeers.  In  1807  he  was  trans- 
ferred to'the  Vermont  District,  where  he  continued  to  la- 
bor with  great  success  for  four  years.  His  zeal  was  too 
great  for  his  strength,  and  toward  the  close  of  his  term  on 
this  district  his  excessive  labor  brought  on  pulmonary 
consumption.  Hoping  to  improve  his  fast  declining 
health  by  a change  of  climate,  he  obtained  a transfer  to 
the  ‘Western  Conference.”  and  was  stationed  in  Marietta, 
Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1812,  he  started  on  horseback  for 
his  new  distant  field  of  labor.  On  arriving  at  Xorth  East, 
Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  he  found  himself  so  far  re- 
duced in  strength  that  he  could  proceed  no  further.  There 
were  no  Methodists  in  this  town  at  that  time,  or  within 
twenty  miles  of  it,  with  whom  he  could  stop,  or  of  whom 
to  receive  kind  attention.  A Presbyterian  Church  had 


268 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


been  organized,  and  occupied  a small  log  house  as  a place 
of  worship  but  a short  distance  from  where  their  present 
more  sightly  edifice  now  stands.  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Branch’s  condition  became  known,  some  of  the  citizens 
visited  the  sick  room.  It  was  his  constant  practice  to  con- 
verse on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  pray  with  all  who 
called ; and  when  several  persons  happened  in  together  he 
would  preach  to  them,  sometimes  sitting  in  his  chair,  and 
at  other  times  lying  upon  his  bed.  In  this  way  an  ex- 

! tensive  religious  awakening  was  produced  in  the  settle- 

ment, which  called  forth  the  most  determined  opposition, 
especially  from  the  Presbyterians.  But  this  precious  man 
of  God  soon  died,  and,  like  Lazarus,  was  ‘carried  by 
angels  to  Abraham  s bosom.1  1 he  day  of  his  burial 
found  a few  of  his  friends  present  who  had  been  blessed 
through  his  instrumentality,  and  who  desired  in  turn  to 
give  him  a respectable  Christian  funeral  and  burial.  But 
the  little  log  church  could  not  be  procured  for  that  pur- 
pose, nor  were  they  permitted  to  inter  his  body  in  the 
newly  inclosed  cemetery,  nor  could  they  procure  a respect- 
able team  or  carriage  with  which  to  carry  the  corpse  to  the 
grave.  At  the  hour  appointed  a prayer  was  offered,  and 
the  coffin  placed  on  a wood-sled  and  drawn  by  a yoke  of 
oxen  about  one  mile  and  a quarter  west  from  the  present 
village  of  North  East,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  Erie 
and  Buffalo  road  this  sainted  man  was  buried  in  a beauti- 
ful grove.  To  the  honor  of  the  people  of  that  town  be  is 
said,  they  have  long  since  so  enlarged  the  cemetery  as  to 
bring  within  its  enclosure  the  grave  of  the  lamented 
Branch.  . . . Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Branch 

the  preachers  in  the  Erie  District  established  an  appoint- 
ment for  preaching  in  North  East,  and  formed  a class 
consisting  of  Perrin  Ross  (leader)  and  wife,  Mr.  Russell 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Brown,  and  a few  others,  to  which  in  a 
short  time,  the  Tuttles,  Nashes,  and  Sillimans  were  added, 
and  Enoch  Burdick,  a local  preacher  from  Canada,  settled 
there,  a small  brick  church  was  erected,  and  the  church  has 
maintained  a prosperous  existence  there  ever  since,  and 
many  happy  spirits  have  gone  up  from  that  town  to  join 
the  triumphant  host  in  heaven.  — ( Gregg , History  of 
Methodism , Erie  Conference y Vol.  /.,  pp.  108-110.) 

Bishop  Hedding  visited  his  grave  in  1826,  and  says: 
“He  fell  in  the  wilderness,  on  his  way  to  this  country,  in 


Hal 


Thomas  Branch — Our  First  Martyr. 


269 


the  month  of  June,  1812.  His  grave  is  in  the  woods,  in 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  near  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  be- 
tween the  states  of  New  York  and  Ohio.  As  I came 
through  that  part  of  the  country  I made  inquiry  respect- 
ing the  sickness,  death,  and  burial  of  our  once  beloved  fel- 
low-laborer in  the  cause  of  Christ.  An  intelligent  friend, 
who  said  he  had  frequently  visited  and  watched  with  him 
in  his  last  sickness,  and  attended  his  funeral,  gave  me,  in 
substance,  the  following  circumstances.  When  he  came 
into  the  neighborhood  where  he  died  it  was  a new  settle- 
ment, where  there  was  no  Methodist  society,  and  but  few 
piofessors  of  religion  of  any  name.  He  preached  on  a 
Sabbath,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  stated  to  the 
strangers  that  he  was  on  a journey,  that  he  was  ill,  and 
unable  to  proceed,  and  desired  that  some  one  would  en- 
tertain him  till  he  should  recover  his  strength  sufficiently 
to  pursue  his  journey.  There  was  a long  time  of  silence 
in  the  congregation.  At  last  one  man  came  forward  and 
invited  him  home.  This  was  an  eccentric  doctor,  one 
Tristram  Brown,  Sr.,  and  a Mrs.  Brown  is  among  the 
members  of  the  first  Methodist  class.  At  that  house  he 
lingered  many  weeks,  and  finally  expired.  The  ac- 
commodations were  poor  for  a sick  man — a small  log 
house,  containing  a large  family,  consisting  in  part  of 
small  children;  but  doubtless  it  was  the  best  the  place 
could  afford.  In  his  sickness  (which  was  a pulmonary 
consumption)  his  sufferings  were  severe;  but  his  patience 
and  religious  consolations  were  great  also.  He  fre- 
quently preached,  prayed,  and  exhorted,  sitting  on  his 
bed,  when  he  was  unable  to  go  out,  or  even  to  stand. 
And  so  he  continued  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  men 
while  his  strength  would  permit,  and  rejoicing  in  the 
Lord  to  the  hour  of  his  death.  The  above-named  eye  and 
ear  witness  informed  me  that  he  frequently  said  to  him : 
Tt  is  an  inscrutable  providence  that  brought  me  here  to 
die  in  this  wilderness.’  ‘But,’  said  the  witness,  ‘that 
providence  was  explained  after  his  death  ; for,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  his  labors,  his  patience,  fortitude,  and 
religious  joys  in  his  sickness,  a glorious  revival  of  re- 
ligion shortly  after  took  place,  and  a large  Methodist  so- 
ciety was  organized  after  his  death.'  That  society  con- 
tinues to  prosper,  and  they  have  now  a good  house  for 
worship.  After  the  soul  of  our  brother  had  gone  to 


270 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


heaven,  his  body  was  conveyed  to  the  grave  on  a sled, 
drawn  by  oxen.  The  corpse  was  carried  to  a log  build- 
ing in  the  woods,  called  a meeting-house;  but  the  pro- 
prietors denied  admittance,  and  the  funeral  solemnities 
were  performed  without.  As  I came  through  the  wood- 
land in  company  with  a preacher,  having  been  informed 
where  the  place  of  his  interment  was,  leaving  our  horse 
and  carriage  by  the  road,  we  walked  some  rods  into  the 
forest,  and  found  the  old  log  meeting-house,  which  had 
refused  the  stranger  the  rites  of  a funeral ; but  it  was 
partly  fallen,  and  forsaken.  Then  following  a narrow 
path  some  distance  further  through  the  woods,  we  came 
to  a small  opening,  which  appeared  to  have  been  cleared 
of  the  wood  for  a habitation  for  the  dead.  After  walk- 
ing and  looking  some  time,  a decent  stone,  near  one  cor- 
ner of  the  yard,  under  the  shade  of  the  thick-set,  tall 
forest,  informed  us  where  the  body  of  our  dear  departed 
friend  had  been  laid.  A large  oak  tree  had  fallen,  and 
lay  across  two  of  the  adjoining  tenants  of  that  lonely 
place.  We  kneeled,  prayed,  and  left  the  quiet  spot,  in 
joyful  hope  of  meeting  our  brother  again  at  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  just.  The  circumstances  of  the  place  carried 
my  thoughts  back  to  the  northern  parts  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont,  where  many  years  since,  I had  rode, 
walked,  talked,  and  prayed  in  company  with  Thomas 
Branch.  From  these  circumstances  two  important  re- 
flections have  since  often  impressed  my  mind.  One  is  in 
how  many  circumstances  a faithful  minister  of  Christ 
may  be  useful — even  in  his  most  severe  sufferings,  and 
under  the  darkest  dispensations  of  Providence  which  he 
may  be  called  to  endure.  ^ Little  did  Thomas  Branch  think 
that  the  fruits  of  his  last  labors  and  sufferings  would  be 
so  abundant  after  his  death.  The  other  is,  how  much 
good  may  be  done  by  the  remembrance  of  the  virtues  of  a 
faithful  Christian,  long  after  he  is  dead.  The  memory  of 
the  example  of  Thomas  Branch,  revived  in  my  mind  by 
visiting  his  grave,  has  been  a means  of  quickening  my  de- 
sires to  live  as  he  lived,  and  of  strengthening  my  hopes  of 
finally  reaching  that  heaven  to  which,  I trust,  he  has 
gone.” — (Letter  published  in  Zion's  Herald , October  n, 
1826 — written  at  Zanesville , Ohio , September  17,  1826 ; 
see  also  Stevens , History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church , V ol.  IV.,  pp.  67-69.) 


Thomas  Branch — Our  First  Martyr. 


2J I 


The  following  obituary  appears  in  the  “General  Min- 
utes” of  1813 : 

“Thomas  Branch  was  a native  of  Preston,  in  Connecti- 
cut. He  commenced  travelling  in  the  winter  of  1800,  and 
continued  until  June,  when  he  was  received  at  the  New 
York  Conference,  and  filled  the  following  stations: 
1801,  Vershire  Circuit;  1802,  Lunenburg;  1803,  Landaff ; 
1804,  Pomfret;  1805,  New  London;  1806,  was  appointed 
presiding  elder  of  New  London  District;  1807,  he  pre- 
sided on  Vermont  District,  where  he  continued  four  years 
successively,  notwithstanding  the  greatest  part  of  his  time 
he  suffered  great  affliction  from  bodily  infirmities.  In 
181 1 he  was  considered  as  a supernumerary,  and  being  ad- 
vised by  physicians,  and  in  hopes  of  regaining  his  health 
by  a change  of  climate,  he  set  out  with  an  intention  to  go 
to  the  Western  Conference,  having  requested  an  appoint- 
ment or  station  in  that  part  of  the  work ; accordingly  he 
was  appointed  on  Marietta  Circuit  in  1812;  and  although 
he  almost  reached  the  place,  his  strength  failed ; and  after 
being  confined  some  time,  he  slept  in  peace. 

“Thomas  Branch  died  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  month  of  June ; an  Israelite  indeed,  in  life  and  in  death. 
Whoever  saw  him  out  of  the  gravity  and  sincerity  of  r. 
Christian  minister?  Always  apparently  collected  and  re- 
collected— a child  of  affliction  and  a son  of  resignation ; 
how  loved  and  honored  of  God  and  men!  For  several 
years  a member  of  our  connection,  and  secretary  for  the 
New  England  Conference.  He  died  on  his  way  to  the 
western  country,  and  to  the  Ohio  Conference.  Rest,  rest, 
weary  dust!  Rest,  weary  spirit,  with  the  Father  of  spir- 
its, and  live  forever!  After  great  heaviness,  through 
manifold  temptations,  the  Sun  of  righteousness  shone 
bright  upon  his  soul,  as  persons  that  visited  him  could 
witness,  and  that  he  departed  in  triumph  and  consolation.” 
— (Minutes  of  Conference , Vol.  I.f  1813,  p.  220.) 

In  1888  George  H.  Humason,  pastor  at  North  East, 
purchased  the  lot  and  erected  a monument  to  mark  the 
last  resting  place  of  this  sainted  man  of  God.  This 
monument  bears  the  following  inscription  : ' 


2J2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


SACRUM  MEMMORI. 

Rev. 

THOMAS  BRANCH 

Was  for  several  years  Presiding  El- 
der in  New  England  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  E.  Church,  and  Secretary 
of  the  same.  He  was  a good  man, 
and  a useful  minister.  He  closed  his 
eyes  in  death  June  6,  1812,  and  is  (no 
doubt)  triumphing  “Where  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary 
are 

At  Rest.” 

Aet.  38. 

“Yes,  his  Christian  Course  is  run 
Ended  in  a glorious  strife 
Fought  the  fight,  His  work  is  done 
Death  is  swallowed  up  in  life.” 

An  inscription  follows  which  it  is  not  possible  to  read.  It 
appears  to  have  been  a verse  from  the  Bible.  I he  stone  is 
a native  slate.  It  is  slowly  wasting,  but  will  doubtless 
last  fifty  years  longer  with  but  little  change. 

“Burial  was  refused  to  his  remains  in  the  cemetery  of 
the  town,  and  a stone-boat  and  ox  team  conveyed  his  body 
to  a spot  outside  the  usual  resting-place  of  the  dead. 
Here  he  has  lain  until  now,  June  io,  1889,  when  tenderly 
his  bones  (which  were  found  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation)  have  been  removed  into  the  lot  owned  by 
the  Church  he  founded. 

“The  remains  of  Andrew  McCammon,  who  was  pastor 
of  the  North  East  church  in  1831-2,  also  have  been  re- 
moved into  the  church  iot.  He  died  of  consumption,  in 
North  East,  May  27,  1834,  aged  twenty-four  years.  Both 
of  these  faithful  servants  of  God  have  their  resting-places 
marked  with  good  substantial  stones.  Their  memory 
lingers  in  this  community,  and  falls  as  a benediction  upon 
the  Church  they  loved  so  well.” — (Rev.  G.  H.  Hurnason, 
in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  July  4,  1889.) 

The  Rev.  Enoch  Burdick,  a local  preacher  from  Canada, 
settled  here  and  faithfully  nourished  the  small  society 
from  1812  to  1822.  This  good  man  lies  buried  in  the  small 


Henry  B.  Bascom. 


2 73 


graveyard  near  Orchard  Beach,  his  resting  place  being 
marked  by  a small  stone  and  two  large  Lombard  poplar 
trees.  For  ten  years  the  congregation  was  without  a house 
of  worship.  In  1822  a brick  building  was  erected  on  the 
eastern  side  of  what  is  now  our  beautiful  oark,  facing 
south.  This  same  year  Andrew  Peck  was  appointed  pastor. 
In  1852  a much  larger  and  better  building  was  erected 
where  th,e  new  and  beautiful  edifice  now  stands,  which 
was  built  in  1903  and  1904.  The  Church  has  maintained  a 
prosperous  existence  here  ever  since  and  many  happy  spir- 
its have  gone  from  this  town  to  join  the  triumphant  hosts 
in  Heaven  because  of  it.  Up  to  1822  the  North  East 
Charge  belonged  to  the  Erie  District  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference.  In  1835  the  Erie  District  was  di- 
vided and  this  portion  called  the  Jamestown  District. 
The  General  Conference  held  at  Cincinnati  in  1836  di- 
vided the  Pittsburg  Conference  into  the  Pittsburg  and 
Erie  Conference,  this  church  being  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
In  the  Church  records,  we  find  the  names  of  seventy- 
one  pastors  who  have  served  this  church.  For  nearly 
a century  this  society  has  gone  forward  in  the  Mas- 
ter’s work  and  has  become  one  of  the  best  churches  in 
the  Erie  Conference.  Knowing  how  the  good  work  be- 
gun by  Rev.  Thos.  Branch  has  succeeded,  we  would  heed 
the  injunction  to  the  Hebrews, — “Cast  not  away  therefore 
your  confidence  which  hath  great  recompense  of  reward,” 
— and  ever  press  onward  in  the  work  of  establishing 
Christ’s  Kingdom  here  in  North  East. 

Henry  B.  Bascom. 

The  Bascom  family  moved  from  Delaware  County, 
New  York,  to  Little  Valley,  below  Olean,  in  1808,  when 
Henry  B.  was  twelve  years  of  age.  In  1812,  they  re- 
moved to  Kentucky  and  then  to  Ohio.  The  Rev.  James 
Gillmore,  who  was  intimate  with  Mr.  Bascom  from  the 
age  of  ten  years,  says,  that  on  his  return  to  Little  Valley  in 
1811,  he  learned  that  a little  before  this:  “A  Methodist 

exhorter  from  the  east  had  moved  to  the  Little  Valley, 
and  through  his  instrumentality  almost  all  the  families  of 
the  valley  had  embraced  religion,  young  Henry  with  the 
rest.”  Simpson’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  Methodism,”  fourth 
revised  edition,  says  that  Bishop  Bascom  joined  the 
Church  in  Western  Pennsylvania  in  1811.  The  Bascom 

18 


274 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


family  lived  for  a time  at  the  “Kenjua  Flats.”  Benjamin 
G.  Paddock,  appointed  from  Genesee  Conference  to  the 
Chautauqua  Circuit  in  1812,  visited  the  “Flats,  and  said: 
“The  father  of  Henry  B.  Bascom,  having  spent  a few 
years  in  this  settlement,  had  just  left  for  Iventucky. 

Loring  Grant  gives  another  account  of  the  conversion 
of  young  Bascom:  “In  the  spring  of  1811  Mr.  Gillmore 

and  young  Bascom  came  into  the  waters  of  Sugai  cieek, 
in  what  is  now  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania.  I knew 
but  little  of  him  until  the  time  referred  to  by  Brother 
Burch,  when  preaching  at  Capt.  Clark’s  at  Old  Sheshe- 
goin.  The  voung  man  came  ten  miles  on  foot  to  attend 
the  meeting.  While  preaching,  I noticed  on  him  deep 
feeling,  and  in  the  class-meeting  he  told  us  that  during  the 

meeting,  or  under  the  sermon  he  had  found  peace  w ith 
God,  and  offered  himself  for  membership  in  the  Church, 
and  was  received.”  “But  it  was  not  until,  says  Mi. 
Grant  in  another  connection,  “the  General  Conference  of 
1828,  at  Pittsburg,  that  I knew  that  the  green  boy  that  I 
took  into  the  Church  at  Captain  Grant’s  was  the  man  of 
world-wide  popularity.  This  I learned  from  himself. 

(Hcnkle,  Life  of  Henry  Bidleman  Bascom , pp.  19,  20; 

George  Peck , Methodism  Within  the  Bounds  of  the  Old 
Genesee  Conference , pp.  239,  260;  Conable , History  of 
the  Genesee  Annual  Conference;  Simpson , Cyclopaedia  of 
Methodism , p.  92;  Z.  Paddock , Memoir  of  Rev.  B.  G. 
Paddock,  pp.  104-106.) 

We  may  .reconcile  these  accounts  of  the  conversion  of 
Bishop  Bascom  by  remembering  that  there  was  no  church 
for  him  to  join  in  Little  Valley.  He  was  converted,  as 
above  related,  while  living  at  Little  Valley.  He  and  Mr. 
Gillmore  crossed  the  mountains  and  there  he  joined  the 
Church.  When  he  bore  testimony  to  having  received  a 
great  blessing,  it  was  not  unnatural  for  Mr.  Grant  to  con- 
clude that  was  his  first  public  profession  of  religion. 
“That  this  was  a misapprehension,  however,  is  evident, 
for  before  this  time  Mr.  Gillmore  had  become  satisfied 
with  the  soundness  of  Henry’s  religious  experience,  and 
had  called  on  him  to  exhort  in  public.”  He  re-crossed 
the  mountains  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Little  Valley 
probably  about  the  end  of  the  summer  of  181 1.  But  there 
is  a statement  in  Bascom’s  own  handwriting  which  settles 
the  question  of  his  conversion:  “August  18,  1814, 


Henry  B.  Bascom. 


275 


four  years  to-day  since  my  conversion.  Bless  God  for 
mercy  through  Christ  our  Lord.  Henry  B.  Bascom.” — 
(Henkle,  Life  of  Henry  Bidleman  Bascom , pp.  19,  20.) 

James  B.  Finley  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
young  convert:  “Very  soon  after  his  conversion,  which 

occurred  at  a camp-meeting  on  Oil  creek,  he  gave  evi- 
dence, in  the  relation  of  his  religious  experience  and 
prayers,  of  a power  and  eloquence  unusual  to  boys  of  his 
age.  At  one  time  he  went  from  home  to  attend  a quar- 
terly meeting  at  Franklin.  His  singular  appearance,  with 
his  fox-skin  cap  and  rude  backwoods  dress,  attracted  the 
attention  of  every  one  present ; but  when,  at  love-feast,  on 
Sabbath  morning,  he  rose  and  spoke  of  his  conversion  and 
the  love  of  a Savior,  every  heart  was  thrilled,  and  as  the 
rough  exterior  sparkled  with  the  light  and  fire  of  the  soul 
within,  the  people  wondered  more  at  the  boy  than  they 
had  before  been  surprised  at  the  rusticity  of  his  appear- 
ance. 

“On  Monday  morning  Mr.  William  Connelly,  who 
was  a merchant  in  Franklin,  took  him  to  his  store  and 
gave  him  a new  hat  and  some  other  articles  to  fit  up  his 
wardrobe.  Mr.  C.  was  subsequently,  for  several  years,  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature,  and  from  some 
cause  or  other  lost  his  property  and  became  poor.  Travel- 
ling in  the  west,  he  stopped  at  Cincinnati,  and,  being  desti- 
tute of  means,  among  strangers,  he  called  upon  Dr.  El- 
liott, in  Cincinnati,  and  asked  for  the  loan  of  a few  dol- 
lars to  take  him  home.  The  doctor  promptly  took  out 
his  wallet  and  handed  him  all  he  desired,  saying:  ‘Take 

that,  brother,  and  welcome,  for  giving  young  Bascom  a 
hat.’  ” — ( Finley , Sketches  of  Western  Methodism , pp. 
429,  430.)  We  add  the  following  from  Henkle:  “Mr. 

William  Connelly,  residing  at  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  not 
far  from  Little  Valley,  became  acquainted  with  young 
Bascom  after  his  return  from  the  East,  and  being  greatly 
pleased  with  him,  invited  the  youth  to  make  his  house  his 
home,  and  tendered  him  the  free  use  of  a good  library. 
This  was  a great  treat  to  young  Henry,  for  with  a crav- 
ing appetite  for  knowledge,  he  had  hitherto  enjoyed  but 
small  facilities  for  ministering  to  its  gratification;  and  he 
never  forgot  this  kindness  of  Mr.  Connelly,  who,  in  after 
life,  received  many  a valued  letter  from  the  famed  orator 


276 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


as  the  reward  of  his  courtesy  to  the  untutored  youth  of 
the  wild  frontier.” — (Henkle,  Life  of  Henry  Bidleman 
Bascom , p.  31.) 


VII. 

SOLDIERS  STILL  ENLISTING,  AND  SOME 
STIRRING  EVENTS. 


Ashtabula. 

Into  the  earliest  frontier  settlements  of  our  country 
Methodist  preachers  and  lay  members  were  ever  on  the 
alert  to  be  among  the  first  to  carry  the  Gospel  of  peace  and 
good  will,  and  thus  assist  in  the  extension  and  upbuilding 
of  the  Master’s  kingdom.  We  are  not  able  to  state  the  ex- 
act date  of  the  arrival  of  Methodist  itinerants  in  Ashta- 
bula, Ohio,  but  a class  was  organized  in  1812,  consisting 
of  Thomas  Benham  and  wife,  Samuel  Benham  and  wife, 
and  Adna  Benham  and  wife.  In  1818  a gracious  revival 
greatly  strengthened  this  society.  The  first  house  of 
worship  was  built  during  the  Conference  year  of  1820  and 
was  called  the  “Block  Meeting  House.”  It  was  the  first 
built  by  any  denomination  within  the  county.  In  1831 
Ashtabula  became  for  the  first  time  the  head  of  the  cir- 
cuit, the  former  name  “Grand  River”  passed  from  the 
minutes.  In  1832  James  Gillmore  was  appointed  to  the 
circuit  and  the  frame  church  on  South  Main  street  begun 
in  1829  was  completed. 

On  the  fifth  of  January,  1835,  the  following  very  im- 
portant action  was  taken  by  the  society  at  Ashtabula : 

“The  members  met  according  to  notice  for  the  election 
of  officers  for  the  Church  and  to  present  a memorial  to  the 
legislature  of  the  state  to  incorporate  them  into  an  in- 
corporate body. 

“Rev.  John  Bain  was  called  to  the  chair  and  William 
Bcydutha  was  chosen  secretary,  and  proceeded  to  pass  the 
following  votes,  and  then  to  adopt  the  following  me- 
morial : 

“Voted  first.  That  the  society  shall  have  five  trustees 
chosen  annually  by  the  society  for  the  purpose  of  attend- 
ing to  its  temporal  business. 


278 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


* 


“Voted  second.  That  Chandler  Williams,  Thomas 
Stimson,  Charles  S.  Parker,  John  Bain  and  Samuel  Ben- 
ham  be  trustees  pro.  tern,  until  the  first  annual  meeting. 

“Voted  third.  Elected  Samuel  Smith  treasurer.” 

The  society  was  duly  incorporated,  and  held  its  first 
annual  meeting  March  23,  1835. 

Ashtabula  was  first  made  a station  in  1850  and  the  first 
quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  the  Chapel  August  17, 
1850.  The  following  brethren  answered  to  their  names 
at  the  first  session  of  the  quarterly  conference:  Darius 

Smith,  station  preacher;  James  Phillips,  local  preacher; 
W.  G.  Benham,  circuit  steward;  Samuel  Benham,  Jud- 
son  Landon,  James  Metcalf,  class  leaders.  The  pastor 
reported  one  Sunday  school  with  two  superintendents,  six 
teachers,  twenty-five  scholars  and  two  hundred  volumes 
in  the  library.  He  further  reported  the  “school  in  a rather 
low  state.”  Judson  Landon,  James  Metcalf  and  Isaac 
Lockwood  were  added  to  the  Board  of  Stewards.  Mr. 
Lockwood  was  appointed  Recording  Steward.  The  Quar- 
terly Conference  held  October  16,  1858,  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : “That  the  trustees  be,  and  are  here- 
by authorized  to  sell  the  church  and  parsonage  belonging 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  borough  of 
Ashtabula,  apply  the  avails  of  the  same  toward  the  erec- 
tion of  a new  church  and  parsonage  for  the  aforesaid  so- 
ciety.” At  the  next  Quarterly  Conference  a committee 
was  appointed  “to  procure  a lot  of  land  upon  which  to 
erect  a new  church.”  On  April  6,  1859,  the  committee 
reported  that  they  had  contracted  for  a lot  “known  as 
the  Mather,  situated  on  Park  street,  next  lot  south  of 
Samuel  Benham’ s residence,  for  eight  hundred  dollars.” 
This  church  was  built  of  brick  and  the  basement  dedi- 
cated April  23,  1861.  The  auditorium  was  dedicated  in 
September  of  the  same  year.  February  2,  1903,  Mary 
A.  Smith  and  James  L.  Smith,  daughter  and  grandson 
of  the  Rev.  James  Gillmore,  presented  to  the  trustees 
lots  on  Elm  street,  between  Center  and  Division  stress, 
for  the  erection  of  a new  church  to  be  known  as  the  “Gill- 
more-Smith  Memorial  Church.”  The  building  was 
erected  and  dedicated  February  11,  1906,  by  Bishop  Wil- 
liam F.  McDowell.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building,  with 
furnishings  and  the  new  pipe  organ,  was  $38,500. 


Ashtabula. 


279 


1 


“The  Rev.  James  Gillmore  was  born  in  Chester,  Hamp- 
shire County,  Mass.,  in  1789,  and  died  September  27, 
1866,  at  the  residence  of  his  son  in  Erie,  Pa.  He  was 
converted  when  but  twelve  years  of  age,  baptized  and  re- 
ceived into  the  church  by  Billy  Hibbard,  one  of  the  first 
Methodist  ministers  that  preached  the  gospel  in  New 
England.  His  conversion  took  place  on  the  summit  of  a 
mountain  while  on  his  way  to  a prayer  meeting.  There 
beneath  the  glittering  stars  he  exclaimed,  ‘The  heavens 
declare  the  glory  of  God ! Glory  to  God  in  the  highest  V 

“My  brother  considered  it  a gracious  providence  that 
led  him  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  against 
which  he  had  many  early  prejudices,  owing  to  false- re- 
ports circulated  by  its  foes.  He  finally  became  one  of  its 
bold  defenders  and  successful  supporters,  and  in  one  of 
his  letters  addressed  to  his  mother  he  said,  ‘I  am  a Metho- 
dist from  the  crown  of  my  head  to  the  sole  of  my  foot.’ 


“With  many  others  he  had  to  contend  with  prejudice, 
false  theology,  infidelity,  and  various  forms  of  vice.  But 
he  was  firm  in  his  purpose  and  confident  of  success.  He 
traveled  and  held  meetings  for  some  time  as  an  exhorter, 
met  with  much  opposition  even  from  those  who  ought  to 
have  encouraged  him,  when  finally,  in  view  of  his  great 
success,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and  joined  the  Genesee 
Conference,  where  he  spent  about  twenty  years  of  his 
ministry.  His  first  appointment  was  in  1813,  including 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  headquarters  of  our  military  officers 
near  that  place.  The  remainders  of  his  labors  were  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Pittsburgh  and  Erie  Conferences.  He 
was  a member  of  the  latter  when  he  died.  For  many 
years  he  was  a great  revivalist,  yet  he  paid  special  atten- 
tion to  doctrinal  preaching,  as  Methodism  in  those  days 
was  by  many  considered  a dangerous  heresy. 

“Though  surrounded  by  many  disadvantages,  and  under 
the  necessity  of  dispensing  with  some  of  the  rudimental 
principles  of  education,  nevertheless  he  learned  the  art  of 
applying  metaphysical  argument  and  logical  reasoning 
with  such  force  as  to  shake  some  of  the  strongholds  of 
infidelity  and  crime.  His  manner  of  preaching  was  bold. 

“Of  his  person  and  work  the  Rev.  Samuel  Gregg,  au- 
thor of  'History  of  Methodism  Within  the  Bounds  of 
the  Erie  Conference,’  has  recorded  the  following  testi- 


28o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


mony:  ‘Mr.  Gillmore  was  very  tall,  slim  and  straight, 

and  made  a very  dignified  and  commanding  appearance. 
He  possessed  more  than  ordinary  mental  power,  under- 
stood well  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  and  could  defend 
them  against  infidelity  and  the  various  isms  of  the  day 
with  tremendous  effect.  Calvinism  was  his  hobby. 
When  he  came  to  Jamestown  Circuit,  New  School  Calvin- 
ism was  exerting  a tremendous  influence.  The  way  Mr. 
Gillmore  exposed  its  peculiar  characteristics  will  never  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  heard  him.’ 

“During  the  year  he  held  a camp  meeting  a few  miles 
from  Jamestown,  in  a place  called  Louk’s  Hollow.  On 
Sabbath  there  was  a vast  crowd  in  attendance,  and  many 
of  them  very  disorderly,  who  could  not  be  induced  to  be 
seated  or  quiet.  Mr.  Gillmore  went  into  the  stand  and 
announced  for  his  text,  ‘Rejoice,  O young  men,  in  thy 
youth ; and  walk  in  the  ways  of  thy  heart  and  in  the  sight 
of  thine  eyes/  saying  nothing  about  the  remainder  of 
the  verse  until  he  had  talked  perhaps  half  an  hour  to  the 
young  people,  lauding  and  admiring  the  various  sinful 
amusements  and  errors  practiced  and  believed  by  them. 
While  upon  this  theme  the  crowd  rushed  up  as  close  as 
they  could  get  to  him  and  listened  with  astonishment  and 
delight.  Christians  stood  and  wondered  what  the  man 
could  mean  by  such  apparent  approval  of  all  that  was  bad. 
All  at  once  he  paused  and  recited  the  remainder  of  the 
verse — ‘but  know  thou  that  for  all  these  things  God  will 
bring  thee  into  judgment.’  The  attention  of  all  had  be- 
come so  perfectly  secured  by  this  time  that  the  most  pro- 
found silence  prevailed  all  over  the  ground.  He  then 
went  into  such  a description  of  the  final  judgment  day — 

Gabriel  blowing  the  trumpet suiting  his  action  and 

voice  to  the  occasion  as  to  make  the  scene  most  awful  - 
and  terrific.  Tears  flowed  down  many  faces,  sobs  and 
groans  could  be  heard  in  all  directions.  The  counte- 
nances of  the  wicked  were  the  picture  of  sadness.  As  he 
proceeded  cries  for  mercy  were  heard  in  all  directions, 
and  as  he  closed  up  a large  number  rushed  to  the  altar  of 
prayer,  and  the  night  passed  away  with  singing,  praying 
and  shouting,  and  made  the  adjoining  mountains  ring 
and  listening  angels  rejoice. 

“The  Rev.  James  Gillmore  was  one  of  eight  brothers, 
all  of  whom  were  ministers,  and  Mrs.  James  Gillmore 


James  and  John  McMahon. 


281 

was  one  of  a family  of  seven  children — two  brothers  and 
five  sisters — and  three  of  the  latter  married  ministers. 
It  is  in  loving  remembrance  of  these  that  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Smith  and  James  L.  Smith,  daughter  and  grandson,  have 
deeded  as  a gift-memorial  the  church  Ion  on  Elm  street, 
the  church  hereafter  to  be  known  as  the  ‘Gillmore-Smith 
Memorial  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.’  ” 

James  and  John  McMahon. 

In  1812  James  and  John  McMahon,  brothers,  traveled 
the  Trumbull  and  Grand  River  Circuits,  which  embraced 
all  the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve  east  of  the  Cuyahoga 
river.  James  was  a man  of  high  standing,  an  able 
preacher,  and  greatly  respected  by  all.  John  was  pos- 
sessed of  superior  pulpit  powers,  but  incurable  eccen- 
tricities led  him  into  gross  improprieties  which  injured 
his  influence,  destroyed  his  usefulness,  and  finally  re- 
sulted in  1827  in  his  expulsion  from  the  ministry  and 
church.  He  was  a hypochondriac  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced type.  Alfred  Brunson  relates  several  instances 
in  illustration.  On  one  occasion  while  at  Hudson  he 
imagined  he  was  dying,  and  insisted  upon  Mr.  Gailord, 
with  whom  he  lodged,  sending  some  sixty  miles  to  get  his 
brother  James  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon.  He  was 
urgent  lest  his  brother  should  not  arrive  in  time,  declar- 
ing that  he  could  not  live  longer  than  the  next  day,  and 
would  probably  die  before  night.  Gailord,  who  was  ac- 
quainted with  his  peculiarities,  declined  to  send,  assuring 
him  that  he  would  be  well  enough  next  day.  He  then 
called  Gailord  cruel  and  hard-hearted,  un-Christian  and 
inhuman;  and  entreated  him  to  send  for  a doctor.  This 
was  refused,  when  Mr.  McMahon  began  a tirade  of  hard 
names  for  letting  a man  die  in  his  house  and  refusing 
even  to  send  for  a doctor.  To  appease  him  a boy  was 
sent  but  privately  told  that  he  need  not  go  far.  In  the 
meantime  John  was  walking  the  floor,  feeling  his  pulse, 
and  looking  in  the  glass  to  watch  the  growth  of  the 
death  pallor.  Looking  out  of  the  window  he  discovered 
the  boy  at  play  with  others  of  his  age,  and  in  indignation 
declared  he  would  go  for  the  doctor  himself.  Suiting 
the  action  to  the  word  he  seized  his  hat  and  set  off  on  a 
run.  Reaching  the  boys,  he  went  to  play  with  them.  At 
Cadiz,  Ohio,  he  had  another  attack,  said  he  must  die,  and 


282  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

went  through  the  usual  farce  of  lying  down  and  getting 
up,  looking  in  the  glass,  and  feeling  his  pulse.  A preacher 
who  was  present,  seeing  a marble  yard  across  the  way, 
said:  “Brother  John,  if  you  are  really  going  to  die, 

wouldn’t  it  be  a good  idea  for  you  to  go  across  the  way 
and  select  a tombstone,  such  as  you  would  like  to  have 
at  your  grave  ?”  The  idea  was  so  ridiculous  that  John 
burst  into  a hearty  laugh  and  was  cured. 

He  was  often  troublesome  about  his  food  and  made 
many  complaints,  even  venturing  into  the  kitchen  and 
interfering  with  the  duties  of  the  cook.  Sometimes  he 
would  ride  ten  or  twelve  miles  after  preaching  under  the 
delusion  that  only  some  particular  woman  could  make 
coffee  or  mush.  On  one  such  occasion,  just  at  dark,  he 
reached  a house  and  ordered  mush.  One  of  the  girls 
went  to  the  spring  for  water,  and  not  in  the  best  humor, 
dipped  up  a frog  which  was  cooked  with  the  mush.  It 
was  not  discovered  till  he  was  nearly  through  his  meal. 

At  the  next  conference  a young  man  who  had  fallen  into 
the  same  troublesome  whims  about  food,  was  reported 
to  Bishop  McKendree.  The  good  bishop  said  to  him: 

“What  is  this  I hear  about  you?  Don’t  you  know  that 
you  should  eat  such  things  as  are  set  before  you,  asking 
no  questions  for  conscience  sake?”  John,  thinking  that 
his  turn  might  come  next,  sprang  to  his  feet  and  ex- 
claimed: “Conscience  sake;  conscience  sake!  We  must 
eat  this,  and  we  must  eat  that  for  conscience  sake!  A 
good  woman  the  other  night  set  some  mush  before  me 
with  a frog  in  it;  must  I eat  that  for  conscience  sake?” 

The  conference  bust  into  a roar  of  laughter,  and  the 
young  man  and  John  with  him  escaped  further  censure 
at  that  time. — (Brunson,  A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  1,  pp. 

101-106.) 

James  McMahon  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Western 
Conference  in  1810,  and  appointed  to  Trumbull  Circuit 
in  1812.  John  McMahon  was  received  on  trial  in  the  >1 

Western  Conference  and  fell  into  the  Ohio  Conference 
in  1812  at  the  first  session  and  appointed  to  Grand  River 
Circuit.  Soon  after  the  session  of  the  conference  these 
circuits  were  united  under  the  name  of  New  Connecticut, 
and  the  two  brothers  labored  together,  James  being  in 
charge  of  the  whole  work.  In  1815  James  preached  the 
first  Methodist  sermon  in  Braceville,  Ohio,  in  the  bar- 


James  and  John  McMahon.  283 

room  of  John  Croy’s  tavern.  The  house  was  afterward 
used  as  a parsonage.  A two-days’  meeting  was  held  in 
the  woods  near  Mr.  Edward  Oviat’s,  and  a class  formed 
consisting  of  Harvey  Stow  and  wife,  Samuel  Oviat, 
Sarah  Oviat,  William  Johnston  and  William  Cole.  Har- 
vey Stow’s  was  the  place  of  preaching  for  many  years. 
In  1820  Tames  McMahon  traveled  the  Mahoning  Cir- 
cuit with  Ezra  Booth  as  his  colleague.  This  year  closed 
his  services  within  the  bounds  of  Erie  Conference,  but 
he  continued  for  many  years  as  preacher  and  Presiding 
Elder  in  the  Ohio  and*  North  Ohio  Conferences. 

“Mr.  McMahon  was  a man  of  imposing  appearance, 
tall,  well  proportioned,  and  erect.  His  dress  was  always 
neat  and  appropriate;  his  manners  graceful,  yet  digni- 
fied ; his  spirit  kind  and  genial.  Though  affable  among 
his  brethren,  respectful  and  even  courteous  to  strangers 
and  deferential  to  men  of  age  and  influence,  he  was  cir- 
cumspect in  all  his  intercourse  with  society,  avoiding  that 
jesting  and  foolish  talking  which,  though  very  natural 
to  persons  constantly  moving  among  their  friends,  is  not 
convenient,  and  choosing  those  themes  that  tend  to  edifi- 
cation and  improvement.  He  was  a man  of  method. 
In  the  apportionment  of  his  time  and  his  means,  in  the 
arrangements  of  his  duties,  his  studies,  and  his  devotions, 
his  rules  were  inflexible ; in  the  fulfillment  of  his  appoint- 
ments and  the  payment  of  his  debts,  his  punctuality  was 
remarkable ; while  in  his  statements  of  doctrine,  of  pre- 
cept and  of  fact,  he  was  accurate  and  precise.  His  early 
education,  though  not  liberal,  was  reputable;  in  some 
branches  critical  and  minute.  His  reading  was  extensive, 
his  knowledge  of  theology  in  general  unusual,  and  of  our 
standards  profound.  He  was  a deep  student  of  the  Bible. 
He  traveled  to  heaven  upon  his  knees.  His  sermons 
were  always  carefully  prepared  and  deliberately,  serious- 
ly and  impressively  delivered,  while  the  whole  solution 
of  his  ministrations  crvstalized  around  the  cross.”  He 
witnessed  many  glorious  revivals.  He  died  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  October  30,  i860.  In  his  last  conflict  he 
shouted,  “Victory!”  and  his  final  word  was  “Safe!”* — 
(Minutes  of  Conference , Vol.  VIII.,  1861,  pp.  14/- 148.) 

♦The  appointments  of  James  McMahon  were:  In  1810-1811, 

Pickaway;  1812,  Trumbull;  1813,  Madison;  1814,  New  Connecti- 
cut; 1815,  located;  1817,  Tuscarawas;  1818,  West  Wheeling;  1819- 


284 


History  of  Erie 


Conference. 


Hatton,  the  Hypochondriac. 

Robert  C.  Hatton  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1812,  and  appointed  junior  preacher  on 
the  Grand  River  Circuit,  but  was  soon  transferred  by  the 
Presiding  Elder  to  the  Erie.  In  1813  he  traveled  the 
Little  Kanawha  Circuit,  and  in  1814  the  Cumberland. 
He  was  appointed  in  charge  of  the  Erie  Circuit  in  1815, 
and  resided  at  North  East.  He  was  an  eccentric  genius, 
and  did  many  “queer  things,”  but  was  a remarkable 
preacher.  “Not  handsome,  but  dignified  and  noble  in 
his  appearance,  with  a fine  address,  a stentorian  voice, 
and  a vivid  imagination,  he  could  describe  the  day  of 
judgment,  the  sufferings  of  the  lost,  the  joy  of  the  saints, 
in  language  that  would  thrill  an  audience.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  I.,  p.  128.) 
In  1816  he  was  sent  to  the  Shenango  Circuit,  but  soon 
became  disaffected  and  left  the  circuit,  and  was  located 
at  the  following  session  of  the  Ohio  Conference.  He  was 
re-admitted  in  1819,  and  appointed  to  Lake  Circuit.  In 
1820  he  again  located.  In  1825  we  find  him  on  the 
French  Creek  Circuit,  Buffalo  District,  Genesee  Confer- 
ence. In  1826  he  is  at  Youngstown,  Pittsburgh  Confer- 
ence, with  Robert  Hopkins  as  his  colleague,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  returned  to  the  same  circuit,  with  Samuel 
Adams  as  his  colleague.  In  1829,  Wheeling;  1830,  Steu- 
benville; 1831,  Ohio.  In  1832  he  withdrew  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  united  with  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church. 

The  good  which  Mr.  Hatton  might  have  accomplished 
was  nearly  destroyed  by  his  fits  of  hypochondria.  He 

1820,  Mahoning;  1821,  West  Wheeling;  1822,  Steubenville;  1823, 
Barnesville;  1824-1827,  Portland  District;  1828,  Brunswick;  1829, 
Wayne;  1830,  Knox;  1831,  Mt.  Vernon;  1832,  Roscoe;  1833,  Cam- 
bridge; 1834,  Somerset;  1835,  Martinsburg;  1836-1837,  super- 
numerary; 1838,  Michigan  Conference,  Belleville;  1839,  Millers- 
burg;  1840  (North  Ohio  Conference),  Millersburg;  1841,  Ashland;  . 
1842,  Norwalk;  1843,  Clarksfield;  1844,  Mansfield;  1845,  Mt. 
Gilead;  1846,  Chesterville;  1847,  superannuated;  1848,  Chester- 
ville;  1849,  Frederick;  1850-1853,  superannuated;  1854,  Carding- 
ton;  1855-1860,  superannuated. 

♦John  McMahon  filled  appointments  as  follows:  In  1812,  Grand 
River;  1813,  Chautauqua;  1814,  Barnesville;  1815,  Knox;  1816- 
1817,  Fairfield;  1818,  located;  1821,  Burlington;  1822,  Cross 
Creek;  1823,  West  Wheeling;  1824,  Barnesville;  1825,  super- 
numerary, but  supplied  St.  Clarksville  and  Mt.  Pleasant;  1826, 
supernumerary;  1827,  expelled. 


Hatton , the  Hypochondriac. 


285 

was  always  high  up  on  the  mountain  top  or  deep  down 
in  the  valley.  He  was  always  doing  unaccountable 
things.  Alfred  Brunson  relates  several  typical  instances, 
among  which  may  be  taken  the  following  as  fair  ex- 
amples : 

“In  going  to  an  appointment  one  Sunday  morning  he 
saw  a dog  that  pleased  him,  and  agreed  with  the  owner 
to  give  ten  dollars  for  him,  when  he  returned ; being  ab- 
sent-minded, he  had  forgotten  the  day  of  the  week,  and 
the  business  he  was  on.  When  he  ‘came  to  himself  and 
recollected  the  day  of  the  week  he  sank  down  almost  in 
despair  of  any  mercy  or  forgiveness  from  God;  but  he 
never  called  for  the  dog. 

“At  one  time,  after  preaching  at  night,  while  in  deep 
despondency  of  mind,  he  went  to  his  horse,  which  he  had 
hitched  to  the  corner  of  a fence  and,  without  unhitching 
the  bridle,  mounted  the  horse,  with  his  face  to  the  rear, 
and  struck  his  spurs  into  the  horse’s  sides,  which  made 
him  spring  forward,  and  tilt  the  rider  over  his  tail  on  to 
the  ground.  This  brought  him  to  his  senses,  when  he 
unhitched  and  rode  off  in  good  order. 

“But  the  climax  of  his  folly,  in  such  freaks,  occurred 
in  the  presence  of  Dr.  Bostwick.  Hatton  was  preaching, 
and  all  at  once  imagined  that  the  top  of  his  head,  from 
his  mouth  upward,  had  left  its  position  and  ascended  to 
the  ceiling  above,  and  that  he  must  sit  down  and  sit  still 
till  it  descended  to  its  place  againj  holding  his  head  in. 
the  right  position  lest  his  nose  should  be  on  one  side. 
As  this  thought  suddenly  occurred  to  his  mind,  he,  as 
suddenly  stopped  preaching  and  sat  down,  requesting  the 
doctor  to  finish  the  discourse.  The  doctor,  understand- 
ing his  case,  and  also  the  subject  he  was  discussing,  rose 
and  began  where  Hatton  left  off,  and  went  on  as  if  it  was 
his  own  subject.  Hatton  listened  a while,  and  was  so 
pleased  to  think  that  the  doctor  took  the  same  view  of 
the  subject  that  he  did,  began  to  cheer  up,  and  on  feeling 
his  face,  finding  his  head  in  position,  and  his  nose  on 
the  right  side  of  it,  he  jumped  up  and  said,  ‘Doctor,  I 
can  finish  now,’  and  went  on  to  the  close.’’ — (Brunson, 
A Western  Pioneer , pp.  222-223.) 

But  God  made  this  imperfect  instrument  very  effective 
at  times.  He  held  a camp  meeting  at  North  East,  of 
which  Mr.  Brunson  gives  the  following  account : “The 


286  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

encampment  was  large  for  a sparsely  settled  country.  The 
preaching  and  prayer  meetings  were  attended  with  great 
power,  and  with  most  signal  success.  The  awakening  of 
sinners  soon  commenced  and  the  altar,  the  prayer  circles, 
and  prayer  tents,  were  soon  filled  with  penitents,  and 
converts  were  numerous.  The  moral  atmosphere  of  the 
place  was,  like  the  ground  upon  which  Moses  stood  be- 
fore the  burning  bush,  holy;  the  thousands  in  attendance 
seemed  to  be  awe-struck  as  soon  as  they  came  upon  the 
ground.”  One  Sunday  evening,  while  Hatton  was  preach- 
ing, two  men  sprang  to  their  feet  and  ran  to  the  rear  of 
the  congregation,  when  one  said  to  the  other:  “I  never 

saw  such  men  before  as  these  Methodist  preachers  are. 
They  seem  to  be  determined  that  people  shall  get  re- 
ligion. That  fellow  who  is  preaching  and  the  one  sitting 
behind  him  had  got  their  eyes  on  me,  and  they  both  were 
just  a-going  to  spring  out  and  seize  me,  and  drag  me 
into  the  prayer  meeting  as  they  did  last  night,  and  I but 
just  made  my  escape.”  “Why,”  said  the  other,  “that 
was  what  they  were  going  to  do  to  me,  and  I did  but 
just  escape  them;”  and  they  both  concluded  to  go  home 
and  not  be  caught  so.  The  next  night,  however,  they 
were  both  at  the  meeting  and  were  converted.  At  this 
meeting  not  less  than  two  hundred  souls  were  converted, 
besides  the  general  quickening  of  the  membership 
throughout  that  whole  region. — ( Brunson , A Western 
Pioneer,  pp.  224-227.) 

John  Graham  and  John  Norris. 

John  Graham  was  born  in  Ireland  about  1785  or  1786, 
and  died  at  his  home  “on  the  eastern  edge  of  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  July  26,  1848.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England.  His  father  died  when 
he  was  nine  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  eleven  John 

was  converted  and  joined  the  Methodists.  His  license 
to  preach  was  given  him  while  still  in  his  native  land 
The  family  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  again  licensed  and  exer- 
cised his  gift  to  the  edification  of  those  who  heard  him. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1812, 
and  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  at  its 
organization.  After  twenty  years  of  active  service  he 
asked  for  a location  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he 


John  Graham  and  John  Norris . 


287 


> 


> 


died.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ann  Cakhel  and 
the  Lord  blessed  them  with  eleven  children. 

“Brother  Graham’s  worldly  circumstances  were  pretty 
hard,  for  having  spent  the  prime  of  his  life  in  traveling 
when  the  country  was  new  and  the  circuits  large  and  poor, 
he  was  often  compelled  to  live  on  short  allowance;  and 
having  to  locate  with  a broken  constitution,  he  had  hard 
struggling  to  preserve  his  growing  family  from  the  grip- 
ing hand  of  want.  But  being  accustomed  to  rigid  econ- 
omy, and  adding  thereto  indefatigable  industry,  with  the 
blessing  of  Providence  upon  the  labor  of  his  head  and 
hands,  he  never  lacked  the  needful  food  and  raiment.” 

In  his  last  sickness  his  sufferings  were  severe  but  brief. 
His  last  words  were,  “I  am  going  home  to  Jesus.”  Thus 
in  about  three  hours  of  illness  this  faithful  servant  of  the  , 
Lord  passed  through  the  gates  of  death  and  seized  his 
starry  crown  in  heaven.* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
September,  20,  1848.) 

John  Norris,  a local  deacon,  came  from  Connecticut 
and  settled  in  the  town  of  Windsor,  Ashtabula  County, 
Ohio,  in  the  month  of  June,  1812,  and  immediately  com- 
menced preaching  in  that  town,  and  in  Mesopotamia. 
The  same  year  a class  was  formed  in  Windsor  consist- 
ing of  himself,  wife,  and  two  daughters,  A.  Crandell 
and  wife,  Cornelius  Norris  and  wife  and  Seth  Young. 

A class  was  also  formed  in  Mesopotamia,  but  the  only 
name  which  has  been  preserved  is  that  of  Mrs.  Sarah 
Sanderson. 


Lemuel  Lane. 

Lemuel  Lane,  a local  preacher  from  the  Western  Re- 
serve, was  employed  by  the  Presiding  Elder  to  travel  the 
Chautauqua  Circuit,  which  extended  into  Warren  Coun- 
ty, Pa.  To  him  belongs  the  honor  of  forming  a class  at 

Silver  Creek,  Chautauqua  County,  consisting  of  A.  Clo- 
thier and  wife,  S.  Spink  and  wife  and  a few  others.  Two 

*John  Graham  did  excellently  in  the  following  list  of  appoint- 
ments: In  1812,  Erie;  1813-1814,  Tuscarawas;  1815,  Erie;  1816, 

no  appointment  given;  1817,  Barnesville;  1818,  Little  Kanawha; 
1819-1820,  Tuscarawas;  1821,  West  Wheeling;  1822,  Beaver;  1823, 
West  Wheeling;  1824,  Wayne;  1825,  located,  and  re-admitted  in 
Pittsburgh  Conference  and  appointed  to  Munroe;  1826,  Duck 
Creek;  1828-1829,  Cross  Creek;  1830,  Leesburg;  1831,  Freeport; 
1832,  located. 


In 


V 


288  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

years  later  he  was  appointed  to  the  New  Connecticut 
Circuit,  with  James  McMahon  in  charge. 

During  the  year  1814  he  formed  a class  in  the  town  of 
Nelson,  Ohio.  The  following  were  the  first  members : 
Asahel  Mills,  a local  preacher;  Isaac  Mills  and  wife,  Syl- 
vanus  Hulet  and  wife,  Benjamin  Prichard,  Elisha  Tay- 
lor and  wife.  Prudence  Taylor,  Oliver  Mills,  Anna  Mills, 
Orilla  Kennedy,  Catherine  Trusdale  and  Betsy  Bates, 
who  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lane. — ( Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  123- 
124.)  This  year  Mr.  Lane  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Ohio  Conference,  and  in  1815  he  traveled  the  Chautau- 
qua Circuit.  He  located  in  1819.* 

Mr.  Lane,  in  endeavoring  to  find  his  way  through  the 
woods  in  the  Western  Reserve,  using  a pocket  compass 
as  his  only  guide,  missed  his  way.  He  had  hoped  to  save 
several  miles  and  thus  reach  the  quarterly  meeting  at 
Burton  at  an  earlier  hour.  After  spending  the  night  in 
the  woods  and  refreshing  himself  and  his  horse  at  the 
nearest  house,  he  continued  his  journey,  but  again  missed 
his  way  and  lay  in  the  woods  the  second  night,  when  he 
was  attacked  by  wolves  and  failed  in  every  attempt  to 
frighten  them  away.  “At  length  he  thought  of  the  say- 
ing that  music  would  charm  a wild  beast,  and  he  com- 
menced singing,  at  which  the  wolves  retreated  and  left 
him  to  repose  as  well  as  he  could  on  the  snow.”  The 
story  is  told  that  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  the  Presbyterian 
missionary  on  the  Reserve,  was  lost  one  night  in  the 
woods  and  attacked  by  a bear.  He  tied  his  horse  to  a 

bush  and  climbed  a tree  which  he  supposed  was  too  small 
for  the  bear  to  attempt  to  climb,  but  bruin  was  about  to 
make  the  attempt  when  the  horse  shook  himself  and  the 
saddle  bags  rattled.  This  suggested  to  the  bear  the  sus- 
picion that  danger  might  be  near.  So  retreating  a few 
steps  he  seated  himself  and  watched  the  reverend  gentle- 
man perched  in  the  thick  boughs  of  the  small  branch,  till 
morning.  At  break  of  day  the  bear  reluctantly  moved 
away,  and  the  preacher  was  permitted  to  come  down  from 
his  roost  and  continue  his  journey. — ( Alfred  Brunson, 

♦The  appointments  of  Mr.  Lane  were:  In  1814,  New  Connecti- 
cut; 1815,  Chautauqua;  1816,  ivfansfield;  1817,  Columbus;  1818, 
Knox;  1819,  located. 


Brown's  Chapel . 289 

in  the  Methodist  Magazine  and  Quarterly  Review,  Vol.  3 
(new  series),  p.  267.) 

Brown’s  Chapel. 

“Brown’s  Chapel”  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of 
Mead  Township,  Crawford  County.  It  was  organized 
by  the  Rev.  John  Graham,  of  the  Erie  Circuit,  in  1812 
with  nine  members.  Other  names  were  soon  added.  Ed- 
ward Douglas  and  wife,  John  McFadden,  Mr.  Little, 
Ruth  Kinney,  Oliver  Chase  and  wife,  Simeon  Brown  and 
wife,  John  Grimes  and  wife,  William  Smith  and  Anna 
Glenn  were  among  them.  It  was  a large  circuit  in  those 
days,  and  the  earliest  ministers,  who  received  salaries  of 
from  $50  to  $100  a year,  had  to  ride  all  day,  and  eat 
bear  meat  and  corn  cakes  at  the  cabins  of  the  backwoods 
settlers.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  cabin  of 
John  Grimes,  who  resided  about  a mile  south  of  the  site 
of  the  present  edifice.  They  were  afterward  held  in  a 
school  house  until  about  1830,  when  a frame  church  was 
built.  For  the  purpose  of  accommodating  the  room  to 
the  size  of  the  audience,  the  church  was  divided  into  two 
apartments  by  a swing  partition : a solid  partition  extend- 
ing from  the  floor  upwards  for  several  feet,  and  above 
it  were  two  huge  swinging  doors,  which  could  be  opened 
or  shut  at  pleasure. — (History  of  Crazoford  County , 
Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  1883,  p.  575. ) It  was  never  fully 
completed,  but  was  used  until  the  present  frame  building 
was  erected  in  1848.  The  society,  whose  membership  is 
about  sixty,  for  many  years  formed  part  of  the  Saeger- 
town  Circuit,  but  was  attached  to  the  Meadville  Circuit  at 
a later  date. — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  History,  1899, 

p-  546.) 

Quarterly  Conferences — Old  Records. 

The  camp  meeting  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Erie 
Circuit  was  held  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  August  15,  1812.* 
Bishop  William  McKendree  was  on  his  way  to  the  West- 
ern Conference,  and  stopped  at  the  meeting,  where  his 
services  were  greatly  appreciated.  Jacob  Young,  the  Pre- 
siding Elder,  was  in  command  of  the  Christian  forces. 

James  Watts  and  Jacob  Gorwell  had  charge  of  the  cir- 

» 

*1  retain  the  spelling  of  the  original  documents. 


19 


290 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


cuit.  The  latter  joined  the  Baltimore  Conference  in 
1811.  He  served  Shenango  Circuit  in  1813,  and  located 
in  1815.  The  local  preachers  were  William  Connelly, 
William  Carroll  and  Russell  Stancliff;  the  exhorters, 
Henry  Benn,  Thomas  McCray,  Jonathan  Benn,  John 
Williams,  Richard  Coulter,  Samuel  Wilson,  Abraham 
Loper,  Matthias  Swartz,  John  McDowell ; and  the  class 
leaders,  John  Leech,  Craft  Ghost,  James  Allender,  John 
Watson,  John  Allerton,  John  Bennett,  Joseph  Baird, 
James  Dowler,  Peter  Ford,  George  King,  William  Mul- 
vin,  Daniel  Brush,  Marsena  Keep  and  William  McLean. 

The  church  has  never  been  without  trouble  with  irre- 
sponsible preachers.  This  Quarterly  Conference  had  its 
share. 

“The  Conference  being  organized,  the  subject  of  a 
certain  Joseph  Fuller,  who  had  been  preaching  as  an  itin- 
erant under  the  name  of  a Free-will  Baptist  for  some 
time  in  the  Circuit  of  Erie,  and  particularly  among  the 
Methodist  societies,  was  introduced,  the  members  pres- 
ent were  requested  to  relate  what  they  knew  touching  the 
character  of  the  said  Joseph  Fuller.  It  appeared  that  the 
said  Joseph  Fuller  was  not  licensed  by  any  society  to 
preach  : that  he  never  had  an  ordination,  and  upon  the 
most  candid  and  impartial  investigation,  nothing  appeared 
by  which  any  member  might  be  authorized  to  sanction  or 
give  countenance  to  the  said  Joseph  Fuller  as  a minister 
of  the  gospel.  The  Rev.  Bishop  McKendree,  after  hear- 
ing the  debates  of  the  Conference  on  the  said  subject, 
and  having  made  some  remarks  upon  the  same,  and  upon 
other  more  important  subjects  connected  with  the  inter- 
est and  welfare  of  the  society,  with  suitable  exhortations 
and  prayer,  retired  to  attend  the  camp  meeting,  leaving 
the  Conference  to  pursue  its  particular  business.  After 
the  bishop  had  retired  the  subject  relative  to  Joseph  Ful- 
ler was  again  reconsidered,  and  on  motion  made  and  sec- 
onded, the  following  question  was  put,  viz. : Ts  it  law- 

ful, proper  and  consistent  with  the  discipline  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  encourage  the  said  Jo- 
seph Fuller  to  preach,  or  to  attend  his  preaching?’  The 
question  was  determined  in  the  negative. 

“Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  relative  to  the  subject 
of  Joseph  Fuller,  as  considered  in  Quarterly  Conference 


Quarterly  Conferences — Old  Records.  291 

this  day,  be  entered  at  large  on  the  minutes  of  said  Con- 
ference. 

“A  recommendation  was  received  through  Mr.  Watts 
from  James  Allender’s  class  in  favor  of  Samuel  Wilson 
as  a proper  person  to  preach  the  gospel,  signed  by  the 
following  persons,  viz. : James  Dawson,  George  Siggins, 
Isaac  Connelly,  Wm.  Middleton,  Alex.  McLhany,  John 
Siggins  and  William  Siggins.  After  some  debate  it  was 
considered  advisable  by  the  Conference  that  the  case  be 
referred  to  the  reconsideration  of  the  class  aforesaid, 
there  not  appearing  a majority  of  the  said  class  to  the 
said  recommendation. 

“The  characters  and  usefulness  of  the  preachers,  ex- 
horters,  class  leaders,  etc.,  were  examined  individually  in 
Conference,  after  which  the  Conference  adjourned. 

“Signed  by  order  of  Conference, 

“Wm.  Connelly,  Secretary ” 

After  the  signature  of  the  secretary,  the  following 
items  are  recorded : 

“On  Monday,  the  seventeenth  day  of  August,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve,  William  Connelly 
was  ordained  a deacon  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  the  before-mentioned  camp  meeting,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
William  McKendree,  junior  bishop  of  the  said  Church,  in 
the  presence  of  the  congregation. 

“By  arrangements  made  in  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  May,  1812,  Erie  Circuit 
is  attached  to  and  becomes  subject  to  the  Western  Con- 
ference, which  commences  its  session  first  October,  same 
year.” 

This  in  a different  hand  with  no  signature : 

“On  the  third  day  of  July,  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eighteen,  William  Carroll,  Jr.,  was  ordained 
deacon  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Pithole,  Ve- 
nango County,  Pa.,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  R.  Roberts, 
Bishop  of  said  Church.” 

The  following  business  was  transacted : 

“May  15th,  1813,  in  Conference  held  at  the  house  of 
William  Mitchell  on  Oil  creek,  present : 

“Jacob  Young,  Presiding  Elder;  James  Graham  and 
Robert  C.  Hatton,  circuit  preachers ; Abraham  Daniels, 


29  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


local  preacher;  also  Samuel  Wilson,  Jonathan  Benn, 
John  Williams,  exhorters,  and  John  Watson,  John  Al- 
lerton,  Peter  Ford,  John  Lupher,  Thomas  Dawson,  class 
leaders. 

“First  Question:  ‘Are  there  any  appeals?’  Answer. 

‘One,  viz. : An  appeal  was  made  by  William  Siggins  to 
Conference,  and  alleged  by  him  that  he  was  illegally  ex- 
pelled from  the  class  to  which  he  belonged.  Upon  hear- 
ing the  said  William  Siggins  and  the  evidence,  it  ap- 
peared that  according  to  the  rules  and  usages  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  ought  to  be  expelled, 
and  it  was  so  determined  by  a majority  of  the  members 
present. 

“Second  • Question : Ts  there  anything  improper 

charged  to  any,  or  complaints  against  'any  of  the  preach- 
ers or  members  of  this  Conference?’  Answer.  ‘None.’ 

“A  resolution  was  introduced  and  carried,  viz. : 

“ ‘Resolved,  That  a camp  meeting  be  held  at  the  usual 
place  near  Air.  Baum’s  on  French  creek  the  20th  of  next 
August.’ 

“Conference  adjourned.” 

“Camp  meeting  Quarterly  Conference,  21  August, 
1813. 

“Present — Jacob  Young,  Presiding  Elder;  J.  Graham 
and  Robert  C.  Hatton,  circuit  preachers;  A.  Daniels, 
John  Wilson,  Wm.  Connelly  and  O.  Woodworth,  local 
preachers;  Richard  Coulter,  M.  Swartz,  Jonathan  Benn, 
Samuel  Wilson  and  Abraham  Looper,  exhorters ; Wm. 
McClane,  Burros  Westlake,  John  Lupher,  Wm.  McLany, 
John  Watson,  John  Stiver,  Joseph  Beard,  John  Allerton, 
Peter  Ford  and  George  King,  class  leaders. 

“The  characters  of  the  preachers,  exhorters  and  class 
leaders  were  examined  individually  and  no  complaints 
of  immoral  conduct,  etc.,  were  exhibited. 

“A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  a letter  of 
address  be  sent  to  Wm.  Carroll  advising  him  of  the  ne- 
cessity and  propriety  of  exercising  as  a preacher  oftener 
in  public.  Carried. 

“A  recommendation  from  the  class  to  which  Samuel 
Wilson  belongs  was  presented,  setting  forth  his  being  a 
suitable  person  to  preach  as  a local  preacher.  The  sub- 


Quarterly  Conferences — Old  Records. 


293 


ject  being  considered,  it  was  determined  in  favor  of  the 
recommendation,  and  a license  to  be  given. 

“A  recommendation  of  a similar  tenor  was  presented 
by  Burrows  Westleke’s  class,  setting  forth  his  being  a 
proper  person  to  exhort.  Considered  and  carried  and  a 
license  to  be  issued,  after  which  Conference  adjourned. 

True  copy. 

(Signed.)  “Jacob  Young. 

“Wm.  Connelly,  Secretary  ” 

“Quarterly  Conference  held  at  the  house  of  John  Ran- 
dall, the  21  May,  1814. 

“Jacob  Young,  Presiding  Elder;  Abel  Robinson,  cir- 
cuit preacher;  Russell  Stancliff  and  Oliver  Woodworth, 
local  preachers  ; James  McCall  and  John  McDowell,  ex- 
horters;  Jared  Brush,  John  McDowell,  Marcena  Keep, 
Russell  Stancliff,  Peter  Ford  and  Wm.  McClane,  class 
leaders. 

“An  appeal  was  made  by  Andrew  Simpson  to  the 
Conference,  he  alleging  that  he  had  been  illegally  ex- 
pelled from  the  society.  The  charge  against  him,  and 
for  which  he  was  expelled,  was  that  said  Andrew  had 
gone  to  law  with  one  of  the  brethren  of  the  society. 

“The  Conference  having  considered  the  case,  and  after 
fervent  prayer,  do  restore  said  Andrew  Simpson  to  mem- 
bership again  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

“An  appeal  was  also  made  by  Prudence  Gibbons,  al- 
leging that  her  case  merits  the  attention  and  interposi- 
tion of  this  Conference,  the  charge  against  her  and  for 
which  she  was  expelled  being  that  she  had  circulated 
slanderous  reports  on  some  of  the  members  of  her  class; 
and  she  alleges  the  committee  who  tried  her  case  had 
not  done  her  justice,  although  she  refused  to  make  such 
concessions  as  they  thought  reasonable,  and  said  Pru- 
dence prays  that  she  may  yet  be  permitted  to  make  such 
concessions  as  are  just  and  right. 

“On  consideration  of  such  prayer  and  petition  it  is 
agreed  that  the  said  petition  be  granted. 

“Conference  adjourned. 

(Signed.)  “Jacob  Young,  President. 

“Russell  Stancliff,  Secretary .” 


294 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“Quarterly  Conference  held  at  the  house  of  John  Ran- 
dall, the  6th  day  of  May,  1815,  for  Erie  Circuit. 

“Present — Jacob  Young,  Presiding  Elder;  John  Gra- 
ham and  John  Solomon,  Circuit  preachers;  William  Con- 
nelly, John  Wilson,  Samuel  Wilson  and  Oliver  Wood- 
worth,  local  preachers;  John  Watson,  George  King,  Phil- 
ip Brister,  John  McDowell,  John  Looper  and  John  Mc- 
Call, class  leaders. 

“First — A complaint  was  brought  against  William 
Connelly,  and  inasmuch  as  it  appeared  that  a reconcilia- 
tion had  taken  place  between  him  and  John  Graham,  who 
was  the  principal  person  concerned  in  the  dispute,  the 
Quarterly  Conference  did  not  think  proper  to  take  it  up. 

“Second — No  appeals. 

“Third — No  recommendations. 

“Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Quarterly  Conference, 

“Jacob  Young. 

“May  6,  1815.” 

(N.  B. — The  reason  of  the  above  not  being  counter- 
signed by  the  Secretary  was,  he  being  one  of  the  minority 
and  dissatisfied  with  the  order  of  the  proceeding,  refused 
to  countersign.) 

“At  a Quarterly  Meeting  Conference,  held  at  Salem 
meeting  house  the  22d  day  of  July,  1815. 

“Present — Jacob  Young,  Presiding  Elder;  Samuel 
Brown  and  John  Solomon,  circuit  preachers;  William 
Connelly,  William  Carroll,  Oliver  Woodworth  and  Abra- 
ham Daniels,  local  preachers ; exhorters  and  leaders,  viz. : 
George  Stuntz,  Factor  Knox,  James  McCall,  George 
Smith,  William  Westlake,  Isaac  Connelly,  George  King, 
Peter  Ford,  John  Leech  and  Jonathan  Benn. 

“A  recommendation  was  presented  to  Quarterly  Con- 
ference in  favor  of  George  Stuntz  as  a fit  person  to 
preach.  The  subject  being  examined  by  Conference,  it 
was  determined  in  the  affirmative  and  agreed  that  a li- 
cense be  given  Brother  Stuntz  to  preach. 

“A  recommendation  of  a similar  nature  was  presented 
to  Quarterly  Conference  in  favor  of  Oliver  Woodworth 
as  a suitable  person  to  travel  and  preach.  The  subject 
being  examined  by  Conference  it  was  determined  in  the 


Appointments  for  1813-14. 


295 


affirmative,  and  agreed  that  a recommendation  be  sent  to 
Annual  Conference  in  favor  of  Oliver  Woodworth. 

“No  appeals. 

“Conference  adjourned. 

“Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Conference, 

“Jacob  Young. 

“Wm.  Connelly,  Secretary.” 

(N.  B. — Bishop  McKendree  was  present  at  this  Con- 
ference. ) * 

Preachers  and  Appointments  for  1813  and  1814. 

Bishop  William  McKendree  presided  at  the  session  of 
the  Ohio  Conference  held  in  Steubenville,  September  11, 
1813.  Jacob  Young  remained  as  Presiding  Elder,  Abel 
Robinson  was  appointed  to  the  Erie  Circuit,  Jacob  Gor- 
well  to  the  Shenango,  and  John  McMahon  to  the  Chau- 
tauqua. The  Grand  River  and  Trumbull  Circuits  were 
united  under  the  name  of  “New  Connecticut,”  and  John 
Solomon  and  Oliver  Carver  were  appointed  to  that  work. 

Abel  Robinson  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1811  and  appointed  to  Shenango.  He  was 
received  into  full  connection  and  ordained  a deacon  in 
1813,  and  ordained  an  elder  in  1815.  He  traveled 
Beaver  Circuit  with  Daniel  D.  Davidson  as  second 
preacher  in  1812;  and  Erie  in  1813  and  1814.  He  was 
appointed  to  West  Wheeling  in  1815,  and  located  in  1816. 
A few  years  later,  he  joined  the  Ohio  Conference  from 
which  he  was  transferred  to  the  Kentucky  Conference. 
He  located  in  1829. 

John  Solomon  and  Oliver  Carver  were  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1813,  and  ordained  dea- 
cons in  1815.  Mr.  Solomon  was  ordained  elder  in  1817, 
and  located  in  1820.  He  traveled  the  Erie  Circuit  with 
John  Graham  as  junior  preacher  in  1814.  Mr.  Carver 
located  in  1815 — after  serving  New  Connecticut  and  Big 
Sandy  and  Little  Sandy,  each  one  year.f 

Bishop  Asbury  presided  at  the  Ohio  Conference  in  Cin- 
cinati,  September  8,  1814,  and  continued  Jacob  Young  as 
presiding  elder  of  the  Ohio  District.  John  Solomon  and 

♦Original  Records  of  Quarterly  Conferences. 

fJohn  Solomon  served  the  following  work:  1813,  New  Con- 

necticut; 1814,  Erie;  1815,  Knox;  1816,  Little  Kanawha;  1817, 
Paint  Creek;  1818,  Pickaway;  1819,  Knox;  1820,  located. 


296 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


John  Graham  were  appointed  to  the  Erie  Circuit;  John 
Elliott  to  the  Shenango;  James  McMahon  and  Lemuel 
Lane  to  the  New  Connecticut;  and  Burrows  Westlake  to 
the  Chautauqua.  In  the  Quarterly  Conference  minutes 
of  the  session  held  in  Salem,  July  22,  1815,  Samuel  Brown 
is  recorded  as  one  of  the  circuit  preachers  of  Erie  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in 
1812. 


Samuel  Brown  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1812,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Guyandotte 
Circuit.  In  1813  he  traveled  the  Big  Sandy  Circuit.  In 

1814  he  is  continued  on  trial,  but  there  is  no  notation  of 
his  appointment  in  the  “General  Minutes.”  However, 
the  minutes  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  show  that  pre- 
vious to  the  Quarterly  Conference  held  July  22,  1815,  he 
was  employed  on  the  Erie  Circuit.  After  the  meeting 
of  the  Ohio  Conference,  September  14,  1815,  he  was  sent 
to  the  Grand  River  Circuit.  He  was  ordained  deacon  in 

1815  and  admitted  into  full  connection.  In  1816  he  serv- 
ed Pickaway;  in  1817,  Oxford;  1818,  Milford;  and  in 
1819,  White  Water.  He  was  ordained  elder  in  1818. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Kentucky  Conference  in  1820, 
but  I find  no  assignment  to  work.  In  1821,  he  traveled 
the  Licking  Circuit  and  in  1822  located. 

John  Elliott  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1814  and  appointed  to  the  Shenango  Circuit. 
He  was  discontinued  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Burrows  Westlake  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1814,  and  appointed  to  Chautauqua  Cir- 
cuit. His  work  did  not  again  bring  him  within  our 
bounds;  and  in  1836  he  was  transferred  to  the  Indiana 
Conference.  He  departed  this  life  at  his  own  residence  in 
Logansport,  Indiana,  April  17,  1845.  “His  disease  was 
epidemic  erysipelas.  It  was  rapid  in  its  progress,  and  for 
some  twelve  hours  deprived  him  of  the  power  of  speech. 
The  last  act  of  his  life  was  to  rise  from  his  bed,  kneel  at 
its  side,  and  commend  his  spirit  to  God : after  which  he 
laid  down,  and  calmly  expired.  A few  days  more 
brought  his  beloved  companion  to  the  grave,  with  the 
same  disease.  . . . Our  deceased  brother  possessed 

a strong  intellect,  well  stored  with  useful  knowledge,  and 
a heart  long  subdued  and  chastened  by  the  influence  of 


j 


Father  Shezvel  at  Work . 297 

grace.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  III.,  1845,  p. 

658.) 

Father  Shewel  at  Work. 

“In  the  spring  of  1814,  Father  Shewel  removed  his 
family  from  Deerfield  and  settled  in  Rootstown,  Portage 
County,  Ohio,  near  the  eastern  line  of  the  town,  and  com  - 
menced preaching  in  several  places  in  the  vicinity.  At 
a place  called  Bacon  Hill,  in  the  south  part  of  Randolph, 
he  formed  a class  consisting  of  John  Tickner,  leader,  and 
his  wife  and  father,  Cozans  Bacon,  Sally  Bacon,  Eben- 
ezer  Cutler  and  wife,  and  Ezekiel  Tupper  and  wife.  Mr. 
Shewel  also  established  an  appointment  in  his  own  log- 
cabin,  where  a class  was  soon  formed,  consisting  of  Henry 
Shewel  and  wife,  Nathan  Sears  and  wife,  Stephen  Coul- 
ton  and  wife,  Samuel  Redfield  and  wife,  Margaret 
Shewel,  Salina  Shewel,  and  Nancy  Coe.  Mr.  Shewel 
also,  preached  for  a time  in  an  old  log  school  house  in 
Rootstown,  near  the  Cleveland  and  Pittsburg  Railroad 
depot.  In  this  neighborhood  he  found  an  old  lady,  by 
the  name  of  McKnight,  who  was  converted  to  God  under 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  John  Wesley  in  one  of  his  visits  to 
Ireland.  She  died  in  great  peace  in  1819,  being  more 
than  a hundred  years  old.  During  the  summer  of  1814, 
Mr.  Shewel  established  an  appointment  for  preaching  in 
the  western  part  of  the  town  of  Ravenna,  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  about  one  mile  from  the  present  village,  where  he 
formed  a class  consisting  of  Mr.  Abel  and  wrife,  and  his 
son  and  wife,  Mr.  Granger  and  wife,  and  Mr.  Greer. 
Thus  did  this  faithful  old  pioneer  find  his  way  into  the 
new  settlements,  breaking  up  new  ground,  and  after  rais- 
ing up  societies  he  would  hand  them  over  to  the  preachers 
on  the  circuit,  and  then  seek  out  new  places  of  labor. 
Father  Shewel  was  a source  of  terror  to  the  wicked,  and 
often  incurred  their  displeasure  by  his  severity.  He  was 
also  accustomed  to  deal  heavy  blows  at  Calvinism.  One 
good  Presbyterian  lady  was  so  exasperated  at  the  severity 
of  his  remarks  one  day  that  she  said,  ‘Father  Shewel  was 

no  more  fit  to  preach  the  Gospel  than  a chestnut-burr  was 
fit  to  be  an  eye-ball' ; but  soon  afterward  hearing  a man 
who  had  been  very  wicked  date  his  conversion  to  Father 
Shewel’s  preaching,  recalled  the  uncharitable  expression, 
and  became  a great  admirer  of  the  man.” — ( Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  pp  118-120.) 


298 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  class  at  Henry  She  wel's,  in  Rootstown,  was  di- 
vided in  1815.  The  members  in  the  town  of  Randolph 
continued  for  sixteen  years  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Sam- 
uel Redfield.  The  class  was  then  removed  to  a school 


house  in  the  center  of  the  town.  Among  the  members 
we  may  name:  David  Collins  and  wife,  Sylvester  Je- 

rome and  wife,  Wilks  Paine  and  wife,  and  Mr.  Burton. 


The  first  Methodist  sermon  within  the  bounds  of  the 


Waterford  charge  was  preached  in  1814;  and  two  years 
later  the  first  Methodist  society  was  formed  with  the  fol- 
lowing members:  Martha  Rice,  Phoebe  J.  Judson,  Sam- 

uel Middleton,  J.  S.  King,  and  Dr.  J.  C.  Curtis.  A 
church  edifice  was  erected  and  the  church  incorporated  in 
1853,  The  society  met  at  first  in  a building  that  had 
been  used  as  a cooper  shop.  There  have  been  gracious 
revivals — in  1851,  under  W.  P.  Bignell;  in  1858,  under 
J.  W.  Wilson,  and  in  1865,  under  F.  H.  Beck. 


Sharp's  Church  was  organized  in  about  1839.  It  was 
subsequently  divided  into  two  appointments — the  Sharp’s 
and  the  Ash  appointments.  At  the  former,  a house  of 
worship  was  erected  in  1867;  and  at  the  latter  in  1868. 
While  there  have  been  several  revivals  at  these  points,  the 
most  sweeping  was  that  experienced  at  Sharp’s  under 
Washington  Hollister  in- 1867-8. 


David  Young. 


Bishops  Asbury  and  McKendree  were  both  present  at 
the  Ohio  Conference  which  began  its  session  in  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  September  14,  1815.  David  Young  was  appointed 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Ohio  District;  John  Summerville 
was  appointed  to  the  Shenango  Circuit,  Robert  C.  Hat- 
ton to  the  Erie,  Samuel  Brown  to  the  Grand  River  and 
John  Waterman  and  Shadrock  Ruark  to  the  Mahoning — 
the  New'  Connecticut  was  divided  into  the  Grand  River 
and  the  Mahoning — and  Lemuel  Lane  to  the  Chautau- 
qua. Mr.  Brown  did  not  remain  long  on  the  Grand 
River  Circuit,  for  w^e  find  in  the  minutes  of  the  Quarter- 
ly Conference  of  the  Erie  Circuit,  held  at  “Salem  meet- 
ing house"  March  3,  1816,  the  following  note:  “Mr. 

Brown  wras  stationed  on  Grand  River  Circuit  by  the  Ohio 
Annual  Conference  held  in  September,  1815,  and  con- 
tinued to  travel  thereon  until  this  quarterly  meeting, 
when  he  was  removed  by  the  Presiding  Elder  (Rev.  J. 


David  Young. 


299 


Young)  to  Erie  Circuit  to  travel.”  It  is  probable  that 
the  Grand  River  and  Mahoning  Circuits  were  traveled 
by  Messrs.  Waterman  and  Ruark  and  considered  as  one 
circuit  until  the  close  of  the  conference  year.  David 
Young  was  not  able  to  enter  upon  his  work  immediately, 
and  remained  on  the  Muskingum  District  until  the  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Conference.  Jacob  Young,  who  was 
appointed  to  the  Muskingum  District,  explains : “As  we 
both  had  to  go  to  the  General  Conference  in  the  spring, 
and  as  my  four  years  on  the  Ohio  District  would  not  ex- 
pire until  spring,  the  bishop  told  us  we  need  not  change 
districts  until  we  returned  from  the  General  Conference. 
So  I went  back  with  great  delight  to  my  old  district. 

I passed  the  autumn  and  winter  on  the  Ohio 
District  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  myself  and  the 
Lord’s  people.” — (Rev.  Jacob  Young , Autobiography  of 
a Pioneer,  p.  319.)  The  General  Conference  met  in  Bal- 
timore in  May,  1816.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “At  the  close 

of  the  General  Conference  in  the  spring  of  1816,  Rev. 
David  Young  was  not  able  yet  to  go  to  the  Ohio  District, 
and  consequently  a new  man  was  sent  to  perform  the 
fourth  round  on  the  district” — referring  to  J.  B.  Finley. 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1, 
p.  129.)  It  would  seem  that  J.  B.  Finley  was  employed 
for  the  first  round ; and  entered  upon  his  work  November 
8,  1815.  His  itinerary  of  this  round  is  to  be  found  later 
in  this  volume.  He  returned  to  his  own  circuit — the 
Cross  Creek  Circuit — probably  in  December. — (James  B. 
Finley,  Autobiography,  p.  277,  et  seq.)  Jacob  Young 
had  charge  of  the  work  until  the  General  Conference. 
His  last  Quarterly  Conference  on  Erie  Circuit  was  held 
March  2,  1816.  David  Young  held  a Quarterly  Confer- 
ence “at  Robert  Griffin’s  on  the  20th  of  July,  1816.”* 
David  Young  “was  among  the  distinguished  men  who 
were  commissioned  by  God  to  the  great  work  of  planting 
Methodism  in  the  Southwest.  He  early  took  and  nobly 
sustained  a conspicuous  position.  He  came  down  to  us 
from  another  generation,  outlived  most  of  his  fellows, 
and  leaving  behind  him  no  journal  of  his  life,  little  can 
now  be  gathered  of  his  early  history.  According  to 
James  B.  Finley  he  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Va., 


♦See  “Minutes  of  the  Several  Quarterly  Conferences  of  Erie, 
Mercer,  Butler  and  Centerville  Circuits,”  1812-1836.  Manuscript. 


300 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


March  7,  1779;  but  according  to  Bishop  Morris,  in 
Washington  County,  Va.,  March  9,  1779.”  To  Mr. 
Young  was  addressed  the  following  letter:  “To  David 

Young — You  think  it  your  duty  to  call  sinners  to  repent- 
ence.  Make  full  proof  hereof  and  we  shall  rejoice  to  re- 
ceive you  as  a fellow  laborer.  Lewis  Garrett,  September 
7,  1805."  This  was  his  only  admission  into  full  mem- 
bership into  the  Church,  his  license  to  exhort,  his  license 
to  preach  and  his  recommendation  to  the  traveling  con- 
nection. 

“In  person  Mr.  Young  was  tall,  straight  and  well  pro- 
portioned; in  movement,,  easy,  dignified  and  graceful. 
His  head  was  large  and  covered  with  a luxuriant  suit  of 
golden  hair,  which  he  uniformly  wore  flowing  from  his 
shoulders.  His  forehead  was  broad  and  high ; his  eye 
full  and  deep  blue,  which,  when  he  was  excited,  flashed 
and  sparkled  with  the  fire  of  genius.  To  all  of  which 
may  be  added  he  had  a stern  and  manly  countenance. 
His  manners  were  those  of  a finished  Southern  gentle- 
man of  the  old  school.  Mr.  Young  was  a man  of  great 
mental  vigor.  He  had  a mind  large  enough  to  grasp 
what  was  great  and  strong  in  his  themes;  acute  and 
logical  enough  to  trace  and  comprehend  their  most  min- 
ute bearings,  and  classical  enough  to  discover  and  pre- 
sent all  that  was  beautiful  in  them.  Hence,  as  a critic 
and  reviewer  he  had  few  equals.  He  was  a constant 
reader,  possessed  a tenacious  memory,  had  fine  conver- 
sational powers;  hence,  up  to  the  last,  on  all  topics, 
whether  political,  scientific  or  ecclesiastical,  he  conversed 
freely,  and  was  ever  interesting  and  instructive.  Mr. 
Young  was  always  himself  ; he  had  a mental  and  moral 
identity,  and  could  no  more  be  another  in  character, 
opinion  or  action  than  in  form  and  feature.  Hence,  by 
some  he  was  regarded  as  eccentric,  which,  when  put  into 
plain  English  means  Mr.  Young  had  the' courage,  upon 
all  subjects  and  at  all  times,  to  think,  speak  and  act  for 
himself.  He  copied  no  man  in  tone,  gesture  or  action. 
He  followed  in  the  wake  of  no  man’s  opinions  blindly. 
When  he  settled  an  opinion  it  was  intelligently  done,  and 
seldom  needed  to  be  done  over  again.  By  many  Mr. 
Young:  has  been  regarded  as  a stern  and  severe  man. 
Doubtless  among  his  prominent  characteristics  were  de- 
cision and  firmness;  and  few  who  knew  him  best  and 


302  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

loved  him  most,  can  doubt  that  if  he  had  cultivated  more 
fully  and  exercised  more  broadly  his  social  powers,  he 
would  have  been  far  more  useful  as  a minister  of  Christ. 

As  an  orator,  according  to  the  united  testimony  of  those 
who  knew  him  in  his  palmiest  days,  he'  had  few  equals. 
In  style  he  was  clear,  logical  and  chaste — when  roused, 
grand  and  overwhelming.  His  voice  was  musical,  his 
enunciation  distinct,  and,  as  a reader  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures and  communion  service  I have  never  met  in  our 
own  or  a sister  church  his  equal.  He  was  fifty-three 
years  a member  of  an  annual,  and  six  times  a member  of 
the  General  Conference.  His  love  for  the  Church  of 
his  choice  has  never  been  questioned.  In  youth  he  thor- 
oughly studied  and  heartily  embraced  the  peculiar  doc- 
trines and  usages  of  Methodism.  His  attachment  to 
them  grew  with  his  growth,  and  strengthened  with  his 
strength,  and  only  reached  its  maturity  in  his  green  old 
age.  Even  amid  the  severe  and  protracted  sufferings 
which  were  the  portion  of  his  last  years,  his  eye  was  upon 
her  movements,  and  his  ear  ever  open  to  catch  the  notes 
of  her  triumphs.”  He  died  November  15,  1858,  aged 
seventy-nine  years. — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  7, 

1859,  pp-  189-190.) 

“David  Young,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  ministers 
of  the  west,  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Virginia,  in 
1779.  His  parents  were  pious  Presbyterians,  and  trained 
him  carefully  in  the  creed  and  catechism.  In  early  child- 
hood he  was  serious  and  studious,  and  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one he  was  the  head  of  a grammar  school  in  Tennessee. 
In  1803  he  experienced  a change  of  heart,  and  with  it  a 
conviction  that  he  was  called  to  the  ministry.  He  com- 
menced holding  meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation,  and 
his  talents  and  usefulness  were  at  once  recognized.  In 
1805  he  entered  the  Western  Conference,  and  from  that 
time  until  1839,  with  the  exception  of  a rest  of  six  years, 
he  filled  important  appointments  either  as  pastor  or  pre- 
siding elder.  He  .was  a man  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
and  of  great  mental  vigor.  He  bequeathed  to  the  Church 
the  most  of  his  fortune.  He  died  in  great  peace,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1858.” — (Bishop  Matthew  Simpson , Cyclopaedia 
of  Methodism,  p.  971.) 

The  church  at  Fair  Haven,  on  the  Lexington  road,  in 
the  southwest  part  of  Girard  Township,  was  organized 


David  Young. 


303 


■ 


in  the  house  of  Mr.  Webber,  January  7,  1815.  In  i860 
Albina  Hall  reorganized  the  society,  and  the  following 
year  a building  was  erected  at  a cost  of  $3,000.  The 
church  belonged  to  the  Girard  Circuit,  and  later  to  the 
Lockport.  Another  church  was  organized  at  Fairplain, 
on  the  Lake  road,  on  the  farm  of  C.  Ziesenheim,  in  1840. 
The  next  year  a church  building  was  erected  at  a cost  of 
$800.  J.  H.  Whallon  was  the  first  pastor.  This  was  con- 
nected with  the  Girard  Circuit  and  later  to  the  Fairview. 

Jqhn  A.  Waterman  and  Shadrack  Ruark. 

John  A.  Waterman  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  June 
29,  1790;  and  departed  this  life  at  his  residence  in  Ox- 
ford, Ohio,  August  6,  1837.  He  was  converted  at  the 
a^e  of  eighteen,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1814.  He 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1814,  and 
appointed  to  the  Cincinnati  and  Miami  Circuit,  and  the 
following  year  to  the  Mahoning  Circuit.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  formation,  and 
labored  successively  at  Pittsburg,  Wheeling,  Washington, 
and  Steubenville  stations;  and  traveled  several  circuits. 
For  years  he  was  seriously  afflicted  with  a severe  affection 
of  the  liver  which  often  interrupted  ministerial  labor,  pro- 
duced mental  depression  and  irritability,  and  finally  com- 
pelled him  to  take  a superannuated  relation.  He  was 
transferred  to  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1832;  and  in  1837 
he  was  made  effective,  and  appointed  to  Oxford  where 
his  toil  and  suffering  terminated. 

Mr.  Waterman  was  a scholar  of  large  attainments  and 
took  rank  among  the  foremost  of  pulpit  orators.  “From 
the  natural  cast  of  his  mind,  he  was  prone  to  metaphysical 
investigation  and  discussion;  yet  these  never  robbed  his 
sermons  of  that  divine  unction  which  ever  proclaimed  him 
to  be  the  true  minister  of  God.”  Near  the  close  of  his 
life,  his  gloom  and  irritation  entirely  subsided,  and  gave 
place  to  a heavenly  calm  and  unusual  peace  and  cheerful- 
ness of  mind.  He  recognized  this  change  with  gratitude, 

I and  sometimes  thought  that  it  was  prophetic  of  his  ap- 

proaching dissolution.  The  Sabbath  before  his  death  he 
preached  in  Oxford  with  his  usual  energy,  and  on  Thurs- 
day evening  at  an  appointment  near  the  town.  On  Sat- 
urday he  sweetly  feel  asleep  like  a tired  child  in  the  arms 
of  its  mother. 


mmmm 


304  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Jacob  Young  says  of  Mr.  Waterman:  “I  must  say, 

Waterman  was  the  greatest  man  of  his  age,  and,  though 
he  is  dead,  he  vet  speaketh.  His  usefulness  not  only  ap- 
peared on  Barnesville  Circuit,  hut  also  on  the  Western 
Reserve.  Although  you  could  not  trace  his  footsteps  as 
an  itinerant  in  that  country,  yet  you  could  read  the  im- 
pressions made  by  his  sermons  on  the  minds  and  in  the 
conversation  of  the  members  of  his  congregations.  His 
preaching*  was  like  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  which  ap- 
peared not  only  after  many  days,  but  after  many  revolving 
years.  So  it  was  in  every  circuit  and  station,  so  far  as 
I recollect,  during  his  itinerant  life.  He  had  a clear  and 
investigating  mind,  was  a man  of  general  and  extensive 
information,  and  could  communicate  what  he  knew  to  the 
best  advantage.  He  was  truly  a great  man : and,  to  us 
short-sighted  mortals,  it  seems  mysterious  that  the  Church 
was  deprived  of  his  labors  so  soon.  But  God,  who  made 
him  and  sent  him  into  the  world,  with  all  his  talents  and 
usefulness,  had  a right  to  take  him  to  Himself  when  He 
thought  proper,  and  He  g*ives  an  account  of  none  of  His 
matters.” — (Jacob  Young,  Autobiography  of  a Pioneer , 

p.  348-) 

Shadrack  Ruark  was  second  preacher  on  the  Mahoning 
Circuit  in  1815.  He  had  been  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Ohio  Conference  in  1813.  He  was  superannuated  in 
1824,  but  two  years  later  was  made  effective.  In  1830 
he  located,  but  was  readmitted  one  or  two  years  later. 
In  1837  he  was  superannuated,  and  continued  in  this  re- 
lation until  his  death  which  took  place  at  Lawrenceville, 
Illinois,  May  17,  1846.  He  was  a devoted  Christian,  a 
good  preacher,  and  an  efficient  laborer.  Mr.  Gregg  says  : 
‘‘He  spent  but  one  year  in  this  part  of  the  work,  but  it 
was  a vear  remembered  by  many  souls  as  the  time  of  their 
conversion  to  God.  — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  127;  Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  IV .,  1846,  p.  87.) 

James  B.  Finley. 

lames  B.  Finley  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  when 
the  great  revival  of  religion  broke  out  in  Kentucky.  In 
the  month  of  August  he  attended  the  Cane  Ridge  camp 
meeting.  As  he  neared  the  grounds  he  remarked  to  his 
companions:  “Now,  if  I fall  it  must  be  by  physical 

power  and  not  by  singing  and  praying.”  We  will  permit 


J 


James  B.  Finley. 


305 


Mr.  Finley  to  tell  his  own  story  of  his  conversion:  “We 
arrived  upon  the  ground,  and  here  a scene  presented  it- 
self, to  my  mind  not  only  novel  and  unaccountable,  but 
awful  beyond  description.  A vast  crowd,  supposed  by 
some  to  have  amounted  to  twenty-five  thousand,  was  col- 
lected together.  The  noise  was  like  the  roar  of  Niagara. 
The  vast  sea  of  human  beings  seemed  to  be  agitated  as 
if  by  a storm.  I counted  seven  ministers,  all  preaching 
at  one  time,  some  on  stumps,  others  on  wagons,  and  one 
— the  Rev.  \\  illiam  Burke,  now  of  Cincinnati — was 
standing  on  a tree  which  had,  in  falling,  lodged  against 
another.  Some  of  the  people  were  singing,  others  pray- 
ing, some  crying  for  mercy  in  the  most  piteous  accents, 
while  others  were  shouting  most  vociferously.  While 
witnessing  these  scenes,  a peculiarly  strange  sensation, 
such  as  I had  never  felt  before,  came  over  me.  My  heart 
beat  tumultuously,  my  knees  trembled,  my  lips  quivered, 
and  I felt  as  though  I must  fall  to  the  ground.  A strange 
supernatural  power  seemed  to  pervade  the  entire  mass  of 
mind  there  collected.  I became  so  weak  and  powerless 
that  I found  it  necessary  to  sit  down.  Soon  after  I left 
and  went  into  the  woods,. and  there  I strove  to  rally  and 
man  up  my  courage.  I tried  to  philosophize  in  regard  to 
these  wonderful  exhibitions,  resolving  them  into  mere 
sympathetic  excitement — a kind  of  religious  enthusiasm, 
inspired  by  songs  and  eloquent  harangues.  My  pride 
was  wounded,  for  I had  supposed  that  my  mental  and 
physical  strength  and  vigor  could  most  successfully  re- 
sist these  influences. 

“After  some  time  I returned  to  the  scene  of  excite- 
ment. the  waves  of  which,  if  possible,  had  risen  still 
higher.  The  same  awfulness  of  feeling  came  over  me. 
I stepped  up  on  to  a log,  where  I could  have  a better 
view  of  the  surging  sea  of  humanity.  The  scene  that 
then  presented  itself  to  my  mind  was  indescribable.  At 
one  time  I saw  at  least  five  hundred  swept  down  in  a 
moment,  as  if  a battery  of  a thousand  guns  had  been 
opened  upon  them,  and  then  immediately  followed 
shrieks  and  shouts  that  rent  the  very  heavens.  My  hair 
rose  up  on  my  head,  my  whole  frame  trembled,  the  blood 
ran  cold  in  my  veins,  and  I fled  to  the  woods  a second 
time,  and  wished  I had  staid  at  home.  While  I re- 
mained here  my  feelings  became  intense  and  insupport- 
able. A sense  of  suffocation  and  blindness  seemed  to 

20 


I 


306  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


come  over  me,  and  I thought  I was  going  to  die.  There 
being  a tavern  about  half  a mile  off,  I concluded  to  go 
and  get  some  brandy,  and  see  if  it  would  not  strengthen 
my  nerves.  When  I arrived  there  I was  disgusted  with 
the  sight  that  met  my  eyes.  Here  I saw  about  one  hun- 
dred men  engaged  in  drunken  revelry,  playing  cards, 
trading  horses,  quarreling  and  fighting.  After  some 
time  I got  to  the  bar  and  took  a dram  and  left,  feeling 
that  I was  as  near  hell  as  I wished  to  be,  either  in  this  or 
the  world  to  come.  The  brandy  had  no  effect  in  allay- 
ing my  feelings,  but,  if  anything,  made  me  worse.  Night 
at  length  came  on,  and  I was  afraid  to  see  any  of  my 
companions.  I cautiously  avoided  them,  fearing  lest  they 
should  discover  something  the  matter  with  me.  In  this 
state  of  mind  I wandered  from  place  to  place,  in  and 
around  the  encampment.  At  times  it  seemed  as  if  all 
the  sins  I had  ever  committed  in  my  life  were  vividly 
brought  up  in  array  before  my  terrified  imagination,  and 
under  their  awful  pressure  I felt  that  I must  die  if  I did 
not  get  relief.  At  night  I went  to  a barn  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  creeping  under  the  hay,  spent  a most  dismal 
night.  Finding  one  of  the  friends  who  came  over  with 
me,  I said,  ‘Captain,  let  us  be  off ; I will  stay  no  longer.’ 
He  assented,  and  getting  our  horses  we  started  for  home. 
We  said  but  little  on  the  way,  though  many  a deep,  long- 
drawn  sigh  told  the  emotions  of  my  heart.  When  we 
arrived  at  the  Blue  Lick  Knobs  I broke  the  silence  which 
reigned  mutually  between  us.  Like  long  pent  up  waters 
seeking  for  an  avenue  in  the  rock,  the  fountains  of  mv 

soul  were  broken  up  and  I exclaimed : 'Captain,  if  you 

and  I don't  stop  our  wickedness  the  devil  will  get  us 
both/  Then  came  from  my  streaming  eyes  the  bitter 
tears,  and  I could  scarcely  refrain  from  screaming  aloud. 
This  startled  and  alarmed  my  companion,  and  he  com- 
menced weeping,  too.  Night  approaching,  we  put  up 
near  Mayslick,  the  whole  of  which  was  spent  by  me  in 
weeping  and  promising  God  if  he  would  spare  me  till 
morning  I would  pray  and  try  to  mend  my  life  and 
abandon  my  wicked  courses. 

“As  soon  as  day  broke  I went  to  the  woods  to  pray, 
and  no  sooner  had  my  knees  touched  the  ground  than  I 

cried  aloud  for  mercy  and  salvation,  and  fell  prostrate. 

My  cries  were  so  loud  that  they  attracted  the  attention 


James  B.  Finley. 


3°7 


of  the  neighbors,  many  of  whom  gathered  around  me. 
Among  the  number  was  a German  from  Switzerland, 
who  had  experienced  religion.  He,  understanding  fully 
my  condition,  had  me  carried  to  his  house  and  laid  on  a 
bed.  The  old  Dutch  saint  directed  me  to  look  right  away 
to  the  Savior.  He  then  kneeled  at  the  bedside  and  prayed 
for  my  salvation  most  fervently  in  Dutch  and  broken 
English.  He  then  rose  and  sung  in  the  same  manner,  and 
continued  singing  and  praying  alternately  till  nine  o'clock, 
when  suddenly  my  load  was  gone,  my  guilt  removed,  and 
presently  the  direct  witness  from  heaven  shone  full  upon 
my  soul.  Then  there  followed  such  copious  streams  of 
love  into  the  hitherto  waste  and  desolate  places  of  my 
soul  that  I thought  I should  die  with  excess  of  joy.  I 
cried,  I laughed,  I shouted,  and  so  strangely  did  I appear 
to  all  but  my  Dutch  brother,  that  they  thought  me  de- 
ranged. After  a time  I returned  to  my  companion,  and 
we  started  on  our  journey.  O what  a day  it  was  to  my 
soul ! The  sun  of  righteousness  had  risen  upon  me,  and 
all  nature  seemed  to  rejoice  in  the  brightness  of  its  rising. 
The  trees  that  waved  their  lofty  heads  in  the  forest  seemed 
to  bow  them  in  adoration  and  praise.  The  living  stream 
of  salvation  flowed  into  my  soul.  Then  did  I realize  the 
truth  of  that  hymn  I have  so  frequently  sung — 

“ ‘I  feel  that  heaven  is  now  begun ; 

It  issues  from  the  sparkling  throne — 

From  Jesus*  throne  on  high; 

It  comes  in  floods  I can  t contain; 

I drink,  and  drink,  and  drink  again. 

And  yet  am  ever  dry.’ 

“I  told  the  captain  how  happy  I was,  and  was  often 
interrupted  in  a recital  of  my  experience  by  involuntary 
shouts  of  praise.  I felt  a love  for  all  mankind,  and  re- 
proached myself  for  having  been  such  a fool  as  to  live  so 
long  in  sin  and  misery  when  there  was  so  much  mercy 
for  me." — (Autobiography  of  Rev.  James  B.  Finley;  or , 
Pioneer  Life  in  the  West.  Edited  by  W . P.  Strickland, 
D.D.;  pp.  166-ijo.) 

The  want  of  religious  associations,  resisting  a call  to 
the  ministry,  entering  again  upon  a life  of  pleasure — he 
lost  the  peace  of  God  in  his  heart,  and  became  more  than 
ever  hardened  in  sin.  He  was  persuaded  by  his  wife  to 

attend  a Methodist  prayer  and  class  meeting.  He  had 

become  so  wicked  that  he  was  known  as  “the  Newmarket 


3°8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Devil,”  and  naturally  excited  much  suspicion  at  the  meet- 
ing. Mr.  Finley  says : “After  the  meeting  was  over  we 
returned  home,  and,  as  soon  as  I could  put  up  the  horses, 
I went  out  to  the  woods  to  pray.  Thus  I continued  re- 
tiring, as  usual,  to  the  woods,  and  spending  my  time  in 
reading  the  Scriptures  and  Russell’s  Sermons,  and  prayer, 
till  Thursday,  which  I set  apart  as  a day  for  solemn 
fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer.  The  most  of  the  day 
was  spent  in  the  hollow  log  reading  the  Bible  and  praying. 
In  the  evening  I came  home,  and,  after  attending  to  some 
duties,  went  out  again  to  the  woods,  after  dark,  deter- 
mined, if  I perished,  to  perish  at  the  feet  of  mercy.  I 
selected  as  a place  for  my  supplication  a large  poplar  tree, 
and  getting  on  the  opposite  side  from  the  wind  I scraped 
away  the  snow,  that  I might  kneel  there.  Here  I prayed 
and  wrestled  till  about  midnight,  when  I felt  comforted. 
My  load  of  sin  was  gone,  and  the  sensations  of  cold  which 
I had  experienced  were  also  gone.  The  weather  seemed 
pleasant  and  balmy  as  spring.  I arose  and  went  home 
filled  with  gratitude  to  God,  for  his  forgiving  mercy  and 
redeeming  love.  I had  not  received  the  direct  witness  of 
the  Spirit  that  I was  a child  of  God,  but  yet  I knew  my 
sins  were  pardoned.  I found  my  wife  waiting  for  me. 
and  we  retired  to  rest.  Just  at  the  break  of  day  I awoke, 
and  I shall  never  be  able  to  tell  the  gratitude  I felt  to 
God  that  I was  permitted  to  awake  out  of  hell ; and  I 
thought  I would  express  my  feelings  to  my  wife  when,  to 
my  astonishment,  I found  her  convulsed  in  sorrow  and 
bathed  in  tears.  I immediately  arose  for  the  purpose  of 
going  to  my  barn  to  pray.  Just  as  I passed  the  corner 
of  the  house  on  my  way,  suddenly  God  poured  upon  me 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  such  a manner  and  in  such  a measure 
that  I fell  my  whole  length  in  the  snow  and  shouted  and 
praised  God  so  loud  that  I was  heard  over  the  neighbor- 
hood.. As  soon  as  I was  able  to  rise  I returned  to  the 

house,  and  my  wife  having  risen,  I caught  her  in  my 
arms  and  ran  around  the  house,  shouting,  ‘Salvation! 
Salvation ! God  has  again  blessed  me  with  his  pardon- 
ing love.’” — ( Autobiography  of  Rev.  James  B.  Finley, 
pp.  179-180.)  Immediately  he  conferred  not  with  flesh 
and  blood,  but  gathered  his  neighbors  together  and 
preached  to  them  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 


Mr.  Finley’s  Itinerary  on  Ohio  District.  309 

Thenceforth  he  became  a flaming  herald  of  the  cross,  and 
marvelous  success  attended  all  his  future  ministry. 

• Mr.  Finley’s  Itinerary  on  Ohio  District. 

He  was  appointed  to  Scioto  Circuit  of  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1809,  and  licensed  to  preach  a few  months 
later  by  John  Sale,  the  presiding  elder.  His  work  in 
1816  brought  him  within  the  bounds  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  was  appointed  to  the  Cross  Creek  Circuit  in 
1815,  and  at  the  Conference  held  in  Lebanon  was  returned 
to  the  same  circuit,  with  Joseph  Powell  for  his  colleague. 
David  Young  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Ohio 
District,  but  having  business  to  claim  his  attention  in  East 
Tennessee,  Mr.  Finley  “was  drafted  to  make  the  first 
round  of  appointments.”  We  now  take  up  his  own  nar- 
rative : “At  the  first  quarterly  meeting,  during  the  holy 

communion,  the  Spirit  was  poured  out  in  rich  effusion. 
Here  I met  with  Brothers  Waterman  and  Ruark,  and  on 
Monday,  the  13th,  rode  in  company  with  the  former  tc 
Hubbert,  and  stopped  at  Brother  Parrish’s,  where  I spent 
the  evening  in  reading  and  prayer. 

“Tuesday,  14th. — I rode  through  Hartford  to  Brother 
J.  Leech’s,  on  Shenango.  This  was  a lonesome  road,  and 
I was  much  tempted  and  tried  in  mind.  I prayed  all  the 
day  to  be  delivered,  and  did  find  some  relief. 

“Wednesday,  15th. — I rode  through  Meadville,  on 
French  creek,  to  Gravel  Run.  Here  I put  up  at  Brother 
Ford’s.  Living  in  this  county  is  very  hard,  there  being 
but  little  for  man  or  beast.  This  dav  I am  not  so  tempted. 
I slept  well  and  arose  early  to  offer  myself  to  God  with- 
out reserve. 

“Thursday,  16th. — I rode  to  Brother  King's  on  the 
flats  of  French  creek,  three  miles  from  Waterford.  Here 
I was  comforted  and  felt  a blessed  hope  of  heaven. 

“Friday,  17th. — I rode  through  Waterford  to  R.  K's — 
himself  and  wife  were  formerly  Methodists.  I exhorted 
them  to  seek  the  Lord  and  set  forward  again  to  run  the 
race  set  before  them.  I prayed  with  them,  and  went  on 
to  Erie.  This  town  occupies  a handsome  site  and  has  a 
good  harbor  for  vessels.  Here  I met  with  Brother  L. 
Lane,  the  preacher  on  this  circuit,  and  tried  to  preach  at 
night  to  a number  of  hardened  sinners. 


I 


3 io  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

“Saturday,  18th. — So  forward  for  North  East,  and 
stopped  at  Brother  Russell’s.  This  family  loves  the  Lord. 

“Sunday,  19th. — I tried  to  preach  to  a large  congrega- 
tion from  Acts  iii.  19.  The  Lord  helped  me,  and  we  had  a 
gracious  season.  I trust  the  fruits  of  this  meeting  will  be 
seen  in  the  gates  of  heaven,  when  all  time  has  an  end. 

“Monday,  20th. — Rode  through  Canadawav,  now  Fre- 
donia,  to  Brother  Baldwin’s.  In  family  prayer  the  Lord 
visited  us  in  mercy,  and  our  prospects  of  a better  world 
were  greatly  increased. 

“Tuesday,  21st. — Rode  sixteen  miles  further  down  the 
lake  to  Brother  Webb’s.  This  is  a new  country ; every- 
thing scarce  and  dear,  and  hardly  to  be  had  at  all.  Corn, 
$2  per  bushel;  wheat,  $3  per  bushel;  flour,  $16  per  bar- 
rel, and  pickled  pork,  25  cents  per  pound.  These  new 
settlers  must  learn  to  live  by  faith,  and  many  of  them 
have,  and  are  a people  zealous  of  good  works.  Here, 
according  to  the  best  calculation,  I am  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  home,  and  yet  here  is  the  same  throne 
of  grace,  the  same  Savior  and  Christians  of  the  same 
spirit  and  heavenly  calling. 

“\\  ednesday,  22d. — This  day  I preached  to  an  at- 
tentive, weeping  congregation,  after  which  I baptized  six 
by  immersion,  and  it  was  a solemn  time,  and  afterward 
visited  a sick  brother.  He  was  happy  in  God,  his  Savior, 
and  was  resigned  to  His  will,  waiting  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ,  which  is  far  better.  This  evening  I rode 
five  miles  to  a neighborhood  on  Silver  creek,  where  the 
Lord  is  graciously  reviving  His  work,  and  many  of  these 
new  settlers  have  been  converted  to  God.  It  has  been 
the  observation  of  my  life,  that  new  countries  and  new 
settlements  are  the  most  favorable  to  revivals  of  religion. 
Many  who  have  lived  under  the  preaching  of  the  gospel 
in  old  settlements,  and  might  have  lived  and  died  there 
without  religion,  when  thrown  into  a new  country,  from 
their  old  associates  and  other  hindrances,  turn  to  God 
and  live. 

“Thursday,  23d. — This  morning  I felt  must  revived 
and  encouraged.  My  communion  with  God  was  sweet; 
yes,  sweeter  than  honey  and  the  honeycomb.  I spent 
part  of  the  forenoon  in  visiting  the  converts  and  in  pray- 
ing with  them.  At  twelve  o’clock  I tried  to  preach  to  a 
large,  attentive,  and  weeping  congregation,  and  I trust, 


Mr.  Finley  s Itinerary  on  Ohio  District.  31 1 


not  in  vain,  and  baptized  six  by  immersion,  and  several 
joined  the  church.  It  is  in  accordance  with  the  religious 
education  of  these  people  that  no  one  must  kneel  in 
prayer,  at  least  till  he  has  determined  to  be  religious; 
then  he  must  get  religious,  and  then  be  baptized,  and 
that  by  immersion,  and  then  join  the  church,  and  then 
take  up  his  or  her  cross  in  prayer  and  conversational 
class  or  love  feast  meetings.  In  the  afternoon  we  rode 
twelve  miles  to  Brother  Baldwin’s  and  had  a good  night  s 
rest. 

“Friday,  24th. — Started  for  Chautauqua  Lake  in  com- 
pany with  Brother  Lane,  and  after  traveling  several  miles 
through  a swampy  country,  we  arrived  at  Brother  South- 
worth’s,  where  quarterly  meeting  is  to  commence  to-mor- 
row. 

“Saturday,  25th. — This  day  it  began  to  rain,  and 
looked  as  though  a storm  was  on  hand.  I sought,  before 
the  mercy  seat,  for  a suitable  preparation  of  heart  for 
the  duties  which  lay  before  me,  and  I felt  the  Lord 
precious  to  my  soul.  At  twelve  o’clock  I tried  to  preach 
from  Matt.  viii.  11-12,  and  it  was  a very  open  time  with 
me ; the  Lord  helped  me.  There  was  a great  move  in  the 
congregation ; saints  rejoiced,  and  sinners  cried  aloud 
for  mercy.  After  preaching  we  held  our  quarterly  meet- 
ing conference.  There  were  two  appeals,  and  we  got 
them  adjusted  satisfactorily.  At  five  Brother  Smith 
preached,  and  I exhorted  after ‘him,  and  then  we  held  a 
prayer  meeting;  and  the  shouts  of  the  new-born  souls 
were  heard  before  it  closed. 

“Sunday,  26th. — At  nine  o'clock  our  sacrament  com- 
menced, and  we  had  a good  time.  But  Satan  was  en- 
raged at  our  love  feast  ; one  of  the  old  men’s  sons,  who 
was  kept  out,  became  enraged  and  tried  to  break  open 
the  door,  and  then  went  to  a window  and  broke  it,  and 
hurt  an  old  man  much.  God’s  judgments  will  overtake 
him  before  long.  I was  told  he  will  curse  his  mother  and 
father  to  their  faces.  Notwithstanding  this  interruption 
the  meeting  was  one  of  interest  and  power.  At  twelve  I 
commenced  preaching  from  the  first  Psalm,  and  three 
first  verses  I read  for  my  text.  During  the  time  of  my 
preaching,  in  which  I laid  it  down  as  heavy  as  I could 
on  the  sinner,  some  one  called  me  a liar.  Satan  was  en- 
raged to  the  very  highest  pitch;  his  kingdom  was  shak- 


Mr.  Finley's  Itinerary  on  Ohio  District. 


3i3 


ing,  and  I felt  that  God,  and  heaven,  and  angels  were 
with  us  and  on  our  side,  and  the  devil’s  kingdom 
trembled.  Such  was  the  constancy  of  the  rain,  that  few 
could  leave,  and  we  had  a house  full.  All  night  was 
spent  in  exhortations,  singing  and  prayer.  It  was  a night 
never  to  be  forgotten. 

“Monday,  27th. — I rode  to  North  East  and  preached 
to  a dull,  hardened  set  of  sinners  from  Prov.  xx,  4. 

“Tuesday,  28th. — Rode  to  Brother  Stone’s  and  put  up 
to  rest  till  to-morrow.  Sister  Stone  is  an  old  lady,  and 
a well-tried  Christian.  She  embraced  religion  in  early 
life  and  became  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  when  it  was  a reproach  and  by-word;  but  she 
knew  in  whom  she  had  believed,  and  walked  with  God  in 
newness  of  life.  She  is  now  a mother  in  our  Israel,  and 
we  Methodist  preachers  find  in  her  a mother,  and  her 
house  a welcome  home.  For  years  after  this  I made  her 
house  my  home  when  I could  reach  it.  She  sent  for 
’Squire  Reese  and  his  wife  to  spend  the  afternoon,  and 
we  had  a comfortable  time.  We  mingled  our  prayers 
together,  resolved  to  live  for  God  and  strive  for  heaven. 

“Wednesday,  29th. — This  day  I feel  at  peace  with 
God,  and  all  men.  At  two  o’clock  I tried  to  preach  to 
the  people  from  Heb.  ii.  3,  and  some  were  awakened  to 
see  their  condition,  and  to  pray.  May  the  work  of  life 
penetrate  the  inmost  hearts,  and  bring,  forth  fruits  unto 
holiness,  that  the  end  may  be  eternal  life. 

“Thursday,  30th. — This  morning  my  soul  is  stayed  on 
God.  I rode  to  Erie,  where  I saw  the  vessels  which 
Commodore  Perry  took  from  the  enemy  when  he  con- 
quered the  British  navy  on  Lake  Erie.  They  were  lit- 
erally torn  to  pieces.  The  Niagara  is  the  largest,  and 
seems  to  have  received  the  hottest  fire.  They  all  lay  out 
in  the  basin,  sunk,  a mile  from  the  town.  From  Erie  I 
rode  to  Brother  Randall’s,  on  Conneaut,  where  our  next 
quarterly  meeting  is  to  be  held — thirty-two  miles  up  the 
lake. 

“Friday,  31st. — At  twelve  o’clock  our  meeting  com- 
menced. I tried  to  expound  John  xii.  21-22.  Brother 
Ira  Eddy  exhorted.  In  the  quarterly  conference  we  had  a 
good  time,  stirring  each  other  up  to  faith  and  good  works. 
In  the  evening  Brother  Stancliff  preached,  and  Brother 
Westlake  exhorted.  This  was  a time  of  great  power. 


314  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

On  the  Sabbath  I tried  to  hold  forth  from  John  vi.  50. 
At  the  close  some  fell,  others  shouted,  and  some  were  in  a 
rage.  At  night  the  Lord’s  people  were  filled  with  His 
heavenly  presence  in  an  astonishing  manner ; and  while 
some  were  shouting  and  praising  God  in  the  house,  others 
were  in  the  yard  giving  glory  to  God  in  the  highest. 

“Monday  I rode  forty  miles  to  Brother  Skene’s,  and 
next  day  to  Brother  J.  Leech’s,  and  preached  in  old  Sa- 
lem meeting  house ; thence  to  Beavertown,  where  we  had 
a good  quarterly  meeting;  thence  home  to  Steubenville, 
where  I found  my  family  all  well,  and  glad  that  my  ser- 
vice as  Presiding  Elder  was  at  an  end.” — ( Autobiography 
of  Rev.  James  B.  Finley , />/>.  277-282.) 

Mr.  Finley  now  went  to  his  own  circuit  and  labored 
with  zeal  and  success  until  the  session  of  Conference  held 
at  Louisville,  Ivy.,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  Ohio 
District.  He  had  endeavored  to  convince  Bishop  Mc- 
Kendree  that  he  was  not  qualified  for  the  work,  but  the 
good  bishop  replied:  “Well,  you  must  go  and  learn. 

You  are  not  too  young  to  learn.’’  He  responded  to  the 
call  of  the  church,  but  “felt  exceedingly  depressed  and 
groaned  under  the  load.”  His  district  embraced  eight 
circuits,  extending  from  the  mouth  of  the  Captina  on  the 
Ohio  river  to  the  lake  at  the  mouth  of  Huron,  including 
the  State  of  Ohio,  all  the  Western  Reserve,  all  Western 
Pennsylvania  from  the  Ohio  and  Alleghenies,  and  West- 
ern New  York  as  far  down  as  Silver  Creek,  below  Fre- 
clonia.  There  were  ten  traveling  preachers  and  four 
thousand  and  fifty  members.  Quarterly  meetings  were 
held  at  Leesburg,  Falls  of  Big  Beaver,  Hartford,  Oil 
Creek,  Brokenstraw,  Jackman’s  meeting  house,  Long's 
meeting  house  and  Andrew  Scott’s.  A custom  had  pre- 
vailed at  the  meetings  which  was  strange  to  Mr.  Finley. 
No  one  was  called  on  to  take  part  in  the  services.  They 
were  conducted  on  the  voluntary  principle.  The  practice 
was  carried  into  the  public  meetings,  and  the  preacher 
was  liable  to  be  interrupted  by  any  one  who  felt  in- 
spired to  speak.  “While  I was  preaching  one  Sabbath,” 
says  Mr.  Finley,  “a  sister  rose  and  commenced  deliver- 
ing her  mind  at  the  top  of  her  voice.  This  sudden  and 
unexpected  outburst  startled  me,  and  I did  not  know 
what  to  make  of  it.  I told  her,  however,  to  hold  up,  and 
if,  after  I was  done  my  sermon  she  wished  to  exhort,  she  * 


Mr.  Finley's  Itinerary  on  Ohio  District.  315 

should  have  the  opportunity,  as  I thought  one  at  a time 
was  quite  enough.  She  took  her  seat,  and  many  were 
much  tried  because  1 stopped  her.  After  this  I was  not 
again  interrupted  by  a female  prophet.  I thought  the 
practice  a wrong  one,  and  contrary  to  that  decency  and 
order  which  should  characterize  the  worship  of  God,  and 
quoted  the  language  of  St.  Paul  in  regard  to  women 
teaching  in  the  church,  and  expressed  a hope  that  .the 
Spirit  would  not  move  any  more  to  speak  on  such  occa- 
sions.”— (Autobiography  of  James  B.  Finley , pp.  286- 
28 f.)  In  almost  all  the  towns  Calvinism  and  Universal- 
ism  were  strongly  intrenched,  and  with  these  people  he 
had  many  controversies,  in  the  course  of  which  he  had 
occasion  many  times  to  read  before  his  congregation 
from  the  old  Saybrook  platform.  Though  not  educated 
in  the  theology  of  the  schools,  he  was  so  deeply  read  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures  that,  in  religious  controversies,  he 
was  more  than  a match  for  his  opponents,  and  Method- 
ism prospered  under  his  able  leadership.  During  the 
year  there  was  a most  glorious  revival  at  North  East. 
The  snow  was  very  deep  and  continued  for  a long  time. 
People  came  by  sleighloads  great  distances  to  attend  the 

meetings  and  many  were  converted.  At  this  place  he 
visited  the  grave  of  Thomas  Branch,  who  entered  the 
traveling  connection  in  1800  and  died  at  North  East  in 
1812.  He  says:  “My  feelings  were  of  a peculiarly 

solemn  cast  as  I stood  by  that  lone  grave  of  a strange 
minister  in  a strange  land.” 

A quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Long’s,  which  was 
long  remembered  as  “the  great  quarterly  meeting.”  John 
P.  Finley,  his  brother,  was  present  at  this  meeting.  He 
preached  on  Sunday  from  the  one  word,  “Mercy,”  and 
was  followed  by  James  B.  from  the  word  “Justice.”  “As 
I progressed,”  says  Mr.  Finley,  “the  convincing  power 
of  God  fell  on  the  people,  and  before  I was  done  more 
than  twenty  stout-hearted  sinners  threw  themselves  upon 
the  altar  and  cried  for  mercy.  Among  the  number  was 
a rough,  stalwart  old  sea  captain.  It  seemed  as  though 
all  the  dark  spirits  of  the  deep  had  seized  him.  I never 
saw  a man  in  so  much  distress  and  agony  of  mind  in  all 
my  life  before.  The  conflict,  however,  though  terrible 
and  awful,  was  not  of  long  duration.  In  a short  time 
mercy  came  and  touched  his  heart,  and  opened  his  eyes, 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


nr 


3j6 

and  unloosed  his  tongue,  and  he  spoke  the  language  of 
heaven.  Before  the  meeting  ended  more  than  fifty  were 
converted. 

Camp  Meetings. 

Our  quarterly  camp-meeting  commenced  at  Canadaway, 
or  what  is  now  called  Fredonia,  July  24,  and  lasted  four 
days.  Brothers  Tames  M' Mahon  and  Smith  accompanied 
me  to  labor  in  word  and  doctrine.  At  this  meeting  we 
expected  from  the  wicked  much  opposition,  as  they  col- 
lected together  a band  the  previous  year,  and  drove  the 
people  away.  The  brethren  this  .year  fenced  in  the 
ground  with  hemlock  brush,  leaving  two  gateways,  one 
of  ingress  and  egress  and  the  other  leading  to  the  spring. 
One  of  the  rules  for  the  government  of  the  encampment 
was,  that  at  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  at  nine  o’clock  at 
night,  all  were  to  retire  to  their  tents,  and  those  who  had 
no  place  to  lodge  were  required  to  leave  the  ground.  At 
dark  the  rabble  gathered,  and  one  of  their  number  was 
designated  as  their  captain  by  a piece  of  white  paper  at- 
tached to  his  hat,  and  a white  club  in  his  hand.  The  com- 
pany made  but  little  disturbance  till  preaching  was  over. 
Seeing  that  there  were  indications  of  hostility  on  their 
part.  I blew  the  trumpet,  and  requested  all  to  go  to  their 
tents,  while  those  who  had  none  were  to  leave  the  ground. 

The  captain  of  these  banditti  refused  to  go,  and  sum- 
moned his  men  to  go  to  his  aid.  I ordered  the  constable 
to  take  the  captain  a prisoner:  but  he  swore  he  would 
knock  down  the  first  man  that  touched  him.  He  had 
hardly  finished  the  declaration  till  I seized  him  and  threw 
him  on  the  ground,  and,  disarming  him,  gave  him  over 
into  the  custody  of  the  officer.  His  company,  seeing  the 
fate  of  their  captain,  fled  in  dismay  from  the  grounds. 
In  a conversation  I had  with  the  prisioner  I learned  what 
his  plans  were,  and  how  sadly  he  was  disappointed  in  not 
being  able  to  carry  them  out.  He  pleaded  so  hard  for 
mercy,  and  promised  so  faithfully  never  to  engage  in  such 
a wicked  work  again,  that  I let  him  go.  We  kept  up  a 
watch  all  night  fearing  they  might  return,  but  they  did 
not  disturb  us.  Some  were  in  favor  of  an  attack,  but  one 

of  the  company  reported  that,  as  I was  a Kentuckian,  I 
carried  a long  dirk  in  my  waistcoat,  and  that  I would  as 
soon  stab  a man  as  not.” — (Autobiography  of  Rev.  James 
B.  Finley , pp.  287-291.) 


f 


Camp  Meetings. 


3i7 


At  the  hour  for  preaching  Mr.  Finley  pleaded  for  or- 
der in  the  congregation  and  requested  “any  in  whom 
flowed  the  blood  of  ’76”  to  assist  in  defending  them 
against  the  rabble.  Judge  Cushing,  who  was  present, 
arose,  and  addressing  the  people,  said:  “I  have  fought 

for  this  liberty,  and  I will  maintain  it  with  my  life ; and 
I give  due  notice,  as  a servant  of  my  country,  that  I will 
enforce  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  to  the  utmost 
against  any  one  who  shall  disturb  this  people  in  their 
worship.”  There  was  no  more  trouble  in  the  maintenance 
of  order. 

The  next  camp  meeting  was  held  at  Gravel  Run,  near 
what  is  now  Rockville,  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania. 
An  English  officer  who  was  present  thus  describes  the 
meeting:  “The  great  battle  was  fought  on  Sabbath 

night.  It  was  a close  and  hot  engagement,  lasting  all 
night.  The  army  of  Diabolus  was  attacked  in  front, 
flank,  and  rear,  and  literally  cut  to  pieces,  so  that,  in  mili- 
tary parlance,  there  was  a total  defeat,  a perfect  rout  of 
horse,  foot  and  dragoons.”'  During  the  year,  the  people 
erected  here  a little  log  church. 

Another  camp  meeting  was  held  a week  later,  commenc- 
ing on  the  eighth  of  August,  on  Beaver  Circuit,  at  Zuver’s 
camp-ground.  At  this  meeting  a young  militia  captain, 
with  eleven  young  men,  offered  their  services  to  keep  or- 
der, and  were  nearly  all  converted  before  the  meeting 
closed.  The  veteran  pioneer  preacher.  Dr.  Shadrack 
Bostwick,  who  had  for  fourteen  years  labored  in  the 
itinerant  field,  rendered  excellent  service.  The  greatest 
camp  meeting  of  the  year  commenced  at  Steubenville  on 
the  twentieth  of  August.  The  crowds  that  thronged  the 
camp-ground  were  immense,  and  the  meeting  was  of  great 
interest.  The  last  camp  meeting  was  held  at  West 
Wheeling,  and  vast  numbers  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted. 

At  the  conference  held  at  Zanesville,  September  3, 
1817,  Mr.  Finley  was  re-appointed  to  the  Ohio  District, 
with  the  following  preachers:  Beaver  Circuit,  Jacob 

Hooper  and  Samuel  Baker;  Erie  Circuit,  Ira  Eddy; 
Grandview  and  Mahoning,  D.  D.  Davidson  and  Ezra 
Booth ; Chautauqua,  Curtis  Goddard ; Steubenville,  Sam- 
uel Hamilton,  William  Knox  and  Calvin  Ruter;  Tusca- 
rawas, James  McMahon;  Huron,  John  C.  Brooke.  Mr. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


318 


Finley  says  of  these  brethren : “In  the  true  spirit  of  Gos- 

pel ministers,  these  brethren  went  to  their  respective 
fields  of  labor.  Great  were  the  toils  and  hardships  they 
were  called  to  endure.  The  winter  was  extremely  severe, 
the  cold  being  almost  beyond  endurance;  yet  the  Lord 
crowned  the  labors  and  sufferings  of  his  ministers  with 
success.  The  country  was  sparsely  settled:  the  rides 
were  long  and  roads  rough : the  fare  hard  and  provisions 
scarce:  but  in  the  midst  of  all  God  was  with  them.” 
There  was  great  religious  prosperity  on  the  district.  On 
the  Mahoning  Circuit  two  hundred  were  added  to  the 
Church.  At  Deerfield,  in  three  months,  the  society  in- 
creased from  sixteen  to  more  than  one  hundred.  A two 
days’  meeting  was  held  in  Dr.  J.  Manary  s barn,  and  the 
work  was  powerful  and  overwhelming.  At  a quarterly 
meeting,  held  the  following  May,  there  were  at  least  five 
hundred  persons  in  this  barn  at  love-feast,  and  at  least 
fifty  souls  were  happily  converted  during  the  meeting. 

We  will  let  Mr.  Finley  conclude  the  history  of  his  la- 
bors on  the  Ohio  District:  “On  the  fourth  of  June  a 

camp  meeting  commenced  at  Lexington,  on  Erie  Circuit. 
All  came  together  in  the  spirit,  and  the  work  commenced 
at  the  first  meeting.  The  Divine  influence  kindled  and 
spread  in  every  heart.  One  Sabbath  many  were  awak- 
ened to  a sense"  of  their  lost  condition,  and  were  prompted 
to  cry  for  mercy.  The  evening  was  set  apart  for  a prayei 
meeting,  and  many  came  forward  to  the  mourner’s  bench, 
and  were  converted  to  God  by'  scores.  Among  the  num- 
ber was  a native  of  France.  This  poor  old  soldier  of  Na- 
poleon Bonaparte  had  wandered  out  into  the  western 
wilderness,  houseless  and  homeless,  without  a knowledge 
of  God.  He  had  stood  in  the  thickest  of  the  battle,  breast- 
ed the  hottest  fire,  and  heard  the  deafening  roar  of  the 
artillery  without  trembling;  but  when  he  came  to  hear  the 
thunders  of  Sinai,  his  lips  quivered,  his  knees  trembled, 
and  he  fell  in  the  battle  of  the  Lord.  After  sueing  for 
mercy,  and  crying  for  quarters  all  night,  it  pleased  God, 
at  the  rising  of  the  sun*  to  pour  upon  him  pardoning 
mercy.  No  sooner  had  heaven  come  down  into  the  heart 
of  the  old,  worn,  and  weary  veteran,  than  he  arose,  and 
his  whole  face  beam'ed  with  joy.  His  shouts  of  praise, 
ascribing  glory  to  King  Jesus,  were  truly  remarkable.  In 
broken  English'  he  tried  to  tell  the  bystanders  what  God 


I 


1 


Camp  Meetings. 


3i9 


had  done  for  his  soul.  He  told  them  he  had  eaten  bread 
in  three  kingdoms,  and  that  morning  he  was  eating  bread 
in  the  fourth,  even  the  bread  which  comes  down  from 
heaven.  'I  fight,’  said  he,  ‘under  de  Emperor  Napoleon, 
but  now  me  fight  under  de  Emperor  Jesus.  Vive  le 
Emperor  Jesus!'  The  conversion  of  this  Frenchman  was 
so  clear  and  powerful,  that  infidelity  itself  was  abashed 
and  confounded.  Great  good  was  accomplished  at  this 
meeting. 

“On  the  tenth  of  June  our  camp  meeting  for  Lake  Cir- 
cuit, fourteen  miles  below  Erie,  commenced.  A camp 
meeting  had  never  been  held  in  these  parts  before  and 
many  were  induced,  out  of  mere  curiosity,  to  attend  the 
meeting.  The  meeting  commenced  under  favorable  aus- 
pices, and  many  were  awakened  and  converted ; Sabbath, 
however,  was  the  great  day  of  the  feast.  When  the 
preacher  addressed  the  vast  congregation,  from  Rev.  XX, 
12 — ‘For  the  dead,  small  and  great,  shall  stand  before 
God,  and  the  books  shall  be  opened,  and  another  book, 
which  is  the  book  of  life,  and  the  dead  shall  be  judged  ac- 
cording to  their  works’ — there  was  not  one  unattentive 
soul  on  the  ground.  The  whole  congregation  was  melted 
into  tears,  and  deep  groans,  and  cries  for  mercy  were 
heard,  bursting  forth  from  hearts  convinced  of  sin  and 
judgment.  Occasionally  shouts  of  victory  and  triumph 
were  heard  from  the  pious,  who  waited  the  happy  change. 
The  evening  was  devoted  to  praying  and  laboring  with 
mourners.  After  the  ring  was  formed,  and  we  com- 
menced our  address  to  the  throne  of  grace,  the  Holy  Spirit 
fell  on  us,  and  multitudes  within  and  without  the  ring  fell 
under  the  shocks  of  Divine  power.  Many  mariners  from 
the  port  of  Erie  were  there,  and  some  of  them  became  the 
subjects  of  awakening  grace.  I heard  one  say  to  the 
sheriff,  ‘Mr.  B.  is  down,  crying  for  mercy.’  To  this  he 
replied,  ‘If  the  Methodists  can  make  him  a better  man, 
it  is  more  than  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  can 
do,  for  he  has  been  in  nearly  all  the  prisons  of  the  state/' 
This  called  my  attention  to  Mr.  B.  whom  I found  in  great 
distress,  earnestly  seeking  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  I 
gave  him  all  the  instruction  I could,  and  soon  the  light  of 
heaven  broke  on  him,  and  the  Sun  of  righteousness  arose 
with  healing  in  its  beams.  He  was  soundly  converted, 
and  what  fines  and  imprisonments  could  not  accomplish. 


320 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  grace  of  God  secured.  He  lived  and  died  a good  mail. 

“Of  the  multitudes  slain  on  that  evening,  many  were 
made  alive  by  the  power  of  God. 

'‘From  this  camp  meeting  I passed  to  the  Chautauqua 
Circuit,  and  commenced  a camp  meeting  on  Brokenstraw, 
a branch  of  the  Allegheny,  June  the  13th.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  this  meeting  I was  much  discouraged,  but 
the  Lord  was  greater  to  me  than  all  my  fears ; and  never 
did  I have  a more  clear  and  satisfactory  demonstration  of 
the  fact  that  man’s  extremity  is  God’s  opportunity.  Sab- 
bath morning  arrived,  and  as  the  sun  was  gilding  the 
eastern  sky,  the  trumpet  called  us  to  the  concert  of  prayer. 
While  we  were  looking  up  to  heaven  for  a blessing,  God 
graciously  poured  out  his  Spirit,  and  we  realized  the  open- 
ing of  the  gates  of  life.  During  the  day  the  work  of  the 
Lord  went  on  with  power,  and  many  were  saved  by  the 
regenerating  grace  of  God.  Monday  morning  we  held  a 
solemn  communion,  and  I think  it  was  the  most  glorious 
season  I ever  beheld.  The  most  hardened  sinners 
trembled  and  wept  and  looked  on  while  the  followers  of 
Him,  who,  in  Gethsemane  and  on  Calvary,  drank  the  bit- 
ter cup,  were  commemorating  his  dying  love. — (Auto- 
biography of  Rev.  James  B.  Finley,  pp.  301-304.) 

The  Ohio  Conference  commenced  its  session  in  Steu- 
benville, Ohio,  August  7,  1818.  Samuel  Adams,  Samuel 
Brockunier,  Edward  Taylor,  James  Smith  and  Dennis 
Goddard  were  admitted  into  the  traveling  connection. 
Mr.  Finley  was  re-appointed  to  the  Ohio  District,  and 
preachers  were  stationed  as  follows : Erie,  D.  D.  David- 

son and  Samuel  Adams ; Mahoning,  Calvin  Ruter  and 
John  Stuart;  Chautauqua,  John  Summerville;  Tusca- 
rawas District,  Charles  Waddle,  Presiding  Elder;  Grand 
River,  Ira  Eddy ; Cuyahoga,  Ezra  Booth  and  Denis  God- 
dard. “A  request  was  handed  to  me,”  says  Mr.  Finley, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  find  entertainment  for  the  preachers 
during  the  session  of  the  conference, — “by  one  of  the 
stewards  from  a gentleman  of  wealth,  that  I would  send 
' him  one  of  our  most  talented  ministers,  and  he  would 

cheerfully  keep  him  during  conference.  The  gentleman 
was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  had  a worthy, 
family,  rather  more  than  ordinarily  refined,  and  enjoying 
all  such  elegancies  of  life  as  a country  village  could  afford. 
Wishing  to  gratify  him,  I sent  Russel  Bigelow  to  be  his 


Camp  Meetings.  32 1 

guest.  Now,  Russel  was  dressed  in  plain,  homespun  ap- 
parel, cut  and  made  with  as  much  skill  as  home  could 
furnish.  It  was  not  exactly  that  a la  mode  which  suits 
fashionable  life.  The  young  miss  in  the  parlor  cast  many 
side-long  glances  at  the  young  minister,  who  diffidently 
sat  composing  his  features,  and  gazing  upon  the  various 

objects  around  him.  Meeting  the  steward,  Mr. 

said,  “I  do  not  think  you  have  treated  me  right  in  send- 
ing me  such  a common  homespun-looking  man.”  At  this 

the  steward  came  to  me  in  great  haste,  saying  Mr. 

was  displeased.  “Well,”  said  I,  “his  request  has  been 
complied  with ; he  asked  for  a talented  man,  and  I sent 
him  the  most  talented  man  we  have.  Go  and  tell  him  that 
I wish  him  and  his  family  to  go  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  to-morrow  and  hear  him  preach,  and  then  if  they 
are  dissatisfied,  I will  remove  him.” 

Sabbath  came.  The  minister  in  homespun  ascended 
the  desk ; all  eyes  were  upon  him.  “How  finely  he 

reads!”  says . “What  distinct  articulation!”  said 

Mr. to  his  lady,  as  they  sat  in  the  pew.  “Dear 

me,”  said  the  daughter,  “how  beautifully  our  country 
preacher  reads  poetry!”  Then  followed  his  prayer:  and 
then,  with  warm  heart,  he  prayed  for  the  families  who  had 
with  generous  hospitality  thrown  open  their  houses  for  the 
entertainment  of  God's  servants,  the  silent  tear  and  half- 
suppressed  sigh  told  of  his  power  over  the  heart. 

He  preached,  and  it  was  only  as  Russel  Bigelow,  of 
sainted  memory,  could  preach.  Indeed,  it  is  said  he  ex- 
ceeded himself  on  that  occasion.  The  effect  upon  the 
hearers  was  powerful,  and  upon  none  more  so  than  his 
worthy  host  and  family,  who  took  him  home,  and  sent  for 
me  to  ask  my  pardon,  remarking  that  he  had  never  heard 
such  a sermon  in  all  his  life.  He  said  to  the  steward  on 
Monday,  “Why  do  you  not  keep  your  ministers  better 
clothed?  You  ought  not  to  have  a man  of  such  talents 
as  Mr.  Bigelow.”  That  day  he  ordered  for  him  a fine 
suit  of  clothes. — (Autobiography  of  Rev.  Janies  B.  Fin - 
ley,  pp  507,  308.) 

Here  closes  the  record  of  the  labors  of  this  godly  man 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Erie  Conference.  Few  men  have 
attained  greater  distinction  as  evangelists  of  the  great 
West.  He  was  a typical  child  of  the  wilderness,  of  stal- 
wart frame,  large  benevolent  eyes,  an  expressive  mouth, 


21 


322  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

“sandy  hair  standing  erect,”  and  a “voice  like  thunder.” 
His  strength  and  courage  made  disturbers  of  religious 
meetings  quail  before  him. — (Stevens,  History  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Vol.  IV.,  pp  334,  335.)  A 
single  illustration  of  his  method  must  suffice.  At  a quar- 
terly meeting  held  a few  miles  south  of  Franklin,  while 
seekers  were  at  the  altar,  several  rowdies  were  disposed  to 

make  trouble,  and  one  of  them  mounted  a seat  near  the 

mourners  where  lie  stood  smoking  a cigar.  Mr.  Finley 
requested  him  to  cease  smoking  and  get  down.  This  he 
refused  to  do,  when  Mr.  Finley  sprang  over  a bench  and 
seizing  him  by  the  collar  brought  him  to  the  floor  and 
started  for  the  door.  The  rough  caught  Finley  intending 
to  drag  him  out  of  the  door  where  the  rowdies  would 
avenge  interference  with  the  liberties  of  their  leader.  But 
as  they  approached  the  door,  the  athletic  preacher  tripped 
his  opponent  and  sent  him  headlong  out  the  door  and 
down  the  steps  sprawling  on  the  frozen  ground,  and 
wheeling  around,  shook  his  fist  at  the  others  of  the  gang, 
saying:  “There,  I could  cram  a cellar  full  of  such  fel- 

lows."— ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference, 
Vol.  I.,  pp  163,  166.) 

His  subsequent  career  was  crowned  with  equal  success, 
whether  as  presiding  elder,  missionary  to  the  Wyandot 
Indians,  “moral  instructor”  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary,  or 
stationed  preacher.  He  died  September  6,  1856. 

His  last  intelligible  words  were : “I  have  been  blessed 

with  great  peace,  wonderful  peace ! I don’t  know  that  I 
ever  had  such  peace  in  all  my  life!” 

In  his  “Recollections  of  Rev.  John  P.  Finley,”  Henry 
B.  Bascom,  on  the  authority  of  James  B.  Finley,  says: 
“There  is  something  rather  remarkable  in  the  manner  in 
which  these  worthy  ministers  were  first  brought  to  reflect 
with  more  than  ordinary  concern  upon  their  latter  end. 
John  and  James  were  amusing  themselves  in  the  forest 
with  their  guns ; and  as  John  was  sitting  carelessly  upon 
his  horse,  James’  gun  accidentally  went  off,  and  the  con- 
tents came  very  near  entering  John’s  head.  The  brothers 
were  mutually  alarmed,  humbled,  and  thankful ; they  were 
more  than  ever  struck  with  the  melancholy  truth,  that  ‘in 
the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death’ ; they  reflected  upon  their 
unpreparedness  to  meet  'death,  and  appear  in  judgment. 
Each  promised  the  other  he  would  reform ; and  the  result 


An  Incident  of  Christian  Devotion. 


323 


was,  they  were  both  led  to  seek  religion,  as  the  only  pre- 
paration for  eternity.  Both  the  brothers  agree  in  stating 
that  this  circumstance  was  the  means,  in  the  hand  of  God, 
of  their  awakening  and  conversion ; as  neither  of  them  was 
in  the  habit  of  attending  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  be- 
fore the  inquietude  and  alarm  created  by  this  occasion.  I 
have  been  thus  minute  in  detailing  the  immediate  means 

of  his  conversion,  at  the  request  of  a surviving  brother,  in 

whose  estimation,  the  apparent  incompetency  of  the  means 
magnifies  the  grace  of  God,  in  this  singular  dispensation 
of  blended  mercy  and  providence.” — ( Methodist  Maga- 
zine, Vol.  XL,  pp  101,  102.) 

An  Incident  of  Christian  Devotion. 

The  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  when  presiding  elder  of  the  Ohio 
District,  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  relates  an  incident  of 
Christian  devotion  substantially  as  follows: 

“In  the  year  1817,  while  we  were  traveling  with  a fel- 
low itinerant,  in  passing  along  between  the  waters  of  Oil 
Creek  and  Scrubgrass,  which  empty  into  the  Allegheny 
river  above  Pittsburg,  we  came  in  sight  of  an  old  dilapi- 
dated log  church.  The  sight  of  an  old  church  gone  into 
decay  never  fails  to  awaken  in  our  minds  many  reflec- 
tions, and  we  never  pass  one  without  feeling  an  irrepres- 
sible desire  to  understand  something  of  its  history.  My 
companion  being  somewhat  acquainted  with  the  history 
of  this  old  church,  related  to  me  the  following  in  connec- 
tion with  the  same : At  an  early  day  in  the  settlement  of 

that  part  of  the  country,  which  was  then  denominated  the 
Holland  Purchase,  a small  Methodist  society  was  or- 
ganized by  pioneer  Methodist  preachers.  After  some 
time  the  society  built  this  log  church,  and  flourished  for 
several  years.  In  progress  of  time,  however,  some  of  the 
old  members  died,  and  were  buried  in  the  graveyard  close 
by  the  sanctuary,  and  others  moved  away,  till  it  was 
dropped  from  the  list  of  appointments  as  a preaching- 
place,  and  only  one  member  of  the  class  and  society  re- 
mained. She  was  a mother  in  Israel,  and,  like  the 
prophet,  she  was  left  alone  to  sigh  over  the  desolations  of 
Zion.  She  loved  the  old  sanctuary,  and  though  deserted, 
:die  seemed  to  realize  an  increasing  attachment  as  time 
wrought  its  inroads  upon  its  doors  and  windows.  In- 
variably on  the  Sabbath,  when  her  health  and  the  weather 


324 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


would  permit,  did  she  repair  to  this  deserted  temple,  and 
worship  her  God.  T here  in  holy  meditation  did  she  re- 
call the  scenes  of  her  youth,  the  holy  seasons,  happy  days 
she  had  spent  with  her  brethren  and  sisters,  some  of  whom 
were  sleeping  quietly  in  the  adjoining  churchyard,  while 
others  were  far  away.  Here  she  would  sit,  and  read,  and 
sing,  and  pray,  and  talk  with  her  invisible  God  and  Sav- 
iour. At  length  it  was  noised  about  that  she  was  a witch, 
that  the  old  church  was  haunted  with  evil  spirits,  and  that 
she  met  there  to  hold  communion  with  the  spirits  of  dark- 
ness, and  thus  increase  her  power  of  evil  over  the  bodies 
and  souls  of  those  around  her.  She  was  old  and  feeble, 
and  heard  of  their  surmises,  but  she  remembered  that  her 
Master  was  charged  with  being  possessed  by  the  devil,  and 
she  heeded  them  not,  but  continued  her  Sabbath  visits 
to  the  consecrated  place.  At  length  two  wicked  young 
men  of  the  neighborhood  determined  to  watch  her,  and 
entering  the  church  some  time  before  she  arrived,  they 
climbed  up  and  secreted  themselves  in  the  clapboard  loft. 
Aftr  remaining  there  a short  time,  the  old  lady  entered 
the  church  and  took  her  seat  by  the  rude  altar.  The 
young  men,  as  they  afterward  related,  experienced  some 
sensations  of  fear,  seeing,  as  they  supposed,  the  old  witch 
draw  from  her  side  pocket  an  old  leather-enveloped  book ; 
but  their  fear  soon  subsided  when  they  heard  her  read, 
instead  of  an  invocation  of  the  spirits  of  darkness,  the 
story  of  the  widow  of  Sarepta.  After  she  had  finished 
she  drew  from  her  other  pocket  an  antiquated-looking 
hymn-book,  from  which  she  read  that  inimitable  hymn : 

“ ‘Jesus,  I my  cross  have  taken, 

All  to  leave  and  follow  thee; 

Naked,  poor,  despised,  forsaken, 

All  I am  is  lost  in  thee.’ 

“After  having  sung  this  beautiful  hymn,  which  she  did 
with  a trembling  but  sweet,  melodious  voice,  she  fell  upon 
her  knees,  and  poured  out  her  full  heart  to  God  in  prayer 
and  supplication.  As  friend  holds  fellowship  with  friend, 
so  did  she  talk  with  her  heavenly  Father.  She  told  the 
Lord  all  her  complaints  and  grievances,  and  lamented  the 
sad  condition  of  the  old  and  young  of  the  neighborhood, 
who  were  alike  on  the  road  to  perdition.  She  then  alluded 
to  the  happy  seasons  she  had  enjoyed  in  that  place,  when 
Zion  shed  her  holy  light  and  converts  crowded  her  gates. 
In  piteous  strains  she  lamented  her  desolations,  and  pray- 


Judge  Joel  Burnell. 


325 


ed  that  the  Lord  would  build  up  her  waste  places,  and 
again  crowd  her  gates  with  living  converts.  She  prayed 
especially  for  those  who  cast  out  her  name  as  evil,  that 
the  Lord  would  change  their  hearts.  She  prayed  also  for 
the  young  and  giddy  multitude,  who  were  forgetting  God, 
and  living  as  if  there  were  no  hell  to  shun,  no  heaven  to 
pursue. 

“While  she  was  praying  God’s  Spirit  was  at  work  on 
the  hearts  of  the  young  men  on  the  loft,  and  they  began 
to  weep  and  cry  for  mercy.  The  old  lady  was  not 
startled;  she  seemed  to  realize  while  praying  an  answer 
to  her  prayer;  and  as  the  Saviour  invited  Zaccheus  to 
come  down  from  the  tree  because  on  that  day  salvation 
had  come  to  his  house,  so  did  she  invite  these  young  men 
to  come  down  from  their  hiding-place.  They  obeyed  her 
directions,  and  there  at  that  altar  where  in  other  days  she 
had  witnessed  many  conversions,  before  that  Sabbath  sun 
sank  behind  the  western  hills,  they  found  pardon  and  sal- 
vation. From  this  hour  the  work  of  God  commenced,  the 
meetings  were  continued,  and  a flourishing  church  was 
raised  up,  and  the  old  dilapidated  log  meeting-house  was 
again  made  to  resound  with  the  happy  voices  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Zion.” — (Finley’s  Sketches  of  Western  Method- 
ism,  pp  536-539') 

Judge  Joel  Burnell. 

Joel  Burnell  was  born  in  Comington,  Hampshire 
County,  Massachusetts,  January,  1789,  and  died  in  Char- 
lotte, New  York,  November  9,  1864.  He  completed  his 
common  school  education  by  the  study  of  Murray’s  Gram- 
mar with  the  parish  Congregational  minister,  Rev.  Mr. 
Hallock.  He  was  of  medium  size,  stoutly  built,  quick  in 
motion  and  capable  of  great  endurance.  His  shoulders 
were  broad,  chest  full,  neck  short,  limbs  tapering,  and  in 
symmetry  his  form  was  simply  perfect.  His  indomitable 
spirit  feared  no  danger,  and  but  for  injuries  received  by 
daring  too  much,  his  constitution  had  in  it  the  wear  of  a 
hundred  years. 

Whilst  yet  a minor  he  married  Miss  Electa,  daughter  of 
Enoch  King,  a Methodist  clergyman.  He  then  felt  the 
necessity  of  providing  for  himself  a permanent  home. 
Familiar  only  with  the  business  of  farming,  and  perfectly 
unconscious  of  possessing  the  ability  to  adorn  the  bench 


326 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


or  the  bar,  or  to  be  an  honor  to  the  pulpit,  or  to  succeed 
in  any  profession,  with  a budget  of  clothes  and  an  axe  on 
his  shoulder,  he  took  leave  of  his  young  wife  and  started 
alone  on  foot,  early  in  1809,  for  the  Holland  Purchase,  in 
Chautauqua  County.  He  halted  in  the  town  of  Charlotte, 
bargained  for  what  he  regarded  as  a beautiful  piece  of 
land  in  lot  46,  put  up  a little  shanty  for  his  individual  ac- 
commodation, prepared  a bed  of  hemlock  boughs,  and 
commenced  the  reduction  of  the  forest. 

Alone  in  the  wild  wood,  with  wolves  and  bears  prowl- 
ing about  in  all  directions,  making  night  hideous  with 
doleful  noises,  sometimes  presenting  their  glaring  eyes  at 
the  very  entrance  to  his  shanty,  the  young  husband  spent 
the  winter  clearing  land,  putting  it  in  readiness  for  seed 
when  spring  should  come.  His  neighbors  were  few  and 
far  apart,  but  common  sympathies  and  common  necessities 
made  them  neighbors  indeed.  He  was  ready  for  the 
opening  season,  made  a garden  and  planted  a number  of 
acres  with  potatoes  and  corn.  Besides  caring  for  his 
crops,  he  kept  assailing  the  forest  with  his  axe  till  what 
the  rich  soil  had  produced  was  safely  harvested. 

After  building  a log  cabin  and  making  everything  about 
it  as  pleasant  as  possible,  he  returned  to  Massachusetts 
for  his  wife,  leaving  behind  him  ten  acres  of  partially 
cleared  land.  He  found  her  in  fine  spirits,  with  a young 
child  in  her  arms,  and  as  eager  as  himself  to  enter  hei 
home  in  the  West.  With  an  ox-team  they  left  her  father’s 
house  on  the  18th  of  February,  1810,  and  after  a journey 
of  thirty  days,  landed  at  their  little  log  cabin.  All  were 
in  good  health,  and  to  their  eyes  the  scene  was  delightful. 
Their  rude  home  was  at  once  consecrated  to  the  domestic 
virtues,  and  an  altar  raised  to  the  worship  of  God.  There 
was  no  homesickness  or  nonsense  of  any  kind  to  dampen 
their  ardors,  but  the  forest  with  its  flowers  and  with  the 
singing  of  birds,  accorded  with  the  bold  and  adventurous 
spirits  who  had  come  to  dwell  in  the  midst.  The  great 
trees,  beech,  maple,  elm,  ash,  white- wood  and  hemlock, 
fell  rapidly  before  the  keen  edge  of  the  young  man’s  axe 
Often  husband  and  wife  spent  together  half  the  night 
among  burning  heaps  of  huge  logs,  picking  up  sticks  and 
brush  to  feed  the  fires. 

Mrs.  Burnell  has  often  referred  to  those  days  as  among 

the  happiest  of  her  life.  She  was  a woman  of  superior 


Judge  Joel  Burnell. 


327 


ability.  Her  judgment  of  men  and  things  scarcely  ever 
failed  to  grasp  the  exact  truth.  Instinctively  she  would 
unravel  a knotty  question  and  present  in  a clear  light  all 
it  contained.  In  the  difficult  task  of  reading  the  character 
of  strangers  she  seldom  made  a mistake.  Often  in  regard 
to  some  one  all  were  praising  she  was  silent,  and  it  soon 
became  easy  for  her  to  explain  why.  This  quality,  in- 
herited from  her  mother,  gave  to  her  son  Madison  his 
greatest  success  as  a lawyer.  As  time  advanced  and  new 
comers  needed  help,  by  spinning  and  weaving  for  them 
she  did  much  to  clothe  and  support  her  own  increasing 
family. 

Mr.  Burnell  had  a marvelous  incapacity  in  the  use  of 
firearms.  Instead  of  procuring  a gun  when  living  alone 
in  his  shanty,  with  which  to  protect  himself  from  bears 
and  wolves  at  night  when  they  stood  at  its  door  looking 
at  him,  he  borrowed  a blanket  of  a neighbor  and  hung  it 
up,  so  not  to  be  seen  by  them.  Though  deer  and  turkeys 
were  abundant,  his  table  was  never  the  better  for  it,  unless 
supplied  by  the  generosity  of  a neighbor.  His  nature 
abhorred  the  chase,  and  he  refused  to  depend  on  game  for 
a living. 

Both  brought  with  them  from  Massachusetts  certificates 
of  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
formed  a part  of  the  first  religious  society  organized  in 
Charlotte.  The  war  of  1812  coming  on,  Mr.  Burnell 
entered  the  service  as  a private  and  was  present  at  the 
capture  and  burning  of  Buffalo.  The  story  is  told  of 
him  that,  so  eager  was  he  in  the  fight,  he  stood  his  ground 
and  fought  some  time  after  his  comrades  had  fled.  See- 
ing the  enemy  approach,  he  found  refuge  alone  in  a tree- 
top,  which  in  a moment,  was  riddled  with  bullets.  On 
the  supposition  that  he  was  surely  killed,  the  enemy  passed 
on  and  gave  him  no  further  trouble.  He  saw  so  much 
of  human  weakness  at  Buffalo,  which  filled  him  with  dis- 
gust, that  he  seldom  referred  to  his  military  experience. 

After  peace  was  declared,  a number  of  Methodists  hav- 
ing come  into  the  neighborhood,  it  was  judged  best  by 
them  to  secure  a preacher  for  Western  New  York,  and 
the  Genesee  Conference  being  in  session  near  Rochester, 
Mr.  Burnell  was  selected  to  visit  that  body  and  secure  the 
appointment  of  one.  As  a result,  that  Conference  was 
then  made  to  embrace  Chautauqua  County,  and  was  visit- 


328 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


ed  by  Revs.  Glezen  Fillmore,  Job  Wilson,  J.  P.  Kent, 
and  others.  Societies  were  organized  in  various  places, 
and  the  foundation  laid  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  as  we  see  it  to-day.  About  this  time  the  old 
Brokenstraw  four  weeks'  circuit  was  organized,  whose 
boundary  was  Erie,  Waterford,  Youngsville,  Warren, 
Kinzua,  Randolph,  Forestville  and  the  Lake  shore.  One 
of  the  twenty-four  preaching  places  was  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Burnell,  and  for  many  years  he  was  the  class-leader. 

Some  years  after  this  he  was  authorized  to  exercise  his 
gifts  as  a local  preacher,  and  it  appearing  that  he  was  use- 
ful in  this  capacity,  he  consented  to  take  orders,  that  he 
might  in  cases  of  necessity  administer  the  sacraments. 
In  the  religious  interests  of  Charlotte  and  throughout  the 
country,  he  was  for  more  than  half  a century  a tower  of 
strength.  His  house  was  ever  the  itinerant  preacher's 
home.  In  general  information  and  ability  he  was  su- 
perior to  most  of  the  preachers  who  visited  the  place,  and 
yet  he  was  a kind  listener,  and  as  true  to  the  preacher  per- 
sonally as  the  needle  to  the  pole. 

His  little  library  was  slowly,  but  ever,  growing  by  the 
addition  of  standard  works  on  history,  theology  and  law. 
Rollin  and  Goldsmith  in  history,  Wesley,  Watson  and 
Clarke  in  theology,  Blackstone  in  law,  and  Locke  in  specu- 
lative philosophy,  were  his  favorite  authors.  Though  a 
good  farmer,  he  was  a greater  reader  than  most  profes- 
sional men. 

Such  was  his  ability  and  public  spirit  that  from  an  early 
day  he  carried  the  responsibilities  of  one  or  more  public 
offices.  He  was  first  constable  for  the  town,  then  captain 
of  the  militia  for  years.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for 
a long  time,  and  was  at  last  elected  associate  county  judge, 
which  I believe  was  the  last  civil  office  he  held. 

After  accepting  ordination  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
he  laid  aside  mostly  his  civil  functions  and  devoted  his 
spare  time  to  church  work.  He  could  occasionally  be  in- 
duced to  ocupy  the  pulpit  at  camp-meetings,  and  was  ac- 
tive in  revival  work  and  protracted  meetings.  Though 
educated  in  the  Calvinistic  faith,  after  a short  and  fierce 
struggle  with  his  prejudices,  he  easily  gravitated  into  a 
full  and  cordial  reception  of  the  more  comprehensive 
scheme  of  redemption  as  taught  by  Wesley  and  Watson. 
This  system  of  religious  belief  became  the  bone  and  sinew 


Judge  Joel  Burnell.  329 

of  his  moral  and  spiritual  nature — a vital  part  of  his  in- 
ward being  and  outward  life.  His  nature  was  thoroughly 
saturated  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  as  with  truths 
whose  verity  he  had  tested  by  actual  experience.  These 
things  as  parts  of  the  life  he  lived  were  ever  present  with 
him,  and  could  not  be  forgotten. 

With  the  fundamental  elements  of  law  as  set  forth  by 
Blackstone  and  as  suggested  by  his  own  common  sense, 
he  was  familiar.  His  mind  was  judicial  in  structure  and 
evenly  balanced.  In  reasoning,  however,  he  was  neither 
cool  nor  logical ; he  had  not  the  patience  to  be  severely 
analytical  in  his  examination  of  subjects;  but  out  of  the 
fullness  of  his  knowledge  and  in  the  impetuous  enthus- 
iasm of  his  fiery  nature,  he  would  flood  and  overwhelm  a 
theme  with  facts  and  deductions,  making  more  points  in 
a single  outburst  of  rapid  speech  than  could  be  critically 
examined  in  a day. 

Judge  Burnell  was  by  nature  one  of  the  most  courteous, 
gentlemanly  and  dignified  of  men.  Had  he  been  born 
to  membership  in  the  English  House  of  Lords,  his  man- 
ner there  would  have  satisfied  the  taste  and  exactions  of  a 
Chesterfield ; and  yet,  in  precisely  the  same  way  would  he 
enter  a blacksmith  shop  to  do  business  with  the  sooty 
toiler  at  the  forge.  Affectation  was  not  possible ; he  was 
always  himself,  and  could  be  nothing  else. 

His  social  qualities  were  of  a high  order.  With  clergy- 
men, lawyers  and  politicians,  he  was  equally  at  home. 
As  the  sympathetic  and  tender  friend  of  the  poor  and 
lowly,  while  his  dignity  commanded  their  respect,  he  ex- 
tended to  them  the  deference  he  received.  In  the  neigh- 
borhood where  he  lived  he  was  ever  a central  figure,  so 
_ regarded  by  all.  In  matters  of  difficulty  people  came  to 

him  for  counsel,  and  he  was  often  called  upon  to  officiate 
at  weddings  and  the  burial  of  the  dead.  Just  in  his  deal- 
ings, generous  in  his  impulses  and  decided  in  all  things, 
he  was  feared,  trusted  and  loved. 

His  life  was  one  of  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 

family.  He  was  naturally  impetuous — born  to  com- 
mand ; and  if  judged  according  to  the  lax  spirit  of  these 
times,  he  was  often  arbitrary,  if  not  severe.  But  sickly, 
half-way  work  was  foreign  to  his  nature.  If,  while 
judge,  as  the  sun  was  setting  he  was  released  from  the 
duties  of  the  court  at  Mayville,  he  would  walk  home  a 


• ' 

330  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

distance  of  fifteen  miles,  regardless  of  storms  or  the  con- 
dition of  the  roads.  At  home  he  was  enthroned ; that 
was  his  court  and  kingdom. — ( This  sketch  of  Judge 
Burnell  was  communicated  to  the  author  by  H.  H. 
Moore.) 


VIII. 


THE  WORK  SPREADS— CHURCHES 
FOUNDED. 

New  Churches. 

The  Ohio  Conference  held  its  session  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  September  3,  1816,  Bishop  William  McKendree  in 
the  chair.  Bishops  Enoch  George  and  Robert  R.  Rob- 
erts were  also  present,  and  the  following  appointments 
were  made  on  the  Ohio  District:  Presiding  Elder,  James 
B.  Finley:  Shenango,  Robert  C.  Hatton;  Erie,  Curtis 
Goddard  and  John  P.  Kent;  Grand  River  and  Mahon- 
ing, Henry  Baker;  Chautauqua,  Daniel  D.  Davidson. 
But  in  the  minutes  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the 
Erie  Circuit  we  do  not  meet  with  the  name  of  John  P. 
Kent.  James  McMahon  is  associated  with  Curtis  God- 
dard at  three  quarterly  conferences — those  held  at  Salem 
meeting  house,  February  1,  1817;  at  John  Randall's,  May 
10,1817,  and  at  the  house  of  Robert  Griffith,  August  2, 
1817.  Mr.  Kent  must  have  been  removed  to  the  Grand 
River  Circuit  to  assist  Henry  Baker  in  the  early  part  of 
the  year,  where  he  did  excellent  service.  Robert  C.  Hat- 
ton became  disaffected  during  the  year  and  left  his  circuit. 

In  1816  Hubbard  Hurlburt,  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist  Episcopal  Church,  settled  with  his  family  in  the  town 
of  Franklin,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  invited  Henry 
Shewel  to  preach  in  the  neighborhood,  opening  his  house 
for  services.  There  were  a number  of  conversions  as  the 
result  of  a series  of  meetings.  Ezra  Booth  and  Dennis 
Goddard  established  a regular  appointment  in  1818,  and 
organized  a class  consisting  of  eight  members — Amasa 
Hamline  and  wife,  Hubbard  Hurlburt  and  wife,  David 
Lilly  and  wife  and  Ephraim  Rue  and  wife. 

A Methodist  society  was  organized  in  Saybrook,  Ohio, 
in  1816,  consisting  of  Shubal  Jenks  and  wife,  Jacob 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Jenks  and  wife,  Asa  Gillett  and  wife,  Alpheus  Jenks  and 
wife,  Lyman  Allen  and  wife,  Mahala  Jenks,  and  some  few 
others. 

“The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  near  Millbrook  is 
said  to  have  been  the  oldest  church  in  Worth  Township, 
Mercer  County,  the  edifice,  a rude  log  one,  being  built  in 
1816.  The  organization  of  the  society  occurred  at  the 
house  of  William  Carroll.  His  residence  answered  as  a 
place  for  meetings  until  the  church  structure  was  ready  for 
occupancy.  Rev.  Asa  Shinn,  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers 
of  the  country,  is  said  to  have  organized  this  congregation 
during  the  presiding  eldership  of  Jacob  Gruber.” — (His- 
tory of  Mercer  County;  Brown,  Runk  & Co .,  1888,  p. 

623) 

Kent,  Goddard,  Baker,  Davidson. 

John  P.  Kent  was  born  in  Granville,  N.  Y.,  October  5, 
1792.  He  was  soundly  converted  at  a camp  meeting 
held  near  Utica,  N.  Y.,  June  20,  1809.  As  he  said: 
“After  passing  through  untold  agony  of  mind  I received 
unutterable  peace.”  He  was  licensed  to  preach,  recom- 
mended to  the  Ohio  Conference  at  a camp  meeting  quar- 
terly conference  held  near  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  and  received 
on  trial  in  1815.  His  first  circuit  was  Big  and  Little 
Sandy  Rivers,  Kentucky,  '‘a  four  weeks’  circuit,  seventy 
miles  long,  sparsely  settled,  almost  roadless,  having 
rivers  to  swim  and  mountains  to  climb.”  He  traveled  the 
Erie  Circuit  two  years,  embracing  three  or  four  of  the 
roughest  counties  in  the  State.  Thence  he  went  to  Madi- 
son Circuit,  Indiana;  and  thence  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  where 
he  preached  in  the  old  Council  House,  and  raised  a sub- 
scription to  build  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  I11 
the  first  nine  years  of  his  labors  his  field  covered  large 
portions  of  seven  different  states.  He  fell  into  the  Pitts- 
burgh Conference  at  its  organization,  and  in  1840  was 
transferred  to  the  Genesee  Conference.  He  was  super- 
annuated in  1858-1859;  was  then  one  year  effective;  and 
again  superannuated  in  1861,  adorning  and  consecrating 
this  honorable  relation  until  the  time  of  his  death.  After 
a ministry  of  sixty-five  years  he  was  promoted  to  the 
Holy  City  from  Lima,  N.  Y.,  August  5,  1880.  “He 
was  one  of  the  last  of  the  class  of  brave  riders  who 
threaded  the  forests  and  swam  the  rivers  of  the  Western 


m 


Kent,  Goddard,  Baker,  Davidson. 


333 


Middle  States  to  lay  the  foundations  of  Methodism.  He 
was  one  of  the  family  of  which  Chancellor  Kent  was  a 
distinguished  member.  It  was  at  his  father’s  house  that 
Bishop  Hamline  was  boarding  when  he  was  converted, 
chiefly  through  the  influence  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  MoffattT 
— (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  18,  1881,  p.  326.) 

Curtis  Goddard  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1814.  He  was  received  into  full  connection 
and  ordained  deacon  in  1816,  and  ordained  elder  in  1818. 
He  located  in  1834.  Mr.  Goddard  served  Little  Kana- 
wha and  Tuscarawas,  and  then  came  within  Erie  Con- 
ference territory  and  served  Erie  and  Chautauqua.  His 
work  then  took  him  to  other  fields — 1818-1819,  Athens; 
1820,  Steubenville;  1821-1822,  Barnesville;  1823-1824, 
Athens;  1825,  supernumerary  and  attached  to  Marietta; 
1826,  Granville;  1827,  Muskingum;  1828,  Knox;  1829, 
Detroit  District  and  Superintendent  of  Defiance,  St. 
Mary’s,  St.  Clair’s  and  St.  Joseph's  Missions;  i830-’3i, 
Detroit  District;  1832,  Delaware;  1833,  Lower  San- 
dusky; 1834,  located. 

Henry  Baker  joined  the  itinerant  army  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1814,  was  ordained  deacon  in  1816,  and 
elder  in  1818.  He  was  superannuated  in  1823,  and  lo- 
cated in  1826.  He  traveled  the  Pickaway  Circuit  as  sec- 
ond preacher  with  Daniel  Fraley  in  1814,  the  Beaver 
Circuit  in  1815  and  the  Grand  River  and  Mahoning  Cir- 
cuit in  1816;  then  followed,  1817,  Knox;  1818,  Letart 
Falls;  1819,  Madison;  1820,  Hamilton  and  Rossville ; 
1821-1822,  Lawrenceburg ; 1823-1825,  superannuated; 
1826,  located. 

Daniel  D.  Davidson  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Ohio 

Conference  in  1816,  and  was  appointed  to  Chautauqua. 
He  was  admitted  in  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon 
in  1818,  and  elder  in  1820.  He  was  a physician  before 
entering  the  ministry.  “Mr.  Davidson  was  tall  and  slim, 
with  a sharp,  shrill  voice,  which  he  used  freely  and  with 
great  effect.  He  held  a two  days’  meeting  in  the  spring 
of  1817  in  a barn  belonging  to  the  widow  of  Darius 
Mead,  Esq.,  where  Bishop  McKendree,  in  company  with 
Rev.  Jacob  Young  in  1812  had  the  controversy  with  the 
Calvinists,  and  then  formed  a class  one  mile  and  a half 
west  from  Youngsville,  Warren  County,  Pa.  The  meet- 
ing was  one  of  great  power,  and- a goodly  number  were 


334 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


converted,  among  them  a favorite  uncle,  whose  Christian 
name  we  bear,  but  who  many  years  since  went 

“ ‘Away  from  a world  of  distress, 

Away  to  the  mountains  above.’  ” 

— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol. 

i,  pp.  149-150-) 

In  1817  Mr.  Davidson  served  the  Grand  River  and  Ma- 
honing Circuit,  and  in  1818  the  Erie.*  He  died  in  Day- 
ton,  Ohio,  in  1871,  at  the  time  of  his  death  being  a super- 
annuate of  the  Cincinnati  Conference. 

Rev.*  John  F.  Wright,  D.D.,  visited  Mr.  Davidson  in 
his  old  age  and  says:  “In  passing  through  Dayton  on 

the  first  of  October  I called  to  see  this  venerable  patriarch 
of  the  Church — a superannuated  member  of  the  Cincin- 
nati Conference,  now  in  his  eighty-third  year.  I found 
him  very  feeble  in  body  and  mind.  As  soon  as  his  mem- 
ory enabled  him  to  realize  the  presence  of  one  who  had 
been  his  compeer  and  fellow  laborer  for  forty-seven 
years,  he  seemed  greatly  elated.  The  interview  with 
him  and  his  aged  wife  continued  some  forty-five  minutes. 
He  seemed  anxious  that  prayers  should  be  offered  up. 
Some  of  the  precious  wprds  of  Jesus,  taken  from  the 
fourteenth  chapter  of  John  were  read,  and  while  we 
united  in  prayer,  supplication  and  thanksgiving,  he  heart- 
ily responded  'Amen!’  and  praised  the  Lord  fervently. 

“He  was  reminded  of  1829,  when  he  labored  on  Lon- 
don Circuit,  and  I the  Presiding  Elder.  ‘London,’  said 
I,  ‘was  then  a small  village ; now  the  increased  inhabi- 
tants are  able  to  accommodate  the  large  Ohio  Confer- 
ence which  commences  its  annual  session  there  to-day, 
and  I am  now  on  my  way  to  visit  our  friends  of  that 
body.’  I then  asked,  ‘What  message  have  you  to  send  to 
them?’  He  replied,  full  of  emotion,  ‘Tell  them  I am  still 
striving  to  reach  the  better  world,  and  that  I hope  to  meet 

♦His  later  appointments  were:  In  1819,  Pickaway;  1820,  Paint; 
1821,  London;  1822,  Piqua;  1823,  White  Oak;  1824-1825,  Oxford; 
1826,  Hockhocking;  1827,  Miami;,  1828-1829,  Milford;  1830,  Derby; 
1831,  Union;  1832,  Piqua;  1833-1834,  Sydney;  1835,  supernumer- 
ary; 1836,  Greenville;  1837-1838,  Belfontaine;  1839,  Fletcher; 
1840-1841,  Milton;  1842,  Germantown;  1843-1844,  Franklin;  1845, 
Germantown;  1846-1847,  Lewisburg;  1848,  Venice;  1849,  Union; 
1850-1851,  New  Carlisle;  1852  (Cincinnati  and  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence), Germantown;  1853-1854  (Cincinnati  Conference),  Concord; 
1855,  superannuated;  1856,  Fairfield;  1857-1871,  superannuated. 


I 


Methodism  in  Willoughby.  335 

them  all  in  heaven.’  ” — (Redford,  Methodism  in  Ken- 
tucky, Vol.  2,  pp.  287-288.) 

.Methodism  in  Willoughby. 

“The  Willoughby  society  was  organized  in  1816  (Mr. 
Gregg  says  1818),  consisting  of  a number  of  persons 
who,  with  their  families  had  moved  from  Western  New 
York,  while  this  region  was  yet  a wilderness.  The  class 
was  organized  by  Ira  Eddy,  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  and  had  among  its  members  the 
Rev.  Richard  Woolsey  and  wife,  Benjamin  Woolsey  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Richards  and  a few  others.  Richard  Wool- 
sey continued  an  honored  member  of  the  society  until 
May  8,  1883,  when  he  fell  asleep.  In  the  spring  of  1821 
James  Hitchcock,  a local  preacher,  commenced  his  min- 
istrations on  the  “Ridge,”  and  the  following  autumn  a 
class  was  formed  in  that  neighborhood  consisting  of 
Lewis  Miller,  wife  and  three  daughters,  Hezekiah  Fergu- 
son and  wife,  Samuel  Mapes  and  wife,  Charles  Worrallo 
and  wife,  Amasa  Worrallo  and  wife,  William  Worrallo 
and  wife,  and  others.  A few  years  later  Leggett  and 
Finley  Ferguson  joined  the  society. 

In  1822  the  Rev.  Elijah  Ward,  who  came  with  his 
family  from  the  New  England  Conference  and  settled 
on  a farm  about  a mile  east  of  the  present  village,  united 
with  the  Willoughby  society.  He  was  accompanied  by 
Hiram  Brown,  who  died  in  the  Lord  March.  1882,  also 
from  Connecticut. 

The  circuit  was  then  in  charge  of  Alfred  Brunson. 
Father  Ward  was  an  able  and  fearless  defender  of  the 
truth,  and  his  memory  is  in  many  churches.  He  was 
ordained  elder  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1827.  He  died  in 
i860,  aged  ninety-five  years. 

The  first  church  building  was  erected  in  1834,  the  land 
being  deeded  to  the  society  by  Hiram  Brown  for  $50. 
This  church  occupied  the  same  site  on  which  the  present 
structure  stands.  When  first  built  the  seats  were  made  of 
hewn  logs,  and  the  pulpit  resembled  a huge  dry  goods 
box.  Improvements  were  made  from  time  to  time  until 
i860,  when  during  the  pastorate  of  Benjamin  Excell 
(died  in  Willoughby  April  1,  1904,  in  his  eighty-fourth 
year)  the  building  was  entirely  remodeled.  It  "was  va- 
cated in  July,  1873,  and  afterwards,  when  being  removed 


336 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


to  give  place  for  the  new  building,  it  was  sold  to  the 
Christian  (Disciple)  Church  and  is  used  by  this  denom- 
ination to  this  day.  R.  H.  Hurlburt  preached  the  last  ser- 
mon in  the  old  building  before  its  removal.  During  the 
interval  from  the  vacation  of  the  old  church  to  the  occu- 
pying of  the  new,  services  were  held  in  the  College  Hall. 
The  project  of  a new  building  was  under  discussion  dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Herron,  but  his  successor,  Mr. 
Hurlburt,  drew  up  the  first  subscription  paper.  Work  on 
the  new  structure  was  begun  in  April,  1874,  and  pushed 
energetically  forward  to  completion.  The  brick — 300,000 
— were  furnished  by  Boyce  & Penfield.  The  brick  work 
was  done  by  James  Scanlon,  and  the  carpenter  work  by 
C.  R.  Brown,  who  had  charge  of  the  whole  work. 

The  total  cost  of  edifice,  organ,  gas  machine  and  fix- 
tures was  about  $18,000.  The  Board  of  Trustees  con- 
sisted of  G.  W.  Clement,  J.  H.  Boyce,  J.  W.  Penfield,  E. 
W.  Burr,  W.  H.  Brown,  S.  H.  Miner,  E.  W.  Wing, 
Hiram  Brown  and  N.  C.  Smith.  The  first  four  named 
were  the  Building  Committee,  Brother  Burr  being  treas- 
urer. The  church  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Al- 
mighty God  on  October  17,  1875,  J-  H.  Dewart  being 
pastor.  Chaplain  C.  C.  McCabe  preached  in  the  morn- 
ing from  11  Cor.  iv.  18.  The  preliminary  services  were 
participated  in  by  Moses  Hill,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
district ; Benjamin  Excell,  R.  H.  Hurlburt  and  the  pastor. 

Louis  Paine  succeeded  Mr.  Dewart  as  pastor.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  a revival  of  much  power  was  experienced 
at  the  Ridge  appointment.  Mr.  Paine  remained  for  a 
single  year,  and  at  the  Conference  held  in  Painesville 
in  September,  1881,  B.  F.  Beazell  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  Although  the  entire  cost  of  the  church  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  provided  for,  Mr.  Beazell  found  that 
by  shrinkage,  etc.,  there  yet  remained  between  $2,500 
and  $3,000  unprovided  for.  This  amount  he  essayed  to 
raise.  A note  was  cancelled  by  the  order  of  Conference 
— a note  of  the  college  against  the  church  and  $1,250 
with  accrued  interest  remained.  This  amount  was  large- 
ly provided  for  by  new  subscriptions,  and  in  the  interreg- 
num of  Mr.  Beazell’s  pastorate  all  was  secured  and  the 
last  dollar  of  indebtedness  was  paid  on  May  19,  1883, 
the  twentieth  being  “jubilee”  day,  when  appropriate  ser- 
vices were  held. 


. ...... 


M.  E.  Chuiioh,  Willoughby,  Ohio 


336  History  of  Eric  Conference. 


to  give  place  for  the  new  building,  it  was  sold  to  the 
Christian  (Disciple)  Church  and  is  used  by  this  denom- 
ination to  this  day.  R.  H.  Hurlburt  preached  the  last  ser- 
mon in  the  old  building  before  its  removal.  During  the 
interval  from  the  vacation  of  the  old  church  to  the  occu- 
pying of  the  new,  services  were  held  in  the  College  Hall. 
The  project  of  a new  building  was  under  discussion  dur- 
ing* the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Herron,  but  his  successor,  Mr. 
Hurlburt,  drew  up  the  first  subscription  paper.  Work  on 
the  new  structure  was  begun  in  April,  1874,  and  pushed 
energetically  forward  to  completion.  1 he  brick — 300,000 
— were  furnished  by  Boyce  & Penfield.  1 he  brick  work 
was  done  by  James  Scanlon,  and  the  carpenter  work  by 
C.  R.  Brown,  who  had  charge  of  the  whole  work. 

The  total  cost  of  edifice,  organ,  gas  machine  and  fix- 
tures was  about  $18,000.  The  Board  of  Trustees  con- 
sisted of  G.  W.  Clement,  J.  H.  Boyce,  J.  \\  . Penfield,  E. 
W.  Burr,  W.  H.  Brown,  S.  H.  Miner,  E.  W.  Wing, 
Hiram  Brown  and  N.  C.  Smith.  I he  first  four  named 
were  the  Building  Committee,  Brother  Burr  being  treas- 
urer. The  church  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Al- 
mighty God  on  October  17,  1875,  J.  H.  Dewart  being- 
pastor.  Chaplain  C.  C.  McCabe  preached  in  the  morn- 
ing from  11  Cor.  iv.  18.  The  preliminary  services  were 
participated  in  by  Moses  Hill,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
district;  Benjamin  Excell.  R.  H.  Hurlburt  and  the  pastor. 

Louis  Paine  succeeded  Mr.  Dewart  as  pastor.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  a revival  of  much  power  was  experienced 
at  the  Ridge  appointment.  Mr.  Paine  remained  for  a 
single  year,  and  at  the  Conference  held  in  Painesville 
in  September,  1881,  B.  F.  Beazell  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  Although  the  entire  cost  of  the  church  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  provided  for,  Mr.  Beazell  found  that 
by  shrinkage,  etc.,  there  yet  remained  between  $2,500 
and  $3,000  unprovided  for.  This  amount  he  essayed  to 
raise.  A note  was  cancelled  by  the  order  of  Conference 
— a note  of  the  college  against  the  church  and  $1,250 
with  accrued  interest  remained.  This  amount  was  large- 
ly provided  for  by  new  subscriptions,  and  in  the  interreg- 
num of  Air.  Beazell’s  pastorate  all  was  secured  and  the 
last  dollar  of  indebtedness  was  paid  on  May  19,  1883, 
the  twentieth  being  “jubilee”  day,  when  appropriate  ser- 
vices were  held. 


- V:‘V-  • 


'%’L- 


> • ■■:>■ 

' ■ . ,V*t  '•  . 


33« 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


In  September,  1904,  W.  M.  Jeffers  was  appointed  to 
the  charge,  and  the  Willoughby  Ridge  Church  that  had 
been  connected  with  the  Willoughby  society  from  the 
beginning  was  taken  off  and  for  the  first  time  Willough- 
by became  a station  and  the  pastor  could  give  his  entire 
time  to  this  growing  and  important  field. 

A revival  during  the  pastorate  of  B.  F.  Beazell  added 
a goodly  number  of  members,  and  W.  M.  Jeffers,  during 
the  first  year  of  his  pastorate  (1904-05)  enjoyed  a gra- 
cious revival  resulting  in  about  one  hundred  conversions. 
— (Communication  to  the  author  by  Rev.  IV.  M.  Jeffers, 
July  7,  1905.) 

Sunday,  December  30,  witnessed  the  dedication  of  the 
beautiful  new  Methodist  Church  at  Willoughby.  To  an 
audience  which  filled  every  inch  of  available  space,  Dr. 
Robert  Forbes,  of  Philadelphia,  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon,  after  which  Dr.  George  K.  Morris,  the  Presiding 
Elder,  led  in  the  ritualistic  service  and  offered  the  prayer 
of  dedication.  The  church,  which  cost  over  $50,000, 
was  the  gift  of  one  generous  woman,  Mrs.  Julia  Boyce. 
The  gift  was  conditioned  upon  the  erection  of  a suitable 
parsonage  on  the  adjoining  lot  by  the  congregation.  That 
this  obligation  might  be  met.  Dr.  Forbes  appealed  to  the 
congregation  for  the  necessary  amount.  The  response 
was  generous,  and  subscriptions  amounting  to  $8,307 
were  made.  The  sale  of  the  old  parsonage  will  net  about 
$4,000,  and  this,  together  with  the  subscriptions,  will  pay 
in  full  for  the  new  brick  parsonage  now  in  course  of  erec- 
tion. 

The  church  is  complete  and  modern  in  every  particu- 
lar. The  auditorium  will  seat  four  hundred  people,  the 
Sunday  school  room  has  eighteen  class  rooms,  and  the 
dining  room,  serving  room,  and  kitchen  are  models  of 
convenience.  With  this  excellent  equipment  the  church 
is  in  a position  to  accomplish  much  good  in  the  com- 
munity. 

A flourishing  and  well  conducted  Medical  University 
was  founded  in  Willoughby  in  1834,  and  in  1846  had 
one  hundred  and  seventy-four  students.  Tradition  has 
it  that  a bloody  Indian  battle  was  fought  on  this  ground. 
In  late  years  bones  and  skulls  have  been  found  here.  In 
1846  this  university  was  removed  to  Columbus  and  be- 


Our  Church  at  Girard.  339 

came  the  foundation  of  the  Sterling  Medical  College. 
Our  Willoughby  College  then  sprang  up  on  the  same  site. 

Our  Church  at  Girard.  " 1 

In  1816  there  was  no  Methodist  society  nearer  Girard 
than  Bristol  on  the  west,  North  East  on  the  east,  and 
Meadville  on  the  south.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  Rev. 
George  Stuntz,  a local  preacher,  preached  at  the  house  of 
Giles  Rodgers  who  lived  on  the  Reed  farm.  This  was 
said  to  have  been  the  first  Methodist  sermon  ever  de- 
livered in  Girard  Township.  The  text  was:  “As  Moses 
lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness  even  so  must  the 
Son  of  Man  be  lifted  up.”  The  place  was  then  an  al- 
most unbroken  wilderness.  In  1817  Ira  Eddy  and  D.  D. 
Davidson*  were  appointed  to  the  circuit  and  formed  the 
first  class  at  Justus  Osborne’s.  The  members  of  the 
class  were  Giles  Rodgers  and  wife,  Mrs.  Cole — formerly 
Silverthorn, — Alexander  Nichols  and  Justus  Osborne 
and  his  daughter,  Charlotte.  Mr.  Osborne  was  the 
leader.  For  six  years  meetings  were  held  in  his  log 
cabin,  a building  20x24  feet  in  size,  with  puncheons  for 
flooring  and  paper  windows.  This  modest  house  was 
long  the  resting  place  for  weary  pioneer  itinerants.  Dur- 
ing six  years  such  men  as  Alfred  Brunson,  John  P.  Kent, 
John  Summerville  and  Charles  Elliott  labored  without  a 
single  convert.  But  while  Charles  Elliott  was  still  on 
the  charge  there  were  added  to  the  church  Samuel  Mc- 
Clelland and  wife  and  John  Hay'  and  his  sister.  John 
Hay  was  class  leader  for  many  years.  It  was  indeed  a 
hard  field,  and  the  infant  church  endured  many  trials 
and  persecutions. 

In  1821  the  citizens  built  a large  school  house  be- 
tween Girard  and  Fairview,  called  the  Center  school 
house,  the  first  frame  school  building  in  the  western 
part  of  Erie  County.  The  Methodists  used  this  as  a 
place  of  worship  for  several  years.  In  1824  Rev.  Samuel 
Brown,  a local  preacher,  organized  in  this  house  the  first 
Sunday  school  of  any  denomination  in  Erie  County. 
John  Hay  served  as  superintendent  for  many  years,  and 
every  scholar  of  this  school  was  converted  and  joined 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1825  the  circuit 
preachers  began  to  hold  services  in  the  school  house  in 
Girard  Borough.  Two  years  later  a lot  was  purchased 


— 


340 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  a large  frame  church  was  built  on  the  west  side  of 
the  creek,  but  the  location  was  inconvenient  and  services 
were  frequently  held  in  the  public  hall.  Among  the 
earliest  members  in  the  village  class  were : Russell  Wicks, 
class  leader;  Florence  Wicks,  Mary  Rodgers,  Jeremiah 
Davis,  Newman  Badger  and  wife,  and  Hiram  Nichols 
and  wife. 

This  first  church  was  sold,  and  another  frame  church 
was  erected  in  the  borough  and  dedicated  in  1847.  In 
the  winter  of  1847-1848  Rev.  A.  G.  Mills  held  a meeting 
which  resulted  in  above  eighty  conversions.  A parson- 
age was  purchased  in  1854,  and  finally  both  church  and 
parsonage  were  sold ; and  still  another  parsonage  was 
bought  and,  in  1873,  sold.  The  parsonage  now  occupied 
was  built  in  1891.  In  1868  the  present  large  brick  church 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  about  $30,000.  It  was  dedicated 
by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  October  12,  1870,  at  which 
time  enough  was  subscribed  to  liquidate  the  whole  in- 
debtedness. By  financial  failures  and  other  causes,  many 
subscriptions  were  not  collected,  and  a debt  was  left  as  a 
great  burden  upon  the  church  for  many  years. 

Several  Classes  Formed. 

The  Ohio  Conference  met  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1817.  The  work  was  arranged  as  follows: 
James  B.  Finley,  presiding  elder  of  Ohio  District; 
John  P.  Kent  and  Ira  Eddy,  Erie  Circuit;  Daniel 
D.  Davidson  and  Ezra  Booth,  Grand  River  and 
Mahoning  Circuit ; and  Curtis  Goddard,  Chautauqua 
Circuit.  The  Shenango  Circuit  disappears  from  the  list 
of  appointments,  having  been  divided  between  the  Erie 
and  Beaver  Circuits.  It  was  .a  year  of  great  camp-meet- 
ing triumphs.  One  was  held  on  the  land  of  Dr.  Clarke, 
near  the  Portage,  the  first  ever  known  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  The  word  was  preached  with  power  and  many 
were  converted.  Another  camp-meeting  held  at  Lexing- 
ton, on  Erie  Circuit,  recorded  glorious  victories.  Re- 
markable scenes  were  witnessed  at  the  camp-meeting  at 
North  East  when  “multitudes  within  and  without  the  ring 
fell  under  the  shocks  of  divine  power.”  Camp-meetings 
near  Youngsville,  Warren  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  Rockville  were  occasions  of  great  power. 
There  were  also  some  wonderful  revivals.  “On  the  Ma- 


I 


I 

Several  Classes  Formed.  341 

honing  Circuit  two  hundred  were  added  to  the  Church.” 
This  work  commenced  at  a camp-meeting  at  Deerfield, 
Ohio.  The  society  at  Youngsville  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  a church.  A log  meeting-house  was  erected  in  the 
Shenango  settlement,  and  another  “in  Father  Carroll’s 
neighborhood,  about  ten  miles  east  of  Mercer.” 

Edward  H.  Taylor  labored  as  a supply  on  Grand  River 
and  Mahoning  Circuit;  and  Samuel  R.  Brockunier,  on 
the  Chautauqua. 

In  1817  Henry  Baker  formed  a class  in  the  town  of 
Southington  on  the  Grand  River  and  Mahoning  Circuit. 
Among  the  members  were  Roderick  Norton  and  wife. 
No  other  names  have  been  preserved. 

The  “Randall  Class”  was  organized  in  1817  near 
Springfield,  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  the 
nucleus  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Albion. 
The  following  were  among  the  first  members:  John 

Randall,  leader,  and  his  wife,  and  George  Stuntz,  a local 
preacher,  and  his  wife. 

“In  the  spring  of  1817  Mr.  B.  B.  Clarke,  a valuable 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  moved  his  family  into  Clarion  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  first  Methodist  in  that  county. 
Not  long  after  a few  other  families  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  settled  in  different  parts  of 
the  same  county.  They  soon  found  each  other  out,  held 
meetings  together,  and  were  formed  into  a class,  which 
met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Lawson,  near  the  mouth  of 
Red  Bank.  It  consisted  of  B.  B.  Clarke,  leader,  John 
Lawson  and  wife,  Mr.  Beard  and  wife.” — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  153.) 

Methodism  in  Geneva,  Ohio. 

Robert  Montgomery,  a local  preacher,  in  the  summer 
of  1817,  formed  a class  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula  County, 
Ohio,  consisting  of  Thomas  Stevens,  leader,  James  Mor- 
rison, Jr.  and  wife,  Abisha  Laughton,  S.  Laughton, 
Phoebe  Curton,  Anna  Morrison,  and  Samuel  Quinton — 
eight  members.  Samuel  Brown  is  said  to  have  preached  in 
the  house  of  James  Morrison,  Sr.,  previous  to  this  date — 
“in  1816  a revival  followed.”  “A  notable  quarterly  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  summer  of  1817  in  L.  Gaylord’s  barn 
on  the  premises  more  recently  owned  by  Professor  Bently, 


342  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

resulting  in  seventy-five  conversions.  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley 
held  this  meeting.”  Robert  Hopkins  formed  a class  a 
half  mile  north  of  North  Center  in  1823.  Caleb  Brown 
occasionally  preached  in  the  brick  school  house  in  Geneva 
in  1829.  Thus  there  were  three  preaching  places — the 
South  Ridge,  North  Center,  and  the  Village.  T he  first 
church  was  dedicated  by  W.  B.  Mack,  the  presiding  elder, 
February*  8,  1833.  J.  Gilmore  was  the  pastor  at  that 
time.  The  church  became  the  head  of  a large  circuit.  A 
parsonage  was  built  on  the  South  Ridge  in  the  Gaylord- 
Morrison  neighborhood  in  1826,  and  Thomas  Carr  was  its 
first  occupant.  This  was  occupied  by  the  pastors  until 

1839.  Another  parsonage  was  built  on  the  ground  still 
owned  by  the  church;  and  was  sold  in  1847.  The  pres- 
ent house  was  built  in  1877.  The  first  church  building 
was  succeeded  by  a more  commodious  structure  in  1857, 
dedicated  on  November  12th  by  G.  B.  Hawkins,  a former 
pastor.  This  was  sold  and  the  present  edifice  erected  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  A.  C.  Tibbetts,  and  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley,  April  4,  1867.  Our  church 
property  in  Geneva  is  valued  at  about  $20,000.  the 
membership  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is 
about  325;  the  Second  church  has  a church  property 
valued  at  about  $4,000 — including  the  parsonage — and  a 
membership  of  150 — 1904. 

Geneva  belonged  to  the  Ravenna  District  from  1836  to 

1840,  to  the  Erie  District  from  1840  to  1843,  to  the 
Meadville  District  from  1843  to  1848,  and  to  the  Cleve- 
land District  from  1848  to  the  present  time. — ( Communi- 
cation to  the  author,  from  Rev.  A.  H.  Domer,  D.D.) 

Rimersburg  and  North  Bloomfield. 

The  history  of  the  Rimersburg  society  “dates  back  to 
1817,  when  a class  was  organized  at  the  house  of  John 
Lawson  on  the  road  leading  to  Lawsonham,  near  the  lime 
quarry.  Meetings  were  held  in  private  homes  until  1832 
when  a log  church  was  built  about  one-half  mile  east  of 
Rimersburg,  on  lands  then  owned  by  John  Bingham  who 
gave  to  the  society  thirty  acres  of  land.  On  part  of  this 
ground  was  a graveyard  used  for  many  years,  but  of  this 
there  is  little  or  no  trace,  the  land  having  passed  into  other 
hands,  and  being  under  cultivation.  In  1840,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Reuben  Peck,  a new  church  was  commenced 


Rimersburg  and  North  Bloomfield. 


343 


near  where  the  present  church  stands,  but  was  not  com- 
pleted until  1848,  under  the  pastorate  of  G.  F.  Reeser. 
In  this  building  the  congregation  continued  to  worship 
until  1871,  when  the  present  church  was  built  and  dedi- 
cated under  the  pastorate  of  W.  M.  Taylor.  The  old 
building  was  bought  by  Mr.  Alfred  Warren,  who  had  it 
removed  across  the  street  and  fitted  up  for  a town  hall.” 
— (Rev.  Clinton  Jones  in  History  of  Clarion  County , p. 
597-) 

It  is  thought  that  the  first  sermon  ever  delivered  by  a 
Methodist  preacher  at  North  Bloomfield,  Ohio,  was 
preached  by  Ira  Eddy  in  1817.  The  following  year  he 
formed  the  first  class  consisting  of  eighteen  members  with 
Charles  Thayer  as  leader.  During  the  years  immediately 
following  the  work  seems  to  have  languished,  though 
there  was  occasional  preaching  in  a log  school  house  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  town.  In  1830  the  little  class 
was  greatly  strengthened  by  a precious  revival,  after 
which  the  work  prospered.  Among  those  connected  with 
the  church  in  these  early  days  were : Leonard  Osborne 

and  wife,  Zimri  Baker  and  wife,  and  Willard  Terrill  and 
wife.  Mrs.  Terrill,  the  last  of  this  noble  band,  joined  the 
church  triumphant,  April  4,  1895. 

In  1836  a house  of  worship  was  built  jointly  by  Meth- 
odists and  Presbyterians.  Several  years  later,  this  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  In  1857  a new  church  edifice  war- 
erected.  February  n,  1875,  the  Methodist  people  pur- 
chased the  Presbyterian  interest  in  the  building  for  $1,- 
700,  and  put  the  property  in  good  repair.  This  was  during 
the  pastorate  of  John  Brown.  During  the  pastorate  of 
E.  A.  Simons,  in  1882,  a parsonage  was  built  at  a cost  of 
$1,500.  The  appointment  has  been  connected  with  var- 
ious neighboring  churches,  as  Bristolville,  West  Farming- 
ton,  and  Mesopotamia.  But  recently  Mesopotamia  was 
taken  from  the  circuit,  and  North  Bloomfield  is  now  a 
separate  charge  with  about  120  members,  paying  a salary 
of  $600  and  parsonage.* 

Edw  ard  H.  Taylor. 

Edward  H.  Taylor  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  August  25,  1796.  His  conversion  he  owed 

♦This  history  was  taken  from  the  Church  Record  by  the  pastor,- 
John  A.  Wright,  February  6,  1907,  and  was  written  by  A.  M.  Bil- 
lingsley, a former  pastor,  in  1890. 


344 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


to  the  prayers  and  Christian  example  of  a pious  mother. 
He  experienced  the  great  change  at  a prayer  meeting  held 
near  the  residence  of  his  father  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio, 
when  he  was  in  his  seventeenth  year.  In  1817  he  traveled 
the  Mahoning  Circuit  under  J.  B.  Finley,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference. 
He  did  efficient  and  heroic  service  until  1850,  when  he 
was  granted  a superannuated  relation.  He  longed  to  re- 
turn to  the  work,  but  his  strength  would  not  permit. 

“Brother  Taylor  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  excel- 
lent of  the  earth.  His  piety  was  deep  and  uniform;  and 
being  blessed  and  favored  with  the  aid  of  the  right  kind 
of  a companion,  he  reared  one  of  the  best  regulated  fam- 
ilies ; and  perhaps  no  member  of  the  Conference  was  more 
firmly  attached  to  the  doctrines  and  discioline  of  our 
Church  than  Brother  Taylor.  As  a preacher,  he  was 
diligent  and  faithful.  He  understood  our  doctrines  and 
preached  them  well,  and  was  generally  successful  in  win- 
ning souls  to  Christ.  His  talents  were  rather  of  the  solid 
than  the  brilliant  kind,  and  those  who  knew  him  best,  re- 
garded him  as  a safe  and  valuable  counsellor  in  matters 
pertaining  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church.” — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  V.,  1853,  pp.  242,  243.) 

Ezra  Booth. 

The  chequered  career  of  Ezra  Booth  affords  a subject 
of  profitable  study  because  of  its  lessons.  He  is  nearly 
forgotten.  His  name  only  lingers  among  a few  aged  peo- 
ple. 

He  possessed  a noble  physique — six  feet  in  height,  a 
large  head,  broad  shoulders  and  finely  proportioned.  In 
intellect  he  was  far  above  the  average.  Though  an  om- 
niverous  reader  his  specialty  was  history.  Dr.  Charles 
Elliot  once  said  to  him,  “If  the  Methodists  had  a college 
and  a vacant  chair  of  History,  that  would  be  the  place  for 
you.” 

Mr.  Booth  entered  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1817  and 
was  appointed  to  the  Mahoning  charge;  he  served  the 
great  Cuyahoga  Circuit  two  years;  then  the  Erie;  after 
this  the  Deerfield.  His  name  appears  no  more  in  Con- 
ference minutes.  In  the  great  revival  that  took  place  in 
Deerfield  in  1821,  he  was  a tireless  and  powerful  instru- 
ment. 


Ezra  Booth . 


345 


It  is  said  his  wife,  a bright,  cultured,  delicate  woman, 
could  not  endure  the  hardships  and  privations  of  the 
itineracy,  and  on  her  account  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  take  a 
vocation.  He  did  this  reluctantly,  as  he  enjoyed  the  com- 
panionship of  such  men  as  Charles  Elliot,  James  B.  Fin- 
ley, Alfred  Bronson,  James  McMahon,  William  Swayze 
and  other  giants  of  those  days;  and  as  a student  and  a 
preacher  he  was  their  peer. 

After  locating,  he  settled  in  Nelson,  near  his  wife’s  rela- 
tives, but  was  still  very  useful  as  a local  preacher.  In 
about  1830  he  moved  to  Mantua,  bought  a farm,  erected 
buildings  and  made  for  himself  a pleasant  home,  still  do- 
ing faithful  work  as  a local  preacher  without  money  and 
without  price. 

In  about  1827  the  irruption  of  Mormonism  into  the 
Western  Reserve  took  off  from  their  feet  some  of  the  best 
men  in  the  churches,  and  among  them  Ezra  Booth.  He 
joined  the  caravan  and  journeyed  to  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  but 
he  had  scarcely  reached  his  journey’s  end  before  he 
severed  his  connection  with  the  Mormons  forever.  He 
was  led  to  do  this  by  the  manifest  insincerity  and  fraud 
which  he  witnessed  in  Joe  Smith  and  other  leaders  in  the 
delusion.  Fortunately  he  kept  his  property  in  his  own 
hands  and  immediately  returned  to  Nelson. 

Whatever  else  Ezra  Booth  was  or  was  not,  he  was 
above  everything  else  an  honest  man.  No  man  could  be 
more  sincere  and  conscientious  than  he  when  at  Kirtland 
he  was  baptized  into  the  Mormon  faith,  and  no  man  could 
be  more  mortified  over  anything  than  he  when  he  saw  the 
foolish  and  stupendous  mistake  he  had  made.  He  could 
not  bear  to  meet  a friend  or  an  acquaintance  on  his  re- 
turn from  Nauvoo.  Finally  he  was  persuaded  to  attend 
a camp-meeting  and  pushed,  as  it  were,  into  the  pulpit; 
and  there  he  told  what  he  knew  of  Mormonism,  Joseph 
Smith  and  his  associates.  The  Methodists  hailed  him  as 
a brother,  and  the  conference  restored  to  him  his  parch- 
ments. The  kind  and  charitable  treatment  he  received  en- 
couraged him  to  enter  the  pulpit  again,  but  it  was  long  be- 
fore the  shame  left  his  face. 

This  was  about  the  condition  of  affairs  where  he  set- 
tled in  Mantua  in  1830,  and  there  he  remained  discharg- 
ing the  duties  of  a local  preacher,  much  loved  and  re- 
spected by  everybody,  till  1843,  when  Millerism  or  Sec- 


346 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ond  Adventism  shook  the  country.  After  his  usual  style, 
Ezra  Booth  plunged  into  this  delusion  and  in  all  sincerity 
prepared  to  witness  the  end  of  the  world.  In  an  incred- 
ibly short  time  he  made  himself  master  of  the  literature  of 
the  heresy,  and  could  talk  it  from  morning  till  night,  and 
argue  any  opponent  into  silence.  What  was  still  worse, 
he  gave  himself  up  to  prayer  and  worked  himself  up  into 
the  belief  that  God  had  given  him  the  assurance  that  at 
Miller’s  appointed  time  Christ  would  come  in  the  clouds 
of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory. 

But  the  time  passed,  and  there  was  no  sign  of  change; 
Christ  did  not  appear.  This  was  a critical  moment  with 
Ezra  Booth.  Could  he  continue  a Second  Adventist? 
By  no  means.  He  had  been  deceived,  doubly  deceived. 
The  Scriptures,  as  interpreted  by  himself  and  others,  had 
proved  false,  and  the  answers  to  his  prayers  had  been  il- 
lusions. An  honest  man  can  be  a party  to  no  such  de- 
ceptions and  frauds.  Thus  he  reasoned,  and  his  logic 
pierced  the  very  heart  of  the  Bible  as  well  as  all  practical 
religion..  He  ceased  to  pray,  abandoned  Christianity  and 
became  an  agnostic.  He  was  now  an  old  man  and  in- 
tellectually had  suffered  a terrible  wreck.  His  friends 
:>ay  that  he  ever  remained  the  soul  of  honesty,  morality 
and  sincerity. 

j 

Some  minds  are  always  at  anchor,  and  others  are  con- 
tinually drifting.  The  mind  at  anchor  seizes  a truth,  as- 
similates it,  makes  it  a part  of  itself,  and  thus  retains  T. 
Other  truths,  as  they  are  acquired,  find  their  logical  rela- 
tions to  the  truths  already  in  possession  and  coalesce  with 
them,  forming  a unity,  a harmonious  whole.  This  pro- 
cess of  increasing  knowledge  goes  on  and  mind  becomes 
an  ever  enlarging  orb  of  light. 

The  drifting  mind,  as  it  advances  and  makes  new  con- 
quests, neglects  or  abandons  in  the  rear  much  that  it  had 
learned  before.  In  drifting  we  go  along  from  one  thing 
to  another  and  often  the  larger  portion  of  our  mental  ac- 
quisitions are  in  the  rear  as  discarded  matter.  Such  was 
the  condition  of  the  mind  of  Ezra  Booth  whilst  on  the 
way  from  Nelson,  Ohio,  to  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  Mormon- 
ism,  per  se,  could  have  made  but  a slight  impression  upon 
his  reason,  or  he  could  not  have  abandoned  it  because 
Smith  was  a bad  man. 


Ezra  Booth. 


347 


It  is  dangerous  to  drift  and  our  only  safety  is  to  in- 
corporate in  our  nature,  truths  as  we  acquire  them  and 
make  them  a part  of  our  intellectual  furniture ; and  to 
anchor  our  souls  in  God — settle  that  once  for  all — and 
sternly  honor  the  settlement. — (The  author  owes  this 
sketch  of  Mr.  Booth  to  H.  H.  Moore.) 

Samuel  R.  Brockunier. 


Samuel  R.  Brockunier  when  he  came  to  Chautauqua 
Circuit,  Mr.  Gregg  describes  as  “a  large  young  Dutch- 
man, full  of  zeal.”  His  father,  a native  of  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  was  raised  a rigid  Lutheran,  but  was  converted 
at  an  early  age  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  then  everywhere  spoken  against.  For  this  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  home,  and  was  disinherited.  His 
mother  was  a native  of  Frederick  County,  Maryland.  He 
was  dedicated  to  God  and  the  ministry  at  his  birth. 
Piety,  in  precept  and  example,  was  a power  in  his  child- 
hood’s home.  “My  parents,”  he  says,  “had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  I was  the  eldest.  I had  the  fear  of  God 
set  before  me  from  my  infancy.  Among  my  earliest 
recollections  are  the  prayers  of  my  parents,  and  the  re- 
ligious meetings  held  at  my  father’s  house.  The  result  of 
all  these  opportunities  was  that  my  mind  became  very 
early  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  becoming  religious.” 
In  1801  his  father  and  family  moved  to  Concord,  Frank- 
lin County,  Pennsylvania,  and  united  with  the  Church  in 
which  the  Maclay  family  held  membership.  R.  S.  Mac- 
lay,  D.D.,  our  missionary  to  China,  related  during  his 
visit  to  this  country  in  1861  that  his  mother  and  the 
mother  of  Brockunier  were  members  of  the  same  class, 
and  entered  into  an  arrangement  to  pray  for  their  eldest 
sons  that  God  would  convert  them  and  call  them  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  Their  prayers  were  answered. 
All  the  Maclay  sons,  five  in  number,  became  ministers. 
When  in  1810,  his  father  moved  to  Allegheny  County, 
near  Sewickley,  and  crossed  the  river  at  Pittsburg,  there 
was  but  one  house  on  the  Allegheny  side  of  the  river. 

Mr.  Brockunier  s conversion  dates  February  17,  1812. 
He  then  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  same  year  his  father  died,  and  the  care  of  a large 
family  was  left  to  Samuel.  To  this  work  he  devoted  him- 


348 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


self  manfully;  and  most  dutifully  and  faithfully  did  he 
keep  his  charge  all  his  life. 

Mr.  Brockunier  soon  displayed  special  gifts  in  prayer 
and  exhortation.  He  was  repeatedly  urged  by  J.  B. 
Finley  and  others  to  enter  the  ministry;  but  feeling  his 
lack  of  preparation  for  that  holy  calling,  he  long  refused. 
His  scruples  were  at  last  removed  and  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  J.  B.  Finley  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  at 
\ oung’s  School  House,  five  miles  from  New  Castle,  and 
was  sent  several  miles  to  fill  an  appointment  the  same 
evening.  In  1817  we  find  him  on  Chautauqua  Circuit 
laboring  under  the  presiding  elder.  This  is  his  own  des- 
cription of  his  departure  from  home:  “On  Tuesday,  the 

7th  day  of  December,  1817,  I left  my  little  all,  a widowed 
mother,  four  sisters,  and  two  brothers,  with  a class  of 
feelings  I cannot  describe.  My  youngest  brother  fled 
from  the  house  when  it  came  time  for  me  to  leave.  I 
tied  up  my  pocket  Bible, . Hymn  Book,  Discipline,  and 
some  clothes  in  a handkerchief,  and  took  my  line  of  march 
on  foot  for  my  field  of  labor,  nearly  two  hundred  miles 
distant.” 

Curtis  Goddard  was  his  first  colleague,  and  Chautauqua 
Circuit,  his  field  of  toil,  was  equal  in  extent  to  some  Euro- 
pean principalities,  and  even  kingdoms.  His  field  is  thus 
described:  “Commencing  at  Big  Brokenstraw,  (now 

Youngsville,)  thence  up  the  Allegheny  River  to  Warren 
and  Kenzua,  thence  in  a zigzag  course  to  the  outlet  of 
Chautauqua  lake,  (now  Jamestown,  New  York,)  thence 
up  the  north  side  of  said  lake  to  Mayville ; thence  to  the 
shores  of  Lake  Erie;  thence  down  said  lake  to  Walnut 
creek  and  Conewango  to  old  Brother  Kent’s ; thence. across 
the  country  to  Silver  creek ; thence  up  the  lake  to  Erie, 
Pennsylvania ; thence  to  Luther  Stone's  and  across  the 
country  to  Mayville ; thence  down  the  north  side  of  Chau- 
tauqua lake  to  Tupper’s  and  Chamber’s ; thence  through  a 
hemlock  and  pine  wilderness  to  Little  Brokenstraw : 
thence  down  said  stream  to  place  of  beginning.  The 
distance  around  the  circuit  was  between  three  hundred 
and  four  hundred  miles,  preaching  thirty  or  forty  times 
each  round.”  Such  was  the  first  field  of  this  glorious 
man  of  God.  His  labors,  hardships,  and  privations  were 
many  and  great,  but  his  success  equalled  them.  He  built 


Samuel  R.  Brockunier. 


349 


the  first  church  on  the  circuit  and  organized  many  so- 
cieties. 

He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in 
1818,  and  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
at  its  organization  in  1825.  In  1821  he  was  sent  to  New 
Castle  Circuit,  but  does  not  seem  to  have  reached  this 
field  of  labor.  While  on  his  way  he  was  requested  to  take 
charge  of  the  work  at  Steubenville,  in  place  of  John  A. 
Waterman,  who  was  then  very  sick  and  not  expected  to 
live.  At  the  end  of  the  first  quarter,  however,  Mr.  Water- 
man had  so  far  recovered  as  to  take  his  place,  and  he  was 
then  sent  to  Beaver  Circuit.  He  labored  on,  and  won 
glorious  victories  for  the  Master  until  1855  when  he  su- 
perannuated and  maintained  that  relation  until  called  to 
his  rest..  Mr.  Brockunier  was  born  in  German  Valley, 
Huntington  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  12,  1795;  and 
died  in  Bloomingdale,  Ohio,  July  22,  1867. — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  XII. , 1868,  p'p.  no,  in.) 

S.  R.  Brockunier  writes  to  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate on  Christmas  morning  in  1863  as  follows:  “It  is 
forty-six  years  this  morning  since  I held  my  first  Christ- 
mas meeting  on  old  Chautauqua  Circuit,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Dunkirk,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  The 
meeting  commenced  at  four  o’clock  in  the  morning  in  a 
school  house  near  Father  Kent’s.  We  selected  the  fol- 
lowing scripture  for  improvement,  viz. : Tor  we  have 

seen  His  star  in  the  east,  and  we  come  to  worship  Him.’ 
Toward  the  close  of  our  remarks,  while  urging  the  ne- 
cessity of  all  to  worship  the  Son  even  as  the  Father,  the 
power  of  the  Most  High  was  wonderfully  manifested  in 
the  congregation.  A stout-hearted  sinner  fell  from  his 
seat  on  the  floor,  and  soon  the  cry  was  raised,  ‘What 
shall  I do  to  be  saved?’  We  changed  our  service  to  a 
prayer  meeting.  About  the  dawn  of  day  the  Star  of 
Bethlehem  appeared  to  him  and  said,  ‘Thy  sins,  which 
are  many,  are  all  forgiven  thee;  arise  and  go  in  peace 
and  sin  no  more.’  And  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days, 
we  had  the  shout  of  a king  in  the  camp  and  a general 
season  of  rejoicing.  Being  young  and  inexperienced,  I 
did  not  think  of  opening  the  door  of  the  church  for  ad- 
mission. I often  thought  of  my  first  convert  on  my 
rounds  on  the  circuit,  and  the  pleasure  I would  have  in 
receiving  him  into  church  fellowship.  But  none  can 


350 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


imagine  my  sad  disappointment  when  I reached  the 
place  and  learned  that  my  fish  had  floundered  into  the 
water.  The  cry  was  raised — 

‘Ho!  every  mother's  son  and  daughter, 

Here's  the  gospel  in  the  water!’ 

and  away  he  went  into  the  stream.  But  from  this  vex- 
atious disappointment  I learned  a very  important  lesson 
in  all  my  future  ministry,  of  near  forty  years,  on  all  suit- 
able occasions  to  open  the  doors  of  the  church  for  ad- 
mission. I find,  on  examination  of  my  memorandum, 
that  in  connection  with  my  several  colleagues  in  my  va- 
rious fields  of  labor,  some  seventeen  thousand  five  hun- 
dred have  been  added  to  the  church,  many  of  whom  no 
doubt  have  reached  the  heavenly  world.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , January  2 , 1864.) 

An  editorial  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  says 
of  Brother  Brockunier:  “He  was  a man  mighty  in  his 

day  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  is  entitled  to  be  had 
in  lasting  remembrance  and  gratitude  by  those  who  are 
now  reaping  the  fruit  of  labors  performed  by  him  and 
his  co-adjutors.  . . . Among  such  men  at  that 

day,  and  for  many  years  before  it,  no  man  was  more 
gladly  heard  by  the  common  people,  or  wielded  a might- 
ier influence  for  good  on  such  assemblages  (camp  meet- 
ings) than  Mr.  Brockunier.  At  the  sound  of  his  clarion 
voice  — loud,  clear,  musical  — other  noises  quickly 
stopped,  loiterers,  hearing  its  trumpet  tones  from  afar, 
quickened  their  pace,  and  when  the  still  rising  motions 
of  his  soul  deepened  into  pathos,  it  fell  with  such  resist- 
less power  on  the  assembled  thousands  that  the  slain  of 
the  Lord  were  many.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
February  1,  1868.) 

Ira  Eddy  and  His  Work. 

John  McLean  writes  the  following  memoir  of  Ira 
Eddy : “Ira  Eddy  was  born  in  Sherburne,  Rutland 

County,  Vt.,  March  31,  1796.  and  died  in  holy  triumph 
in  Cortland,  Trumbull  County,  O.,  November  1,  1874, 
aged  seventy-eight  years  and  seven  months. 

“He  was  converted  to  God  in  his  nineteenth  year;  so 
powerful  was  the  change,  and  so  completely  was  his  soul 
filled  with  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God  and  the  salvation 
of  sinners,  that  his  life’s  calling  was  clearly  indicated. 


wm 


Ira  Eddy  and  His  Work.  351 

■ 

Early  after  his  conversion  he  was  licensed  to  exhort  and 
to  preach  the  gospel.  He  was  first  employed  in  the  regu- 
lar work  in  1816  by  J.  B.  Finley,  then  a Presiding  Elder 
in  the  Ohio  Conference,  and  sent  to  Chautauqua  Circuit, 
New  York.  In  the  ensuing  spring  he  was  sent  to  She- 
nango  Circuit,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  labored  until  Sep- 
tember, 1817,  when  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  and  sent  as  junior  preacher  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  ordained  deacon  and  received  into  full 
connection  in  1819,  and  in  1821  was  ordained  elder. 

“Now  in  the  full  functions  of  the  ministry,  he  went 
forth  a flaming  herald  of  gospel  truth  and  continued  in 
the  work  for  a period  of  about  fifty  years.  A portion 
of  that  time  he  served  as  Presiding  Elder,  in  which 
office  he  was  much  esteemed  and  beloved  by  his  brethren. 

“Mr.  Eddy  was  a man  of  more  than  common  stature, 
of  full  habit  but  not  corpulent  or  overburdened  with 
flesh,  straight  and  dignified.  He  had  a round,  full  and 
sonorous  voice,  which  without  straining  it,  would  fill  the 
most  capacious  temple  of  worship,  and  ring  out  in  the 
distance  in  the  forest  at  camp  meetings. 

“Mr.  Eddy  studied  to  show  himself  a workman  that 
needed  not  to  be  ashamed.  His  application  to  books  was 
most  intense;  beginning  his  ministry  with  limited  attain- 
ments, he  found  it  necessary  to  give  himself  to  reading 
and  study,  and  this  he  did  of  choice  more  than  of  ne- 
cessity. In  order  thereto,  he  would  constantly  rise  from 
his  bed  at  4 a.  m.  and  spend  the  time  in  reading,  medi- 
tation and  prayer  until  called  to  breakfast,  and  as  often 
as  the  duties  of  the  day  would  allow  he  would  return  to 
his  books. 

“He  made  commendable  progress  in  the  study  of  the 
Hebrew  and  Greek  languages,  so  that  he  could  read  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  their  original  tongues.  In  his  jour- 
neyings  to  and  fro  he  would  seldom  leave  a house  where 
he  had  called  for  rest  and  refreshment  without  praying 
most  fervently  for  God’s  blessing  to  rest  upon  the  in- 
mates. More  than  a few  times  in  his  long  rides  between 
appointments,  night  overtaking  him,  he  would  tie  his 
horse  to  a sapling,  and  making  his  saddle  and  saddle- 
bags his  pillow,  would  give  himself  to  sleep  until  the 
morning  dawn,  and  then  pursue  his  way.” 


352  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Ira  EcUly  assisted  D.  D.  Davidson  on  the  Chautauqua 
Circuit  in  1816.  Mr.  Gregg  relates  the  following,  which 
illustrates  his  devotion  to  the  one  work  of  saving  souls : 

“Having  some  relations  residing  in  the  village  of 
W arren.  Mr.  Eddy  was  invited  to  preach  there  occasion- 
ally. On  his  way  up  the  river  from  Youngsville  he  lost 
a shoe  from  his  horse,  and  the  animal  soon  became  too 
lame  to  proceed.  About  three  miles  below  Warren, 
right  on  the  bank  of  the  river  stood  a blacksmith’s  shop, 
the  sight  of  which  greatly  relieved  the  feelings  of  our 
young  itinerant.  He  halted  and  inquired  if  he  could 
get  a shoe  set.  The  blacksmith  replied,  ‘Not  to-night.’ 
Mr.  Eddy  assured  him  that  he  could  go  no  further  in 
that  condition.  The  smith,  not  in  the  least  suspecting 
the  character  of  the  young  man,  told  him  that  if  he 
would  stay  all  night  he  would  shoe  his  horse  in  the 
* morning.  Mr.  Eddy  gladly  accepted  the  invitation,  dis- 

mounted and  put  up  his  horse,  little  thinking  what  kind 
of  a host  he  was  stopping  with.  When  the  blacksmith 
had  finished  his  day’s  labor  he  came  into  the  house,  and 
when  about  retiring  to  bed  Mr.  Eddy  respectfully  asked 
the  privilege  of  praying  with  the  family.  The  rough- 
looking blacksmith  stood  for  a moment  amazed,  as  if  he 
scarcely  knew  what  reply  to  make.  He  then  went  re- 
luctantly and  picked  up  an  old  Bible  and  handed  it  to 
Mr.  Eddy.  W hile  at  prayer  Mr.  Eddy  was  greatly 
blessed  and  prayed  with  unusual  fervor,  and  both  of  the 
parents  became  much  affected,  even  to  tears.  The  young 
minister  was  then  directed  to  a trundle  bed,  where  he 
spent  the  night  as  comfortably  as  possible.  In  the  morn- 
ing. before  the  smith  went  to  work,  Mr.  Eddy  again 
read  the  Scriptures  and  prayed  with  the  family,  having 
again  great  liberty  in  prayer,  while  the  family,  the  par- 
ents especially,  were  melted  to  tears.  After  prayer  the 
blacksmith  took  some  coals  of  fire  and  went  to  the  shop 

I to  shoe  the  horse,  according  to  promise.  As  the  good 

woman  wiped  away  her  tears  she  said  to  Mr.  Eddy:  T 

thank  you,  stranger,  for  the  prayers  you  have  offered 
for  us,  for,’  said  she.  T never  before  saw  my  husband 
weep.  He  is/  said  she,  ‘a  dreadful  opposer  of  religion, 
and  especially  of  the  Methodists,  having  been  brought 
up  a Calvinist.’  Mr.  Eddy  felt  certain  that  the  old  man’s 
heart  had  been  warmed,  and  concluded  that  it  was  best 


Ira  Eddy  and  His  Work. 


353 


to  strike  while  the  iron  was  hot,  and  accordingly 
started  for  the  shop.  He  entered  it  just  as  the  smith 
was  taking  a piece  of  red  hot  iron  from  the  fire.  As  he 


had  it  upon  the  anvil  and  was  about  to  strike,  his  feel- 
ings overcame  him,  and  dropping  his  hammer,  the  black- 
smith said  : ‘Sir,  I would  be  willing  to  be  chained  to 

this  anvil  block  and  labor  all  my  life  as  hard  as  a slave  in 
Algiers  if  I could  but  enjoy  what  you  do.’  This  opened 
the  way  for  our  young  itinerant,  who  immediately  com- 
menced preaching  a full  and  free  salvation  to  him  on  the 
one  simple  condition  of  faith  in  Christ,  to  which  the 
blacksmith  listened  with  apparent  astonishment,  until  his 
iron  became  cool,  and  he  was  obliged  to  heat  it  again. 
But  while  the  smith  was  engaged  with  his  hammer  in 
making  the  nails  and  setting  the  shoe,  Mr.  Eddy  was 
engaged  in  applying  the  hammer  of  truth  to  his  heart. 
As  the  last  nails  were  being  driven  Mr.  Eddy  ventured 
to  make  known  the  fact  that  he  was  a Methodist  preach- 
er. The  blacksmith  immediately  besought  him  to  leave 
an  appointment  and  come  and  preach  in  fiis  house  to  his 


neighbors.  The  appointment  was  made,  and  the  young 
preacher  hastened  away  to  his  appointment  in  Warren. 
At  the  time  appointed,  as  Mr.  Eddy  came  in  sight  of  the 
blacksmith’s  shop  he  saw  both  the  old  man  and  woman 
standing  on  an  eminence,  eagerly  looking  for  him  to 
come.  On  riding  up  to  them  they  both  greeted  him  with 
tears  of  joy  as  well  as  with  open  arms,  telling  him  as 
they  grasped  his  hand  how  'God  had  pardoned  their  sins 
and  changed  their  hearts.’  On  entering  the  house  Mr. 
Eddy  found  it  crowded  with  people  anxiously  waiting  to 
hear  his  message  of  mercy.  A revival  of  religion  had 
already  commenced,  and  this  meeting  gave  it  a new 
impetus,  and  in  a short  time  a class  was  formed  consist- 
ing of  Joseph  Mead  and  wife,  Mr.  Owens  and  wife, 
Martin  Reece,  wife  and  mother,  Benjamin  Mead  and 
David  Mead.  The  number  was  soon  increased  to  twenty- 
six  members.”* — (Gregg.  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference , Vol.  i,  pp.  1 50-153.) 


*Ira  Eddy — Licensed  to  preach,  1815;  admitted  on  trial,  Ohio 
Conference,  1817;  full  connection,  1819;  deacon,  1819,  McKend- 
ree;  elder,  1821,  McKendree;  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1825;  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Cortland, 
O.,  November  1,  1874.  Appointments:  1817,  Erie;  1818-’19, 


23 


1 


— 


354 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Charles  Waddle  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Western 
Conference  in  1811,  and  appointed  junior  preacher  on 
the  Deer  Creek  Circuit,  with  Robert  Cloud  in  charge. 
He  became  a member  of  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1812, 
and  received  the  following  appointments:  In  1812,  Salt 

Creek;  1813,  Pickaway;  1814,  Fairfield — ordained  deacon 
and  received  in  full  connection;  1815,  Fairfield,  assisted 
by  Michael  Ellis;  1816,  Deer  Creek,  ordained  elder;  1817, 
Brush  Creek;  1818,  Tuscarawas  District;  1819,  Lancas- 
ter District;  1820,  Muskingum  District;  1821,  Lancas- 
ter District;  1822,  Columbus,  with  H.  S.  Fernandes  as 
second  preacher;  1823,  Columbus,  with  Alfred  M.  Lo- 
rain as  second  preacher;  1824,  Fairfield,  with  Homer 
Clark  as  an  assistant;  1825,  Union,  with  John  Sale  and 
William  B.  Christy;  1826,  he  was  expelled.  Mr.  Gregg 
says;  “He  was  a man  of  very  respectable  talents,  and 
a very  useful  and  acceptable  minister.” 

The  Ohio  Conference  was  held  in  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
August  7,  1818,  all  the  bishops  being  present,  Bishop 
William  McKendree  in  the  chair.  We  have  now  parts 
of  two  districts,  five  circuits  and  ten  preachers.  The 
Grand  River  and  Mahoning  Circuit  was  divided,  and 
out  of  the  western  part  were  formed  two  circuits — the 
Grand  River  and  the  Cuyahoga.  The  following  ap- 
pointments were  made;  Ohio  District,  James  B.  Finley, 
Presiding  Elder ; Erie,  Daniel  D.  Davidson  and  Samuel 
Adams;  Mahoning,  Calvin  Ruter  and  John  Stewart; 
Chautauqua,  John  Summerville;  Tuscarawas  District, 
Charles  Waddle,  Presiding  Elder;  Grand  River,  Ira 
Eddy;  Cuyahoga,  Ezra  Booth  and  Dennis  Goddard. 

Mr.  Finley  says:  “I  was  astonished  to  find  what  God 

had  wrought  at  Deerfield  and  the  neighboring  towns. 
The  work  spread  like  fire  in  a prairie,  and  at  every  meet- 

Grand  River;  1820,  Erie;  1821,  Cuyahoga;  1822,  Hudson;  1823, 
superannuated;  1824-’25,  Deerfield;  1826-’27,  superannuated; 
1828-’31,  Ohio  District;  1832,  Deerfield  and  Ravenna;  1833,  New 
Lisbon;  1834,  Twinsburg;  1835-’38,  Warren  District;  1839, 
Youngstown;  1840,  Mesopotamia;  1841,  Akron  and  Middlebury; 
1842,  Middlebury;  1843,  Ellsworth;  1844-’45,  Chardon;  1846,- 
Painesville  and  Willoughby;  1847,  Willoughby;  1848-’49,  New- 
burg;  1850-’51,  Concord;  1852,  Parkman;  1853,  superannuated; 
1854,  Ellsworth;  1855,  Mantua;  1856,  Bristol  and  Mecca;  1857, 
Edinburg;  1858,  Jackson;  1859,  Hubbard;  1860-’62,  superannu- 
ated; 1863,  Northampton;  1864,  Kirtland  and  Chester;  1865,  Vi- 
enna and  Fowler;  1866,  superannuated;  1867-’74,  supernumerary, 
ary. 


J 


Ira  Eddy  and  His  Work. 


355 


in g victory  turned  on  Israel’s  side.  I held  a two  days’ 
meeting  in  Brother  Manary’s  barn,  and  the  work  was 
powerful  and  overwhelming.  All  opposition  seemed  to 
have  ceased,  or  was  borne  down  by  the  tide  of  religious 
influence.  The  following  May  I attended  a quarterly 
meeting  in  the  same  place  and  there  were  at  least  five 
hundred  persons  in  the  love  feast.  In  this  meeting  the 
saints  lifted  up  their  voice  in  praise  to  God,  and  the  sighs 
of  penitents,  mingled  with  the  songs  of  joy,  were  grate- 
ful to  angelic  ears.” — (Autobiography  of  Rev.  James  B. 
Finley , p.  301.) 

Dr.  Samuel  Adams  and  Calvin  W.  Ruter. 

At  a quarterly  meeting  held  at  Brokenstraw  January 
16,  1819,  Robert  C.  Hatton  was  associated  with  John 
Summerville  as  one  of  the  “circuit  preachers,”  as  shown 
by  the  quarterly  conference  minutes. 

Samuel  Adams,  second  preacher  on  the  Erie  Circuit, 
joined  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1818;  he  was  ordained 
deacon  in  1820,  and  elder  in  1822.  He  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organization  in 
1:825.  He  served  the  Mercer  Circuit  in  1822,  Youngs- 
town in  1823,  New  Castle  in  1825,  Youngstown  in  1827, 
and  New  Castle  in  1828. 

“Dr.  Samuel  Adams  in  early  life  was  affected  with 
infidel  principles.  When  considerably  advanced  in  years 
he  was  converted  to  God,  and  called  to  preach  the  gospel 
he  had  once  rejected;  but  refusing  to  obey  this  call  he 
lost  all  his  comfort  and  remained  in  a backslidden  state 
until  1813,  when  by  means  of  a camp  meeting  he  was 
restored  to  divine  favor.  In  1817  he  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference 
in  1818,  having  relinquished  a lucrative  practice  and 
comfortable  home  for  the  gospel’s  sake,  to  which  he  de- 
voted himself  with  earnestness  until  arrested  by  age  and 
infirmities.  In  1829  he  was  placed  in  a superannuated 
relation  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  During  last  win- 
ter he  became  ill  of  a cancer  on  his  knee,  which  resulted 
in  the  process  of  amputation,  and  finally  in  death.  He 
closed  his  sufferings  at  his  own  house,  near  Beaver,  Pa., 
on  March  6,  1832,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and 
the  fifteenth  year  of  his  ministry,  with  peace  and  resigna- 
tion.”— (Minutes  of  Conference,  Vol.  2,  1833,  P • 2I4 •) 


356 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Calvin  W.  Ruter,  brother  of  Martin  Ruter,  entered 
upon  the  work  of  the  itinerancy  in  the  Ohio  Conference 
in  1817,  and  appointed  third  preacher  on  the  Steuben- 
ville Circuit,  with  Samuel  Hamilton  and  William  Knox. 
He  was  received  into  full  connection  and  ordained  dea- 
con in  1819,  transferred  to  Missouri  Conference  in  1820, 
and  ordained  elder  in  1821.  He  became  a member  of  the 
Indiana  Conference  in  1832,  and  was  its  secretary  for  six 
years.  Later  he  became  a member  of  the  Southeastern 
Indiana  Conference.  He  was  a member  of  five  General 
Conferences — 1832,  1836,  1840,  1844  and  1856. 

He  attended  the  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Florence, 
on  the  Patriot  Circuit*  June  11,  1859.  Here,  on  the 
morning  of  that  day,  he  preached  his  last  sermon.  He 
preached  with  more  than  usual  spirituality  and  feeling. 
“In  the  evening,  while  sitting  alone  at  the  house  of  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Thomas  Armstrong,  apparently  in  his 
usual  health  and  engaged  in  singing,  suddenly  the  wheels 
of  his  life  stood  still,  the  clay  tenement  fell  lifeless  on  the 
floor,  and  the  calm  spirit  of  the  aged  minister  was 
breathed  out  sweetly  in  the  bosom  of  God.” — (Minutes 
of  Conferences , Vol.  7,  1859,  p.  274.) 

“John  Stewart  was  born  in  Sussex  County,  New  Jer- 
sey, in  1795;  came  to  Ohio  in  1803  and  was  converted 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1815. 
He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1817, 
and  for  fifty  years  sustained  an  effective  relation  within 
its  bounds.  During  the  early  part  of  his  ministry  he 
traveled  in  Western  Virginia  and  Indiana.  He  served 
as  Presiding  Elder  several  years.  He  was  a good  preacher 
and  a wise  administrator.  Truly  devoted  to  God  and  the 
interests  of  the  church  of  his  choice,  he  gave  full  proof 
of  his  calling  as  a minister  of  the  Word.  On  some  of 
his  charges  he  was  eminently  successful  in  winning  souls 
to  Christ.  In  the  early  years  of  his  ministry  he  was 
associated  with  the  pioneers  of  Western  Methodism,  and 
lived  to  see  the  church  greatly  enlarged,  and  with  his  co- 
laborers, he  was  permitted  to  rejoice  in  the  success  of 
Methodism  in  spreading  scripture  holiness  over  these 
lands.  He  retired  from  the  effective  work  in  the  fall  of 
1866,  and  spent  the  evening  of  his  life  very  pleasantly 
with  his  children  in  Illinois.  When  death  called  he  was 
ready,  and  in  great  peace  he  finished  his  earthly  pilgrim- 


Dr.  Samuel  Adams  and  Calvin  Ruter. 


age  March  io,  1876.”—  (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol 
XVI,  1876,  p.  132.) 

Dennis  Goddard  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1818,  and  appointed  to  the  Cuyahoga  Cir- 
cuit. His  later  appointments  were  as  follows:  In  1819, 
Huron;  1820,  Huron,  received  into  full  connection  and 
ordained  deacon;  1821,  Mahoning,  with  Charles  Elliott 
in  charge;  1822,  Beaver,  with  B.  O.  Plimpton  as  second 
preacher— ordained  elder;  1823,  Deerfield,  with  Elijah 
Field  as  junior  preacher,  and  1824,  Canton.  He  located 
in  1825. 

Ira  Eddy  says  of  the  Grand  River  Circuit:  “I  was 

sent  to  the  Western  Reserve  in  1818.  My  circuit  was 
called  Grand  River,  and  consisted  of  forty-three  town- 
ships, and  appointments  so  arranged  as  to  require  me 
to  preach  in  each  of  them  in  twenty-one  days.  I estab- 
lished preaching  in  Farmington,  Bristol,  Bloomfield,  Or- 
well, Jefferson,  Austinburg,  North  Perry,  Painesville, 
Concord,  Mentor,  Willoughby,  Mayfield,  Orange,  Au- 
burn, Middlefield,  Huntsburg,  Montville,  Thompson,  Le- 
roy and  Hampden,  and  formed  societies  in  Farmington, 
Bristol,  Bloomfield,  Austinburg,  Concord,  Mentor,  Wil- 
loughby, Mayfield,  Orange  and  North  Perry.  I removed 
seventy-five  names  from  the  class  books,  and  yet  had  an 
increase  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-two.” 

Mr.  Gregg  has  found  the  names  of  the  members  of 
these  societies.  He  says  that  in  1819-20  Ira  Eddy  formed 
classes  in  Bloomfield,  Ohio,  with  seventeen  members;  in 
Austinburg,  with  Daniel  Dudley,  Mr.  Wilton  and  wife, 
and  others  as  members ; in  East  Farmington,  with  six 
members,  Joel,  Eli  and  Ira  Hyde  and  their  wives,  and  in 
Mayfield,  consisting  of  Adam  Overrocker,  his  wife  and 
daughter,  Michael  Overrocker,  Daniel  Richardson,  his 
wife  and  daughter,  John  Richardson  and  wife  and  Henry 
Francisco  and  wife. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  pp.  180-181.) 


Nazareth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


The  history  of  Nazareth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
cannot  be  written  without  mention  of  James  Burns,  one 
of  the  pioneer  Methodists  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  was  born  near  Inniskillin,  Ireland, 
in  1778.  His  father  was  a native  of  Scotland,  and  his 


358 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Mfcii 


mother  of  England.  He  came  to  America  in  1794  or 
1795,  and  settled  in  Carlisle,  Cumberland  County,  Pa. 
He  had  been  reared  in  the  Episcopal  faith,  but  now  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  After  a few 
years  he  removed  to  Brownsville,  Fayette  County,  and 
in  1810  he  was  married  to  Mary  Morrow,  near  Bentley- 
ville,  Washington  County,  where  he  purchased  a farm. 
I11  1812  he  came  to  Slippery  Rock  Township,  Mercer 
County,  now  Plain  Grove  Township,  Lawrence  County, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  died  in  1864.  There 
being  at  that  time  no  Methodist  preaching  within  reach 
he  attended  and  supported  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Plain  Grove  until  1818  when  he  withdrew,  and  in  con- 
nection with  James  McKean,  William  Stephenson  and 
others,  formed  a Methodist  class  in  Mercer.  Itinerant 
preachers  held  occasional  services  at  his  home  as  they 
passed  to  and  fro  to  their  appointments  on  the  old  She- 
nango  Circuit.  An  old  record  gives  the  names  of  the 
members  of  the  Burns  class  in  1822  as  follows:  James 

Burns,  Mary  Burns,  Michael  Brown,  Jane  Brown,  Sarah 
Gardner,  Anna  Nelson,  Edward  Hanna,  Sarah  Daniels, 
John  Green,  James  Palmer  and  Isabella  Palmer.  James 
Palmer  was  leader.  The  next  year  this  was  made  a 
regular  appointment.  Meetings  were  held  in  Mr.  Burns’ 
house  until  1840  when  a school  house  was  used,  being 
more  centrally  located.  There  were  several  divisions  of 
the  class,  made  for  prayer  and  class  meeting  purposes, 
one  of  which  met  at  the  house  of  Henry  Guist.  The 
appointment  belonged  to  Butler  Circuit  of  the  Erie  Dis- 
trict until  1831,  but  at  the  formation  of  the  Meadville 
District  it  was  attached  to  Centerville  Circuit.  The  class 
so  increased  in  numbers  that  it  was  decided  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship  at  a central  point,  and  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied was  selected.  Washington  P.  Sedwick  donated 
an  acre  of  land,  and  the  work  commenced.  The  location 
was  in  a dense  tract  of  timber,  through  which  there  were 
no  roads — only  blazed  trees  marking  the  paths.  In  the 
spring  of  1840  the  members  of  this  church  in  the  wilder- 
ness hewed  logs  and  prepared  material,  and  in  March 
they  had  the  raising.  The  church  was  not  dedicated 
until  1843,  when  Israel  Mershon  and  William  Carroll 
were  the  preachers.  They  named  the  church  “Nazareth.” 
In  1859,  the  congregation  having  grown  too  large  for  its 


1 


. Nazareth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


accommodations,  a new  building  was  erected  just  in 
front  of  the  site  of  the  old  log  structure.  The  south 
wing  of  the  class  at  this  time  withdrew  and  built  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  about  three  miles  south  of  Naz- 
areth Church. 

In  1834,  on  the  8th  of  May  was  held  a great  debate 
between  Rev.  John  Munson,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  Alfred  Brunson  on  the  question : “Is  the  doctrine  of 
predestination,  election  and  reprobation,  as  held  in  the 
confession  of  faith,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  scriptur- 
al or  not?”  The  discussion  was  held  in  the  Plain  Grove 
Church  in  the  presence  of  two  thousand  people  gathered 
from  the  whole  surrounding  country.  Each  side,  as  was 
usual,  claimed  the  victory. 

Concord,  Ohio. 

“Some  time  during  the  conference  year  1818,  Mr.  Bill- 
ings Clark  moved  from  Massachusetts  with  his  family 
and  settled  in  Concord,  Geauga  County,  Ohio.  His  wife, 
Mrs.  Caroline  Clark,  and  her  sister,  Miss  Nancy  Brig- 
den,  were  both  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  immediately  interested  themselves  in 
the  religious  welfare  of  the  neighborhood.  A Metho- 
dist society  had  been  formed  previously,  but  was  broken 
up  by  internal  dissensions.  Ira  Eddy,  preacher  on  the 
Grand  River  Circuit,  was  invited  by  Mr.  Clark  to  preach 
in  his  house,  which  afterward  became  the  home  of 
Methodist  preachers,  and  for  several  years  their  preach- 
ing place.  Soon  a revival  of  religion  commenced,  which 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a class  consisting  of  Asa 
Mallory  and  wife,  Lemuel  Baldwin,  Simeon  Winchel, 
Caroline  Clark  and  Nancy  Brigden.  The  last  named 
lady  in  about  one  year  after  this  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mr.  Eddy,  and  shared  with  him  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  forty  years  in  the  itinerant  work.  The  next 
time  Mr.  Eddy  came  round  the  work  had  spread,  and 
six  more  united  with  the  class,  and  among  them  was  Mr. 
Billings  Clark,  who  joined  only  as  a seeker,  but  was  soon 
happily  converted  to  God.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Metho- 
dism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  pp.  173-174J 

In  1818  William  Horton,  a local  preacher,  commenced 
holding  meetings  at  Brady's  Bend,  or  Great  Western. 
Armstrong  County,  Pa.,  and  in  1825  he  was  able  to 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


360 

form  a class  of  fourteen  members.  William  Horton,  wife 
and  two  daughters,  Samuel  Lafevre,  wife  and  daughter, 
Thomas  McClure  and  wife,  Samuel  Phillips,  Robert 
Phillips  and  wife,  John  Phillips  and  Thomas  Phillips. — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  Vol.  1 , 
p.  242.) 

The  Hampden-  Circuit. 

Hampden,  Ohio,  charge  at  present  consists  of  three  ap- 
pointments— Hampden,  Montville  and  Brakeman.  For 
many  years  it  was  only  Hampden  and  Montville,  but  in 
1900  Breakman  was  added.  The  first  Methodist  min- 
ister to  preach  in  Hampden  Township  was  a young  man 
by  the  name  of  Ruark,  his  congregation  consisting  of 
six  women,  three  men  and  four  children,  and  his  text 
was,  “Seek  the  Lord  and  ye  shall  live.” 

In  1818  Philip  Green  and  William  H.  Collins  rode 
the  circuit,  preaching  in  Hampden  every  two  weeks. 
The  latter,  on  request,  preached  a sermon  on  “Samson’s 
Fox  Raid  Against  the  Phillistines,”  in  which  he  told  the 
Hampdeners  that  “the  devil's  prospects  for  catching  souls 
in  Hampden  were  better  than  Samson's  for  catching 
foxes  in  Israel.”  This  led  to  a discontinuance  of  the 
labors  of  our  Methodist  brethren  in  this  vineyard  for 
the  time. 

In  1822  Augustus  Sisson  settled  in  the  township  and 
soon  a small  Methodist  society  was  organized,  composed 
of  Mr.  Sisson  and  wife,  Charity  Stebbins  and  John  P. 
Bosley.  From  this  modest  beginning  sprang*  the  present 
Methodist  Church  at  Hampden,  which  was  built  in  1847 
at  a cost  of  $1,200,  and  in  1866  was  remodeled  at  a cost 
of  $3,000. 

The  parsonage,  which  was  at  Montville,  was  sold  to 
apply  on  church  repairs,  and  the  present  parsonage  is  at 
Hampden. 

The  class  at  Montville  was  organized  by  John  Craw- 
ford at  the  residence  of  Capt.  E.  Moore.  L.  D.  Prosser 
was  second  preacher  on  the  charge.  The  society  con- 
sisted of  Capt.  E.  Moore  and  wife,  Mrs.  Almeda  Moore, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Miller  and  Jonathan  Whitney  and  wife. 
In  the  fall  of  the  first  year  of  the  organization  Ranel 
Underwood  experienced  religion  and  was  received  into 
full  membership  in  the  church  in  February,  1829.  The 


The  Hampden  Circuit. 


361 


next  year  he  was  appointed  class  leader,  which  office  he 

held  thirty-nine  consecutive  years.  This  society  was  on 
the  Grand  River  Circuit  until  1830.  In  1831  it  appears 
on  Chardon  Circuit.  In  1835  a large  two-story  frame 
church  was  built,  which  has  since  been  remodeled. 

A Methodist  Church  edifice  was  erected  at  Brakeman, 
in  .the  southern  part  of  Leroy  Township,  Lake  County, 
Ohio,  in  the  year  1845  at  a cost  of  $1,000. 

Several  Classes  Organized. 

“A  class  was  formed  in  Newburg,  Cuyahoga  County, 
Ohio,  as  early  as  1818,  which,  after  experiencing  various 
vicissitudes,  became  extinct.  In  the  fall  of  1831  Mr. 
Lyman  Ferris  moved  from  the  State  of  Vermont  and 
settled  his  family  in  Newburg,  and  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  1832,  went  .to  Cleveland  and  invited  Dennis 
Goddard,  one  of  the  circuit  preachers,  to  resume  the  ap- 
pointment, which  he  did,  and  a class  was  formed  con- 
sisting of  Lyman  Ferris  and  wife,  Stephen  Ames  and 
wife,  Cyrus  Chapman  and  wife,  Mrs.  Dr.  Henderson 
and  Mrs.  Wills." — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  1,  p.  290.) 

John  Lewis,  “a  local  preacher  of  respectable  preaching 
talents,  and  of  great  zeal  and  piety,"  came  from  the  East, 
and  with  his  family  settled  in  the  town  of  Harmony, 
Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  and  immediately  began 
to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  his  friends  and  neighbors. 
John  Summerville,  of  the  Chautauqua  Circuit,  now  took 
up  the  work,  and  in  1818  there  was  an  extensive  revival 
of  religion.  A class  was  formed  consisting  of  the  fol- 
lowing members:  Rev.  John  Lewis  and  wife,  Daniel 

B.  Carpenter,  Isaac  Carpenter  and  wife,  John  Pember 
and  wife,  Joseph  S.  Pember,  Henry  Pember  and  Lucinda 
Terry.  Air.  Lewis  lived  to  a good  old  age,  and  died  in 
the  faith  February  26,  i860,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine 
years. — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference, 
Vol.  1,  p.  172.) 

Frey’s  Chapel  class  was  organized  by  Ira  Eddv,  with 
eight  members  in  1817  or  1818,  the  early  meetings  be- 
ing held  in  the  log  cabin  of  Henry  Frey.  They  were 
afterwards  transferred  to  the  school  house,  which  served 
as  the  place  of  worship  until  1851,  when  a neat  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  the  southern  part  of  Conneaut 


362 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Township  at  a cost  of  $1,500.  It  belonged  to  the  Espy- 
ville  Circuit,  but  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Lines- 
ville. — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People,  1895,  P • 

503) 

Mr.  Gregg  gives  the  names  of  thirteen  members  as  fol- 
lows: Phineas  Spafford,  leader,  and  wife;  Henry  Frey, 

wife  and  three  daughters,  Ransley  Spafford  and  wife, 
William  Meeker  and  wife  and  C.  E.  Potter  and  wife. 

A Methodist  class  was  formed  at  Cottage  about  1816 
or  1818,  consisting  of  five  members:  Daniel  Beard  and 

wife,  Caleb  Webb  and  wife,  and  Daniel  Prosser,  who  was 
the  first  leader.  It  was  a part  of  the  Chautauqua  Cir- 
cuit, Ohio  Conference,  and  afterward  of  the  Lake  Circuit, 
Genesee  Conference.  Curtis  Goddard  was  the  first 
preacher,  but  before  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  com- 
pelled to  give  up  the  work  because  of  poor  health,  and 
Samuel  R.  Brockunier  filled  out  the  year.  The  Lake  Cir- 
cuit embraced  all  the  territory  between  North  East  and 
Silver  Creek.  It  was  about  this  time  that  Daniel  Prosser 
became  the  leader  of  the  class.  He  was  converted  while 
at  work  clearing  land  near  where  the  church  now  stands. 
The  little  band  of  worshipers  met  in  a log  cabin,  the  roof 
of  which  was  covered  with  bark.  It  was  largely  through 
the  labors  of  Mr.  Prosser  that  a log  church  was  built  on 
his  farm  one  mile  north  of  the  present  church.  A good 
frame  church  afterwards  took  its  place — erected  in  1846. 
Daniel  Prosser  was  one  of  five  brothers,  four  of  whom 
entered  the  ministry.  He  died  in  1890  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three  years.  His  death  was  caused  by  in- 
juries received  from  a fall.  He  had  always  managed  his 
own  business  on  his  farm.  “He  was  able  to  attend 
church  up  to  the  last,  sang  without  glasses,  and  prided 
himself  in  that  he  could  hold  his  singing  book  without  its 
shaking.' * He  was  a gifted  man  and  of  large  benevo- 
lence. He  left  the  Church  the  use  of  $1,000  “for  ten 
years,  after  the  death  of  his  wife.” 

A class  was  organized  at  Dayton  Summit  by  S.  N. 
Warner  in  1855  or  1856,  consisting  of  five  members: 
J.  H.  Chaffee  and  wife,  S.  Merrill,  and  Jonathan  Shep- 
ard and  wife.  Brother  Shepard  was  the  first  class-leader. 
A church  was  erected  in  1867. 

A class  was  formed  in  Mentor,  Geauga  County,  Ohio, 
in  1818,  consisting  of  Noah  Nowland  and  wife,  Mr.  Brass 


Several  Classes  Organised. 


363 


and  wife,  Mr.  Wilson  and  wife,  and  Mr.  Jewett  and  wife. 
At  that  time  it  was  one  of  the  forty-three  appointments 
belonging  to  Grand  River  Circuit.  Services  were  held 
in  school  houses  and  other  buildings  until  1842,  when  the 
first  board  of  trustees  were  elected.  Of  the  five  original 
trustees,  Erastus  Parmelee  has  held  that  office  continu- 
ously, and  is  still — March  2,  1906 — an  active  and  in- 
terested member.  The  old  church  just  vacated  was  built 
in  1844-5,  subscription  consisting  largely  of  labor, 
lumber,  and  live-stock.  For  a time  the  pews  consisted 
of  planks  on  blocks  of  wood,  but  soon  the  upper  room 
was  finished  and  furnished,  and  dedicated  February  13, 
1848.  In  1866  additions  were  made  and  the  basement 
finished  when  it  was  re-dedicated  by  Bishop  Calvin  Kings- 
ley. ‘ ‘After  sixty-two  years  of  service,  with  lines  true 
and  timbers  sound,  it  passes  to  other  uses,  and  the  ark  of 
God  is  transferred  to  the  new  temple.”  This  was 
erected  at  a cost  of  $17,500,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop  J. 
F.  Berry,  February  4,  1906. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, March  1,  1906.) 

We  have  from  A.  M.  Brown,  traveling  the  Windsor 
Circuit,  an  account  of  the  first  church  erected  in  Meso- 
potamia, Ohio.  Writing  under  date  of  April  8,  1835,  he 
says : “At  present  I reside  in  Mesopotamia,  where  seven- 

teen years  ago,  there  was  a small  society  formed  by 
brother  Ezra  Booth,  consisting  of  six  members,  whose 
hearts  were  united  to  promote  each  others’  good  and  the 
glory  of  God,  in  this  then  wilderness  country.  This  little 
band  met  with  their  difficulties,  trials,  and  oppositions; 
some  prophesied  their  downfall,  while  others  looked  on 
with  careless  indifference,  and  cried  out  ‘’tis  all  enthusi- 
asm.’ But  the  little  band  had  the  Rock  of  Ages  for  their 
foundation,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  for  their  defense;  there- 
fore they  stood  impregnable  to  all  their  foes.  Here  the 
weary  pilgrim  has  often  found  a home,  and  the  wayworn 
pioneer  of  the  cross  a place  to  refresh  his  drooping  spirits. 
In  process  of  time  this  little  society  increased  in  numbers 
and  strength,  and  realizing  that  they  suffered  loss  for  the 
want  of  a convenient  house  of  worship,  after  consulting 
on  the  matter,  they  decided  that  they  must  have  one.  The 
question  was  asked,  ‘When  shall  we  commence?’  ‘Now,’ 
was  the  reply  of  a few  Joshuas.  They  went  forward, 
and  in  a short  time  completed  a respectable  meeting-house. 


W 


364  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

with  a neat  basement  story.  At  the  dedication  of  this 
house  God  poured  out  his  spirit  in  a wonderful  manner, 
and  some  of  the  stout-hearted  and  most  influential  men  of 
the  village  bowed  before  the  Lord.  There  are  at  present 
sixty  in  society,  and  we  have  a good  Sabbath  school, 
furnished  with  a good  library.  God  has  been  good  to  his 
people. 

Suffer  me  further  to  remark,  that  this  enterprising  and 
benevolent  people  are  now  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a 
parsonage  for  the  better  accommodation  of  our  preachers, 
which  will  be  completed  probably  in  September  next." — 
(Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  April  16,  1835.) 

The  Ohio  District. 

J.  B.  Finley  says:  “In  the  Ohio  District,  the  Lord 

lias  manifested  his  goodness  in  the  awakening  and  con- 
version of  many  precious  souls;  especially  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  it.  In  Mahoning  Circuit  about  two  hund- 
red have  been  added.  This  work  commenced  at  a camp- 
meeting held  in  July  last,  in  the  town  of  Deerfield. 
Though  at  the  time  there  was  not  such  appearance  of 
good  as  I have  seen  at  other  meetings  of  the  same  kind, 
yet  it  was  like  bread  cast  upon  the  waters.  Throughout 
the  whole  of  the  meeting  it  was  solemn,  and  the  congrega- 
tion serious  and  attentive ; but  on  the  holy  Sabbath  it  was 
uncommonly  serious,  and  the  ministers  seemed  to  speak 
as  the  oracles  of  God,  and  with  the  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit. 

“Shortly  after  the  meeting  broke  up,  the  work  began  in 
prayer  meetings ; and  in  the  course  of  three  months  the 
society  increased  from  sixteen  to  one  hundred.  After 
our  annual  conference  I visited  that  place,  and  some  of 
the  neighboring  towns,  and  was  astonished  to  see  what 
the  Lord  had  done.  The  work  snread  like  fire  in  stubble. 
At  every  meeting  success  was  on  Israel's  side.  At  a two 
days'  meeting,  held  in  brother  J.  M's.  barn,  the  work  was 
so  general  and  powerful  that  there  was  not  one  to  oppose ; 
and  it  has  progressed  with  increasing  influence. 

“I  attended  a quarterly  meeting  in  the  same  place  on 
the  29th  and  30th  of  May,  and  it  was  said  by  some  that 
eight -hundred,  but  I suppose  five  hundred,  were  in  love- 
feast.  Here  the  saints  lifted  up  their  voices  in  praise,  and 
new-born  souls  shouted  for  joy.  I shall  never  forget  the 


I 


The  Ohio  District. 


365 

close  ot  this  lo\  e-feast.  Our  souls  mingled  together  as 
water,  in  the  bonds  of  peace  and  charity.  Our  Brother 
Bostwick,  an  old  presiding  elder,  seemed  to  be  like  Moses 
on  Pisgah,  and  spake  as  on  the  margin  of  his  inheritance. 
It  was  heaven  on  earth.’  — (Methodist  Magazine  Vol  II 
p.  508.) 

In  1819,  there  were  two  districts  represented  within 
Erie  Conference  territory : The  Ohio  District,  William 

Swayze,  presiding  elder,  and  Lancaster  District,  Charles 
W addle,  presiding  elder.  1 he  Ohio  Conference  met  at 
Cincinnati,  August  7,  Bishops  McKendree  and  George 
both  being  present.  The  Ohio  District  had  the  follow- 
ing appointments:  Erie,  Philip  Green:  Lake— formed 

out  of  portions  of  the  Erie  and  Chautauqua  Circuits  — 
Robert  C.  Hatton,  and  Benjamin  P.  Hill,  employed  by 
the  piesiding  elder  as  a supply;  Chautauqua,  John  Sum- 
merville,  and  Mahoning,  James  McMahon.  Tiie  appoint- 
ments on  the  Lancaster  District  were : Cuyahoga,  Ezra 

Booth,  James  Murray:  and  Grand  River,  Ira'  Eddy.  The 
General  Conference  which  met  in  May,  1820.  changed  the 
boundary  line  between  the  Ohio  and  Genesee  Conferences 
running  it  from  Erie  to  Waterford  and  thence  down 
French  Creek  to  the  Allegheny  River.  Our  territory,  for 

a few  years,  was  formed  of  fragments  of  these  two  Con- 
ferences. 

Clarksville. 

In  1819  James  McMahon,  traveling  the  Mahoning  Cir- 
cuit.  organized  a class  at  Clarksville,  Mercer  County, 
Pa.,  consisting  'of  Samuel  Clarke— the  leader— his 
wife  son  and  daughter,  Samuel  Clarke.  Jr.,  and  wife 
\v  uham  McKmght  and  wife,  and  Widow  McKnight. 

J lie  little  band  of  Methodists  worshiped  for  some  time 
in  a school  house,  but  later  were  able  to  build  a modest 
log  church  which  served  them  until  the  erection  of  the 
present  building  which  was  remodeled  in  1899 

I have  before  me  the  “class  papers”  of  Clarksville  ap- 
pointment from  1821  to  1836.  From  1833  the  title  “class 
book  _ came  into  use.  These  “class  papers”  were  made  by 
t e circuit  preachers,  by  folding  one  or  two  large  sheets 
of  paper,  forming  sixteen  or  thirty-two  pages  of  the  size 
of  those  of  our  Discipline.  The  pages  are  ruled  for  name? 
and  dates,  and  squares  for  marking  the  attendance 
sometimes  the  sheets  are  not  folded  in  book  form.  At- 


366 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


tendance  is  carefully  marked,  and  in  the  average  is  per- 
haps a little  above  one-half  the  membership.  Cases  of 
expulsion  are  not  infrequent.  On  the  first  page  are  the 
names  of  the  presiding  elder,  circuit  preachers,  class-leader 
— and  sometimes  “assistant” — and  some  words  of  exhor- 
tation ; as,  for  instance,  on  the  first  “class  paper”  is  writ- 
ten “Watch  and  pray.  Remember  the  quarterly  fast;” 
on  the  second,  “‘Every  Friday  preceding  each  quarterly 
meeting  is  to  be  kept  as  a day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for 
the  prosperity  of  Zion.  Watch  much,  pray  much,  mark 
your  paper,  and  keep  it  clean.” 

Samuel  Clarke  was  class-leader  until  1833,  when  we 
find  also  the  name  of  Samuel  “Campfield" — the  class  hav- 
ing been  divided;  and  in  1835  that  of  William  G.  Mc- 
Knight.  On  the  last  page  of  the  first  “class  paper,”  1821,. 
we  read:  “Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord 

from  henceforth ; yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest 
from  their  labors ; and  their  works  do  follow  them.” 
Sometimes  the  usual  first  page  writing  is  transferred  to 
the  last  page — on  this  page  of  the  “class  paper”  for  1827- 
8 we  read : “Watch  and  pray.  Pray  for  us,  brethren. 

Love  one  another." 

In  1833  Clarksville  appointment  belonged  to  Salem  Cir- 
cuit, of  which  Cornelius  Jones  and  G.  D.  Kinnear  were 
preachers  in  charge.  Mr.  Gregg  in  his  History  does  not 
place  Salem  among  the  circuits,  though  he  reports  a re- 
vival under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Jones  which  spread  over  the 
circuit,  and  that  “two  hundred  had  been  received  since 
Conference.” 

The  class-book  for  1835-6  gives  the  name  of  Caleb  Fos- 
ter as  one  of  the  circuit  preachers  on  Salem  Circuit,  with 
Ensign  B.  Hill  and  Reuben  Peck.  He  must  have  been 
employed  as  a supply,  since  he  did  not  join  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial  until  the  next  year,  August  17,  1836. 
According  to  the  “Manual  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,” 
by  Dr.  G.  T.  Reynolds,  1889,  he  joined  that  Conference 
the  same  year  at  an  earlier  date,  July  20,  1836,  and  was 
appointed  to  Burgettstown — S.  Lauck,  circuit  preacher  «n 
charge.  Gregg  says  he  was  discontinued  in  1837,  and 
the  “General  Minutes”  say  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Pittsburg  Conference.  The  Journal  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence records  his  reception  on  trial,  but  contains  no  other 
reference  to  him. 


Clarksville. 


367 


On  the  last  page  of  the  ‘“class  paper”  for  Clarksville 
appointment,  which  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  leader 


presumably  by  Henry  Knapp,  circuit  preacher,  January 
21,  1824,  we  find  the  following:  “Remember  thy  Cre- 

ator in  the  days  of  thy  youth— Solomon.  N.  B.  You 
will  see  within  a long  list  of  probationers,  some  of  whose 
probation  is  expired.  I did  not  think  myself  duly  au- 
thorized to  attend  to  their  examination  and  reception  into 
full  membership,  therefore  I refer  them  to  your  notice, 
hoping  you  will  attend  to  their  case.  E.  H.  Field.  To 
the  preacher  in  charge  who  shall  come  next  September  13, 
1824.”  According  to  Gregg,  Henry  Knapp  was  the  only 
circuit  preacher  on  the  Mercer  Circuit,  of  which  Clarks- 
ville was  an  appointment.  The  “class  paper”  names  three 
circuit  preachers.  Henry  Knapp  and  John  Chandler  are 
named  on  the  first  page,  and  E.  H.  Field,  on  the  last  page, 
as  above.  John  Chandler  evidently  served  as  a supply 
until  the  meeting  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  September  2. 
1824,  when  he  was  received  “on  trial.”  Besides  the  au- 
thority of  the  “class  paper”  the  minutes  of  the  quarterly 
conferences  of  Mercer  Circuit  show  that  he  was  present 
as  one  of  the  circuit  preachers  at  the  quarterly  conference 
held  February  1,  1824.  He  must  have  supplied  while  yet 
an  exhorter,  since  he  is  named  as  one  of  the  circuit  preach 
ers  in  the  class  paper  dated  January  21,  1824.  though 
not  licensed  to  preach  until  the  meeting  of  the  “quarterly 
meeting  conference”  held  at  Salem,  May  15,  1824.  When 
admitted  into  the  Ohio  Conference,  he  was  appointed  to 
other  work ; and  at  the  same  time,  or  at  some  later  date, 
E.  H.  Field  was  transferred  from  Deerfield  Circuit,  where 
he  had  been  traveling  as  junior  preacher  with  Dennis  God- 
dard, to  Mercer  Circuit  to  assist  Mr.  Knapp.  He  was 
present  at  the  quarterly  conferences  held  May  15,  1824, 
and  August  16,  1824.  The  above  entry  in  the  “class  pa- 
per would  seem  to  show  that  he  had  been  left  in  charge 
of  the  circuit,  and  yet,  for  some  reason,  did  not  consider 
himself  authorized  to  received  probationers  into  full  mem- 
bership. Was  Brother  Knapp  sick?  What  had  hap- 
pened ? 

The  State  Line  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  or- 
ganized with  fourteen  members  in  1819  by  E.  Moon, 
who  became  the  first  pastor.  The  meetings  were  held  for 
many  years  in  a school  house,  but  in  1851  a church  edi- 


368 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


tiee  was  erected  at  a cost  of  $1,100.  This  stood  in  the 
southwestern  corner  of  West  Shenango  Township,  but 
drew  its  congregation  from  Mercer  County  also  as  well 
as  from  across  the  Ohio  line.  Peter  Royal,  William 
Yoke,  Henry  Royal,  John  Betts  and  Mr.  Edwards  and 
wife  were  among  the  first  members. — (Bates,  Our  County 
and  Its  People,  1899,  p.  662.) 

Some  Old  Records. 

The  quarterly  meeting  conference  for  “Chetauque” 
Circuit  was  held  at  Brokenstraw  January  16,  1819;  Jas. 
B.  Finley,  P.  E. ; John  Summerville  and  Robert  C.  Hat- 
ton, C.  P. ; David  Smith  and  John  Gregg,  L.  P. ; Abra- 
ham Davis  and  Walter  Young,  stewards  ; Isaac  Connelly 
and  John  Camps,  exhorters;  William  Arthurs,  Joseph 
Mead  and  John  Wilson,  class  leaders.  Henry  Knapp 
was  recommended  by  the  Hanover  society  for  license  to 
preach,  but  not  being  present,  action  was  postponed  until 
the  next  quarterly  conference.  This  was  held  in  the 
same  place,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  the  case  of  Knapp. 
The  licenses  of  the  following  persons  were  renewed : 
As  local  preachers,  John  Gregg,  John  Crippen,  Levi 
Danes,  David  Smith,  Bernard  Bort;  as  exhorters,  John 
Camps,  Isaac  Connelly,  Henry  Crane,  Benjamin  Mead, 
W illiam  Gray,  Moses  Morgan,  Lyman  Crane,  Elijah 
Morrison.  ‘‘Brother  Walter  Young  resigned  the  office 
of  steward,  and  the  conference  proceeded  to  appoint  two 
stewards  according  to  discipline.  Rufus  Frost  and  Wil- 
liam Wilson  were  appointed.  Abraham  Davis  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  for  the  eifeuit  and  directed  to  purchase 
a book  for  the  purpose.” 

At  the  quarterly  conference  held  October  9,  1819,  “at 
the  house  of  Stephen  Wilcox,”  Elijah  Morrison  applied 
for  license  to  preach,  but  “for  want  of  information” 
the  application  was  not  successful.  “The  conference 
gave  him  permission  to  preach  on  the  circuit  under  the 
preacher  of  the  circuit  for  three  months,  or  until  next 
quarterly  meeting.  It  was  moved  and  seconded  and 
voted  that  the  expenses  of  the  circuit  should  be  struck 
according  to  their  ability  in  the  different  classes.” 

Isaac  Connelly  had  been  the  secretary  of  the  preced- 
ing quarterly  conference.  Phineas  Stevens  is  now  sec- 


Some  Old  Records. 


369 


retary,  and  William  Swayze,  Presiding  Elder.  At  the 
fourth  quarterly  conference  held  December  25,  1819, 
Abraham  Davis,  Secretary,  “the  conference  proceeded 
to  the  examination  of  Brother  Morrison  and  continued 
his  license  as  an  exhorter.” 

The  quarterly  meeting  conference  of  June  17,  1820, 
was  held  “at  the  house  of  Brother  E.  Wilcox,”  Phineas 
Stevens,  Secretary.  The  following  action  was  taken : 
‘Voted  that  Brother  Elijah  Stebbins  be  suspended  from 
all  official  office  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 
the  present,  and  deliver  his  parchment  to  the  steward  of 
the  circuit.” 

At  the  quarterly  conference  held  January  9,  1821, 
Ephraim  Hall,  Secretary,  an  important  report  from  a 
committee  was  received  and  action  taken  thereon.  “The 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  accuseth  John  Crippen  of 
Sabbath  breaking  and  quarreling  with  his  family.  He  is 
warned  to  trial,  according  to  our  custom,  and  does  not 
appear.  Before  Isaac  Conely,  John  Camps  and  John 
Gregg,  chosen  as  a committee,  the  following  witnesses 
are  examined : 

“David  Gregg  states  that  he  saw  John  Crippen  on  the 
Sabbath  traveling  the  road  driving  a yoke  of  oxen  with 
a sled  and  carrying  a gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  further 
saith  not. 

“Stephen  Mash  states  that  he  saw  said  Crippen  com- 
ing through  the  field  with  a sled  and  oxen,  and  he 
thinks  he  had  meat  in  the  sled,  and  gun  on  his  shoulder, 
and  further  saith  not. 

“John  Daugurty  states  that  he  talked  with  John  Crip- 
pen concerning  quarreling  with  his  family,  and  he  ac- 
knowledged that  he  had  considerable  difficulty  with  them 
and  that  he  was  very  angry.  He  laid  the  blame  on  his 
wife,  and  further  saith  not. 

“John  Gregg  states  that  said  Crippen  acknowledged 
to  him  that  he  was  from  home,  and  when  he  came  home 
he  found  one  or  two  potato  pits  opened,  and  that  he  . 
was  very  mad,  and  was  about  calling  his  boys  to  an 
account  for  it,  and  his  wife  interfered,  and  that  in- 
creased his  anger  very  much,  and  he  said  that  he  did 
not  know  what  he  did  do,  and  that  the  devil  was  in  him, 
and  that  it  was  a devilish  scrape. 


24 


3/o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


r~ 


“We,  the  committee,  having  taken  into  consideration 
the  above  charges  and  testimony  of  the  same,  agree 
that  the  said  Crippen  ought  to  be  suspended  until  the 
ensuing  quarterly  meeting. 

"John  Gregg, 

“Isaac  Conely, 

“John  Camps, 

“ Committee. 

“I  therefore  suspend  the  said  Crippen  from  all  official 
service  in  our  church  until  the  ensuing  quarterly  meeting. 

“Philetus  Park  us. 

“December  13,  1820.“ 

The  following  action  was  taken  by  the  quarterly  con- 
ference: “The  case  of  John  Crippen  referred  to  the 

quarterly  meeting  conference,  who  was  suspended  for 
immorality.  The  conference,  after  considering  the  crime 
and  the  witnesses  brought  against  him  before  the  com- 
mittee of  inquiry,  they  consider  him  guilty,  and  there- 
fore consider  him  no  longer  a member  of  our  church.” 

The  quarterly  conference  held  at  Warren,  April  14, 
1821,  restored  Elijah  Stebbins  to  his  office  and  ordered 
his  parchment  returned.  The  quartely  conference,  Elli- 
cott.  Tune  8,  1822,  “voted  that  a lot  be  procured,  house 
built,  and  land  cleared  for  the  use  of  the  preacher,  if 
found  expedient/'  The  next  quarterly  conference 
“voted  to  choose  a committee  for  the  purpose  of  exam- 
ining the  land  to  see  how  much  is  necessary  to  be  cleared 
and  how  large  a house  necessary  to  be  built  for  the  use 
of  the  society.”  The  committee  was  appointed.  It  was 
voted  to  hold  the  next  quarterly  meeting  at  “Goos 
Crick."  This  meeting  was  held  “at  the  house  of  Daniel 
B.  Carpenter,  Harmony,”  November  16,  1822. 

The  quarterly  conference  held  “at  Phineas  Palmiter’s, 
June  7,  1823,  voted  that  Brother  I.  Conely  could  not 
have  a trial  in  the  quarterly  conference  for  neglect  of 
not  attending  Brother  Budd’s  citation  to  trial  in  class.” 

The  following  action  of  a committee  of  inquiry  is  re- 
corded, but  there  seems  to  be  no  reference  to  this  case  in 
the  minutes  of  the  quarterly  conference:  “23  Septem- 

ber, 1823.  Met  at  the  school  house  near  Brother  P. 
Phillips'  for  the  purpose  of  trying  Brother  Henry  John- 
son and  Brother  Michael  Weber  for  practicing  fraud  on 


Some  Old  Records. 


37i 


Samuel  and  Gudiah  Budlong  by  putting  ashes,  dirt  and 
cinders  into  salts  of  lye  sold  to  them.  Brother  Johnson 
acknowledged  he  put  in  cinders  and  ashes,  but  no  dirt. 
Brother  M.  Weber  plead  not  guilty.  The  committee  re- 
ported guilty  of  fraud  in  the  case  above  stated.  Br.  J. 
Phillips,  Br.  P.  Phillips,  Br.  Paddock,  Br.  Picket, 
Br.  A.  Smith,  committee.”  This  year  the  minister’s 
wife  was  provided  for  by  the  quarterly  conference  held 
at  Warren,  September  20,  1823:  “Resolved,  That  Bros. 
Nicholas  Dolloff,  Elijah  Braley  and  Abraham  Pier  be 
a committee  to  procure  suitable  boarding  for  Sister  Abel, 
and  to  see  that  her  board  is  paid  from  the  money  to  be 
drawn  from  the  stewards.” 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  held  at  the  “old  camp  meet- 
ing ground,”  July  3,  1824,  the  following  action  was 
taken:  “Resolved,  That  Asa  Smith’s  license  (as  an  ex- 
horter)  be  left  with  Brother  Joseph  Phillips  to  be  de- 
livered whenever  a difference  now  existing  between  him 
and  Brother  Picket  is  settled.” 

A temperance  resolution  passed  at  the  same  confer- 
ence is  interesting:  “Resolved,  That  the  members  of 

this  conference  are  to  abstain  from  the  spirituous 
liquors  in  their  homes,  as  far  as  possible,  from  using  it 
on  their  farms  or  having  it  used  on  the  same,  and  abso- 
lutely refuse  themselves  the  use  of  it  at  logging  bees, 
raisings,  public  gatherings  and  on  journeys,  and  to  use 
their  endeavors  to  carry  this  resolution  into  effect  among 
their  brethren  and  their  neighbors.” 

“Brother  Levi  Danes  recommended  to  District  Confer- 
ence to  join  the  traveling  connection,  expressly  on  the 
condition  that  when  his  services  end,  neither  himself  nor 
family  are  to  be  chargeable  to  the  connection.” 

The  quarterly  conference  held  “at  the  house  of  Brother 
Charles  Young,”  Chautauqua,  March  12,  1825.  recom- 
mended John  Scott  to  be  admitted  to  the  traveling  con- 
nection. 

The  minutes  of  the  next  quarterly  conference,  the 
fourth,  held  at  Busti,  June  30,  1825,  contain  the  follow- 
ing items,  the  last  in  this  old  record:  “James  Junin  cut 
off  by  quarterly  conference  from  being  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  commencing  a law  suit 
against  his  brother,  James  Sturdevent,  without  previously 
taking  the  steps  as  directed  by  discipline — on  an  appeal. 


372 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“Peter  Riggs,  by  quarterly  conference,  cut  off  from 
being  a member  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 
not  doing  to  others  as  he  would  have  others  do  to  him — 
on  an  appeal.” 

The  Old  Church  in  Gerry. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Gerry  was  the 
first  religious  organization,  and  was  formed  in  or  about 
1819  by  Elder  Jonathan  Wilson.  The  society  was  sub- 
sequently legally  organized,  and  December  12,  1828,  a 
deed  was  executed  by  the  Holland  Land  Company  of 
100  acres  on  lot  53  of  land  appropriated  to  religious 
purposes,  to  James  Scofield,  William  A1  verson  and 
Stoddard  Cannon,  Methodist  members  as  trustees.  In 
or  soon  after  1829,  with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  a 
portion  of  it,  a meeting  house  was  built.  It  stood  upon 
the  west  side  of  the  highway,  about  two  miles  south  of 
Sinclairville.  It  was  the  first  church  built  in  Gerry  and 
in  the  Cassadaga  valley,  and  was  one  of  the  first  meet- 
ing houses  in  the  county.  For  years  it  was  the  only 
church  in  Gerry.  It  was  a center  of  Methodism  and 
was  fondly  regarded  by  the  early  Methodists.  Often 
was  it  a scene  of  religious  revivals  and  its  vicinitv  the 
place  of  holding  many  a camp  meeting.  Adjacent  to  it 
a public  burying  place  was  set  apart  from  this  tract  of 
land.  The  old  church  has  long  since  passed  away,  as 
have  the  earnest  and  faithful  fathers  of  the  little  society 
that  built  it.  They  sleep  in  the  “burial  place  near  the 
spot  where  the  church  so  dear  to  them  was  reared.”  The 
church  was  merged  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Sinclairville.  The  old  meeting  house  went  into  disuse, 
and  was  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire. — (History  of 
Chautauqua  County,  Nezv  York,  pp.  892-893.) 

Perrysburg. 

Methodism  set  up  her  standard  in  Perrysburg  in  1819, 
five  years  after  the  organization  of  the  town.  The  cir- 
cuit, which  included  Perrysburg,  was  a very  large  one, 
and  for  several  years  services  were  held  in  private  houses, 
school  houses,  barns  and  groves.  It  belonged  to  the 
Forestville  Circuit  from  1829  to  1849,  when  the  name 
appears  in  the  list  of  charges.  There  have  been  as  many 
as  six  appointments  on  the  circuit.  The  first  organized 


1 


Perrysburg. 


373 


class  seems  to  have  been  that  of  West  Perrysburg.  It 
was  organized  in  1822,  and  consisted  of  eight  or  ten 
members.  In  1851  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice  which  was  dedicated  about  a year  later. 
There  is  no  record  of  the  organization  of  the  first  class 
in  Perrysburg,  but  the  society  was  legally  incorporated 
November  9,  1843.  A lot  was  procured  and  a church 
erected,  and  dedicated  the  next  year.  The  parsonage  ad- 
joins the  church.  The  church  at  Versailles  was  organ- 
ized January  26,  1842.  The  Methodists  and  Baptists 
united  in  the  erection  of  a house  of  worship,  but  in  1878 
the  former  built  a neat  and  commodious  church.  There 
was  a notable  revival  under  Josiah  Flower  at  the  old 
Minertown  appointment,  and  another  under  Noble  W. 
Jones  at  the  Parker  school  house  and  Versailles,  but  ex- 
tending also  over  the  whole  circuit. 

The  McKean  Class. 

A Methodist  class  was  organized  at  McKean  in  1819 
by  Russell  Stancliff  at  the  hewed  log  house  of  Lemuel 
Stancliff,  about  half  a mile  south  of  the  village,  with 
the  following  members : Job  Stanford  and  wife,  Lucy 

Stanford  and  Polly,  May  and  Deborah  Irish.  The  next 
fall  a revival  added  to  this  little  class  several  members, 
among  which  were  Stutely  Stanford  and  wife,  Seth 
Stancliff  and  James  Bayle  and  wife.  McKean  originally 
formed  a part  of  the  Wesley ville  Circuit.  In  1838  the 
circuit  was  divided,  the  dividing  line  being  the  Erie  and 
Waterford  pike.  The  McKean  Circuit  was  made  to  in- 
clude McKean,  Fairview,  Girard,  Asbury  and  Spring- 
field.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  West  Fair- 
view.  Meetings  were  held  in  school  houses  until  1838 
(the  History  of  Erie  County  says  1837),  when  a sub- 
stantial frame  “meeting  house”  was  built  at  McKean. 
This  was  extensively  repaired  in  1869.  In  1840  Potter 
Sullivan  was  a local  preacher  on  this  circuit,  and  James 
Bayle,  Stutely  Stanford,  Joseph  Weldon  and  J.  G.  Kip 
were  class  leaders.  There  were  three  Sunday  schools 
with  221  scholars.  In  1843  a church  was  built  at  Fair- 

view.  In  i860  the  circuit  was  again  divided.  Girard, 
Fairview,  Mill  Creek  and  Springfield  form  a circuit  on 
the  west.  McKean  and  Edinboro  were  placed  together; 
still  another  change  was  made,  Edinboro  was  set  off,  and 


374 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  charge  was  left  with  McKean,  Summit,  McLean, 
Sterrettonia  and  South  Hill.  A new  parsonage  was 
built  at  McKean  in  1872. 

Benjamin  P.  Hill. 

Benjamin  P.  Hill  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New 
England  Conference  in  1804  and  appointed  to  New  Lon- 
don, with  Abner  Wood  in  charge.  He  was  received  in 
full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  1805  and  elder 
in  1807.  In  1811  he  was  expelled.  In  1818  he  settled 
with  his  family  near  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  and  served  the 
church  efficiently  as  a local  preacher  until  he  “crossed 
the  bar”  in  1840,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  was 
employed  in  1819  and  1820  by  the  Presiding  Elder  to 
travel  the  Lake  Circuit  with  Robert  C.  Hatton,  and  la- 
bored with  wonderful  success.  Societies  were  formed 
at  Conewango,  Westfield,  Ripley,  Gerry  and  Portland. 
In  1822  he  traveled  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  under  the 
Presiding  Elder,  Parker  Buel  in  charge.  Everywhere 
he  did  acceptable  service.  “He  was  a man  of  medium 
height,  stout  built,  round  featured,  full  favored,  with  his 
dark  hair  parted  nicely  on  the  top  of  his  head,  and  hang- 
ing in  graceful  ringlets  on  his  shoulders.  He  possessed 
a clear,  graphic  mind,  well  stored  with  Scripture  knowl- 
edge. His  preaching  was  argumentative,  animating  and 
powerful.  In  private  intercourse  he  was  exceedingly 
pleasant  and  musical,  possessing  a rich  fund  of  religious 
anecdotes  which  he  could  tell  with  peculiar  zest.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , Vol.  1, 
P • 204) 

William  Swayze. 

In  1 790,  J.  Sampson,  a ship-rigger  by  trade,  was  sailing 
on  a small  craft  down  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  when  he  was 
overtaken  by  a violent  storm.  Failing  to  make  a harbor, 
he  took  in  sail  and  let  the  anchor  go.  He  despaired  of 
saving  himself  or  the  vessel  from  the  wrath  of  the  sea. 
A Roman  Catholic  in  faith,  he  looked  to  God  alone  for 
deliverance,  telling  his  beads  in  honest  and  earnest  de- 
votion. Suddenly  a light  broke  into  his  soul  and  he  was 
filled  with  joy  and  peace,  and  at  the  same  time  the  tempest 
ceased.  “He  instantly  left  his  cabin,  which  he  had  viewed 
upon  entering  as  his  tomb,  and  came  forth  upon  the  deck ; 


William  Swayze. 


375 


and  behold,  it  was  all  calm  without,  truly  emblematical  of 
what  he  enjoyed  within,  a clear  sky  and  a smooth  sea;  his 
little  bark  majestically  riding  at  anchor,  while  the  moon, 
stars,  and  surrounding  deep,  seemed,  as  he  thought,  to 
unite  their  glories  in  contributing  to  his  inexpressible  joy. 
As  he  never  read  the  Scriptures  on  subjects  of  this  char- 
acter, or  heard  of  such  things  before,  he  had  no  name  to 
give  it ; yet  fully  satisfied  of  the  fact  that  it  was  the 
Lord’s  doings,  however  marvellous.  After  walking  his 
deck  for  some  time  wondering  and  adoring,  he  weighed 
anchor  and  made  sail.  Having  a fair  breeze,  he  soon  ar- 
rived in  Baltimore,  just  as  the  people  were  collecting  for 
church.  He  fell  in  with  the  crowd,  and  entered  for  the 
first  time  a Methodist  chapel.  It  being  a love-feast  meet- 
ing-, he  sat  and  heard  to  his  astonishment  his  own  recent 
views  and  feelings  related.”  He  became  a member  of 
the  Church,  and  was  appointed  class-leader  in  which  office 
he  labored  with  great  acceptability  and  efficiency. — 
(Narrative  of  William  Swayze,  Vol.  I,  pp.  42-44.) 

Ten  years  later,  he  was  attending  a meeting  on  Fell’s 
Point,  Maryland,  when  he  noticed  a young  man,  about 
seventeen  years  of  age,  in  the  aisle  of  the  church,  evi- 
dently under  deep  conviction.  He  went  to  him,  put  his 
arm  around  him,  and  led  him*  to  the  altar  and  prayed  for 
his  conversion.  The  next  morning,  this  young  man, 
entered  an  unoccupied  building,  next  to  the  one  where  he 
lived,  ascended  to  the  third  floor,  and  passed  through  an 
open  window  to  a scaffold,  resting  under  an  awful  weight 
of  sin.  He  says : “All  on  a sudden  I felt  a touch  on  my 

forehead  like  the  blaze  of  a candle  (but  no  pain),  which 
immediately  ran  through  my  whole  body  like  an  electric 
shock.  My  load  was  gone,  and  I felt  as  calm  as  infant 
innocence.  I looked  east,  west,  north,  and  south — all  ap- 
peared glorious — a new  city — a new  world.  It  came  as 
perceptible  as  if  announced  by  an  audible  voice:  ‘Son, 

thy  sins,  which  were  many,  are  all  forgiven  thee.’  Ah ! 
thought  I,  this  is  what  the  Methodists  call  getting  con- 
verted.”— (Narrative  of  William  Szvayze,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  57- 
41-) 

This  young  man  was  William  Swayze.  He  was  born 
near  Asbury,  New  Jersey,  November  18,  1784.  His  par- 
ents were  devoted  Christians,  and  thir  house  became  the 
preachers’  home.  Speaking  of  his  mother  and  influence 


3/6 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


r 


of  her  prayers,  he  says:  “It  was  likewise  her  usual  prac- 

tice to  convey  us” — himself  and  his  twin  brother — “to  the 
place  of  her  evening  devotions,  which  was  literally  within 
the  cleft  of  the  rock,  there  being  a large  rock  not  far  dis- 
tant. On  its  north  side  was  a cavity,  the  mouth  of  which 
was  shaded  by  a thicket  of  elder  bushes.  This  was  her 
bower  of  prayer.” — (Narrative  of  William  Swayze,  Vol. 
L,  pp.  9,  io.) 

William  Swavze  entered  at  once  upon  religious  work 
with  great  zeal  and  fervency  of  spirit.  With  a local 
preacher’s  license,  he  made  his  first  preaching  tour 
through  Delaware,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Massachu- 
setts, and  Vermont,  and  met  with  marked  success. 

Another  providence  co-operated  in  leading  to  the  con- 
version of  Mr.  Swayze.  A pious  colored  servant,  Peter, 
belonged  to  his  father’s  family.  One  Saturday  this  ser- 
vant assisted  Mr.  Swayze  in  grinding  his  pen-knife. 
While  engaged  in  this  work,  he  inquired  of  his  young 
master  with  great  solicitude  why  he  never  attended  meet- 
ting?  “What  meeting?”  was  asked.  He  replied,  “De 
Metadist.”  Mr.  Swayze  answered,  “Peter,  I am  too 
wicked.”  He  rejoined,  “You  are  de  very  person  ought 
to  go  and  get  good.”  The  good  African  was  promised 
that  he,  concerning  whom  he  was  so  solicitous,  would  go. 
The  servant  now  added:  “Dare  is  great  many  great 

preachers  in  de  city.  It  is  Conference  time.”  He  attend- 
ed the  service  Sunday  and  was  deeply  convicted  of  sin 
under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  J.  Chalmers,  a powerful  re- 
vivalist. He  was  converted,  as  has  been  related;  and  re- 
ceived into  the  Church  by  Rev.  Philip  Bruce. 

Mr.  Swayze  was  received  into  the  New  York  Confer- 
ence in  1807,  and  began  a course  of  eight  years  evange- 
listic travels,  chiefly  on  New  England  circuits.  In  1815 
he  was  transferred  to  Ohio  Conference  and  appointed  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in  1817  he  was  sent  to  Deer  Creek 
District.  In  1819*  he  was  appointed  to  Ohio  District  in 
territory  that  afterward  formed  a part  of  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  “his  labors,  for  almost  four  years,  were  crowned 
with  unexampled  success.” — ( Minutes , 1842.) 

By  the  division  of  the  Conference  in  1824,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  and  appointed  to  the 

♦Stevens  says  he  took  charge  of  the  Ohio  District  in  1820.— 
(History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  340.) 


William  Szvayze.  377 

Erie  District.  In  1828  he  superintended  the  Canton  Dis- 
trict. In  1830  he  was  re-transferred  to  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference. After  twenty-seven  years  of  labor  and  suffer- 
ing, he  was  at  last  promoted  to  the  superannuate  relation , 
and  by  invitation  of  that  body  returned  to  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  where  he  remained  until  he  departed  to  his 
final  rest,  “a  martyr  to  his  work,”  at  Edinburgh,  Ohio,  in 
1841,  in  great  resignation  and  peace. — ( Stevens , History 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church , Vol.  IV.,  p.  340.) 

“Mr.  Swayze  was  a very  remarkable  man,  differing 
greatly  from  Finley,  Young  and  Gruber,  but  in  moving, 
melting  eloquence  not  inferior  to  either  of  them;  tall, 
straight,  and  slim  in  person,  with  great  power  of  endur- 
ance. His  complexion  was  dark,  black  eyes,  deeply  set, 
and  very  expressive.  His  voice  possessed  great  compass, 
and  was  perfectly  at  his  control.  At  times  it  would  be 
soft  and  mellow,  musical  and  pleasing;  then  it  would  be- 
come like  peals  of  thunder,  or  the  roar  of  a lion.  Him- 
self full  of  feeling  and  interest,  and  possessing  a wonder- 
ful command  of  the  feelings  of  others,  he  would  at  times 
sway  the  multitude  of  astonished  listeners  like  trees  by 
a hurricane.  The  first  half  hour  of  his  sermon  was 
usually  dry  and  dull,  then  he  would  begin  to  warm  up. 
always  imparting  his  warmth  to  his  auditors,  then  rising 
rapidly  in  the  sublimity  of  his  theme,  impressiveness  of  his 
manner,  clearness  and  force  of  his  utterance,  carrying  his 
congregation  up  with  him,  until  they  would  rise  from  their 
seats  and  rush  toward  the  speaker,  some  weeping,  others 
shouting,  here  one  pleading  for  mercy,  and  there  others 
falling  like  dead  men.  But  the  grandest  scene  would  be 
at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  when  he  made  his  grand  rallv 
for  mourners  to  come  to  the  altar  for  prayer.  At  camp- 
meeting we  have  seen  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  persons 
gathered  around  the  altar  at  once.  Then  what  praver- 
meetings  would  follow,  with  perhaps  a hundred  penitents 
pleading  for  mercy,  and  two  or  three  hundred  Christians 
pleading  with  all  their  might  and  all  at  once  for  them, 
making  the  roar  of  Niagara  a tame  affair  in  comparison. 
Mr.  Swayze  could  never  contentedly  close  a quarterly 
meeting  or  a camp-meeting  without  having  a big  break  in 
the  ranks  of  the  wicked.  He  was  not  a close  student,  not 
a brilliant  sermonizer,  but  no  man  could  excel  him  in  get- 
ting sinners  converted  to  God.  We  will  venture  here  the 

I 


378 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


opinion  that  more  souls  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  have  gone  up  to  shine  like  stars  in  the  heavenly  sky 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Rev.  William  Swayze  than 
any  other  man  dead  or  living.” — ( Gregg , History  of 
Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  I .,  pp.  178,  179.) 

In  a letter  published  in  the  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal,  June  29,  1838,  originally  addressed  to  Rev.  D. 
Ostrander,  his  first  colleague,  Mr.  Swayze  speaks  of  his 
work  as  a superannuate:  “Our  first  meeting  was  in  the 

town  of  Clarksville,  a place  (as  usual,  during  building 
operations)  prominent  for  practical  infidelity.  Here  cold- 
ness and  deadness  remained.  After  much  hard  labor, 
with  little  apparent  effect,  Judah’s  Lion  appeared  in  our 
midst.  Hie  thunder  of  his  power  brought  many  to  own 
his  sovereign  sway.  In  concluding,  seventy  gave  their 
names  for  membership.  . . . The  succeeding 

meeting  was  held  in  a flourishing  village  called  Green- 
ville. Here,  as  in  the  former,  a hard  contest  ensued, 
when  necessity  required  a little  of  St.  Paul’s  strategem, 
which  accomplished  much  good — perhaps  some  would 
call  it  ‘mechanical however,  our  preaching  and  praying 
were  not  stereotyped.  . . . This  meeting  closed 

with  an  addition  to  the  number  of  forty,  leaving  many 
wounded  spirits.  The  succeeding  was  in  the  town  of 
Salem,  which  is  the  emporium  of  Methodism  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  noted  for  age  of  membership,  useful  tal- 
ents, etc.  This  is  the  place  of  our  venerable  Bishop 
Roberts’  first  rural  location.  Here  I met  him  and  his 
amiable  companion  eighteen  years  since,  in  their  well 
regulated,  though  humble,  mansion,  like  an  old  Joshua, 
surrounded  by  his  numerous  friends  and  relatives.  The 
evening  was  agreeably  spent  in  hearing  him  relate  his 
first  adventures,  juvenile  excursions,  etc.  He  conveyed 
me  to  the  spot  where  he,  with  others,  formed  their  first 
class,  under  the  shade  of  the  evergreen — truly  emble- 
matic of  their  future  prosperity.  . . . These  re- 

treats of  ravenous  beasts  now  furnish  the  peaceful  walks 
of  the  redeemed.  . . . Thirty  were  admitted  on 

probation  and  twice  that  number  of  supposed  hopeful 
conversions.  . . . Our  winter  campaign  closed  in 

the  town  of  Johnson,  Ohio.  Here  we  had  to  meet  Na- 
poleon's warring  elements,  storms  of  rain  and  snow, 
eruptions  of  earth,  dark  nights,  sickness,  etc.  However, 


* 


William  Swayjze. 


379 


some  fifteen  or  sixteen  commenced  a religious  course, 
and  more  or  less  found  peace  in  believing.”  In  clos- 
ing this  letter,  Mr.  Swayze  relates  the  following : “A 

prodigal  returned.  My  information  is  recently  from  a 
Presbyterian  brother.  He  states  a brother-in-law  of  his 
came  to  his  house  after  an  absence  of  many  years,  far 
advanced  in  crime,  consequent  upon  a life  of  prodigality. 
It  seems  he  left  his  father  in  a most  shocking  manner, 
profanely  swearing  he  never  would  confess  or  return  if 
he  rotted  within  one  rod  of  his  door!  Thus  he  left  a 
pious,  expostulating  father  and  went  into  a far  country. 
Being  now  within  a few  miles  of  home,  without,  how- 
ever, any  disposition  to  return,  his  friend  prevailed  on 
him  to  accompany  him  to  our  meeting.  After  seating 
himself  I gave  out  my  text,  Luke  xv.  18,  T will  arise 
and  go  to  my  father/  etc.  He  made  the  case  his  own, 
‘came  to  himself/  and  resolved  to  return.  He  retired 
fully  awake  to  the  enormities  of  his  past  life,  concealed, 
however,  his  feelings  until  some  distance  from  the  meet- 
ing, when  on  the  road,  he  broke  out  in  loud  cries  for 
mercy,  which  he  continued  until  he  obtained  it.  The 
succeeding  day  he  returned  in  company  with  his  friend 
to  his  long-forsaken  and  much-injured  father;  and,  on 
entering  his  dwelling,  fell  on  his  trembling  knees  and 
asked  forgiveness.” — (Narrative  of  William  Swayze, 
Vol.  i,  pp.  207-210 .) 

In  his  “Reminiscences  of  the  Past,”  contributed  to  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference  Journal  in  1835,  Mr.  Swayze 
gives  an  interesting  account  of  his  early  home  life. 

“I  was  born  in  Sussex  County,  State  of  New  Jersey, 
November  18,  1784,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  beauti- 
ful village  of  Asbury,  which  received  its  name  at  the 
time  of  laying  the  cornerstone  of  the  first  house  for  di- 
vine worship  within  its  precincts;  the  venerable  Bishop 
Asbury  being  present,  and  having  delivered  an  appropri- 
ate discourse  on  the  occasion,  the  village  has  since  borne 
his  imperishable  name.  I was  the  youngest  of  ten  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  My  father,  re- 
motely, was  of  French  and  my  mother  of  Holland  ex- 
traction. They  were  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  they  had  all  their  children  baptized. 

“About  these  days  the  first  Wesleyan  pioneers,  Green- 
tree,  Embury  and  others,  came  into'  our  region  of  coun- 


3§° 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


try.  My  mother  being  a great  lover  of  meetings,  went 
out  to  see  and  hear  a strange  preacher.  Perhaps  the 
Samaritan  woman  at  Jacob's  well  was  not  more  aston- 
ished with  the  conversation  of  our  blessed  Savior  than 
she  was  with  the  appearance,  doctrine,  etc.,  of  this  won- 
derful preacher.  Her  language  on  her  return  was  of 
similar  import:  ‘Come  and  see  a man  that  has  told  me 
all  things  that  I ever  did.'  There  being  another  appoint- 
ment made,  my  mother  succeeded  in  securing  the  attend- 
ance of  my  father  and  others,  although  much  alarm  was 
already  produced  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  preacher 
was  stigmatized  as  a false  prophet.  Perhaps  the  doc- 
trine of  the  blessed  Savior  did  not  appear  more  mar- 
velous to  a Nicodemus  than  the  preaching  of  this  Wes- 
leyan missionary  did  to  my  father.  He  returned  with  it 
sounding  in  his  ears.  ‘Ye  must  be  born  again.’  They 
formed  a small  class,  of  which  my  parents  made  a part, 
and  from  that  time  their  house  became  the  preacher’s 
home.  My  father,  by  occupation,  was  a farmer,  miller 
and  cooper,  in  which  he  brought  up  his  sons. 

“My  first  recollections,  however  strange  it  may  ap- 
pear, were  in  reference  to  religious  matters,  which  I at- 
tribute to  the  pious  examples  and  instructions  of  a godly 
mother.  I distinctly  recollect  that  it  was  her  usual  prac- 
tice to  take  myself  and  twin  brother  with  her  to  meeting. 
The  distance  not  being  great  she  would  carry  us  alter- 
nately in  her  arms,  while  the  other  walked  by  her  side, 
aided  by  the  mother’s  hand. 

“It  was  likewise  an  established  usage  with  her  -to  retire 
for  private  devotion  in  the  twilight  of  the  evening.  Her 
place  of  retirement  at  this  hour  was  literally  within  the 
cleft  of  the  rock;  there  being  a rock  not  far  distant  of 
immense  size,  on  the  north  side  of  which  was  a cavity  of 
sufficient  dimensions  to  admit  two  grown  persons.  Its 
entrance  was  shaded  by  a thicket  of  elder  bushes.  This 
was  her  bower  of  prayer.  In  fancy  I yet  view  that  deli- 
cate form,  the  picture  of  undissembled  devotion.  Her 
elevated  eyes  are  beaming  with  virtue's  most  attractive 
charms,  while  her  bedewed  cheek  speaks  the  intensity 
and  fervor  of  her  devotion.  What  adds  to  the  picture  I 
behold  at  the  same  time  two  infants  encircled  in  her  fond 
embrace,  even  while  in  the  act  of  offering  up  her  even- 
ing oblation  to  that  being  who  represents  himself  to  be 


William  Swayze.  381 

the  'shadow  of  a great  rock  in  a weary  land.’  Such 
were  the  impressions  of  early  habit,  that  after  the  de- 
cease of  this  truly  Christian  mother,  myself  and  little 
brother  would  frequently  repair  to  this  solitary  retreat 
and  spend  some  time  on  our  knees  in  thinking  about  past 
scenes,  if  no  more.  I well  recollect  that  after  our  return 
from  her  interment  we  retired  directly  to  this  conse- 
crated spot.  As  an  evidence  of  the  sincere  piety  and 
maternal  solicitude  of  this  sainted  mother,  I would  just 
mention,  that  a short  time  previous  to  her  death  my 
oldest  brother,  who  was  wild,  giddy  and  gay,  fond  of 
the  ball  chamber  and  theatrical  amusements,  was  return- 
ing home  after  an  absence  of  some  time,  and  on  ap- 
proaching the  barn  he  heard  the  voice  of  prayer  and  in- 
stantly recognized  it  to  be  his  mother’s,  and,  what  was 
more  cutting  to  his  thoughtless  mind,  she  was  praying 
for  him. 

“When  about  five  years  of  age  I was  called  to  ap- 
proach the  dying  bed  of  this  pious  mother.  Her  death 
was  sudden  and  unexpected.  The  brother  above  referred 
to  came  into  the  house,  when,  to  his  astonishment,  she 
said : 'David,  call  the  family  in ; I shall  be  dead  in  two 
hours.’  The  family  instantly  collected  around  the  dying 
mother.  This  was  a scene  which  will  never  be  forgot- 
ten. She  first  bade  my  father  farewell,  in  an  address  I 
presume  he  never  forgot;  and  then  addressed  each  child 
from  the  oldest  to  the  youngest.  When  she  called  out, 
'my  little  twins,  come  to  mother,’  we  instantly  rushed  to 
her  fond,  yet  last  embrace,  and  received  her  blessing. 
She  now  committed  her  family  to  the  Divine  protection, 
and  myself  and  twin  brother  to  the  especial  attention  of 
her  two  oldest  sons,  when  she  uttered  her  last  words, 
which  were,  'Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.’  The 
two  hours  above  referred  to,  I am  told,  expired  with  her 
trembling  taper.  This  small  notice  of  so  excellent  a 
mother,  however,  it  may  appear  as  rather  a digression 
from  the  subject  contemplated  in  this  narrative,  is  to  me 
of  more  worth  than  almost  anything  else  attached  to  my 
eventful  life.”* — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal , August 

27, 1835.) 

♦William  Swayze — Licensed  to  preach,  1800;  admitted  on 
trial.  New  York  Conference,  1807;  full  connection,  1809;  deacon, 
1809;  elder,  1811;  transferred  to  Ohio  Conference,  1815;  trans- 


382 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


James  Murray  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1819,  received  into  full  membership  in  1821, 
ordained  deacon  in  1822;  there  is  no  record  of  his  ordi- 
nation as  an  elder;  he  located  in  1825.  His  appoint- 
ments were:  In  1819,  Cuyahoga;  1820,  Delaware; 

1821,  Madison;  1822,  Connersville ; 1823,  Greenville; 
1824,  Wayne  ; 1825,  located. 

Philip  Green. 

Philip  Green  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  army  in  1817,  was 
ordained  deacon  and  received  into  full  connection  in  1819, 
and  elder  in  1821. 

“Philip  Green  was  born  in  the  town  of  Warwick,  Kent 
County,  Rhode  Island,  July  17,  1789.  He  was  the  tenth 
child  of  Jo*hn  and  Mary  Green.  When  he  was  five  years 
old  his  father  removed  from  Rhode  Island  to  the  North* 
west  Territory  and  settled  at  what  is  now  called  Belpre, 
where  he  remained  two  years;  then  removed  seventeen 
miles  up  the  river  to  a place  now  called  Newport,  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Ohio,  where  some  of  his  relatives  yet  live. 
In  that  early  day  an  Indian  war  was  on  hand,  and  scarcely 
any  literary  advantages  to  be  had;  the  land  was  heavily 
wooded ; farms  had  to  be  made  in  the  forest,  the  country 
defended,  and  family  wants  supplied  by  dint  of  industry, 
and  care.  Under  such  circumstances  the  venerable 
Father  Green  got  his  education.  God  knew  the  toils 
' and  labors  that  our  fathers  would  have  to  endure  while 
cultivating  Immanuel’s  fields,  and  wisely  called  the  men 
inured  to  hardship  to  do  the  work. 

“In  his  youth  Father  Green  had  been  a wild  boy,  and 
fond  of  fun ; and  readily  shook  off  his  convictions  and  the 
instruction  of  pious  friends  until  affliction  and  the  death 
of  a dear  friend  aroused  his  slumbering  fears,  which 
brought  him  to  a full  sense  of  his  lost  condition.  His 
energy  of  character,  as  shown  in  after  life,  began  to  be 

ferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Edinburg, 
O.,  March  29,  1841.  Appointments:  1807,  Duchess,  N.  Y.;  1808, 

Buckland,  N.  Y.;  1809,  Cambridge,  N.  Y.;  1810,  Pownall,  N.  Y.; 
1811,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.;  1812,  Duchess,  N.  Y.;  1813-’14,  Litch- 
field. Conn.;  1816-’17,  Columbus,  O.;  1818,  Deer  Creek,  O.;  1819- 
’22,  Ohio  District;  1823,  Portland  District;  1824,  superannuated; 
1825-’26,  Erie  District;  1827-’29,  Canton  District;  1830-’31,  Con- 
ference Missionary;  1832-’33,  Dover,  O.;  1834-’35,  Conference 
Missionary;  1836-’40,  superannuated.  I 


Philip  Green . 


383 


seen.  He  sought  a home  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  near  Newport,  Ohio,  joining  as  a probationer  on 
June  18,  1813.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was  con  - 
verted at  a camp-meeting  near  Parkersburg,  Virginia,  and 
at  once  commenced  praying  with  and  exhorting  sinners 
whenever  he  had  opportunity.  His  labors  were  owned 
and  blessed  of  God  in  the  awakening  of  many  souls,  so 
that,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1814,  R.  C.  Hatton  gave  him  a 
license  to  exhort;  and  in  July,  1816,  David  Young  gave 
him  a license  to  preach,  which  he  faithfully  used  for  one 
year,  when  he  entered  the  traveling  connection,  and  con- 
tinued forty-four  years  as  an  itinerant,  doing  the  work  of 
an  evangelist. 

“Father  Green’s  talents  were  of  the  solid  and  useful 
kind,  rather  than  ornamental ; his  speech  was  plain,  and 
to  the  point,  and  his  arguments  were  biblical.  The 
ground  he  occupied  extended  from  the  head-waters  of  the 
Kanawha  and  the  Monongahela  to  Lake  Erie,  the  head 
of  the  Muskingum  and  its  tributaries  and  the  Alleghanies 
in  Ohio,  in  the  Pittsburg  and  West  Virginia  Conferences. 
His  circuits  were  large,  often  three  or  four  hundred  miles 
round,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  preaching  places  in  four 
weeks ; often  no  roads,  but  paths  with  marks  on  trees  for 
a guide;  log  cabins  for  a home,  coarse  fare,  and  from 
$100  to  $250  for  salary  for  himself  and  family;  many 
deep  and  rapid  waters  to  cross  without  bridges  or  ferries. 
One  day  with  his  family  was  often  all  that  he  could,  spare 
from  his  work  in  a round.  No  storms — either  from  the 
clouds,  men,  or  devils — could  change  his  mind,  or  stop 
him  in  his  course.  He  had  declared  war  against  sin,  and 
made  no  compromise  with  it  either  in  high  or  low  places. 
He  was  a man  of  kind  feelings  and  warm  heart.  He 
loved  his  friends  and  the  Church  more  than  life : and  now 
that  he  has  gone  his  work  lives,  and  his  example  is  a 
standing  rebuke  to  every  timid  and  ease-loving  Methodist 
preacher.  I have  known  him  long  and  well,  and  I think 
it  would  be  hard  to  prove  that  he  ever  asked  for  any  ap- 
pointment in  particular,  or  for  easy  work.  He  always 
accepted  his  appointments  as  from  God,  and  went  to  them 
as  an  obedient  son  in  the  Gospel  and  did  his  work  to  the  x 
best  of  his  ability.  God  owned  him,  and  though  poor,  he 
never  wanted.  He  died  near  Lumberport,  Harrison 
County,  West  Virginia,  January  24,  1869,  in  the  full 


I 


384 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


possession  of  all  his  mental  powers,  in  a green  old  age, 
happy  in  God.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XIII., 

1870,  p.  34.) 

William  Young  was  born  in  the  County  of  Sligo,  Ire- 
land, in  1755.  He  was  converted  in  the  twentieth  year 
of  his  age  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  Charles  Graham,  one 
of  the  earliest  preachers  of  Methodism  in  that  part  of  Ire- 
land. He  came  to  America  in  1791,  and  settled  in  Centre 
County,  1 'ennsyl vania,  where  he  received  license  to  preach. 
He  removed  to  Mahoning,  Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1814  where  he  resided  until  called  to  his  heavenly  home 
in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a faithful 
Christian,  and  his  holy  life  and  conversation  were  a con- 
tinual sermon.  He  possessed  the  art  of  giving  a religious 
turn  to  conversation.  He  was  a man  of  great  fervency 
in  prayer ; his  advice  was  valued  by  his  ministerial  friends : 
and  in  all  humility  he  lived  a life  always  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  During  many  years  he  was  subjected 
to  severe  and  prostrating  afflictions,  and  for  five  years 
was  confined  to  his  bed.  With  Christian  patience  and 
resignation  he  endured  all.  ‘‘The  night  before  he  died 
his  soul  was  under  a cloud  for  a time,  when  he  said  ‘I  am 
being  sifted.’  Soon  the  darkness  was  dispersed,  a 
heavenly  smile  lit  up  his  countenance,  and  he  whispered, 
‘Glory,  glory,  Jesus  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for 

* Philip  Green,  admitted  on  trial  Ohio  Conference,  1817;  full 
connection,  1819;  deacon,  1819,  McKendree  or  George  (both  pre- 
siding) ; elder,  1821,  McKendree  or  Roberts  (both  presiding) ; be- 
came a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1825;  located,  1827;  readmitted,  1828;  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1837;  became  a member  of  the  West  Virginia 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1848;  deceased,  near  Lumberport, 
West  Virginia,  January  24,  1870.  Appointments — 1817,  Knox; 
1818,  Duck  Creek;  1819,  Erie;  1820,  Grand  River;  1821,  Huron; 
1822,  Duck  Creek;  1823,  Marietta;  1824,  Hudson;  1825,  Grand 
River;  1826,  Deerfield;  1828-9,  Canton;  1830,  Windsor;  1831, 
Hartford;  1832,  Youngstown;  1833,  Cross  Creek;  1834-5,  Lees- 
burg; 1836,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1837,  Freeport;  1838,  Fish  Creek 
Mission;  1839,  Sharon,  O.;  1840,  Middlebourne;  1841,  Barnesville; 
1842-3,  Woodsfield;  1844-5,  Newport;  1846-7,  New  Martinsville, 
W.  Va.;  1848,  Kanawha,  W.  Va.;  1849,  Middlebourne,  W.  Va.; 
1850-1,  Lumberport,  W.  Va.;  1852,  Monongalia,  W.  Va.;  1853,  West 
Union,  W.  Va.;  1854,  Murraysville,  W.  Va.;  1855,  Burnsville,  W. 
Va.;  1856,  Pruntytown,  W.  Va.;  1857,  Morgantown  Circuit,  W. 
Va.;  1858,  Buffalo,  W.  Va.;  1859,  Charleston  Circuit,  W.  Va.; 
1860,  Littleton,  W.  Va.;  1861,  Greene,  W.  Va.;  1862-69,  superan- 
nuated. 


J 


Philip  Green. 


385  • 


me.’  In  this  triumphant  frame  of  mind  he  continued  un- 

til  tilt  close  of  the  next  clay,  when  his  lips  were  seen  to 
move.  His  daughter  bending  to  his  lips  to  hear,  received 
his  last  words  of  praise — ‘Glory,  glory,  Hallelujah!’” 
— (J.  IV.  Davis  to  The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal 
and  Zion's  Herald , October  16 , 1829.) 


Methodism  in  Warren,  Ohio. 


“The  first  Methodist  sermon  preached  in  Warren  was 
by  Alfred  Brunson  in  1819  ;*  and  in  the  same  year,  James 
McMahon  organized  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
that  point,  with  ten  members.  In  1822  regular  prayer- 
meeting services  were  established  in  a rented  room  on 
South  Park  Avenue.  The  first  sacramental  service  was 
held  in  1821,  in  a grove  on  the  river  bank  on  the  southern 
border  of  the  town.  The  preaching  services  were,  for  the 
most  part,  held  in  the  old  court  house,  and  at  irregular 
times.  For  the  first  two  years  the  services  were  held  on 
alternate  Saturday  evenings,  and  later  on  Sunday  even- 
ings. It  was  not  until  1824  that  regular  Sunday  morning 
service  was  established.  At  about  this  time  the  old 
Academy  building,  now  known  as  the  Sutliff  Block,  was 
secured  for  prayer  and  class  meetings.  Before  this  time 
these  meetings  were  held  at  the  houses  of  members. 

“The  Church  was  of  slow  growth.  At  the  end  of  its  first 
year  there  were  but  fourteen  members,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  seventh  year  only  the  same  number.  The  winter  of 
1826-7  was  a notable  one  in  the  history  of  the  Church, 
and  a Conference  year  of  marked  prosperity.  In  Febru- 
ary of  the  latter  year,  the  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held. 
This  was  under  the  leadership  of  Charles  Elliott,  presid- 
ing elder.  The  interest  in  religion  awakened  by  this  two 
days’  meeting  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls 
and  the  addition  of  forty  to  the  Church.  This  growth 
was  permanent  in  its  character,  and  it  was  soon  found 
necessary  to  divide,  for  the  first  time,  the  original  class. 
A still  further  division  was  made  in  1834,  in  the  formation 
of  four  classes  in  all.  The  membership  now  numbered 
one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  Church  increased  in 
strength  and  influence  so  much  that  in  1836  the  necessity 
of  building  a church  edifice  was  greatly  felt.  Steps  were 


♦William  Swayze.  See  Gregg’s  account. 


386 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


at  once  taken  to  meet  this  want,  and  the  work  was  pros- 
ecuted with  such  vigor  that  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1837  an  edifice  was  ready  for  occupancy,  and  was  dedi- 
cated November  9th. 

“In  1839,  Warren  was  made  a station,  and  a session 
of  the  Annual  Conference  was  held  there  in  1841. 

“In  1867  the  lot  upon  which  the  present  church  build- 
ing on  High  Street  stands  was  purchased,  and  in  1868 
plans  for  the  erection  of  the  building  were  commenced. 
The  dedication  took  place  in  June,  1874.  This  church 
cost  $55,000,  and  is  no  feet  long,  75  feet  wide,  with  a 
front  elevation  of  65  feet. 

“The  church  now  occupies  a leading  position  among 
the  churches  of  Warren.  It  has  a membership  of  about 
eight  hundred,  with  flourishing  Sunday  school  and  Ep- 
worth  League,  and  the  Ladies’  Societies  most  earnest  and 
helpful.  At  the  fall  Conference  of  1897,  Rev.  Lee  W. 
LePage  was  appointed  to  West  Warren,  to  organize  a 
new  Church  enterprise  there.  This  year  a new  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  will  be  erected  on  Tod  Avenue.  The 
new  society  is  already  well  organized,  growing,  full  of 
courage  and  zeal.” — ( Barker , History  of  Ohio  Method- 
ism, pp.  440-442.) 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “During  the  summer  of  1819,  Mr. 

John  Bridle,  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  settled  with  his  family  in  Warren,  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio,  and  being  anxious  to  secure  Methodist 
preaching  in  that  place,  went  on  foot  to  Youngstown  to  a 
quarterly  meeting  the  first  week  in  November,  and  during 
the  meeting  made  arrangements  with  both  the  elder  and 
preacher  in  charge  to  visit  Warren  and  preach  to  them. 
Accordingly,  at  the  time  appointed  Elder  Swayze  and  Mr. 
James  McMahon  came  to  Warren,  and  on  Thursday  even- 
ing Elder  Swayze  preached  in  an  old  school  house,  and 
the  next  day  Mr.  McMahon  formed  a class  in  the  old  log 
jail,  consisting  of  John  Bridle,  leader,  and  his  wife,  Sarah 
Cowen,  A.  Stewart,  R.  Rockway,  Achsah  Knapp,  and 
John  Barnes  and  wife.  Preaching  was  established  in  the 
court  house  on  Saturday  evening,  and  the  following 
spring  several  persons  were  converted  and  added  to  the 
class : Josiah  Soule,  Nancy  Harsh,  Betsy  Hall,  Ebenezer 

Rodgers,  and  Benjamin  Stevens  and  wife.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  18 1.) 


PV 


Methodism  in  Warren , Ohio. 


387 


We  pause  to  note  the  increase  in  membership.  It  has 
not  been  constant,  but  yet  the  advance  is  most  gratifying'. 
At  the  close  of  1801,  there  were  130  members;  at  the  end 
of  1802 — we  are  speaking  now  of  “Conference  years” — 
there  were  174;  in  1803,  52°;  m 1804,  585;  and  so,  year 
by  year,  up  to  and  including  1819,  we  have  the  following 
membership:  832,  956,  940,  928,  989,  1,141,  1,495, 

1,498,  1,690,  2,222,  1,809,  2,067,  i,7i5>  2,5 76,  3,x44* 


IX. 

CHARLES  ELLIOTT,  D.  D.,  AND  ALFRED 
BRUNSON,  D.  D.,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  AND 
JAMESTOWN,  PENNSYLVANIA,  CAP- 
TURED BY  METHODISM. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  at  Lundy’s  Lane,  Niagara, 
Upper  Canada,  July  20,  1820,  Bishop  Enoch  George  pre- 
siding. The  following  appointments  were  made : Gene- 

see District,  Gideon  Draper;  Lake,  John  Summerville; 
in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  September  8,  1820,  and  the  following 
appointments  were  made : Ohio  District,  William 

Swayze ; Erie,  Ira  Eddy,  Charles  Elliott ; Mahoning, 
James  McMahon,  Ezra  Booth;  Grand  River,  Philip 
Green;  Cuyahoga,  Alfred  Brunson. 

Gideon  Draper  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Philadel- 
phia Conference  in  1803.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Sus- 
quehanna District  in  1809,  and  became  a member  of  the 
Genesee  Conference  at  its  organization  in  1810.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  Genesee  District  in  1812,  returned  to  the 
regular  work  in  1816,  and  located  in  1817.  He  was  re- 
admitted in  1819,  and  again  sent  to  the  Genesee  District. 
He  located  again  in  1822.  The  only  record  we  have  of 
his  work  on  the  two  circuits  is  a successful  camp-meeting 
held  at  North  East.  Brother  Parkus  carried  on  the  work 
on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  with  great  acceptability. 

“Rev.  William  Swayze,  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Ohio 


District,  located  his  family  on  a small  farm  which  he  pur- 
chased on  the  south  side  of  Mahoning  River,  one  mile  and 
a quarter  south  of  the  center  of  Deerfield,  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  in  a retired  and v romantic  place,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  live  until  some  years  after  the  elder  died.  But 
it  was  but  very  little  time  he  spent  upon  it.  So  interested 
was  he  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  going  on  upon  his  district 


390 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


that  he  must  be  in  it  night  and  day,  leaving  his  family, 
with  what  help  the  kind  neighbors  could  render,  to  take 
care  of  themselves.” — ( Gregg , History  of  Methodism, 

Erie  Conference,  V ol.  I.,  pp.  183,  184.) 

Philip  Green  preached  at  the  quarterly  meeting  on  the 
Chautauqua  Circuit  held  “at  the  house  of  Brother  E.  Wil- 
cox,” June  17,  1820.  At  the  quarterly  meeting  held  at 
Brokenstraw,  September  2,  1820,  A.  William  is  recorded 
as  “Circuit  Preacher,”  and  Benjamin  P.  Hill  as  “Presid- 
ing Elder.”  They  had  charge  of  the  quarterly  meeting — 
that  seems  to  have  been  all;  but  this  shows  how  even 
“original  documents”  must,  sometimes  at  least,  be  care- 
fully questioned.  After  January,  1821,  David  Hill,  a lo- 
cal preacher,  was  employed  on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  as  a 
supply. 

A Church  Trial. 

At  a Quarterly  Conference  held  at  the  house  of  Widow 
Dawson,  on  Saturday,  November  11,  1820,  for  the  Erie 
Circuit,  the  following  business  was  transacted : 

“The  subject  of,  and  case  of  Abraham  Daniels,  a sus- 
pended local  preacher  of  the  Circuit  of  Erie  (or  that  part 
of  it  lying  east  of  French  Creek  and  by  a late  act  of  Gen- 
eral Conference  annexed  to  Genesee)  was  brought  before 
this  Quarterly  Conference,  and  a motion  was  made  and 
carried  that  the  case  be  proceeded  in  and  tried,  Carried. 

“The  first  charge  exhibited,  viz. : ‘For  conduct  unbe- 

coming a Christian/  in  killing  a horse  was  investigated. 

The  evidence  was  carefully  examined,  and  on  the  ques- 
tion, ‘Has  the  first  charge  been  substantiated/  it  was  de- 
termined in  the  affirmative. 

“The  second  charge  exhibited,  viz. : ‘For  dishonesty 

or  lying.’  The  evidence  adduced  in  support  of  this 
charge  was  carefully  examined,  and  amounted  to  such  as 
clearly  to  convict  the  defendant,  Abraham  Daniels ; and  on 
the  question,  ‘Has  the  second  charge  been  substantiated/ 
it  was  determined  in  the  affirmative.  3* 

“A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a detailed 
statement  of  the  trial  of  Abraham  Daniels  be  made  in 
writing  and  left  with  the  preacher  having  the  charge  of 
the  circuit  in  which  the  defendant  lives;  and  upon  the 
question,  ‘Shall  such  statement  be  made,’  it  was  deter- 
mined in  the  affirmative. 


Dr.  Charles  Elliott.  391 

“A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  a committee  be 
appointed  to  attend  to  the  providing  house,  firewood  and 
other  necessaries  for  the  accommodation  of  Rev.  Ira 
Eddy,  having  charge  of  the  circuit.  It  was  determined 
that  John  Leech,  Jun.,  Philip  Bristol,  and  William  Car- 
roll  be  a committee  for  the  above  purpose. 

“A  motion  was  also  made  and  seconded  that  a repre- 
sentative be  appointed  to  attend  a meeting  of  delegates  at 
Youngstown  for  the  purpose  of  settling  and  fixing  the 
temporal  concerns  of  the  presiding  elder ; and  it  was  de- 
termined that  John  Leech,  Jun.  be  the  person  appointed 
as  such  representative.” 

Philetus  Parkus  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Genesee 
Conference  in  1820,  and  labored  on  the  Chautauqua  Cir- 
cuit with  great  acceptance  during  the  first  year  of  his 
ministry.  He  was  received  into  full  connection  and  or- 
dained deacon  in  1822,  ordained  elder  in  1825,  and  died 
in  holy  triumph  in  1827.  The  Chautauqua  Circuit  had 
but  one  preacher  to  travel  the  vast  field,  and  yet,  as  we 
have  reason  to  believe,  he  was  assisted  by  supplies. 

Dr.  Charles  Elliott. 

‘‘Of  the  mere  outlines  of  the  life  of  Rev.  Charles  Elliott 
D.D.,  we  shall  say  no  more  than  is  necessary  for  a fail 
understanding  of  his  movements.  He  was  born  in  Done- 
gal, Ireland,  May  16,  1792.  In  early  life  he  joined  the 
Methodists,  and  feeling  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the 
gospel,  he  began  at  once  the  studies  which  would  fit  him 
for  his  calling.  He  would  have  entered  Dublin  Uni- 
versity, but  could  not  conscientiously  submit  to  the  re- 
quired ‘test.’  In  1814  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
settled  in  Ohio,  where  in  1818  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Ohio  Conference  and  began  his  life  of  active  work  in  the 
Church.  When  the  Pittsburg  Conference  was  organized 
in  1825,  he  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Ohio  District,  and 
became  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  new  Confer- 
ence. Shortly  afterward  he  became  professor  of  lan- 
guages in  Madison  College.  Here  he  continued  until 
1831,  when  he  was  appointed  to  Pittsburg,  and  the  year 
following  was  made  presiding  elder  of  Pittsburg  District, 
which  .place  he  filled  until  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
Journal  was  started,  in  March,  1834,  when  he  became  its 
first  editor.  He  continued  to  edit  the  Journal  until  elect- 


'll 


392  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

ed  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  1836.  He  filled  this  office  until  1848, 
when  he  returned  to  the  pastorate  and  presiding  eldership 
for  four  years,  when  he  was  re-elected  editor  of  the  West- 
ern. In  1857  he  was  elected  professor  in  Iowa  Univer- 
sity, at  Mount  Pleasant,  and  in  1858  president  of  that  in- 
stitution. 

"From  i860  to  1864  be  was  editor  of  the  Central  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  at  St.  Louis,  and  preceding  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  and  during  the  early  days  of  that  unhappy 
struggle,  he  filled  that  important  post.  He  was  not  only 
a loyal  son  of  the  Church,  but  of  the  LTnion  also,  and  fear- 
lessly defended  both  at  that  frontier  point  when  loyalty 
cost  so  much  and  involved  so  much  peril. 

"W  hen  he  retired  from  this  office  he  returned  to  Mount 
Pleasant,  Iowa,  where  he  spent  his  declining  years  in 
cheerfulness  and  hope.  He  was  a benediction  to  all  about 
him,  his  sunny  soul  shedding  light  on  all  that  came  under 
his  influence.  January  6,  1869,  he  fell  asleep  in  the  ful- 
ness of  the  faith  of  the  gospel  he  had  so  earnestly 
preached  to  others. 

"Doctor  Elliott  was  a striking  and  picturesque  char- 
acter. He  was  a big-headed,  broad-shouldered,  deep- 
chested,  pleasant-faced,  abrupt,  outspoken  and  fearless 
Irishman;  awkward  in  manner,  careless  in  dress,  little 
given  to  conventionalities,  but  consecrated  to  God,  de- 
voted to  the  Church,  and  absorbed  in  his  books.  Sim- 
plicity and  sincerity  were  written  on  every  line  of  his  fine 
face,  and  manifest  in  every  act  of  his  life.  He  was  too 
much  of  a scholar  to  be  a man  of  affairs.  He  was  absent- 
minded,  abstracted,  and  likely  to  do  very  odd  things.  His 
simplicity  and  oddities  made  him  always  an  object  of  in- 
terest, and  sometimes  of  amusement,  to  his  friends,  but 
his  splendid  character,  masterful  ability  and  great  scholar- 
ship commanded  the  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him. 

"One  of  his  peculiarities  was  an  aversion  to  the  lighter 
songs  of  his  day,  and  an  insistence  on  the  standard  hymns 
of  the  Church.  Choruses  he  abominated,  and  character- 
ized at  ‘detties,’  and  often  parodied  and  scored  them  with 
great  severity. 

"In  spite  of  the  warmth  of  his  Irish  heart,  he  was  little 
influenced  by  mere  sentiment,  and  was  never  carried  away 
by  excitement  or  enthusiasm.  It  is  said  that  on  one  oc- 


Dr.  Charles  Elliott. 


393 


casion  at  a camp-meeting,  when  the  religious  enthusiasm 
was  high,  an  excited  brother  said  to  him : ‘O  Brother 

Elliott,  wouldn't  you  like  to  go  to  heaven  from  here?’ 
he  answered : ‘Naw,  I’d  rather  go  home  and  see 

Phoebe.’ 

“He  was  capable  of  immense  labor.  While  he  was  al- 
ways a busy  man,  filling  some  of  the  most  exacting  po- 
sitions in  the  Church,  he  was  a constant  student  and  per- 
formed a vast  amount  of  literary  work.  Wherever  he 
went  he  carried  his  books  with  him,  and  every  spare 
minute  was  devoted  to  them.  In  the  midst  of  these  great 
labors  he  wrote  some  of  the  most  important  works  of  our 
history.  We  name  but  these:  ‘History  of  Romanism,' 

‘History  of  Slavery,’  and  ‘History  of  the  Great  Secession 
that  is,  the  separation  of  the  Church  South  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  All  these  were  works  of 
great  ability  and  required  immense  research.  Of  the 
work  on  Romanism,  Bishop  Dahle,  of  Norway,  in  his 
great  work  published  in  1896,  on  ‘Life  After  Death,’  says 
that  it  is  one  of  the  four  great  histories  of  that  subj  ect. 

“Few  remain  who  knew  him,  but  his  works  abide,  and 
his  memory  is  like  ointment  poured  forth. 

“The  following  description  of  him  is  from  the  pen  of 
the  Rev.  James  B.  Finley,  himself  one  of  the  greatest  of 
the  western  preachers : 

“ ‘On  the  right  there,  sitting  on  that  rocking-chair,  with 
one  shoe  off  and  the  other  slipshod,  with  a pile  of  old 
manuscripts  and  papers  and  a stray  old  book  or  two  lying 
on  the  table  in  glorious  confusion,  sits  Doctor  Elliott. 
See  how  incessantly  he  nods  and  shakes  his  massy  head 
as  he  reads  on,  with  his  spectacles  on  the  top  of  his  head ! 
He  is  not  angry  nor  excited,  he  thus  frowns  and  shakes 
his  head,  for  he  is  good-natured  and  clever ; but  he  is  deep- 
ly engaged  and  interested.  He  is  an  intellectual  giant ; 
and  though  he  looks  rough  and  unpolished  in  regard  to  his 
personnel,  yet,  like  the  lumbering  road-wagon  of  olden 
time,  he  bears  a precious  freight — all  bullion.’  ” — ( Edi- 
torial in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , May  1,  1892.) 

Dr.  Elliott  was  a great-hearted  Irishman.  Generous, 
noble,  large-souled  impulses  were  the  inspiration  of  his 
life.  He  was  without  disguise.  A child  might  read  him 
through  and  through.  He  was  without  pretension  in  his 
greatness.  His  unaffected  simplicity  impressed  all  who 


Dr.  Charles  Elliott. 


395 


enjoyed  his  society.  He  touched  potential  and  far-reach- 
ing springs  of  thought  and  power ; and  yet  moved  through 
society  as  silently  and  unostentatiously  as  if  he  were  not 
one  of  the  chief  instruments  employed  by  God — its  trans- 
formation. 

“Old  age  did  not  chill  his  heart,  nor  drape  his  face  in 
shadows.  His  eye  was  always  lighted  up  with  kindness, 
and  honey  was  constantly  dropping  from  his  tongue.  He 
had  no  blind  preference  for  the  past.  He  did  not  esteem 
the  former  days  better  than  the  present.  He  did  not 
think  his  beloved  Methodism  was  degenerating  and  dying 
because  it  was  not  in  all  its  outward  circumstances  what 
it  was  in  the  season  of  its  infancy  and  feebleness.” — ( C. 
A.  Holmes  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  January  23, 
1869.) 

, “As  a writer  and  as  a speaker  Dr.  Elliott  was  strong 
and  vigorous.  Careless,  possibly  too  careless,  of  all  the 
graces  of  style  or  of  manner,  grasping  the  thought  clearly 
and  strongly,  without  care  for  either  illustration  or  orna- 
ment, in  his  palmy  days  he  often  moved  an  audience  as  the 
wind  blows  the  ripe  grain  in  the  harvest  field.  In  these 
remarkable  revivals  which  prevailed  in  Eastern  Ohio, 
laying  the  foundation  of  our  Church  throughout  the 
Western  Reserve,  he  was  a conspicuous  and  honored  in- 
strument.”— (Bishop  Simpson  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, February  13,  1869.) 

Bishop  Roberts  not  being  able  to  preach  the  ordination 
sermon  at  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1837,  called  on  Dr. 
Elliott  to  perform  that  service.  In  his  direct  address  to 
the  candidates  for  deacon’s  orders,  he  said : “Young 

brethren,  I would  advise  you  not  to  be  over-anxious  about 
big  words.  Study  ideas.  Never  hunt  big  words.  Some 
preachers  are  too  anxious  about  nice  words,  and  big 
words,  as  though  big  sermons  were  always  made  up  of 
big  words.  And  they  study  their  words  more  than  things 
and  ideas.  The  best  words  to  convey  our  ideas  to  the  peo- 
ple always  adhere  to  the  ideas ; and  if  we  get  the  ideas  in 
our  minds  and  in  our  hearts,  the  best  and  most  appropri- 
ate words  to  communicate  our  ideas  will  not  be  hard  to 
command.  Now  brethren,  throw  away  all  your  big  dic- 
tionary words.  Throw  them  all  away,  and  preach  the 
gospel  in  simplicity  and  in  truth.” — (Rev.  J.  Montgom- 
ery in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  10,  1869) 


39^ 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


A writer  for  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  Dr. 
Elliott: 

“In  the  year  1853  I settled  near  and  became  a member 
of  old  Salem  church,  Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania.  It 
was  here  the  Leeches,  McLeans  and  Robertses  lived,  and 
here  where  Charles  Elliott  found  and  married  his  wife, 
Phebe  Leech.  He  afterward  became  a ‘Doctor,’  with 
D.D.  and  LL.D.  to  his  name,  but  then  he  was  simply  a 
young  Irishman. 

“‘Many  incidents  are  related  of  his  eccentricities  and 
absent-mindedness.  On  one  occasion  he  and  his  wife 
were  going  out  for  a ride.  Instead  of  a stylish  turnout, 
his  one  horse  with  a pillion  on  behind  must  do  duty.  He 
rode  up  to  the  horse-block,  where  she  was  standing  reaoy 
to  mount,  but  being  lost  in  deep  thought,  rode  right  past 
her,  without  stopping.  Presently  he  said:  ‘Do  you  ride 

aisy,  Phaba?’  Getting  no  reply,  he  looked  back,  and  saw 
her  standing  on  the  block  waiting  his  return. 

“Camp-meetings  were  frequent  in  these  parts,  and 

shouts  of  new-born  souls  echoed  and  re-echoed  from  hill- 
top and  valley.  With  the  crowd  young  Elliott  wended 
his  way  to  God’s  temple  in  the  leafy  grove.  But  here  was 
a problem  for  the  officials  to  solve— this  young,  green, 
awkward  Irishman  must  have  a chance  to  preach,  but 
when?  Surelv  not  at  the  eleven  o’clock  hour — that  was 
for  the  ‘big  guns’ ; not  at  the  evening  hour — that  drew  the 
largest  crowd.  At  length  they  settled  on  an  hour  for 
him.  As  the  time  drew  near,  many  of  the  preachers 
found  something  to  do  in  the  preachers  tent  back  of  the 
stand ; a few  were  brave  enough  to  sit  in  the  pulpit ; more 
found  an  easy  seat  by  some  friendly  tree,  all  anxious  to 
hide  themselves  from  the  humiliation  of  the  failure  whicn 
was  sure  to  follow.  The  young  man  arose  in  his  place, 
opened  the  services,  announced  his  text,  read  it  in  Greek, 
then  in  English,  and  began  to  preach.  As  he  warmed  up 
with  his  subject,  a stir  was  heard  in  the  tent  among  the 
preachers — it  was  too  close,  or  too  warm ; at  least  their 
courage  all  came  back,  and  they  wanted  seats  on  the  plat- 
form. Others  found  themselves  on  the  wrong  side  of  the 
trees,  and  were  ready  to  Tight  about  face,’  as  words  of 
power  and  eloquence  fell  from  his  lips  which  seemed 
touched  by  a live  coal  from  God  s altar.  As  he  blew  the 


Dr.  Charles  Elliott. 


39  7 


gospel  trumpet  there  was  no  uncertain  sound.  God  was 
with  his  servant  in  mighty  power,  and  there  was  no  more 
hiding  from  his  presence,  and  any  hour  he  would  fill  was 
open  for  him. 

“In  the  early  sixties  he  and  his  wife  came  back  here  on 
a visit  to  her  old  home,  and  to  see  her  father.  They  were 
here  over  Sunday,  and  he  must  preach,  of  course.  He 
had  come  from  St.  Louis,  where  he  had  proved  his  patrio- 
tism and  loyalty,  and  brought  a large  and  handsome  flag 
which  had  been  given  to  him  there.  He  requested  that  it 
be  put  up  in  the  church.  His  friends  were  not  all  loyal 
to  the  Union,  and  one  good  brother  in  the  interest  of  peace 
and  harmony  suggested  there  be  no  display  made  of  the 
flag.  Tndade,  if  I can’t  have  my  flag  I won’t  prache/  was 
his  answer.  The  flag  went  up.  The  people  came  from 
far  and  near  to  see  and  hear  him.  One  old  gentleman 
took  his  stand  at  the  right,  just  in  front  of  the  pulpit, 
drinking  in  every  word.  The  Doctor  began,,  soon  warm- 
ed up  with  his  subject,  but  that  man — who  was  he?  The 
preacher  stepped,  bent  forward  a little,  and  asked : ‘Who 

are  you?’  The  reply  came:  ‘John  Pearsall,  of  Warren, 

Ohio.’  There  was  a hearty  grasp  of  hands,  ‘God  bless 
you,’  I think  a few  tears,  and  then  he  went  on  with  his 
sermon.  They  had  known  each  other  in  their  young 
manhood.  That  was  his  last  visit  to  this  place.  A few 
years  afterwards  it  was  the  writer’s  privilege  to  call  at 
their  home  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  Mother  and  daugh- 
ter were  living  there,  loved  and  respected  by  all.  I met 
them  again  at  Chautauqua,  and  one  married  daughter  was 
in  Florence,  Italy,  when  I was  there.  I saw  the  beautiful 
monument  which  marks  the  Doctor’s  grave,  and  where 
she  sleeps  beside  him  with  whom  she  wrought  so  faith- 
fully, having  laid  down  the  cross  and  taken  the  crown.” — 
f Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , July  3,  1902.) 

Alfred  Brunson. 

Alfred  Brunson  was  born  of  Puritan  stock  in  the  town 
of  Danbury,  Connecticut.,  February  9,  1793.  Through 
the  instruction  of  an  Irish  class-leader,  he  was  led  to  give 
himself  fully  to  God  and  was  converted  February  3,  180Q. 
He  relates  : “This  change  occurred  differently  from  what 

I had  expected ; but  everything  about  it  bore  the  impress 
of  the  divine  influence  so  clearly,  that  to  me,  at  least,  it 


398 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  a genuine  and  unmistakable  revelation  from  God ; his 
Spirit  bearing  witness  v ith  mine  that  I was  a child  of  his 
and,  in  all  the  conversions  I have  since  witnessed, 
amounting  to  thousands,  I have  noticed  this  same  pecu- 
liarity. God  does  his  own  work,  in  his  own  way,  and  in 
such  a manner  that  the  recipient  can  clearly  see  the  finger 
of  God  in  it,  and  as  clearly  that  it  was  not  himself  that 
did  it,  but  God.  I have  never  seen  a person  yet  who  was 
converted  just  as  he  anticipated ; nor  have  I ever  seen  or 
known  two  persons  to  be  converted  exactly  alike  in  every 
particular.” — (A  Western  Pioneer;  or,  Incidents  of  the 
Life  and  Times  of  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson,  A.M.,  D.D.,  em- 
bracing a period  of  over  seventy  years,  written  by  himself, 
Vol.  I.,  p.  51.)  On  the  second  of  April  following  his 
conversion  he  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  In  1812  he  moved  to  Fowler, 
Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  some  heavily 
timbered  land  which  he  began  to  clear.  At  that  time, 
Rev.  James  McMahon  and  his  brother  John  traveled  the 
large  circuit  embracing  all  the  Connecticut  Western  Re- 
serve east  of  the  Cuyahoga  River. 

Mr.  Brunson  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment, 
United  States  Infantry  and  served  as  Orderly  Sergeant 
for  one  year.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service 
he  labored  for  several  years  as  a local  preacher.  It  was 
during  these  years  that  strange  phenomena  were  common 
in  connection  with  religious  exercises.  “Deacon  Crosby,  ’ 
another  local  preacher,  relates  the  following  instance: 
“He  was  preaching  in  the  town  of  Wayne,  in  a private 
house.  A large  fire  had  been  made  of  sugar  maple,  in  a 
large  back-woods  fire-place,  and  burned  down  to  a large 
bed  of  live  coals.  There  was  no  special  excitement  in  the 
congregation ; but  suddenly  a young  woman,  sitting  on  the 
back  seat  of  three,  made  by  laying  boards  on  chairs— her 
bonnet  had  been  laid  off,  as  is  quite  common  in  a private 
house — sprang  to  her  feet,  and  jumped  and  shouted,  two 
or  three  jumps  carried  her  over  the  two  seats  in  front  of 
her,  and  between  persons  sitting  on  them ; and  after  a few 
more  jumps  she  fell  backward  with  her  long  hair,  now 
dangling  without  combs,  on  to  that  bed  of  coals,  bringing 
her  hair  in  a heap  under  her  head.  . . . Two  or 

three  men  sprang  to  the  girl  and  lifted  her  up,  and  he 
saw  them,  with  his  own  eyes,  brush  the  live  coals  from 


Alfred  Brunson. 


399 


her  hair,  and  he,  with  others,  could  not  discover  a hair 
that  was  singed.  He  supposed,  of  course,  that  those  to 
which  the  live  coals  adhered  must  be  singed,  but  no  mark 
of  fire  could  be  seen.” — ( Brunson , A Western  Pioneer , 
V ol.  I.,  pp.  775,  176.)  We  introduce  this  incident  with- 
out comment.  It  is  but  one  of  very  many  similar  inci- 
dents belonging  to  the  history  of  the  early  Church  in  this 
country. 

Mr.  Brunson  was  kept  from  joining  the  itinerant  army 
for  a number  of  years.  His  marriage  and  poverty  were 
hindrances;  and  then,  too,  there  were  deep-seated  preju- 
dices against  Yankees.  He  became  restless  and  despon- 
dent. It  was  while  he  was  in  this  state  that  he  came 
across  the  following  receipt  for  the  cure  of  hypochon- 
dria: “Take  half  a pint  of  resolution,  an  ounce  of  com- 

mon sense,  and  a few  grains  of  patience;  mix  them  well 
together,  and  when  a fit  of  this  terrible  disease  comes  on, 
swallow  the  whole,  and  go  to  work.”  He  took  the  medi- 
cine. At  first  it  was  like  the  man  in  the  gospel  with  the 
withered  hand.  There  was  not  power  to  stretch  it  forth, 
but  with  the  effort  came  the  strength.  Every  succeeding 
effort  increased  the  power  until  the  cure  was  complete. 
Mr.  Brunson  adds;  “The  disease  has  never  seriously  af- 
fected me  since.” 

Mr.  Brunson  was  now  employed  as  a supply  and  in 
January,  1818,  went  to  his  circuit  in  Huron  County, 
reaching  his  first  appointment  at  Smith’s  after  a journey 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  He  made  a four  weeks' 
circuit,  and  each  round  traveled  two  hundred  miles  and 
filled  twenty-five  appointments.  In  many  places1  his  was 
the  first  sermon  to  which  the  people  had  ever  listened.  It 
was  emphatically  pioneer  work.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Ohio  Conference  in  1819,  and  appointed  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit with  John  Summerville  as  his  colleague..  This  cir- 
cuit at  that  time  embraced  parts  of  Mercer,  Crawford, 
Erie,  Venango,  and  Butler  Counties  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
a few  appointments  in  Northeastern  Ohio.  It  was  a four 
weeks'  circuit  with  forty-seven  appointments  and  required 
four  hundred  miles  of  travel.  Much  of  the  way  was 
through  dense  forests  with  only  a bridle-path  and  often 
not  even  this.  There  were  fallen  timber,  gigantic  rocks, 
rugged  hills,  swamps,  rivers,  Indians,  and  rattlesnakes. 
Bent  twigs  served  as  the  only  guide-boards.  Often  he 


/ 


400 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


missed  his  way,  but  remarks  with  gratitude:  “I  only 

missed  one  appointment  on  this  account  in  the  whole 
year.” 

There  had  been  occasional  preaching  in  Meadville  for 
several  years,  but  it  was  not  regularly  established  and 
placed  on  the  plan  of  the  circuit  until  1819,  when  Mr. 
Brunson  preached  in  the  old  Court  House,  and  a 
class  was  formed  a year  later.  Mr.  Brunson  also 
preached  and  held  class  at  Gravel  Run.  He  calls 
Meadville  “the  Athens  of  Northwestern  Pennsylvania”; 
and  says,  “The  town  contained  as  large  a pro-rata  of  the 
literati  of  the  state  as  any  other,  if  not  even  larger.” 
There  was  at  that  time  no  popular  preacher  of  any  other 
denomination;  his  off-hand  preaching  with  its  life,  zeal 
and  power  pleased  the  people ; and  the  politicians  he  found 
at  the  county  seat  wanted  to  catch  the  Methodist  vote. 
His  audiences  were  large.  Regular  preaching  wjis  estab- 
lished in  Mercer  in  the  Court  House,  but  there  were  both 
bigotry  and  superstition  with  which  to  contend  and  he 
could  get  but  a small  hearing.  To  call  out  a larger  num- 
ber, Mr.  Brunson  gave  out  the  following  notice : “From 
the  smallness  of  the  congregation,  it  looks  as  if  the  people 
in  this  place  are  tired  of  hearing  the  word  of  God  preached 
from,  etc. ; therefore,  when  I come  again  in  four  weeks,  I 
will  preach  from  the  words  of  the  devil.”  This  notice 
produced  the  desired  effect,  and  a packed  congregation 
greeted  him  upon  his  return. — (Branson,  A Western 
Pioneer,  Vol.  I.,  p.  218.)  After  much  labor,  hard  and 
discouraging,  he  succeeded  in  forming  a small  class  in 
Mercer.  His  studies  were  pursued  under  serious  disad- 
vantages— in  log  cabins,  among  noisy  children,  there  be- 
ing often  but  one  room  in  which  to  cook,  eat,  sleep,  pray, 
and  preach.  In  warm  weather,  he,  like  so  many  other 
pioneer  preachers  of  the  time,  resorted  to  the  woods,  and 
hence  the  name  “Brush  College”  from  which  our  early 
preachers  graduated. 

On  his  way  to  conference  from  Erie  Circuit,  Mr.  Brun- 
son attended  a camp-meeting  held  by  Jacob  Young  near 
Zanesville  and  preached  on  Sunday.  When  the  invita- 
tion was  given,  the  altar  was  speedily  filled  with  sinners. 
Prayer  circles  were  formed  until  they  covered  most  of  the 
ground,  and  many  others  were  praying  in  the  tents.  He 
declares:  “Such  a powerful  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  I 


402  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

never  witnessed  before  or  since."  At  the  close  of  the 
meeting,  “Father  Michael  Ellis,"  then  the  oldest  member 
of  the  Ohio  Conference,  was  found  walking  backwards 
and  forth  in  the  tent  wringing  his  hands  and  groaning  in 
excess  of  joy,  and  when  Mr.  Brunson  came  in  he  threw 
his  arms  around  him  and  said:  “Bub,  you  beat  your 

fathers." — (Brunson,  A Western  Pioneer , Vol.  I.,  pp. 
228 , 229.) 

While  on  Mahoning  Circuit  to  which  Mr.  Brunson  was 
sent  next  year,  he  preached  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Amos 
Smith,  a local  elder,  who  was  unable  to  attend  preaching 
service  because  of  dropsy  and  asthma.  There  was  but 
one  text  that  pressed  on  his  mind ; “I  am  now  ready  to  be 
offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I have 
fought  a good  fight,  I have  finished  my  course,  I have  kept 
• the  faith.” — (2  Tim.  IV.,  6,  7.)  At  the  close  of  the  ser- 
mon, Father  Smith  requested  the  privilege  of  making 
some  remarks,  and  closed  with  these  words:  “And  now, 

my  friends,  I leave  it  as  my  last  will  and  testament,  for  the 
comfort  of  my  family  and  friends,  that  I would  not  give 
what  I now  feel  in  my  soul,  my  present  peace,  and  future 
prospects,  for  a thousand  such  worlds  as  this.  If  it  please 
God  that  I get  well,  I am  content ; if  it  please  him  that  I 
die  now.  Amen  to  it,  his  will  be  done" — he  dropped  his 
head  over  the  back  of  the  chair  and  died  without  a sigh 
or  groan. — ( Brunson , A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  I.,  pp. 
. 232-234.) 

Rev.  William  Swayze  had  been  sent  to  the  Ohio  Dis- 
trict. Mr.  Brunson  says  of  his  work  on  the  Western  Re- 
serve : “Previous  to  his  coming  among  11s,  our  presiding 

elders,  and  most  of  our  preachers,  were  from  the  South 
and  West,  whose  minds  were  very  much  prejudiced 
against  the  Yankees,  and  frequently  their  treatment  of  our 
people  savored  so  much  of  their  superiority  of  feeling  as  to 
prevent  their  doing  much  good.  Some  of  them  seemed 
to  view  the  Yankees  as  semi-barbarians — a kind  of  half 
heathen.  They  would  reach  the  circuit  just  a little  before 
the  first  quarterly  meeting,  and  leave  it  soon  after  the 
fourth  one,  so  that  we  were  frequently  from  two  to  three 
months  without  preaching  in  the  year.  In  1819,  when 
Bishop  Roberts  spent  most  of  the  summer  in  Ohio,  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  this  state  of  things,  and,  to  remedy 
the  evil,  appointed  William  Swayze  to  the  district,  who 


Alfred  Brunson. 


403 


moved  his  family  to  Deerfield,  a central  point  in  it.  This 
kept  him  within  the  district,  and  his  leisure  time  was  spent 
among  the  Yankees,  he  being  a kind  of  naturalized  one, 
because  he  had  traveled  in  New  England  and  had  a Yan- 
kee wife.”  Meantime  Revs.  James  McMahon,  Ira  Eddy, 
Ezra  Booth,  and  Mr.  Brunson  moved  on  the  Reserve  and 
there  was  large  prosperity.  In  1821  Mr.  Brunson 
traveled  the  Grand  River  Circuit  with  Henry  Knapp  as 
junior  preacher.  The  circuit  lay  in  Ashtabula,  Geauga 
and  Trumbull  Counties,  Ohio,  a four  weeks’  circuit  with 
forty-four  appointments  and  two  hundred  miles  around. 
In  1822  he  was  sent  to  Detroit,  Michigan — a vast  terri- 
tory with  but  fourteen  members  in  the  city  and  one  hund- 
red and  thirty  on  the  whole  circuit.  The*  following  year 
he  was  back  on  the  Grand  River  Circuit  with  Robert  Hop- 
kins as  his  colleague.  He  moved  his  family  to  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio.  In  1824  he  was  sent  to  Youngstown  Circuit 
with  John  Summerfield  as  colleague.  This  was  part  of 
the  old  Mahoning  Circuit  which  he  had  already  traveled. 
With  a family  of  nine  and  receipts  never  exceeding  $200 
per  year,  he  was  not  likely  to  accumulate  a large  property. 
In  1825  he  was  on  the  Mercer  Circuit  with  Edward  Ste- 
phenson as  his  colleague.  This  was  part  of  the  old  Erie 
Circuit,  and  contained  twenty-four  appointments  in  Mer- 
cer and  Crawford  Counties.  He  preached  in  Greenville 
in  a log  church.  So  this  flaming  herald  of  the  cross 
swept  through  the  land,  restless,  untiring,  brave,  preach- 
ing, exhorting,  making  the  hills  echo  with  songs  and 
praise,  praying  with  sinners,  weeping  with  mourners,  or- 
ganizing societies,  defeating  roughs  at  camp-meetings, 
and  pressing  the  battle  to  the  gates  of  the  enemy. 


‘Fairies.” 


One  of  the  appointments  of  Mr.  Brunson  was  at  New 
Ireland  about  four  miles  from  Mercer.  What  was  long 
known  as  “Irish  Town”  was  settled  at  an  early  day 
by  a little  company  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  Mr. 
Brunson  calls  the  place  “New  Ireland.”  The  dis- 
covery of  coal  and  the  development  of  that  industry,  to- 
gether with  the  coming  of  the  railway,  has  quite  trans- 
formed the  neighborhood.  Near  the  old  location  is  the 
village  of  Pardoe,  on  the  Bessemer  Railroad,  where  we 
have  a small  struggling  church  which  constitutes  part  of 


404 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


the  charge  known  this  year  as  Pardoe  and  Mechanicsville. 

The  following  story,  related  by  Mr.  Brunson,  gives  a 
lively  picture  of  one  class  of  people  to  whom  the  early 
itinerant  ministered.  Referring  to  this  Irish  settlement, 
he  says : “Several  families  of  them,  when  they  first  came 

to  Mercer,  and  before  they  had  prepared  their  cabins,  in 
their  new  and  woody  homes,  occupied  a vacant  house 
north  of  the  town,  and  not  far  from  a mill-pond.  On  the 
first  night,  as  darkness  set  in,  the  fire-flies,  or  lightning- 
bug's,  which  abounded  in  the  valley  along  the  mill  stream, 
commenced  their  usual  gambols,  and  the  atmosphere 
seemed  to  be  full  of  them.  At  the  same  time  the  bull- 
frogs in  the  mill-pond  began  their  nightly  serenade  with 
all  sorts  of  unknown  noises,  from  the  grum  thunder  of 
the  patriarch  of  the  family  to  the  lowest  squeak  of  the 
smallest  of  the  tribe. 

“To  the  new-comers  these  sights  and  sounds  were  new. 
None  of  their  friends,  by  letter,  before  they  came,  nor  by 
parole,  after  they  had  arrived,  had  mentioned  them,  and 
knowing  nothing  of  such  things  ‘at  home/  they  could 
imagine  nothing  but  fairies.  I hey  were  certain  that  the 
fairies  had  attacked  them  in  greater  force  than  they  had 
ever  heard  or  dreamed  of  in  their  native  country.  The 
bellowing  of  the  frogs  they  imagined  were  the  words  of 
command  of  chiefs  and  the  replies  of  lesser  imps,  and  the 
flashes  of  light  they  thought  were  the  flashes  of  their 
miniature  guns.  To  guard  against  the  fatal  consequences, 
they  darkened  their  windows,  and  barricaded  the  door. 
No  one  dared  to  leave  the  house  and  run  twenty  rods  to 
the  nearest  neighbor  or  friend  for  succor,  but  spent  the 
night  in  the  most  tormenting  fear,  lest  they  should  be 
murdered  by  the  invisible  little  imps  of  the  bad  place. 

“A!:  length  the  morning  came.  Never  was  a morning 
more  welcome  to  a frightened  people.  1 he  frogs  shut  up 
their  hideous  mouths,  and  the  fire-flies  could  no  more  Hash 
the  light,  and  silence  and  quiet  once  more  reigned  in  their 
new  abode.  As  soon  as  possible,  the  men  went  to  their 
friends  in  town  with  the  most  bitter  complaints  for  their 
having  advised  them  to  come  to  such  a country  as  this, 
lamenting  that  they  had  come  so  far,  and  brought  their 
families,  to  be  murdered  by  the  fairies.  1 hey  would  not 
stav  here,  so  they  wouldn’t,  but  start  for  home  that  very 
day. 


“Fairies” 


405 


“Their  friends  stood  aghast,  querying  whether  the  new- 
comers had  become  crazy  or  not.  But,  finally,  recovering 
from  the  first  shock,  they  inquired  what  was  the  matter. 

“ ‘Why,  we  never  saw  the  like  of  this  for  fairies  in  all 
our  lives.’ 

“ ‘Fairies,  man.  there's  no  fairies  in  this  country.’ 

“ ‘Indade,  and  there  is.  Didn’t  we  hear  them  all  night, 
and  see  the  flash  of  their  little  guns  as  they  were  trying  to 
shoot  us?  Jist  come  down  to  the  house  and  we’ll  show 
ye.  And  the  women  and  children  are  nearly  dead  with 
fear,  and  they  declare  they  will  not  stay  another  night  in 
such  a country  as  this.’ 

“So  down  they  went  and  heard  the  whole  group,  men, 
women,  and  children,  pour  out  their  bitter  complaints  and 
anathemas  against  such  a country,  for  fairies.  ‘The  like 
of  it  auld  Ireland  never  see.' 

“Their  friends  assured  them  there  was  no  such  thing  as 
a fairy  in  this  country:  they  must  have  been  dreaming  or 
frightened  at  some  illusion ; or  possibly  some  mischievous 
boys  had  been  playing  off  tricks  upon  them.  ‘Tell  us  how 
they  looked  or  what  they  were  like.' 

“So  they  described,  as  well  as  they  could,  the  noises 
and  the  flashes  of  light;  when  the  real  cause  of  the  alarm 
flashed  into  the  minds  of  their  friends,  and  caused  a 
hearty  laugh.  They  took  the  frightened  men  down  to  the 
pond  and  showed  them  the  frogs,  some  of  which  happened 
then  to  open  their  terrible  throats,  and  at  night  they 
caught  some  of  the  fire-flies,  and  showed  them  the  little 
innocent  creatures  and  the  way  they  made  the  light.  This 
quieted  their  fears,  and  they  laughed  over  their  own  ig- 
norance and  folly,  and  became  satisfied  with  the  country, 
and  made  a good  settlement." — (Brunson,  A Western 
Pioneer,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  307-309.) 

Ben  Stokeley. 

Ben.  Stokeley,  an  eccentric  genius,  settled  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Mercer.  In  early  life  he  had  been  a Methodist  and 
was  still  attached  to  the  forms  and  principles  of  the 
Church.  He  was  a man  of  some  influence  in  public  af- 
fairs. His  wife,  and  two  daughters  by  a former  mar- 
riage, were  members,  and  he  enjoyed  the  company  of 
ministers  and  often  invited  them  to  his  home.  He  took 
great  pleasure  in  asking  them  questions  and  entering  upon 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

fruitless  discussions;  but  if  they  showed  any  impatience  at 
his  assaults,  he  turned  upon  them  and  accused  them  of  be- 
ing no  better  than  himself.  Mr.  Brunson,  not  wishing  to 
be  subject  to  these  annoyances,  shunned  his  house  for 
some  time.  But  there  was  to  be  a public  ball  in  town,  and 
Mr.  Stokelev  had  learned  that  his  daughters  would  be  in- 
vited. To  prevent  this,  he  sent  a local  preacher  to  Mr. 
Brunson,  inviting  him  to  preach  at  his  house  on  the  night 
of  the  ball — the  Monday  night  following.  Mr.  Brunson 
knew  nothing  of  the  ball,  but  accepted  the  invitation.  A 
great  congregation  assembled  and  the  preaching  was  with 
power ; but  the  host  ran  out  of  the  door  two  or  three  times 
to  stifle  conviction  which  had  seized  upon  him.  An  in- 
vitation was  accepted  to  preach  a second  time  on  condition 
that  Mr.  Stokelev  would  remain  in  the  room.  Under  the 
second  sermon  he  became  greatly  agitated.  At  its  close, 
Mr.  Brunson  said  to  him : “You  will  have  me  here,  and 

one  of  three  things  must  be  the  consequence ; you  must  get 
religion;  forbid  me  your  home,  or  have  a hard  time  of  it/’ 
“Well,”  Mr.  Stokelev  replied,  “I'll  take  the  hard  time  of 
it,  for  I will  do  neither  of  the  others.”  The  next  morning 
at  family  prayers,  his  conscience  gave  him  much  trouble 
and  he  manifestly  showed  his  uneasiness.  Mr.  Brunson  re- 
buked him  for  showing  such  restlessness ; and  said  that  if 
he  continued  or  ran  out  of  doors  in  prayer-time,  he  would 
not  visit  him  again.  There  was  no  more  trouble  of  this 
kind,  but  in  other  ways  Mr.  Brunson  had  his  patience 
sorely  tried.  I now  let  Mr.  Brunson  finish  the  story: 

“In  June,  1826,  I was  directed  by  Swayze,  my  presiding 
elder,  to  meet  him  at  Franklin,  on  the  Allegheny  river, 
and  accompany  him  and  some  others  to  a camp  meeting 
some  distance  east  of  that  river,  on  the  slope  of  the  moun- 
tains. On  Saturday  previous  being  the  24th,  the  anni- 
versary of  the  birth  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  I preached  for 
the  Masons  in  Mercer ; preached  again  on  Sunday,  and  on 
Monday,  after  preaching  at  New  Ireland,  where  Stokeley 
met  me  in  the  rain,  I went  home  with  him  to  rest  over  till 
Wednesday. 

“As  I was  about  leaving  on  Wednesday  morning,  he 
said  he  dreamed  the  night  before  that  he  gave  me  a silver 
dollar ; and  to  do  so  he  took  this  method : He  presented 

me  with  an  account,  in  which  he  gave  me  credit  for  his 
ratio  of  the  Masonic  sermon,  of  a sermon  on  Sunday  on 


Ben  Stokeley. 


407 


moral  ethics,  and  a sermon  on  Monday;  and  for  my  visit 
to  his  home,  my  good  company,  and  for  four  family 
prayers,  and  for  five  blessings  asked  at  the  table,  with  each 
a price  affixed,  corresponding  with  his  taste ; all  amount- 
ing to  three  dollars,  twelve  and  a half  cents. 

“On  the  opposite  side  of  the  paper  were  his  charges  for 
going  to  hear  me,  for  five  meals,  two  nights’  lodging,  and 
sixty  ears  of  corn  for  my  horse,  all  amounting  to  two  dol- 
lars and  twelve  and  a half  cents;  and  cash  to  balance  one 
dollar,  which  he  handed  me." — ( Brunson , A Western 
Pioneer,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  309-313.) 

We  are  fortunate  in  being  able  to  present  an  exact  copy 
of  this  characteristic  account. 

B.  Stokeley  in  account  with  Rev.  A.  Brunson. 


June  24,  1826 — To  his  quota  of  one  Freemason 

Sermon  at  Mercer $0-75 

25,  — To  one  Sunday  Sermon,  mixed 

with  natural  philosophy  and 
ethics  0.8 yl/2 

26,  — One  ditto,  in  part  at  Jennings’,.  0.3 

— One  prayer  and  a blessing  im- 
plored   0.25 

27,  — Prayer  twice,  and  three  bless- 

ings implored 0.5 6)/\ 

28,  — One  short  prayer  and  a blessing 

implored °-37lA 


$3-I2A 


June  24,  1826 — By  going  to  meeting  . . .$0.50 

25,  — By  ditto  (on  Sunday)  at 

Mercer  0.25 

26.  — Bv  ditto,  through  the 

rain 0.75 

— By  conducting  Mr. 
Brunson  to  my  house, 
and  usage  to  self  and 
horse 0.25 


408 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


27,  — By  usage  to  ditto  and 

himself,  three  meals  and 


sixty  ears  of  corn 0.18^4 

28.  — By  strong  tea,  and  corn.  o.i8*)4 

— By  cash 1.00 


$3-I2//2 

$0.00 

— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , January  2 , 1855.) 

Camp  Meeting  at  Clarion. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  June,  1826,  there  met  in 
Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  William  Swayze,  of  the  Erie  Dis- 
trict, Alfred  Brunson,  of  Mercer,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  of  the 
Chautauqua  Circuit,  Robert  C.  Hatton,  of  the  French 
Creek,  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt,  of  the  Mahoning — on  which 
a camp-meeting  had  been  appointed — and  a young  convert 
whose  name  we  have  not  been  able  to  learn.  Hie  next  day, 
Thursday,  they  left  Franklin,  taking  the  turnpike  which 
led  to  Bellefonte.  The  rain  had  been  descending  in  torrents 
for  several  days,  and  every  stream  was  swollen.  The  Al- 
legheny had  overleaped  its  banks,  and  extended  from  bluff 
to  bluff.  The  company  of  six,  not  without  danger,  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing  the  river  on  a flat,  and  struck  out  boldly 
for  their  destination.  The  rain  was, still  falling;  in  places 
the  roads  were  covered  with  water  knee-deep,  through 
which  the  horses  waded  or  floundered  into  washouts,  and 
half-naked  hills  and  huckleberry  plains  were  gloomy  in 
appearance.  There  was  a house  or  cabin  Qnly  after  long 
distances,  and  there  seemed  little  promise  of  finding 
enough  people  in  such  a desolation  to  form  a body-guard 
for  one  preacher.  They  crossed  the  Clarion  river  on  3 
bridge  of  one  span  three  hundred  feet  above  the  surface 
of  the  turbulent,  foam-capped,  driftwood-filled  stream,  as 
it  rolled  on  with  terrific  velocity. 

They  reached  Shippenville  in  time  for  a late  dinner,  and 
gathered  around  a heated  stove  in  a barroom  to  dry  their 
water-soaked  garments.  Previous  to  this  time  there  had 
not  been  seen  in  all  that  country  more  than  three  preachers 
together,  and  now  there  were  six,  for  the  people  thought 
the  young  convert  to  be  a preacher  also.  They  gathered 
about  the  house  to  catch  a view  of  the  novel  sight — six 
preachers  all  together — and  their  eyes  protruded  from 


Camp  Meeting  at  Clarion. 


409 


their  heads  as  they  beheld  the  “menagerie.”  All  work 
was  abandoned  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  “show”  was  well 
patronized. 

The  afternoon  was  more  pleasant,  and  at  night  they 
found  entertainment  at  a Dutch  farmhouse,  where  flea?* 
and  bugs  permitted  little  sleep,  thirty-four  miles  from 
Franklin,  and  twelve  from  Shippenville.  On  Friday  they 
left  the  turnpike,  and  traveled  twelve  miles  over  hills, 
through  valleys,  and  through  dense  woods,  until  they 
reached  the  camp-ground  on  the  flat  below  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Clarion.  The  people  were  already 
gathering,  coming  on  foot  ten  or  twelve  miles,  crossing 
the  streams  at  the  peril  of  their  lives  on  hastily  construct- 
ed rafts. 

On  Saturday  the  crowd  had  increased  to  several  hund- 
red. And  the  word  spread  like  wild-fire  that  “six 
preachers”  were  on  the  camp-ground.  This  roused  the 
people,  and  men,  women  and  children  came  on  horseback, 
on  foot,  in  wagons,  and  on  sleds  which  slipped  easily  over 
the  wet  leaves  and  grass,  to  see  and  hear  for  themselves. 

Swayze,  Hatton,  Barris  and  Brunson,  each  preached  a 
“round”  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  while  Tackitt  managed 
the  grounds  and  conducted  the  prayer-meetings.  But  the 
membership  seemed  unaccountably  shy,  and  would  do 
nothing  while  the  preachers  were  in  the  “ring,"  or  prayer 
circle.  When  the  preachers  were  not  present  this  shyness 
was  not  shown. 

Mr.  Brunson  went  to  the  preachers'  tent,  and  inquired 
the  cause;  and  it  was  discovered  that  the  people  were 
afraid  because  they  had  heard  that  the§e  preachers  were 
“Yankees”!  This  started  Hatton,  who  dearly  loved  a 
joke,  and  he  sallied  out  after  game.  When  he  found  one 
who  was  not  afraid  to  talk  with  him,  the  following  con- 
versation occurred : 

“Who  are  you,  and  where  did  you  all  come  from  ? We 
never  saw  so  many  preachers  together  before,  and  we 
never  heard  such  preaching  before.  Who  are  you,  and 
where  did  you  all  come  from?” 

“Why,  we  are  a set  of  Yankees." 

“My  goodness ! Are  you  a Yankee  ?” 

“Yes,  I am  right  from  the  Yankee  country,  in  Erie 
county,  and  have  a Yankee  wife.” 


4io 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“W  ell,  but  is  the  elder,  Swayze,  a Yankee?” 

“Yes,  he  came  from  New  England.” 

“Well,  is  that  big  fellow,  Brunson,  a Yankee?” 

“Yes,  he  is  a Yankee  born,  and  lives  out  here  in  Ohio, 
right  among  the  Yankees.” 

“Well,  that  little  fellow,  Barris,  is  he  a Yankee?” 
“Yes,  he  is  just  from  the  Yankee  country,  at  Chau- 
tauqua, and  he  came  down  on  the  Allegheny  river,  with 
his  horse.” 

“Goodness  gracious!  What  shall  we  do?  We  never 

saw  so  many  Yankees  together  before,  and  we  never  heard 
such  preaching  before.” 

Hatton  could  control  himself  no  longer,  and  broke  for 
the  tent,  where  he  laughed  until  his  sides  ached — more  in 
anticipation,  than  because  of  the  conversation  just  related. 
That  night  Swayze,  who  was  seating  the  congregation, 
said:  “I  understand  that  there  is  some  inquiry  on  the 

ground  as  to  what  countrymen  we  are,  and  where  we  all 
came  from.  I’ll  tell  you,  we  are  a set  of  Yankees ; but  you 
needn’t  be  afraid,  we  are  not  after  you  nor  your  property. 
But  I sha'n't  promise  you  but  we  may  play  a Yankee  trick 
on  the  devil  before  we  go  away.” 

From  that  time  all  eyes  were  agog  watching  for  the 
trick  on  the  devil.  On  Monday  evening  Swayze  arranged 
for  a new  order  of  services.  He  took  his  text : “And 

he  sent  his  servants  at  supper-time,,  to  say  to  them  that 
were  bidden.  Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready” ; and, 
after  preaching  for  fifteen  minutes,  sat  dow  n.  Before  any 
one  could  think,  Brunson  was  on  a big  stump  outside  the 
men,  and  announced  his  text : “And  they  all  with  one 

accord  began  to  make  excuse.’’  All  eyes  were  then 
turned  on  Brunson,  and  the  congregation  showed  evident 
anxiety  lest  some  snare  was  to  be  laid  for  them.  Brun- 
son was  soon  through  and  sat  down,  and  at  the  same  in- 
stant at  the  back  of  the  congregation,  Barris  shouted  out 
the  text : “Then  the  master  of  the  house  being  angry, 

said  to  his  servants,  go  out  quickly  into  the  streets  and 
lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither  the  poor,  and  the 
maimed,  and  the  halt,  and  the  blind”;  and  all  eyes  were 
turned  in  his  direction.  Barris  preached  fifteen  minutes, 
and,  looking  for  Hatton,  found  that  he  had  left  his  post 
“outside  of  the  female  part  of  the  congregation,”  where 
he  was  to  have  preached  from  the  text : “For  I say  unto 


I 


Camp  Meeting  at  Clarion. 


you,  that  none  of  those  men  that  were  bidden  shall  taste 
of  my  supper,”  and,  supposing  that  he  was  not  ready  to 
preach — unable  to  control  his  risibles,  he.  was  in  the  tent 
peeking  through  the  cracks,  and  enjoying  the  scene — an- 
nounced his  text,  and  began  to  preach,  moving  around  to 
the  place  Hatton  was  to  have  occupied.  Swayze,  seeing 
that  Hatton  was  not  in  his  place,  and  not  observing  Bar- 
ris,  rose  in  the  pulpit,  and  announcing  the  same  text  be 
gan  to  preach  with  all  his  might.  Thus  the  truth,  from 
the  same  text,  was  thundered  at  the  congregation  from 
both  front  and  rear.  Barris  kept  moving  on,  and  some 
green  young  Dutchmen,  pleased  with  the  plan,  gathered 
close  about  him,  and  as  he  passed  on,  retreated,  some  of 
them  backwards,  before  him.  One  of  the  number  stum- 
bled into  a hole  near  a fire-stand,  and  fell  against  a fork 
of  the  stand,  thus  bringing  down  a shower  of  live  coals 
upon  him.  Not  knowing  where  the  fire  came  from,  he 
sprang  to  his  feet,  and,  in  a frenzy  of  terror,  ran  for  his 
life,  exclaiming:  “Hell  fire!  The  devil ! the  devil !”  and 

disappeared  in  the  woods  with  a gang  of  boys  at  his  heels. 
At  this  Barris  could  contain  himself  no  longer,  and,  shak- 
ing with  uncontrollable  laughter,  left  the  field.  But 
Swayze  was  so  wrought  upon  in  the  presentation  of  the 
gospel  theme  that  he  did  not  notice  what  had  happened, 
and  called  sinners  to  come  to  the  altar.  About  twenty 
and  enjoyment  of  the  services,  and  finally  said : “We 

left  the  altar. 

Tuesday  morning  the  meeting  closed,  and  the  people 
returned  to  their  homes,  many  accompanying  the  “Yan- 
a conversation  with  Brunson,  expressing  his  appreciation 
came  forward,  most  of  whom  were  converted  before  they 
kees”  along  the  road.  Among  the  attendants  upon  the 
camp  meeting  was  a Presbyterian  elder,  who  entered  into 
heard  your  preaching  with  a great  deal  of  pleasure,  and 
we  trust,  profit,  and  we  are  satisfied  you  are  good  men, 
and  come  to  do  us  good.  But  a story  was  circulated  on 
the  ground  that  you  were  ‘Yankees.’  Now,  all  we  know 
of  Yankees  is  from  now  and  then  a straggling  peddler, 
a horse  jockey,  a counterfeiter,  or  a horse  thief,  going 
through  the  country  defrauding  all  they  can.  But  from 
what  we  have  seen  and  felt  under  your  ministrations  on 
the  camp  ground  we  are  bound  to  believe  you  to  be  good 
and  holy  men.  But  how  that  can  be  the  case  if  you  are 


412 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Yankees,  is,  to  11s,  a great  mystery."  Brunson  convinced 
him  that  all  Yankees  were  not  wicked,  and  that  he  ought 
not  to  form  a judgment  from  the  few  of  the  baser  kind 
whom  he  chanced  to  have  seen.  “But,,,  said  the  friend, 
“it  was  said  that  Barris  came  down  the  Allegheny  river 
with  his  horse,  and  if  he  can  ride  on  the  water  there 
must  be  a miracle  or  some  witchery  about  it."  Brunson 
answered : “As  to  that,  he  got  his  horse  on  to  a raft  and 
floated  down  to  a point  near  Franklin,  where  he  took  the 
land.”  “Oh,  is  that  it?  We  understood  that  he  rode  his 
horse  on  the  river,"  said  the  friend.  Then,  after  some 
time  spent  in  deep  thought,  he  added : “\\  ell,  we  must 

admit  that  there  are  some  good  folks  among  all  sorts  of 
people." 

Mr.  Brunson  says  of  the  “Yankee  trick:”  “I  had 
been  in  several  such  feats  with  Swayze  before,  and 
though  this  resulted  in  much  good  to  the  people,  yet  as  so 
much  of  the  ludicrous  got  into  this  case  by  a mishap,  I re- 
solved never  to  undertake  the  like  again,  and  never  have.” 
— ( Brunson , A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  1,  pp.  3I3'3 22-) 

Mr.  Brunson  had  an  appointment  at  Conneaut  Lake, 
but  there  were  so  much  Universalism  and  infidelity  that 
he  could  not  get  an  audience.  Finally  he  entrapped  them 
by  announcing  for  his  next  subject,  “1  he  Devil  s Funer- 
al.” 

He  held  a camp  meeting  at  Sharon,  at  which  about 
eight  thousand  people  were  present,  and  one  hundred 
souls  were  converted. 

In  1826  Mr.  Brunson  was  appointed  to  New  Castle 
Circuit,  which  embraced  parts  of  Mercer,  Butler,  Beaver 
and  Allegheny  counties.  The  next  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Steubenville,  where  he  had  much  trouble  with 
“radicalism.”  In  1828  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  was 
held  at  Salem,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  the  old  home  of 
Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts,  who  presided.  The  session 
was  held  in  the  new  church  near  the  camp  ground.  The 
gallery  was  filled  with  beds  for  lodgin'-  preachers.  Most 
of  the  preachers  boarded  in  tents,  though  some  of  them 
went  to  neighboring  houses.  In  1830  Mr.  Brunson  was 
appointed  to  Youngstown  Circuit,  with  Thomas  Carr  for 
a colleague.  In  1832  he  was  appointed  to  Cleveland 
Circuit,  with  Dennis  Goddard  and  John  J.  Steadman  as 
colleagues.  This  was  a six  weeks’  circuit  extending  to 


Camp  Meeting  at  Clarion. 


4i3 


Euclid  on  Lake  Erie  on  the  east,  and  to  Hudson,  Stowe 
and  Franklin  on  the  south.  “Infidelity  had  reigned 
hope  that  the  rowdy  element  would  then  go  home.  Mr. 
rampant  in  Cleveland  for  a long  time.”  There  was  an 
Episcopal  Church ; a few  Presbyterians  met  over  a store 
or  warehouse ; a few  Baptists  may  have  met  in  a private 
dwelling.  Mr.  Brunson  says:  “We  met  in  a private 

house  through  the  fall  and  winter,  but  in  the  spring  were 
obliged  to  give  this  up  and  go  to  the  woods  bordering  on 
the  town.  If  the  weather  was  fair  we  had  a small  con- 
gregation, but  if  it  rained  we  had  none.  The  society  was 
small  and  poor,  and  could  not  build.”  Court  house  and 
school  rooms  were  closed  against  the  Methodists.  The 
Campbellites  were  established  in  several  places  on  the 
circuit,  but  Mr.  Brunson  was  powerful  in  controversy  and 
more  than  held  his  own. — (Brunson,  A Western  Pioneer, 
Vol.  1,  p.  377).  A camp  meeting  was  held  about  five 
miles  from  Cleveland,  but  the  crowd  was  unruly  and  the 
only  remedy  seemed  to  be  to  hold  the  meetings  till  mid- 
night or  later,  closing  with  several  exhortations,  with  the 
Brunson  relates  concerning  one  meeting:  “It  fell  to  my 

lot  to  give  the  last  of  these  exhortations  in  which  I talked 
about  an  hour,  and  told  all  the  fearful  and  alarming  anec- 
dotes I could  call  to  mind,  many  of  which  were  enough 
to  raise  the  hair  upon  a sinner’s  head  and  the  blood  chill 
in  his  veins.”  On  their  way  to  their  tents  one  of  the  gang 
of  sailors  just  behind  the  preachers  was  heard  to  say: 
“Those  Methodist  preachers  are  the  greatest  liars  I ever 
heard.  They  can  tell  more  yarns  than  any  old  salt  I 
ever  saw,  and  that  last  one  beats  all  the  rest.  If  I owed 
the  devil  twenty  liars  and  he  wouldn’t  take  him  for  it,  I 
would  cheat  him  out  of  the  debt.” — (Brunson,  A Western 
Pioneer,  Vol.  1,  pp.  401-402.) 

In  1833  Mr.  Brunson  was  appointed  to  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, which  grew  out  of  the  old  Erie  Circuit.  He  moved 
to  Meadville,  was  elected  a trustee  of  Allegheny  College, 
and  sent  two  sons  to  the  school.  His  quarterly  meetings 
were  always  seasons  of  great  power  and  resulted  in  many 
conversions.  The  quarterly  meeting  at  New  Castle  was 
crowned  with  sixty  conversions.  Camp  meetings  were  held 
this  year  in  Erie  County  near  the  Ohio  line,  and  on 
French  creek  near  Waterford.  He  threw  himself  with  all 
energy  into  the  great  temperance  movement.  He  com- 


414  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

menced  his  quarterly  meetings  on  Thursday  evening,  when 
he  spoke  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  and  organized  a 
temperance  society,  if  none  had  existed  previously.  He 
says : “Almost  invariably,  if  we  succeeded  in  the  temper- 

ance movement,  a revival  of  religion  followed;  for  when 
the  evil  spirit  was  cast  out  the  good  spirit  usually  took 
possession  of  the  heart,  and  we  had  from  ten  to  twenty 
conversions  at  every  quarterly  meeting.”  There  was  an 
increase  of  one  thousand  members  on  the  district. — 
( Brunson , A Western  Pioneer,  J^ol.  /,  pp.  413-414.) 

In  1835  the  conference  met  in  Pittsburgh,  and  was  a 
very  trying  one  for  Mr.  Brunson.  There  was  one  con- 
test about  an  exchange  of  ministers  with  another  district, 
and  the  case  was  decided  against  him.  There  was  also 
some  discussion  concerning  his  manner  of  conducting 
temperance  work. 

Brunson  at  Franklin. 

“At  one  of  my  appointments  this  year — Franklin,  Ve- 
nango County,  Pa. — I had  some  singular  incidents  on 
this  score  which  resulted  in  good.  In  one  of  my  visits  to 
the  place,  on  my  way  to  a quarterly  meeting  in  another 
charge,  a brother  who  kept  tavern  and  sold,  and  I pre- 
sume drank  whisky,  and  to  whom  I had  talked  long  and 
plainly  on  the  subject,  desired  me  to  preach  from  Deut. 
14-26':  ‘And  thou  shall  bestow  that  money  for  whatso- 

ever thy  soul  lusteth  after ; for  oxen,  or  for  sheep,  or  for 
wine,  or  for  strong  drink.'  He  thought  he  had  me  bound 
hand  and  foot,  neck  and  heels.  I accepted  the  chal- 
lenge and  fixed  upon  a time  when  to  comply,  and  re- 
quested the  attendance  of  all  the  rum  sellers,  topers  and 
moderate  drinkers  in  the  town  and  surrounding  coun- 
try. I also  invited  the  older  members  of  the  Tem- 
perance Society  of  the  place  to  be  present  with  their  rec- 
ord of  names,  'for  I expected  to  increase  their  number  at 
least  twenty  in  the  course  of  the  meeting. 

“This,  of  course,  roused  up  the  ‘rummies'  and  called 
them  out  en  masse,  with  many  predictions  that  I would 
get  no  additional  signers  to  the  pledge.  It  so  happened 
that  a large  number  of  travelers,  among  whom  were  one 
or  two  Presbyterian  ministers,  had  stopped  in  town  for 
night,  and  hearing  what  was  on  the  tapis  came  with  the 
throng  to  hear  what  could  be  said  on  so  difficult  text. 


Brunson  at  Franklin. 


415 


The  house,  a good-sized  village  church,  was  literally 
crammed. 

“In  discoursing  on  the  text  I showed  that  it  was  ad- 
dressed to  those  who  lived  at  too  great  a distance  from 
the  place  of  the  altar  of  sacrifice  to  carry  their  sacrifices, 
and  that  in  such  a case  they  might  sell  their  first  fruits, 
tithes,  etc.,  for  money,  and  go  with  it  to  the  place  where 
the  Lord  had  fixed  his  name  and  place  of  sacrifice,  and 
there  buy  oxen,  sheep,  wine,  or  strong  drink,  etc.,  to  be 
offered  unto  the  Lord  instead  of  what  they  sold ; the  wine 
or  strong  drink  to  be  offered  as  a drink  offering  (Lev. 
23.  13)  which  was  not  to  be  drunk,  but  poured  out  at 
the  foot  of  the  altar.  (Lev.  4.  7;  Gen.  35.  14.)  The 
priests  were  not  allowed  to  drink  wine  or  strong  drink 
(Lev.  10.  9)  ; it  was  an  offering  to  God  and  not  to  the 
vitiated  appetite  of  the  drunkard,  toper  or  moderate 
drinker;  and  having  the  text  thus  out  of  the  way,  I made 
an  onslaught  upon  the  rum  traffic  and  the  drunkard  mak- 
ers, and  then  requested  the  officers  of  the  Temperance 
Society  to  go  through  the  congregation  and  take  the 
names  of  those  who  would  volunteer  to  use  their  influ- 
ence against  the  deadly  traffic.  The  result  was  fifty-two 
signed  the  pledge. 

“At  another  time,  on  my  quarterly  visit  to  Franklin,  I 
passed  on  the  road  a wagon  load  of  whisky  on  its  way  to 
that  place.  The  driver  of  the  team  I recognized  as  one 
whom  I had  seen  in  court,  where  he  was  convicted  of  se- 
duction, and  was  mulcted  in  a fine  of  five  hundred  dollars’ 
damage,  and  costs  of  suit.  His  appearance  was  as  rough 
as  his  character — savage-looking.  That  night,  in  open- 
ing the  services  of  the  quarterly  meeting  I informed  the 
people  of  what  I had  seen  on  the  road,  and  exhorted 
them  to  pray  that  the  town  might  not  be  deluged  with 
evil  spirits;  stating  further,  that  I had  asked  the  Lord 
for  twenty  souls  to  be  converted  at  the  meeting,  which  I 
had  faith  to  believe  would  be  granted. 

“These  announcements  roused  the  ire  of  the  rummies, 
and,  as  I was  informed,  the  matter  was  discussed  in  all 
the  taverns  and  groggeries  in  town,  and  the  grave  con- 
clusion among  them  was  that  we  should  not  get  one  soul 
converted.  My  expressed  hope  on  this  point  was  con- 
strued into  a prophecy,  and  so  much  was  said  by  the  rum- 
mies in  ridicule  of  it  that  the  membership  trembled  lest 


4 1 6 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


we  should  fail  in  the  meeting-  and  our  cause  should  suffer 
in  consequence.  To  keep  them  from  despair  I told  them 
that  1 had  never  made  such  declarations,  only  on  strong 
conviction  of  faith  that  it  would  so  result,  and  had  never 
yet  had  a failure  when  I felt  as  I did  then,  nor  would  it 
he  so  now  if  they  ‘would  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty.’  This  encouraged  the  membership, 
who  worked  like  men  of  God,  and  the  meeting  resulted*  in 
the  conversion  of  twenty-two  souls — two  more  than  I 
had  asked  for. 

“At  the  time  of  this  meeting  a good  sister,  the  wife  of 
Judge  McCalmont,  lay  sick,  as  was  supposed,  unto  death. 
She  expected  to  die,  and  was  very  happy.  Being  highly 
respected,  all  her  friends  who  came  from  a distance  to  the. 
meeting  wished  to  call  and  see  her,  whom  she  was  con- 
stantly exhorting  to  be  faithful  to  God  and  meet  her  in 
heaven.  So  numerous  were  the  visitors,  one  after  an- 
other, that  she  literally  talked  from  morning  to  night — 
or  would  have  done  so  if  I had  not  prevented  it  by  re- 
questing the  friends  not  to  visit  her  on  account  of  her 
peculiar  nervous  condition.  On  my  first  visit  to  her  I 
ascertained  that  the  fever  had  subsided,  but  she  was  in  a 
state  of  nervous  excitement.  Her  physician,  who  was  a 
skeptic,  being  present,  had  given  her  up  to  die,  and  she 
expecting  soon  to  be  released  from  this  sinful  world,  de- 
sired to  do  all  the  good  she  could  before  she  left  it  ; 
hence  the  exhortations.  While  praying  with  her  and  for 
her,  I asked  the  Lord,  if  consistent  with  his  will,  to  spare 
her  yet  in  life  to  her  friends  and  the  Church,  and  I felt, 
while  praying,  an  impression  of  faith  that  he  would 
do  it.  I so  announced  to  her  in  the  hearing  of  all  pres- 
ent, including  the  physician,  but  enjoined  upon  her  to 
desist  from  talking  and  get  some  rest. 

“ ‘How  can  I,’  said  she,  ‘when  sinners  are  perishing 
and  I shall  soon  be  gone,  so  that  I can  exhort  them  no 
more  ?’ 

“Let  others  exhort  them  and  you  get  some  rest,  and 
thereby  prolong  your  life  that  you  may  warn  them  when 
in  better  health  than  now.  You  are  happy,  I know,  and 
I am  glad  to  see  it.  In  this  we  have  another  evidence  of 
the  truth  and  purity  of  our  religion,  in  that  it  makes  us 
that  happy  in  the  full  prospect  of  death.  But  we  must 
be  prudent.  The  fever  has  left  you  in  a state  of  nervous 


r 


j 


Branson  at  Franklin.  417 

prostration,  and  this  ecstacy  of  joy  from  your  happy 
state  of  mind  is  exhausting  you.  You  must,  therefore, 
be  composed.  I’ll  keep  the  people  away  from  you,  and 
to-morrow  probably  you  will  be  just  as  happy  as  you  are 
now,  but  more  calm,  and  with  proper  care  you  will  get 
well  and  do  more  good  in  the  world  than  you  could  by 
exhausting  yourself  now,  possibly  causing  a relapse  and 
death. 

‘‘At  this  the  doctor  said  I was  right,  that  she  must  have 
rest,  and  she  might  possibly  get  well ; and  she  agreed  to 
take  my  advice  rather  than  the  doctor’s.  The  result  was 
she  got  well,  and  so  far  as  I know  is  yet  living,  an  honor 
and  ornament  to  religion.  This  was  also  called  prophesy- 
ing, but  was  more  pleasing  to  the  skeptical  physician  than 
the  former  one. 

“At  still  another  visit  to  this  place  ( Franklin)  I found  a 
good  brother  sick — given  over  by  the  same  physician — 
Hon.  Arnold  Plumer;  and  while  praying  with  him  and 
for  him,  the  physician  being  present  as  in  the  other  case, 
I felt  an  impression  that  he  would  get  well,  and  told  him 
so  as  I rose  from  my  knees.  This  seemed  to  give  him 
some  hope,  and  probably  reflecting  upon  the  other  case 
and  its  results,  which  were  known  to  him,  he  felt  encour- 
aged, and  shortly  after  was  a well  man  again.  As  I left 
the  room,  the  doctor  followed  me  to  another  apartment 
and  said : 

“ ‘I  like  to  have  you  visit  my  patients,  for  you  proph- 
esy good  concerning  them,  and  the  effect  upon  their 
minds  is  consoling  and  does  them  good.' 

“I  asked  him  if  he  thought  that  Brother  Plumer  would 
get  well. 

“ T think  it  possible,  but  not  probable.’ 

“ ‘Then/  said  I,  ‘if  he  gets  well,  as  I feel  an  impression 
that  he  will,  you  must  admit  that  there  is  some  efficacy 
in  prayer/ 

“‘Yes,’  said  he.  ‘that  may  be  so;  but  I want  some 
credit  given  to  the  medicine  and  skill  in  its  application/ 

“ T give  you  credit  for  your  skill  and  for  the  medicine, 
but  unless  God  blesses  it,  it  can  not  avail.  I don’t  expect 
inat  he  will  recover  without  the  use  of  means.  I make 
no  pretensions  to  working  miracles.  God  must  bless  the 
means  used,  or  they  will  do  no  good ; and  for  this  reason 


27 


418 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


if  no  other  existed,  a physician  should  be  a man  of  faith 
and  prayer.  Great  responsibilities  rest  upon  your  pro- 
fession; not  only  the  life  of  the  body,  but  in  case  the  pa- 
tient is  a sinner  unpardoned,  the  soul  itself  is  at  stake.  I 
have  known  pious  physicians  who  not  only  gave  medicine 
but  religious  advice  also,  then  prayed  for  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  them,  and  both  succeeded,  and  body  and  soul 
were  healed.' 

“ ‘Well,  if  that  is  the  way  of  it,  and  miracles  are  not  to 
be  expected,  I have  no  objections  to  prayer.' 

“Here  were  four  instances  in  which  I declared  the  im- 
pression of  my  mind  in  answer  to  prayer,  which  others 
called  prophecies,  all  of  which  came  to  pass ; and  yet, 
strange  as  it  may  seem,  both  McCalmont  (whose  wife 
got  well)  and  Plumer  afterwards,  on  my  visiting  the 
place,  requested  me  not  to  ‘prophesy,’  as  they  called  it, 
‘because  the  wicked  made  such  a handle  of  it,  and  if  it 
should  fail  it  would  be  a great  injury  to  our  cause.' 

“The  hostility  of  our  opponents  showed  itself  in  another 
way.  They  had  a debating  society,  and  it  was  proposed 
to  debate  the  question  whether  my  visits  to  the  place 
were  attended  with  more  good  or  evil.  I sent  word  to 
debate  it  and  let  me  know  the  result;  if  in  the  negative 
I would  preach  to  them  on  my  next  visit  from  the  lan- 
guage of  the  owners  of  the  swine  into  which  the  devils 
entered — ‘They  besought  Him  that  He  would  depart  out 
of  their  coasts.’  But  the  question  was  dropped/* — (Brun- 
son, A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  2,  pp.  10-17.) 

How  Mr.  Brunson  Became  Missionary  to  the 

Indians. 

At  this  conference  Mr.  Brunson  was  removed  from  the 
district,  and  with  George  W.  Clarke  was  appointed  to 
Franklin,  Pa.;  but  at  the  session  of  the  first  quarterly 
conference  held  at  Franklin,  August  20,  1835,  he  had  not 
yet  reported,  and  the  following  resolution  was  passed: 
“Resolved,  That  if  Brother  Brunson  does  not  fill  his  ap- 
pointment in  this  place,  a young  man  be  procured  to  sup- 
ply his  place.”  “Brother  Brunson”  did  not  come,  and  “a 
young  man,'  James  W.  Lowe,  who  had  recently  been 
licensed  to  preach,  was  employed  as  a supply.  Mr.  Brun- 
son at  this  time  was  preparing  for  a journey  to  the  Illi- 


Hozv  Mr.  Brunson  Became  Missionary.  419 

nois  Conference — or  already  on  his  way — to  establish  a 
mission  among  the  Indians. 

A number  of  interesting  historic  facts  are  suggested  by 
this  resolution.  In  1833  Elkanah  P.  Steadman  had  been 
appointed  to  Warren,  Pa.  Mr.  Gregg  says : “Erie,  Pa., 
is  made  a station,  but  unfortunately  the  preacher  sta- 
tioned there  did  not  go,  his  services  being  greatly  needed 
at  Warren,  Pa.,  where  through  his  exertions  the  previous 
year  a fine  brick  church  was  commenced,  and  the  two  pre- 
siding elders  agreed  to  an  exchange,  placing  Mr.  Stead- 
man at  Warren  again  and  Mr.  Plimpton  at  Erie;  but  Mr. 
Plimpton  not  liking  the  change,  and  not  regarding  it  law- 
ful, did  not  go  to  Erie,  and  the  place  had  to  be  supplied.” 
This  concerning  the  appointments  in  1834. 

Alfred  Brunson,  who  was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Mead- 
ville  District  in  1833  and  gives  an  account  which 

differs  from  this  on  essential  points.  He  says : “Soon 

after  conference  (the  conference  of  1834)  I received  a 
letter  from  Doctor  Steadman,  who  was  appointed  to  Erie, 
in  my  district,  stating  that,  owing  to  the  delicate  state  of 
his  wife's  health,  he  dared  not  take  her  to  the  lake  shore, 
and  requested  to  exchange  with  Doctor  Plimpton,  who 
was  appointed  to  Jamestown,  in  another  district,  and  he 
was  agreed  to  the  change ; and  further,  that  the  Presid- 
ing Elder  of  that  district  was  willing  and  desired  the 
change  as  an  act  of  humanity  to  the  afflicted  lady.”  Mr. 
Brunson,  following  the  ruling  of  Bishop  Emory  in  1832, 
effected  the  exchange.  He  continues  his  account:  “Stead- 
man was  the  more  popular  preacher  of  the  two,  and  the 
Erie  friends  refused  at  first  to  receive  Plimpton,  thinking 
thereby  to  secure  Steadman.  But  Steadman's  wife  re- 
fused to  go  to  Erie  on  any  terms,  and  he  stayed  with  her 
at  Jamestown.  Plimpton  feeling  wronged  by  the  people’s 
refusing  to  receive  him,  though  they  now  consented,  in 
his  turn  refused  to  go  there,  and  the  place  had  to  be  sup- 
plied, which  I found  very  difficult  to  be  done,  and  the 
year  proved  to  be  nearly  blank  in  that  place.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  pp.  321- 
322;  Brunson,  A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  II,  pp.  ij-18.) 

These  accounts  are  not  incapable  of  reconciliation.  The 
appointments  as  made  at  the  conference  were : Erie,  E. 

P.  Steadman;  Warren,  Allured  Plimpton;  Jamestown,  J. 
J.  Steadman.  When  it  seemed  best  to  return  E.  P. 


420 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Steadman  to  Warren,  Mr.  Brunson  did  so  and  sent  J.  J. 

Steadman  to  Erie,  and  Allured  Plimpton  to  Jamestown. 

Then  came  up  the  matter  of  Mrs.  J.  J.  Steadman’s  health ; 
and  there,  followed  the  effort  to  make  an  exchange  be- 
tween J.  J.  Steadman  and  Allured  Plimpton,  resulting  in 
the  former’s  remaining  at  Jamestown,  and  the  latter’s  re- 
fusing to  go  to  Erie.  Is  there  a better  explanation? 

Mr.  Brunson  had  always  had  enemies,  and  this  fur- 
nished a new  occasion.  Bishop  James  O.  Andrew,  who 
presided  at  the  conference  of  1834  differed  from  Bishop 
Emory  as  to  the  authority  of  Presiding  Elders  to  trans- 
fer preachers  by  mutual  agreement  from  one  district  to 
another.  Here  then,  said  Mr.  Brunson’s  enemies,  is  a 
case  of  maladministration. 

There  was  still  another  reason  for  hostility.  We  will 
let  Mr.  Brunson  state  the  case:  “The  conference  was 

annually  sending  out  its  resolutions  in  favor  of  the  tem- 
perance cause,  but  because  I had  insisted  upon  the  ob- 
servance of  these  resolutions,  some  tippling  members 
complained  to  some  milk-and-water  preachers,  and  here 
was  ground  for  another  complaint.  It  would  not  do  to 
say,  directly,  that  it  was  because  I advocated  temper- 
ance. but  it  was  said : ‘He  bears  down  upon  the  thing 

with  a heavy  hand.  His  words  are  like  a sledge  hammer, 
and  his  tongue  shaves  like  a razor,  only  it  is  rough  on 
the  edge.’  It  is  true  that  when  convinced  that  I am  right, 

I am  in  earnest,  and  endeavor  so  to  speak  as  to  be  under- 
stood, and,  if  possible,  have  The  sentiment  advanced  felt 
by  the  hearer.” — (Brunson,  A Western  Pioneer,  Vol.  II, 

p - 24-)  I 

For  these  reasons  Bishop  Andrew  removed  Mr.  Brun- 
son from  the  eldership  and  appointed  him  to  Franklin. 

Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts,  who  had  charge  of  the  North- 
west Indian  Missions,  was  present  as  a visitor.  Mr. 

Brunson  had  become  greatly  interested  in  this  Work,  and 
when  asked  by  Bishop  Roberts  to  transfer  to  the  Illinois 
Conference — which  included  at  that  time  all  the  Indian 
country — he  accepted  the  invitation.  He  secured  his 
transfer  before  he  started,  and  not  as  Mr.  Gregg  says  at 
the  close  of  the  conference  year. — (Brunson,  A Western 
Pioneer,  Vol.  2,  pp.  25-27;  Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 

Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1,  p.  349.)  Here  he  was  given  a 
great  district  “extending  from  Rock  Island  to  St.  An- 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


421 


thony’s  Falls,  five  hundred  miles  long,  including  all  the 
settlements  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and 
about  seventy  miles  wide.” — (Brunson,  A Western  Pio- 
neer, Vol.  II,  p.  31.) 

This  piece  of  history  explains  the  resolution  of  the 
Franklin  Quarterly  Conference. — ( Stewards ’ Book  of 
Franklin  Station,  extending  from  August  20,  1833,  t0 
July  2 , 1866.) 

Cleveland  Methodism. 

Ashtabula  was  the  first  county  settled  in  Northern 
Ohio.  The  surveying  party  of  the  Western  Reserve,  con- 
sisting of  fifty  men,  two  women  and  one  child,  landed  at 
the  mouth  of  Conneaut  creek,  July  4,  1796,  sat  down  on 
its  eastern  shore,  pledged  their  country  in  tin  cups  of 
water  from  the  stream,  and  with  two  or  three  fowling 
pieces  discharged  the  national  salute.  The  next  day  they 
erected  “Stow  Castle.”  Judge  James  Kingsbury  arrived 
a little  later  in  the  season  and  wintered  his  family  in  a 
cabin  which  stood  on  a spot  now  covered  by  the  waters 
of  the  lake.  He  is  the  first  person  who  sowed  and  har- 
vested wheat  on  the  Reserve.  His  child,  the  first  white 
child  born  on  the  Reserve,  starved  to  death — the  father 
having  been  detained  away  from  home  because  of  sick- 
ness. Thomas  Montgomery  and  Aaron  Wright  settled 
in  Conneaut  in  1798;  but  the  first  permanent  settlement 
was  made  in  1799.  In  1798,  on  the  7th  of  March,  Alex- 
ander Harper,  Wm.  McFarland  and  Ezra  Gregory,  with 
their  families,  made  a settlement  at  Harpersfield.  In  the 
course  of  the  year  the  population  of  the  Reserve  increased 
to  eighteen  families — ten  at  Youngstown,  three  at  Cleve- 
land, three  at  Burton  and  two  at  Mentor. — (Howe,  His- 
torical Collections  of  Ohio,  Vol.  1,  pp.  261,  etc.J 

The  surveying  party  of  the  Reserve  surveyed  the  site 
of  Cleveland  in  the  autumn  of  1796,  and  Job  V.  Stiles 
and  his  family  and  Edward  Paine  spent  the  winter  in  a 
log  cabin  which  stood  near  the  site  of  the  Commercial 
bank.  The  place  was  named  from  General  Moses  Cleave- 
land,  agent  of  the  Connecticut  Land  Company.  Rev. 
Seth  Hart  was  one  of  the  surveying  party.  When  the 
Cleveland  Advertiser  was  issued  in  1830  the  editor  found 
the  type  of  his  headline  too  large  for  the  page  and  hence 


422 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


dropped  the  first  “a;”  hence,  the  name  of  the  city.^ 
(Hoive,  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio , Vol.  I,  p.  508.) 

The  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
indeed,  of  each  branch  of  Protestantism,  is  older  in  the 
suburbs  of  Cleveland  than  in  the  present  business  cen- 
ters. This  is  not  surprising,  as  the  pioneers  of  1796- 
1818,  finding  Cleveland  harbor  at  the  foot  of  huge  sand 
hills  blown  by  the  lake  winds,  pushed  for  their  first  settle- 
ment further  back,  where  fruit  would  grow  and  where 
saw,  grist  and  fulling  mills  might  be  erected;  hence, 
Brooklyn  and  Newburg  came  into  prominence,  and  the 
now  beautiful  Forest  City  was  then  a minute  “village, 
six  miles  from  Newburg/ ? 

The  Moravians,  missionaries  to  the  Indians,  pitched 
their  tents  in  June,  1786;  on  November  10  of  the  same 
year  they  dedicated  their  little  chapel  in  what  is  now  In- 
dependence Township,  Cuyahoga  County,  calling  their 
settlement  “Pilgerruh,”  “Pilgrims  Rest/* 

_ The  earliest  period  of  the  city’s  existence  is  void  of  re- 
ligious interest,  except  as  we  read  that  in  1799  the  Rev. 
William  Wick,  Presbyterian,  preached,  possibly  once,  lo- 
cating in  Youngstown,  Ohio.  In  1800- 1801  he  enter- 
tained in  his  cabin  the  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  Congtega- 
tional  representative  of  a .Connecticut  home  missionary 
societv,  en  route  to  explore  this  wilderness,  pleaching  as 
he  had  -opportunity. 

Old  Trinity  parish  was  organized  at  Phineas  Shep- 
ard's log  house  on  the  present  site  of  No.  230  Pearl 
Street  (old  number),  November  9,  1816,  by  the  Rev. 
Roger  Searle,  rector  of  St.  Peter’s  parish,  Plymouth, 
Conn. 

Before  1812  the  Baltimore  Conference  extended  over 
this  lake  region.  No  official  mention  is  made  of  this  tract 
of  country  in  connection  with  the  Methodist  Church  until 
1820,  when  it  has  place  in  the  minutes  of  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference. Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  last  named  may 
be  found  in  the  fact  that  West  Wheeling,  Chautauqua, 
Erie  and  Detroit  were  included  within  its  limits. 

The  Cuyahoga  river  vicinity  was  embraced  in  New 
Connecticut  Circuit,  Ohio  District.  In  1824  was  formed 
the  Pittsburg  Conference,  in  which  were  located  the  lands 
east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  and  the  West  Side,  known  then  as 
Brooklyn,  a part  of  which  later  was  called  Ohio  City, 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


423 


allotted  to  the  Michigan  Conference  from  1824  to  1836, 
and  from  the  latter  date  to  1840  to  the  Erie  Conference. 
Jacob  Ward  removed  from  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  in  1816,  to 
Brunswick,  Medina  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a local  preach- 
er of  means,  doing  excellent  work  at  home  and  throughout 
the  surrounding  country.  He  organized  a class  of  thirteen 
persons  at  Brunswick  in  April,  1817.  James  B.  Finley 
being  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Ohio  District,  it  is  said  that 
early  in  1818,  either  Jacob  Ward  or  a circuit  rider  drew 
up  to  a double  log  farm  house  built  on  a quarter  section 
in  Brooklyn,  our  present  Forty-Second  Ward,  and  saying 
that  he  was  looking  up  the  lost  sheep,  gathered  a class  of 
eight  members,  four  of  them  named  ‘'Fish,”  the  other 
half  “Brainard.”  This  is  Cleveland's  first  Methodist  so- 
ciety out  of  which  have  come  the  present  Memorial 
Church  and  the  new  beautiful  Pearl  Street  Church  of 
South  Brooklyn.  It  is  also  quite  certain  that  the  gospel 
was  preached  in  Newburg  at  a camp  meeting  the  same 
year,  but  of  this  no  record  remains.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  Cuyahoga  Circuit  was  made,  to  which  Ezra 
Booth  and  Dennis  Goddard  were  appointed.  In  1819 
William  Swayze  succeeded  to  Ohio  District — a man  of 
extraordinary  fervor,  abounding  in  labor. 

Thorough  research  proves  that  in  1821  a class  was 
formed  at  Euclid  Creek,  numbering  at  least  ten  persons. 
Services  were  held  in  cabins  of  pioneers,  in  barns  and 
later  in  log  and  frame  school  houses.  These  ministers 
of  the  period  were  men  of  one  work,  eminent  in  sacri- 
fice ; sleeping  at  night-  by  forest  fires  of  their  own  kindling 
with  flint  and  tinder  ; saddle  bags  for  pillows  and  their 
camlet  cloaks  for  covering;  anon,  arising  to  scare  away 
the  prowling  wolf.  Without  bridges,  they  and  their  intelli- 
gent ponies  forded  swollen  streams.  With  pole  in  hand, 
these  itinerants  picked  their  way  among  ice  floes,  drying 
themselves  in  the  wigwams  of  Red  Jacket  and  other 
friendly  Indians. 

In  1823,  Cleveland  was  a remote  and  insignificant  point 
upon  Hudson  Circuit,  Portland  District,  brave  Ira  Eddy 
in  charge;  His  circuit  embraced  six  hundred  miles  of 
travel  and  forty-two  appointments.  Cleveland  Method- 
ism owes  much  to  John  Crawford,  the  organizer;  Milton 
Colt,  eloquent  and  powerful;  Francis  A.  Dighton,  tal- 
ented and  of  great  promise,  dying  at  twenty-six;  earnest 


424  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Mr.  Prescott,  whose  name  is  found  in  Brunswick  ceme- 
tery; nor  shall  be  omitted  young  Mr.  Bump,  the  school- 
master and  local  preacher,  afterward  drowned  in  a 
bridgeless  river  of  Arkansas  during  the  performance  of 
almost  superhuman  labor. 

There  is  a tradition  that  a gentleman  residing  in  an 
eastern  city,  and  owning  real  estate  in  Cleveland,  wishing 
to  see  Methodism  planted  there,  in  1820  sent  the  deed  of 
a lot,  corner  of  Ontario  and  Rockwell  streets,  but  no  one 
being  found  sufficiently  interested,  or  with  money  enough 
to  pay  the  recorder’s  fee,  the  deed  was  returned  to  the 
donor. 

Through  the  agency  of  Grace  Johnson,  wife  of  a lake 
captain,  Methodist  preaching  was  heard  here  in  1822. 
The  beginning  of  organized  work  was  at  the  house  of 
Job  Sizer,  a local  preacher,  and  his  sister,  Abigail,  who 
came  here  in  1826  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In  1827,  in  this 
hospitable  home  John  Crawford,  the  circuit  preacher, 
formed  the  pioneer  class  of  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  numbering  seven  persons — Andrew  Tomlinson, 
leader,  and  his  sister,  Eliza  Worley,  Grace  Johnson,  Lucy 
Knowlton,  Elizabeth  South  worth  and  the  host  and  host- 
ess. A little  later  Elijah  Peet  and  wife  joined  the  class. 
Mr.  Peet,  residing  in  Newburg,  used  to  bring  cut  wood 
in  his  wagon  from  his  distant  home  over  almost  impass- 
able roads,  and  with  his  wife,  came  early  on  Sunday 
mornings  and  made  the  fire  to  keep  comfortable  the 
handful  of  Methodist  people  at  the  class  meeting.  These 
original  nine  are  immortal  names  enshrined  in  the  hearts 
of  the  Methodists  of  Cleveland. 

John  Crawford  organized  another  class  in  1827,  en- 
rolling fourteen  at  Hubbard's  on  Kinsman  street,  that 
being  a central  point  for  members  residing  at  either  ex- 
treme of  the  settlement.  Those  at  Doan's  corners  trav- 
eled thither  up  the  present  East  Madison  avenue,  over 
an  Indian  foot  path.  “Hubbard's"  is  the  initiative  of 
Kinsman  Street  Church  of  to-day. 

Let  us  for  a moment  trace  the  fortunes  of  the  pioneer 
First  Church.  From  1827  to  1841  the  members  wor- 
shiped in  cabins,  lofts,  halls,  the  attic  floor  of  a large 
building  on  Bank  street,  and  in  the  “Academy,”  St.  Clair 
street.  Unmoved  by  indescribable  adversity,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Francis  A.  Dighton,  in  1836,  the  trustees. 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


425 


secured  the  site  for  old  St.  Clair,  corner  of  Wood  street, 
then  quite  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  Nearly  all  of  the 
ground  north  to  the  lake  shore  and  east  of  Erie  street 
was  covered  with  oak  and  hazel,  beyond  which  lay  a vast 
quagmire  partly  cleared.  The  work  progressed  slowly. 
In  1836,  the  basement  walls  were  carried  to  the  surface. 
In  1839  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  in- 
corporated. The  membership  was  depleted  by  dissen- 
sions and  anti-slavery  secessions.  Real  estate  collapsed 
in  the  crash  of  1837.  In  1840,  under  the  leadership  of 
Arthur  M.  Brown,  preacher  in  charge,  the  trustees  re- 
organized. They  built  a small  parsonage  on  Wood 
street.  In  1841  the  audience  room  of  the  church  was 
finished  and  dedicated  ; and  in  1842  the  first  Methodist 
Conference  held  in  that  part  of  the  State  met  in  the  new 
church. 

A writer  says : “An  opportunity  was  given  to  see  what 
'circuit  riders’  were  like.  We  observed  them  at  their 
best;  with  belted  cloaks,  green  leggins,  and  saddle  bags 
laid  down;  fine-looking,  broad  in  their  views,  eloquent, 
most  of  them  well  educated,  genial ; in  fact,  each  seemed 
a friend.  The  whole  thing  surprised  us ; citizens  all  were 
ready  to  bid  the  preachers  Godspeed  and  invite  them 
again  to  our  homes.” 

The  supreme  crisis  in  the  history  of  the  church  was 
reached  this  year,  and  the  pastor,  L.  D.  Mix,  was  com- 
pelled to  stop  work  and  canvas  the  Conference  for  funds 
to  help  liquidate  the  debt,  his  zeal  carrying  him  as  far  as 
New  York  City.  His  health  broke  under  the  strain,  but 
the  church  was  saved.  In  1857  Moses  Hill  succeeded  in 
canceling  the  mortgage. 

In  time  it  was  deemed  best  to  move  further  up  town. 
Bishop  Kingsley  came  here  to  reside.  Under  his  man- 
agement and  that  of  the  trustees,  in  1867,  over  $25,000 
was  raised  for  a new  edifice.  George  W.  Whitney  se- 
lected the  site,  and  W.  P.  Cooke  secured  it,  at  the  corner 
of  Euclid  and  Erie  streets,  where  a noble  stone  structure 
was  raised,  a monument  to  the  enterprise  and  piety  of 
Cleveland  Methodists.  Here  wrought  grand  personali- 
ties, many  already  given,  besides  Hart  A.  Massey,  George 
P.  Burwell,  Edward  Lewis,  W.  C.  Schofield  and  John 
Corlett.  The  three  last-named  had  stations  on  the  "un- 
derground railway.”  It  remained  for  Jacob  Lowman  and 


426  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Edward  Lewis  after  long-  years  to  eliminate  the  debt.  In 
December,  1874,  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster  dedicated  the  noble 
stone  building,  costing  $150,000,  and  capable  of  enduring 
for  a century.  Henry  Haines,  W.  A.  Ingham,  J.  Staf- 
ford, G.  M.  Barber,  F.  A.  Arter,  W.  F.  Hinman,  E.  F. 
Young,  W.  T.  Robbins,  and  a glorious  multitude  besides, 
all  labored  here  in  the  years  following. 

A class  was  permanently  established  at  Doan’s  Cor- 
ners, now  Euclid  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  1831,  by  Milton  Colt.  The  primitive  class  consisted 
of  nineteen  members.  The  first  church  building  on  the 
same  street  was  erected  in  1837.  The  brick  church  was 
completed  in  1870;  torn  down  in  1885;  and  the  present 
edifice  was  dedicated  in  1887  by  Chancellor  Sims,  of 
Syracuse  LTniversitv.  Milton  Colt  organized  also  the 
first  Methodist  Sunday  school  in  the  village  of  Cleveland, 
in  a building  known  as  the  Infant  School  Room  on  the 
west  side  of  Academy  Lane,  half  way  from  St.  Clair  to 
Lake  street. 

Hanover  street,  now  Franklin  avenue,  west  of  the 
Cuyahoga  river,  saw  the  light  in  1833,  at  a private  house 
— Mother  Burton’s — on  Pearl  street.  Two  families  and 
Miss  Bessie  Sessions  voluntarily  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  church,  the  first  sermon  being  preached  by  Daniel  M. 
Conant  in  Mr.  Warmington’s  house  on  Detroit  street. 
For  the  three  succeeding  years,  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Ohio  City  formed  a part  of  Brunswick  Circuit. 
Lentil  1837  services  were  held  alternating  with  the  Uni- 
versalists,  in  a small  brick  school  house  on  Vermont 
street,  used  for  a long  time  as  the  Eighth  Ward  voting 
place,  and  still  standing.  Work  on  the  church  building  be- 
gan in  1836,  but  the  walls  reared  to  the  roof  were  thrown 
down  by  a terrible  storm.  The  City  Council  offered  a 
room  in  the  Columbus  Block  which  was  gladly  accepted. 
The  block  burned.  The  struggling  band  was  sent  back 
to  the  school  house.  In  November,  1838,  they  occupied 
the  basement  on  Hanover  street.  In  1848,  the  Hanover 
street  society  moved  into  its  audience  room;  and  in  1869, 
it  was  merged  into  the  Franklin  Avenue  society,  whose 
church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  in 
1870.  We  have,  then,  six  original  churches,  Brooklyn 
Memorial,  First.  Kinsman  Street,  Euclid  Avenue,  Miles 
Park  and  Hanover  Street.  Mothers  are  they  of  Sabbath 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


4 27 


schools  and  missions,  developing  into  thirty  denomina- 
tional centers. 

In  1836,  our  territory  east  of  the  Cuyahoga  became  a 
part  of  the  Erie  Conference  which  was  formed  that  year. 
In  1840,  by  a revision  of  boundaries,  the  North  Ohio  Con- 
ference was  formed,  and  that  portion  lying  west  of  the 
river  boundary  was  included  in  it.  By  another  revision 
in  1876,  the  East  Ohio  Conference  was  made  and  the  part 
of  Cleveland  known  as  the  East  Side  became  a part  of  it. 
Franklin  Avenue  Church  is  a strong  center  in  the  North 
Ohio  division ; vigorous  and  alert,  she  takes  high  rank 
among  city  churches  of  all  denominations.  Her  child- 
ren are  Garden  Avenue,  built  as  Bridge  street  in  1855, 
as  Taylor  street  in  1869;  in  her  present  form,  1898;  and 
Trinity  in  1894. 

Epworth  Memorial  commemorates  the  unification  of  all 
our  young  people’s  associations  throughout  the  world  into 
the  Epworth  League;  these  societies  were  consolidated 
May  15,  1889.  This  church  was  once  called  Erie  Street, 
having  been  colonized  from  First  Church  in  1850.  Upon 
its  removal  to  the  corner  of  Prospect  and  Huntington 
streets,  it  was  named  in  1875,  “Christ  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.”  In  1883  it  was  combined  with  Cottage 
Mission  and  became  Central  Church,  corner  Willson  ave- 
nue and  Prospect  street.  This  historic  building  is  now  a 
Salvation  Army  barracks,  giving  place  to  a structure 
whose  architectural  symmetry  and  exquisite  arrangement 
make  it  celebrated. 

At  the  close  of  a recent  largely  attended  and  enthusias- 
tic reception  given  by  Epworth  Memorial  Church,  Cleve- 
land, to  their  pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Pickard,  and  his  wife, 
who  returned  to  this  people  for  their  seventh  year,  a fea- 
ture was  introduced  of  very  general  interest — the  unveil- 
ing of  a most  beautiful  steel  engraving  of  the  rescue  of 
John  Wesley  from  the  burning  rectory  at  Epworth,  in 
Lincolnshire,  on  the  night  of  February  9,  1709. 

This  picture  was  presented  to  Epworth  Memorial 
Church,  through  Doctor  Pickard,  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  H. 
Fowler,  of  Philadelphia.  When  in  London,  visiting  City 
Road  Chapel,  Mr.  Fowler  and  wife  saw  a copy  of  this  pic- 
ture on  the  wall  of  the  room  adjacent  to  the  church. 
They  immediately  thought  of  the  appropriateness  of  plac- 
ing such  a picture  in  Epworth  Memorial  Church.  At  the 


428 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Book  Room  in  London,  they  were  informed  that  only 
three  copies  of  this  picture  were  known  to  exist,  namely, 
the  one  in  the  room  adjacent  to  the  church,  above  men- 
tioned, one  in  John  Wesley’s  old  library  or  study- room  in 
the  Wesley  House,  and  this  one  framed  and  hung  up  in 
the  main  room  of  the  London  Book  Concern.  After 
much  persuasion,  beseeching,  pleading  and  explaining  that 
it  was  for  the  church  in  America  where  the  Epworth 
League  of  the  LTiited  States  was  organized,  the  Book 
Room  officials  finally  were  induced  to  part  with  this  copy, 
and  the  successful  purchaser  presented  it  to  Epworth  Me- 
morial Church.  For  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
this  picture  has  been  hanging  immediately  opposite  the  old 
Bunhill  cemetery,  London,  where  John  Bunyan,  Isaac 
Watt  and  Susanna  Wesley  are  buried.  It  seems  an  in- 
cident of  unusual  appropriateness  that  this  valuable  and 
historic  picture  should  come  at  this  time  and  in  this  man- 
ner to  Epworth  Memorial  Church. 

In  the  margin  of  the  picture  is  an  inscription  reading  as 
follows : 

“To  the  Ministers  and  Members  of  the  Wesleyan  So- 
cieties throughout  the  world,  together  with  the  public  gen- 
erally, this  print  representing  the  Providential  deliverance 
of  John  Wesley,  when  six  years  of  age,  from  the  fire  by 
which  the  parsonage  house  of  Epworth,  in  Lincolnshire, 
was  destroyed  on  the  night  of  February  9,  1709.  Taken 
from  the  original  picture,  painted  and  presented  by  the 
artist  to  the  Conference  to  be  placed  in  the  Centenary 
Hall,  London,  as  commemorative  of  the  centenary  of 
Methodism,  celebrated  October,  1839,  is  most  respectfully 
dedicated  by  their  very  obedient  servant, 

“Henry  Perlee  Parker." 

This  old  picture  is  assigned  a place  on  the  wall  of  Ep- 
worth Memorial  Church.  Having  in  the  past  commemo- 
rated the  providential  deliverance  by  which  the  beginnings 
of  Methodism  were  made  possible,  it  comes  to  the  new 
world,  the  new  Epworth,  and  in  the  place  where  the  new- 
est and  strongest  of  modern  Methodist  movements,  the 
Epworth  League,  had  its  birth,  this  old  picture  will  con- 
tinue to  tell  its  story,  suggesting  to  our  people  that  the 
, providence  of  God  has  had  something  to  do  with  the  rise, 
progress  and  development  of  Methodism. 


428 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Book  Room  in  London,  they  were  informed  that  only 
three  copies  of  this  picture  were  known  to  exist,  namely, 
the  one  in  the  room  adjacent  to  the  church,  above  men- 
tioned, one  in  John  Wesley’s  old  library  or  study-room  in 
the  Wesley  House,  and  this  one  framed  and  hung  up  in 
the  main  room  of  the  London  Book  Concern.  After 
much  persuasion,  beseeching,  pleading  and  explaining  that 
it  was  for  the  church  in  America  where  the  Epworth 
League  of  the  United  States  was  organized,  the  Book 
Room  officials  finally  were  induced  to  part  with  this  copy, 
and  the  successful  purchaser  presented  it  to  Epworth  Me- 
morial Church.  For  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
this  picture  has  been  hanging  immediately  opposite  the  old 
Bunhill  cemetery,  London,  where  John  Bunyan,  Isaac 
Watt  and  Susanna  Wesley  are  buried.  It  seems  an  in- 
cident of  unusual  appropriateness  that  this  valuable  and 
historic  picture  should  come  at  this  time  and  in  this  man- 
ner to  Epworth  Memorial  Church. 

In  the  margin  of  the  picture  is  an  inscription  reading  as 
follows : 

“To  the  Ministers  and  Members  of  the  Wesleyan  So- 
cieties throughout  the  world,  together  with  the  public  gen- 
erally, this  print  representing  the  Providential  deliverance 
of  John  Wesley,  when  six  years  of  age,  from  the  fire  by 
which  the  parsonage  house  of  Epworth,  in  Lincolnshire, 
was  destroyed  on  the  night  of  February  9.  1709.  Laken 
from  the  original  picture,  painted  and  presented  by  the 
artist  to  the  Conference  to  be  placed  in  the  Centenary 
Hall,  London,  as  commemorative  of  the  centenary  of 
Methodism,  celebrated  October,  1839,  is  most  respectfully 
dedicated  by  their  very  obedient  servant, 

“Henry  Perlee  Parker.” 

This  old  picture  is  assigned  a place  on  the  wall  of  Ep- 
worth Memorial  Church.  Having  in  the  past  commemo- 
rated the  providential  deliverance  by  which  the  beginnings 
of  Methodism  were  made  possible,  it  comes  to  the  new 
world,  the  new  Epworth,  and  in  the  place  where  the  new- 
est and  strongest  of  modern  Methodist  movements,  the 
Epworth  League,  had  its  birth,  this  old  picture  will  con- 
tinue to  tell  its  story,  suggesting  to  our  people  that  the 
providence  of  God  has  had  something  to  do  with  the  rise, 
progress  and  development  of  Methodism. 


43° 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Willson  Avenue  Church  began  as  a mission  in  1857,  on 
St.  Clair  street,  near  Perry.  In  the  early  sixties  by  re- 
moval to  Waring  street  and  Mariposa  Park,  it  was  known 
for  eight  vears  as  Waring  Street  Mission.  Lpon  leach- 
ing self-maintenance  it  became  Waring  Street  Church. 
Its  next  transition  was  into  a tabernacle  for  temporary 
use,  on  a fine  lot  corner  of  Superior  and  Aaron  streets. 
For  three  years,  or  since  1893,  it  has  been  permanently 
located  on  Willson  avenue,  corner  of  Luther,  in  a de- 
lightful residence  portion  of  the  city,  in  a substantial  gray 
stone  structure  with  all  modern  facilities. 

Scovill  Avenue,  built  largely  through  the  liberality  of 
Messrs.  Horace  Wilkins  and  John  N.  Glidden,  was  found- 
ed in  1866.  Lorain  Street  Church  was  founded  in  1868 
by  the  Rev.  Hugh  L.  Parish.  Woodland  Avenue,  a mis- 
sion of  Scovill  Avenue,  was  first  comfortably  housed  in 
1870,  and  is  now  a flourishing-  center  with  a fine  new 
building.  Jennings,  formerly  Pelton  Avenue,  was  found- 
ed in  1871.  Broadway  was  organized  in  1872,  and  its 
original  meeting  place  purchased  and  presented  by  Messrs. 
Horace  Wilkins  and  Hart  A.  Massey.  German  Method- 
ism was  slow  in  progress.  In  1847,  the  Rev.  C.  Helwig 
formed  a class  here,  which  after  years  of  struggle  de- 
veloped into  the  now  prosperous  center,  corner  Scovill  and 
Sterling  avenues.  St.  Paul’s  German,  corner  Harbor  and 
Bridge  streets,  was  established  in  1852. 

German  Methodism  is  gaining  a strong  position  among 
the  religious  forces  of  Cleveland.  The  earliest  mission- 
ary appointed  was  the  Rev.  H.  Buhre,  in  1845.  Pro- 
gress was,  at  first,  slow  indeed.  The  Rev.  C.  Helwig 
formed  a class  in  1847.  After  years  of  struggle,  we  have 
the  First  German  Church,  corner  of  Scovill  and  Sterling 
avenues,  rebuilt  and  dedicated  in  1893.  Faithful  labor 
on  the  west  organized  and  built  in  1852.  This  property 
was  sold,  and  an  eligible  site  procured,  corner  of  Bridge 
and  Harbor  streets,  and  St.  Paul’s  Church  erected.  The 
Central  German  Conference  convened  here  in  1894.  Im- 
manuel on  the  East  Side  and  Bethany  on  the  West,  aie 
full  of  promise. — ( Barker , History  of  Ohio  Method- 
• ism,  pp.  346-355.)  Paper  prepared  by  Mrs.  Mary  B. 
Ingham  and  read  at  Conference  in  connection  with  the 
Centennial  Celebration  of  the  City  of  Cleveland,  1896, 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


43i 


original  manuscript  of  Mrs.  Ingham.  (Sec  also  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  April  20,  190J.) 

In  1886  the  Methodist  Church  and  Sunday  School  Al- 
liance was  organized,  developing  into  the  City  Church  Ex- 
tension Society.  From  the  tenth  annual  report  of  its  first 
president,  Mr.  Wilson  M.  Day,  I learn  that  during  the  ten 
years'  existence  of  the  alliance,  nine  churches  were  re- 
built, Epworth,  Memorial,  Willson,  Jennings,  Gordon, 
Woodland  and  Parkwood  avenues,  First  German,  St. 
Clair  and  Ashbury.  Several  were  built  in  new  territory, 
Grace,  Woodland  Hills,  Wade  Park,  Ferncliff,  Trinity, 
Rosedale,  Walworth  Swedish,  Bethany  and  Immanuel 
German.  Other  churches  are  of  still  more  recent  date. 

An  event,  probably  of  historic  interest,  recently  took 
place  in  Cleveland,  when  Wesley  Chapel  (Methodist  Ep  s- 
copal  Church)  and  Calvary  Church  (Evangelical  Associa- 
tion) were  united.  After  thirteen  years,  the  last  three 
under  the  auspices  of  Epworth  Memorial  Church,  it  seem- 
ed wisest  to  close  the  work  of  the  chapel.  This  step  was 
inspired  by  a broad  vision  of  the  kingdom  and  its  interests. 
At  the  time  of  union  Sunday-school  and  Epworth  League 
were  flourishing,  and  a strong  and  aggressive  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  was  in  existence.  The  chapel  was  contemplating 
an  extension  to  its  building  and  the  undertaking  of  sev- 
eral institutional  features,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the 
sister  Church  would  be  compelled  to  change  its  location 
by  local  improvements.  At  a friendly  conference  with 
the  Evangelical  leaders,  it  was  learned  that  this  Church 
was  planning  a similar  work  and  with  greater  resources. 
This  Church  is  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  denomination. 
Among  its  members  are  many  of  the  leaders,  the  Publish- 
ing Agent,  editors  of  Church  publications,  and  Missionary 
secretary.  It  has  occupied  the  field  for  a number  of  years, 
and  the  adjacent  streets  are  named  after  their  bishops. 
In  view  of  these  facts  it  was  felt  the  field  was  covered. 
At  this  meeting,  the  chapel  representatives  broached  the 
question  of  the  necessity  for  two  separate  Churches  so 
similar  in  character  and  suggested  union  as  the  wisest 
solution  of  the  community  problem.  Several  other  con 
ferences  followed,  and  it  was  decided  almost  unanimously 
that  such  a union  was  wise  and  Christian.  The  leaders 
of  the  two  societies  sought  to  bring  together  their  various 
organizations  by  union  services.  The  two  pastors  visited 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


43  2 


the  people  together,  and  some  features  of  the  chapel  work 
were  taken  over  by  members  of  the  other  Church.  At 
nine  o’clock  Sunday  morning,  after  a brief  farewell  ser- 
vice, the  chapel  Sunday-school,  followed  by  the  Church 
members,  marched  down  the  hill  to  the  Evangelical 
Church,  and  the  schools  were  united.  At  the  morning 
service  following,  the  Wesley  members  were  received. 
With  scarcely  anv  loss  and  with  a new  spirit  of  fellow- 
ship between  the  two  denominations,  this  union  was  ef- 
fected. Out  of  it  may  come  a movement  toward  the 
union  of  these  denominations  themselves.  Our  common 
heritage  and  traditions  together  with  the  promotion  of  the 
spirit  of  federation  make  such  a probability  of  great  in- 
terest. 

It  would  require  a volume  to  furnish  a full  history  of 
the  progress — especially  more  recent  progress  of  Method- 
ism in  this  city  of  marvellous  growth.  Instead  of  at- 
tempting an  impossible  task,  we  present  a description  of 
the  new  First  Church  which  was  dedicated  April  2,  1905. 
This  is  called  the  finest  Methodist  church  in  the  world. 

When  the  trustees  sold  the  old  property  at  the  corner  of 
Euclid  avenue  and  Erie  street  for  $500,000  they  secured 
the  piece  of  ground  on  the  corner  of  Euclid  and  Sterling 
avenues  as  a site  for  the  new  church.  The  new  lot  has 
a frontage  of  one  hundred  feet  on  Euclid  avenue,  four 
hundred  feet  on  Sterling  avenue,  and  one  hundred  feet 
on  Prospect  street.  The  Prospect  street  end  of  the  lot  has 
on  it  a fine  brick  residence,  which  can  be  used  as  a parson- 
age. The  lot  and  parsonage  cost  $52,500.  The  new 
church  built  on  the  Euclid  avenue  end  of  the  lot  cost,  ex- 
clusive of  several  costly  memorials  and  the  pipe-organs 
which  were  removed  from  the  old  church  and  rebuilt, 
somewhat  over  $200,000. 

The  building  is  of  smooth-faced  Indiana  limestone,  and 
is  one  hundred  feet  wide  by  two  hundred  feet  in  length. 
The  stvle  of  architecture  is  adapted  English  Gothic.  The 
sanctuary,  or  auditorium,  faces  Euclid  avenue,  and  the 
Sundav-school  rooms  are  in  the  rear.  The  two  rooms  are 
not  capable  of  being  thrown  together.  The  sanctuary  is 
in  the  form  of  a cross.  A square  tower,  fifty  feet  wide 
and  one  hundred  feet  high,  marks  the  crossing  of  the 
transept  and  nave.  A gallery  runs  round  the  nave  and 
stops  at  the  transept,  with  ornamental  stairways  going 


Cleveland  Methodism. 


433 


clown  to  the  main  floor.  The  floor  is  slightly  bowed,  and 
there  are  thirteen  hundred  sittings  in  the  pews.  The 
woodwork  and  furniture  are  Flemish  oak.  The  organ,  in 
the  apse  behind  the  pulpit,  has  a screen  sixty  feet  long  and 
forty  feet  high.  On  its  front  are  six  life-size  reproduc- 
tions of  Fra  Angelica’s  Angels,  each  painted  on  canvas 
with  the  golden  background.  The  organ  loft  will  ac- 
commodate a chorus  of  fifty  voices. 

The  windows  are  all  the  finest  English  cathedral  glass, 
shipped  from  England  to  Munich,  Bavaria,  painted  at  the 
latter  place,  and  sent  here.  The  windows  contain  nine- 
teen scenes  from  the  life  of  Christ,  beginning  with  the 
“Annunciation,”  and  running  through  in  their  chronolog- 
ical order  to  the  “Ascension.”  Art  critics  have  pro- 
nounced them  the  finest  windows  in  this  country.  The 
great  window  over  the  main  portal  is  dedicated  to  the 
memory  of  five  elect  ladies,  to  whom  memorial  windows 
were  dedicated  in  the  old  church.  The  east  transept  win- 
dow is  the  gift  of  the  late  Edward  Lewis,  in  memory  of 
himself  and  family.  The  west  transept  window  is  the 
gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  A.  Arter,  in  memory  of  Mrs. 
Arter’s  father,  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley.  Mr.  W.  F.  Wal- 
worth gives  one  of  the  nave  windows  in  memorv  of  his 
wife  and  son,  and  Dr.  John  H.  Lowman  gives  another 
nave  window  in  memory  of  his  father.  The  beautifully 
carved  oak  pulpit  and  communion-table  are  the  gift  of 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Weed,  in  memory  of  her  husband,  who 
was  a trustee  of  the  church  and  a member  of  the  building 
committee.  A beautiful  baptismal  font  is  the  gift  of  the 
architect  in  memory  of  his  mother,  a member  of  First 
Church. 

The  seats  are  uncushioned,  and  the  floor  uncarpeted,  ex- 
cept in  the  aisles  and  within  the  chancel.  A marked  fea- 
ture is  the  electric  lighting ; every  fixture  is  of  special  de- 
sign for  the  place  it  occupies,  and  of  the  finest  verd-au- 
tique  bronze.  The  walls  are  painted  in  four  coats  of  oil, 
and  the  color  scheme  is  light  yellow  and  Pompeiian  red. 
The  acoustic  properties  are  expected  to  be  all  that  can  be 
desired. 

The  Sunday-school  room  is  after  the  “Akron  Plan,” 
with  separate  classrooms  on  two  floors.  All  are  on  a 
radius.  Each  is  separated  from  the  others  by  folding 
doors,  which  operate  like  a roller-top  desk.  A clearstory 

28 


434  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

and  skylight  give  ample  light.  The  woodwork  is  red 
mahogany  finish.  The  color  work  is  red  mahogany, 
green  and  old  ivory.  Over  the  platform  is  a wood-carved 
Gothic  hood,  from  which  depend  the  blackboard  and  maps. 
These  are  covered  by  a portiere  when  not  muse  °v« 
the  blackboard  is  a beautiful  reproduction  of  Della  Robia  s 
choir  balcony,  in  Florence,  Italy;  m the  panels  of  which 
are  produced  by  Petroni,  of  Boston.  Della  Robia  s Boy 
Choir  Singers.”  In  the  balcony  is  the  pipe-organ. 

The  church  is  supplied  with  class-meeting  and  choir- 
rooms.  large  reception-parlor,  checking  space,  dressmg 
and  toilet-rooms,  large  banquet-rooms  with  a complete 
sta<re  where  all  the  Sunday-school  and  church  enteitai 
ments  will  be  given;  probably  the  largest  and  niost  per- 
fectly-appointed  kitchen  ever  put  in  a church.  The  board- 
room,  or  office,  has  a fire-proof  vault  for  records  and  the 
pastor’s  study  is  complete  in  every  particular.  1 heie  is  a 
whispering  telephone  service  throughout  all  parts  of 
building.  In  fact,  the  church  has  every  possible  modern 

convenience.  . 

The  pastor  was  the  chairman  of  the  building  committee, 
and  gave  much  time  to  the  planning  and  building  of  th  s 
greaf enterprise.  Mr.  Frank  A.  After,  Judge  H.  J.  Caleb 
well.  Judge  C.  E.  Pennewell.  Dr  J.  H.  Lowman  . . 

Charles  H.  Weed.  Mr.  W.  C.  Talmage  and  Mr.  F.  E. 
Stevens  were  associated  with  him  on  the  building  commit- 
tee Mr.  J.  Milton  Dyer,  a young  architect  of  Cleveland, 
was  chosen  in  competition  with  seven  leading  architects 
in  the  United  States.  Cleveland  Methodism  now  boasts 
of  having  the  finest  church  in  the  Methodist  world.  _ ie- 
laro-e  sum  of  money  left  as  an  endowment,  after  paying 
for° the  new  church,  will  be  used  in  carrying  on  the  mission 
which  First  Church  is  conducting  on  St.  Clair  street,  an  1 
for  other  missionary  and  charitable  purposes  in  the  city. 

Methodism  in  Jamestown,  X.  Y. 

In  1814  a settlement  was  made  at  Worksburg,  now  Fal- 
coner and  a Methodist  preacher  bv  the  name  of  Burrows 
Westlake  from  the  Ohio  Conference  preached  at  the  house 
of  William  Nelson,  and  formed  a class  composed  of  Janie- 
and  Tohn  Wilson.  John  Arthur,  Edward  Work.  William 
Stables  and  their  wives,  ten  persons  in  all.  It  was  then  a 
part  of  Chautauqua  Circuit  embracing  Cattaraugus  and 


Methodism  in  Jamestown , N.  Y.  435 

Chautauqua  Counties,  New  York,  and  Warren  County, 
Pennsylvania.  An  oil  painting  of  Mr.  Westlake  now  ap- 
propriately graces  the  walls  of  the  new  church  in  James- 
town. In  1820  while  Philetus  Brown  was  preacher,  the 
church  became  a legal  society  which  enabled  it  to  obtain 
a deed  of  twenty-five  acres  of  land  donated  by  the  Holland 

Land  Company,  as  beine  one  of  the  three  churches  first 
formed  in  the  town  of  Ellicott.  In  1823  Lyman  Crane, 
an  exhorter,  began  to  hold  meetings  in  Jamestown.  “Pie 
was  a man  of  few  literary  attainments  but  singularly  ef- 
fective and  magnetic ; a man  of  power,  determination  and 
purpose;  a yeoman  for  God,  who,  in  doing  his  work  ex- 
erted an  influence  the  force  of  which  is  still  felt.” — (Ed- 
ward  Appleyard  in  the  History  of  Chautauqua  County, 
New  York,  p.  720.)  Nathaniel  Reeder  and  John  Scott 
were  the  preachers  on  the  circuit.  The  next  year  the 
Worksburg  class  was  removed  to  Tamestown.  It  con- 
sisted of  Edward  Work,  Lyman  Crane,  and  Phineas  Ste- 
vens and  their  wives,  Abram  Jones,  Day  Knight,  and 
Elizabeth  and  Rebecca  Fenton.  The  circuit  was  then 
placed  in  the  Pittsburgh  Conference.  Joseph  Barris  and 
P.  D.  Horton  were  the  preachers  in  charge  with  John 
Broadhead  and  Daniel  Pritchard  as  colleagues.  To  as- 
sist the  singing  a musical  instrument  was  introduced. 
The  Erie  Conference  had  taken  action  against  the  use  of 
musical  instruments  in  the  churches;  and  John  J.  Stead- 
man, the  presiding  elder,  directed  the  preacher,  Moses 
Hill,  to  remove  it.  The  choir  opposed,  and  the  matter 
was  referred  to  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  who  was  holding 
conference  at  Fredonia,  New  York.  He  decided  “that 
the  preacher  in  charge  had  full  power  oyer  all  matters  in 
the  church,  to  appoint  its  officers,  direct  the  time  and  man- 
ner of  worship  and  singing,  and  appoint  the  trustees  ex- 
cept in  states  where  the  law  provides  otherwise.”  The 
choir  wanted  to  leave  the  matter  to  a vote  of  the  church 
and  proposed  this  solution  of  the  controversy  to  Mr.  Hill. 
He  replied : “It  is  my  province  to  rule.  The  stars  may 

fall  from  heaven  but  this  rebellion  must  come  down.  If 
but  three  members  are  left,  I will  present  to  Conference 
a true  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.”  The  trouble  grew; 
the  singers  left  the  gallery : and  the  next  Sunday  Mr.  Hill 
gave  out  the  hymn : 

‘‘Let  those  refuse  to  sing, 

Who  never  knew  their  God, 


436  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

But  servants  of  our  Heavenly  King 
May  speak  their  joys  abroad.” 

It  was  sung  with  great  glee,  and  some  one  remarked  of 
the  choir:  “They  look  mean,  feel  mean,  and  are  mean.” 

The  question  of  temperance  was  crying  for  advanced 
action.  T.  B.  Finley  said  he  knew  a church  that  had  five 
distillers  among  its  membership  and  he  pleaded  for  the 
restitution  of  Wesley’s  rule.  In  1844  Josiah  Flower, 
sometimes  called  the  “Conference  bull  dog,  was  the  pas- 
tor at  Jamestown.  Matters  became  worse.  A prominent 
member  of  the  church,  representing  the  disaffected,  visited 
Rev.  Luther  Lee  at  Svracuse  and  invited  him  to  James- 
town. On  account  of  the  attitude  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  Mr.  Lee  had  with- 
drawn and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church.  Later  in  life,  when  the  question  of 
slavery  had  been  settled,  he  returned  to  the  old  church 
and  was  a faithful  worker  until  called  to  the  church  trium- 
phant. He  went  to  Jamestown  and  found  £ series  of  ap- 
pointments left  for  him  to  lecture  on  the  subject  of 
slavery.  While  lecturing  in  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Salem,  some  Methodist  ministers  challenged  him  to  dis- 
cuss the  questions : 

1.  “Does  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  justify 
slavery?” 

2.  “Is  the  government  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  arbitrary,  and  unscriptural  ?” 

He  accepted  the  challenge.  The  Congregational- 
Church  being  too  small,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the 
Baptist  Church.  The  Methodist  Church  had  been  re- 
fused. The  opponents  of  Mr.  Lee  were  John  J.  Stead- 
man, presiding  elder  of  Jamestown  District,  Calvin 
Kingsley  of  Allegheny  College,  and  Thomas  Graham,  the 
great  debater  of  the  Conference.  Upon  a second  chal- 
lenge, at  the  close  of  the  first  discussion,  the  debate  was 
renewed  at  lamestown  and  continued  three  days  and 
nights.  The  great  debaters  of  Erie  Conference  had  met 
their  equal.  In  the  course  of  the  debate,  Thomas  Gra- 
ham, as  was  his  wont,  often  ridiculed  an  argument  which 
he  could  not  easily  handle.  Rev.  Edward  Smith,  who  as- 
sisted Mr.  Lee  in  his  second  discussion,  put  forth  a very 
strong  argument.  Mr.  Graham  said : He  could  not  see 

what  his  opponent  put  forth  such  an  argument  for,  unless 


Methodism  in  Jamestown , N.  Y. 


437 


it  was  as  a cabbage-leaf  that  he  might  stick  his  head  under 
it  and  get  out  of  sight.”  Mr.  Lee,  -in  his  relation,  says : 
“Brother  Smith  was  a native  of  Virginia,  with  a very 
large  head,  covered  with  a profusion  of  gray  hair,  stand- 
ing up  endwise.  I replied  by  calling  attention  to  the  fact 
that  ridicule  is  not  argument,  and  that  good  debaters 
never  resort  to  it  while  they  have  good  arguments  to  of- 
fer. I then  quoted  Mr.  Graham’s  words  and,  pointing  to 
Smith,  said,  ‘These  srrav  hairs  are  not  so  dishonorable  as 
to  need  covering  with  a cabbage  leaf,  and  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  cabbage-leaves  grow  large  enough  in  this 
north  country  to  cover  that  great  head’ ; and  then,  point- 
ing to  Graham,  said,  ‘A  cabbage-leaf  might  cover  the  head 
of  my  friend  on  the  other  side,  for  nothing  can  be  more  in 
accordance  with  nature  than  that  a cabbage  leaf  should  be 
fitted  to  the  head  upon  which  it  grows.’  Professor  Kings- 
ley, who  appeared  to  enjoy  the  sally,  picked  up  a book  and 
commenced  measuring  Graham’s  head.  The  assembly 
was  convulsed.”  Mr.  Lee  organized  a Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Church  into  which  nearly  all  the  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  entered.  Mr.  Lee  says : “I 
believe  all  the  male  members  except  one.” — (Autobio- 
graphy of  the  Rev.  Luther  Lee,  D.D.,  pp.  253-267.)  . The 
church  did  not  recover  from  the  blow  till  the  great  re- 
vival during  the  pastorate  of  John  Peate  in  1857  and 
1858. 

Edward  Work  has  been  called  “the  father  of  the 
church”  at  Jamestown.  “When  he  lay  dying  in  the  lower 
room  of  the  house,  he  asked  who  was  singing  so  sweetly 
up  stairs.  They  told  him  no  one.  He  said  with  much 
animation,  ‘Don’t  you  hear  it  ? The  sweetest  music  I ever 
heard.’  and  left  to  listen  to  the  still  sweeter  anthems  in 
heaven  of  which  his  spirit  had  just  caught  an  echo.”  Ly- 
man Crane,  whose  oil  painting  now  graces  the  parlors  of 
the  church,  “seemed  to  live  for  the  church  and  to  have  no 
other  business  but  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Master,  mighty  in 
exhortation,  a licensed  exhorter  with  a soul  on  fire  he 
would  sway  a congregation  who  would  follow  him  with 
no  discount  of  feeling,  for  his  life  spoke  louder  in  favor 
of  religion  than  his  voice  from  the  stand  on  Sabbath,  by 
his  godly  example  through  the  week.  When  dying  he 
said : ‘I  have  no  regrets  for  what  I have  done  but  that 

I could  do  no  more.’  ” — (Elijah  Bishop  in  Jamestown 


4^8  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Evening  Journal,  Vol.  XVII,  July  2 and  3;  also  Vol.  XV , 

Sept.  75.  1884.)  . 

This  noble  layman  is  worthy  of  a more  extended  notice, 
and  we  are  fortunate  in  being  able  to  present  an  apprecia- 
tive character  sketch  by  one  who  knew  him  intimately. 

“Lyman  Crane,  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  who  went  to  his 
reward  twenty-five  years  ago,  was  a very  remarkable  man, 
of  wonderfully  impressive  personality,  and  it  still  lives, 
fresh,  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a little  above  the  average  size,  with  a perfectly  formed 
body.  His  head  was  large,  and  remarkably  high  and 
well-formed.  His  countenance  was  one  which  at  all  times 
expressed  a rich  combination  of  all  manly  qualities.  His 
voice  was  deep  and  musical  in  all  its  tones,  and  always 
commanded  marked  attention,  so  much  so  that  one  could 
give  attention  to  nothing  else  when  he  was  speaking, 
either  in  private  or  public.  He  was  a blacksmith,  and 
for  many  years  he  tempered  axes. 

“Whether  this  had  anything  to  do  in  giving  to  his  na- 
ture the  fine  temper  it  had,  I know  not.  He  was  an  ex- 
horter,  class  leader  and  steward,  and  lived  in  loving  fel- 
lowship with  the  church  in  Jamestown  for  forty-tour 
years.  And  that  great  flourishing  church  to-day  is  large- 
ly indebted  to  him  for  the  strength  his  noble  life  gave  to 
Methodism  in  the  community  when  the  church  was  small 
and  poor.  He  was  a man  in  very  limited  circumstances, 
and  yet  benevolent  far  above  his  means ; and  the  most  rich 
and  helpful  in  his  influence  in  the  church  and  in  the  com- 
munity of  any  man  I have  ever  met.  He  seemed  to  do 
people  good  when  he  passed  them  on  the  street.  His 
‘Good  morning’  had  more  of  life-giving  power  in  it  than 
one  often  hears.  It  came  to  you  like  the  breath  of  a rare 
day  in  June.  The  sick,  in  and  out  of  the  church,  sent  for 
him  to  pray  with  them,  and  his  influence  was  something 
wonderful  over  them.  A leading  physician,  not  a relig- 
ious man,  said  he  never  knew  anything  like  the  influence 
of  Father  Crane  over  the  sick,  and  that  he  would  rather 
see  him  with  his  patients  in  the  sick-room  than  any  one 
else ; and  that  his  presence  was. often  better  than  medicine. 
And  yet  he  made  no  pretensions  of  ‘laying  on  of  hands,’ 
or  healing  the  sick. 

“This  helpfulness  of  the  man  manifested  itself  every- 
where. His  presence  in  the  congregation  was  a constant 


* , 


Methodism  in  Jamestown , N.  V. 


439 


inspiration  to  the  preacher.  I think  there  never  was  a 
barren  prayer-meeting-  or  class-meeting  when  he  was  pres- 
ent. He  was  never  in  a sour,  wintry  mood.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  winter  of  1849  the  presiding  elder  sent  a young 
man  from  Warren,  Pa.,  to  supply  the  place  of  the  pastor 
for  one  Sabbath  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  The  young  man 
was  greatly  embarrassed  when  he  entered  the  pulpit. 
Father  Crane  was  in  his  seat  near  the  pulpit,  and  seeing 
the  condition  of  the  young  preacher,  whom  he  had  never 
met  before,  went  up  into  the  pulpit,  and  throwing  one  arm 


over  the  shoulder  of  the  young  man,  and  taking  him  by 
the  right  hand,  said : ‘My  young  brother,  don’t  be 

afraid,  don’t  be  afraid;  I'll  pray  for  you;  the  Lord  will 
bless  you,  I know  he  will;’  and  then  went  back  to  his  seat 
in  the  congregation.  This  inspired  the  young  man  with 
courage,  and  he  was  wonderfully  blessed,  and  to  this  day 
vividly  remembers  the  influence  of  Father  Crane  over  him 
in  time  of  need. 

“In  the  fall  of  1856  the  church  was  small  but  faithful. 
The  Wesleyans  had  led  off  a large  number,  and  formed 
quite  a flourishing-  church  for  a time.  At  a prayer-meet- 
ing one  evening  when  there  were  but  few  present,  the 
pastor  had  made  some  remarks  deploring  the  lack  of  vital 
religion  in  the  community.  Father  Crane  arose,  and  in  a 
short  speech  strangely  prophetic  exhorted  the  few  to  be  of 
good  courage,  saying : ‘The  Lord  is  coming  in  great 

power  to  visit  us  soon.  He  has  told  me  so,  and  hundreds 
and  hundreds  will  be  converted  in  this  church.’  When 
he  sat  down  an  unconverted  man  who  had  come  into  our 
meeting  for  the  first  time,  arose  and  asked  the  prayers  of 
the  people,  and  was  converted  that  night.  For  over  six- 
teen weeks  the  meeting  went  on,  and  between  five  and 
six  hundred  professed  religion.  Father  Crane,  more  than 
any  one  else,  was  the  efficient  agent  in  carrying  on  the 

work.  And  yet  he  showed  no  officiousness  or  assump- 
tion, and  his  soul  during  three  months  of  popular  interest 
and  excitement  moved  in  the  same  steady,  healthy  con- 
dition of  Christian  peace  and  repose  as  at  other  times. 
His  prayers  and  remarks  were  at  all  times  short,  neat, 
fresh  and  to  the  point;  never  a blunder,  nor  a word  too 
many  nor  too  few.  He  never  spoke  or  prayed  twice  alike 
— and  never  used  any  of  the  platitudes  or  phrases  so  com- 
mon in  religious  meetings ; they  were  models  of  religious 


440  History  of  Erie  Conference 

experience  such  as  rarely  came  from  any  man,  minister  or 
lay-man. 

“Two  or  three  years  before  the  great  revival  Father 
Crane  was  fixing  up  the  old  church  a little.  It  was  often 
called  a barn,  and  looked  like  one.  One  of  the  Wesleyans 
came  along,  and  said  to  him:  ‘Well,  you  are  fixing  up 

the  old  barn,  are  you?’  ‘Oh,  yes,’  said  Father  Crane,  ‘the 
stray  calves  are  coming  back  soon,  and  we  are  getting 
ready  to  take  care  of  them.’  This  was  prophetic,  as  the 
Wesleyan  church  disbanded  in  a short  time,  and  most  of 
them  came  back  to  the  old  church. 

“Lyman  Crane  was  not  a man  of  eccentric  habits;  he  was 
too  strong  and  well-balanced  for  that.  The  only  remark- 
able thing  about  him  that  might  be  called  an  eccentricity 
was  the  curious  habit,  which  I never  saw  in  any  one  else, 
of  running  his  long  tongue  out  of  the  side  of  his  mouth 
when  hammering  iron  on  or  getting  a fine  temper  on  an 
ax.  This  was  the  only  unruly  conduct  I ever  knew  his 
tongue  to  be  guilty  of,  and  this  never  hurt  any  one. 

“Now  that  Lyman  Crane  was  a man  of  mark,  and  had 
an  endowment  of  power  that  constantly  asserted  itself  *n 
daily  life  and  enabled  him  to  keep  better  moral  time  on 
the  rough  sea  of  life  than  any  modern  chronometer  ever 
kept  true  time  on  an  ocean  voyage,  was  acknowledged  by 
all  acquainted  with  him.  I presume  he  had  faults,  but  I 
never  saw  them.  Now  what  was  the  secret  of  this  lay- 
man’s remarkable  power  over  men?  He  was  not  a 
scholar;  he  never  wrote  anything;  never  traveled;  was 
limited  in  general  knowledge  and  in  conversation.  He 
read  the  one  Book,  but  seldom  gave  a verbal  quotation 
from  it,  but  had  the  essence  of  it  in  his  mind.  While 
this  is  all  true,  and  he  had  nothing  that  in  the  popular 
sense  could  be  called  an  accomplishment,  the  secret  of  his 
great  power  over  men  can  in  a measure  be  accounted  for 
on  general  grounds.  He  had  a perfectly  sound  body  for- 
mally years,  and  a strong,  clear  mind  in  which  common 
sense  always  sat  regnant.  Then  he  was  soundly  con- 
verted. His  convictions  and  experience  of  the  divine  life 
of  God  in  his  soul  were  as  clear  and  real  to  him  as  the 
bright  shining  of  the  sun  at  noonday  is  to  the  multitude. 
His  soul  knew  no  fever  of  envy,  malice  or  withering  dis- 
content. He  made  no  crouching  apology  because  of 
poverty,  and  paid  no  unmanly  obeisance  to  pampered 


Holland  Purchase. 


441 


wealth.  Hence  there  was  in  him  always  an  excellent 
spirit,  a rounded-out  fulness  of  manly,  Christian  life 
every  day,  and  others  felt  its  beauty  and  power,  and  were 
made  strong  by  it.  He  believed  in  God,  and  walked  with 
him.  ‘Behold  the  perfect  man.’ 

“In  his  last  sickness  one  of  his  old  pastors  went  a hund- 
red and  twenty  miles  to  see  him,  and  knowing  that  the 
man  of  God  was  poor  and  not  likely  to  recover,  called  on 
Mr.  Kent,  a banker  and  great  friend  of  Father  Crane, 
though  not  a member  of  the  church,  and  said:  ‘I  want 

to  leave  a little  money  with  you  for  Father  Crane,  as  I 
fear  he  may  suffer  want,  and  is  not  likely  to  get  well.' 

“ ‘Not  one  cent  of  your  money  will  I take,’  said  the 
banker.  ‘Just  as  long  as  there  is  a dollar  in  my  bank 
Father  Crane  is  just  as  rich  as  I am.'  Y\  hen  he  died 
they  buried  him  with  the  burial  of  a prince,  and  the  Hon. 
Judge  Eli  T Foot,  a strong  Presbyterian,  had  a substan- 
tial tombstone  erected  to  his  memory,  and  his  dust  now 
sleeps  on  the  hillside  overlooking  the  fair  waters  of  Chau- 
tauqua Lake  *’ — (Rev.  John  Peate , D.D.,  LL.D.  in  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  Erie  Conference  Historical  Sup- 
plement, May  21,  1891.) 

Holland  Purchase. 

“In  the  fall  of  1820,  Mr.  Busti  was  visiting  the  land 
office  in  Batavia ; the  Rev.  Mr.  R.  of  the  Presbyterian  sect 
called  on  Mr.  Busti  and  insisted  on  a donation  of  land  for 
each  society  of  this  persuasion,  then  formed  on  the  Hol- 
land Purchase.  Mr.  Busti  treated  the  reverend  gentle- 
man with  due  courtesy  but  showed  no  disposition  to  grant 
his  request.  Mr.  R.  encouraged  by  Mr.  Busti's  politeness 
persevered  in  his  solicitations  day  after  dav,  until  Mr. 
Busti’s  patience  was  almost  exhausted,  and  what  finally 
brought  that  subject  to  a crisis  was  Mr.  R.’s  following 
Mr.  Busti  out  of  the  land  office  when  he  was  going  to 
take  tea  at  Sir.  Elliott's  and  making  a fresh  attack  on 
him  on  the  piazza.  Mr.  Busti  was  evidently  vexed  and  in 
reply  said : ‘Yes,  Mr.  R.  I will  give  a tract  of  one  hund- 

red acres  to  a religious  society  in  every  town  on  the  pur- 
chase, and  this  is  finis.’  ‘But,'  said  Mr.  R.,  ‘you  will 
give  it  all  to  the  Presbyterians,  will  you  not ; if  you  do  not 
expressly  so  decide,  the  Sectarians  will  be  claiming  it, 
and  zee  shall  receive  very  little  benefit  from  it.'  ‘Sec- 


442 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tarians,  no,’  was  Mr.  Busti’s  hasty  reply,  ‘I  abhor  Sec- 
tarians. They  had  not  ought  to  have  any  of  it,  and  to 
save  contentions,  I will  give  it  to  the  first  religious  society 
in  every  town.’  On  which  Mr.  Busti  hastened  to  his  tea, 
and  Mr.  R.  home  (about  sixteen  miles  distant)  to  start 

runners  during  the  night  or  the  next  morning  to  rally  the 
Presbyterians  in  the  several  towns  in  his  vicinity  to  apply 
first,  and  thereby  save  the  land  to  themselves. 

“The  land  office  was  soon  flooded  with  petitions  for  land 
from  societies  organized  according  to  law  and  empowered 
to  hold  real  estate  and  those  who  were  not,  one  of  which 
was  presented  to  Mr.  Busti  before  he  left,  directed  to 
‘General  Poll  Busti,’  on  which  he  insisted  that  it  could 
not  be  from  a religious  society,  for  all  religious  societies 
read  their  Bibles  and  know  that  ‘p*  ‘o’  double  ‘1’,  does 
not  spell  Paul.  Amidst  this  chaos  of  applications,  it  was 
thought  to  be  unadvisable  to  be  precipitant  in  granting 
those  donations.  The  whole  responsibility  now  resting 
on  Mr.  Elliott  to  comply  with  his  vague  promise  of  Mr. 
Busti ; therefore  conveyances  of  the  ‘gospel  land  were 
not  executed  for  some  space  of  time,  notwithstanding  the 
clamor  of  petitions  for  ‘deed  of  our  land'  during  which 
time  the  matter  was  taken  into  consideration  and  sys- 
tematized. so  far  as  such  an  operation  could  be,  pains  were 
taken  to  ascertain  the  merits  of  each  application,  and 
finally  a tract,  or  tracts  of  land,  not  exceeding  one  hund- 
red acres  in  all  was  granted,  free  of  expense  to  one  or 
more  religious  societies  regularly  organized  according  to 
law,  in  each  town  on  the  purchase,  where  the 'Company 
had  land  undisposed  of,  which  embraced  every  town  then 
organized  on  the  purchase,  except  Bethany,  Genesee 
County,  and  Sheldon,  Wyoming  County,  the  donees  al- 
ways being  allowed  to  select  out  of  the  unsold  farming 
land  in  each  town.  In  some  towns  it  was  all  given  to  one 
society,  in  others  to  two  or  three  societies,  separately,  and 
in  a few  towns  to  four  different  societies  of  different  sects, 
twenty-five  acres  to  each. 

“In  performing  this  thankless  duty,  for  the  land  was 
claimed  as  an  absolute  right  by  most  of  the  applicants,  the 
whole  proceedings  were  so  managed  under  Mr.  Elliott’s 
judicious  directions,  that  amidst  all  the  clamor  and  con- 
tention which,  from  its  nature  such  a proceeding  must 
elicit,  no  complaint  of  partiality  to  any  particular  sect,  nor 


Painesznlle. 


443 


of  undue  influence  in  any  individual  was  ever  charged 
against  the  agent  of  the  company  or  his  assistants  acting 
under  him.” — ( Turner , History  of  the  Holland  Purchase 
of  Western  New  York,  Buffalo,  1850,  p.  428.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Painesville. 

“Painesville  was  first  settled  in  1800.  The  population 
now  numbers  between  five  and  six  thousand.  The  first 
Methodist  class  was  formed  in  1820,  and  services  were 
held  in  a school  house.  The  first  church  building  was 
erected  in  1820.  The  second  church  building  was  erected 
in  1844,  and  was  dedicated  free  of  debt.  The  building 
still  stands  on  the  same  lot,  now  used  as  a dwelling  house. 
The  present  elegant  church  building  was  begun  in  1872, 
and  the  last  dollar  of  debt  was  paid  in  1897.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  church  is  a little  over  three  hundred.  It 
ranks  second  or  third  in  membership  of  the  churches  of 
this  place.  All  the  departments  of  the  church  are  in  a 
flourishing  condition.” — (Barker,  History  of  Ohio  Meth- 
odism, p.  410.) 

Mr.  Gregg  gives  certain  interesting  details.  There  is 
an  unimportant  difference  in  one  of  the  dates  as  given. 

In  r8i9,  Mrs.  Thornton,  a Methodist  lady  from  New 
York  State,  moved  to  Painesville,  Ohio,  and  learning  that 
Ira  Eddy  preached  in  Concord,  attended  service  in  that 
place.  Introducing  herself  to  Mr.  Eddy,  she  invited  him 
to  visit  Painesville.  He  consented  and  sent  an  appoint- 
ment to  preach  upon  a week-day.  Several  members  from 
Concord  accompanied  him  on  his  first  visit.  A good 
congregation  assembled  in  the  school  house.  At  the  close 
of  the  sermon,  a lady  by  the  name  of  Bliss  spoke  with 
much  feeling  and  Mrs.  Clark  led  in  prayer.  The  people 
had  never  heard  a woman  take  such  parts  in  a religious 
meeting  before  this,  and  were  all  greatly  surprised.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  Methodism  in  Painesville. — ( Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  V ol.  I,  p.  180.) 

William  Swayze,  presiding  elder  of  the  Ohio  District, 
and  Philip  Green,  traveling  the  Grand  River  Circuit,  in 
the  fall  of  1820,  visited  Painesville,  and  preached  several 
times.  As  a result,  a class  was  organized  consisting  of 
eight  members : Noah  Nowland,  leader,  William  Kerr, 

Anna  Beckwith,  Ellen  Croft  and  daughter,  Elizabeth 
Vanbenthusen,  Charity  Blodget,  and  Laura  Armstrong. 


444 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vo!. 
1 , p.  1 88.)  Our  people  commenced  building  a church  in 
1 822;  but  finding  themselves  not  equal  to  the  task,  they 
arranged  with  the  town  authorities  to  complete  the  house 
together  and  share  in  its  use.  . “It  was  a frame  building, 
inconveniently  arranged,  and  jointly  occupied  for  law  and 
gospel  purposes  for  more  than  twenty  years.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  208.) 
In  the  summer  of  1823,  William  Swayze,  the  presiding 
elder  held  a quarterly  meeting  in  the  new  house  and  many 
souls  were  converted  increasing  the  membership  to  more 
than  one  hundred. 

Deerfield. 

In  1820,  James  McMahon  and  Ezra  Booth  were  ap- 
pointed to  Deerfield  and  Alfred  Brunson  appointed  to 
Cuyahoga.  To  accommodate  their  families,  and  by  the 
consent  of  the  presiding  elder,  William  Swayze,  Mr.  Me 
Mahon  and  Mr.  Brunson  exchanged  circuits  immediately 
after  Conference.  The  latter  speaks  of  the  first  frame 
church  at  Deerfield : “The  church  was  then  in  an  un- 

finished state;  was  not  underpinned,  but  stood  on  blocks 
of  wood  or  stone,  and  being  open  underneath,  it  became 
the  general  rendezvous  for  all  the  swine  in  the  neighbor- 
hood for  their  night’s  lodging.  In  consequence  some  of 
our  night  meetings  were  much  disturbed,  and  often  my 
stentorian  voice  would  be  entirely  drowned  by  the  hide- 
ous squeelings,  growlings,  and  thumpings  on  the  under 
side  of  the  floor.  But  after  some  persuasion  and  a little 
good  natured  scolding,  some  brethren  boarded  up  the 
opening,  and  kept  our  swinish  attendants  out,  and  we  had 
peace  within.  But  that  was  not  all  the  consequences  of 
their  visits  to  the  church.  Everybody  that  knows  any- 
thing about  hogs,  knows  that  their  stys  are  the  hot  beds 
of  fleas  ; called  in  those  days  ‘minute  men’,  or  ‘the  jump- 
ing race.’  The  house  then  not  being  either  lathed  or 
plastered,  and  the  floor  not  being  either  air  or  water  tight, 
this  jumping  tribe,  by  the  thousand,  (at  least  it  seemed 
so),  found  way  into  the  place  of  worship.  And  the  de- 
votions were  often  disturbed  by  the  itching,  scratching, 
and  slapping  occasioned  by  our  tormentors.  We  were 
glad  when  winter  came  and  silenced  the  marauders,  even 
if  we  -had  a cold  house  to  worship  in.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  Sept.  2,  1875.) 


Ripley  and  Mercer. 


445 


Ripley  and  Mercer. 


A Methodist  society  was  organized  in  the  town  of  Rip- 
ley, New  York,  about  the  year  1820.*  Robert  C.  Hatton 
and  Benjamin  P.  Hill  were  the  first  preachers.  James 
Truesdale  and  wife,  H.  Lumis  and  wife,  Andrew  Spear 
and  wife,  Farley  Fuller  and  wife,  Silas  Beard  and  wife, 
and  Basil  Burgess  and  wife  were  among  the  first  members. 
James  Truesdale  was  the  first  class  leader.  The  first 
meetings  were  held  in  private  houses,  especially  in  the 
house  of  Farley  Fuller  at  East  Ripley,  and  that  of  Andrew 
Spear  in  the  village,  and  afterward  at  the  school  house 
and  still  later  in  the  first  house  built  by  the  Baptists.  The 
first  church  building  was  dedicated  in  1842,  and  was  used 
more  than  thirty  years.  Among  the  leading  members  at 
this  time  were : B.  F.  Baird  and  wife,  C.  P.  Young  and 

wife,  Ralph  Russell  and  wife,  Philo  Parmer  and  wife,  A. 
Parmer  and  wife,  Harry  Adams  and  wife,  John  Small- 
wood and  wife,  A.  P.  Rice  and  wife,  Hannah  Milks, 
Mrs.  Lucretia  Bryant,  and  Calvin  Hempstin.  B.  F. 
Beard,  Philo  Parmer,  and  A.  P.  Rice  were  local  preachers. 
A more  commodious  brick  building  was  erected  a few 
rods  east  of  the  first  in  18 73,  under  the  pastorate  of  J.  E. 
Chapin,  and  dedicated  in  1874  by  Rev.  Benoni  I.  Ives,  of 
Auburn,  New  York.  In  1891  the  society  built  a new 
parsonage. 

Methodism  in  Mercer,  Pennsylvania,  dates  its  organiza- 
tion from  the  year  1820.  “Rev.  Alfred  Brunson,  or- 
dained a deacon  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  July  1819,  was  em- 
ployed part  of  the  following  year  by  Elder  Swavze  on  the 
Erie  Circuit,  when  he  succeeded  in  forming  a class  in  Mer- 
cer, consisting  of  William  Stephenson  and  wife,  Joseph 
McDowell  and  wife,  Robert  Boyd  and  wife,  Sarah 
Stokely,  Elizabeth  Stokely,  Polly  Stokely,  and  Esther 
Stokely.  Benjamin  Hartley.  Mrs.  John  Banks,  and  John 
Keck  were  likewise  among  the  early  members.  Persecu- 
tion ran  high  in  Mercer  at  that  time,  and  it  was  with  much 
difficulty  that  a place  was  obtained  in  which  to  hold  meet- 
ings. Churches,  court  house,  and  school  houses  were 
all  refused.  The  society  was  organized  in  a small  log 
house  a few  rods  from  "the  place  where  the  church  now 


♦Another  authority  places  the  date  as  early  as  1811.  History 
of  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  W.  A.  Fergusson  & Co.,  1894, 
p.  617. 


446 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


stands.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
enceVol  I,  p.  185.) 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  a frame  structure — or- 
iginally about  thirty  feet  square.  To  it  additions  were 
made  until  its  length  reached  some  eighty  feet.  It  was 
only  one  story  in  height,  but  had  a gallery  which  served 
as  a class  room.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  par- 
sonage, and  cost  about  $50°-  “The  seats  were  plain 
wooden  affairs,  and  were  never  contaminated  with  any 
such  substance  as  paint.”  The  church  was  struck  by 
lightning,  and  the  end  in  which  the  pulpit  was  placed 
badly  damaged.  The  church  lot  had  been  donated  by 
Mrs.  Judge  John  Banks.  The  second  house  was  a two- 
story  brick  structure,  commenced  in  1853,  and  completed 
in  1855  at  a cost  of  $7,000 — the  work  extending  through 
the  pastorates  of  James  R.  Locke,  Dillon  Prosser,  Darius 
Smith,  and  Thomas  Guy.  The  church  was  dedicated  in 
September  by  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman  and  Rev.  Dr.  F.  S. 
DeHass.  The  bell  was  donated  by  Hon.  S.  Griffith  and 
wife.  The  first  parsonage  was  sold  and  the  funds  ap- 
plied toward  the  erection  of  the  new  church.  The  second 
parsonage,  erected  during  the  Civil  War,  cost  about  $4,- 
500.  In  1871  the  church  edifice  was  refitted  by  the  re- 
moval of  the  gallery,  to  make  room  for  the  pipe-organ 
which  cost  $2,000,  and  was  said  to  be  the  first  introduced 
in  Mercer  County.  At  the  same  time  stained  glass  win- 
dows replaced  those  of  the  old  style. — (History  of  Mercer 
County , Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  pp.  359,  jdo.J 

“As  early  as  1820  the  Methodists  built  a house  of  wor- 
ship on  the  farm  of  George  Reznor  who  deeded  the  site. 
The  building  was  open  to  all  religious  denominations,  but 
the  Methodists  seem  to  have  had  the  control,  Rev.  Mr. 
Graham  preachine  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  house 
was  abandoned  many  years  ago.” — (History  of  Mercer 
County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  522.)  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Graham,”  mentioned  above  must  have  been  Rev.  John 
Graham,  then  of  the  Ohio  Conference.  His  last  appoint- 
ment in  Erie  Conference  territory  was  in  1814.  He  lo- 
cated in  1824,  was  re-admitted  by  the  Pittsburgh  Con- 
ference in  1825,-  and  again  located  in  1832. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Geneva,  Penn- 
svlvania,  is  the  successor  of  a class  which  met  and  wor- 
shiped in  a school  house  about  a mile  east  of  the  village 


Ripley  and  Mercer. 


44  7 


as  early  as  1820.  A log  meeting  house  was  afterwards 
built  just  east  of  the  borough,  and  this  was  replaced  by  a 
frame  building  on  the  same  site,  erected  in  1843.  The 
present  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1858  at  a cost  of 
$1,200.  It  was  commenced  a year  or  two  earlier  under 
the  ministry  of  Isaiah  Lane.  Thomas  Abbott,  Wyram 
Newton,  and  John  Sutton  were  early  members.  In  its 
earlier  history  the  appointment  was  connected  with  Salem 
Circuit,  Mercer  County ; it  was  afterwards  transferred  to 
the  Evansburg  Circuit. — (History  of  Crazvford  County , 
Warner , Beers  & Co.,  1885,  p.  536;  Bates,  Our  County 
and  its  People,  p.  531.) 


X. 


MANY  VICTORIES— FEW  DEFEATS. 
1821—1824. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  in  Paris,  New  York,  July 
19,  1821,  Bishop  Enoch  George  presiding.  The  follow- 
ing appointments  were  made : Erie  District,  Glezen  Fill- 

more, presiding  elder;  Lake  Circuit,  Nathaniel  Reeder. 
Ira  Brunson;  Chautauqua,  Parker  Buel;  French  Creek, 
Zachariah  Paddock.  The  Ohio  Conference  met  in  Leban- 
on, Ohio,  September  6,  1821,  under  the  presidency  of 
Bishop  William  McKendree — Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts 
was  also  present — and  the  appointments  within  our 
bounds  were  as  follows : Ohio  District,  William  Swayze, 

presiding  elder;  Erie  Circuit,  Ezra  Booth,  Charles  Trus- 
cott ; Mahoning,  Charles  Elliott,  Dennis  Goddard ; Grand 
River,  Alfred  Brunson,  Henry  Knapp;  Cuyahoga,  Ira 
Eddy ; New  Castle,  Samuel  R.  Brockunier.  There  were 
two  conferences,  two  districts,  eight  charges,  and  fourteen 
preachers. 

Several  camp-meetings  were  held  on  the  Ohio  District, 
and  were  seasons  of  great  power.  We  have  especial  men- 
tion of  those  held  at  Mentor  and  Concord,  Ohio. 

An  old  class-book  connects  also  the  name  of  John  Craw- 
ford to  the  Mahoning  Circuit.  This  was  a six  weeks’ 
circuit  with  forty-two  regular  appointments  and  various 
extra  appointments,  requiring  sixty-four  sermons  every 
round. 

Sylvester  Carey  seems  to  have  been  employed  as  a sup- 
ply on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit. 

Philip  Greene  formed  a class  in  the  town  of  Orange, 
Ohio,  during  the  summer  of  1821,  consisting  of  Daniel 
Smith  and  wife,  Caleb  Leech  and  wife,  Benjamin  Jenks 
and  wife,  Jacob  Gardner  and  wife,  and  Jesse  Kimball  and 
wife. 


29 


4^o  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

A revival  in  the  town  of  Euclid,  in  1821,  resulted  in 
the  organization  of  a class  of  thirteen  members : Dennis 

Cooper  and  wife,  Ruel  House  and  wife,  Betsy  Bishop, 
Hannah  Bishop,  John  E.  Aiken,  Father  Woodworth  and 
wife.  Father  Murray  and  wife,  and  Richard  Curtis  and 
wife. 

Ezra  Booth,  while  on  the  Mahoning  Circuit,  formed  a 
class  at  Canfield,  Ohio,  in  1820,  consisting  of  eight  mem- 
bers: Shadrack  Bostwick,  his  wife,  and  sister,  C.  Starr 

and  wife,  Ansel  Beman  and  wife,  and  Ezra  Hunt.  Re- 
ligious services  were  held  in  an  old  school  house.  In 
May,  1821,  Lorenzo  Dow,  while  visiting  Dr.  Bostwick, 
preached  in  the  school  house,  “greatly  amusing  the  people 
with  his  oddities.”  In  1826  Shadrack  Bostwick  gave  the 
land  for  a church,  and  a plain  brick  structure  was  erected 
known  as  “Bethel  Chapel. “ 

Alfred  Brunson  formed  a class  on  the  Cassawago 
Creek,  southwest  of  Meadville  in  1820,  consisting  of  six 
members : Elisha  Curtis  and  wife,  David  Bagly  and 

wife,  and  Nelson  Smith  and  wife. 

A Camp  Meeting  at  Geneva,  Ohio. 

Alfred  Brunson  relates  the  following  camp-meeting  ex- 
perience : 

“In  June,  1821,  Brother  Swayze,  the  presiding  elder, 
desired  me  to  attend  a camp-meeting  in  Geneva,  Ashta- 
bula County,  Ohio ; stating  that  ‘something  must  be  done 
for  that  circuit,  or  our  ship  would  be  stranded.’ 

“I  had  an  idea  that  the  country  was  quite  new;  that 
our  accommodations  would  be  poor;  and,  probably,  we 
should  have  to  sleep  on  the  ground,  and  among  the  leaves, 
and  I dressed  myself  in  an  old  suit,  suitable  as  I thought, 
to  the  occasion.  How  I got  this  idea  I do  not  know,  but 
I found  it  a great  mistake.  It  was  too  late  to  change 
my  garb.  I had  also  had  the  quinsy  in  the  spring,  and  un- 
der the  direction  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  family  advisor  and 
primitive  physic,  I had  not  worn  a cravat  for  six  weeks, 
and  being  much  exposed  to  the  sun  and  storms,  I was  con- 
siderably ‘browned'  in  the  face  and  neck.  All  this,  with  a 
long  beard,  gave  me  rather  a rough,  farmer-like  appear- 
ance, no  ways  prepossessing. 

“On  Friday  morning  an  old  backslidden  Methodist, 
whom  Swayze  had  known  in  Massachusetts,  and  invited 

||  I i | 


A Camp  Meeting  at  Geneva,  Ohjo. 


to  attend  this  meeting,  seeing  me  on  the  stand,  thought,  as 
he  told  me  afterward,  that  I couldn’t  be  a preacher;  and 
when  I sung  a favorite  song  of  Zion,  he  concluded  that 
Swayze  had  got  me  on  the  stand  to  lead  in  singing. 
When  he  saw  me  up  to  preach  at  1 1 o’clock,  he  thought  if 
I was  a preacher,  I must  be  a local  one,  some  farmer,  and 
that  he  would  go  then  and  take  care  of  his  horses. 

“But  it  occurred  to  him  that,  probably,  it  would  be  the 
only  time  I should  be  put  up,  and  as  he  wished  to  hear  all 
the  preachers  on  the  ground  he  would  stay  and  hear  me. 
I knew  nothing  of  the  man,  then,  but  before  I was  half 
done  he  concluded  that  Swayze  had  told  me  all  about  him, 
and  had  got  me  there  on  purpose  to  preach  to  him. 

“In  winding  up  this  discourse  I invited  mourners  into 
the  altar,  and  sprang  over  the  book-board  on  to  the 
ground.  As  I lit  upon  the  ground  a young  man  fell  into 
the  lap  of  a Presbyterian  deacon,  who  turned  pale,  and 
moving  to  one  side,  let  the  young  man  roll  off  on  to  the 
ground.  Several  others  fell,  who  were  brought  ’in  by 
their  friends,  and  others  came  of  their  own  accord,  and 
among  them  my  friend  of  the  horses.  He  confessed  his 
sins  and  backslidings,  and  was  restored  to  the  peace  and 
favor  of  God.  He  went  at  once  to  Swayze,  and  said,  ‘If 
you  will  send  that  man  to  the  circuit  I will  attend  meeting, 
and  pay  my  quarterage.’  I was  sent  there  the  ensuing 
year,  and  he,  brother  Winchell,  furnished  me  with  a 
horse,  all  my  fire-wood,  pasture  for  my  horse  and  cow,  in 
summer,  and  barn,  hay  and  grain  for  them,  in  winter; 
with  meat,  flour,  and  vegetables  for  my  family,  and  paid 
some  twenty  dollars  in  money;  but  as  his  wife  and  two 
daughters  were  converted,  he  felt  amply  paid  for  all  he 
had  done  for  me. 

“At  this  camp-meeting  there  was  a very  large  gather- 
ing of  people  of  all  descriptions,  from  the  surrounding 
country,  and  a very  general  awakening,  with  many  power- 
ful conversions,  amounting  in  all,  to  probably  two  hund- 
red ; and  among  them  a noted  infidel,  by  the  name  of  Par- 
ker. He  came — as  such  men  usually  do — out  of  curiosity, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  criticism;  but  an  arrow  from  the 
Almighty’s  quiver  reached  his  heart,  and  he  fled,  like  a 
stricken  deer,  to  his  home,  in  Ashtabula  Village ; but  af- 
ter a sleepless  night,  on  Monday  morning,  and  with  little 
or  no  breakfast,  he  repaired  to  the  ground,  as  if  attracted 


45^ 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


by  some  invisible  power,  which  his  wounded  spirit  did  not 
feel  disposed  to  resist.  He  was  soon  upon  his  knees,  in  a 
prayer-circle,  in  deep  penitence,  where  he  continued,  ex- 
cept when  listening  to  preaching,  all  that  day  and  the  en- 
suing night,  groaning,  praying,  and  wrestling,  like  Jacob. 
Those  of  his  acquaintance  who  were  religious,  knowing 
his  former  wickedness,  and  mockery  of  religion,  felt  a 
strong  solicitude  for  his  conversion,  not  only  for  his  own 
sake,  but  for  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  general,  and 
literally  ‘stuck  to  him  closer  than  a brother,'  instructing 
him,  and  praying  for  him. 

“Whether  he  took  any  refreshment  or  not  I am  unable 
to  say;  but  if  he  did  it  must  have  been  at  long  intervals, 
and  but  little  at  a time.  In  the  course  of  the  night  a 
shower  had  wet  the  ground,  which  had  been  tramped 
into  mud  in  places,  and  especially  in  the  prayer  circles, 
some  two  or  three  inches  deep ; but  such  was  the  earnest- 
ness of  both  penitents  and  those  who  were  wrestling  with 
them,*  that  this  mud  was  not  heeded. 

“On  Tuesday  morning,  while  the  meeting  was  breaking 
up,  and  the  tents  being  struck,  he  was  yet  on  his  knees  in 
the  mud,  resolved  not  to  leave  the  spot  until  he  found 
peace  with  God.  A few  faithful  ones  were  still  with  him. 
At  this  moment  a doctor  of  medicine,  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  whose  prejudices  had  prevented  him 
from  attending  before,  lest  he  should  sin  against  God, 
now  came  upon  the  ground,  not  to  worship  God,  but  to 
see  and  hear  enough,  as  he  thought,  to  find  arguments 
against  such  meetings,  anticipating  a rich  harvest  of  ar- 
guments. But  on  seeing  Parker  on  his  knees  he  was  not 
only  surprised,  but  knowing  his  former  character,  and 
presuming  that  he  was  now  mocking  instead  of  praying 
he  felt  his  indignation  rise,  for  much  as  he  was  prejudiced 
against  the  Methodists  and  the  camp  meeting,  he  could 
not  endure  such  mockery  as  he  supposed  it  to  be.  Under 
the  influence  of  such  feelings,  he  stepped  up  to  Parker, 
and  with  some  sternness  said:  ‘Parker,  what  are  you  do- 
ing here  ?’  Parker,  knowing  the  voice,  and  that  he  was  a 
professor  of  religion,  and  forgetting  all  distinctions  in  his 
deep  distress,  raised  his  head,  and  said:  ‘Oh,  doctor,  for 
God’s  sake,  pray  for  me,  for  if  I don’t  obtain  mercy  I 
shall  be  in  hell  before  night.’ 


A Camp  Meeting  at  Geneva,  Ohio. 


453 


“This  took  the  doctor  all  aback.  It  was  what  he  had 
not  expected.  Parker’s  sunken  eyes  and  ghastly  look 
showed  that  he  was  in  earnest;  he  was  the  life  picture  of 
despair  and  deep  anguish  of  soul.  Instantly  the  doctor’s 
better  feelings  took  the  ascendency,  and  he  fell  upon  his 
knees  in  the  mud  by  the  side  of  Parker,  and  amid  his 
tears  poured  out  his  soul  to  God  in  fervent  prayer  in  be- 
half of  the  penitent  infidel  in  true  Methodistic  strains ; and 
declared  afterward  that  if  camp  meetings  were  the  means 
of  converting  such  men  as  Parker  he  would  never  oppose 
them  again. 

“But  poor  Parker  was  yet  in  distress;  some  barrier, 
some  secret  bosom  sin,  was  in  the  way.  The  tents  were 
all  down,  the  wagons  loaded,  and  ready  to  start,  some 
having  gone,  and  one  after  another  reluctantly  left  him 
to  go  home,  till  two  or  three  were  left  with  the  poor  peni- 
tent. At  length  these  were  called  to  go  with  their  com- 
pany, who  were  waiting,  and  the  poor  man  was  about 
to  be  left  alone,  and  to  stay  alone,  for  he  was  resolved 
not  to  leave  the  spot  unpardoned,  when  one  thought  of 
the  possible  difficulty,  and  inquired : 

“ ‘Parker,  do  you  forgive  all  your  enemies,  as  you 
hope  to  be  forgiven?’ 

“ ‘Yes,  I think  I do.’ 

“ ‘But  you  must,  from  the  heart,  forgive  all  those  who 
have  trespassed  against  you,  or  who  you  think  have  done 
so,  or  God  will  not  forgive  you.’ 

“ ‘Well,  I think  I do ; I am  willing  to  forgive  every- 
body, for  I know  that  I am  the  greatest  sinner  in  the 
world,  and  need  forgiveness  more  than  all  the  rest.' 

“It  occurred  to  the  speaker  just  then  that  an  old  and 
long-continued  quarrel  had  existed  between  Parker  and 
Judge  Q.,  against  whom  Parker  had  evinced  a more 
deadly  hatred  than  against  any  other  man;  and  the  in- 
quiry was  made,  ‘Can  you,  and  do  you,  forgive  fudge 

Q.  ?’ 

“He  thought  a moment,  and  said,  *\es,  I can;  I do 
forgive  Judge  0.  Glory  to  God.*  And  springing  to  his 
feet,  shouted,  ‘Yes,  I do  forgive  Judge  Q. ; and  glory  to 

God.  He  has  forgiven  me.' 

“Parker  lived  many  years,  a good  and  faithful  witness 
for  Christ ; and  as  I was  informed,  died  as  he  had  lived 
since  his  conversion,  at  peace  with  God  and  man. 


454 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“The  results  of  this  meeting,  as  I have  said,  were 
probably  two  hundred  conversions  on  the  ground;  but 
this  was  not  all ; revivals  followed  in  the  country,  and 
into  other  churches.  The  Presbyterian  Church  nearest 
the  ground  was  said  to  have  received  of  these  converts 
about  one  hundred.  Whatever  they  think,  or  formerly 
thought  of  camp  meeting  and  Methodistic  conversions,  I 
never  knew  them  to  refuse  one  who  offered  to  join  them. 
This,  no  doubt,  is  one  great,  if  not  the  greatest,  reason  for 
their  increase  of  spirituality,  and  more  liberal  feelings  to- 
wards the  Methodists  than  a century  ago. 

“Soon  after  the  above  camp  meeting  we  had  one  on 
our  circuit.  Though  it  did  not  result  so  gloriously  as 
the  other,  yet  it  was  the  means  of  much  good.  There 
were  some  incidents  connected  with  it  illustrative  of  the 
times  and  of  human  nature  worthy  of  record.  The  meet- 
ing was  held  in  Vernon,  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  A few 
nights  before  it  was  to  commence  a neighbor  of  mine, 
who  was  half  drunk  at  the  time,  but  who,  drunk  or 
sober,  had  some  regard  for  our  civil  and  religious  rights, 
called  at  my  house  and  said  that  he  had  just  come  from 
‘the  burg,’  a place  near  the  camp  ground,  and  had  learned 
that  some  two  hundred  young  men  had  plotted  a rowdy 
scrape  at  the  camp  meeting,  and  had  chosen  two  brothers, 
with  whom  I was  acquainted,  to  be  their  captains ; ‘that 
they  had  resolved  to  break  up  the  meeting,  and  in  case  of 
arrest,  to  stick  by  each  other,  and  fight  it  out.  I thanked 
him  for  the  information,  and  took  measures  to  prevent 
the  intended  interruption. 

“I  was  early  upon  the  ground,  though  Brother  Booth 
had  charge  of  the  circuit  on  whom -it  properly  devolved 
to  keep  order,  yet,  he  was  of  such  a temperament  that  he 
would  allow  rowdies  to  run  over  him  and  his  charge. 
Of  course,  if  there  was  any  fighting  to  be  done  that  fell 
upon  me ; and  knowing  my  temperament,  he  and  the  peo- 
ple expected  me  to  do  it,  and  then  take  the  consequences 
afterward,  in  their  fears  that  I would  ‘ride  over  them,  as 
I did  the  rowdies.’ 

“Soon  after  reaching  the  ground,  I met  with  J.  R.  Gid- 
dings,  Esq.,  who  was  afterwards  so  distinguished  in  Con- 
gress, and  also  Esquire  Cone,  a neighboring  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  who  both  told  me  that  they  both  heard  of  the 
conspiracy,  and  had  come  purposely  thus  early  to  assist 


' 


. 


A Camp  Meeting  at  Geneva,  Ohio. 


455 


us  in  keeping  order,  and  if  need  be,  apply  the  law  in  its 
severest  form  . On  Saturday  I saw  the  rowdies  gather- 
ing, and  spoke  to  one  of  the  captain  brothers  in  this  wise : 
'I  am  told  that  a set  of  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort, 
who  have  neither  character  nor  breeding,  are  coming  here 
to  disturb  us.  We  have  Giddings  and  Cone  to  assist  us 
in  forcing  the  law.  Such  disturbance  is  not  only  con- 
trary to  law,  but  is  very  wrong  and  ungentlemanly  in 
itself.  I want  to  get  a few  men  who  have  a respect  for 
religion  and  civil  rights  to  render  us  some  assistance ; and 
I have  thought,  from  my  acquaintance  with  you,  that  you 
would  do  so.’ 

“ ‘Yes,  he  said,  ‘ he  would  do  anything  he  could  to 
assist  us,  and  asked  if  we  wanted  him  for  a guard.' 

“ ‘No/  said  I,  ‘I  will  not  trouble  you  for  that,  but  wish 
you  simply  to  keep  an  eye  out,  and  if  you  see  or  hear 
them  contriving  mischief  show  your  disapprobation  by 
reproving  them ; and  if  they  do  not  desist,  give  me  their 
names,  and  I will  have  them  fined,  and  then  1 will  pub- 
lish their  names  in  the  newspaper.’ 

“To  this  he  agreed.  I then  inquired  for  his  brother, 
whom  he  sent  to  me,  and  who  also  agreed  to  assist  us  in 
the  same  way.  I found  several  others  who  enlisted  in 
the  £ame  good  cause.  I had  already  got  several  names 
of  persons  who,  on  coming  on  the  ground,  had  shown 
signs  of  rowdyism,  of  which  I informed  my  men.  Prob- 
ably in  less  than  two  hours  every  rowdy  on  the  ground 
knew  of  my  purpose,  and  was  warned  to  behave,  or  to 
take  the  consequences. 

“Among  the  names  given  me  there  was  a mistake  in 
one  name.  The  fellow  was  one  of  the  gang,  but  was  not 
yet  on  the  ground ; but,  as  soon  as  he  did  appear,  he  was 
informed  of  my  purpose,  and  that  his  name  was  already 
taken.  This  gave  him  such  umbrage  that  he  left  at  once, 
and  was  not  seen  there  again. 

“There  were  upon  the  ground  four  young  gentlemen, 
sons  of  New  England  land  speculators,  who  had  given 
them  a little  recreation  in  the  vacation  of  college,  in  the 
trip  to  their  New  Connecticut  lands.  They  did  not  be- 
long to  the  gang  of  which  1 have  spoken,  though  they 
were  not  long  in  forming  some  of  their  acquaintances, 
and  soon  heard  of  my  threats  if  any  one  disturbed  us. 

“I  saw  these  young  men,  was  pleased  with  their  gen- 


456 


History  of  Erie 


Conference. 


teel  deportment,  and  asked  Mr.  Giddings  who  they  were, 
etc.,  but  not  because  I suspected  them  as  belonging  to  the 
gang.  In  the  night  I saw  them  with  others  go  repeatedly 
out  of  one  corner  of  the  encampment  into  the  woods,  and 
soon  return  in  rather  merry  mood.  I mistrusted  that 
there  was  whisky  somewhere  not  far  off,  and  I placed  a 
man  in  that  corner,  with  instructions  that  when  he  saw  a 
company  go  out,  to  follow  them  at  a short  distance,  and 
when  they  stopped,  to  get  behind  the  tree,  mark  the  stop- 
ping place,  and  when  they  returned  to  go  to  the  spot,  and 
most  likely  he  would  find  whisky,  and  if  he  did  to  bring  it 
to  me  with  whatever  he  found  in  it. 

“In  about  half  an  hour  he  brought  me  a tin  pail  half 
full  of  ‘the  critter,'  and  very  shortly  after  this  a manifest 
uneasiness  was  seen  among  that  crowd,  for  they  were  well 
aware  that  I had  got  it,  and  they  were  detected,  and 
feared  the  fine  and  publication. 

“In  the  morning,  when  the  congregation  was  called 
together,  I advertised  the  pail,  stating  the  contents;  that 
it  was  found  in  the  woods ; and  that  the  owner  might 
have  it  by  giving  his  name.  If  no  owner  came  for  it  the 
contents  would  be  poured  out  on  the  ground,  and  the  pail 
left  with  some  one,  where  the  owner  might  find  it  in  ac- 
cordance with  one  of  our  regulations  as  to  found  prop- 
erty. As  no  one  came  to  claim  it  I emptied  the  liquor  on 
the  ground  before  the  congregation.  In  a short  time 
after  a neighbor  came  and  said  that  these  young  men  bor- 
rowed the  pail,  as  they  said,  to  carry  milk  to  the  camp 
ground,  and  promised  to  return  it  the  next  morning;  he 
supposed  that  they  belonged  to  some  of  the  tents. 

“By  this  time  the  young  men  took  sudden  leave,  and  I 
learned  afterward  that  they  were  very  uneasy  lest  their 
names  should  get  into  the  newspapers,  as  having  behaved 
very  badly  at  a camp-meeting,  and  thus  reach  the  eyes  or 
ears  of  their  parents  at  home.  They  suffered  more  from 
their  fear  than  they  would  from  a fine,  and  even  imprison- 
ment, if  they  could  have  kept  it  from  their  parents.  But 
we  succeeded  in  preserving  good  order,  defeating  the 
rowdies,  and  having  some  fifty  conversions.” — ( Brunson , 
A Western  Pioneer , Vol.  I,  pp.  246 , 133.) 

Glezen  Fillmore. 

Glezen  Fillmore,  brother  of  Millard  Fillmore,  Presi- 


Glezen  Fillmore. 


457 


dent  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt., 
December  22,  1789,  and  died  in  Clarence,  N.  Y.,  January 
26,  1875.  He  was  the  oldest  of  five  children.  His  name 
and  history  are  more  intimately  connected  with  the  rise 
and  spread  of  Methodism  in  Western  New  York  than 
those  of  any  other  man,  living  or  dead.  He  was  licensed 
to  exhort  in  1809,  and  on  the  28th  of  March,  ten  days 
later,  started  with  a knapsack  on  his  back  for  the  West. 
On  the  1 oth  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  licensed 
to  preach.  The  nine  years  following,  spent  as  a local 
preacher,  were  years  of  earnest  and  efficient  labor.  In 
1818  he  was  admitted  into  the  Genesee  Conference,  and 
appointed  to  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock.  He  erected  the 
first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  edifice  in  Buffalo,  a 
modest  chapel  25x35  feet.  In  1821  the  old  Holland  Pur- 
chase Circuit  was  constituted  a district  by  the  name  of 
Erie,  and  Mr.  Fillmore  was  appointed  to  this  distant 
field.  “But  what  a district!  It  stretched  from  Lake  On- 
tario to  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  was  nearly  as  wide  as  the  old 
Genesee  Conference.  The  labors  of  such  a district  were 
severe  in  the  extreme,  and  the  support  exceedingly 
meagre.  The  records  show  that  at  one  quarterly  meet- 
ing in  this  city  he  received  79  cents ; at  Lewiston  75 
cents. ” Mr.  Fillmore  carried  on  with  remarkable  success 
many  great  revivals.  During  the  meeting  held  in  Roches- 
ter during  his  pastorate  “some  nine  hundred  professed 
conversion.”  His  whole  active  ministry,  counting  the 
time  he  labored  as  a local  preacher,  was  forty-nine  years. 
He  was  twenty-seven  years  a Presiding  Elder.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Genesee  Conference — reckoning  the  two 
years  since  the  name  was  changed  to  Western  New  York 
Conference — fifty-six  years,  and  never  missed  a session. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  he  was  ever  absent  from  his  seat 
an  hour,  excepting  at  one  session  when  he  was  prevented 
by  an  accident  received  while  in  attendance.  He  was 
active  in  the  work  of  establishing  the  Genesee  Wesleyan 
Seminary  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  and  during  a large  part  of  his 
public  life  was  a trustee.  He  was  a delegate  to  four  Gen- 
eral Conferences. 

“Glezen  Fillmore  needs  no  marble  to  keep  alive  his 
name  in  the  history  of  Methodism  in  Western  New  York. 
The  churches  which  were  planted  in  Buffalo,  in  Roches- 
ter, and  in  other  fields,  by  his  loving  toil,  shall  be  his  en- 


Glezen  Fillmore. 


during  monument  after  brass  and  marble  have  crumbled 
into  dust. 

“For  some  time  previous  to  his  death  his  family  ob- 
served that  he  spent  more  time  than  usual  in  secret  de- 
votion and  Bible  reading.  He  looked  forward  to  death 
as  the  weary  traveler  looks  to  the  night  of  rest,  and  he 
lay  down  at  last  as  peacefully  as  to  pleasant  dreams.  Even 
the  King  of  Terrors  seemed  obsequious  in  his  presence, 
and  tenderly  and  sweetly  closed  his  mortal  career.  His 
race  is  run.  He  has  exchanged  the  long,  weary  round  of 
the  itinerant  for  the  golden  streets  and  sunlit  hills  of 
glory.  An  old  warrior  covered  with  the  dust  of  many  a 
long-contested  field  has  been  crowned  a victor  by  the  Sa- 
vior's own  hand.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XV, 

1875,  p- 158-) 

‘‘In  1822  Glezen  Fillmore  was  on  this  field,  and  on  one 
of  his  rounds  he  struck  the  Allegheny  river  above  Frank- 
lin just  at  dark,  where  he  must  cross  the  river  to  get  lodg- 
ing and  fare.  The  ferry  boat  was  over,  and  he  was  much 
fatigued.  After  some  hallooing,  at  which  he  was  very 
able,  so  able  that  he  was  said  to  have  been  heard  two 
miles  off  at  times  of  preaching,  he  succeeded,  of  course, 
in  making  the  ferryman  hear,  and,  having  crossed,  he 
found  a very  comfortable  place  to  stay  over  night  after 
such  a wearisome  journey.  In  his  sleep  that  night  he 
seemed  to  go  over  the  whole  journey  again.  When  he 
came  to  the  river,  in  his  dream,  he  made  a desperate  ef- 
fort to  get  the  ferryman's  attention,  yelling  out  with  all 
his  might,  ‘o-v-e-r.’  He  not  only  waked  himself  by  the 
effort,  but  he  soon  found  the  whole  family  astir.  ‘What 
in  the  world’s  the  matter?’  cried  the  man  of  the  house. 
‘Oh,’  said  Mr.  Fillmore,  ‘I  was  only  dreaming.’  ‘Well/ 
said  the  landlord,  ‘that  was  the  loudest  dreaming  I ever 
heard.’” — (M.  S.  Hess,  Footprints  of  Methodism  on 
Sliippenville  Circuit,  the  District  Methodist,  Vol.  1,  July, 
1888.) 

*His  appointments  were:  In  1818-19,  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock; 

1820,  Clarence;  1821-’24,  Erie  District;  1825,  Chenango  District; 
1826-’27,  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock;  1828,  Warsaw  and  Batavia; 
1829,  Ontario  District;  1830-’31,  Rochester;  1832,  Rochester  Dis- 
trict; 1833,  Rochester;  1834,  Buffalo;  1835-’38,  Buffalo  District; 
1839,  Rochester,  west;  1840,  Buffalo,  Black  Rock  and  Tonawanda 
Mission  1841-’42,  Lockport,  south;  1843-’45,  Buffalo  District; 
1846,  West  Rochester  District;  1847-’49,  Genesee  District;  1850-’53, 
Niagara  District;  1854-’57,  Buffalo  District;  1858,  superannuated. 


460 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Nathaniel  Reeder,  Ira  Brownson. 

Nathaniel  Reeder  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Genesee 
Conference  in  1813.  His  name  is  thus  recorded  in  the 
minutes  of  that  conference:  “Nathaniel  Reeder,  aged 

twenty-five  years,  from  Canaan  Circuit,  a humble,  zeal- 
ous and  useful  man,  possessed  of  improvable  abilities.” 
He  was  ordained  deacon  and  elder  and  admitted  into  full 
connection  in  regular  course.  He  became  a member  of 
the  Pittsburgh  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was 
superannuated  in  1822  and  1823,  finally  superannuated  in 
1828,  and  located  in  1834.  His  appointments  were  as 
follows:  In  1813,  Shamokin,  with  Abraham  Dawson  in 

charge;  1814,  Chenango,  with  Ralph  Lanning  in  charge; 
1815,  Ottawa;  '1 8 16,  Smiths  Creek;  1817,  Bay  Quintie, 
with  Thomas  Madden  in  charge;  1818,  Cornwall;  1819, 
Oswego;  1820,  Black  River,  with  Joseph  Willis  as  junior 
preacher;  1821,  Lake,  with  Ira  Brunson  as  junior  preach- 
er: 1824,  “Chetauque 1825,  North  East;  1826,  Erie, 
with  Zachariah  Ragan  as  second  preacher;  1827,  Hart- 
ford, with  Hiram  Kinsley  as  an  assistant.  He  was  as- 
sisted on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  by  John  Scott  as  a sup- 
' ply.  Mr.  Gregg — he  is  thinking  of  the  same  man,  though 
his  dates  in  this  connection  would  not  indicate  this — 
says : “He  was  an  excellent  man,  a good,  sound  preach- 

er, health  rather  poor,  and  a little  given  to  spleen.' ’ He 
died  in  Canaan,  Ohio,  August  12,  1839,  aged  forty-nine 
years. 

Ira  Brownson,  second  preacher  on  Lake  Circuit,  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1820,  and 
appointed  to  Lebanon,  Ebenezer  Doolittle  in  charge  of 
the  circuit.  He  died  in  the  town  of  Granger,  Allegany 
County,  N.  Y.,  June  27,  1843.*  His  last  words  were,  “All 
is  peace.”  “Brother  Brownson  was  a man  of  meek  and 
quiet  spirit,  and  as  a Methodist  minister  exemplified  in 
all  his  conduct  the  deep  sincerity  with  which  he  had  con- 
secrated himself  to  the  work  of  saving  souls.  All  the 

*Mr.  Brownson  filled,  the  following  appointments:  1820,  Le- 

banon; 1821,  Lake;  1822,  Eden;  1823,  Lewiston;  1824,  Ridgway; 
1825,  1826,  Aurora;  1827,  Elba  and  Batavia;  1828,  Rushford  and 
Friendship;  1829,  Clarence;  1830-’31,  Aurora;  1832,  Lodi;  1833, 
Lewiston  and  Grand  Island;  1834,  Boston  and  Sardinia;  1835,  At- 
tica and  Orangeville;  1836-’37,  Painted  Post;  1838,  Danville  and 
Hornellsville;  1839,  Danville;;  1840,  Nunda;  1841,  Mt.  Morris  and 
• Nunda;  1842,  Aurora. 


Zachariah  Paddock. 


461 


Christian  graces  shone  so  eminently  in  his  life,  that  with 

but  feeble  health,  and  ordinary  talents  as  a preacher,  he 

was  always  acceptable  and  useful  among  the  people  with 

whom  he  labored,  and  lived  and  died  greatly  beloved  by 

all  who  knew  him.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  Ill,  • 

1843,  P-  42°-) 

Zachariah  Paddock. 

Zachariah  Paddock,  D.D.,  must  be  counted  as  one  of 
the  glorious  army  of  Christian  heroes  who  helped  to 
mould  early  American  civilization.  He  was  born  at 
Northampton,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  in  December, 

1798,  and  died  in  great  peace  and  triumph  in  Bingham- 
ton, July  4,  1879.  In  his  eighteenth  year  he  became  a 
Christian,  having  been  awakened  under  the  preaching  of 
Bishop  McKendree.  His  conversion  was  clear  and  scrip- 
tural. In  1818  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and  received 
on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference.  His  ministry  ex- 
tended over  a large  field.  In  1845  Union  College  con- 
ferred on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  he 
was  the  author  of  several  volumes.  He  was  a member 
of  the  General  Conference  of  1868.  He  was  appointed 
to  French  Creek  Circuit  in  1821,  and  during  the  year  was 
instrumental  in  building  a log  meeting  house  in  the  Pit- 
hole  settlement,  near  the  home  of  Mr.  Dawson,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers.  He  was  granted  a superannuate  relation 
in  1870.  His  old  age  was  beautiful,  and  his  soul  seemed 
always  plumed  for  glory.  As  he  neared  his  end  he  ex- 
claimed : “I  have  been  walking  with  death  arm  in  arm 

since  morning.”  His  name  is  a synonym  for  “gentle- 
ness, sweetness  and  purity.”  “He  was  a St.  John  in  his 
loving  devotion  to  Jesus,  and  his  warm  and  tender  inter- 
est in  his  friends.  He  was  a Christian  gentleman.  The 
kindness  and  purity  of  his  heart  led  him  to  carefulness 
and  consideration  in  his  treatment  of  others.  The  dig- 
nity and  manliness  of  his  personnel  was  beautifully  mod- 
erated by  a sweetness  and  humility  of  bearing.  He  made 
an  imperishable  impression  upon  his  age  and  country. 

The  Church  will  hold  his  name  with  honor  and  appreciate 
his  great  work  so  well  done.” — ( Minutes  of  Conferences, 

Vol.  XVIII,  1880,  p.  86.) 

His  ministerial  life  was  very  long  and  extremely  suc- 
cessful. He  was  fifty-two  years  in  the  effective  ranks,  in 


462 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


which  time  he  was  five  years  on  circuits,  twenty-five  on 
stations  and  twenty-two  in  the  presiding  eldership. 

“So  fondly  was  he  loved  by  the  people  of  Binghamton 
that  friends  placed  a beautiful  bust  of  him  in  Centenary 
Church  of  that  city.’’* — (Chaffee,  History  of  the  Wyom- 
ing Conference,  p.  218.) 

Charles  Trescott,  Henry  Knapp. 

Charles  Trescott  was  a native  of  Massachusetts.  He 
was  born  in  1794.  and  early  instructed  in  the  principles 
of  the  Christian  religion.  He  was  converted  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  1818  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  in  1820  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  and  sent  to 
Beaver  Circuit.  The  next  year  he  served  Erie  Circuit, 
and  in  1822  was  appointed  to  the  Brunswick  Circuit.  He 
reached  his  circuit  011  Saturday,  September  22,  a few 
days  after  conference,  and  the  next  day  preached  his  first 
and  last  sermon  to  the  people  of  his  charge.  He  was  im- 
mediately taken  ill,  but  having  procured  medical  assist- 
ance, proceeded  to  the  house  of  a friend  in  Brunswick, 
which  he  reached  on  Wednesday.  His  illness  became 
alarmingly  severe,  and  his  sufferings  were  great.  He 
made  all  necessary  arrangements  respecting  his  temporal 
concerns,  gave  directions  about  his  funeral,  and  sent  mes- 
sages to  his  parents  and  friends.  His  dying  testimony 
was:  “There  is  victory  in  death,  and  death  in  victory.’’ 

At  three  o'clock  on  Sabbath  morning,  October  6,  1822, 
he  expired  in  full  hope  and  confidence  of  eternal  life. 
“During  the  short  time  he  was  a traveling  preacher  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  study  and  labor,  which  rendered  him 
useful  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  He  was  systematic 
in  his  preaching,  and  the  applications  of  his  sermons  were 

♦The  following  is  the  record  of  Zachariah  Paddock’s  work:  In 
1818,  Ridgway;  1819,  Sweden;  1820,  Batavia;  1821,  French  Creek; 
1822-’23,  Buffalo;  1824,  Westmoreland;  1825,  Paris  and  Utica; 
1826,  Utica;  1827-’28,  Rochester;  1829-30,  Cazenovia;  1831-’32, 
Ithaca;  1833-’34,  Utica;  1835,  Auburn;  1836-’37,  Cayuga  District; 
1838-’41,  Oneida  District;  1842-’45,  Cazenovia  District;  1846-’47, 
New  York  Mills;  1848-’49,  Binghamton;  1850,  Oxford;  1851,  Sus- 
quehanna District;  1852-’54,  Binghamton  District;  1855,  Chenango 
Forks  Mission;  1856-’58,  Owego  District;  1859,  Wilkes-Barre; 
1860-’61,  Binghamton,  Henry  Street;  1862-’63,  Honesdale;  1864-’67, 
Binghamton  District;  1868,  Chenango;  1869,  Port  Dickinson; 
1870-’80,  superannuated. 


Charles  Trcscott,  Henry  Knapp. 


energetic  and  effectual/' — (Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  i,  1824,  pp.  4 ip-420.) 

Henry  Knapp  was  born  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  August  9, 
1796.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
soon  afterward  began  to  call  sinners  to  repentance.  In 
1819  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  joined  the  itinerant 
ranks  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1820,  and  traveled  the 
Cross  Creek,  Grand  River,  Athens,  Mercer,  New  Castle, 
Lake  and  North  East  Circuits.  In  May,  1827,  he  was 
taken  ill  and  passed  to  his  eternal  reward,  May  20. 

“Mr.  Knapp  was  a young  man  of  great  promise,  pious, 
zealous,  talented,  useful  and  much  esteemed  by  the  people 
wherever  he  labored.  His  race  was  short  but  brilliant.” 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol 
1,  P-  I95-) 

A short  time  before  his  death  he  read  a chapter  from 
the  Bible,  sung  a hymn,  and  offered  an  earnest  prayer, 
commended  his  wife  and  children  to  the  care  of  his  Heav- 
enly Father,  and,  with  the  praise  of  God  upon  his  lips, 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  “He  was  acceptable  and  useful; 
punctual  in  fulfilling  his  appointments,  and  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  duties.” — 
(Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  XI,  pp.  ipy-ip8.) 

Methodism  in  Pleasantville  and  Tidioute. 

The  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Pleasantville  dates  back  to  1821.  Old  class  books  fix 
the  date.  Zachariah  Paddock,  of  the  French  Creek  Cir- 
cuit, was  the  preacher,  and  Glezen  Fillmore,  of  the  Erie 
District,  the  Presiding  Elder.  The  place  of  worship  was 
a school  house  west  of  Pleasantville,  popularly  known  as 
the  “Methodist  School  House”  in  distinction  from  an- 
other east  of  the  town,  where  the  Baptists  worshiped. 
A church  was  built  in  1846,  mainly  through  the  efforts 
of  David  Henderson  and  William  Dawson. 

“Among  the  men  concerned  with  the  early  history  of 
the  Church  at  Pleasantville,  William  Dawson  stands  pre- 
eminent. He  died  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  but  not  be- 
fore he  had  contributed  largely  of  his  time  and  money  to 
the  building  of  the  church.  He  was  a man  of  energy, 
enterprise,  ability,  and  above  all,  public-spirited.” — (His- 
tory of  Venango  County,  J.  A.  Caldwell,  i8jp,  pp.  618- 
619.) 


464 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


“The  present  church  edifice  was  dedicated  June  19, 
1870,  by  Rev.  Alfred  Wheeler,  of  Meadville.  The  build- 
ing cost  $11,000.  The  following  constituted  the  Build- 
ing Committee:  William  Newkirk,  James  L.  Connelly, 

George  Zevier,  J.  N.  Tyrrell  and  S.  A.  Squires." — (His- 
tory of  J'cnango  County,  Brown,  Runic  & Co.,  1890;  pp. 

731-732-) 

Religious  services  in  Enterprise  were  at  first  held  in 
private  houses  and  school  houses.  In  1870  the  present 
church  edifice  was  erected  by  a union  of  all  denomina- 
tions. The  Baptists  and  Methodists  were  the  most  nu- 
merous. There  seemed  not  to  have  been  much  religious 
interest  in  the  services  when  held  in  private  houses;  nor 
yet  when  school  houses  were  opened  for  preaching  and 
prayer.  B.  F.  Delo,  who  supplied  Spring  Creek  Circuit 
in  1862,  found  Enterprise  without  religious  services.  In 
the  winter  he  held  a protracted  meeting,  at  which  there 
were  a number  of  conversions,  and  organized  a class. 
Since  that  date  Methodism  has  always  been  represented. 

Methodism  was  introduced  in  Tidioute,  Pa.,  by  Zach- 
ariah  Paddock,  who  preached  the  first  sermon  in  1821. 
It  was  then  within  the  bounds  of  the  Genesee  Confer- 
ence, and  a part  of  the  French  Creek  Circuit.  There 
were  but  few  families  at  that  time  settled  along  the 
banks  of  the  Allegheny  river.  The  first  society  was  or- 
ganized by  Robert  C.  Hatton  in  1823,  and  consisted  of 
the  following  members:  Thomas  Arters  and  wife,  An- 

thony Courson  and  wife  and  daughter,  R.  Hunter  and 
wife,  C.  Richardson  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  W.  Hunter.  The 
appointment  then  belonged  to  the  Meadville  Circuit.  Later 
it  became  a part  of  the  Oil  Creek  Circuit,  and  then  of  the 
Pleasantville  Circuit,  from  which  it  was  detached  in  1864 
and  became  a separate  charge.  Thomas  Arters  built  the 
first  frame  house  in  Tidioute,  and  Anthony  Courson  built 
the  first  grist  mill  and  kept  the  first  hotel.  The  first  post- 
office  was  called  Deerfield.  The  Methodists  held  their 
meetings  in  Thomas  Arters’  dwelling  house  for  many 
years.  This  house  stands  next  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  across  the  alley,  and  is  still  in  service.  Joshua 
Richardson  was  a local  preacher.  1 he  first  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  built  under  the  ministry  of  J.  E. 
Chapin,  where  the  Grandin  block  now  stands,  in  1836. 
This  building  was  sold  to  Samuel  Grandin  in  1854*  used 


Methodism  in  Pleasantville  and  Tidioute.  465 


for  some  time  for  school  purposes,  and  afterward  as  a 
saloon,  the  high  pulpit  being  cut  down  so  as  to  be  con- 
venient for  a bar.  A new  church  was  built  in  upper 
Tidioute  in  1853  under  direction  of  Judge  Brown  and 
Arthur  McGill,  a local  preacher.  This  was  sold  to  the 
Lutherans,  and  from  them  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Free  Methodists. — (Janies  Kinnear , in  Our  Centennial 
Offering , published  by  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  Tidioute, 
February  22,  18/6.) 

Darius  Smith,  after  a severe  illness,  during  the  second 
year  of  his  pastorate — i866-’67 — enjoyed  a gracious  re- 
vival. He  writes:  “I  was  enabled  to  enter  upon  my 

work  again  in  February,  and  the  Lord  did  mercifully  re- 
vive His  work  among  us,  and  by  the  efficient  aid  of  our 
local  preachers  and  exhorters  some  eighty  or  ninety  souls 
were  converted  and  gathered  into  the  Church  on  proba- 
tion." For  the  year  1869  E.  A.  Squier  writes:  “I  com- 

menced a series  of  meetings  in  January,  beginning  with 
the  week  of  prayer,  and  the  Lord  smiled  upon  His  chil- 
dren and  graciously  poured  out  His  Spirit,  and  during  a 
period  of  seven  weeks  some  forty  were  brought  under  the 
banner  of  the  cross.” — ( Old  Historical  Record.) 

During  the  pastorate  of  W.  H.  Mossman  a new  church 
was  built.  This  was  completed  in  1872,  and  consumed 
by  fire  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  When  Francis  Brown 
was  appointed  to  the  pastorate  in  1873  the  building  of 
the  new  brick  church  had  already  begun.  It  was  dedi- 
cated by  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives,  D.D.,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  “the 
great  dedicator,"  in  September,  1874.  The  two  build- 
ings cost  $35,000,  of  which  $9,000  remained  unpaid. 
This  was  provided  for  by  subscriptions  taken  on  the  day 
of  dedication.  A revival  followed,  at  which  nearly  two 
hundred  were  converted.  But  subscriptions  were  not  col- 
lected, and  our  record  says:  “In  March  of  1878,  the 

church  debt  amounted  to  $6,553.  A plan  was  instituted 
by  the  pastor,  J.  M.  Bray,  which  he  called  the  ‘Joash 
plan,'  which  provided  that  if  the  amount  of  the  entire 
indebtedness  could  be  raised  each  person  was  to  make  a 
‘renewed’  offering  or  new  offering,  in  money  or  notes 
bearing  six  per  cent  interest,  all  of  which  was  to  be  de- 
posited in  a box  provided  for  that  purpose,  placed  in  the 
church  between  the  doors  up-stairs.  T.  B.  Monks  was 
elected  treasurer  of  all  that  was  put  into  the  box,  and 


when  the  sums  so  deposited  amounted  to  $6,553,  all  was 
to  be  valid.  When  $5,000  was  deposited  $1,000  was  im- 
mediately paid;  but  it  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1879 
that  the  balance  of  $1,553  was  secured — that  was  se- 
cured by  one  hundred  shares  at  $15  per  share  payable  in 
three  annual  instalments,  with  interest  at  six  per  cent.” — 
(Second  Old  Record;  Notes  by  Francis  Brown  and  J.  M. 
Bray.) 

Our  Church  in  Tionesta. 

The  Valentine  family  settled  on  the  Jamison  Flats  in 
1794.  Their  homestead,  by  the  will  of  Mrs.  Valentine, 
became  vested  in  Mrs.  Barbara  McGee,  and  her  husband, 
John  McGee.  Mr.  McGee  became  dissatisfied  with  the 
country  and  “dislocated  himself  to  Columbiana  County, 
and  the  farm  was  sold  to  Tohn,  son  of  William  Middleton. 
The  latter  settled  on  the  Allegheny  in  1802,  and  built  the 
“Red  House”  on  the  Tamison  Flats.  It  was  the  largest 
house  in  the  section,  and  one  room  was  set  aside  and  dedi- 
cated as  a church.  Soon  after  its  dedication,  a pioneer 
preacher  came  along,  who  was  at  the  same  time  surveyor 
and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  invited  to  preach  in  this 
church.  His  subject  was  the  meeting  of  Solomon  and 
the  Queen  of  Sheba,  and  the  original  manner  in  which 
the  text  was  handled,  with  the  attending  circumstances, 
called  forth  some  laughter  on  the  part  of  the  pioneer 
audience.  The  preacher  then  changed  his  tactics,  and 
charged  on  the  people : “You  may  laugh  now,  you  brats 

of  Babel,  but  methinks  I see  a dreadful  time  approaching; 
yes,  see  it  a-coming,  there  will  be  a terrible  time.  Vol- 
canoes will  burst  forth  hither  and  yon,  and  waves  of 
liquid  fire  will  flow  higher  than  these  hills,  and  rocks  and 
great  trees-ah  will  sweep  howling  by  in  empty  space-ah, 
borne  by  a tempest  of  fire-ah ! And  I tell  you,  brothers 
and  sisters,  about  that  time,  it  will  not  be  very  safe  to  be 
out ; neither!” — ( Samuel  D.  I ruin  in  History  of  Forest 
County , 1890,  pp  833,  834.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Tionesta  is  con- 
temporary with  the  Middleton  settlement,  but  this  old 
pioneer  did  not  call  his  neighbors  together  until  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  “Red  House.”  In  1827  steps  were 
taken  to  build  a union  house.  In  1829,  John  and  Anne 
Range  deeded  to  George  Siggins,  Jesse  Dale,  James  Wol- 


Our  Church  in  Tionesta. 


467 


laston,  Asa  C.  Brown,  John  Middleton,  James  Dustin, 
David  Hunter,  George  Gates,  and  Tames  Dawson,  trustees 
of  the  Methodist  Society  one  acre  of  land  “near  Dr.  Mar- 
vin Webster’s  grounds,  being  part  of  the  Sagualinget — 
‘Place  of  Council’ — tract  patented  to  Sholass  Range  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1786,  and  conveyed  to  John  Range  in  1806. 
Which  said  tract  was  surveyed  in  pursuance  of  a Lottery 
Warrent  No.  51 1,  granted  to  the  said  Sholass  Range, 
dated  the  17th  of  May,  178s.” 

The  deed  to  the  church  lot  is  on  record  in  Franklin. 
An  accurate  plot  shows,  as  a par.t  of  the  church  lot,  a lane 
running  down  to  the  bank  of  the  Allegheny  river.  This 
lane  was  to  have  been  kept  open  perpetually,  and  was  for 
the  accommodation  of  those  who  came  to  church  by  canoe. 

There  is  a fine  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Nebraska 
— erected  by  T.  D.  Collins — connected  with  Tionesta.  It 
has  a good  membership.  The  church  at  Golinza,  former- 
ly belonging  to  the  same  charge,  has  been  abandoned,  by 
reason  of  the  exhaustion  of  the  timber  in  that  vicinity, 
thus  necessitating  the  removing  of  the  people  to  other 
fields  of  labor.  The  building  of  a frame  church  was  com- 
menced in  1830,  but  not  until  183  S was  it  completed. 
This  was  replaced  by  the  present  church  edifice  which 
was  dedicated  in  1871.  The  records  of  the  church  date 
back  only  to  1880,  when  J.  B.  Hill  was  the  pastor.  He 
preached  also  at  Nebraska,  Whig  Hill,  Beaver  Valley, 
Hill’s  School  House,  and  Red  Brush.  At  this  time  the 
Hill  school  house  class  was  set  off  in  charge  of  J.  P. 
Hicks.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1883  and  enlarged 
and  improved  in  1901.  In  1888  Whig  Hill  and' Ball- 
town  were  transferred  to  the  Fagundus  Circuit. — (His- 
tory of  Forest  County,  1890,  pp  893,  894.) 

PUNXSUTAWNEY. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Punxsutawney  is 
one  of  the  oldest  in  that  part  of  the  state.  In  1821,  Rev. 
Elijah  Coleman,  a local  preacher,  organized  the  first  class 
with  ten  members.  It  was  a part  of  the  Mahoning  Cir- 
cuit of  the  Baltimore  Conference  from  1822  to  1825, 
when  it  became  a part  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference — a 
six  weeks’  circuit  with  forty-two  appointments.  Simon 
Elliot  and  Curtis  Goddard  were  the  preachers,  and  the  so- 
ciety worshiped  in  a grist  mill  owned  by  Jacob  Hoover. 


468 


468  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

In  1824  the  first  record  seems  to  have  been  made,  and  the 
following  persons  were  members  of  the  class:  Jacob 

Hoover  and. wife,  Jesse  Armstrong  and  wife,  Parian 
White  and  wife,  Betsy  Clawson,  and  John  Carey.  Par- 
ian White  was  the  class-leader,  and  Ignatius  H.  lackitt. 


the  circuit  preacher.  In  1825-18 26,  Elijah  Coleman 
served  the  charge  as  a supply,  and  bv  contract  took  his 
pay  in  pine  boards.  There  was  a glorious  revival,  about 
this  time,  under  the  labors  of  Simon  Elliot  and  his  col- 
league and  two  hundred  or  more  members  were  added  to 
the  church.  In  1830,  Punxsutawney  became  a part  of  the 
Ridgway  Mission  and  remained  until  1839,  becoming  a 
part  of  the  Erie  Conference  in  1836.  The  first  church 
building  was  erected  in  1835,  and  the  society  bade  adieu 
to  the  grist  mill  where  they  had  enjoyed  many  blessed 
hours.  The  Red  Bank  Circuit,  of  which  Punxsutawney 


was  an  appointment,  was  formed  in  1839.  In  1850  the 
Punxsutawney  charge  was  formed  with  J.  K.  Whippo  as 
pastor.  In  1853  fit  was  necessary  to  erect  a larger  edi- 
fice and  this  was  done  through  many  discouragements. 


It  was  seven  years  before  it  was  completed.  Once  it  was 
sold  by  the  sheriff  for  debt.  During  these  years  of  strug- 
gle, our  people  worshiped  in  C.  C.  Gaskill’s  shop,  Father 
Hunt's  store-room,  the  old  school-house,  and  other  places 
opened  for  their  use.  The  church  was  dedicated  during 
the  • pastorate  of  N.  G.  Luke  in  i860.  In  1886-1887,  a 
commodious  and  comfortable  parsonage  was  erected. 
Punxsutawney  was  not  made  a station,  except  for  a single 
year,  until  the  pastorate  of  H.  G.  Hall  in  1888  when  it 
took  its  place  among  the  best  appointments  of  Clarion 
District. 

The  labors  of  J.  C.  McDonald,  18Q2-1893  were  at- 
tended with  good  results  and  the  membership  was  largely 
increased.  J.  W.  Blaisdell  served  the  charge  in  1894-5, 
and  A.  J.  Merchant  in  1895-6.  T.  W.  Douglass  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  charge  in  the  fall  of  1896  and  served  until 
the  fall  of  1898.  During  his  pastorate  a class  was  or- 
ganized at  Lindsey  and  seyentv-five  members  were  trans- 
ferred from  the  church  in  Punxsutawney  to  this  new  class. 
During  the  pastorate  of  H.  G.  Hall  the  need  of  a better 
and  more  commodious  church  building  began  to  be  felt, 
and  frequent  efforts  were  made  to  raise  money  for  this 
purpose  during  the  following  decade  with  the  accomplish- 


Punxsn  tawney. 


469 


ment  of  so  little  that  many  became  disheartened  and  the 
membership  became  disinterested  in  church  affairs.  In 
the  fall  of  1898  H.  G.  Dodds  was  appointed  as  pastor,  and 
so  generously  did  the  people  respond  to  his  appeals  for 
funds  for  a new  church,  that  the  cornerstone  of  the  new 
edifice  was  laid  by  Bishop  C.  H.  Fowler,  May  18,  1899, 
and  the  present  handsome  stone  structure,  with  a seating 
capacity  of  750,  a Sunday  school  room  provided  with  ele- 
gant appointments,  and  all  costing  about  $30,000.00  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  C.  C.  McCabe  on  March  18,  1900. 
A splendid  pipe  organ  has  been  placed  in  this  new  church 
as  the  gift  of  Andrew  Carnegie. 

Harpersfield,  James  Hitchcock,  Asbury  Church. 

‘‘Elder  Swayze  held  a camp-meeting  in  Harpersfield, 
Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1821,  which  is  said  by  those  who 
were  present  to  have  been  a time  of  great  power  and  of 
much  good  in  that  region.  About  one  hundred  souls  were 
converted.  Among  them  was  Amos  Parker,  an  infidel 
from  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  who  came  to  satisfy  his  curiosity, 
but  returned  rejoicing  in  God.  A.  S.  Gillett,  of  Mormon 
notoriety,  was  converted  at  this  meeting.  Elder  Swayze 
also  held  a camp-meeting  in  Newburgh,  near  Cleveland, 
which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls." — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , Vol.  I , 
p.  189.) 

“Rev.  James  Hitchcock,  a local  preacher,  commenced 
preaching  on  Willoughby  Ridge  in  the  spring  of  1821, 
and  the  following  fall  Philip  Green  formed  a class  in  that 
place,  consisting  of  Lewis  Miller,  wife  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Hezekiah  Ferguson  and  wife,  John  L.  Ferguson 
and  wife,  Samuel  Mapes  and  wife,  Charles  W.  Warrello 
and  wife,  Reynolds  Pratt,  and  Maria  Bunt.  The  revival 
continued  until  over  seventy  were  converted  and  added 
to  the  Church.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  188,  180.) 

At  a secluded  spot  near  the  county  line,  the  traveler  on 
the  road  from  Titusville  to  Tionesta  can  see — or  could 
a few  years  ago — an  abandoned  frame  building,  much 
blackened  by  exposure  to  wind  and  weather.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  this  is  the  church  building  erected  in  1821 
in  the  Pithole  settlement — the  old  “Asbury  Church.” 
Andrew  Hemphill  preached  at  “Dawson’s”  in  1804; 


470 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Joshua  Monroe,  in  1810;  Robert  C.  Hatton,  in  1815;  and 
John  P.  Kent,  in  1816.  In  an  adjacent  burial  ground  are 
the  graves  of  many  of  the  pioneer  settlers.  Long  life 
seems  to  have  been  given  to  these  godly  men.  Nine  of 
them — all  men,  and  among  them  three  Dawsons  and  two 
Allenders — Methodist  names,  these — reached  an  average 
age  of  seventy-six  years;  the  oldest  was  eighty-nine,  and 
the  youngest  sixty-one.  As  the  early  members  passed 
away,  the  society  became  weak  and  was  finally  abandoned. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  in  Vienna,  now  Phelps, 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  July  24,  1822,  Bishop  Robert  R. 
Roberts  in  the  chair.  The  following  appointments  were 
made:  Erie  District,  Glezen  Fillmore,  presiding  elder; 

French  Creek,  Josiah  Keyes;  Lake,  Richard  Wright  and 
Sylvester  Cary ; Chautauqua,  Parker  Buel ; North  East, 
Andrew  Peck.  The  Ohio  Conference  met  in  Marietta, 
Ohio,  September  3,  1822,  Bishop  William  McKendree  in 
the  chair.  Bishops  Robert  R.  Roberts  and  Joshua  Soule 
were  also  present.  The  appointments  were  as  follows : 
Ohio  District,  William  Swayze,  presiding  elder;  Erie, 
William  H.  Collins ; Mercer,  Samuel  Adams ; Grand 
River,  Edward  H.  Taylor,  John  Crawford;  Youngstown, 
William  Tipton,  Albert  G.  Richardson;  Deerfield,  Ezra 
Booth,  William  Westlake;  Hudson,  Ira  Eddy;  New  Cas- 
tle, Thomas  Carr.  William  H.  Collins  was  associated 
with  Samuel  Adams  at  a quarterlv  conference  held  in 
Franklin,  January  nth,  1823,  as  shown  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  Records.  Both  were  “circuit  preachers,”  but 
the  name  of  the  circuit  is  not  given.  Benjamin  P.  Hill 
was  employed  as  a supply  to  assist  Mr.  Buel  on  the  Chau- 
tauqua Circuit.  Lake  Circuit  was  divided,  and  the  west- 
ern part  called  “North  East.”  Erie  Circuit  was  divided, 
and  the  southern  part  called  “Mercer.”  The  Mahoning 
Circuit  formed  two  circuits — Youngstown  and  Deerfield. 
The  Cuyahoga  Circuit  was  divided  and  the  eastern  part 
called  “Hudson” — the  western  part  being  beyond  our 
bounds. 

Several  Preachers. 

Josiah  Keyes  was  born  in  Canajoharie,  New  York, 
December  30,  1799’  but  most  of  his  early  youth  was  spent 
in  Otsego  County.  He  was  converted  and  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  twelve  years  of  age. 


Several  Preachers. 


47i 


He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in 
1820,  and  appointed  to  St.  Lawrence  with  W.  W.  Run- 
dall  in  charge.  His  later  appointments  were:  1821,  Le- 

Roy;  1822,  French  Creek;  1823,  Aurora;  1824,  Lake; 
1825,  1826,  Owego;  1827,  Norwich;  1828,  1829,  Potts- 
dam;  1830,  Black  River;  1831-4,  Black  River  District; 
1835,  Cuyahoga  District,  where  he  closed  his  earthly  la- 
bors, April  22,  1836. 

In  his  various  fields  of  labor,  he  was  most  acceptable  in 
all  his  ministrations,  and  when  in  charge  of  a district  “his 
extraordinary  powers  were  brought  forth  to  the  greatest 
advantage  and  best  effect."  He  was  a wise  counsellor,  a 
judicious  administrator,  and  a powerful  defender  of  the 
faith  and  preacher  of  the  gospel.  His  duties  were  ard- 
uous, but  were  discharged  with  fidelity  until  the  latest 
period  of  his  life.  Suffering  under  a most  aggravating 

form  of  jaundice,  he  vet  attended  his  appointments 
through  the  extreme  cold  of  winter  At  his  last  quarterly 
meeting  on  the  tenth  of  April,  he  took  cold,  and  returned 
home  in  almost  a dying  condition.  Aware  of  his  ap- 
proaching end,  he  exhibited  no  anxiety,  but  a Christian 
cheerfulness.  He  said,  in  the  language  of  Paul : “For 

me  to  live  is  Christ,  to  die  is  gain.” 

“Brother  Keyes  was  emphatically  a strong  man.  He 
possessed  an  extraordinary  grasp  of  intellect,  and  for  ap- 
plication was  perhaps  never  excelled.  By  dint  of  in- 
dustry, without  regular  instructions,  he  had  become  a 
respectable  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  scholar.  His 
thirst  for  knowledge  was  unconquerable,  and  he  never 
lost  an  hour.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  II,  1836, 
P ■ 41 2-) 

Richard  Wright  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New 
York,  in  the  year  1796.  His  parents  moved  to  Rich- 
mond, Ontario  County  while  Richard  was  quite  young 
and  there  he  grew  up  to  manhood.  At  the  early  age  of 
sixteen  he  enlisted  in  the  army  and  served  with  distinction 
during  the  war  of  1812,  taking  part  in  several  important 
engagements.  He  was  converted  in  his  nineteenth  year, 
and  soon  after  licensed  to  preach.  He  became  a member 
of  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1820,  and  so  remained  until 
his  death.  He  was  superannuated  in  1844,  and  moved  to 
Michigan,  where,  February  21,  1882,  at  Utica,  at  the 


A72 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


residence  of  his  son,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his 
age,  lie  passed  peacefully  away  to  his  heavenly  home.* 

Mr.  Wright  possessed  a noble  Christian  character. 
“His  abilities  as  a preacher  were  above  mediocrity,  and 
he  ranked  among  the  first  of  his  conference.  He  was 
neither  flippant  nor  eloquent,  and  yet  he  rose  at  times  to 
great  beauty  and  pathos  of  expression,  and  his  sentences 
would  thrill  and  enrapture  his  audience ; but  as  a rule  his 
preaching  was  of  the  solid,  substantial,  and  common-sense 
kind.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , V ol.  XIX,  1882,  pp. 
320,  321.) 

Silvester  Cary  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee 
Conference  in  1822,  in  full  connection  and  ordained  a dea- 
con in  1824,  and  ordained  an  elder  in  1826.  Mr.  Gregg 
says:  “A  fine  appearing  man,  and  well  informed,  but 

too  moderate  and  tame  in  his  address  to  suit  the  people  of 
those  times.”f 

Andrew  Peck  was  born  in  Middlefield.  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  April  9,  1800;  and  died  May  6,  1887.  The  Pecks 
have  been  an  illustrious  family.  Andrew  had  five  brothers 
and  two  sons  who  entered  the  ministry.  He  was  married 
three  times:  to  Polly  Hudson  in  1824,  to  Electa  Gunn  in 
1833,  and  to  Betsy  Finn  in  1857. 

“Although  by  reason  of  physical  infirmity,  especially 
weakness  of  voice.  Brother  Peck  was  actively  engaged  in 
pastoral  service  only  twenty-five  years,  including  three  as 
a presiding  elder,  it  was,  nevertheless,  emphatically  true 
of  him  that,  in  some  patriotic  or  philanthropic,  as  well  as 
Christian  enterprise,  he  was  an  indefatigable  and  success- 
ful worker  till  very  near  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was 
always  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  pastor  where  he  lived, 
heartily  co-operating  with  him  in  every  gfood  word  and 
work,  and  until  his  infirmities  prevented  was  regular  in 

*His  appointments  were:  1820,  Eden;  1821,  Olean;  1822-’23, 

Lake;  1824,  Boston;  1825,  Geneva  and  Canandaigua;  1826-’27, 
Ontario;  1828,  Canandaigua;  1829-’30,  Lyons;  1831,  Livonia  and 
Lima;  1832,  Brockport  and  Sweden;  1833,  Le  Roy;  1834-’35,  Cov- 
ington; 1836-’37,  Warsaw  and  Wyoming;  1838,  Le  Roy  and  Beth- 
any; 1839,  Le  Roy  Circuit;  1840,  Alexander  and  Stafford;  1841, 
name  does  not  appear  in  “General  Minutes”;  1842-’43,  Covington; 
1844,  superannuated. 

^Appointments  of  Mr.  Cary:  1822,  Lake;  1823,  French  Creek; 

1824,  Ridgway;  1825,  Elba;  1826,  Ulysses;  1827,  Prattsburgh; 
1828,  Troupsburgh;  1829,  Nunda;  1830,  Lodi;  1831,  Aurora;  1832, 
without  appointment;  1833,  located. 


Edward  'H . Taylor,  John  Crawford. 


473 


his  attendance  on  all  the  social  as  well  as  public  means  of 
grace.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Col.  XXI,  1887,  p. 

365-) 

He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in 
1818,  in  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  1820, 
and  was  ordained  elder  in  1825.* 

William  H.  Collins  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1821  ; he  was  received  into  full  connection 
and  ordained  a deacon  in  182^,  and  ordained  an  elder  in 
1825.  His  appointments  were:  1821,  Cross  Creek; 

1822,  Erie;  1823,  Hudson;  1824,  Guyandotte;  1825, 
Straight  Creek;  1826,  located. 

Edward  H.  Taylor,  John  Crawford. 

“Edward  H.  Taylor  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  August  25,  1796.  He  was  blessed  with 
the  godly  example  and  pious  instructions  of  a Christian 
mother  from  his  childhood,  which  led  to  his  early  conver- 
sion to  God.  This  happy  occurrence  took  place  in  the 
seventeenth  year  of  his  age,  at  a prayer  meeting  near  the 
residence  of  his  father  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio.  He 
commenced  his  itinerant  career  in  the  fall  of  1817  on  Ma- 
honing Circuit,  under  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  P.  E.  In 
1818,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  received  on  trial  by 
the  Ohio  Conference,  holding  its  session  in  Steubenville, 
and  was  appointed  to  Marietta.”  He  labored  in  this  and 
the  Pittsburgh  Conferences  until  1849.  “During  this 
year  his  health  became  greatly  impaired,  which  rendered 
it  necessary  for  him  to  take  a superannuated  relation  at 
the  conference  of  1850,  and  he  was  continued  in  the  same 

relation  the  two  following  years.  Such  was  the  intense 

desire  of  Brother  Tavlor  to  labor  in  the  regular  work, 
that  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  of  his  superannuated  term 
he  asked  the  conference  to  change  his  relation.  As  this 
was  evidently  desire  beyond  ability,  the  conference  could 
not,  in  justice  either  to  him  or  the  work,  grant  his  request. 

*His  appointments  were  as  follows:  1818,  Tioga;  1819,  On- 

tario; 1820,  Dansville;  1821,  Prattsburg;  1822,  North  East;  1823, 
Boston;  1824,  seems  to  have  been  supernumerary  and  attached  to 
Boston  Circuit;  1825-’28,  superannuated;  1829,  Rome,  in  Oneida 
Conference,  as  supply,  supernumerary;  1830,  supernumerary, 
supply  for  New  York  Mills;  1831,  Paris;  1832 — 1835,  Shenango 
District;  1836,  East  Hamilton;  1837-’38,  Madison;  1839,  Smyrna 
and  Plymouth;  1840-’41,  New  Berlin;  1842-’43,  Plymouth;  1844-’45, 
Shenango;  1846,  Woodstock;  1847-’86,  superannuated. 


474 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


itu 


For  some  time  previous  to  his  death  he  was  gradually 
failing  in  strength,  but  continued  to  go  about  until  the 
day  before  his  departure : so  that  his  death,  which  took 
place  on  the  thirteenth  of  June.  1853,  was  rather  sudden 
and  unexpected.  He  had  nearly  closed  the  fifty-seventh 
year  of  his  life,  and  the  thirty-fifth  of  his  ministry.  In  a 
late  letter  to  a member  of  the  conference,  his  excellent  and 
bereaved  companion  says : ‘For  several  months  previous 

to  his  death  he  was  ripening  fast  for  immortality.  Just 
before  his  speech  failed  he  said,  ‘I  am  going,  and  am 
ready  / 

“Brother  Taylor  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  excel- 
lent of  the  earth.  His  piety  was  deep  and  uniform;  and 
being  blessed  and  favored  with  the  right  kind  of  a com- 
panion, he  reared  one  of  the  best-regulated  families ; and 
perhaps  no  member  of  the  conference  was  more  fully  at- 
tached to  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  Church  than 
Brother  Taylor.  As  a preacher,  he  was  diligent  and 
faithful.  He  understood  our  doctrines  and  preached  them 
well,  and  was  generally  successful  in  winning  souls  to 
Christ.  His  talents  were  rather  of  the  solid  than  the 
brilliant  kind,  and  those  who  knew  him  best,  regarded  him 
as  a safe  and  valuable  counsellor  in  matters  pertaining  to 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church.’'* — (Minutes  of 
the  Conferences,  JToI.  V , 1853,  pp.  242,  243.) 

John  Crawford,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  Crawford,  was 
born  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  Sept.  28,  1799. 
He  was  converted  at  sixteen  years  of  age.  “He  was  li- 
censed to  preach,  in  company  with  B.  O.  Plimpton  and  A. 
G.  Richardson,  at  a district  local  conference  held  by  Wil- 
liam Swayze  within  the  bounds  of  the  Ohio  District,  in 
connection  with  a camp-meeting  during  the  summer  of 
1821  ; was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in 
1822." — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol  I , p.  205..)  The  General  Minutes  say  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1820,  and  “commenced  his  itinerant 

*Mr.  Taylor  filled  the  following  appointments:  1818,  Marietta; 

1819,  Granville;  1820,  Wayne;  1821,  Letart  Falls;  1822,  Grand 
River;  1823,  Granville;  1824,  Zanesville;  1825,  Youngstown;  1826, 
Lisbon;  1827,  Deerfield;  1828-’29,  Cross  Creek;  1830-’31,  Barnes- 
ville;  1832-’33,  Summerfield;  1834,  Richmond;  1835,  Twinsburg; 
1836,  Steubenville;  1837,  McConnellsville;  1838,  Sharon;  1839, 
Summerfield;  1840-’43,  Barnesville  District;  1844,  Sharon;  1845, 
Washington;  1846-’47,  Norwich;  1848,  McConnellsville;  1849, 
Woodfield;  1850-’52,  superannuated;  1853,  deceased. 


475 


Several  Other  Preachers. 


labors  in  1821,  which  he  prosecuted  with  fidelity  and  suc- 
cess during  life.”  His  last  appointment  was  New  Lisbon 
Circuit,  where  he  finished  his  course  at  the  home  of  Jere- 
miah Hickman.  February  29,  1832.  His  last  message 
was:  “Tell  my  aged  father  that  the  doctrines  of  the 

gospel,  and  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  I have 
preached  to  others,  are  now  my  comfort  in  a dying  hour. 
Tell  my  brethren  on  New  Lisbon  Circuit  that  I am  gone 
to  heaven,  and  that  I want  them  to  meet  me  there.” 

“Brother  Crawford  was  agreeable  in  his  person  and 
manners,  a man  of  prayer,  loved  his  Bible,  and  read  it 
much  on  his  knees.  As  a preacher,  his  talents  were  of 
the  useful  kind.  Experimental  and  practical  religion 
was  his  theme  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  family  circle.”* — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  II,  1833,  p.  214.) 

Several  Other  Preachers. 

William  Tipton  entered  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1821, 
and  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its 
organization.  He  was  ordained  deacon  and  was  received 
into  full  connection  in  1823,  and  ordained  elder  in  1825. 
He  located  in  1833,  but  remained  in  that  relation  but  one 
year.  He  entered  upon  his  reward  in  1866.  The  “Gen- 
eral Minutes”  furnish  no  memoir  of  this  worthy  man.f 

William  Westlake  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1816,  and  into  full  connection  and  ordained 
a deacon  in  1818,  and  an  elder  in  1820.  His  appoint- 
.ments  were:  1816,  Paint  Creek;  1817,  Scioto;  1818, 

Huron;  1819,  Salt  Creek;  1820,  Piqua;  1821,  seems  to 
have  received  no  appointment;  1822,  Deerfield;  1823, 
name  does  not  appear  in  “General  Minutes”;  1824,  ex- 
pelled from  the  connection. 

Albert  G.  Richardson  was  admitted  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference on  trial  in  1822.  He  served  Youngstown  with 

*His  appointments  were:  1822,  Grand  River;  1823,  Mansfield; 

1824,  Knox;  1825,  Brunswick;  1826,  Hudson,  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence; 1827,  Cleveland;  1828,  Windsor;  1829,  Grand  River;  1831- 
’32,  Lisbon. 

tHis  appointments  were:  1821,  Beaver;  1822,  Youngstown; 

1823,  Canton;  1824,  Tuscarawas;  1825,  Cross  Creek,  Pittsburg 
Conference;  1826,  Barnesville;  1827,  Duck  Creek;  1828,  Tuscara- 
was; 1829,  West  Wheeling;  1830,  Canton;  1831-’32,  supernumer- 
ary, attached  to  the  Cross  Creek  Circuit;  1833,  located;  1834,  re- 
admitted and  appointed  to  Waynesburg;  1835-’36  Beallsville; 
1837-’38,  Uniontown  Circuit;  1839,  Connellsville;  he  filled  various 
appointments  until  his  final  superannuation  in  1858. 


476 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


William  Tipton  in  charge  in  1822,  and  Beaver  with  Ezra 
Booth  in  charge  in  1823;  he  was  then  received  into  full 
connection,  ordained  deacon,  and  located. 

Thomas  Carr*  preached  in  Edinburg,  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  Sunday,  Sept.  21,  1856.  He  was  taken  ill  on  Mon- 
day, and  the  following  Sunday  his  funeral  was  attended 
in  the  same  church  where  he,  but  one  week  before, 
preached  his  last  sermon.  But  though  death  came  sud- 
denly, it  found  him  watching.  His  end  was  triumphant. 
“During  his  sickness  he  spoke  frequently  of  his  enjoy- 
ments. As  one  of  your  committee  called  to  see  him.  on 
• Friday,  which  was  his  last  interview  with  him,  he  said: 
‘If  you  see  any  of  my  old  brethren,  tell  them  from  me, 
that  I mean  to  meet  them  in  heaven.'  Soon  after  this  he 
said  to  his  companion:  ‘O  how  I love  the  Church  of 

Christ.’  His  daughter  Margaret  said  to  him:  ‘Father, 

your  sufferings  are  great,’  and  asked,  ‘Do  you  know  me?’ 
He  replied  : ‘Margaret,  I am  exceedingly  happy.’  These 

were  about  the  last  intelligible  expressions  he  uttered,  and 
in  a few  hours  after  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.”  Mr.  Carr’s 
preaching  talent  was  above  the  medium.  “In  the  first 
eight  years  of  his  ministry,  his  success  was  great ; hund- 
reds, through  his  instrumentality,  having  been  converted 
and  added  to  the  Church.”  Mr.  Gregg  says : “Mr.  Carr 

was  small  in  stature,  but  a very  pious,  zealous  preacher, 
and  accomplished  much  good.”  He  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pennsylvania,  February  23,  1793.  His 
father  with  his  family,  while  Thomas  was  quite  young, 
moved  to  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio.  In  early  life,  while 
attending  a camp-meeting  conducted  by  J.  B.  Finley, 
Thomas  was  made  a subject  of  awakening  and  converting 
grace.  He  was  received  into  the  Ohio  Conference  on 
trial  in  18 1 6;  and  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburgh, 
and  the  Erie  Conferences,  at  their  organization.  He  was 
effective  twenty-five  years,  and  supernumerary  one  year. 
He  was  superannuated  in  1842  and  continued  in  that  re- 

*Thomas  Carr — Admitted  on  trial,  Ohio  Conference,  1816;  full 
connection;  1818;  deacon,  1818,  McKendree;  elder,  1820,  Roberts; 
became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organiz- 
ation, 1825;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1836;  deceased,  Edinburg,  O.,  Sept.  27,  1856.  Ap- 
pointments— 1816,  Zanesville;  1817,  Paint  Creek;  1818-’19,  Knox; 
1820-’21,  Tuscarawas;  1822-’23,  New  Castle;  1824-’25,  Hartford; 
1826-’27,  Grand  River;  1828-’29,  Mercer;  1830,  Youngstown;  1831, 


Methodist  Classes  Organized. 


4 77 


i 


lation  until  called  away  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 

Elijah  Ward  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  Eng- 
land Conference  in  1801,  but  on  account  of  failing  health 
located  in  1804.  He  moved  with  his  family  to  Willough- 
by, Lake  County,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a farm  about  a 
mile  to  the  east  of  the  village  in  1822.  He  had  enjoyed 
few  literary  advantages,  but  possessed  a good  mind.  His 
preaching  was  decidedly  original  and  sometimes  very  ef- 
fective. He  was  sarcastic  and  odd,  rough  and  severe. 
In  1824  he  preached  at  a camp-meeting  at  Concord  on  the 
Holy  City,  and  at  the  close  of  the  sermon  “the  whole 
ground  seemed  strewn  with  mourners.”  He  died  in  great 
peace  in  1858. 

Methodist  Classes  Organized. 

A class  was  formed  at  Unionville,  Lake  County, 'Ohio, 
by  E.  H.  Taylor,  in  1822.  The  following  were  the  mem- 
bers: George  Pangburn,  leader,  William  Rossman  and 

wife,  Harlow  Bailey  and  wife,  G.  Scheverell  and  wife. 
Mr.  Briggs  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Betsy  V.  Bartrum. 

The  first  Methodist  sermon  ever  heard  in  Braceville. 
Ohio,  was  preached  by  James  McMahon  in  July,  1815,  in 
John  Croy’s  tavern.  This  house  afterwards  was  occupied 
as  a parsonage.  A two  days’  meeting,  held  in  the  woods 
near  Edward  Oviat’s,  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a 
class  of  which  the  following  were  the  members : Harvey 

Stow  and  wife,  Samuel  Oviat,  Sarah  Oviat,  William 
Johnston,  and  William  Cole.  For  many  years  religious 
services  were  held  in  Brother  Stow's  house. — •( Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  V ol.  I,  p.  124.) 

The  first  Methodist  class  was  organized  at  Bissells, 
Ohio,  by  B.  O.  Plimpton  in  1822.  Harry  Baldwin  was 
the  first  class  leader  and  the  class  consisted  of  thirty  mem- 
bers among  which  were  the  following:  Joseph  Ely  and 

wife,  Philip  Hawkins  and  wife,  Jonathan,  Daniel  and 
Wesley  McFarland  and  their  wives,  P.  D.  McConney 
and  wife,  Asahel  North  and  wife,  Orion  Henry  and  wife, 
John  Henry  and  wife,  Gorden  Kent  and  wife,  Joseph  Wit- 
ter and  wife  and  Oliver  Wheeler  and  wife.  In  1855  Bain- 
bridge  and  Chagrin  Falls  were  appointments  on  this  cir- 

Deerfield;  1832,  Hudson;  1833,  Twinsburg;  1834,  Washington 
Mission;  1835,  supernumerary;  1836,  Akron;  1837,  Edinburg; 
1838,  Chardon;  1839,  Parkman;  1840,  Freedom;  1841,  Hudson; 
1842-’56,  superannuated. 


478 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


cuit,  but  in  1855  Bainbridge  became  a station.  The  site 
for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  deeded  by  Justice 
Bissell  and  Mercy  Bissell,  his  wife,  in  1832,  deed  recorded 
in  1843.  The  exact  date  of  the  old  church  is  not  known. 
The  present  church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Calvin 
Kingsley  in  1867. 

The  most  noted  early  revival  occurred  under  the  min- 
istry of  B.  J.  Kennedy  in  1861,  when  a large  number  were 
added  to  the  Church.  There  were  recommended  for  ad- 
mission on  trial  from  this  charge  L.  W.  Ely,  Alvin  Bur- 
gess, Nelson  Henry,  J.  N.  Henry  and  Cyril  Wilson. 

“A  Methodist  class  was  organized  in  1822  at  the  house 
of  Daniel  Hunt,  in  Richmond  Township,  and  from  this 
the  Methodist  Society  of  Guy’s  Mills  was  formed.  The 
services  were  continued  in  that  township  until  about  1848, 
when  a frame  structure,  called  “Pisgah  Church,”  was 
built  in  the  northern  part  of  Randolph  Township,  at 
Hickory  Corners.  Daniel  and  Luther  Hunt  and  Delos 
Crouch  were  at  that  time  prominent  members.  The  ser- 
vices were  conducted  here  until  1871,  when  a society  was 
formed  at  Guy’s  Mills  from  the  membership  of  the  Hick- 
ory Corners  Church  and  a few  members  from  Mt.  Hope. 
A handsome  frame  edifice  was  constructed  in  1871  at  a 
cost  of  $3,500. 

“As  early  as  1812  Methodist  meetings  were  held  at  the 
cabin  of  Mr.  Daniels,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
township.  They  were  continued  regularly  until  1825, 
when  the  membership  was  greatly  increased  by  a revival, 
and  a frame  church,  called  “Guys,”  was  built  about  half  a 
mile  south  of  Guy’s  Mills.  John  Smith,  David  Jones, 
David  Hanks,  Thomas  Wilder,  Reuben  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam Waid  were  the  leading  members.  Here  regular  ser- 
vices were  maintained  until  1858,  when  a church  was 
built  on  the  Oil  Creek  road  on  a lot  donated  by  Levi 
Oaks,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  The  Mt.  Hope 
Church,  as  it  was  called,  was  built  at  a cost  of  $900,  and 
besides  the  society  of  the  old  Guy’s  Church,  the  members 
of  a class  which  had  been  organized  about  a year  before 
a mile  farther  south  in  Wayne  Township,  joined  the  new 
society.  D.  W.  Bannister,  Joel  Smith,  John  Oaks,  Ste- 
phen Reese  and  Smith  Byham  were  prominent  members 
at  that  period. 


Methodist  Classes  Organized. 


479 


“East  Randolph  Church  was  organized  in  1850  by  Rev. 
Edwin  Hull,  who  became  the  first  pastor.  For  some 
time  the  society  worshiped  in  a school  house  in  the 
southeastern  corner  of  the  township,  but  in  1866  a build- 
ing was  erected  at  a cost  of  $1,275.  Mark  Bogardus  and 
wife,  Nicholas  Bogardus  and  wife  and  Mr.  Loveless  were 
early  members. — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People, 

1899,  PP • 573S74-) 

A class  which  worshiped  at  New  Richmond  was  or- 
ganized about  1836,  Watts  B.  Lloyd,  the  first  preacher, 
and  held  divine  service  in  the  Griswold  school  house,  lo- 
cated about  a mile  east  of  the  present  sanctuary,  which 
was  erected  in  1864  at  a cost  of  $1,200.  The  North 
Richmond  class  was  organized  about  1840,  and  its  lead- 
ing early  members  were:  James  and  William  Morse, 

Franklin  Lord,  Emerson  Chamberlain,  Tracy  Turner, 
Patrick  Berry,  David  Mackey,  James  Grey  and  James 
Wilkinson.  Services  were  held  in  the  Warner  school 
house  until  1854,  when  a frame  building  was  erected. 
Van  Scoder's  Church  is  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Rich- 
mond township.  A class  organized  there  about  sixty 
years  ago,  was  maintained  for  many  years.  Another  so- 
ciety was  organized  in  1877.  Services  were  held  in  the 
school  house  until  1882,  when  the  present  neat  and  com- 
modious building  was  erected  at  a cost  of  about  $1,800. 
Teepleville  and  Jervis’  are  new  names  of  appointments  on 
the  New  Richmond  Circuit. — (History  of  Crawford 
County,  Beers  & Co.,  pp.  604-605.) 

Ira  Eddy,  traveling  the  Hudson  Circuit  in  1822,  formed 
a class  of  five  members — Eli  Booth  and  wfife  and  Mr. 
Paugman,  wife  and  daughter — at  the  house  of  \lv.  Booth, 
which  became  a regular  preaching  place  and  was  so  con- 
tinued for  several  years. 

Father  Shewell  had  held  services  in  the  town  of  Brim- 
field,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1820  at 
the  house  of  A.  H.  Lamphear.  Ira  Eddy  organized  a 
class  in  1823,  consisting  of  Benjamin  Mallory  and  wife, 
Amos  Benedict  and  wife,  John  K.  Chapman  and  wife,  and 
A.  H.  Lamphear  and  wife. 

The  Methodist  people  and  town  authorities  erected  a 
building  at  Painesville,  Lake  County,  Ohio,  which  served 
both  as  a church  and  town  house.  The  converts  at  the 


480 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


quarterly  meeting  in  this  new  house,  and  a few  weeks 
later  at  a camp  meeting  at  Concord,  increased  the  mem- 
bership to  more  than  one  hundred,  and  resulted  also  in 
the  organization  of  a class  in  the  town  of  Kirtland. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  at  Westmoreland,  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  July  15,  1823,  Bishop  Enoch  George, 
President.  Appointments  were  made  as  follows:  Erie 

District,  Glezen  Fillmore,  Presiding  Elder;  Lake  Circuit, 
Parker  Buel  and  Richard  Wright;  North  East,  Elijah 
Done,  a local  preacher  who  lived  on  the  Conewango 
creek  one  mile  above  Warren,  was  employed  as  a supply;, 
French  Creek,  Sylvester  Cary;  Chautauqua,  Asa  Abel 
and  John  W.  Hill,  son  of  Benjamin  P.  Hill,  was  employed 
as  a supply.  The  Ohio  Conference  met  at  Urbana,  Ohio, 
Sept.  24,  1823,  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts,  President, 
and  the  following  appointments  were  made : Ohio  Dis- 

trict, Charles  Elliott,  Presiding  Elder ; Erie,  John  Sum- 
merville: Mercer,  Henry  Knapp  (at  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence held  February  24,  1824,  John  Chandler  is  named  as 
one  of  the  circuit  preachers,  and  in  that  held  May  15, 
1824,  Elijah  J.  Field  is  named;  so  read  the  written  min- 
utes) ; Grand  River,  Alfred  Brunson,  Robert  Hopkins; 
Youngsville,  Samuel  Adams,  Sylvester  Dunham;  Hart- 
ford, Charles  Thorn ; Deerfield,  Dennis  Goddard,  Elijah 
H.  Field;  New  Castle,  Thomas  Carr,  Job  Wilson;  Port- 
land District.  William  Swayze,  Presiding  Elder;  Hudson, 
William  H.  Collins,  Orin  Gillmore.  The  Youngstown 
Circuit  was  divided,  and  the  north  part  called  “Hart- 
ford,” to  which  a few  appointments  were  added  from 
Grand  River.  A new  circuit  was  formed  called  “Port- 
land,” with  which  the  Hudson  Circuit  was  connected,  the 
remainder  lying  west  of  the  Ohio  District.  Samuel  Adams 
left  the  Youngstown  Circuit  in  the  spring  of  1824,  and 
Nicholas  Gee,  a local  preacher  from  the  town  of  Ells- 
worth, Mahoning  County,  was  employed  as  a supply  un- 
til conference,  and  did  good  service. 

Asa  Abel  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Con- 
ference in  1821  ; he  was  received  into  full  connection  and 
ordained  deacon  in  1823,  and  ordained  elder  in  1825. 
He  was  a good  preacher,  and  a devoted  man.  He  served 
as  Presiding  Elder  several  terms  in  his  own  conference. 


I 


Robert  Finley  Hopkins.  481 

Tor  some  reason,  in  his  old  age,  he  withdrew  from  the 
ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church.* 

Sylvester  Dunham  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1823;  served  Youngstown  in  1823,  and 
Grand  River  in  1824;  and  was  then  discontinued. 

Orin  Gilmore  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference in  1822,  and  appointed  to  Mansfield,  with  Shad- 
rack  Ruark  in  charge.  In  1823  he  served  Hudson,  with 
William  H.  Collins  in  charge.  In  1824  he  was  received 
into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon,  and  traveled 
the  Brunswick  Circuit,  with  Joab  Ragan  as  junior  preach- 
er. At  the  close  of  this  year  he  located. 

Robert  Finley  Hopkins.  "j 

Robert  Finley  Hopkins  was  born  in  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  April  6,  1798,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Sewicklev, 
Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  March  3,  1891.  He  was  made’a 
subject  of  saving  grace  when  ten  years  of  age.  In  boy- 
hood he  worked  at  the  cooper’s  trade,  and  acquired  that 
mechanical  skill  which  served  him  well  during  his  minis- 
terial labors.  The  family  moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Preble  County  where  the  father,  with  the  aid  of  his  boys, 
cleared  a farm  and  established  a home.  At  seventeen 
years  of  age  Robert  was  sent  to  Piqua  and  placed  under 
the  care  of  John  P.  Finley,  a Presbyterian  minister,  to 
whom  he  acknowledged  himself  much  indebted  for  the 
foundation  of  an  education.  He  continued  his  studies, 
largely  bv  himself,  and  acquired  a large  stock  of  informa- 
tion and  considerable  knowledge  of  the  classics.  He  taught 
school  for  a year  and  studied  law  for  a short  time.  In 
1823  he  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  Conference  and  became 
a member  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion in  1826.  His  labors  fell  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Erie  Conference  on  the  Grand  River  Circuit  in  1823; 

♦The  following  appointments  were  filled  by  Mr.  Abel:  In  1821, 

Canisteo;  1822,  Prattsburg;  1823,  “Chetauque”;  1824,  Crooked 
Lake;  1825,  Buffalo;  1826,  Batavia;  1827-’28,  Genesee  District; 
1829-31,  Buffalo  District;  1832-’35,  Genesee  District;  1836,  Cat- 
taraugus District;  1837-’40,  Dansville  District;  1841,  Mt.  Morris 
and  Nunda;  1842,  Mt.  Morris;  1843-’44,  Castile;  1845-’46,  Coving- 
ton; 1847-’48,  Chili  and  Church ville;  1849,  Murray;  1850-’53,  Gene- 
see District;  1854,  agent  of  Genesee  College,  members  of  Sweden 
Quarterly  Conference;  1855-’56,  Clarkson;  1857-’58,  Parma;  1859, 
West  Sweden  and  Byron  Centre;  1860,  superannuated;  1861,  with- 
drawn from  the  connection. 


3i 


482 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Hudson,  Ohio,  in  1825,  and  Youngstown,  Ohio,  in  1826. 
He  filled  the  office  of  Presiding  Elder  fifteen  years,  served 
as  book  agent  at  Pittsburgh  three  years,  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  five  General  Conferences. 

He  was  married  November  14,  1833,  to  Miss  Parmelia 
Scott,  of  Brook  County,  Va. 

“The  ministry  of  Brother  Hopkins  was  pre-eminently 
itinerant.  Much  of  it  belonged  to  that  period  of  our 
history  characterized  by  very  short  pastorates  and  fre- 
quent removals.  Some  of  his  fields  of  labor  embraced 
vast  stretches  of  territory,  requiring  hundreds  of  miles 
of  travel,  mostly  on  horseback;  the  climbing  of  moun- 
tains, threading  of  forests,  swimming  of  swollen  streams, 
and  lodging  in  rude  cabins.  That  was  the  ‘heroic  age’ 
of  Methodism  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  and 

Robert  Hopkins  had  the  stuff  in  him  of  which  heroes  are 
made.  He  well  earned  the  large  place  he  holds  in  the 
respect  and  affections  of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and 
of  the  people  whom  he  served. 

“Nature  was  generous  in  giving  our  brother  an  excep- 
tionally fine  physique.  He  was  full  six  feet  in  height, 
squarely  built  and  as  straight  as  a rule.  He  was  of  com- 
manding presence  and  noble  bearing,  had  a keen  eye,  was 
always  courtly  in  his  manners,  but  exceedingly  affable. 
He  was  the  very  soul  of  honor,  despising  all  that  savored 
of  littleness  or  meanness. 

“As  a preacher,  Robert  Hopkins  was  a workman  that 
needed  not  to  be  ashamed.  Whether  dealing  with  philo- 
sophical or  practical  truth,  he  seemed  equally  at  home. 
His  style  was  lucid,  logical  and  manly.  He  held  his  sub- 
ject well  in  hand,  always  making  out  what  he  undertook. 
He  laid  no  claim  to  what  is  called  the  ‘witchery  of  ora- 
tory,’ but  his  discourses  bristled  with  points  well  taken 
and  admirably  put,  and  often  spiced  with  sparkling  wit 
and  humor,  so  that  he  easily  held  the  attention  of  young 
and  old.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , August  23, 
1891,) 

*The  appointments  of  Mr.  Hopkins  were  as  follows:  In  1823, 

Grand  River;  1824,  London;  1825,  Hudson;  1826,  Youngstown; 
1827,  Pittsburg;  1828,  Washington  Circuit;  1829,  Pittsburg;  1830- 
’31,  Monongahela  District;  1832-’33,  Wheeling  District;  1834-’37, 
Pittsburg  District;  1838-’39,  Allegheny  City,  Beaver  Street;  1840- 
’43,  Steubenville  District;  1844-’47,  Beaver  District;  1848-’49,  su- 
pernumerary,- but  assisted  in  Allegheny  City,  Chestnut  Street, 


Elijah  H.  Field. 


483 


Elijah  H.  Field. 

Elijah  H.  Field  was  born  in  Sharon,  Vt.,  October  3, 
1796;  came  to  Ohio  in  1820;  was  converted  and  licensed 
to  exhort  in  1821  ; later  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  career  as  an  itinerant  in  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1823.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ann 
Taylor,  June  8,  1828.  During  a period  of  forty-two 
years  he  served  twenty-eight  charges  and  one  district 
with  acceptability  and  success.  The  Kanawha  District, 
which  he  traveled,  extended  over  ten  of  the  mountainous 
counties  of  West  Virginia.  “The  district  was  so  moun- 
tainous that  it  could  be  traveled  only  on  horseback  or  on 
foot,  and  was  so  extensive  that  the  Presiding  Elder  was 
obliged  to  be  away  from  home  sometimes  for  six  weeks 
together.  Once,  while  on  a long  trip,  a deep  snow  fell, 
followed  by  intense  cold.  The  roads  up  and  down  the 
mountain  steeps  were  difficult  and  dangerous,  and  Mrs. 
Field  knew  that  the  drifting  snow  would  render  them 
still  more  so.  Although  in  prayer  and  faith  she  had  com- 
mitted her  husband  to  the  care  of  the  covenant-keeping 
God,  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  drive  away  the  fear  that 
in  all  probability  he  had  perished  or  would  perish  in  the 
wilderness.  He  had  named  the  day  when  he  expected  to 
be  at  home — and  he  was  remarkably  prompt  in  keeping 
his  engagements — but  when  that  day  passed,  and  an- 
other, and  still  another,  and  yet  he  did  not  arrive,  that 
fear  became  painfully  intense,  and  was  shared  by  her 
neighbors.  A kind-hearted  brother  harnessed  up  his 
team,  and  providing  every  comfort  that  was  practicable 
under  the  circumstances,  volunteered  to  go  with  Mrs.  F. 
in  search  of  her  husband.  But  just  as  they  were  ready  to 
start  the  Presiding  Elder  arrived,  safe  and  sound,  though 
greatly  fatigued.  On  his  way  home  he  had  come  to  the 
Kanawha  river,  which  at  that  time  and  place  could  be 
crossed  only  on  the  ice.  Recent  rains  had  swollen  the 
river  and  there  was  a space  of  open  water  of  several  feet 
between  the  shore  and  the  ice  on  each  side.  What  could 


and  Chestnut  Street  Mission;  1850,  Allegheny,  Beaver  Street; 
1851,  Sewickley;  1852-’53,  superannuated;  1854-’55,  Chartiers; 
1856,  Tarentum;  1857,  Enon  Valley;  1858,  Allegheny  Circuit; 

1859-61,  Uniontown  District;  1862-’63,  Allegheny  City,  South  Com- 
mon; 1864,  superannuated;  1865-’66,  District  Secretary,  Seamen’s 
Friend  Society;  1867,  superannuated;  1868,  Glasco  and  Ohioville; 
1869,  Freedom;  1870-’91,  superannuated. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


484 

he  do?  His  wife  and  children  were  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  and  would  expect  him  at  the  time  appointed. 
Common  worldly  prudence  would  have  said : ‘Remain  on 
this  side.’  But  all  that  little  world  of  love  which  he 

called  ‘home’  was  on  the  other  side,  and  that  attraction 
urged  him  forward.  He  procured  planks  and  laid  them 
across  the  open  water  between  the  shore  and  the  ice,  and 
leading  his  horse  over  this  temporary  bridge,  he  reached 
the  ice  in  safety;  but  in  attempting  to  cross  the  open 
space  in  the  same  way  on  the  other  side  his  horse  fell  into 
the  stream  and  was  saved  only  by  the  greatest  exertion. 
In  another  field  of  labor,  while  absent  from  home,  one 
of  his  children  died,  and  the  distance  was  so  great  and 
the  way  so  difficult  that  word  could  not  reach  the  father, 
and  did  not  reach  him  until  seven  days  after  his  child  had 
been  laid  in  the  grave.  Other  illustrations  of  the  hard- 
ships and  perils  of  the  itinerancy  in  that  day  might  be 
given,  if  necessary.  These  are  only  specimens  of  what 
were  common  in  the  heroic  age  of  Methodism.  The  last 
pastoral  charge  was  New  Lexington  Circuit,  Hillsbor- 
ough District,  in  1866.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  be- 
came convinced  that  he  was  physically  unable  to  do  the 
full  work  of  a traveling  preacher.  Hence,  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  ask  for  a superannuated  relation,  which  he  did 
at  the  next  conference.  His  letter  to  the  conference — he 
now  belonged  to  the  Cincinnati  Conference — asking  for 
a change  in  his  relation,  was  a model  of  good  sense,  good 
taste,  and  Christian  submission,  and  attracted  unusual 
attention.  The  conference,  of  course,  granted  his  re- 
quest, and  his  relation  as  a superannuate  was  continued 
front  year  to  year  twelve  years.  During  that  time  he  re- 
sided at  St.  Paris,  and  though  able  to  preach  but  seldom, 
the  silent  influence  of  his  example  was  felt  and  recog- 
nized by  all  classes.  About  three  months  before  his  death, 
somewhat  unaccountably  the  weary  wheels  of  life  began 
to  revolve  slowly.  No  clearly  marked  disease  was  discov- 
erable, but  only  a general  prostration  of  strength  and  vi- 
tality. In  a few  weeks  he  rallied  a little,  and  for  a time 
was  able  to  walk  about  the  house,  though  he  did  not  re- 
gain his  former  strength.  About  ten  days  prior  to  his 
death  he  was  again  prostrated,  and  continued  to  grow 
weaker  until  October  1,  1878,  when  he  sweetly  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus. 


Elijah  H.  Field. 


485 


“Brother  Field  was  a man  of  marked  intelligence.  In 
science  and  literature  he  was  exact  and  critical.  On  all 
subjects  which  interest  intelligent  men  he  was  a close  and 
original  thinker.  In  theology  and  philosophy  he  called 
no  man  master ; but  whatever  the  Bible  taught — the  Bible 
interpreted  by  that  reason  with  which  the  Creator  had 
endowed  him — that  he  received  implicitly  as  the  truth  of 
God.  To  that  authority  he  bowed,  and  on  that  book  he 
built  his  hopes  of  everlasting  life.  His  Christian  charac- 
ter and  life  were  distinguished  by  firmness.  He  was  not 
emotional,  but  there  was  an  unyielding  tenacity  in  his 
faith  and  in  his  faithful  abservance  of  Christian  duties. 
He  had  some  peculiarities  of  mind  and  habit.  Though 
always  ‘sober-minded/  he  was  never  sad  or  gloomy'. 
Cheerfulness — a sort  of  humorous,  playful  cheerfulness — 
was  habitual  to  him,  and  was  one  of  his  marked  charac- 
teristics ; and  that  element  in  his  character  was  a constant 
well-spring  of  joy,  diffusing  light  and  gladness  wherever 
he  went.  He  was  kind  and  generous.  No  man  was 
more  ready  to  bestow  favors  upon  others  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  his  abilities  and  opportunities  than  he.  In  his  re- 
lation as  husband,  father,  neighbor  and  friend  he  was 
just  what  one  would  expect  in  a conscientious  and  manly 
Christian,  in  the  church  and  in  all  church  duties  his  ex- 
ample was  worthy  the  imitation  of  all.  At  the  public  ser- 
vices and  at  the  class  meeting  his  seat  was  never  vacant 
when  he  was  able  to  be  present.  During  all  his  sickness, 
as  well  as  during  the  fifty-seven  years  of  his  Christian 
life,  his  faith  in  Christ  was  unwavering.  In  his  last  sick- 
ness he  talked  but  little,  because  of  the  great  difficulty  of 
articulation ; but  whatever  he  did  say  in  relation  to  his 
religious  state  showed  that  his  faith  was  unyielding  and 
his  hopes  bright  and  buoyant.  When  very  near  the  brink 
of  the  river  of  death  he  was  asked : ‘Is  Jesus  still  prec- 
ious?' to  which  he  promptly  responded  ‘ves.*  This  was 
the  last  distinct  utterance  that  was  heard  from  his  lips  on 
earth.*’* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XVII , 18/9,  pp. 

14-15) 

*His  appointments  were  as  follows:  In  1823,  Deerfield;  1824, 

Zanesville;  1825,  Black  River;  1826,  Milford;  1827,  Greenville; 
1828-’29,  Oxford;  1830-’31,  Adelphi;  1832,  Galliopolis;  1833-’34,  Bur- 
lington; 1835-’36,  Chester;  1837,  Charleston  District;  1838-“39, 
Kanawha  District;  1840-’41,  Deer  Creek;  1842,  Milton;  1843,  Tre- 
mont;  1844,  Fletcher;  1845,  East  Liberty;  1846-’47,  Worthing- 


486 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Job  Wilson,  Nicholas  Gee. 

“Job  Wilson,  second  preacher  on  the  New  Castle  Cir- 
cuit, was  an  Irishman,  born,  converted,  educated,  and  li- 
censed to  preach,  on  the  Emerald  Isle.  He  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  September,  1823,  and 
into  full  connection  and  ordained  a deacon  by  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1825,  and  an  elder  in  1827.  He 
was  a rugged,  stout-built  man,  face  badly  pockmarked. 
He  possessed  a mind  of  more  than  ordinary  capacity,  was 
remarkably  fond  of  controversy,  seemed  never  to.  be  satis- 
fied in  the  pulpit  or  in  private  circles  unless  opposing  the 
views  or  criticising  the  opinions  of  others,  and  often  with 
a severity  and  abruptness  that  gave  offense.  He  was  lo- 
cated in  1837” — it  should  be  1838 — “and  lived  and  died 
near  Meadville,  Crawford  County,  Pa.”* — ( Gregg , His - 
tory  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  213.) 

Nicholas  Gee  was  born  in  1782,  converted  in  1804,  and 
licensed  to  exhort  in  1808.  He  removed  from  the  state 
of  New  York  into  Ohio  in  1823,  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Ellsworth,  Mahoning  County.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  Charles  Elliott  in  1824,  and  ordained  a deacon 
by  Bishop  Roberts  in  1836.  In  the  spring  of  1824  he 
was  employed  as  a supply  on  the  Youngstown  Circuit  to 
take  the  place  of  Samuel  Adams  who  was  obliged  to  leave. 
“Mr.  Gee  enjoyed  but  few  literary  advantages,  and  was  a 
man  of  moderate  preaching  abilities ; but  his  deep,  uni- 
form piety,  earnest  devotions,  and  burning  zeal  made  him 
a very  acceptable  and  useful  local  preacher.  He  assisted 
very  much  in  carrying  the  gospel  to  and  establishing 
Methodism  in  Ellsworth,  Berlin,  Lordstown,  Jackson,  and 
other  neighboring  towns.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  213,  214.) 

History  of  Little  Valley  Methodism. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Little  Valley  was 

ton;  1848,  Dunbarton;  1849,  Rockville;  1850-’51,  Aberdeen;  1852- 
’53,  Cincinnati  and  Kentucky  Conference,  Winchester;  1854-’55, 
Cincinnati  Conference,  Tremont;  1856-’57,  Vienna;  1858,  James- 
town; 1859,  Union;  1860-’61,  Lynchburg;  1862-’63,  New  Market; 
1864-’65,  New  Lexington;  1866,  superannuated. 

*He  filled  the  following  work:  1823,  New  Castle;  1824-’25, 

Mercer;  1826,  Butler,  after  session  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference; 
1826,  Lake;  1827,  Erie;  1828,  Meadville;  1829,  Hartford;  1830-’31, 
Clarion;  1832,  Franklin;  1833,  New  Lisbon;  1834-’35,  Freeport; 
1836,  Smithfield;  1837,  Woodsfield;  1838,  located. 


History  of  Little  Valley  Methodism.  487 

organized  when  Cattaraugus  County  was  considered  “on 
the  frontier.”  The  earliest  settlements  on  the  Holland 
Purchase  were  not  as  advanced  in  religious  development 
and  in  the  growth  and  spread  of  Christian  feeling  and  ob- 
servance as  in  temporal  prosperity.  Some  of  the  pioneer 
preachers  declared  that  “the  Sabbath  day  did  not  extend 
beyond  the  Genesee  River.”  The  Methodist  circuit  rider, 
however,  urged  his  way  through  unbroken  forests  and 
across  bridgeless  streams  into  the  farthest  settlements  of 
these  unpropitious  fields,  and  sounded  the  gospel  trumpet 
to  unaccustomed  ears.  The  first  stated  worship  seems  to 
have  been  in  1814,  and  at  Little  Valley  and  in  its  vicinity 
classes  were  formed  at  an  early  period.  A certificate  of 
incorporation  was  filed  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  in- 
corporating the  “First  Methodist  Church  in  Little  Val- 
ley,” March  5,  1824.  This  certificate  states  that  on  the 
fifth  day  of  December,  1823,  “a  meeting  of  the  male  per- 
sons of  full  age  being  members  and  friends  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
corporating themselves  as  a religious  society,”  at  which 
Levi  Done  and  William  A.  Hopkins  were  chosen  to  pre- 
side. The  following  persons  were  elected  trustees : Ben- 
jamin Chamberlain,  John  A.  Kennicutt,  William  Kendall, 
Jonathan  Kennicutt,  and  Jeremiah  Maybee.  None  of 
these  except  Mr.  Maybee  lived  within  the  present  limits 
of  Little  Valley.  Where  this  organization  was  actually 
located  does  not  appear,  but  it  was  evidently  not  the  pre- 
decessor of  the  present  church  organization. 

In  1824  Rev.  Andrew  Peck  organized  the  Conewango 
Circuit  which  embraced  “Conewango,  Kennedy’s  Mills, 
Randolph,  Ellery,  Little  Valley,  Napoli,  and  Coldspring, 
at  all  of  which  places  classes  had  been  formed.”  Two 
years  later  Conewango  was  merged  into  Chautauqua  and 
Lake  Circuits.  The  Jamestown  Circuit  was  formed  in 
1 828.  In  1830  a new  circuit  was  formed  called  “Napoli 
and  Smithport,”  the  extreme  points  of  which  were  per- 
haps one  hundred  miles  apart.  In  1825  a class  was  form- 
ed at  “Brainard’s”  in  the  town  of  Napoli  not  far  from 
Little  Valley.  In  1852  the  “Randolph”  Circuit  included 
the  village  of  Little  Valley  and  a class  was  formed  at 
“Little  Valley  Depot.”  This  may  have  been  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  society  of  1823,  but  this  cannot  be  af- 
firmed with  certainty;  it  is,  however,  the  origin  of  the 


History  of  Little  Valley  Methodism. 


489 


present  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Little  Valley. 
The  Randolph  preachers  had  charge  of  the  work  for  the 
first  five  years,  but  there  was  no  church  building.  In 
1857  Little  Valley  was  made  a separate  circuit,  and  John 
Akers  was  sent  to  the  charge.  The  appointments  in- 
cluded Pigeon  Valley,  Napoli,  Red  House,  and  Hotchkiss 
Run.  January  28,  1859  the  quarterly  conference  passed 
the  following  resolution : 

‘‘Resolved,  That  the  interests  of  Methodism  will  be 
best  subserved  on  this  circuit  by  a judicious  division  of 
the  same.” 

The  following  year  the  circuit  was  divided.  July  27, 
1858,  members  of  the  society  met  in  Odd  Fellows’  Hall 
and  incorporated  “The  First  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Little  Valley."  The  following  trus- 
tees were  elected : Luson  M.  Botsford,  Lansing  T.  Wil- 

cox, Asa  Sweetland,  Jr.,  Stephen  C.  Green,  and  Jonathan 
Thompson.  Friend  W.  Smith  was  preacher  in  charge. 

November  9,  1859,  a meeting-house  was  dedicated  by 
Bishops  Matthew  Simpson,  and  E.  R.  Ames.  This  was 
enlarged  and  improved  in  1878  at  an  expense  of  $1,650, 
and  re-dedicated  by  Bishop  Randolph  S.  Foster. 

So  great  spiritual  prosperity  came  to  the  society  at 
Little  Valley  that  a more  commodious  church  edifice  was 
imperatively  demanded  to  accommodate  the  growing 
membership.  At  a meeting  of  the  Official  Board  held 
January  19,  1905,  it  was  decided  to  build  on  the  old  site 
on  Court  street  which  had  been  deeded  to  the  society  by 
Benjamin  Chamberlain,  June  25,  1866.  The  old  church 
building  was  sold  and  removed.  “It  was  decided  to  build 
of  cement  blocks  and  the  wisdom  of  the  committee  is  ap- 
parent to  all  who  have  admired  the  architecture  and  sta- 
bility of  the  new  church.  The  main  auditorium  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  two  hundred  and  fifty,  which  can  be 
very  much  enlarged  by  means  of  movable  partitions. 
There  has  been  ample  provision  made  for  the  Sunday 
School,  young  peoples'  societies,  and  the  aid  societies  of 
the  church.  The  spacious  basement  is  fitted  up  into  a 
modern  kitchen  and  dining  hall,  where  all  that  pertains  to 
the  culinary  art  may  be  indulged  in.  Beautiful  memorial 
windows  adorn  the  building ; it  is  heated  by  two  furnaces 
and  is  electric  lighted  throughout."  This  noble  edifice 
was  dedicated  June  3,  1906.  The  cost  was  about  $15,- 


490 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ooo. — (Condensed  from  Souvenir  Program  of  the  Dedi- 
catory Services  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church , 
Little  Valley,  New  York,  1906,  Prepared  by  Rollin  H. 
Pratt,  one.  of  the  Trustees.) 

This  briefer  history  of  the  organization — also  taken 
from  an  authoritative  source — does  not  go  back  to  the 
earliest  period,  and,  though  not  in  full  agreement,  con- 
tains new  items  worthy  of  preservation. 

The  first  Methodist  Society  in  Little  Valley,  New  York, 
was  organized  in  1829  with  seven  members,  six  of  whose 
names  have  been  preserved — Jeremiad  Maybee  and  wife, 
Mr.  Perry  and  wife,  Benjamin  Fuller,  and  Mrs.  Fuller. 
The  society  was  soon  strengthened  by  the  reception  of 
Lewis  Sweetland  and  wife,  and  Simeon  Brainard  and 

family.  An  old  class  book  contains  the  names  of  thirty 
who  were  members  in  1837,  with  Simeon  Brainard  as 
leader.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1858,  known 
as  the  year  of  “the  great  frost.”  The  cost  was  about  $2,- 
100.  Twenty  years  later,  it  was  repaired  at  a cost  of 
about  $1,650,  making  a very  convenient  and  attractive 
church.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1867,  and  cost  $1,- 
000.  The  money  was  furnished  by  H.  R.  Finch  who  re- 
ceived interest  on  the  investment  for  some  years,  and  then 
deeded  the  property  to  the  church.  The  Sunday  School 
was  first  organized  in  1853. 

There  was  a revival  on  the  Grand  River  Circuit — Ed- 
ward H.  Taylor  and  John  Crawford,  circuit  preachers — 
in  1823,  in  the  town  of  Orwell,  and  a class  of  eight  mem- 
bers was  formed:  John  Babcock,  leader,  his  wife,  and 

mother,  Sarah  Case,  Julia  A.  Babcock,  Buel  Higbee,  Lu- 
cinda Higbee,  and  Samuel  E.  Babcock;  and  a little  later 
were  added  James  Babcock,  and  William  R.  Babcock. 

Henry  Knapp  organized  a class  at  Charleston,  Mercer 
County,  in  1823,  holding  religious  services  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Clark.  There  were  ten  original  members : Sam- 
uel Clark,  his  wife  and  son,  Benjamin  Canfield,  Rebecca 
Canfield,  Thomas  Tomlinson  and  wife,  Charlotte  Hayes, 
William  Koon  and  Thomas  Morford.  A plank  building 
was  erected  in  1826,  on  a lot  deeded  by  Samuel  Clark. 
Three  or  four  years  later,  it  was  torn  down  and  removed, 
and  a more  commodious  house  built  on  a more  convenient 
site.  This  was  sold  for  a machine  shop,  and  another  edi- 


C o nfercn  ces — 1824. 


491 


fice  erected  about  1858. — (History  of  Mercer  County , 
Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  pp.  302,  503.) 

Conferences — 1824. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  at  Lansing,  New  York, 
July  25,  1824,  Bishop  Enoch  George  presiding.  Bishop 
Elijah  Hedding,  newly  elected,  was  also  present.  The 
following  was  the  plan  for  Erie  District:  Glezen  Fill- 

more, presiding  elder;  Lake  Circuit,  Josiah  Keyes;  North 
East,  Peter  D.  Horton;  French  Creek,  to  be  supplied; 
Chautauqua,  Nathaniel  Reeder;  Conewango,  William 
Fowler.  The  Ohio  Conference  met  at  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
Sept.  2,  1824,  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  in  the  chair,  and 
the  following  plan  was  made  for  the  Ohio  District: 
Charles  Elliott,  presiding  elder : New  Castle,  Henry 
Knapp,  Joseph  S.  Barris;  Youngstown,  John  Summer- 
ville, Alfred  Brunson;  Hartford,  Thomas  Carr;  Deer- 
field, Ira  Eddy,  Billings  O.  Plimpton;  Hudson,  Philip 
Green,  William  C.  Henderson;  Grand  River,  David 
Sharp,  Sylvester  Dunham;  Erie,  John  P.  Kent;  Mercer, 
Charles  Thorn,  Job  Wilson. 

William  Swayze  superannuated  and  settled  on  his  farm 
in  Deerfield,  Ohio. 

Among  the  camp-meetings  of  the  year,  one  of  remark- 
able power  is  mentioned.  It  was  held  “on  the  bounds  of 
the  Erie  Circuit,  not' far  from  the  Ohio  State  line.”  . It 
resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls,  and  the  work 
spread  through  the  neighboring  towns  and  reached  other 
denominations.  “It  was  supposed  that  between  three  and 
four  hundred  were  gathered  into  the  different  churches  in 
that  region  as  the  result  of  this  camp-meeting.”  Charles 
Elliott  showed  himself  a master  leader  of  the  Lord’s  hosts. 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
I,  p.  218.) 

John  Scott  labored  as  an  assistant  to  Nathaniel  Reeder 
on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit.  Joseph  W.  Davis  assisted 
Thomas  Carr  on  the  Hartford  Circuit. 

The  General  Conference  which  met  in  Baltimore  in 
May,  1824,  formed  the  Pittsburg  Conference  which  em- 
braced— besides  other  extensive  territory — the  entire  ter- 
ritory of  the  old  Erie  Conference.  The  Genesee  Confer- 
ence met  at  Lansing,  New  York,  September  14th,  1825, 


j 


492 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Bishop  Elijah  Heckling  in  the  chair,  and  the  following  ap- 
pointments were  made : Lake  Circuit,  John  Scott ; North 

East,  Nathaniel  Reeder;  Chautauqua,  Peter  D.  Horton; 
Conewango,  John  W.  Hill;  and  French  Creek,  Robert  C. 
Hatton.  This  work  then  passed  to  the  new  Pittsburgh 

Conference. 

David  Sharp. 

David  Sharp  was  a native  of  New  Jersey,  born  Sept. 
5,  1787.  His  parents  moved  to  Virginia  and  later  to 
Ohio  and  settled  in  Logan  County.  In  1807  David  was 
converted  under  Methodist  ministry,  and  united  with  the 
people  who,  under  God,  had  been  the  means  of  bringing 
so  much  peace  and  joy  to  his  heart.  In  this  choice,  he 
met  with  much  opposition  for  a time  from  his  Quaker 
parents,  but  he  bore  all  with  so  much  meekness  that  he 
became  a favorite  in  his  father’s  family.  His  venerable 
father  often  sat  with  tearful  interest  under  his  ministry, 
and  many  of  his  family  became  private  and  some  official 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1810  he  was  licensed  and  employed  as  a supply.  He 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1813. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Missouri  Conference,  and 
served  Silver  Creek  Circuit,  and  then  the  Illinois  and  Mis- 
souri Districts  five  years.  Mount  Carmel  Circuit,  in  Mr. 
Sharp's  district  in  the  Missouri  Conference  embraced 
four  county  seats.  We  may  judge  from  this  what  the 
whole  district  must  have  been.  The  roads  were  bad,  the 

streams  unbridged ; there  were  few  ferryboats,  and  the 
accommodations  poor,  while  the  deprivations  and  hard- 
ships were  indescribable.  “He,  however,  prosecuted  his 
work  with  greal  moral  courage  and  indomitable  perse- 
verence,  as  well  as  with  great  decision  and  energy  of  char- 
acter. The  body  containing  a soul  of  such  excellent 
qualities,  capable  of  such  effort  and  endurance,  must  have 
• had  a sound  constitution  and  much  strength.” 

In  1825  Mr.  Sharp  was  transferred  to  the  newly  or- 
ganized Pittsburg  Conference.  Here  he  labored  twenty 
years  on  circuits  and  in  stations,  and  four  years  as  presid- 
ing elder.  Again  he  labored  in  the  west  completing  a 
ministry  of  forty-seven  years  in  the  Cincinnati  Confer- 
ence. After  his  superannuation  in  i860,  he  still  did  such 
service  for  the  church  as  his  strength  would  permit. 


■HBj 


David  Sharp.  493 

“We  have  before  us  the  testimony  of  brethren  long  as- 
™ sociated  with  him  in  labor,  and  from  what  we  have  re- 

ceived and  know  ourselves,  we  can  say  that  in  all  the 
places  of  labor  assigned  him  he  was  esteemed,  acceptable, 
efficient,  and  successful  in  his  work.  As  a Christian,  we 

believe  that  no  complaints  were  ever  made  against  him : as 
a minister  in  the  pulpit,  his  discourses  were  respectable, 
but  not  extraordinary.  It  may  be  said,  however,  in  favor 
of  his  performances,  and  of  himself,  that  he  never  made 
great  pretentions,  and  never  wearied  his  hearers  with  long 
discourses.  It  has  often  been  said  that  his  sermons  were 
like  trees  with  more  fruit  than  blossoms  or  foliage.  He 
was  punctual.  It  was  a rare  occurrence  for  him  to  be 
absent  from  or  too  late  at  an  appointment.  It  is  said 
that  his  judgment  of  law  and  the  order  of  business  in 
quarterly  conferences  commanded  universal  respect.  He 
was  an  unassuming,  modest  man,  clothed  with  humility, 
uniformly  pious.  Indeed,  we  think  what  was  said  of 
Barnabas  might  in  truth  be  applied  to  himr  ‘He  was  a 
good  man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  faith.;  ” 

Brother  Sharp  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  a 
Miss  Moore,  of  Illinois,  lived  only  a few  months.  His 
second  wife,  was  a daughter  of  Thornton  Fleming,  long 
an  efficient  minister  of  the  Baltimore  and  Pittsburg  Con- 
ferences. 

Religion  was  the  solace  of  his  chamber  of  sickness  and 
his  dying  bed.  While  his  vigorous  constitution  and  re- 
tentive memory  were  yielding  to  years  and  infirmities,  he 
was  ripening  for  the  Kingdom.  His  cheerfulness  never 
failed,  and  imparted  a hallowed  influence  to  his  closing 
days  and  hours.  The  day  following  the  severe  attack  of 
disease,  he  said : “Mv  suffering  time  will  soon  be  over. 

I want  to  leave  as  clear  a sheet  behind  me  as  I can.  I 
think  I shall  get  home.  Yes,  going  home,  bless  the 
Lord!”  The  next  day  he  left  his  bed  to  join  his  family 
and  friends  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving,  and  remarked : 
“If  I have  a correct  view  of  things,  as  far  as  I know,  all 
is  well.  The  end  will  come.  I see  the  shadow  of  death 
passing*  over  me ; it  will  be  right ; all  is  well ; not  my  will 
but  Thine  be  done.”  * He  then  exclaimed:  “Trying 

hour ! trying  moment ! what ' have  I to  fear  or  dread ! 
My  heavenly  Father  will  do  all  things  well !*’  Three  days 
before  his  death,  he  lifted  up  his  hand  and  said : “I  com- 


494 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


mit  my  soul  and  body  and  Church  into  the  hands  of  my 
heavenly  Father.”  In  the  evening  he  prayed  with  his 
family  for  the  last  time.  In  the  morning  of  April  21, 
1865,  at  five  and  a half  o'clock,  the  weary  wheels  of  life 

stood  still.  He  was  with  his  God.* — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  X , 1865,  pp.  162,  163.) 

William  C.  Henderson. 

William  C.  Henderson  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 
Pennsylvania,  October  25,  1801.  His  grandparents  emi- 
grated from  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1795,  and  in  1798 
made  their  home  in  Mercer  County,  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  that  region.  His  father  married  Mary,  sister  of 
William  Carroll,  formerly  of  the  Erie  Conference.  Wil- 
liam C.,  their  first  child,  received  Christian  culture,  and 
was  made  the  subject  of  converting  grace  in  his  sixteenth 
year.  ‘‘Called  of  God  to  the  ministry  in  his  youth,  at  a 
time  when  our  young  men  had  but  few  advantages  for 

acquiring  a thorough  education,  he  was  concerned  to 
make  the  best  possible  preparation  for  the  life-work  he 
seriously,  and  not  without  some  misgivings,  contemplated. 
As  there  was  no  college  near,  and  those  distant  too  ex- 
pensive for  his  means,  the  helps  within  reach  were  not 
despised.  He  sought,  and.  for  some  time,  enjoyed  a 
course  of  academic  instruction  in  Youngstown,  Ohio. 
While  there  as  a student,  his  convictions  of  duty  and 
promise  of  usefulness  became  known  to  the  Church.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach,  and  recommended  to  the  traveling 
connection  by  the  Boardman  Quarterly  Conference,  and 
received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1824.  The 
following  year  the  Pittsburg  Conference  was  organized, 

*The  following  appointments  were  filled  by  David  Sharp:  1813, 
White  Water;  1814,  White  Oak;  1815,  Lawrenceburgh ; 1816, 
Piqua;  1817,  Milford;  1818,  Missouri  Conference,  Silver  Creek; 
1819-’21,  Illinois  District;  1822-’23,  Missouri  District;  1824,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  Grand  River;  1825,  Uniontown;  1826,  Beaver; 
1827,  Connellsville,  1828-’31,  Pittsburg  District;  1832,  Smithfield; 
1833,  Smithfield  Circuit;  1834-’35,  Connellsville;  1836,  Lisbon; 
1837,  New  Lisbon;  1838-’39,  Redstone;  1840,  Beallsville;  1841-’42, 
Chartiers;  1843-’44,  Sewickley;  1845-’46,  West  Newton;  1847,  Tria- 
delphia;  1848,  Knoxville,  same  year  transferred  to  Ohio  Confer- 
ence and  appointed  to  North  Lewisburgh;  1849-’50,  Marysville; 
1851,  Darbyville;  1852,  Cincinnati  and  Kentucky  Conference,  Me- 
chanicsburgh;  1853,  Cincinnati  Conference,  Vienna;  1854,  King's 
Creek;  1855,  King’s  Creek  and  Mechanicsburgh ; 1856  New  Bur- 
lington; 1857,  I find  no  record;  1858-’59,  North  Lewisburgh; 
1860-’64,  superannuated. 


William  C.  Henderson . 


495 


and  be  became  a member  from  the  beginning/'  He  was 
transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1853,  and  from 
1856  to  the  close  of  bis  life,  Feb.  7,  1882,  made  his  home 
in  Meadville,  where  he  was  held  by  all  in  the  highest  es- 
teem. “Father  Henderson  was  a man  of  fair  talents,  in- 
dustrious habits,  and  by  diligent  application  made  himself 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  both  the  doctrines  and  econ- 
omy of  the  Church.  His  mature  judgment  was  always 
respected,  and  his  counsel  often  sought  with  advantage 
by  younger  men.  Though  a man  of  strong  convictions 
and  resolute  purposes,  persistently  following  what  he 
thought  right  and  true,  he  was  considerate  and  kind  in 
his  treatment  of  others,  not  wont  to  give  needless  offense 
to  any.  Age  came  to  him  gently,  the  four  score  years, 
bringing  few  infirmaries,  and  slight,  if  any,  evidence  of 
decay  of  the  best  elements  of  his  nature.  The  touch  of 
time  chastened  and  refined,  but  did  not  seem,  in  the  least, 
to  dull  his  sensibilities,  so  that  the  kind  happy  man,  in  the 
maturity  of  his  years,  both  enjoyed  the  society  of  the 
young,  and  by  his  frequent  presence  in  their  circles,  gave 
them  real  pleasure.  The  little  children  loved  him. 

“The  end  was  sudden,  unexpected  by  his  family  and 
friends,  and  probably  unexpected  by  himself.  There  was 
no  time  for  farewell  words,  or  any  declaration  of  his  faith 
and  hope  when  dying.  The  friends,  who  loved  him  well, 
and  mourn  their  loss,  needed  not  such  words,  as  they  had 
the  better  testimonv  of  his  life.” 

He  was  effective  thirty-three  years,  located  in  1857, 
and  was  re-admitted  and  superannuated  in  1868.* 

J.  S.  Barris,  Peter  D.  Horton. 

J.  S.  Barris  was  admitted  on  trial,  Ohio  Conference, 
1824;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Pittsburg  Con- 

*W.  C.  Henderson — Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on 
trial,  Ohio  Conference,  1824;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference  at  its  organization,  1825;  full  connection, 
1826;  deacon,  1826,  Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  transferred  to 
Erie  Conference,  1853;  located,  1857;  readmitted,  1868;  deceased, 
Meadville,  Pa.,  February  7,  1882.  Appointments:  1824,  Hudson; 

1825,  New  Lisbon;  1826,  Hartford;  1827,  Windsor;  1828,  New 
Castle;  1829,  New  Lisbon;  1830,  Beaver;  1831,  Leesburg;  1832-3, 
Chartiers;  1834,  St.  Clairsville;  1835,  Ohio;  1836,  Butler;  1837-8, 
Harmony;  1839-42,  Pittsburgh  District;  1843,  East  Liberty;  1844, 
Murrays ville;  1845,  Elizabeth;  1846-7,  Richmond;  1848,  Peters- 
burg; 1849-’50,  Liverpool;  1851,  Salem,  O.;  1852,  Carrolton;  1853, 
Sharon  and  Brookfield;  1854,  Conneautville;  1855,  Edinboro  and 
Venango;  1856,  Saegertown;  1868-’81,  superannuated. 


1 


IP 


496  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ference  at  its  organization,  1825;  full  connection,  1826; 
deacon,  1826,  Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836; 
withdrew  on  account  of  differences  with  his  Conference 
as  to  the  best  method  of  solving  the  slavery  question, 
1839,  and  became  a preacher  in  the  Congregational 
churches.* 

Mr.  Gregg  relates : “During  the  spring  and  summer 

of  1824  the  Presiding  Elder  removed  Mr. -Peck  from 
the  Boston  Circuit  and  sent  him  to  organize  a new  cir- 
cuit out  of  territory  that  had  been  partly  occupied  in  the 
Chautauqua  and  Lake  circuits,  which  will  hereafter  ap- 
pear on  the  minutes  of  conference  as  ‘Conewango’  Cir- 
cuit. It  embraced  Conewango,  Kennedy’s  Mills,  Ran- 
dolph, Ellory,  Little  Valley,  Napoli  and  Cold  Springs,  at 
all  of  which  places  classes  had  been  formed.  A class 
was  also  formed  this  year  in  Poland,  Ohio;  names  of 
members  not  known/' — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Eric  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  214.)  The  Conewango  Cir- 
cuit was  formed  or  explored  by  Andrew  Peck.  The 
“Boston'’  Circuit,  from  which  he  was  taken,  was  on  the 
same  district  in  the  Genesee  Conference  beyond  our 
bounds.  John  Copeland  was  second  preacher  on  this  cir- 
cuit with  Mr.  Peck.  Erie  District  at  that  time  extended 
north  so  as  to  include  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Peter  D.  Horton  was  born  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y., 
December  11,  1796,  and  died  in  Nelson,  Ohio,  December 
21,  1867.  He  was  converted  at  Phelps,  N.  Y.,  in  1817, 
and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1824. 
He  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  and  the  Erie 

Conferences  at  their  organization.  He  was  thirteen  years 
effective,  meantime  having  been  supernumerary  and  sup- 
erannuated eleven  years.  He  was  finally  superannuated 
in  1848.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Horton  was  a very  tall, 

slim  man,  of  delicate  health,  and  had  a feeble  voice;  was 
exceedingly  modest  and  timid,  a close  student,  with  a 
kind  heart,  systematic  and  concise  in  the  delivery  of  his 
sermons,  which  were  usually  short  and  edifying.  But 

*The  appointments  of  J.  S.  Barris  were:  1824,  New  Castle; 

1825-6,  Chautauqua;  1827-8,  Lake;  1829,  North  East;  1830,  Erie; 
1831,  Meadville  District;  1832,  Erie  District;  1833-4,  agent,  Alle- 
gheny College;  1835,  Mercer;  1836-7,  Meadville  District;  1838, 
Franklin.  A biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Barris  is  to  be  found  in 
another  connection. 


John  Scott , William  Fozvler,  Joseph  W . Davis.  497 

few  men  have  lived  a more  pious  and  inoffensive  life.”* — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  1, 
p.  217.) 

John  Scott,  William  Fowler,  Joseph  W.  Davis. 

Gregg  says : “Mr.  Scott  was  a short,  stout-built  Irish- 
man; a fine  specimen  of  an  honest,  simple,  conscientious 
Christian;  in  his  preaching,  quaint,  original  and  prac- 
tical. His  speech  and  general  appearance  clearly  indi- 
cated his  country.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  1,  p.  227.) 

John  Scott  was  born  in  Emmero,  Ireland.  His  par- 
ents were  good  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  united 
with  the  Methodists.  He  came  to  America  in  1819,  and 
was  licensed  to  exhort  in  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick.  He 
worked  his  way  westward  until  he  came  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Erie  District,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1822.  Glezen  Fillmore  employed  him  to  assist  Mr. 
Reeder  on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  in  1824,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence. In  1828  he  married  Miss  Elzaide  Hunt,  “a  noble 
woman,  who  faithfully  assisted  in  bearing  the  toils  of  his 
itinerant  life.”  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization.  In  1853  he  was  superannu- 
ated and  continued  in  this  honored  relation  until  the  close 
of  his  earthly  career.  He  passed  to  his  reward  from 
Gerry,  N.  Y.,  September  2,  1861.  He  had  been  super- 
annuated one  year  in  1847.  His  effective  labors  ex- 
tended over  twenty-six  years. 

“During  his  ministry  he  saved  sufficient  to  procure  a 

good  home,  in  which  he  lived  very  comfortably,  greatly 
beloved  and  respected  by  his  neighbors.  Knowing  his 
end  was  near  he  settled  up  all  his  temporal  matters ; made 
all  the  arrangements  for  his  burial  and  funeral ; choosing 

*P.  D.  Horton — Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on  trial, 
Genesee  Conference,  1824;  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1825;  full  connection,  1826; 
deacon,  1826,  Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  became  a member  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Nelson, 
O.,  December  21,  1867.  Appointments:  1824,  North  East;  1825, 

Chautauqua;  1826,  Deerfield;  1827*9,  superannuated;  1830,  super- 
numerary; 1831,  Ashtabula;  1832,  Deerfield;  1833,  North  East; 
1834-5,  Wesley ville;  1836,  Cambridge;  1837-9,  superannuated; 
1840,  supernumerary;  1841-3,  superannuated;  1844,  Hubbard; 
1845,  Freedom;  1846-7,  Nelson;  1848-67,  superannuated. 


32 


498 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  bearers  from  the  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Baptists, 
and  from  among  those  professing  no  religion,  saying  he 
wished  to  show  he  was  in  peace  with  God  and  all  men. 
His  son,  upon  entering  the  sick  room,  found  his  father 
praising  God.  The  aged  saint  said:  “I  do  not  know 

that  I am  dying,  but  I thank  God  for  a foretaste  of  the 
joys  of  heaven.”  Methodists  die  well.* 

William  Fowler  entered  the  Genesee  Conference  in 
1822,  and  was  appointed  junior  preacher,  with  Benjamin 
Sabin  on  the  Canisteo  Circuit.  In  1823  he  was  sec- 
ond preacher  on  the  Ridgway  Circuit,  with  Isaac  Puffer. 
In  1824  he  was  received  into  full  connection  and  ordained 
deacon,  and  came  to  Conewango  Circuit.  He  was  with 
us  but  one  year.  He  was  ordained  elder  in  1826.  He 
had  superannuated  in  1825.  Brother  Fowler  was  in  very 
poor  health  and  struggled  hard  to  keep  in  the  work ; was 
superannuated,  and  then  supernumerary;  supplied  work, 
and  seems  to  have  been  for  a year  or  two  effective,  but 
finally  gave  up  the  fight,  and  in  1836  located. 

Joseph  W.  Davis  was  born  in  the  town  of  Symingham, 
Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  April  30,  1791.  He  was  an 
only  son,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  Lord  in  infancy.  In 
his  early  youth  his  parents  removed  to  what  was  then 
known  as  Cazenovia  County.  He  was  converted  at  a 
camp  meeting  in  1809,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  He  was  drafted  and  enteied  the  military 
service  in  1814,  but  returned  home  on  furlough  on  ac- 
count of  the  sickness  and  death  of  his  father,  and  the 
war  soon  closed.  In  1816  lie  removed  to  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio,  mid  was  appointed  by  Alfred  Brunson 
leader  of  a small  Methodist  class.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1821,  and  in  1824  traveled  the  Hartford  Cii- 
cuit  with  Thomas  Carr,  under  the  Presiding  Elder.  Dur- 


*John  Scott — Admitted  on  trial,  Genesee  Conference,  1825; 
'ansferred.  Pittsburg  Conference,  1825;  full  connection , 18-<; 
eacon,  1827,  George;  elder,  1829,  Roberts;  became  a member  of 
le  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Gerry, 
r.  Y.,  September  2,  1861.  Appointments:  1825  Lake;  1826, 

rrand  River;  1827,  Canton;  1828,  Hartford;  1829,  Windsor,  1830, 
amestown,  N.  Y.;  1831,  New  Castle;  1832,  Centerville;  1833, 
hippenville;  1834,  Shippenville  and  Pine  Grove  Mission,  I800, 
b'ookville;  1836-7,  Napoli;  1838,  Youngsvine;  !839. 

840-1,  Wattsburg;  1842-3,  Edinburg;  1844-5,  Williamsfield,  1846, 
IcKean-  1847,  superannuated;  1848,-9,  Gerry,  1850,  Leon,  18ol, 
Vrightsville;  1852,  Villenovia;  1853-’61,  superannuated. 


Billings  O.  Plimpton. 


499 


ing  the  year  over  two  hundred  were  added  to  the  Church. 
He  was  received  into  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its 
organization.  While  on  the  old  Erie  Circuit  in  1827  and 
1828 — “twenty-four  or  twenty-five  appointments,  to  be 
filled  every  four  weeks” — there  were  between  two  and 
three  hundred  conversions.  He  was  located  in  1830,  at 
his  own  request,  that  he  might  provide  a more  comfort- 
able residence  for  his  family.  He  was  re-admitted  in 
1835,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization.  His  health  failing,  he  was  superannu- 
ated in  1845.  He  died  in  Bloomfield,  Ohio,  in  January, 
1854.  His  last  words  were:  “Merging  into  everlasting 
day.”* — ( Minutes  of  Conferences , V ol.  V,  1854,  p.  409.) 

Billings  O.  Plimpton. 

Billings  O.  Plimpton  was  born  in  Sturbridge,  Worces- 
ter County,  Mass.,  March  7,  1799.  In  1815,  his  mother 
lying  on  her  dying  bed,  pleaded  with  her  boy  to  give  his 
heart  to  God.  Her  entreaties  and  earnest  prayers  broke 
his  young  heart  and  he  yielded  to  offered  mercy  and  was 
wonderfully  converted.  In  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age 

he  was  engaged  in  teaching  near  Brunswick,  N.  J.  Here 
he  received  license  to  exhort,  and  immediately  began  to 
use  his  talent  and  was  made  glad  to  witness  the  conver- 
sion of  several  souls.  He  removed  to  Ohio,  and  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  William  Swayze  in  1821  and  sent  to 
the  Cuyahoga  Circuit.  Homer  J.  Clark  was  converted 
under  his  labors  while  on  this  circuit.  “Early  in  the 
spring  of  1822,  Mr.  Plimpton  started  to  go  through  from 
Twinsburg,  Summit  County,  to  Aurora,  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  to  preach  to  a small  society  then  in  that  town. 
Having  to  follow  a blind  path,  he  missed  his  way  and 
night  came  on,  which  being  exceedingly  dark,  he  was 
compelled  to  stay  in  the  woods.  He  selected  a high  piece 
of  ground,  tied  his  horse  to  a tree,  and  placing  his  port- 

J.  W.  Davis — Licensed  to  preach,  1821;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burgh Conference,  1825;  full  connection,  1827;  deacon,  1827, 
George;  elder,  1829,  Roberts;  located,  1830;  readmitted,  1835;  be- 
came a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836; 
deceased,  Bloomfield,  O.,  January,  1854.  Appointments:  1824, 

Hartford,  supply;  1825,  Grand  River;  1826,  Hartford;  1827-8, 
Erie;  1829,  New  Castle;  1835,  Centreville;  1836,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.; 
1837,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1838,  Hudson;  1839,  Braceville;  1840, 
Jefferson;  1841,  Parkman;  1842,  Gerry;  1843,  Salem;  1844, 
Forest;  1845-53,  superannuated. 


I 


500  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

manteau  on  the  ground  for  a pillow,  wrapped  himself  up 
in  his  cloak  and  lay  down  to  sleep.  But  before  getting 
to  sleep  a gang  of  six  or  eight  wolves  surrounded  him 
and  began  to  howl  most  piteously.  His  horse  took  fright 
and  began  to  stamp  and  snort  terribly.  Mr.  Plimpton 
jumped  up  and  commenced  hallooing  with  all  his  might, 
and  he  and  his  horse  made  the  surrounding  hills  ring. 
The  wolves  took  fright  and  fled,  and  Mr.  Plimpton  laid 
himself  down  and  slept  till  morning,  when  he  found  he 
was  but  half  a mile  from  Aurora.  From  this  place  he 
was  invited  over  to  Bainbridge,  where  he  established  an 
appointment.  Upon  arriving  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Smith, 
where  he  had  ordered  the  appointment  to  be  made,  he 
found  a large  crowd  of  people  assembled,  and  among 
them  Rev.  Mr.  Seward,  a Presbyterian  preacher  from 
Aurora.  Mr.  Plimpton  concluded  that  as  the  congrega- 
tion was  large  and  enjoyed  preaching  but  seldom,  they 
had  better  have  two  sermons,  and  accordingly  invited  Mr. 
Seward  to  preach  first,  to  which  he  consented,  and  an- 
nounced for  his  text,  ‘Say  ye  to  the  righteous  it  shall  be 
well  with  them;’  Isaiah  iii.  10.  His  sermon  was  practical 
and  earnest.  Mr.  Plimpton  then  took  for  his  text,  \\  oe 
unto  the  wicked ; it  shall  be  ill  with  them,  and  in  his 
rapid,  earnest  way,  addressed  himself  to  the  wicked. 
From  this  meeting  a general  awakening  spread  through 
the  community,  which  in  a short  time  resulted  in  the 
formation  of  a class  of  thirty  members.  Harvey  Bald- 
win was  leader,  Joseph  Ely  and  wife,  Philip  Haskins  and 
wife,  Jonathan  McFarland  and  wife,  Daniel  McFarland 
and  wife,  Wesley  McFarland,  P.  D.  McConney  and  wife, 
Asahel  North  and  wife,  Oren  Henry,  John  Henry  and 
wife,  Gordon  Kent  and  wife,  Joseph  \\  itter  and  wife, 
Oliver  Wheeler  and  wife,  were  the  principal  members.” 

(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , Vol. 

I,  pp.  196-198.)  Mr.  Plimpton  “possessed  a. most  vig- 
orous intellect,  quick  in  thought  and  rapid  in  utterance, 
rather  too  much  so  for  the  pleasure  of  his  hearers.  His 
mind  seemed  to  traverse  the  rich  fields  of  truth  with  the 
utmost  speed  and  ease,  while  his  language  was  copious, 
elevated  and  terse,  but  came  with  such  impetuosity  as  to 
require  the  very  closest  attention  the  hearer  could  give  to 
distinguish  his  words  and  keep  the  chain  of  thought ; but 


Charles  Thorn , John  W . Hill. 


501 

he  was  sure  to  pay  those  who  made  the  effort.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  2,  p.116.) 

Mr.  Plimpton  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  Conference  in 
1822,  and  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg,  Erie  and 
East  Ohio  Conferences  at  their  organization.  He  was 
effective  forty-one  years,  and  seven  years  Presiding  El- 
der on  the  Warren,  Ravenna,  Meadville  and  Erie  Dis- 
tricts. He  was  a delegate  to  three  General  Conferences. 
In  the  midst  of  his  years  of  activity  he  was  supernumer- 
ary four  years.  He  superannuated  in  1867,  and  fell 
asleep  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  April  27,  1886.* 

Charles  Thorn,  John  W.  Hill.  , 

Charles  Thorn  was  born  December  3,  1800,  on  Long 
Island;  converted  in  Forsyth  Street  Church,  New  York, 
July  7,  1815 ; licensed  to  preach  by  James  Quinn  in  1820, 
and  the  same  year  received  into  the  traveling  connection 
in  the  Ohio  Conference.  His  fifth  appointment  was 
Mercer  in  1824,  and  when  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
was  formed  in  1825  he  became  a member  of  that  body. 
His  ministry  filled  out  fifty-four  years.  ‘'Our  departed 
brother  was  a Methodist  of  the  older  school.  In  Crom- 
wellian times  he  would  have  ranked  as  a Puritan  of  the 
strictest  sect;  stern,  yet  not  morose;  free  from  personal 
levity,  yet  not  intolerant  toward  rational  enjoyment  in 
others.  He  was  strict  in  his  attendance  on  the  means  of 
grace,  and  his  religion,  as  it  appeared  at  the  communion 

*B.  O.  Plimpton — Licensed  to  preach,  1821;  admitted  on  trial, 
Ohio  Conference,  1822;  full  connection,  1824;  deacon,  1824,  Me- 
Kendree,  Roberts  or  Soule,  all  of  them  presiding  at  the  Con- 
ference and  the  general  minutes  not  indicating  who  of  them 
ordained  the  deacons;  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1825;  elder,  1826,  Soule;  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  became 
a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876; 
deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  April  27,  1886.  Appointments:  1822, 

Beaver;  1823,  Detroit,  Mich.;  1824,  Deerfield;  1825-6,  Canton; 

1827,  New  Lisbon;  1828-9,  Youngstown;  1830,  Cleveland;  1831, 

Deerfield;  1832-3,  Chardon;  1834,  Tallmadge  and  Middlebury; 
1835,  Ashtabula;  1836-7,  Agent,  Allegheny  College;  1838,  Warren, 
O.;  1839,  Warren  District;  1840,  Youngstown;  1841,  Greenville 
and  Clarksville;  1842,  Williamsfield;  1843-4,  Ravenna  District; 
1845,  Hartford;  1846-8,  Meadville  District;  1849,  Erie  District; 
1850-1,  supernumerary;  1852,  Liberty,  but  did  not  go  to  his  ap- 
pointment; 1853-4,  supernumerary;  1855-62,  Agent,  American 
Colonization  Society;  1863,  Agent,  American  Bible  Society; 
1864-6,  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society;  1867-85,  superan- 
nuated. 


5°2 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


and  quarterly  love  feast,  was  of  a joyful,  tender  and  tri- 
umphant type.  Many  were  brought  to  God  through  his 
instrumentality  and  built  up  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the 
gospel.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  after  he  became  a 
minister  he  baptized  his  mother  and  received  both  par- 
ents into  the  Church.  He  was  a great  sufferer  through 
failing  health  during  the  last  three  years  of  his  life,  but 
he  endured  wasting  and  painful  disease  with  patience  and 
faith  and  hope,  and  no  murmurs  escaped  his  lips."  He 
passed  away  at  his  home  in  Sewickley,  Pa.,  June  30* 
1874.* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Col.  XV,  1875,  />.  35.) 

According  to  his  biographer,  John  YY . Hill  was  a native 
of  Massachusetts,  but  in  early  life  became  a resident  of 
Western  New  York,  where  he  was  converted  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1815.  He  was 
the  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  P.  Hill.  Gregg  says  he  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Preston,  New  London  County,  Conn., 
March  26,  1802;  and  was  converted,  “in  company  with 
seven  other  persons,"  in  a week-day  prayer  meeting  in 
Brookfield,  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  July  17,  1815,  and 
removed  with  his  parents  into  Chautauqua  County,  N. 
Y.,  in  1818.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1821,  and  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1824,  when 
he  was  appointed  to  Conewango  Circuit,  then  a wilder- 
ness country.  He  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg 
and  the  Erie  Conferences  at  their  organization.  For 
forty-seven  consecutive  years  he  received  regular  ap- 
pointments, and  often  to"  fields  of  labor  requiring  great 
toil  and  many  hardships.  Seldom  did  a year  pass  with- 
out extensive  revivals  on  his  work.  His  sermons  came 
fresh  from  a mind  well  cultivated  by  study  and  a heart 

*The  work  of  Charles  Thorn:  1820,  Fairfield  Circuit;  1821, 

Mansfield;  1822,  Greenville;  1823,  Hartford;  1824,  Mercer;  1825, 
West  Wheeling;  1826,  Chartiers;  1827,  New  Castle;  1828-9,  Con- 
nellsville;  1830-1,  Blairsville,  the  last  year  as  supernumerary; 
1832-3,  Somerset;  1834-5,  Steubenville;  1836,  Alleghenytown; 
1837,  Burgettstown ; 1838,  Cadiz;  1839,  Moorsfield;  1840,  Flushing 
and  Moorsfield;  1841,  St.  Clairsville;  1842-3,  Washington;  1844-5, 
New  Lisbon;  1846,  Cadiz;  1847,  Hanover;  1848-9,  Monongahela 
City;  1850,  West  Newton;  1851-2,  Sharpsburg  and  Stewart’s  Run; 
1853,  Manchester  Mission;  1854,  Manchester;  1855,  South  Pitts- 
burg and  West  Pittsburg  Mission;  1856,  Enon  Valley;  1857-’60, 
Agent  of  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society;  1861,  superannuated; 
1862-6,  Agent  of  American  Bible  Society;  1867,  Salineville;  1868, 
Ross  Street;  1869,  Smith’s  Ferry;  1870-4,  Agent  of  Pennsylvania 
Bible  Society. 


Classes  Organized  at  Aurora  and  Charlestown , O.  503 


warmed  with  the  love  of  Christ.  Even  down  to  old  age 
he  continued  the  habit,  formed  in  his  early  ministry,  of 
rising  at  four  o’clock  in  the  morning  and  spending  the 
early  hours  of  the  day  in  systematic  reading.  His  last 
hours  were  marked  with  strong  faith  in  God,  great  peace 
of  mind,  and  exultant  joy.  His  last  words  were,  “Praise 
the  Lord!”  He  passed  away  at  his  home  in  Springfield, 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  September  23,  1873,  tlie  fiftieth 
year  of  his  itinerant  ministry.* 

^1 

Classes  Organized  at  Aurora  and  Charlestown,  O. 

Billings  0.  Plimpton  formed  a class  in  Aurora,  Ohio, 
in  1824,  the  members  of  which  included  Dudley  Hollis- 
ter and  wife,  Reuben  Henry  and  wife,  and  Maria  Fer- 
guson. 

In  1824  Ira  Eddy  and  Billings  O.  Plimpton,  traveling 
the  Deerfield  Circuit,  formed  a class  in  the  town  of 
Charlestown,  Portage  County,  Ohio.  The  following 
were  the  pioneer  members : Claudius  Coe  and  wife,  Ad- 
na  C.  Coe  and  wife,  Sarah  C.  Coe,  Alpheus  Baldwin, 
Luke  Hall  and  wife,  John  Judson  Steadman  and  Edward 
Steadman.  Others  were  soon  added,  among  whom  are 
named : Dennis  Steadman,  Watson  Steadman,  Diodama 

Steadman  and  the  two  Misses  Hall.  In  January,  1825, 
Charles  Elliott,  the  Presiding  Elder,  came  to  hold  a 

II  quarterly  meeting,  and  was  refused  the  use  of 

the  little  school  house  because  the  “Congregational  min- 
ister, having  the  oldest  right,  claimed  it.”  Mr.  Elli- 
ott accepted  the  offer  of  a barn.  The  floor  was  seated 
and  made  comfortable  for  the  women,  and  a few  bundles 

*J.  W.  Hill — Licensed  to  preach,  1821;  admitted  on  trial, 
Genesee  Conference,  1824;  transferred  as  a probationer  to  the 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1826;  full  connection,  1826;  deacon,  1826, 
Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Springfield,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1873.  Appointments:  1824,  Boston,  N.  Y.;  1825,  Cone- 
wango,  N.  Y.;  1826,  Meadville;  1827,  Butler;  1828-9,  Deerfield; 
1830,  Grand  River;  1831,  Hudson;  1832,  Deerfield  and  Ravenna; 
1833,  Cleveland;  1834-5,  Youngstown;  1836-7,  Mesopotamia;  1838, 
Geneva;  1839,  Kingsville;  1840-1,  McKean;  1842,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.; 
1843,  Williamsfield;  1844-5,  Clarion;  1846,  New  Castle;  1847,  Ma- 
honing; 1848,  Ellsworth;  1849-50,  Edinburg;  1851,  Parkman; 
1852-3,  Mantua;  1854-5,  Gustavus;  1856,  Orangeville;  1857, 
Vienna  and  Bristol;  1858-9,  Liberty;  1860,  Hubbard;  1861-2, 
Salem,  Mercer  County;  1863,  Cochranton;  1864,  Evansburg; 
1865-’66,  Rockville;  1867,  Wattsburg  and  Mina;  1868-’69,  Lockport; 
1870,  Cherry  Valley;  1871-3,  superannuated. 


504 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


of  straw  were  scattered  on  the  ground  in  front  of  the 
door  upon  which  the  men  could  stand.  The  meeting  was 

duly  held,  and  Mr.  Elliott  preached  a crushing  sermon 
against  Calvinism.  It  was  determined  to  build  a church, 
and  five  trustees  were  appointed  for  that  purpose.  They 
obtained  a lot  and  erected  a neat  brick  church  which  was 
occupied  by  the  society  for  many  years.  By  the  close  of 
the  year  they  numbered  between  thirty  and  forty  mem 
bers. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference , 
Col.  I,  pp.  219-220.) 

The  Asbury  and  Other  Classes. 

Asbury  Church,  Erie  County,  was  organized  in  1824. 
Ruth  Wheaton,  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  class, 
came  from  Massachusetts  in  1820.  Near  the  same  time 
Charles  and  Mary  Wilson  came  from  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  and  four  years  later  John  and  Jane  Magee,  from 
the  same  place.  These  five  persons  constituted  the  first 
class;  and  John  Magee  was  appointed  the  first  leader. 
Among  other  early  settlers  were  the  Nicholsons,  whose 
descendants  are  still  strong  supporters  of  the  Church. 
The  first  church  building  was  a humble  structure  of 
hewed  logs  erected  about  1826.  Another  edifice  was 
erected  in  1847.  The  church  records  show  that  a com- 
mittee was  appointed  February  18,  1846,  to  raise  money 
to  build  a church.  A lot  was  purchased  at  the  cross 
roads,  corner  of  Andrew  Nicholson's  farm.  West  Mill- 
creek  Township,  and  a deed  secured  for  the  same.  The 
trustees  were  William  Stacy,  George  Nicholson,  Henry 
Malick,  Thomas  McKee,  J.  W.  Smith,  Erastus  Kellogg 
and  Jacob  Pettit.  The  committee  to  raise  money  were 
W illiam  Stacy,  John  Wheaton  and  George  Nicholson. 
The  church  was  built  in  1847. — (Communication  to  the 
author  from  IV.  F.  Flick,  who  examined  the  records.) 

Asbury  belonged  successively  to  the  Erie,  Wesleyville, 
McKean  and  Fairview  Circuits.  It  was  made  a station 
in  1874,  and  the  next  year  a good  parsonage  was  built. 
Among  the  revivals  with  which  the  charge  has  been 
blessed  was  that  of  1840  under  the  labors  of  Thomas 
Blinn  and  J.  W.  Hill.  During  the  winter  of  i874-’75 
there  was  a precious  revival  conducted  by  Rev.  F.  S. 
Patterson  and  Mrs.  Dawson,  when  about  two  hundred 


The  Ashury  and  Other  Classes.  505 

were  converted,  most  of  whom  united  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church. 

In  1875  Asbury  was  taken  from  the  Fairview  Circuit, 
to  which  it  had  belonged,  and  F.  S.  Patterson  was  the 
first  pastor.  About  the  same  time  a good  parsonage  was 
erected. 

The  North  Bank  Society  was  organized  in  February, 
1824,  by  Charles  Thorn,  pastor.  The  class  took  its  name 
about  one  year  after  its  formation.  The  following  were 
its  members : Charles  Campbell,  leader ; Sally  Campbell, 
James  Former,  Leah  Fonner,  Rebecca  Fonner,  Hannah 
Royal,  Mark  Royal,  Margaret  Royal  and  A.  H.  Herriott. 
The  class,  which  met  in  the  house  of  A.  H.  Herriott, 
was  said  to  have  been  attached  at  first  to  the  Williams- 
field  (Ohio)  Circuit.  After  some  time  a school  house 
was  occupied  until  1833,  when  the  first  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected.  The  county  histories,  however,  date 
the  erection  of  the  church  in  1845,  on  land  donated  by 
Charles  Campbell.  In  1870  this  was  replaced  by  a com- 
modious two-story  frame  structure  which  cost  $6,000. 

The  Thicket  class — the  nucleus  of  the  present  Center 
Chapel — was  formed  in  1825.  Thomas  Carr  was  the 
pastor.  It  consisted  of  the  following  members : John 

Thayer,  leader;  Polly  Thayer,  Harris  or  Horace  Taylor, 
Sarah  Taylor,  Jacob  Stilson  and  wife,  James  Angelo  and 
wife,  Hannah  Burwell,  Rachel  Burwell,  Maria  Angelo, 
Abraham  Wiser,  O.  Housal,  Edward  Williams  and  Lu- 
cinda Williams.  Meetings  were  held  in  private  houses 
and  in  the  school  house  until  1846,  when  a neat  little 
church  was  erected. 

The  Espyville  class  was  formed  in  1831,  and  consisted 
of  the  following  members:  Aaron  H.  Herriott,  leader; 

Sisson  Herriott,  George  Espy,  John  Espy.  Sidney  Her- 
riott, Rachel  Herriott  and  Frances  Fowler. 

“The  Hartstown  appointment,  after  having  been  sev- 
ered from  Espyville  charge  and  served  from  other  quar- 
ters for  about  four  years,  was  re-attached  to  it  in  the  fall 
of  1873,  and  at  the  same  time  a large  number  of  persons, 
constituting  the  Miller’s  class,  deposited  their  letters  and 
were  henceforth  to  attend  preaching  at  Hartstown  and 
to  be  considered  a part  of  that  society,  though  holding 
class  and  prayer  meetings  in  Miller’s  school  house  upon 
the  Sabbaths  when  there  was  no  public  service  at  Harts- 


5°6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


town.”  In  1840  a frame  Methodist  meeting  house  was 
erected  on  the  hill  above  the  village  of  Hartstown.  There 
were  fifteen  original  members,  among  whom  we  may 
name  George  F.  Randolph,  James  I.  Lewis,  Vance  Cot- 
ton, Samuel  Cotton,  John  Hammel,  Bennett  Trimble  and 
James  Wright.  A new  church  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  I. 
C.  Pershing,  D.D.,  February  19,  1882.  The  cost  was 
about  $2,500. 

A camp  meeting  was  held  near  the  State  line  by 
Charles  Elliott,  Presiding  Elder,  in  1824,  resulting  in  the 
organization  of  a class  in  Kingsville,  Ohio,  by  John  P. 
Kent.  Among  the  members  were  William  MaltlDy,  leader, 
and  his  wife,  Mr.  Tinker,  his  wife  and  son,  Silas  Tinker 
and  wife  and  Mr.  Greene  and  wife.  This  class,  which 
met  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  was  dissolved  and 
one  formed  in  the  village  by  J.  C.  Ayers  in  1830,  to 
which  the  members  of  the  former  class  were  attached. 

In  a short  time  thereafter  a small  brick  church  was 
erected. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  IE,  p.  99) 


XI. 


LEONIDAS  L.  HAMLINE— SHOUTS  OF  VIC- 
TORY—1 825- 1 829. 

The  Pittsburg  Conference  held  its  first  session  in 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  September  15,  1825,  Bishop  Enoch 

George  presiding.  Thirty-five  members  answered  to 
their  names.  Appointments  within  our  territory  were 
the  following : Erie  District,  William  Swayze,  Presid- 

ing Elder;  Erie,  Nathaniel  Reeder,  Zachariah  Ragan; 
North  East,  John  P.  Kent;  Chautauqua,  Peter  D.  Hor- 
ton, Joseph  S.  Barris;  Conewango,  John  W.  Hill;  Lake, 
Henry  Knapp,  John  Scott;  French  Creek,  Robert  C.  Hat- 
ton; Mercer,  Alfred  Brunson,  Edward  Stevenson;  Ma- 
honing, Ignatius  H.  Tackitt.  Ohio  District,  Charles  E1-, 
liott,  Presiding  Elder;  Grand  River,  Philip  Green,  Jo- 
seph W.  Davis;  Deerfield,  John  Summerville,  Ira  Eddy; 
Hudson,  Robert  Hopkins;  Hartford,  Thomas  Carr,  John 
Chandler;  Youngstown,  Edward  H.  Taylor,  William  R. 
Babcock;  New  Castle,  Samuel  Adams,  James  Babcock. 
The  Erie  District  had  but  one  circuit  beyond  our  bounds, 
and  the  Ohio  District  but  three. 

The  appointments  on  the  Mahoning  Circuit  for  this 
year  have  been  preserved : Punxsutawney,  Lieser's, 

Lawson’s,  Stoner’s,  Young’s,  Shippenville,  Armstrong's, 
Sulonger’s,  Smith’s,  Shouse’s,  Hoffman’s,  Smullen’s,  and 
Critzer’s. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence•,  Vol.  /.,  p.  225.) 

Tackitt,  Stevenson,  Ragan. 

Ignatius  H.  Tackitt  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Va., 
August  19,  1798.  He  was  converted  in  the  seventeenth 
year  of  his  age,  admitted  into  the  Baltimore  Conference 
on  trial  in  1824,  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence in  1828,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization. 


508  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Mr.  Tackitt’s  sermons  were  well  arranged,  sound  in 
matter,  and  often  logical  and  strongly  argumentative. 
He  bravely  bore  the  hardships,  privations  and  trials  of 
the  Methodist  preachers  in  the  earlier  settlements  of  our 
territory ; and  evinced  a strong  attachment  to  the  Church 
and  Conference  to  which  he  belonged.  It  was  his  de- 
light to  he  present  at  all  the  sessions  as  long  as  he  lived. 
In  the  quiet  and  calm  of  the  evening  of  life  he  fell  asleep 
in  Christ  at  his  home  in  Forestville,  N.  Y.  It  was  De- 
cember 26,  1874.* 

Edward  Stevenson  was  received  on  trial  in  1825,  re- 
ceived into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  1827. 
He  served  Mercer  and  Erie — each  one  year; — was  then 
made  supernumerary ; remained  in  that  relation  three 
years  and  located. 

Zachariah  Ragan  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1825,  and  appointed  second  preacher  on  the 
Erie  Circuit.  He  traveled  the  Chautauqua  Circuit,  J.  S. 
Barris  in  charge,  in  1826;  and  Lake,  J.  S.  Barris  in 
charge,  in  1827.  He  was  received  into  full  connection 
and  ordained  a deacon  in  1827.  He  located  in  1828,  and 
united  with  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church  in  whose 
service  he  spent  his  subsequent  life,  doing  acceptable  ser- 
vice in  the  ministry.  “Mr.  Ragan  was  a good-sized  and 
good-looking  man,  with  very  respectable  preaching  tal- 
ents.” 

James  and  William  R.  Babcock. 

James  Babcock  was  born  at  Washington  Court  House, 

N.  ~Y.,  in  March,  1800.  The  family  moved  into  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Orwell,  Ashtabula  County.  James  was  con- 
verted at  the  age  of  sixteen,  but  lost  his  religious  enjoy- 
ment. He  was  restored  to  the  favor  of  God  in  1823  un- 

*1.  H.  Tackitt — Admitted  on  trial,  Baltimore  Conference,  1824; 
transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1825;  full  connection,  1826; 
deacon,  1826,  Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  became  a member  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  located,  1850;  re- 
admitted, 1854;  deceased,  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  December  26,  1874. 
Appointments — 1824,  Harrison;  1825,  Mahoning,  1826-’27,  Mead- 
ville;  1828,  Cleveland;  1829,  Randolph;  1830,  Parkersburg;  1831- 
’32,  not  connected  with  Conference;  1833,  re-admitted,  Forest- 
ville; 1834,  Smethport;  1835,  Forestville;  1836,  Youngsville;  1837- 
’38,  Fredonia;  1839,  Ohio  City;  1840,  Cleveland;  1841,  Franklin, 

O. ;  1842,  Conneautville;  1843,  Villanovia;  1844,  Oil  Creek;  1845, 
Cooperstown;  1846,  North  East  and  Quincy;  1847,  Ellington;  1848, 
Sheridan;  1849,  Perrysburg;  1854-’74,  superannuated. 


James  and  William  R.  Babcock. 


' 509 


der  the  labors  of  E.  H.  Taylor  and  John  Crawford,  who 
then  traveled  the  Grand  River  Circuit.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference in  1825.* 

“Mr.  Babcock  was  a tall,  well-built,  and  dignified-ap- 
pearing man,  of  deep  piety,  and  earnest  zeal,  and  was 
highly  esteemed  as  a minister.* ’ His  first  appointment 
was  to  the  New  Castle  Circuit  as  junior  preacher  with 
Samuel  Adams.  He  served  the  Shippenville  Circuit  in 
1826 -’27;  “a  large  circuit  in  a new  wilderness,  moun- 
tainous country,  with  very  little  assistance  from  the  pre- 
siding elder.”  He  passed  away  at  Butler,  Pa.,  February  8, 
1829.  He  had  been  superannuated  at  the  last  conference 
session. — ( Gregg , History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  I.,  p.  261.)  “Brother  Babcock’s  talents, 
though  respectable,  were  not  of  the  brilliant  kind.  His 
piety,  diligence  and  zeal  rendered  him  useful;  and  in 
death  he  realized  the  advantages  of  that  religion  which 
he  labored  to  publish  in  his  life.  His  end  was  not  only 
peaceful,  but  triumphant.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , 
Vol.  II.,  1831,  p.  114.) 

James’ Babcock  traveled  the  Shippenville  Circuit  two 
years,  in  1826-1828.  The  circuit  embraced  “nearly  all 
that  is  now  within  the  limits  of  Clarion  District.  . 

So  great  was  his  zeal  and  fidelity  that  between  hard  la- 
bor, much  exposure,  severe  study  and  scant  fare,  he  con- 
tracted pulmonary  consumption  and  was  obliged  to  take 
a superannuated  relation,  though  he  did  not  cease  to 
preach  until  weakness  prevented  and  death  granted  a re- 
lease. February  8.  1829.  He  was  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  at  Butler,  Pa .,  John  P.  Kent  preaching  his  fu- 
neral sermon  from  ‘Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold  the 
upright;  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.'  His  death, 
the  first  of  many  scores,  who  since  have  gone  up  from 
Erie  Conference  to  a crown  of  life,  is  said  to  have  been  re- 
markably peaceful.  Tames  Babcock  was  the  elder  of 
three  brothers,  all  of  whom  labpred  within  the  bounds  of 
our  Conference.”  While  he  was  laboring  on  the  circuit 
a class  was  formed  at  Brookville  in  1828,  which  con- 

♦Mr.  Gregg  says  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1824 — History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I., 
228.  See,  however,  the  minutes  and  Reynold's  Manual  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference,  p.  16. 


i 


510  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

sisted  of  the  following  members : David  and  Cyrus  But- 
ler and  their  wives,  and  John  Dixon;  David  Butler  was 
leader.  The  class  met  in  an  old  mill  or  barn  standing  a 
mile  north  of  the  present  town.  Here  Cyrus  Butler 
formed  the  first  Sunday  School  of  the  district  so  far  as 
we  have  any  record.  In  1829  the  class  met,  so  it  is  said, 
in  a school  house  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present 
county  jail.  In  1830  the  loft  of  the  jail  was  used,  and 
afterward  (in  1832)  the  court  room.  A church  was 
built  in  1850. — (C.  IV.  Darrozv,  in  the  District  Metho- 
dist, Vol.  I.,  1888,  No.  4.) 

William  R.  Babcock,  brother  of  James  Babcock,  was 
born  about  1804.  He  was  converted  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1822.  He  was  received 
on  trial  by  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1825.  Mr.  Gregg 
must  be  in  error  when  he  says  that  the  brothers  joined 
the  Ohio  Conference  in  1824,  since  the  license  of  William 
R.  to  preach — in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  His- 
torical Society  archives — was  granted  in  1825.  “In 
1827,  while  he  was  junior  preacher  on  a circuit  including 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  the  first  Methodist  society  was  formed 
in  that  town,  composed  of  a few  members,  and  the  Court 
House  was  the  preaching  place.'1  “The  preacher  lodged 
at  Captain  Johnston’s,  whose  wife,  Grace,  was  the  first 
person  of  our  Church  to  come  there  for  residence. 
(Mrs.  W.  A.  Ingham,  in  transmitting  a letter  from  Mr. 
Babcock  written  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Pittsburg  Chris- - 
tian  Advocate,  March  22,  1888.) 

Mr.  Babcock  was  transferred  to  the  Genesee  Confer- 
ence in  1834,  and  because  of  sympathy  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  South — it  is  so  stated,  though 
the  resolution  below  gives  another  reason — requested  a 
location  in  1848,  and  united  with  that  denomination.  The 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  brethren  is  shown  by 
the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Conference: 

‘‘Whereas,  Our  worthy  brother.  Rev.  William  R. 
Babcock,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  with  a view  to  re- 
pairing to  a more  southern  and  genial  clime,  has  this  day 
located ; therefore, 

“Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  his  long  labors  and  ser- 
vices among  11s  as  a Conference,  we  extend  to  him  our 
cordial  wishes  and  prayers,  that  wherever  he  niay  be 
called  to  labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  the  blessing 


/ 


John  Chandler. 


of  heaven  may  attend  him,  and  we  cheerfully  recommend 
him  to  the  attention  and  fellowship  of  the  flock  of 
Christ.” — ( Conable , History  of  the  Genesee  Annual  Con- 
ference, p.  567.) 

After  he  had  spent  twenty  years  in  the  itinerancy  in 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  New  York,  he  preached  four 
years  in  West  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  In  1852  he  re- 
moved to  Missouri  and  lived  nearly  forty  years  in  St. 
Louis.  He  died  in  peace  May  27,  1891.* 

John  Chandler. 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Rev.  John  Chandler,  second  preach- 
er on  the  Hartford  Circuit,  was  a small,  slim  man,  rather 
awkward  in  his  movements,  his  under  jaw  a little  turned 
to  one  side,  but  possessed  a clear,  strong  mind,  deep  piety, 
full  of  zeal,  apt  in  controversy,  and  at  times  was  terribly 
severe  and  scathing;  an  ardent  lover  of  Methodism,  and 
regarded  by  other  denominations  as  too  sectarian." — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I., 
pp.  228-229.) 

Rev.  J.  C.  Cumming,  of  the  Central  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, writes : “I  was  Father  Chandler  s pastor  the  last 

three  years  of  his  life,  and  was  at  his  bedside  when  he 
died.  He  was  my  Presiding  Elder  several  years.  I 
knew  and  admired  him  when  I was  a boy.  He  was  the 
most  mighty  man  in  prayer  that  I have  known.  The 
following  memoir,  with  a few  changes  and  corrections, 
is  from  Mr.  Cumming’s  pen : 

“John  Chandler  was  born  in  the  town  of  Enfield,  Hart- 
ford County,  Conn.,  October  16,  1797.  His  parents 
were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church.  At  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  was  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  and  at 
twenty-four  he  was  powerfully  converted,  and  had  a clear 
assurance  that  his  ‘sins  were  forgiven  through  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb.’  Having  embraced  Calvinism,  he  was  for 
some  time  greatly  depressed  in  spirit,  but  by  reading 
Fletcher’s  Checks  and  the  Methodist  Discipline,  his  mind 

*His  appointments  were:  1825,  Youngstown;  1826,  Hudson; 

1827,  Grand  River;  1828,  supernumerary,  and  attached  to  Mead- 
ville;  1829-’,30,  Franklin;  1831,  Springfield;  1832,  North  East; 
1833,  Gerry;  1834-’35,  transferred  to  the  Genesee  Conference  and 
appointed  to  Lodi;  1836-’37,  Clarence;  1838-’39,  Carlton  and 
Yates;  1840,  Lockport,  south;  1841-’44,  Dansville  District,  1845, 
Canandaigua;  1846,  Batavia;  1847,  LeRoy;  1848,  located. 


512  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  led  to  grasp  the  doctrine  of  free  and  full  salvation. 
And  after  deeply  weighing  the  subject  he  joined  on  trial 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
April  26,  1821. 

“He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  June,  1824,  and  in  the 
same  year  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  and 
became  a member  on  probation  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference in  1825  at  its  organization.  For  twelve  years 
he  traveled  large  circuits,  suffering  much  from  exposure 
to  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  doing  an  immense  amount 
of  hard  work.  In  those  years  God  gave  him  many  souls ; 
among  them  our  sainted  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley.  He 
then  traveled  three  years  on  the  Erie  District,  and  four 
years  on  the  Ravenna  District.  His  term  of  service  on 
the  Ravenna  District  was  marked  by  wonderful  revivals. 
In  a single  year  three  thousand  souls  were  added  to  the 
Church.  He  served  Chardon  one  year,  his  associates  be- 
ing Alvin  Burgess  and  C.  P.  Henry. 

“He  had  been  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  since 
its  organization,  and  in  1844  came  to  the  Rock  River 
Conference,  and  became  a member  of  the  Central  Illinois 
Conference  at.  its  organization  in  1856.  He  was  sta- 
tioned in  Peoria  for  two  years.  He  then  spent  two  years 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  conference,  one  of  which  was 
on  the  Chicago  District.  Next  he  spent  four  years  on 
the  Peoria  District.  In  1858  he  was  appointed  Presid- 
ing Elder  on  the  Rock  Island  District,  and  upon  its  divi- 
sion was  continued  on  the  Kewanee  District  for  four 
years.  After  serving  Perry  Street,  Peoria,  two  years, 
and  laboring  as  Centenary  Agent  one  year,  he  was  made 
supernumerary  in  1881,  and  superannuated  in  1887. 

“He  was  a great  sufferer  from  the  time  he  laid  aside  the 
active  work  of  the  ministry  until  his  death,  but  triumphed 
through  the  grace  of  God. 

“His  wife,  with  whom  he  lived  in  loving  wedlock 
forty-one  years,  preceded  him  to  heaven  only  a little 
time,  having  died  June  7,  1870.  After  severe  and  pro- 
tracted sufferings,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  at  his  home  in 
Peoria  at  4 o’clock  Thursday,  August  14,  1873. 

“Father  Chandler  was  deeply  oious,  a man  of  power  in 
prayer  and  preaching,  a prudent  officer  in  the  Church  and 
a princely  leader  in  Israel.  He  was  loved  and  honored 
by  his  brethren,  and  now  that  God  has  called  him  home 


John  Chandler. 


513 

is  sincerely  mourned  by  all.”  He  was  a member  of  the 
General  Conferences  of  1848  and  1852.* 

John  P.  Kent  writes  from  Springfield,  Pennsylvania, 
under  date  of  February  11,  1825:  “The  happy  result  of 
a camp  meeting  held  in  Salem,  Erie  Circuit,  last  August, 
furnishes  another  proof  of  their  utility,  when  arranged 
and  conducted  with  propriety.  This  meeting  was  super- 
intended by  the  Rev.  Charles  Elliott ; and  as  I understand 
he  intends  sending  you  a particular  account  of  it,  I shall 
only  observe  in  general  that  the  exercises  were  attended 
with  a peculiar  unction  from  the  Holy  One;  and  that 
about  one  hundred  were  apparently  cut  to  the  heart. 
Since  that  time  the  work  has  spread  into  the  adjoining 
towns  of  Kingsville,  Monroe,  Sheffield,  etc.,  and  not  less 
than  three  hundred  have  joined  the  different  churches, 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  have  united  with  our  own 
church.  The  work  is  still  spreading,  though  somewhat 
abated  in  some  places.  May  it  deepen  and  widen  untiJ 
the  waters  of,  the  sanctuary  shall  universally  prevail 
( Methodist  Magazine , Vol.  VIII.,  p.  162.) 

The  Pine  Grove  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Craw- 
ford County,  was  organized  as  early  as  1825.  Meetings 
were  held  in  the  cabins  of  the  members  and  in  the  school- 
house  until  1858  when  a house  of  worship  was  ejected. 
Among  the  influential  members  were : David  Thurston. 

Job  Calvert,  John  McFadden.  Joseph  Baird  and  John 
Daniels.  The  class  has  formed  a part  of  several  circuits 
at  different  times — those  of  Saegertown,  Cochranton, 

*John  Chandler — Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on  trial, 
Ohio  Conference,  1824;  became  a member  on  probation  of  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organization,  1825;  full  connection, 
1826;  deacon,  1826,  Soule;  elder,  1828,  Roberts;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  transferred 
to  Rock  River  Conference,  1844;  became  a member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Illinois  Conference  at  its  organization,  1856;  deceased,  Pe- 
oria, 111.,  August  14,  1873.  Appointments — 1824,  Barnesville; 

1825,  Hartford;  1826,  Butler;  1827,  Chautauqua;  1828,  Windsor; 
1829,  Cleveland;  1830,  North  East;  1831,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.; 
1832-’33,  Erie;  1834-’35,  Springfield;  1836-’38,  Erie  District,  1839- 
’42,  Ravenna  District;  1843,  Chardon;  1844-’45,  Peoria,  111.;  1846, 
Southport,  111.;  1847,  Chicago  District;  1848-’51,  Peoria  District; 
1852-’54,  Agent  Peoria  Wesleyan  Seminary;  1855,  Pekin;  1856, 
Henry;  1857,  Wethersfield  and  Kewanee;  1858-’59,  Rock  Island 
District;  1860-’63,  Kewanee  District;  1864-’65,  Peoria,  Perry 
Street;  1866,  Centenary  Agent;  1867-’68,  supernumerary;  1869-72, 
superannuated. 


33 


5H 


History  of  Erie  Conference 


Townville  and  others — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  His- 
tory, 1899,  p.  546.) 

When  P.  D.  Horton  traveled  the  Chautauqua  Circuit 
in  1825  the  plan  of  the  circuit  was  as  follows:  Sabbath 

morning,  Coe's;  afternoon,  Jamestown;  Monday  morn- 
ing, Bentley’s;  afternoon.  Chestnut  Ridge;  Tuesday 
morning,  Vermont  settlement;  afternoon,  St.  Claii  s 
school  house;  Wednesday,  Judge  Burnet’s;  Thursday, 
Pickard’s;  Friday,  Carpenter's;  Saturday,  Frost’s;  Sab- 
bath morning,  Mile's;  afternoon,  Mayville;  Monday, 
Hitchcock's;  Tuesday,  Harmony;  Wednesday,  Pad- 
dock's ; Sabbath  morning,  at  a house  near  the  old  camp 
ground;  afternoon,  Phillips’;  Tuesday,  Bullocks;  Wed- 
nesday, Esq.  Tates;  Thursday,  Columbus;  Friday,  Ir- 
win’s ; Sabbath  morning,  Youngsville ; afternoon,  W ar- 
ren;  Monday,  Chandler’s  Valley ; Tuesday  morning,  Yan- 
kee Bush:  afternoon,  Joseph  Mead's;  Wednesday,  Kin- 
zua;  Thursday,  Dougherty’s;  Friday,  Brailey's;  Satur- 
day, Gibson's— a three  weeks’  circuit,  with  thirty  ap- 
pointments, and  about  six  hundred  members. — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  January  17,  1857.) 

Appointments  for  1826. 

The  Pittsburgh  Conference  met  in  Washington,  Pa., 
August  22,  1826.  Bishops  Joshua  Soule  and  Elijah  Hed- 
ding  were  present.  The  following  was  the  plan  of  work 
adopted  for  the  year:  Erie  District,  William  Swayze, 

Presiding  Elder;  Erie,  Nathaniel  Reeder,  Edward  Ste- 
venson; North  East  Henry  Knapp;  Lake,  Job  Wilson, 
John  P.  Kent;  Chautauqua,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  Zachariah 
Ragan  (the  minutes  of  the  quarterly  conferences  say  that 
Don  Prosser  served  two  months,  John  C.  Ayres,  two  and 
a half  months,  and  Zachariah  Ragan,  four  months)  ; 
Meadville,  John  W.  Hill,  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt;  Mercer, 
John  Leech,  Hiram  Kinsley.  Ohio* District,  Charles  El- 
liott, Presiding  Elder;  Grand  River,  Thomas  Carr,  John 
Scott;  Deerfield,  Philip  Green,  Peter  D.  Horton;  Hud- 
son, John  Crawford,  William  R.  Babcock;  Hartford, 
William  C.  Henderson,  Joseph  W.  Davis;  Youngstown, 
Robert  C.  Hatton,  Robert  Hopkins ; New  Castle,  Alfred 
Brunson.  This  year  the  name  of  French  Creek  was 
changed  to  “Meadville;”  Conewango  was  divided  be- 
tween the  Chautauqua  and  Lake  Circuits,  and  Mahoning 


Hiram  Kinsley. 


5*5 


was  changed  to  “Shippenville,”  and  connected  with  the 
Pittsburgh  District,  of  which  Thornton  Fleming  was 
Presiding  Elder.  James  Babcock  was  appointed  to  the 
circuit. 

The  Mahoning  Circuit  was  formed  in  1812,  and  was 
connected  with  the  Baltimore  Conference  until  1825.  It 
was  named  from  the  Mahoning  river,  which  afterwards 
formed  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Erie  Conference. 
All  its  territory  lay  south  of  the  Mahoning  river  until 
1817,  when  an  appointment  was  established  near  the 
mouth  of  Red  Bank,  and  in  1822  another  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  Hoover  in  Punxsutawney,  Jefferson  County,  Pa. 

Hiram  Kinsley. 

Hiram  Kinsley  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Franklin  County, 
Vt.,  December  17,  1799,  and  died  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula 
County,  Ohio,  January  23,  1887.  He  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  in 
1824,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference.  He  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  and  East  Ohio  Conferences  at  their  organization. 
He  was  forty-two  years  effective  and  twenty  years  Pre- 
siding Elder  on  the  Erie,  Jamestown,  Meadville  and  War- 
ren Districts.  He  was  a delegate  to  five  General  Con- 
ferences. He  was  supernumerary  in  1865,  and  super- 
annuated in  1869,  and  remained  in  this  relation  until  the 
close  of  his  life. 

“If  the  name  of  Hiram  Kinsley  is  kept  green  by  the 
Erie  Conference  until  a successor  appears,  it  will  long  re- 
main as  an  inspiration  to  our  preachers.  He  was  a little 
below  medium  in  size,  his  form  symmetrical  and  built 
compact  as  a crystal ; he  had  sharp,  angular  features,  and 
a voice  strong,  clear  and  musical  as  a flute ; he  was  never 
sick  and  seldom  had  an  ache  or  a pain.  He  was  thor- 
oughly converted  while  hearing  a class  in  school  recite  a 
lesson,  and  became  an  intense  student  of  the  Bible  and 
the  best  theological  writings.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  in  1834,  and  became  a member  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization.  In  Mr.  Kinsley, 
body  and  mind  were  happily  adapted  to  each  other,  and 
his  mental  powers  were  well  balanced.  In  middle  life 
this  equilibrium  was  somewhat  disturbed  by  severe  study 
— the  emotional  nature,  the  basis  of  social  intercourse  be- 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


516 


ing  to  some  extent  suppressed.  When  his  mind  was  ab- 
sorbed in  some  subject  of  thought,  as  was  the  case  almost 
daily,  he  was  like  a turtle  in  its  shell.  It  mattered  not 
where  he  was  or  who  were  present,  he  was  thinking — • 
was  not  there,  saw  nothing,  heard  nothing  until  he 
emerged  into  common  life.  This  peculiarity  was  not  un- 
derstood by  all;  some  considered  him  not  social.  His 
mind  was  keen,  incisive,  analytic,  logical,  prompt  to  act 
and  strong  in  its  movement.  He  was  an  examiner,  a 
reasoner,  an  exhorter.  As  he  advanced  in  an  argument 
he  left  behind  him  a trail  of  light.  Christianity  and 
Methodism  were  the  intellectual  and  moral  world  in 
which  he  lived,  and  he  could  conceive  of  nothing  higher 
or  better.  He  was  master  of  all  the  theologies  of  the 
time,  and  Methodist  doctrine  compared  with  other  doc- 
trines was  as  a gem  among  pebbles ; and  in  defending  his 
faith  against  Calvinism  and  other  systems,  for  many 
years  he  stood  forth  as  one  of  the  mighty  men  of  the 
conference.  Public  debates  were  not  to  his  taste;  the 
pulpit  was  his  throne,  and  as  a battery  set  in  defense  of 
the  truth,  it  was  second  in  power  to  no  other  in  the 
country. 

But  first  and  foremost  of  all  Mr.  Kinsley  was  a preach- 
er of  the  plain  gospel  of  Christ.  Nothing  else  did  he 
ever  bring  into  the  pulpit  except  under  the  pressure  of 
necessity.  He  preached  the  Word  because  his  soul  was 
saturated  with  it,  and  he  loved  it.  The  vows  of  God 
were  upon  him.  He  was  once  pastor  of  the  church  at 
New  Castle,  Pa.,  and  as  he  was  looking,  and  praying,  and 
preaching — deeply  anxious  that  the  church  might  be  re- 
vived— the  spirit  so  came  upon  the  congregation  that 
the  ordinary  services  were  interrupted  and  every  one  be- 
gan to  speak  as  the  Spirit  gave  him  utterance.  It  was 
the  prelude  to  a great  revival. 

Mr.  Kinsley  was  what  is  called  a conference  man.  He 
invariably  gave  attention  to  every  item  of  business  that 
came  before  that  body.  His  mind  was  constitutionally 
legal,  and  if  law.  Church  or  State,  was  likely  to  be  broken, 
he  was  ready  to  point  out  the  danger.  He  was  quick  to 
get  the  Bishop’s  eye  and  ear,  quick  to  speak,  spoke  in- 
stantly and  to  the  point,  said  enough  and  sat  down.  He 
spoke  often,  but  every  one  was  glad  to  hear  him.  He 
was  never  a bore.  He  had  the  courage  always  to  say 


Methodism  in  Mayville,  N.  Y and  T winsburg,  O.  517 


and  do  what  he  thought  should  be  said  and  done.  The 
favor  or  disapproval  of  others  had  no  influence  on  his 
conduct.  He  was  employed  seven  times  in  district  work, 
and  better  work  he  probably  never  did.  His  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  discipline  and  his  scrupulous  care  in 
seeing  that  it  was  carried  into  effect  kept  his  district  in 
an  orderly  and  healthy  condition.  As  one  set  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  gospel,  he  was  careful  to  see  that  no  heresy 
flourished  within  its  bounds.  He  was  honored  with  a 
seat  in  seven  General  Conferences.  He  was  highly  con- 
servative, and  went  only  as  the  Church  led  the  way. 

Withal,  Hiram  Kinsley  was  a most  manly  man.  His 
integrity  cut  like  a diamond.  He  was  sincerity  incarnate. 
He  was  incapable  of  any  affectation.  He  lived  in  charity 
with  his  brethren,  and  enjoyed  their  full  confidence  and 
utmost  respect.”* 

Methodism  in  Mayville,  N.  Y.,  and  Twinsburg,  O. 

The  Methodist  Society  at  Mayville,  N.  Y.,  was  organ- 
ized in  the  old  Court  House  in  the  latter  part  of  1826  by 
Joseph  S.  Barr  is.  There  were  six  members,  as  follows : 
Oliver  Hitchcock  and  wife,  Charles  P.  Young  and  wife, 
Henrietta  Hovey  and  E.  P.  Steadman.  Mr.  Hitchcock 
was  appointed  class  leader;  Mr.  Steadman  became  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburg  and  afterwards  of  the  Erie 
Conference.  Mayville  was  embraced  in  the  old  Chau- 
tauqua Circuit,  which  contained  thirty  appointments. 
Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  class,  a house  was  pur- 
chased at  a cost  of  $300  and  fitted  up  for  a place  of  wor- 
ship. In  1851  a substantial  church  was  built,  which  was 
replaced  in  1879  hy  a larger  and  more  commodious 

♦Hiram  Kinsley — Licensed  to  preach,  1825;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1826;  full  connection,  1828;  deacon,  1828, 
Roberts;  elder,  1830,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased-,  Geneva,  O., 
January  23,  1887.  Appointments:  1826,  Mercer;  1827,  Hartford; 

1828,  Youngsville;  1829,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1830,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.; 
1831,  North  East;  1832,  Cambridge;  1833,  Erie  District;  1834-6, 
Jamestown  District;  1837,  Cleveland  and  Ohio  City;  1838-9,  Mead- 
ville  District;  1840-2,  Warren  District;  1843-5,  Meadville  District; 
1846,  Agent,  Allegheny  College;  1847-8,  Springfield;  1849-50, 
Warren,  O.;  1851-2,  New  Castle;  1853,  Erie;  1854,  Panama; 
1855-’58,  Meadville  District;  1859-’62,  Warren  District;  1863-’64, 
Linesville;  1865,  supernumerary;  1866-’68,  Mentor;  1869-’86,  su- 
perannuated. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


.rr 


518 

building,  affording  ample  accommodations  for  the  large 
congregation  and  Sunday  School.  Among  the  influential 
members  of  the  society  for  many  years  were  William 
Gifford  and  wife,  Samuel  Whallon  and  wife,  Isaac  Moore 
and  wife  and  Mrs.  Henry  Clifford.  In  1882  the  society 
numbered  103  members  and  owned  property  in  church 
and  parsonage  estimated  at  $9,000. 

In  1835  the  first  class  at  Dewittville  was  formed  with 
ten  members,  and  the  same  year  a house  of  worship  was 
purchased  of  the  Baptists.  The  Summit  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  was  organized  and  a house  of  worship 
erected  in  1849. 

The  Twinsburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  was  or- 
ganized about  1826  at  Solomon  Upson  s house.  1 he 
first  members  were  Solomon  Upson  and  wife,  Asa  Upson 
and  wife,  Rebecca  Upson,  Aaron  Post  and  wife,  Anna 
Clark,  and  perhaps  others.  About  two  years  later,  under 
the  influence  of  a revival,  others  were  added  to  the 
church.  The  circuit  then  extended  from  Cleveland  to 
Akron.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1831, 
and  was  located  on  the  square  beside  Allen  s store — now 
Hanchett’s  store.  As  it  encroached  on  the  square  it  was 
moved  back  and  afterward  replaced  by  the  present  build- 
ing, which  was  erected  in  1848.  In  early  days  the  cir- 
cuit consisted  of  the  following  appointments:  Hudson, 

Twinsburg,  Streetsborough,  Northfield,  Fish  Creek, 
Brandywine,  Bainbridge,  Daco’s  Corners  and  Butler.  The 
parsonage  was  built  in  1840.  In  1859  William  Monks, 
the  pastor,  died,  and  H.  P.  Henderson  supplied  the 
charge  until  conference.  In  an  ancient  pamphlet,  entitled 
“The  Recollections  of  an  Old  Resident,”  it  is  stated  that 
the  class  was  formed  in  1821,  and  Asa  Epson  appointed 
class  leader. 

Mt.  Pleasant,  Doan’s  Corners,  Tallmadge,  Seavy  s. 

The  Mt.  Pleasant  class  was  organized  in  1826  by  John 
Leech  and  Hiram  Kinsley,  then  traveling  the  Mercer 
Circuit.  There  were  twelve  original  members.  A church 
was  built  in  1858,  and  cost  $1,000. 

The  first  Methodist  class  at  Doan’s  Corners,  finally 
moved  to  the  Hubbard  settlement  on  Kinsman  street, 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  was  formed  in  1826,  consisting  of  the 
following:  Aaron  Hubbard,  leader,  and  wife,  Oliver 


Mt.  Pleasant , Doan's  Corners , etc. 


5i9 


Marshall,  Israel  Hubbard  and  wife,  James  Sawtell  and 
wife,  Anna  Cozard,  Eleanor  Collin,  Philinda  Gould,  Wil- 
liam Mitchell  and  wife,  Timothy  Hurlbut  and  wife. 
Samuel  Bond,  Florida  Searls,  Samuel  Harris  and  wife, 
Harriett  Slate,  and  Nathan  Smith  and  wife. 

A class  was  also  organized  in  Tallmadge  the  same  year 
by  B.  O.  Plimpton,  traveling  the  Canton  Circuit.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  members:  Philo  Stone 

and  wife,  Joseph  Blacksley,  Ephraim  Clarke,  Allen 
Clarke,  Sylvester  Barnes,  “Mother"  Griswold,  Lucy 
Bradley,  Henry  Stevens  and  wife,  and  Shubel  Lowry  and 
wife. — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism ■,  Erie  Conference 

Vol.  L,  pp.  240-241.) 

A Methodist  class  began  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Eben- 
ezer  Seavy,  on  French  Creek  opposite  Saegertown,  in 
1826.  I.  H.  Tackitt  and  John  W.  Hill,  of  the  Meadville 
Circuit,  organized  this  class.  Its  principal  members 
were  Ebenezer  Seavy,  Jedediah  Freeman,  John  McGill 
and  Samuel  Harriman,  the  first  class  leader.  They  occu- 
pied Seavy’s  cabin  but  a short  time,  and  then  met  for 
several  years  on  the  second  floor  of  Foster's  distillery,  on 
the  same  farm.  Feeling  themselves  able  to  build  a house 
of  worship  they  erected  a frame  meeting  house  at  Fred- 
erick Hickernell’s,  two  miles  farther  up  the  creek,  which 
they  occupied  many  years.  Members  gradually  withdrew 
to  unite  with  the  Saegertown  and  other  classes,  and  as  a 
result  the  little  society  was  dissolved. — (History  of  Craze- 
ford  County , Warner,  Beers  & Co.;  p.  jdj.) 

William  Swayze,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Erie  District, 
says,  at  the  close  of  the  year : “We  have  had  five  camp 

meetings,  three  of  which  may  be  considered  as  beginning, 
continuing,  and  ending  in  the  spirit  of  reformation.  At 
these  three  hundred  and  fifty  were  hopefully  converted  to 
God.  One  hundred  and  fifty  came  forward  and  put  them- 
selves under  the  watch-care  of  the  Church,  preferring  in 
that  consecrated  spot  to  cast  in  their  lots  with  the  people 
who  had  taken  such  unwearied  pains  to  bring  them  from 
darkness  to  light.  Our  other  two  meetings  were  equal 
as  relates  to  appearance,  good  order  and  evangelical 
preaching.  We  think  we  speak  within  bounds  when  we 
say  four  hundred  were  converted  at  our  five  camp  meet- 
ings." 


520 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Johnson,  Holt,  Robinson,  Ayres,  Limerick — 1827. 

The  Pittsburgh  Conference  met  in  Steubenville,  Ohio, 
August  22,  1827,  and  the  presiding  Bishop,  Enoch 
George,  made  the  following  appointments : Erie  Dis- 

trict, William  Swayze,  Presiding  Elder;  Erie,  Job  Wil- 
son, Joseph  W.  Davis;  North  East,  Wilder  B.  Mack, 
John  C.  Ayres;  Lake,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  Zachariah  Ragan; 
Chautauqua,  John  Chandler,  John  Johnson  (the  quarter- 
ly conference  minutes  give  also  David  Preston) ; Mead- 
ville,  John  Leech,  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt;  Mercer,  John  P. 
Kent,  Samuel  Ayres  ; Shippenville,  James  Babcock.  Ohio 
District,  Daniel  Limerick,  Presiding  Elder;  New  Castle, 
Charles  Thorn,  Jonathan  Holt;  Youngstown,  Robert  C. 
Hatton,  Samuel  Adams;  Hartford,  Nathaniel  Reeder,  Hi- 
ram Kinsley;  Grand  River,  Thomas  Carr,  William  R. 
Babcock;  Cleveland,  John  Crawford,  Cornelius  Jones; 
Deerfield,  Edward  H.  Taylor,  George  W.  Robinson; 
Windsor,  William  C.  Henderson.  Shippenville  Circuit  is 
transferred  back  to  the  Erie  District ; Cleveland  takes  the 
name  of  “Hudson;”  and  Windsor  Circuit  was  formed 
out  of  Grand  River. 

John  Johnson  joined  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1826,  was  received  into  full  connection  in  1828,  and  or- 
dained deacon.  He  was  ordained  elder  in  1830,  and  lo- 
cated in  1834.  . He  served  Duck  Creek,  Chautauqua, 
Youngsville,  Shippenville,  Woodsfield,  two  years;  Dover 
and  Freeport.  “Mr.  Johnson  was  a very  tall  man,  awk- 
ward in  his  movements,  quite  near-sighted,  but  a straight- 
forward. deliberate,  systematic  preacher,  and  an  amiable 
man;  a close  and  thorough  student,  but  had  not  anima- 
tion enough  for  a Methodist  preacher.” — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  245.) 

Jonathan  Holt  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  1824,  and  appointed  third  preacher  on  the 
Greenfield  Circuit.  The  following  year  he  fell  into  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  by  the  division,  and  served  as 
junior  preacher  on  the  Short  Creek  Circuit.  In  1826  he 
was  received  into  full  connection,  ordained  deacon  and 
sent  to  the  Washington  Circuit.  In  1827  he  served  as 
junior  preacher  on  the  New  Castle  Circuit  with  Charles 
Thorn.  He  was  ordained  elder  in  1828.  and  served 
Beaver.  Then  follow  Little  Kanawha,  Parkersburg  and 


Johnson , Holt , Robinson , etc.,  182/.  521 

Lewis.  In  1832  he  was  “without  appointment,”  and  the 
next  year  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the  '‘General  Min- 
utes.” 

George  W.  Robinson  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  in  1825,  received  into  full  connec- 
tion and  ordained  deacon  in  1827,  and  ordained  elder  in 
1829.  He  served  the  following  charges:  1825,  Ohio, 

with  Archibald  McElroy  in  charge  of  the  circuit;  1826, 
Somerset;  1827,  Deerfield;  1828,  Little  Kanawha;  1829, 
Short  Creek;  1830-1831,  Washington  Circuit.  He  was 
supernumerary  in  1832  and  1833,  and  in  1834  he  located. 

Samuel  Ayres  fought  against  poor  health  all  his  minis- 
terial life,  and  was  defeated  at  last.  Like  so  many  others, 
lie  was  not  able  to  meet  the  demands  made  upon  the 
Methodist  itinerants  of  the  time.  Mr.  Gregg  says : “Mr. 
Ayres  was  a tall  man,  of  rather  poor  health,  wanting  in 
self-confidence,  easily  discouraged,  but  a most  amiable 
Christian  gentleman,  and  a good,  sound  preacher.”  He 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1827.  He  was  received  into  full  membership  in  1829, 
and  ordained  deacon  in  1830.  and  elder  in  1832.  He 
superannuated  in  1832,  but  such  was  his  love  for  the 
work  that  he  again  entered  the  effective  ranks  in  1835, 
but  despairing  of  a return  to  good  health,  felt  constrained 
to  ask  for  a location  in  1836.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine,  for  which  profession  he  had  studied 

during  the  years  of  his  superannuation.”* — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  /.,  p.  245.) 

Daniel  Limerick,  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Ohio  Dis- 
trict in  1827,  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1820.  He  was  received  into  full  connection  and 
ordained  deacon  in  1822,  and  ordained  elder  in  1824. 
He  was  but  one  year  in  the  work  within  our  bounds. 
He  became  an  influential  minister  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, and  was  called  home  in  1837.  “Mr.  Limerick 
was  a thick,  solidly  built  man,  of  medium  height,  and 

* Samuel  Ayres — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1827;  full  connection,  1829;  deacon,  1829,  Roberts;  elder,  1831, 
Hedding;  located  1836.  Appointments:  1827,  Mercer;  1828,  Lake; 
1829-30,  Springfield;  1831,  Franklin;  1832-4,  superannuated;  1835, 
Warren,  Pa. 


522 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


reputed  a good, practical  preacher.”* — ( Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  Vol.  L,  pp.  245-246.) 

Cornelius  Jones,  J.  C.  Ayres. 

Cornelius  Jones  was  born  in  Hinsdale,  Berkshire 
County,  Mass.,  May  20,  1800.  When  quite  young  he 
k>st  his  mother  and  sister,  and  this  seriously  impressed 
his  mind;  but  the  prevailing  opinion  of  the  day  was  that 
he  was  too  young  to  obtain  the  favor  of  God  and  that  it 
would  be  sinful  for  an  unregenerate  person  to  pray.  Un- 
der the  influence  of  such  teaching  he  wandered  far  from 
God.  In  1820  he  removed  to  Chardon,  Geauga  County, 
Ohio.  In  1821  he  attended  a meeting  for  the  purpose  of 
satisfying  his  mind  on  some  doctrinal  points,  but  was  con- 
victed upon  witnessing  the  administration  of  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  He  returned  to  his  home, 
and  while  praying  in  the  barn  and  pleading  for  mercy, 
God  sealed  his  pardon.  He  soon  felt  the  supreme  call  to 
preach  the  gospel  and  immediately  conferred  not  with 
flesh  and  blood.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  quar- 
terly conference  at  Rootstown,  Ohio,  in  1825,  and  the 
next  year  employed  as  a supply  with  Alfred  Brunson  on 
the  New  Castle  Circuit.  In  1827  he  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He  served  Cleveland, 
Deerfield,  Youngstown,  Mercer  and  Harmony.  His  last 
appointment  was  Allegheny  town  station,  where  he  en- 
tered enthusiastically  upon  his  work,  when  he  was  sud- 
denly called  away  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness.  His 
disease  turned  to  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  and  baffled 
all  medical  skill.  He  sweetly  fell  asleep  August  27,  1835. 
Mr.  Jones  was  grave  and  circumspect,  and  his  piety  was 
deep,  ardent  and  constant.  “Those  who  knew  him  best 
can  testify  that  they  never  heard  him  enter  into  conver- 
sation, or  utter  a word  inconsistent  with  the  dignity  of 
his  office  as  a gospel  minister.  For  several  years  he  not 
only  preached  the  doctrine,  but  enjoyed  the  blessing  of 
perfect  love — was  a living  witness  of  that  grace  which 

*Mr.  Limerick  served  the  following  appointments:  1820,  Green- 
ville; 1821,  Athens;  1822,  Knox;  1823-4,  Marietta;  1825,  Barnes- 
ville;  1826,  West  Wheeling;  1827,  Ohio  District;  1828,  West 
Wheeling  District;  1829,  Washington  Station;  1830-1,  Clarks- 
burg; 1832,  Washington;  1833,  Alleghenytown;  1834-5,  Wheeling; 
1836,  Uniontown. 


Letter  From  /.  C.  Ayres. 


523 


saves  to  the  uttermost.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , V ol. 

ii„  1836-37,  pp.  483-484.) 

J.  C.  Ayres  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  in  1804, 
and  was  called  to  the  heavenly  land  in  1899.  He  was 
converted  in  1823;  licensed  to  preach  in  1824,  and  ad- 
mitted to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1827.  He  became 
a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization;  was 
transferred  to  the  Iowa  Conference  in  1854,  and  became 
a member  of  the  Upper  Iowa  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion in  1856.  He  was  seventeen  years  a Presiding  Elder, 
and  a delegate  to  three  General  Conferences.  He  was  a 
worthy  pioneer,  and  loved  to  march  at  the  head  of  God’s 
advancing  hosts.  He  could  say  with  the  apostle : “This 
one  thing  I do.”  He  was  endowed  with  a tenacious  mem- 
ory and  his  mind  was  a storehouse  of  varied  and  useful 
knowledge.  His  faith  in  God  was  childlike.  He  re- 
tained his  intellectual  faculties  unimpaired  to  the  last,  and 
welcomed  the  coming  of  the  boatman  with  joy.f 

Letter  from  J.  C.  Ayres. 

The  following  letter  written  by  John  C.  Ayres  to  Reu- 
ben C.  Smith  in  March,  1899,  is  of  considerable  historic 
interest.  The  writer  had  already  passed  his  ninety-fifth 
year: 

“Dear  Brother:  In  accordance  with  your  request  I 

will  gladly  give  you  any  information  I can  in  regard  to 
my  early  history,  and  in  reference  to  the  country  in- 
cluded in  Meadville  District,  in  Erie  Conference.  In 
1826  William  Swavze  was  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Erie 

♦The  following  appointments  were  served  by  Mr.  Jones:  1827-8, 
Cleveland;  1829-30,  Deerfield;  1831,  Youngstown;  1832,  Mercer; 
1833,  Salem;  1834,  Harmony;  1835,  Alleghenytown. 

tJ.  C.  Ayres — Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1827;  full  connection,  1830;  deacon,  1830, 
Soule;  elder,  1832,  Emory;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Iowa  Conference, 
1854;  became  a member  of  the  Upper  Iowa  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1856.  Appointments:  1827,  North  East;  1828, 

Deerfield;  1829,  Shippenville;  1830,  Springfield;  1831,  Youngs- 
ville  and  Smethport;  1832,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1833-4,  Ashtabula; 
1835-6,  Mesopotamia;  1837,  Gustavus;  1838,  Youngstown;  1839-42, 
Erie  District;  1843-6,  Warren  District;  1847,  Mesopotamia;  1848, 
Ravenna  District;  1849-52,  Cleveland  District;  1853,  Agent  West- 
ern Reserve  Seminary;  1854,  Mt.  Vernon  and  Pioneer  Grove,  la.; 
1855,  Mt.  Vernon,  la.;  1856-9,  Davenport  District;  1860-3,  Vinton 
District;  1864-5,  Spring  Creek;  1866,  superannuated;  1867,  Jes- 
sup; 1868-’96,  superannuated.  Present  residence,  Bristow,  Kan. 


524 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


District,  Pittsburg  Conference.  J.  S.  Barris  and  Zach- 
ariah  Ragan  were  the  preachers  on  the  Chautauqua  Cir- 
cuit. Ragan  was  taken  sick  at  the  close  of  the  confer- 
ence and  did  not  get  on  to  the  circuit  until  the  third 
quarterly  meeting.  I was  employed  by  the  Presiding 
Elder  to  supply  his  place.  When  he  came  on  I was  re- 
moved by  the  Presiding  Elder  to  Lake  Circuit  to  supply 
the  place  of  John  P.  Kent,  who  had  left  the  work.  Job 
Wilson  was  the  preacher  in  charge  on  the  Lake  Circuit. 
A camp  meeting  was  held  by  the  elder  on  that  circuit  in 
Villenovia  in  the  month  of  June,  1827.*  It  was  an  ex- 
ceedingly unfavorable  time  on  account  of  the  rainy 
weather.  As  the  Presiding  Elder  and  I rode  over  to 
the  camp  ground  at  Forestville  it  rained  and  snowed. 
This  was  the  twenty-second  of  June. 

“Many  persons  had  built  tents,  but  did  not  go  on  to  the 
ground  the  first  day.  When  we  got  to  the  camp  there 
were  but  few  there,  not  enough  to  gather  at  the  stand  for 
service.  There  was  one  large  tent  on  the  ground  that 
was  not  occupied,  and  they  gathered  into  it  for  services 
The  men  rolled  logs  together  in  front  of  the  tent  and  sei 
them  on  fire,  which  furnished  light  and  heat  to  warm 
the  people,  and  an  interesting  sermon  was  preached  bj 
J.  S.  Barris  from  Isaiah  32 :2.  We  were  greatly  an- 
noyed by  rowdies,  sailors  from  Lake  Erie.  They  were 
led  on  by  a lawyer  from  Ohio,  who  was  skeptical  in  his 
views.  They  planned  to  burn  the  camp  on  Sunday  night 
The  plan  was,  as  the  ground  had  got  dry,  to  scatter  pow- 
der where  the  women  sat,  and  during  the  evening  service 
to  fire  the  powder  and  burn  the  camp;  also  to  set  the 
women's  clothes  on  fire.  Among  the  sailors  was  one  who 
had  a wife,  a member  of  the  church  and  on  the  camp 
ground,  and  he  notified  her  of  the  plan,  and  she  notified 
the  elder. 

“In  the  afternoon  on  Sunday  the  preachers  met  in  the 
preachers'  tent  for  consultation.  It  was  agreed  that  two 
of  the  preachers  and  the  elder  should  go  to  the  rowdies’ 
camp  and  secure,  if  they  could,  an  interview  with  the 
lawyer  and  get  him  to  come  on  the  stand  in  the  evening 
at  the  opening  of  the  services  and  read  and  explain  the 
law  of  New  York  on  the  protection  of  religious  meetings. 


*Gregg  says:  “Early  in  July,  1828.” 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline.  525 

He  readily  consented  to  do  so,  and  that  brought  all  the 
rowdy  element  to  hear  him  read  the  law  on  the  subject. 
They  supposed  he  would  give  them  full  license  to  do 
whatever  they  wanted  to,  but,  contrary  to  their  expecta- 
tions, he  gave  a striking  illustration  of  the  law  protecting 
religious  meetings.  Then  he  descanted  on  the  charactei 
of  the  meetings,  who  they  were  when  at  home,  and  why 
they  were  there  to  disturb  the  meetings,  that  they  were 
all  neighbors  at  home.  In  closing  his  address  to  them 
he  said  they  were  too  mean  to  be  cursed  by  a good  man. 
The  result  was  wonderful.  The  meeting  at  the  altat 
that  night  was  wonderful,  and  one  of  the  mourners  at 
the  altar  was  that  lawyer,  and  at  the  revival  he  was  con- 
verted, and  became  afterwards  Bishop  Hamline.  I had 
calculated  on  closing  the  meeting  on  Monday  morning, 
but  such  was  the  interest  that  they  could  not  close  till 
\\  ednesday.  As  the  result  of  the  meeting  one  hundred 
and  sixty-five  persons  were  converted  and  many  of  them 
became  Methodist  preachers.  The  Church  in  those  days 
held  what  they  called  ‘local  conferences,'  including  all 
the  local  preachers  of  the  district.  The  conference  that 
year  was  held  at  Gravel  Run,  near  Meadville,  Pa.,  where 
I was  recommended  to  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  to  be 
received  on  trial. 

“Your  brother  in  Christ, 

“J.  C.  Ayres.” 

Conversion  of  Bishop  Leonidas  L.  Hamline. 

Mr.  Hamline  had  come  from  his  home  in  Ohio  and 
boarded  with  Mr.  Edwards  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Kent  and  Prosser  families.  He  was  Calvinistic,  skep- 
tical, metaphysical.  He  came  under  the  influence  of  the 
sister  of  John  P.  Kent,  mother  of  Francis  A.  Dightou. 
who  loaned  him  “Fletcher's  Appeal,”  and  made  him  a sub- 
ject of  special  prayer.  The  relation  of  the  story  of  his 
conversion,  given  on  his  own  authority,  is  so  character- 
istic of  the  conversion  of  the  class  to  which  he  belonged, 
and,  withal,  gives  so  true  an  account  of  the  old-time 
camp  meeting,  that  we  condense  it  for  our  history. 

Mr.  Hamline  had  a conversation  with  a Methodist  min- 
ister, and  was  surprised  at  the  acuteness  of  his  intellect 
and  his  readiness  in  logical  argument.  Dr.  Walter  C. 


526 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


f 


Palmer,  author  of  the  “Life  and  Letters  of  L.  L.  Ham- 
line, D.  D.,”  relates  the  story: 

“The  third  day  after  this,  as  Mr.  H.  was  walking  in 
the  yard,  the  doctor  rode  up  and  asked  him  if  he  would 
visit  the  camp  ground. 

‘‘Hamline.  ‘You  are  not  serious  ?’ 

“Doctor.  ‘Get  into  my  carriage  and  I will  show  you.’ 
“Hamline.  ‘Then  I answer  no;  I cannot  ride  in  that 
direction.  Anywhere  else,  if  you  please.’ 

“Doctor.  ‘But  they  have  got  into  difficulty  with  the 
rowdies,  and  want  your  advice,’ 

“ ‘Go,  husband,’  said  Mrs.  H.,  who,  overhearing  the 
conversation,  had  come  to  the  door,  and  was  listening  to 
the  proposal  with  deep  interest. 

“Mr.  Hamline  looked  first  at  the  doctor  and  then  at  his 
wife,  as  uncertain  what  to  do,  or  whether  either  was  in 
earnest. 

“Hamline.  ‘Doctor,  you  say  they  are  in  trouble.’ 
“Doctor.  ‘Yes,  and  ought  to  be  protected  in  their 
rights.  I wish  you  would  go  over  and  help  them.’ 
“Hamline.  ‘Well,  this  is  the  legitimate  result  of  camp 
meetings;  yet,  as  you  say,  they  have  the  right — that  is 
the  legal  right — to  worship  God  or  Satan,  if  they  will, 
undisturbed.  I will  go  with  you  in  ten  minutes.’ 

“Mr.  Hamline  made  a hasty  preparation,  took  a seat 
in  the  doctor’s  carriage,  and  in  one  hour  was,  for  the 
first  time,  in  full  audience  of  a camp  ground.  He  had 
lived  thirty-one  years,  much  of  the  time  in  proximity  to 
such  meetings ; yet  though  often  urged,  he  had  never  ap- 
proached such  a scene.  As  he  neared  the  encampment 
his  curiosity  became  intense.  He  leaned  forward  in  a 
listening  attitude  to  catch  the  sound  of  many  voices  which 
struck  upon  his  ear.  He  expected  to  hear  the  wildest 
disorder,  and  the  most  incoherent  ravings,  but  the  dis- 
tant voices  which  greeted  him  were  all  in  concert  and 
harmony.  It  was  the  sound  of  praise  swelling  out  from 
the  midst  of  the  forest  in  slow  and  well  distinguished 
measure,  like  pealing  anthems  from  the  groves  of  para- 
dise. They  stopped  in  the  midst  of  straggling  parties  of 
profane,  vulgar  men,  whose  appearance  almost  justified 
Mr.  Hamline’s  preconceived  notion  of  a camp  meeting. 
But  alighting  and  leaving  the  horse  and  carriage  to  other 
hands,  in  a few  minutes  the  ‘outer  court’  was  passed,  and 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline.  5 27 

the  doctor  and  his  friend  entered  the  area  consecrated  to 
the  worship  of  Jehovah.  In  this  was  a very  large  as- 
sembly, standing  in  graceful  order,  and  singing  a hymn 
which,  after  the  manner  of  the  Methodists,  was  dined’ 
by  a minister,  who  occupied  a sheltered  platform  before 
them.  The  two  thousand  voices  which  made  the  music 
seemed  like  the  spontaneous  gushing  forth  of  super- 
abounding  joy.  Prayer  followed,  and  then  those  words, 

‘Content  with  beholding  his  face. 

My  all  to  his  pleasure  resigned, 

No  changes  of  season  or  place, 

Can  make  any  change  in  my  mind,’ 

were  poured  out  upon  the  depths  around,  and  creation 
seemed  to  be  hymning  its  thanksgivings  to  the  great  Au- 
thor of  life  and  its  beatitudes. 

“The  hymn  closed.  The  congregation  silently  settled 
down  into  their  seats  and  the  preacher  who  had  so  lately 
challenged  the  utility  of  chess  arose  to  address  them.  He 
named  a familiar  text,  which  in  its  exposition  and  dis- 
cussion, brought  to  view  the  depravity  of  the  heart  and 
the  necessity  of  an  incarnate  and  crucified  Savior.  He 
set  forth  man,  in  all  his  attributes,  fair  and  repulsive ; in 
his  guilt,  shame  and  misery,  and  in  one  other  feature, 
which  was  almost  new  to  Mr.  Hamline.  He  represented 
this  guilty  being  as  absolutely  helpless,  unable  to  turn 
and  do  good  works  ‘without  the  grace  of  God  by  Christ 
preventing  him,  that  he  may  have  a good  will,  and  work- 
ing with  him  when  he  has  that  good  will.’ 

“The  discourse  was  not  perfect.  It  had  not  that  exact 
unity  which  is  displayed  in  the  sermons  of  Wesley,  nor 
the  inimitable  simplicity  which  graces  his  masterly  pro- 
ductions. Yet  it  was  manly  and  convincing  in  thought 
and  delivery,  and  so  superior  to  Mr.  Hamline’s  ideas  of 
‘Methodist  preaching’  that  he  was  taken  wholly  by  sur- 
prise. He  was  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  not  one 
written  sermon  in  fifty  from  the  trained  theologians  of 
the  day  possessed  half  the  merit  of  this,  what  seemed  to 
be,  extempore  discourse. 

“The  preacher  closed  with  a pathetic  appeal  to  saints 
and  sinners,  endeavoring  to  rouse  the  zeal  of  the  former 
and  the  fears  of  the  latter.  He  was  successful.  Amens, 
blessings  and  hallelujahs  were  intermixed  with  sighs, 
groans  and  tears,  until  the  voice  of  the  preacher  was 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


drowned.  Unable  any  longer  to  be  heard  he  fell  back 
from  his  station,  and  standing  in  the  midst  of  ten  or 
twelve  of  his  brethren,  who  had  now  risen  to  their  feet, 
he  remained,  statuelike,  with  his  streaming  eyes  and 
supplicating  hands  uplifted  to  heaven,  and  all  the  deep 
fervors  of  his  soul  beaming  forth  in  his  expressive  fea- 
tures. In  this  posture  there  was  nothing  dramatic.  It 
was  evidently  unpremeditated  and  spontaneous.  Mr. 
Hamline  felt  it  to  be  so.  He  had  looked  for  greater  ex- 
travagances, but  he  expected  to  detect  a fraud  where  he 
now  plainly  perceived  the  convincing  evidences  of  deep 
sincerity.  He  had  never  before  witnessed  a spectacle  so 
purely  and  movingly  sublime.  The  holy  man  before  him 
seemed  gradually  to  be  transformed  in  every  shape  and 
lineament,  till  Mr.  Hamline  could  scarcely  realize  that  the 
great  Intercessor  Himself  had  not  suddenly  re-appeared,  to 
pour  His  healing  benedictions  on  the  vast  multitude.  At 
that  instant  there  was  a stir  in  the  midst  of  the  assembly. 
Mr.  Hamline  cast  his  eyes  in  its  direction  and  saw  a man 
in  the  meridian  of  life,  of  remarkably  athletic  appearance, 
rushing  through  the  crowd  toward  the  stand.  His  hands 
were  clenched  and  raised  toward  heaven,  and  his  fea- 
tures were  distorted  with  agony.  He  reached  what  was 
called  the  altar,  and  falling  upon  his  face  gave  one  shriek 
which  sounded  like  a note  of  despair,  and  lay  helpless 
and  silent,  a spectacle  to  the  gazing  multitude.  ‘Come 
forward,’  exclaimed  the  ministers  from  the  stand,  repeat- 
ing the  invitation  with  pressing  earnestness.  In  a minute 
their  words  were  responded  to  by  groans,  shouts,  shrieks, 
and  hallelujahs.  The  voices  of  the  preachers  were  heard 
no  longer,  but  they  continued  to  wave  their  hands  and  by 
gesture  invite  the  people  forward.  A rush  commenced 
for  the  altar,  and  scores  were  soon  kneeling  or  fallen 
within  it,  while  others  in  masses  were  pressing  around 
them,  mingling  their  loud  expressions  of  triumph  with 
the  wailings  of  their  unconverted  but  heart-stricken 
friends.  The  preachers  descended  from  their  stations, 
and  mingling  with  the  people,  pointed  sinners  to  the 
cross,  and  urged  the  devout  to  plead  in  prayer  for  their 


conversion. 


“Mr.  Hamline  watched  the  progress  of  the  scene  with 
emotions  which  he  could  scarcely  endure,  yet  could  by  no 
effort  suppress.  He  had  heard  just  such  scenes  de- 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline. 


529 


scribed.  He  supposed  that  a view  of  them  would  pro- 
voke in  his  bosom  no  other  feeling  than  disgust.  But  it 
was  otherwise.  He  felt  a solemnity,  an  awe  so  great  that 
a faintness  came  over  him;  and  unwittingly  he  leaned, 
pale  and  trembling,  against  a tree,  and  every  now  and 
then  his  hand  was  upon  his  heart,  as  though  it  were  un- 
easy and  pained  within  him.  Nor  did  he  observe  that  his 
friend,  with  a sangfroid  peculiar  to  himself,  eyed  him 
closely,  and  read  in  his  manner  the  perturbations  of  his 
mind.  At  length  the  doctor  said : 

“ ‘Mr.  Hamline,  suppose  we  step  forward  and  see  what 
is  going  on?’ 

“ ‘Doctor,  I am  sick  of  it.  This  is  a singular  scene, 
and  I am  at  a loss  what  to  think.  I believe  we  had  better 
return.’ 

“‘Tut!  We  must  stay  long  enough  to  speak  with 
these  ministers,  and  hear  one  or  two  more  of  them 
preach.’ 

‘•So  saying,  he  seized  Mr.  Hamline  by  the  arm,  and 
casting  at  him  a significant  glance,  as  much  as  to  say 
'are  you  frightened  ?’  drew  him  along  to  a position  where 
more  than  a hundred  sin-sick  souls  were  crying  for  mercy. 

“The  sight  was  wholly  new  to  Mr.  Hamline.  He  had 
never  until  then  seen  a sinner  convicted  to  the  point  of 
crying  aloud  in  the  presence  of  others  for  the  pardon  of 
sip.  Now,  to  behold  so  many  writhing  in  such  insup- 
portable agony,  though  he  strove  to  be  a stoic,  nearly 
overwhelmed  him.  But  he  endeavored  to  rally  himself, 
and  at  last  resolved  to  examine  one  convict  after  another 
more  minutely.  He  thought  to  detect  in  them  some 
tokens  of  affectation  or  hypocrisy,  which  would  relieve 
his  mind  of  the  growing  apprehension  that  this  was  di- 
vine power  moving  on  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

“The  first  on  whom  he  fixed  his  attention  was  a young 
man  kneeling  before  him,  with  his  face  in  his  handker- 
chief, uttering  suppressed  cries  for  nlercy;  and  though 
not  the  loudest  in  his  grief,  apparently  one  of  the  most 
earnest  in  petition.  With  the  right  hand  he  pressed  his 
handkerchief  to  his  face,  and  with  the  left  alternately 
clutched  the  railing  and  smote  his  breast.  I will  watch 
him,’  thought  Mr.  Hamline,  ‘until  I see  the  result.’  He 
fastened  his  eyes  upon  the  youth,  as  resolved  to  detect 
in  him  the  cause  of  his  real,  or  the  proof  of  his  pre- 


34 


530 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tended  distress.  For  half  an  hour  the  struggle  in- 
creased in  violence,  and  then,  from  exhaustion,  grew 
more  and  more  feeble.  At  last  the  young  man  became 
motionless  and  silent.  Mr.  Hamline  was  about  to  relin- 
quish his  position,  but  had  not  yet  turned  away  his  eyes 
when  the  young  man  began  to  say  in  an  undertone, 
‘Blessed  Savior!’  with  frequent  yet  solemn  repetitions; 
his  voice  meanwhile  waxing  louder,  and  his  manner  more 
and  more  confident  and  joyful,  till  at  last,  springing  to 

his  feet,  he  uttered  in  loud  accents  the  raptures  of  his 
soul.  What  was  Mr.  Hamline’s  surprise  to  find  from  his 
features,  till  now  concealed,  that  this  was  a youth  of 
his  acquaintance,  in  whose  good  sense  and  sincerity  he 
had  unbounded  confidence.  The  suspicion  of  fraud  was 
quickly  banished,  and  it  remained  to  inquire  for  the  cause 
of  so  great  sorrow,  succeeded  by  such  joy. 

“At  this  moment  Mr.  Hamline’s  attention  was  drawn 
another  way.  The  leader  of  this  melee — the  rude  athletic 
man  who  first  approached  the  altar — -had  risen  from  the 
ground,  and  with  loud  cries  for  mercy  was  plunging  this 
way  and  that  way  to  the  detriment  of  those  around,  and 
not  without  danger  to  himself.  A glance  or  two  satis- 
fied Mr.  Hamline  that  he  also  was  an  acquaintance.  In 
a civil  suit,  involving  petty  interests,  he  had  applied  for 
counsel,  and  this  had  revealed  his  character  to  Mr.  Ham- 
line in  a most  repulsive  light.  He  was  a sinner  extra- 
ordinary. But  his  appearance  did  not  indicate  that  he 
meant  to  continue  such.  He  was  repenting.  They  who 
knew  him  could  not  doubt  it.  His  lips  were  compressed 
and  unequivocally  bespoke  the  horrors  of  unhealed  con- 
trition. Mr.  Hamline  grew  dizzy  as  he  gazed,  and  like 
the  tones  of  the  last  trumpet  these  words  of  Jesus  fell 
upon  his  heart:  ‘Verily  I say  unto  you,  the  publicans 

and  harlots  go  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  before  you.’ 
The  word  of  God  is  ‘quick  and  powerful,’  but  the  Spirit 
makes  it  so.  Its  blow  was  heavy  then  on  the  conscience 
of  Mr.  Hamline.  He  became  sick  and  faint.  His  friend 
saw  it,  and  though  an  infidel,  he  was  for  a moment 
moved.  They  drew  back  from  a scene  so  uncongenial  to 
their  taste,  and  took  a seat  where  they  could  not  see,  yet 
might  hear  the  continued  expressions  of  grief  and  joy. 

“The  altar  scene  may  seem  to  the  reader  extravagant, 
even  for  a camp  meeting.  If  so,  we  will  not  dispute  the 


*1 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline. 


53 1 


point.  Say  it  was  extravagant;  or  in  other  words,  that 
there  was  more  excitement  manifest  than  the  philosophic- 
ally necessary  to  secure  the  moral  results  which  followed. 
In  the  case  of  such  admission,  why  was  not  Mr.  Hamline 
offended  and  repulsed  ? As  he  had  heard  them  described, 
and  as  his  imagination  had  pictured  them,  he,  above  all 
men,  had  loathed  these  disorders.  What  could  suddenly 
have  made  over  his  nice  sense  of  propriety — his  taste — 
to  an  approving,  or,  at  least,  to  a sympathetic  interest  in 
these  ‘wild'  proceedings?  That  a state  of  mind  had  oc- 
curred to  him  differing  from  all  he  conceived  possible  in 
such  circumstances,  is  indisputable.  How  happened  it? 
He  had  neither  sought  nor  avoided  it,  for  even  its  possi- 
bility had  never  once  occurred  to  him.  As  the  trout  ap- 
proaches the  angler’s  bait,  he  had  approached  the  place 
without  suspicion  that  anything  was  there,  except  a little 
food  for  coarse  levity  or  inquisitive  curiosity.  Two  hours 
had  scarcely  passed,  and  he  had  experienced  a solemn  con- 
viction of  the  error  of  this  opinion.  He  was  now  in  moral 
duresse.  With  a barbed  hook  in  his  jaws,  his  mind 
seemed  to  be  plunging  all  round  about,  vainly  seeking 
disentanglement,  while  every  fitful  effort  heightened  the 
torture  of  his  conscience  and  increased  the  force  of  its 
misgivings. 

“Will  it  be  charged  that  this  was  a morbid  state  of 
mind?  Descend,  then,  from  the  genus  to  the  species,  and 
define  this  morbid  state.  What  passion  was  diseased? 
Mr.  Hamline  was  not  a coward.  He  had  no  predisposi- 
tion to  religious  apprehensions.  He  had  heard  from 
childhood  up  the  most  moving  descriptions  of  the  woe 
and  wail  of  undone  souls.  These,  though  enforced  with 
appeals  of  chastened  eloquence  well  adapted  to  his  men- 
tal susceptibilities,  had  produced  no  saving  influence.  Yet 
now,  amid  scenes  which  seemed  only  calculated  to  pro- 
voke his  quick  disgust,  or  move  his  mind  to  merriment, 
he  was  ‘pricked  in  the  heart.’  Was  it  not  by  the  Holy 
Spirit?  The  frame  of  Mr.  Hamline's  mind  can  scarcely 
be  described.  It  was  nearest  to  the  state  of  wonder.  He 
had  no  longer  any  fixed  opinions  in  regard  to  what  he 
now  first  saw,  namely,  the  ‘disorders  of  Methodism.’  The 
confusion  of  his  mind  set  afloat  all  his  preconceived  views 
of  religion.  This  confusion  arose  from  the  stirrings  of 
his  heart. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“He  was  smitten,  and  the  blow  had  reached  and  wound- 
ed ‘the  inward  parts.’  Had  he  been  questioned  he  could 
not  have  explained  either  the  source  or  the  seat  of  the 
disorder ; nor  how,  nor  perhaps  why,  he  was  pained.  But 
whatever  he  might  or  might  not  have  answered,  the  un- 
easiness of  his  mind  could  not  be  concealed.  The  doctor 
saw  it,  and  though  hardened,  he  was  not  uninterested  to 
see  the  sharer  of  his  pleasures  so  taken  by  surprise.  For 
once  he  was  truly  in  a dissatisfied,  it  might  be  said,  a 
serious  mood.  For  once,  we  say,  because  seriousness  was 
neither  his  habit  nor  his  tendency.  This  an  observing 
stranger  would  easily  have  inferred  from  his  expressive 
physiognomy.  On  his  face  were  so  plainly  pictured  the 
mischiefs  of  his  heart  that  it  was  difficult  to  behold  him 
and  not  divine  his  temper.  He  was  full  of  wit,  and 
sophistry,  and  guile.  None  knew  better  how  to  play  a 
part,  and  to  conceal  the  hand  that  played  it;  none  knew 
better  how  to  enjoy  the  ripening  plot.  He  had  a vigor- 
ous, perverted  intellect.  In  religion  he  was  by  turns  every- 
thing, and  of  course  at  heart  nothing.  He  discarded 
rev.elation,  ridiculed  devotion,  and  presumed  that  God  (if 

God  there  were)  was  busy  enough  about  his  own  affairs 
without  ‘impertinently  interrupting  the  quiet  and  pleas- 
ures of  mankind.’  He  presumed  Deity  was  not  so  ‘con' 
summate  a tyrant  that  he  would  create  corrupt  or  sinful 
beings  merely  to  torture  them  in  hell.’ 

“The  doctor  had  not  always  been  so  reckless  of  religion. 
His  youthful  cogitations  were  by  turns  somewhat  de- 
vout; but  he  suffered  his  growing  passions — not  his  rea- 
son— to  remodel  his  pliant  creed.  His  heart  had  min- 
istered moral  poison  to  his  brain  till  both  were  charged 
with  the  infection.  One  result  was  the  loss  of  philan- 
thropic sympathies — a dreadful  hardening  of  the  heart. 
This  had  increased  upon  him  in  the  progress  of  his  life 
till  he  had  nearly  become  a stranger  to,  pathetic  states 
of  mind,  so  that  when  propriety  demanded  it  his  counte- 
nance was  reluctant  to  put  on  a shade  of  gravity.  At  this 
time  his  humor  faltered  of  its  own  free  accord;  but  his 
features  were  more  comical  from  the  opposite  and  mixed 
emotions  they  betrayed.  That  archness,  so  habitual,  still 
lurked  in  the  corners  of  his  eyes,  while  the  unwelcome, 
graver  sympathies,  which  were  ‘pilgrims  and  strangers’ 
in  his  bosom,  seemed  to  be  timidly  invading  his  heart, 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline. 


533 


and  spreading  their  half-unfurled  banners  over  his  re- 
sisting, agitated  countenance.  Happy  for  him  (for  he 
died  a hopeless  death)  had  he  then  resigned  himself  to 
the  wooings  of  the  Spirit ! 

“Mr.  Hamline  was  not  regardless  of  the  doctor’s  man- 
ner; for  his  pride  was  interested  to  find  in  the  bosom  of 
his  obdurate  infidel  companion  such  emotions  as  had 
suddenly  sprung  up  within  his  own.  Of  course,  when  a 
shade  of  slight  concern  spread  along  the  lines  of  the  doc- 
tor’s changing  countenance  it  gave  Mr.  Hamline  lively 
satisfaction.  Little  was  said  by  either;  the  crisis  was  on 
one  side  too  painful  for  metaphysics,  and  on  the  other 
too  grave  for  wit  or  ridicule. 

“Whether  the  scene  at  the  altar  be  deemed  extravagant 
or  not,  a strange  concern  about  religion  was  spread 
abroad  among  the  people.  It  checked  the  rudeness  of 
impiety,  and  hushed  all  profane  disorder.  It  now  seemed 
that  the  restraints  of  law  were  needless;  but  to  make  the 
matter  absolutely  sure,  it  was  concluded  that  the  protect- 
ing statute  be  read,  and  the  congregation  warned  against 
disorderly  behavior.  Mr.  Hamline  was  called  upon  to 

execute  this  service.  He  declined,  but  the  invitation  was 
repeated  in  a very  urgent  manner,  and  the  doctor  adding 
his  solicitations,  and  offering  to  ‘stand  by  him/  he  as- 
sented. 

“A  horn  gave  a few  loud  blasts,  and  in  a short  time 
the  songs  and  prayers  were  hushed.  Mr.  Hamline,  with 
his  companion  and  the  preachers,  ascended  the  stand, 
and  sat  where  he  had  an  opportunity  to  observe  the  regu- 
lations for  public  worship.  Throngs  of  people  were  gath- 
ering from  all  directions  and  silently  dropping  into  their 
seats;  their  eyes  generally  directed  toward  the  stand. 
Mr.  Hamline  thought  that  he  himself  was  the  object  of 
universal  and  inquiring  observation.  Some  mistook  him 
for  a preacher  just  arrived,  but  many  knew  him;  and 
others  had  received  hints  as  to  his  real  character,  and  his 
dislike  of  camp  meetings.  Not  knowing  what  could  be 
his  errand  in  the  stand  they  watched  him,  of  course,  with 
inquisitive  curiosity.  He  was  not  in  a state  of  mind  to 
overlook  this  demonstration.  He  felt  a certain  moral 
nakedness  within  him  which  rendered  these  prying 
glances  unacceptable.  He  moved  backward  on  his  seat, 
which  was  crowded,  and  partially  screened  himself  be- 


534 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


hind  the  person  of  the  doctor.  But  he  still  grew  more 
and  more  uneasy  and  embarrassed,  till  he  seemed  like  a 
culprit  at  the  grand  assize,  brought  forth  and  exposed  to 
the  whole  universe. 

“At  the  very  crisis  of  this  inconvenient  state  he  was 
told  to  ‘proceed.’  The  assembly  was  now  waiting  in 
perfect  order  and  stillness.  With  a paper  containing  a 
lease  of  the  ground,  and  a volume  of  the  New  York 
statutes,  Mr.  Hamline  advanced  to  the  front  of  the  stand, 
and  with  a perturbation  which  was  manifest  to  all  pro- 
ceeded to  explain  the  legal  rights  of  the  worshipers,  and 
the  liabilities  of  those  who  should  disturb  them. 

“The  embarrassment  of  Mr.  Hamline  was,  perhaps, 
the  remote  means  of  his  conversion.  It  surprised  many, 
and  was  ascribed  at  once  by  a large  proportion  of  the 
pious  to  incipient  conviction.  What  followed?  While  he 
stood  before  them  a mark  for  the  arrow,  hundreds  of 
prayers  ascended  to  God  in  his  behalf.  For  the  incidents 
of  that  hour  Mr.  Hamline  was  heard  in  after  life  to 
praise  God. 

“But  to  conclude.  Mr.  Hamline's  views  of  camp  meet- 
ings were  known  abroad.  The  irreligious,  of  course, 
surmised  that  he  would  speak  professionally,  while  in  his 
private  feelings  he  would  condemn  ‘such  delusions/  It  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  he  himself  premeditated  any  grave 
defense  of  camp  meetings.  He  proposed  to  expound  the 
stature  and  retire  from  observation.  But  as  he  proceeded 
he  grew  confident,  and  went  on  to  say  that  this  was  his 
debut  upon  a camp  ground;  that  he  had  looked  for  re- 
pulsive exhibitions,  but  that  the  very  things  which  in  de- 
scription had  disgusted  him  appeared  inoffensive  to  the 
eye.  He  then  spoke  to  the  disorderly,  assuring  them  that 
‘he  who  had  the  cowardice  to  interrupt  these  solemnities 
was  too  mean  to  be  cursed  by  any  decent  man/  ” 

William  Swayze,  the  Presiding  Elder,  privately  and 
personally,  invited  Mr.  Hamline  to  the  altar  at  the  inquiry 
meeting  which  followed  the  sermon,  but  he  was  not  pre- 
pared for  this  step ; but  from  this  day  deep  conviction  of 
sin.  from  which  he  struggled  in  vain  to  get  free,  was  his 
daily  experience.  September  io,  1828,  his  only  child 
died,  and  he  received  it  as  a judgment  of  God  for  his 
wickedness.  We  need  not  follow  him  through  his  strug- 
gles. We  pass  on  to  the  closing  scene.  It  was  at  a 


Conversion  of  Bishop  Hamline. 


535 


|J9|2| 


prayer  meeting  on  a rainy  night.  A young  man,  kneel- 
ing at  his  side,  said:  “I  feel  that  if  you  do  not  embrace 

religion  to-night  you  never  will.”  Mr.  Hamline  replied: 
“So  I think.” 

“The  young  man  paused  a little  and  then  exclaimed : 
T cannot  give  you  up!’  and  turning  aside  commenced 
praying  aloud.  He  had  uttered  but  a few  words  when 
a divine  influence  was  shed  upon  the  little  assembly. 
Again  all  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  in  a few  minutes 
every  voice  was  once  more  pleading  in  prayer.  Mr. 
Hamline  felt  the  descending  power.  For  a minute  or 
two  he  retained  his  kneeling  posture,  but  his  desires  for 
salvation  grew  more  and  more  vehement,  till  at  last,  for- 
getful of  everything  but  the  wants  of  a soul  making  its 
last  effort  for  eternal  life,  with  one  unrestrained  outcry 
for  mercy  he  threw  himself  on  the  floor.  Mrs.  Hamline 
flew  to  him  in  great  consternation,  and  others  gathered 
round,  ready,  if  there  were  need  or  opportunity,  to  do 
what  might  be  done  to  soften  the  features  of  a scene  so 
bold  and  rugged.  But  God  was  also  there,  and  Mr. 
Hamline  had  naught  to  do  with  any  other.  He  did  not 
know  until  afterward  informed  that  his  wife  had  hung 
over  him  so  long  in  silent  agony. 

“The  witnesses  say  that  for  one  hour  and  a half  Mr. 
Hamline  continued  in  this  prone  posture.  Such  was  the 
violence  of  his  struggle  for  salvation  that  his  hands  and 
arms  were  in  constant  agitation,  reaching  up  with  violent 
efforts,  as  if  to  grasp  something  above  him  and  beyond 
his  reach.  His  states  of  mind  during  the  struggle  were 
as  follows : Always  till  that  evening,  when  he  attempted 
to  pray,  it  seemed  to  him  that  no  one  heard  him.  He 
felt  like  an  atheist,  though  he  thought  as  a believer. 
When  he  threw  himself  on  the  floor  the  movement  was 
induced  by  the  sudden  consciousness  that  Jesus  was  near 
and  listening  to  his  prayer.  As  he  fell  backwards,  with 

his  face  toward  the  ceiling,  Christ  seemed  to  be  just 
above  him.  He  felt  that  he  could  almost  reach  him,  and 
the  unwearied  motion  of  his  hands  was  sympathetic  with 
the  struggle  of  the  heart  to  lay  hold  on  him.  The  time 
that  he  lay  prostrate  in  this  manner  was  spent,  with  two 
or  three  momentary  interruptions,  in  exclaiming,  with  the 
utmost  effort  of  his  voice,  ‘Come,  Jesus!’  or  ‘Help  me. 
Jesus!’  without  any  important  variations  of  language. 


536 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  interruptions  were  as  follows:  In  the  midst  of  his 

struggles  it  came  suddenly  to  his  mind,  as  though  whis- 
pered by  the  lips  of  the  Savior,  ‘Will  you  now  give  up 
your  child?'  and  instantly  his  whole  heart,  with  a new, 
strange  outflow  of  consenting  emotions,  said,  ‘Yes,  yes; 
I do,  I do ! After  a little  time  it  was  again  suggested, 
‘Can  you  now  forgive  your  enemies?’  and  in  the  same 
full,  hearty  manner  he  exclaimed,  ‘Yes,’  feeling  at  the 
same  moment  that  he  would  fain  have  all  his  worst  ene- 
mies in  his  arms  at  once  that  he  might  press  them  to  his 
bosom.  After  a little  it  was  again  suggested,  ‘Can  you 
now  give  up  yourself  and  all  you  have  forever  to  Christ,  to 
do  with  you  and  with  it  as  shall  please  Him?’  and  again, 
with  an  unspeakable  fulness  and  freeness,  his  heart  re- 
plied, ‘Yes,  all — all — I give  up  all  forever!’ 

“The  experienced  Christian  will  doubtless  perceive  that 
this  was,  with  Mr.  Hamline,  the  beginning  of  a new  and 
heavenly  life.  Such  a yielding  up  of  all  things  is  never 
accomplished  by  the  unregenerate  heart.  Just  then,  when 
he  felt  so  full,  and  spontaneous  a flowing  of  his  affections 
in  the  unaccustomed  channels  of  resignation  and  charity, 
the  regenerating  work  was  wrought.  But  Mr.  Hamline 
knew  it  not.  He  never  once  suspected  it.  He  returned 
again,  therefore,  from  these  specific  exercises  of  submis- 
sion, self-consecration  and  charity  to  pleading  with  Jesus. 
This  he  continued  until,  his  strength  gradually  failing, 
he  could  no  more  whisper,  and  at  last,  from  physical  ex- 
haustion, became  silent. 

“There  is  a difference.  Conversion  is  one  thing,  and 
its  evidence,  or  the  inward  witness  of  it,  another.  They 
are  not  necessarily  simultaneous.  Mr.  Hamline,  now  re- 
generated by  the  Holy  Ghost,  thought  his  quiet  state  one 
of  perfect  stupidity. 

“He  said  to  himself,  ‘ ’Tis  done!  This  was  my  last 
effort,  and  Christ,  who  came  so  near,  has  left  me  for- 
ever!’ ‘How  do  you  feel  now?’  asked  a venerable  saint, 
since  glorified.  ‘Stupid!  Stupid!’  said  Mr.  Hamline. 
‘Ah !’  said  she,  ‘you’ll  feel  better  to-morrow.’  She  under- 
stood better  than  the  new-born  disciple  what  were  the 
symptoms  of  commencing  life. 

“Mr.  Hamline  had  returned  to  his  lodgings.  It  was 
late,  but  he  said  to  his  wife  before  they  retired,  ‘Let  us 
once  more  try  to  pray.’  So  soon  as  they  had  kneeled 


53» 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


.... 


clown  a gentle  melting  came  upon  his  soul  which  quite 
took  him  by  surprise.  ‘Possibly/  thought  he,  ‘all  is  not 
lost.  There  may  be  some  hope  that  I shall  yet  obtain 
religion/  Musing  in  this  wise  he  lay  down  and  slept. 

“In  the  morning  he  arose  without  the  sense  of  any 
peculiar  tenderness,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  dressed  de- 
sired Mrs.  Hamline  to  leave  him  alone.  As  she  retired 
he  turned  toward  the  table  on  which  the  Bible  lay.  The 
sight  of  this  book  caused  his  heart  to  throb  with  unex- 
pected emotions.  He  stepped  quickly  across  the  room, 
opened  the  book,  and  his  eye  first  lighted  on  these  words, 
‘Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled;  ye  believe  in  God,  be- 
lieve also  in  me/  John  14,  1.  His  whole  heart  seemed 
in  a moment  absorbed  in  meditating  the  force  of  this  lan- 
guage. ‘Why  am  I troubled?'  thought  lie.  ‘Does  not 
Jesus  utter  these  words!  Why  did  I not  think  and  feel 
that  it  was  His  own  language  addressed  to  a wretch  like 
me?  Yes,  I believe  in  God,  the  Creator,  the  Judge,  the 
Avenger,  and  my  heart  is  “troubled!”  Why  have  I not 
believed  also  in  Jesus,  the  Savior,  the  bearer  of  my  sin 
and  punishment,  and  thus  eased  my  troubled  conscience?’ 
While  he  thus  mused  on  the  words  of  his  Lord  they 
seemed  to  go  down  into  the  very  depths  of  his  soul  and 
spread  through  all  its  parched  wastes. 

“He  lay  the  Bible  open  on  the  side  of  the  bed,  dropped 
on  his  knees,  still  pondering  the  words  which  had  so 
deeply  affected  him.  In  the  midst  of  these  exercises  it 
occurred  to  him  to  ‘pray/  Raising  his  eyes  upward  to  do 
so  Jesus  again  seemed,  as  on  the  previous  evening,  to  be 
just  above  him.  He  saw  nothing  at  this  or  any  other 
time,  but  was  conscious  rather  of  the  presence  of  the  Sa- 
vior. His  first  words  were,  ‘Jesus,  I cannot  let  Thee  go!’ 
These  he  deliberately  repeated;  and  in  the  meantime  a 
struggle  within  corresponded  with  these  outward  expres- 
sions. He  was  like  a man  who,  fallen  in  deep  waters, 
seizes  with  thumb  and  finger  the  edge  of  a plank.  Afraid 
to  let  go,  in  order  to  attempt  a firmer  hold,  and  unable 
without  great  effort  to  retain  his  present  grasp,  he  can 
do  no  more  than  exert  all  his  energies  to  hold  on.  So 
with  Mr.  Hamline.  A little  faith  had  grasped  the  Sa- 
vior slightly,  as  it  were,  by  the  hem  of  the  garment,  and 
the  struggle  was  to  retain  that  slender  hold.  Each  repe- 
tition of  the  words  seemed  to  increase  his  confidence  and 


Elisha  Warner. 


539 


bring  the  Savior  nearer  to  him,  until  at  last  he  changed 
the  former  language  for  this:  ‘Jesus>  Thou  canst  not 

cast  me  off!’  This  he  also  repeated  slowly,  feeling  as  he 
did  so  that  Christ  approached  nearer  and  nearer,  until 
at  last  He  seemed  to  come  down  into  his  soul,  and  in  all 
the  fulness  of  His  presence  take  up  His  abode  within. 
All  was  now  changed.  Mr.  Hamline  exclaimed,  ‘O 
Jesus,  Thou  art  within  me!’  and  that  Scripture  was  borne 
to  his  heart.  ‘Christ  in  you  the  hope  of  glory.'  He  con- 
tinued but  a moment  on  his  knees,  for  a divine  power 
seemed  to  raise  him  to  his  feet.  He  hurried  this  way  and 
that  through  the  chamber,  looking  at  his  hands,  and  press- 
ing his  own  flesh  as  though  he  would  be  convinced  that 
he  was  himself  and  not  another.  Jesus  had  so  fully  pos- 
sessed his  whole  soul  that  he  seemed  to  have  lost  his  own 
being,  and  to  have  become  merged  or  swallowed  up  in 
Christ.  He  was  born  again.  He  knew  it.  As  the  living 
are  conscious  of  life,  so  Mr.  Hamline  was  conscious  that 
he  had  been  raised  to  newness  of  life.  O how  he  ex- 
ulted in  the  fulness  of  this  life!  What  weeks  and  months 
of  holy  rapture  he  enjoyed,  and  how  replete  with  ‘jov  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory’  were  his  days  and  nights  as 
he  still  pressed  onward  to  the  higher  beatific  state!'' — 
(Palmer,  Life  and  Letters  of  Leonidas  L.  Hamline,  pp. 

30-59) 

Elisha  Warner. 

“Among  the  early  Methodist  local  preachers  in  Trum- 
bull County,  Ohio,”  says  Rev.  William  M.  Osborn,  writ- 
ing many  years  ago,  “was  the  eccentric  Elisha  Warner, 
who  still  lives  at  a good  old  age  to  blow  the  gospel  ‘ram's 
horn'  on  the  banks  of  the  Upper  Mississippi.  One  of  his 
early  acquaintances  in  Ohio  was  Hon.  Elisha  Whittle- 
sey, who  had  then  an  attorney’s  office  in  Canfield,  Ohio. 
Hearing  that  his  friend,  Elisha  Warner,  had  been  au- 
thorized to  preach,  he  resolved  on  the  first  opportunity 
to  test  Mr.  Warner’s  ecclesiastical  qualifications  for  the 
office  and  work  to  which  he  professed  to  be  called.  Such 
an  opportunity  was  not  long  wanting,  for  on  the  first 
meeting  in  Judge  Whittlesey’s  office  something  like  the 
following  examination  took  place: 

“Judge  Whittlesey.  Well,  Mr.  Warner,  I am  in- 
formed that  you  have  been  authorized  by  the  Methodist 


540 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Episcopal  Church  to  preach  the  gospel.  What  do  you 
think  you  can  do?’ 

“Brother  Warner.  Why,  yes,  judge,  in  a big  house 
there  are  not  only  vessels  of  honor,  but  also  of  dishonor. 
The  chinaware,  you  know,  is  employed  to  set  before  law- 
yers, doctors  and  great  ones  of  the  earth;  but  you  must 
recollect  that  pewter  platters  performed  just  as  important 
offices  in  our  mothers’  households  as  those  of  a more 
genteel  and  elegant  character.  Your  ‘established  clergy’ 
comprise  in  our  religious  households  the  chinaware,  while 
your  obedient  servant  passes  only  for  a pewter  platter. 

“Judge  Whittlesey.  But  really,  friend  Warner,  do 
you  possess  sufficient  learning  to  handle  such  a polished 
instrument  as  the  silver  trumpet  of  the  gospel  ? Remem- 
ber, ‘no  man  taketh  this  honor  to  himself  but  he  who  is 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron.' 

“True,  sir;  but  consider  how  it  was  under  the  law. 
Silver  trumpets  were  ornamented  and  beautiful.  But  you 
are  aware  that  the  priests  sometimes  employed  a less 
comely  instrument  in  the  worship  of  God,  even  the  un- 
couth and  crooked  ram's  horn;  and  I leave  you  to  de- 
cide which  of  the  two  was  most  effective  when  the  Lord 
overthrew  and  demolished  the  walls  at  Jericho.  If  Elisha 
Warner  were  to  sound  the  silver  trumpet  of  the  gospel  it 
would  be  as  inharmonious  as  the  notes  of  a raven;  but 
with  the  God-given  ram’s  horn  he  may  make  the  walls 
of  a second  Jericho  tremble  before  he  dies. 

“Judge  Whittlesey.  Friend  Warner,  will  you  be  so 
good  as  to  inform  me  what  college  you  received  your 
education?  None,  you  know,  are  thought  fit  to  preach 
the  gospel  unless  they  are  liberally  educated ; pray  tell  me 
what  are  your  attainments? 

“Brother  Warner.  At  a rather  late  day,  sir,  I took  my 
position  as  a student  in  Brush  College,  an  institution  of 
natural  learning  situated  in  the  beech  woods  of  Ohio, 
under  the  super  intendency  of  one  Professor  Hard  Work, 
an  excellent  tutor,  but  exacting  to  a fault;  and  these 
brawny  hands  and  sunburned  brow  of  mine  will  evi- 
dence to  you,  sir,  that  I performed  well  my  task.  For 
many  years  I toiled  in  darkness  before  I obtained  suffi- 
cient knowledge  of  myself  and  God  to  know  ‘that  the 
just  shall  live  by  faith !’  Having  suddenly  advanced  to 
the  ‘believer’s  degree,’  I received  a ‘diploma,’  which  I 


u 


Luther sburg.  541 

I always  carry  in  my  bosom,  which  reads:  ‘The  Spirit 

itself  beareth  witness  with  our  spirit  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God.’  ‘Be  thou  faithful  unto  death  and  I will 
give  thee  a crown  of  life/ 

“Judge  Whittlesey.  Very  well,  Mr.  Warner,  be  so 
kind  as  to  give  me  some  information  concerning  your 
knowledge  of  mathematics.  As  an  English  student  I 
dare  say  you  are  well  posted  in  this  branch  of  science. 

“Brother  Warner.  You  know,  sir,  this  is  an  age  of 
progress,  and  instead  of  bothering  my  head  with  a multi- 
plicity of  rules,  I have  merged  them  all  in  one,  which  for 
convenience  sake  we  denominate  the  ‘Golden  Rule/  found 
in  Matthew’s  gospel:  ‘Therefore,  all  things  whatsoever 
ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  SO  to 
them;  for  this  is  the  law  and  the  prophets/ 

“Judge  Whittlesey.  Well  done,  sir;  your  gospel 
mathematics  is  better  than  Euclid’s.  Now  be  good 
enough  to  inform  me  what  grammer  you  studied,  and 
what  are  its  principal  parts  of  speech? 

“Brother  Warner.  I regret  to  say,  sir,  that  the  edi- 
* tion  of  my  grammar  is  one  with  which  lawyers  and  doc- 
tors are  ill  acquainted,  as  it  is  the  grammar  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  its  principal  parts  of  speech  are  but  three, 
‘Faith,  Hope  and  Charity,  these  three;  but  the  greatest 
of  these  is  charity.’  ” 

Here  ended  the  examination,  which  impressed  the  judge 
so  favorably  as  to  bring  from  him  the  declaration  that 
JS  “Mr.  Warner  would  pass,  for  he  had  shown  himself  a 

scholar  and  a workman  that  had  no  reason  to  be 
ashamed.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  I.,  pp.  241-250.) 

T 

Luthersburg. 


m 


In  1827  David  Kennison,  traveling  the  South  Branch 
Circuit,  Baltimore  Conference,  preached  the  first  sermon 
in  Luthersburg  in  the  barroom  of  Lebbeus  Luther’s  tav- 
■I  ern.  He  organized  the  first  class  in  Benjamin  Carson’s 

I barn  near  New  Salem  with  the  following  members : Fred- 

erick Hollopeter,  Mary  Hollopeter,  Joseph  Lines,  Eliza- 
beth Lines,  Mary  Nelson,  Daniel  Irwin,  James  Taylor, 
Mary  Taylor,  Mrs.  Patter  and  Daniel  Barrett,  who  was 
the  class  leader.  It  was  then  a part  of  Philipsburg  Cir- 
cuit of  the  Baltimore  Conference.  This  circuit  embraced 


542  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

% 

the  Philipsburg,  Clearfield  Court  House,  Sinnamahoning, 
Hickory  Kingdom,  Luthersburg  and  Cherry  Creek  ap- 
pointments. It  was  a four  weeks’  circuit  in  1828  when 
David  Steel  and  M.  Pierce  were  the  circuit  preachers. 
In  1829  James  Lanks  and  Zachariah  Jordon  traveled  the 
circuit,  and  in  1830,  Oliver  Ague.  In  1831  Peter  Mc- 
Ennally  labored  part  of  the  year,  became  discouraged  and 
finally  burned  the  class  book  and  bade  them  all  adieu. 
In  1833  Luthersburg  became  a part  of  the  Brookville 
Mission  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and  Abner  Jack- 
son  received  the  appointment.  I11  1834  Gideon  Kinnear 
and  Chester  Morrison  were  the  missionaries.  In  1842 
Brookville  Circuit  was  set  off,  leaving  Luthersburg  Mis- 
sion with  Elijah  Coleman  as  preacher  in  charge.  Luth- 
ersburg Circuit  appears  in  the  list  of  appointments  in 
1851,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  made  a mission  the  next 
year.  The  first  church  enterprise  was  started  in  1841, 
and  in  1854  the  society  commenced  to  build  a parsonage; 
and  in  1857  the  Beech  Tree  Society  commenced  a church 
building.  In  1858  the  Luthersburg  Circuit  was  enlarged 
by  receiving  convenient  territory  from  the  Baltimore 
Conference,  and  embraced  the  following  appointments: 
Luthersburg,  West  Liberty,  Hollopeter,  Randolph,  Para- 
dise, Beech  Woods,  Sibley's,  McCalley’s,  Ridgwav  and 
Kees’  store.  During  the  year  the  Paradise  society  erect- 
ed a church  building.  In  i860  the  first  church  record 
was  procured.  In  1871  the  societies  at  Luthersburg  and 
New  Salem  commenced  the  erection  of  church  buildings 
which  were  completed  and  dedicated  the  following  year. 
By  a vote  of  the  quarterly  conference,  Rockton  and 
Frontville  were  dropped  as  appointments  and  the  mem- 
bership transferred  to  Luthersburg.  In  1873,  under  D. 
W.  Wampler,  there  was  a glorious  revival  on  the  charge 
and  one  hundred  and  seven  converts  were  received  on 
probation.  During  1878  and  1879  there  were  also  good 
revivals.  During  the  first  fifty-five  years  of  the  exist- 
ence of  the  church  at  Luthersburg  it  had  forty-five  differ- 
ent preachers. 

Huntsburg,  Ohio,  and  Spartansburg,  Pa. 

Joseph  Kile  and  Francis  L.  Dixon  came  to  Huntsburg, 
Ohio,  in  1826.  They  were  the  first  Methodists  of  that 
place  and  a society  was  organized  at  the  home  of  Joseph 


Snyder  Hill , Nezv  Albion  Centre,  etc. 


543 


Kile  in  the  spring  of  1827  consisting  of  the  following 
members:  Francis  L.  Dixon,  Chloe  Dixon,  Joseph  Kile, 
Lee  Kile,  Anna  Kile,  Viletta  or  Villetina  Kile,  his  daugh- 
ter, and  Widow  Graves.  In  1834  a house  and  about  an 
acre  of  land  was  purchased  of  the  Presbyterian  Society ; 
this  has  been  improved  several  times  since  and  is  still  a 
comfortable  house.  Peter  D.  Horton  and  Ira  Eddy  were 
the  first  preachers  in  Huntsburg,  and  William  C.  Hen- 
derson the  first  regular  circuit  preacher.  “The  second 
minister  was  a young  man  whose  name  cannot  be  re- 
called, but  who  is  worthy  of  mention,  for  he  labored  to 
that  extent  from  over-exertion  he  sickened  and  died.” 

The  greatest  revival  was  held  in  i868-'69,  when  S.  B. 
Torrey  was  pastor. 

In  early  times  the  name  of  the  present  Spartansburg 
was  “Akinsville,”  but  upon  the  establishment  of  a post- 
office  it  was  changed  and,  in  1856,  was  incorporated  as 
Spartansburg.  A Methodist  Society  was  organized  about 
1827  by  I.  H.  Tackitt.  Among  the  pioneer  members 
were  Zebulon  Miller,  Abner  Miller,  James  Miller,  Or- 
rin  Miller,  Corey  Goldin,  Robert  Goldin  and  Green  Als- 
durf  and  wife.  The  early  services  were  held  in  a school 
house  west  of  the  village,  and  then  in  the  borough  school 
house — and  at  a still  later  date  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  present  edifice  was  erected  in  1877  at  a. 
cost  of  $2,600.  Spartansburg  Circuit  was  formed  in 
1870.  Prior  to  this  it  had  been  attached  to  various  cir- 
cuits; Cambridge,  Riceville,  Spring  Creek  and  others. — 
(History  of  Craze  ford  County,  Warner,  Beers  & Co., 
1885,  p.  634.) 

Snyder  Hill,  New  Albion  Centre  and  Cattaraugus. 

About  1827  a Methodist  class  was  organized  on  Sny- 
der Hill,  Cattaraugus  Township,  by  J.  S.  Barris,  then 
traveling  the  Forestville  Circuit.  Among  its  members 
were  Horace  Snyder  and  family,  Silas  Kellogg,  Rufus 
Pierce  and  Samuel  Kendall.  “The  meetings  were  held  at 
Snyder's  house  until  after  Calvin  Rich  settled  here  and 
built  a larger  house,  when  they  were  held  at  the  latter's 
place  for  several  years.  The  quarterly  meetings  were 
held  in  barns  belonging  to  Rich  and  to  George  Snyder, 
living  north  from  here  in  the  town  of  Persia.  Subse- 
quently meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house.” 


544 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


In  1832  a Methodist  class  was  formed  at  New  Albion 
Centre,  among  whose  members  were  the  Wrights,  Dav- 
ises, Barnards  and  Days.  Eber  Wright  was  a local 
preacher  and  very  active  in  church  work.  An  effort  was 
made  to  build  a house  of  worship,  but  the  class  became 
so  weakened  that  the  work  ceased  with  the  laying  of  the 
foundation. 

The  Methodists  held  services  in  the  school  house  at 
Cattaraugus  soon  after  its  erection.  “The  Cattaraugus 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society”  was  incorporated  January 
8,  1857,  with  Arad  Rich,  L.  D.  Botsford,  Spencer  Rich, 
Danford  Rich  and  Ephraim  Ford  as  trustees.  A frame 
meeting  house  was  erected  for  the  society  by  H.  C. 
Young  at  a cost  of  $2,500.  In  1874  it  was  remodeled 
and  made  more  attractive.  A parsonage  valued  at  $2,000 

was  the  gift  of  Anson  Smith,  and  the  society  also  re- 
ceived a benefaction  from  Mrs.  Mary  Rich.  April  4, 
1877,  the  title  of  the  society  was  changed  to  that  of  “The 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  the  village  of  Cattarau- 
gus.” At  that  time  the  trustees  were  Morris  J.  Hovey, 
William  G.  Hall,  Charles  J.  Rich,  Norman  Higbee  and 
Hiram  Rumsey. — (History  of  Cattaraugus  County , L. 
H.  Everts,  1879,  p.  388.) 

Revivals. 

John  W.  Hill  writes  from  Meadville  under  date  of 
March  8,  1827:  “January  20th  our  second  quarterly 

meeting  began  at  Rockdale.  It  was  a solemn  time,  and 
about  eight  souls  could  testify  that  the  Son  of  Man  hath 
power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins.  Within  the  short  space 
of  four  weeks  after  this  meeting  about  fifty  were  re- 
ceived on  trial?  the  greater  part  of  whom  enjoyed  a sense 
of  pardoning  love.  March  31st  our  third  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  in  Mead  Township.  I trust  many  in 
the  day  of  eternity  will  bless  God  for  this  meeting.  We 
think  twenty  at  least  found  the  pearl  of  great  price, 
several  of  whom  have  since  attached  themselves  to  our 
societies  as  probationers.  The  indefatigable  zeal  of  our 
worthy  Presiding  Elder  at  the  above  meetings  will  long 
be  remembered  by  many  souls.  Numbers  with  his  invi- 
tation came  trembling  to  the  mourners’  seat,  and  did  not 
leave  the  sacred  place  until  Christ  appeared  altogether 
lovely,  and  the  fairest  among  ten  thousand.  In  the  course 


Revivals.  545 

of  the  revival  of  the  work  of  God  here  there  is  one  neigh- 
borhood that  deserves  particular  notice.  About  six  miles 
from  Meadville,  Satan  might  truly  be  said  to  have  had  his 
seat.  Drinking,  swearing  and  Sabbath  breaking  were 
the  constant  practice  of  many  of  this  place.  In  Decem- 
ber last  a gentleman,  whose  house  had  been  the  place  of 
rendezvous  for  the  wicked,  kindly  invited  us  to  come  and 
preach  the  gospel  there.  We  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
numbers  flocked  to  hear  the  word  of  life.  Some  cried 
out  at  first  ‘those  that  turn  the  world  upside  down  have 
come  hither  also/  while  others  searched  to  see  whether 
those  things  were  so.  In  eight  weeks  from  the  time  we 
commenced  twenty-five  came  forward  wishing  to  be 
joined  together  in  a class  to  serve  God.  Most  of  these 
were  sincere  penitents — some  of  whom  have  since  re- 
joiced in  a good  degree  in  the  pardoning  love  of  the 
Crucified.  Four  more  have  since  joined,  and  the  pros- 
pect is  glorious,  indeed.  The  ball  room  has  been  con- 
verted into  a place  of  divine  worship.  Those  who  used 
to  meet  together  on  the  Lord’s  Day  to  visit  or  settle  their 
accounts,  now  join  heart  and  hand  to  serve  the  God  of 
love.  The  tongue  of  the  swearer  is  employed  in  prayer 
and  praise.  1 he  blooming  sons  and  daughters  of  Eve, 
who  used  to  dance  and  sport  away  their  golden  moments, 
now  assemble  together,  sincerely  to  implore  pardon  and 
find  mercy  at  the  hand  of  God.  Fo  crown  all,  the  upper 
part  of  a distillery  has  been  lately  converted  into  a com- 
modious preaching  place.” — (Methodist  Magazine,  Vol. 
X , p.  322.) 

I.  H.  Tackitt  writes  from  Meadville,  Pa.,  March  17 
1827: 

“We  were  strangely  invited  to  a ball  room  about  ten 
miles  above  Meadville,  on  French  creek.  They  had  their 
appointments  for  dancing  (as  I understood)  between  our 
appointments  for  preaching;  and  thus  we  had  it,  time 
about  for  awhile.  But  so  it  was,  thanks  be  to  God ! that 
the  spirit  of  the  Lord  overcame  the  spirit  of  the  devil : 
and  at  the  command  of  the  Master  we  cast  out  the  gospel 
net,  and  enclosed  twenty-five  fish ; and  crving  to  the 
strong  for  strength,  were  enabled  to  bring  them  safely  to 
land.  The  leading  characters  and  managers  of  the  ball 
now  compose  a part  of  this  class.  All  glory  be  given  to 
God  ; the  ball  room  is  now  converted  into  a preaching 


35 


546 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


room;  and  in  place  of  the  sounding  violin  with  dancing, 
drinking  and  swearing,  is  now  heard  the  sweet  sound  of 
salvation  through  a Redeemer’s  name,  with  preaching, 
praying,  singing  and  giving  glory  to  God. 

“About  five  miles  from  Meadville,  at  the  Methodist 
meeting  house  on  the  State  road,  a gracious  work  broke 
out  more  than  a month  ago.  T he  meeting  commenced 
about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  lasted  until  about 
nine  o'clock  at  night,  in  which  time  six  souls  professed 
to  be,  and  we  believe  were,  happily  converted  to  God.  In 
the  meantime  my  attention  was  arrested  by  a young  man 
who  was  strangely  exercised  by  the  operations  of  the 
convincing  Spirit  of  the  Most  High.  When  I drew 
near  to  talk  to  him  there  stood  his  affectionate  mother 
all  in  tears,  trying  to  comfort  him,  but  in  vain,  for  he 
was  in  despair  upon  his  knees  looking  up  towards  heaven 
and  crying  out,  ‘there  is  no  mercy  for  me.’  I then  at- 
tempted to  comfort  him  by  pointing  him  to  the  Savior, 
but  this  seemed  to  be  in  vain.  He  then  cried  aloud,  ‘Oh, 
God ! There  is  no  mercy  for  me ! There  is  none,  there  is 
none!’  Striking  at  the  same  time  with  his  hands  des- 
perately, then  falling  suddenly  back  on  the  floor,  as 
though  he  were  breathing  his  last,  he  exclaimed  with  a 
trembling  and  low  tone  of  voice,  ‘I'll  die,  I'll  die,  I'll  die!’ 
I was  then  called  to  another  part  of  the  house  to  talk  to 
others  who  were  under  convictions  and  do  not  know 
what  became  of  him  that  night.  However,  the  Thurs- 
day night  following,  in  another  neighborhood  at  a prayer 
meeting,  I found  him  on  his  knees  among  a crowd  of 
supplicants ; but  his  tune  was  a little  altered,  for  he  now 
cried,  ‘There  is  mercy  for  me ! There  is  mercy  for  me !’ 
His  uncle  then  began  to  pray  for  him.  I could  but  look 
at  the  young  man’s  face  in  the  time  of  prayer,  for  it 
seemed  to  me  to  shine  with  a heavenly  smile.  While  I 
was  there  gazing  on  him  he  rose  up  quickly,  repeating 
‘There  is  mercy  for  me!  There  is  mercy  for  me,  for  I 
feel  it  in  my  soul.’  Then  after  a little  while  he  exclaimed, 
‘O  my  friends ! I cannot  tell  you  all  about  it ; I can  only 
wonder  at  it!’  Oh,  may  I meet  this  happy  youth  in 
heaven.’’ — (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and 
Zion's  Herald,  June  15,  1827.) 

J.  S.  Barris  writes  from  Ellicott,  N.  Y.,  April  28,  1827, 
of  the  continued  good  work  in  Chautauqua  Circuit : 


Revivals. 


547 


“The  town  of  Chautauqua  is  greatly  blessed.  The 
third  quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Harmony 
was  a profitable  season.  The  love  feast  was  a feast,  in- 
deed. A few  retired  into  a grove  to  pray  and  returned 
to  the  evening  service  filled  with  divine  love  and  zeal. 

“The  God  of  heaven  came  with  them,  and  so  fully  dis- 
played His  power  in  filling  the  hearts  of  His  children 
with  love  that  they  shouted  aloud  for  joy,  and  the  ar- 
rows of  conviction  from  the  quiver  of  the  Almighty  flew 
so  thick  and  fast,  and  sunk  so  deep  in  the  hearts  of  the 
ungodly,  that  some  of  them  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  Here 
of  a truth,  it  was  difficult  to  discern  between  the  shouts 
of  joy  and  cries  for  mercy.” — (The  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal  and  Zion's  Herald , June  8,  1828.) 

“Dear  Brethren,  I am  happy  to  inform  you  that  I am 
well,  and  feel  thankful  for  what  the  great  Redeemer  has 
done  and  is  doing  for  me.  I have  been  striving  to  preach 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified  to  the  people  of  Chautau- 
qua Circuit,  ever  since  I came  here  by  the  appointment  of 
the  Pittsburg  Annual  Conference,  in  Sept.  1825.  During 
the  last  year  I had  one  of  the  best  of  young  men  to  labor 
with  me — Peter  D.  Horton.  He  had  the  charge,  and  the 
Lord  measurably  blest  our  labors ; and  although  we  had 
no  special  revival  in  any  one  place,  yet  there  was  a gradual 
work  going  on  in  many  places.  We  returned  an  increase 
of  one  hundred  and  eight  to  the  church.  This  year  I was 
re-appointed  to  this  circuit.  My  colleague,  in  conse- 
quence of  affliction,  has  not  been  with  me.  The  first  quar- 
ter J was  alone  and  a part  of  the  second;  when  a young 
man  of  piety  and  usefulness  to  the  Church  came  to  my  as- 
sistance, and  we  have  been  laboring  to  promote  the  in- 
terest of  the  King  of  kings,  and  though  we  could  not  see 
fruit  in  general  among  the  societies,  yet  there  was  enough 
to  make  us  rejoice  occasionally.  Some  places  were  ap- 
parently very  barren — one  in  particular,  an  old  society  of 
about  sixty  members,  in  general  low  in  religion ; yet  there 
appeared  to  be  some  Israelites  indeed.  Here  my  family 
had  resided  the  last  year,  and  they  had  experienced  every 
mark  of  attention  and  kindness  from  professor  and  non- 
professor; and  my  heart  was  often  pained,  when  I con- 
sidered that  after  all  their  kindness  to  me  and  mine  that  I 
could  not  reasonably  anticipate  the  meeting  of  them  in 
my  Father’s  kingdom,  but  that  the  greater  number  of 


548 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


i r 


■ 


them,  in  all  probability,  would  have  to  stand  on  the  left. 
But  now  I can  rejoice  in  saying  my  prospect  of  meeting 
many  (I  hope  all)  of  them  in  the  realms  of  unclouded  day 
is  very  much  brightened.  The  Great  Head  of  his  church 
has  visited  us  in  that  place;  and  Youngsville  is  now  re- 
joicing under  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 
The  way,  or  rather  the  means  made  use  of,  in  bringing 
this  work  about,  appears  to  have  been  this:  An  old 

mother  of  long  standing  as  a Christian,  being  one  of  the 
first  that  joined  the  society  in  that  place,  and  one  that  was 
connected  to  many  in  the  place  by  ties  of  kindred,  was 
brought  down  on  the  bed  of  affliction ; and  here,  in  her 
patient  resignation  and  blooming  hope,  all  that  visited 
her  were  able  to  form  some  idea  of  the  value  of  the  pearl 
of  great  price ; and  her  exhortations  and  warnings  were 
made  a blessing  to  many.  While  she  was  thus  laboring, 
she  frequently  expressed  her  earnest  wish  to  see.  before 
she  died,  the  church  restored  to  life  and  harmony,  and  a 
work  of  reformation  break  out.  The  young  people  con- 
tinued to  hold  their  stated  meetings  for  prayer;  and- 
though  they  were  few  in  number  themselves,  yet  He  who 
has  promised  to  support  his  children  in  the  furnace  of 
affliction,  and  to  be  in  the  midst  of  two  or  three,  heard 
and  answered  prayer. 

“During  the  Christmas  and  New  Year  meetings,  the 
Lord  showed  some  tokens  for  good.  Several  were 
brought  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  Him  whom  to 
know  aright  is  life  eternal.  During  these  favorable  ap- 
pearances, the  period  for  holding  our  second  quarterly 
meeting  arrived.  This  was  held  in  Youngsville.  All  ap- 
peared to  come  there  under  the  impression  that  they 
should  have  a good  meeting;  and  indeed  it  began  in 
power,  continued  in  power,  and  ended  in  power : and  glory 
to  God,  the  work  goes  on  there  yet  in  power : and  my  soul 
says,  let  it  go,  until  every  appointment  on  this  circuit  shall 
catch  the  hallowed  flame.  It  was  the  best  quarterly  meet- 
ing I was  ever  at,  and  so  said  more  of  my  brethren  in  the 
ministry.  In  love  feast  we  had  eighteen  to  come  forward 
as  candidates  for  promotion,  and  it  was  a love  feast  in- 
deed. I think  near  twenty  were  converted  to  God  during 
the  meeting,  while  all  were  quickened.  Our  beloved  elder 
Swayze,  who  presided,  is  on  the  wing  for  glory ; may  the 
Lord  attend  him,  and  make  him  continue  what  he  has 


Revivals. 


549 


been,  a flaming  torch  on  the  district.  Here  It  was  that 
we  saw  the  power  of  God  to  arrest  the  unbelievers.  Some 
of  their  leaders  in  folly,  have  bowed  to  the  mild  sceptre 
of  the  gospel.  One  of  them  came  forward  and  committed 
to  the  flames  several  packs  of  cards,  in  the  presence  of  the 
preachers.  Since  which  I learn  that  he  has  experienced 
that  Jesus  Christ  has  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins. 
Another,  I hear,  has  also  committed  his  cards  to  the 
flames.  The  Lord  grant  that  this  pattern  be  followed,  un- 
til none  shall  be  left  to  advocate  the  cause  of  the  devil.  I 
think  the  13th  and  14th  of  Jan.,  1827,  will  long  be  re- 
membered in  Youngsville,  with  pleasure,  by  hearts  that 
there  and  then  found  Christ  Jesus  to  be  precious.  On 
Sabbath  evening  our  elder  administered  the  sacrament  to 
our  afflicted  mother  in  Israel.  It  was  a profitable  time,  I 
think,  to  all  that  attended ; and  she  could  there  testify  that 
she  then  had  bright  hopes  of  soon  getting  to  heaven : and 
I expect  ere  this  reaches  you  she  will  be  beyond  the  reach 
of  sorrow,  with  Jesus  shut  in.  I rejoice  to  find  so  much 
cheering  intelligence  in  the  Advocate.  May  the  Lord 
continue  to  bless,  and  the  people  to  tell  of  it,  until  the 
world  be  inundated  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  Amen.” 

So  writes  J.  S.  Barris  from  Ellicott,  New  York,  Jan. 
18,  1827. — (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and 
Zion's  Herald,  Feh.  17,  1827.) 

The  following  is  taken  from  a letter  written  by  John 
Crawford,  and  dated  Euclid,  O.,  March  15,  1827: 

“Through  the  common  grace  of  our  heavenly  Father 
we  in  this  part  of  the  Lord’s,  moral  heritage  have  been 
visited  with  his  grace  and  salvation.  Several  souls  have 
been  converted  to  God,  and  others  are  inquiring  the  way 
to  Zion.  We  have  added  rising  of  fifty  members  in  the 
church  of  God  this  year,  and  we  are  looking  and  praying 
for  a general  shower  of  God’s  grace  to  be  manifested  in 
the  salvation  of  precious  souls.  Pray  for  us  in  this  west- 
ern clime  that  the  wilderness  country  may  bud  and  bios 
som  as  the  rose.” — (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal 
and  Zion's  Herald,  April  14,  1827.) 

Henry  Knapp,  writing  from  Harbour  Creek.' Pa.,  says 
of  a great  revival,  under  date  of  March  30,  1827: 

‘‘On  the  evening  of  the  3rd  of  January,  there  was  the 
most  powerful  display  of  the  Divine  presence  that  ever 
was  witnessed  by  those  who  have  been  in  the  Church  and 


550 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


accustomed  to  revivals  of  religion  for  thirty  years.  It 
appeared  as  if  the  Lord  had  indeed  visited  his  people, 
while  astonishment  seized  the  wicked  and  fearfulness  sur- 
prised the  hypocrite.  Fifteen  or  more  found  the  pearl  of 
great  price,  and  the  praise  of  converts  began  to  reverbe- 
rate from  house  to  house.  A few  evenings  after,  at  one 
meeting,  thirteen  more  embraced  the  offer  of  pardoning 
mercy.  The  work  truly  is  glorious,  deep  and  powerful. 
Many  during  the  winter  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold 
on  the  hope  set  before  them.  As  near  as  we  are  able  to 
calculate,  the  number  of  persons  who  have  embraced  re- 
ligion in  this  circuit  is  60,  the  most  of  whom  have  be- 
come members  on  trial  in  our  church.  But  thank  the 
Lord  the  work  is  still  going  on.  Many  are  yet  inquiring 
what  they  shall  do  to  be  saved.  We  are  the  more  en- 
couraged in  this  work,  as  most  of  the  subjects  of  it  are 
of  the  younger  class  of  society,  and  children  whose  par- 
ents are  pious,  and  will  be  likely  to  cherish  in  them  the 
principles  and  duties  of  religion  in  early  life.  A deep  and 
rational  knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation  by  grace 
through  faith  appears  to  have  become  fixed  in  the  hearts 
of  these  newborn  babes ; and  we  are  well  supplied  with 
official  members  who  are  calculated  to  encourage  and 
strengthen  the  lambs  of  the  flock. 

“The  work  of  God  is  prospering  in  this  circuit  in  gen- 
eral. In  several  places  there  are  pleasing  prospects.  We 
have,  since  conference,  added  upwards  of  fifty  members 
in  the  circuit,  and  hope  at  least  to  double  our  numbers  by 
the  close  of  the  year.  A number  of  persons  came  on  a 
visit  to  this  place  from  Chautauqua  Circuit,  in  the  midst 
of  this  revival,  in  company  with  whom  were  two  young 
ladies,  who  sought  and  found  religion.  When  they  re- 
turned home  they  carried  the  news  of  salvation  to  their 
friends.  The  Lord  has  since  begun,  and  is  now  carrying 
on  a gracious  work  in  that  place,  of  which  I hope  you  will 
have  intelligence  in  future.” — (Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal  and  Zion's  Herald , April  28,  182 /.) 

Rev.  Jacob  Early  writes  from  Chautauqua,  New  York, 
June  26,  1827:  After  a sermon  by  William  Swayze  on 

John  9:  25 — “At  the  conclusion  he  gave  an  invitation  for 
all  those  that  wanted  religion  to  come  to  the  altar,  when 
nearly  fifty  presented  themselves.  From  this  time  till  the 
conclusion  of  the  meeting,  the  grove  was  vocal  with  the 


Revivals. 


shouts  of  the  votaries  of  the  cross  and  the  groans  and 
sighs  of  those  who  like  the  long  lost  prodigal,  were  re- 
turning to  their  father’s  house.  Three  more  pathetic  ser- 
mons were  delivered  in  the  course  of  this  day  and  evening, 
adapted  to  the  occasion,  and  so  arranged  that  the  preach- 
ing and  prayer  meetings  completely  harmonized.  Permit 
me  here  to  state,  that  the  greatest  love  and  union  pre- 
vailed amongst  the  preachers;  they  all  labored  like  men 
engaged  in  the  interest  of  our  common  Savior.  By 
Monday  evening  the  work  became  so  general  that  the 
enemy  had  scarce  an  advocate  on  the  ground.  Those 
that  did  not  come  forward  to  be  prayed  for  stood  in  awful 
silence,  while  their  tears  bespoke  the  anguish  of  their 
souls.  Here  we  truly  witnessed  an  affecting  scene:  at 
one  place  you  would  see  an  aged  parent  rejoicing  over  a 
long  prayed  for  son  or  daughter,  while  at  another  you 
could  see  the  youth  bringing  their  aged  parents  to  the  al- 
tar, and  there,  with  uplifted  hearts  and  streaming  eyes  im- 
ploring Heaven  to  be  propitious;  while  the  ministers  of 
the  sanctuary  were  pointing  them  to  the  blood  that  makes 
the  wounded  whole. 

On  Tuesday  morning  it  was  correctly  ascertained  that 
upwards  of  one  hundred  and  forty  had  found  Him  who 
is  emphatically  called  the  bright  and  morning  star.” — 
(The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and  Zion's  Herald , 
August  io,  182 7.) 

Job  Wilson  writes  from  Villenovia,  New  York,  June 
26,  1827,  of  a camp  meeting  held  on  his  work:  “From 

every  appearance  and  such  information  as  we  could 
gather,  I should  judge  that  no  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  precious  souls  were  born  into  the  Kingdom  of  God’s 
dear  Son,  and  many  went  away  with  their  heads  bowed 
down,  mourning  on  account  of  their  sins.” — (The  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal,  August  24,  182J.) 

A communication  published  in  the  September  number 
of  the  Methodist  Magazine  in  1827,  speaking  of  the 
Grand  River  Circuit,  says : “The  state  of  religion  in  this 

circuit  has  been  very  low  for  about  four  years  past,  partly 
owing  to  the  ill  state  of  health  with  the  preachers  who 
were  appointed  to  travel  here,  and  partly  owing  to  the 
dissensions  sown  among  several  of  the  societies.  At  pres- 
ent, however,  there  seems  to  be  a general  excitement  and 
anxiety  among  the  members  of  society  for  a revival  and 


552 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


spread  of  the  holy  work  among  us.  Some  have  been  con- 
verted, I think,  and  a goodly  number  have  been  added  to 
several  of  the  classes.  So  that  we  are  in  pretty  good 
spirits  and  looking  for  better  days.  May  the  time  speed- 
ily come  to  favor  Zion  in  these  parts.”: — (Methodist 
Magazine , Vol.  X,  p.  423.) 

The  Pittsburg  Conference  met  in  Salem,  Mercer 
County,  Pa.,  August  21,  1,828,  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts 
presiding.  This  was  the  birth-place  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence Methodism.  Here  Mr.  Roberts,  as  leader,  met  the 
first  class  in  1798.  The  Conference  was  connected  with 
a camp-meeting  at  which  there  were  more  than  one  hun- 
dred conversions.  The  appointments  announced  for  a 
new  year  of  toil  and  hardships  were  as  follows : Erie 

District,  Wilder  B.  Mack,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Joseph 
W.  Davis,  Joel  Jones;  North  East,  David  Preston,  John 
H.  Moffitt;  Lake,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  Samuel  Ayres;  Mead- 
ville.  Job  Wilson,  William  R.  Babcock  ; Youngsville,  Hi- 
ram Kinsley,  John  Johnson;  Jamestown,  James  Gillmore 
— the  Quarterly  Conference  Minutes  give  the  name  of 
Abner  Barlow  also; — Franklin,  Aurora  Callender;  Ship- 
penville.  Nathaniel  Callender.  Ohio  District,  Ira  Eddy, 
presiding  elder  ; Youngstown,  Billings  O.  Plimpton,  Ed- 
mund W.  Sehon ; Hartford,  John  Summerville,  John 
Scott;  Mercer,  Thomas  Carr,  Richard  Armstrong;  New 
Castle,  Samuel  Adams,  William  C.  Henderson.  Canton 
District,  William  Swayze,  presiding  elder ; Deerfield,  John 
W.  Hill,  John  C.  Ayers;  Windsor,  John  Chandler;  Cleve- 
land, Ignatius  H.  Tackitt,  Cornelius  Jones;  Grand  River, 
John  Crawford,  Lorenzo  Dow  Prosser. 

The  Chautauqua  Circuit  now  becomes  two  circuits — 
'‘Jamestown,”  and  “Youngsville.” 

Aurora  Callender,  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser. 

Aurora  Callender  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burgh Conference  in  1828,  and  appointed  to  Franklin. 
He  was  received  into  full  membership  in  1830,  and  or- 
dained deacon ; and  in  1832,  he  was  ordained  elder.* 

*In  the  Pittsburg  Conference  he  served  the  following  charges: 
1828,  Franklin;  1829-30,  Meadville;  1831-2,  Canton;  1833,  St. 
Clairsville;  1834,  Ravenna;  1835,  Chardon;  1836-7,  Canton;  1838-9, 
Springfield;  1840,  Braceville;  1841-2,  Gustavus;  1843-4,  Cuyahoga 

Falls;  1844,  Middlebury;  1845,  supernumerary;  1846-7,  Salem; 
1848,  Rockville;  1849,  located;  1851,  Wisconsin  Conference, 
Geneva  and  Elkhorn;  1852,  Union;  1853-4,  Hazle  Green;  1855„ 


Aurora  Callender , Lorenzo  D.  Prosser. 


553 


Mr.  Callender  was  born  in  Shoreham,  Vermont,  March 
7,  1798;  and  died  in  Pinckneyville,  Illinois,  Oct.  23,  1871. 
When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age,  the  family  moved  into 
Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  converted 
in  1818  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Harrisburg.  He  was  licensed  as  a local  preacher  in 
1825,  and  three  years  later  moved  to  Ohio,  and  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He  was 
transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1837.  Mr.  Callen- 
der worked  hard ; his  support  was  meagre ; he  was  sound 
in  doctrine,  devoted,  instructive,  wise,  an  example  to  all. 

In  1849  he  removed  to  Wisconsin,  and  later 
became  a member  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference. 
By  the  division  of  1856  he  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  but 

the  next  year  was  re-transferred,  and  made  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Norwegian  Mission  District.  From 
1859  to  1862  he  was  agent  for  the  American  Colonization 
Society.  From  1863  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  super- 
annuated. “Hewasaman  of  robust  physical  power  and  well 
proportioned,  capable  of  enduring  great  fatigue,  and  his 
strong  body  was  animated  by  a strong  rugged  soul.  He 
was  a sound,  instructive  preacher,  trustworthy  as  a disci- 
plinarian, and  devoted  to  Methodism.  Having  finished 
his  course,  and  having  kept  the  faith,  he  was  fully  pre- 
pared to  receive  the  crown  of  life." — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  XIV.,  18/2,  p.  118.) 

Lorenzo  D.  Prosser  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Rensselaer 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1804.  He  was  converted  in  the  town 
of  Edmonson,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1818.  The  next 
year  he  removed  to  Villenovia,  Chautauqua  County.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1825,  and  joined  the  itinerant 
ranks  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1827,  becoming  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization. 
Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Prosser  was  a very  small  man,  and 

very  eccentric.  He  sometimes  would  astonish  and  thrill 

Dodgeville  and  Linden;  1856,  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  Min- 
eral Point  District;  1857,  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference, 
but  neither  name  nor  appointment  in  the  “General  Minutes,” 
though  his  memoir  says  he  was  made  presiding  elder  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Mission  District.  This  district  is  not  even  named  in  the 
“General  Minutes.”  1858,  Clinton;  1859-62,  Agent  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society — member  of  Jamesville  Quarterly  Con- 
ference— in  1861,  member  of  Appleton  Quarterly  Conference; 
1863-71,  superannuated. 


554  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

liis  congregation  with  his  eloquence,  while  at  other  times 
he  could  say  nothing,  and  perhaps  leave  the  congregation 
and  flee  to  the  house  or  woods.  As  he  grew  older  he  be- 
came more  reliable.  Revivals  were  his  delight,  and  when 
in  them  he  would  labor  so  hard  as  to  disqualify  himself 
for  other  parts  of  his  work.” — ( Gregg , History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference , Vol.  I , p.  261.) 

Brother  Prosser  was  of  a nervous  temperament,  and 
sometimes  exerted  himself  far  beyond  his  strength.  His 
exhortations  were  often  overwhelming.  From  his  natur- 
ally feeble  constitution  and  these  excessive  labors,  he  was 
frequently  on  the  superannuated  list.  The  large  circuits, 
hard  roads,  and  poor  fare  were  too  often  the  lot  of  the 
early  ministry — it  is  wonderful  that  a man  nervously  so 
high  strung  could  have  done  twenty-one  years  of  effective 
service.  r'His  last  sickness  was  brief.  Seized  with  pneu- 
monia on  Thursday  night;  on  Tuesday  morning  follow- 
ing, he  ceased  to  live.  It  was  at  West  Springfield,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  13,  1869,  that  the  portals  of  heaven  swung 
open  wide  to  welcome  the  weary  pilgrim.* 

Group  of  Preachers. 

Wilder  B.  Mack  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  Eng- 
land Conference  in  1818,  ordained  deacon  in  1823,  re- 
ceived into  full  connection  in  1824,  became  a member  of 
the  Maine  Conference  at  its  organization,  ordained  elder 
in  1825,  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1827 
and  to  the  Illinois  Conference  in  1835,  and  was  expelled 
in  1836.  Mr.  Gregg  says  of  him : ‘‘Mr.  Mack  was  born, 

raised,  educated,  and  converted  to  God  amid  the  Green 
Mountains,  in  the  state  of  Vermont.  He  was  a small 
man,  neat  in  appearance,  and  gentlemanly  in  his  deport- 
ment. He  possessed  one  of  the  sweetest,  mellowest,  sym- 
pathetic voices  we  ever  heard  in  the  pulpit;  which,  to- 

*L.  D.  Prosser — Licensed  to  preach,  1825;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1827;  full  connection,  1829;  deacon,  1829, 
Roberts;  elder,  1831,  Hedding;  deceased,  West  Springfield,  Pa., 
April  13,  1869.  Appointments — 1827,  Butler;  1828,  Grand  River; 
1829,  Canton;  1830,  Mercer;  1831,  name  not  on  Minutes;  1832, 
Hartford;  1833,  Twinsburg;  1834,  Windsor;  1835,  Columbiana; 
1836,  Ellsworth;  1837,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1838,  Harmonsburg; 
1839,  McKean;  1840,  Kingsville;  1841,  superannuated;  1842,  Char- 
don;  1843,  Chagrin  Falls;  1844-6,  superannuated;  1847,  Wesley- 
ville;  1848-50,  superannuated;  1851,  Edinboro  Mission;  1852-6, 
superannuated;  1857,  McKean;  1858-9,  Albion;  1860-1,  superan- 
nuated; 1862,  Springfield;  1863-8,  superannuated. 


Group  of  Preachers. 


555 


gether  with  his  fine  descriptive  imagination,  enabled  him 
to  work  upon  the  feelings  of  a congregation  with  wonder- 
ful effect.” 

Concerning  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Mack  to  the  Erie 
District,  Mr.  Gregg  says : “The  new  presiding  elder  on 

the  Erie  District,  had  labored  but  one  year  in  this  con- 
ference, and  was,  therefore,  comparatively  a stranger. 
But  that  year  was  one  of  great  success,  and  his  fame  as  a 
preacher  had  spread  with  wonderful  rapidity.  He  had 
attended  several  camp  meetings,  where  his  preaching  was 
universally  admired;  so  much  so  that  the  people  on  the 
Erie  District  were  greatly  rejoiced  when  the  appointment 
was  made.  Mr.  Mack  did  not  possess  the  moving  power 
of  Swayze,  nor  the  dignified  address  of  Fillmore;  but  he 
possessed  an  original  charm  in  his  voice,  and  his  manner 
of  speaking,  and  had  a control  of  the  feelings  of  his  audi- 
ence that  neither  of  them  had,  and  attracted  as  large 
crowds  to  hear  as  either  of  his  illustrious  predecessors. 
The  year  was  one  of  great  religious  prosperity.* — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  V ol.  I, 
pp.  244, 254.) ' 

Joel  Jones  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Con 
ference  in  1828,  and  discontinued  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
Mr.  Gregg  characterizes  him  as  “a  very  good  but  eccentric 
sort  of  a man.” 

Edmund  W.  Sehon  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1828,  and  was  received  into  full  con- 
nection and  ordained  deacon  and  elder  in  regular  course. 
He  was  a man  of  excellent  parts,  and  an  eloquent  speaker. 
He  served  as  agent  for  the  American  Bible  Society  in  the 
state  of  Ohio  for  several  years  with  success  and  accept- 
ability. Mr.  Sehon  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  at  the  time  of  the  great  division,  and 
served  that  church  in  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility 
many  years. f 

*Mr.  Mack  served  the  following  appointments:  1818,  Stanstead 
and  St.  Francis;  1819,  Danville;  1820-1,  name  does  not  appear  in 
“General  Minutes;”  1822,  had  evidently  been  discontinued  in 
1820;  admitted  on  trial  this  year  and  appointed  to  Mad  River; 
1823,  Montpelier;  1824,  Bath;  1825,  Main  Conference,  Bath;  1826, 
Hallowell;  1827,  Pittsburg  Conference,  North  East;  1828-’31, 
Erie  District;  1832-4,  Warren  District;  1835,  Illinois  Conference, 
Chicago  District;  1836,  expelled. 

|He  served  the  following  appointments:  1828,  Youngstown; 

1829,  Monongahela;  1830-1,  Cincinnati;  1832,  “E.  W.  Sehon  has 


556 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


During  the  fifteen  years  of  the  effective  ministry  of 
David  Preston,  he  labored  eleven  years  on  circuits,  one 
year  on  a station,  and  three  years  on  a district.  He  sus- 
tained a supernumerary  relation  nine  years,  and  a super- 
annuated relation  two  years.  He  was  a delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  in  1840.  He  was  a laborious  and 
successful  minister  of  the  gospel.  “Having  suffered  much 
in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life  from  scepticism,  he  felt  it  his 
peculiar  duty  to  expose  its  absurdities,  and  defend  re- 
vealed religion  against  its  attacks.  Possessing  a mind 
of  a high  order  his  discourses  were  generally  very  im- 
pressive, and  often,  especially  when  he  defended  revealed 
religion,  fell  on  his  audiences  with  great  power.  In  his 
last  sickness,  which  was  protracted  and  painful,  grace 
sustained  him,  and  in  his  last  whispers,  he  uttered  the 
praise  of  God.”  Gregg  says  of  him : “Mr.  Preston  was 

about  medium  in  size,  disposed  to  stoop  some,  possessed 
a vigorous  mind,  and  a terse,  forcible  style.  His  thoughts 
were  brilliant,  and  were  presented  with  a warmth  of  feel- 
ing that  deeply  impressed  his  audience.” — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  255-) 
He  was  born  in  Washington  County,  New  York,  in  1785  ; 
and  died  in  Conneaut,  Ohio,  August  27,  1855.  He  seems 
to  have  embraced  religion  when  quite  young,  but  backslid, 
and  for  a period  wandered  in  the  mazes  of  infidelity.  Be- 
ing subsequently  reclaimed,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
service  of  God.  He  served  the  church  as  a local  preacher 
several  years,  and  was  admitted  into  the  Pittsburgh  Con- 
ference on  probation  in  1828.  When  that  conference  was 
divided,  he  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference.* 

leave,  for  the  ensuing  year,  to  serve  as  an  agent  for  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society;”  1833,  Missouri  Conference,  St.  Louis; 
1834-5,  Columbus;  1836-7,  Cincinnati,  Western  Charge;  1838, 
Agent  for  Augusta  College;  1839-40,  Cincinnati,  Eastern  Charge; 
1841-5,  General  Agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  for  the 
West;  1846,*  the  Conference  ordered  his  name  “to  be  entered  on 
the  Minutes  as  having  withdrawn.” 

*David  Preston — Admitted  on  trial,  1829;  full  connection,  1833; 
deacon,  not  able  to  learn;  elder,  1833,  Roberts;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased, 
Conneaut,  O.,  August  27,  1855.  Appointments — 1828,  North  East; 
1829,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1830-1,  Forestville;  1832,  Meadville; 
1833,  Youngstown;  1834,  Youngsville;  1835,  Westfield;  1836, 
North  East;  1837-8,  Wesleyville;  1839-41,  Jamestown  District; 
1842,  superannuated;  1843,  supernumerary;  1844,  Geneva;  1845, 
Ashtabula;  1846-55,  supernumerary. 


Group  of  Preachers. 


557 


Nathaniel  Callender  was  born  in  Chazy,  Clinton 
County,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  18,  1800.  His  parents  moved  to 
East  Ohio  in  1817.  Two  years  later  he  was  converted  at 
Leesburg-.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1825,  and  be- 
came a member  of  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  first  ses- 
sion, and  was  appointed  to  Monongahela.  He  served 
Harrison,  Lisbon,  Shippenville,  Meadville,  and  St. 
Clairsville,  each  one  year.  In  1831,  he  was  “without  an 
appointment,  at  his  own  request.”  In  1832  he  was  at 
Clarksburg;  1833,  Blairsville;  1834,  Ligonier;  1835-36, 
Beaver;  1837,  Williamsport;  1838,  Birmingham. 

In  1839  he  was  appointed  to  the  Pittsburg  Mission 
District — the  first  German  district  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church — where  he  remained  two  years  and  built  the 
first  German  Methodist  church  in  the  connection.  He  had 
acquired  the  language  in  his  intercourse  with  German 
farmers  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  In  1841,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  New  York  German  Mission  where  he  la- 
bored one  year.  He  was  moral  instructor  in  the  Western 
Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania  two  years.  He  served 
Wellsville  in  1844;  Columbiana,  1845;  Monongahela 
City,  1846;  Chartiers,  1847;  supernumerary,  1848;  1849, 
name  not  found  in  “General  Minutes”;  Elizabethtown, 
1850.  He  was  agent  for  the  German  churches  in  1851- 
i853’  though  superannuated  at  the  time;  and  from  1854 
to  1858,  he  had  charge  of  the  Michigan  and  Cincinnati 
German  Missions.  In  1859  he  was  appointed  to  Milford ; 
in  i860,  to  Loveland;  and  1861  he  was  agent  for  the 
American  Bible  Society.  He  was  hospital  chaplain  at 
Camp  Dennison  from  1862  to  1865  » and  was  in  charge  of 
Camp  Dennison  and  Indian  Hill,  and  superintendent  of 
the  cemetery  in  1866-1867.  He  was  appointed  to  Main- 
viHe  in  1867;  Hamersville  in  1868;  Dunbarton  in  1869; 
superannuated  in  1870.  He  died  Feb.  6,  1876,  at  the 
lesidence  of  his  brother-in-law,  P.  H.  Bonham,  Buckner’s 
Station,  Kentucky.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a 
superannuated  member  of  Cincinnati  Conference. 

John  H.  Moffitt  was  born  in  the  county  of  Tyrone.  Ire- 
land, March  2,  1798.  In  the  year  1808  his  father  and 
family  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1810  set- 
tled in  Harrison  County,  Ohio.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  \\  esleyan  Methodist  connection  in  their  native 
country. 


T 


558  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  John  attended  a camp 
meeting,  held  near  Mr.  Mansfield’s,  in  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  converted.  He  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  was  soon  after  licensed  to  exhort 
and  somewhat  later  to  preach.  He  was  received  on  trial 
by  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1827,  and  appointed  with 
Henry  Furlong  to  the  Greenfield  Circuit;  in  1828  he  was 
sent  to  the  North  East  Circuit;  in  1839  to  the  Leesburg 
Circuit.  During  1829  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Juliana  Norris,  who  lived  but  eighteen  months  after 
her  marriage.  In  1830  he  was  appointed  to  the  Deer- 
field Circuit;  and  in  1831,  to  the  Leesburg  Circuit.  His 
health  failing  he  went  to  his  father’s  home,  and  in  1832 
he  was  made  a supernumerary  but  preached  occasionally 
on  the  Barnes ville  Circuit.  “Previous  to  the  conference 
of  1833  was  completely  prostrated,  and  was  placed  on 
the  superannuated  list.  The  disease  under  which  he  la- 
bored was  consumption:  his  sufferings  were  great  which 
he  bore  as  a Christian.  When  asked  at  any  time  the  state 
of  his  mind,  he  would  answer:  T am  happy  in  God,  and 

have  a living  hope  and  bright  prospect  of  everlasting  life.’ 
In  this  calm  and  peaceful  state  of  mind  he  continued  un- 
til the  third  of  March,  1834,  when  he  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus.” — (Pittsburgh  Conference  Journal , Aug.  2,  1834.) 

James  Gillmore. 

Tames  Gillmore  was  born  in  Chester,  Hampshire 
County,  Mass.,  June  2,  1790.  He  embraced  religion  in 
his  eleventh  year  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  “Billy  Hib- 
bard.” Three  years  later  he  fell  into  a backslidden  state. 
His  father's  family  moved  into  New  York  and  settled  on 
the  bank  of  the  Allegheny  river  near  the  southern  line  of 
that  state.  From  thence  he  went  over  to  the  Susquehanna 
river,  where  he  was  reclaimed  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with 
Henry  B.  Bascom,  and  spent  a year  with  him  at  his 
father’s  house,  studying  for  the  ministry,  and  laboring  as 
an  exhorter.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1812,  and  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  the  same  year. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1823, 
and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. He  was  an  able  controversialist,  and  a power- 
ful revivalist.  He  was  effective  twenty-one  years,  mean- 


f 


James  Gillmore. 


559 


time  having  been  supernumerary  and  superannuated 
twenty-six  years.  He  was  finally  superannuated  in  1859. 

Of  James  Gillmore,  a correspondent  of  the  Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate  says:  “There  is  in  his  character  an 

embodiment  of  the  tender,  the  sublime,  and  the  terrible — 
a blending  together  of  the  most  varied  and  opposite  traits 
that  I ever  saw  united  in  one  mind.  He  can  be  soft  and 
gentle,  like  the  breathing  of  the  zephyr;  but  when  he 
towers  in  his  strength,  the  whirlwind  rises  and  sweeps 
with  an  overwhelming  force  over  the  subdued  heart. 
With  the  unbelieving  and  doubtful  he  can  reason  with 
great  mental  strength,  and  charm  back  the  penitential 
wanderer  with  the  kindness  and  affection  of  a true  evan- 
gelist.”— (E.  A.  Anderson,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, April  19,  1859.) 

His  brother,  Rev.  Hiram  Gillmore,  speaks  of  him  with 
brotherly,  yet  just  appreciation : 

“For  many  years  he  was  considered  a great  revivalist, 
yet  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  and  energy  to  doctrinal 
preaching,  as  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  were  rigorously 
assailed  in  early  days,  and  by  many  considered  dangerous 
heresy.  Notwithstanding  his  many  early  disadvantages 
in  procuring  an  education,  he  learned  the  art  of  applying 
metaphysical  argument  and  logical  reasoning  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  shake  some  of  the  strongholds  of  infidelity, 
and  present  false  doctrine  and  immorality  in  such  a light 
as  to  unfold  their  native  deformity.  His  manner  of 
preaching  was  bold  and  vehement,  and  frequently  at- 
tended with  unusual  power.  Hundreds,  if  not  thousands, 
have  been  converted  and  brought  into  the  church  through 
his  labors ; while  neither  the  love  of  praise  nor  the  fear  of 
foes  prevented  him  from  declaring  faithfully  the  whole 
counsel  of  God.  His  argumentative  powers,  and  natural 
glowing  eloquence  always  attracted  the  deep  attention  of 
his  hearers,  and  led  Bishop  Emery  once  to  remark,  after 
listening  to  one  of  his  sermons  at  an  annual  conference : 
‘That  it  was  one  of  the  best  sermons  I ever  heard.’ 

“He  was  modest  and  retiring  in  his  manners,  which 
led  him  rather  to  shun  than  to  court  position  or  business, 
especially  at  the  Annual  Conference.  He  was  a great 
friend  to  young  ministers,  and  had  an  uncompromising 
dislike  to  arrogance,  forwardness,  or  ministerial  jealousy. 
Strenuously  conscientious  on  all  subjects  of  duty  or 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


560 

privilege,  he  was  always  ready  to  make  any  reasonable 
sacrifice  for  the  good  of  the  Church.  For  several  years 
he  sustained  the  relation  of  a superannuate  to  his  confer- 
ference,  yet  frequently  preached  as  often  as  those  in  the 
regular  work.  He  said  that  his  compensation,  as  a min- 
ister, was  never  equal  to  his  claims  and  toils,  and  hoped 
to  see  the  time  when  the  Church  would  do  ample  justice 
to  herself  and  her  ministers.  The  old  pioneers , especially, 
he  thought  had  a strong  claim  on  the  sympathy  and  funds 
of  the  Church.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Dec.  1, 
1866.) 

Mr.  Gillmore  was  one  of  the  wise  men  who  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  an 
original  and  eccentric  character.  It  were  not  safe  to  at- 
tempt to  imitate  his  methods;  yet,  with  him,  they  were 
effective.  There  are  many  anecdotes  which  illustrate  his 
eccentricities.  A young  lady  of  Methodist  parentage  not 
only  rejected  all  offers  of  mercy  but  even  refused  to  kneel 
at  family  worship.  Finally  Mr.  Gillmore  said  to  her; 
“Well,  you  are  determined  to  go  to  hell,  and  if  you  will 
go,  then  the  sooner  you  go  the  better.”  She  was  much 
shocked,  but  what  was  her  astonishment  to  hear  him, 
when  he  again  prayed  in  the  family,  call  her  by  name,  tell 
the  Lord  how  wicked  she  was,  and  then  beseech  him  “if 
she  would  not  repent,  to  kill  her  and  take  her  out  of  the 
way  of  others  whom  she  was  hindering.”  She  went  away 
in  great  excitement,  and,  fearing  lest  the  prayer  might  be 
answered,  was  led  to  repentence.  At  one  of  his  appoint- 
ments in  the  Genesee  Conference,  he  learned  that  the  grist- 
mill was  running,  and  sent  a boy  around  to  notify  all  the 
people  that  a new  minister  had  come  and  would  preach  at 
a certain  place.  The  house  was  full,  and  he  lashed  the 
congregation  in  his  own  peculiar  style.  Among  other 
things,  he  said : “Tell  your  miller  that  if  he  don’t  stop 

grinding  on  Sunday  he'll  be  ground  to  all  eternity.  Hell 
will  be  the  bed-stone,  and  God  Almighty  the  runner.” 
His  manner  of  visiting  from  house  to  house  was  original. 
He  would  take  the  houses  in  their  order.  When  he  en- 
tered, without  being  seated,  he  would  inquire:  “Have 

you  any  religion  here?"  If  the  answer  was  not  satisfac- 
tory, he  would  add : “You  must  repent  or  you  will  go  to 

hell.  Good-by,"  and  on  he  went  to  the  next  house. — 


James  Gillmore. 


56i 

(George  Peck , Early  Methodism  Within  the  Bounds  of 
the  Old  Genesee  Conference , pp.  318,  348,  349.) 

Mr.  Gillmore  was  tall,  straight,  and  in  appearance  dig- 
nified and  commanding.  His  first  appointment  on  the 
Jamestown  Circuit  introduced  him  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  held  a camp  meeting  near  Jamestown,  at 
“Louk’s  Hollow.”  On  Sunday  evening  there  was  a vast 
crowd  and  many  of  the  young  people  very  disorderly. 
Mr.  Gillmore  announced  his  text:  “Rejoice,  O young 

man,  in  thy  youth;  and  let  thv  heart  cheer  thee  in  the 
days  of  thy  youth ; and  walk  in  the  ways  of  thy  heart  and 
in  the  sight  of  thine  eyes.”  He  then  talked  to  the  young 
people,  lauding  all  their  sinful  amusements  and  pleasures. 
“While  upon  this  theme  the  crowd  rushed  up  as  close  as 
they  could  get  to  him  and  listened  with  astonishment  and 
delight.  Christians  stood  and  wondered  what  the  man 
could  mean  by  such  an  apparent  approval  of  all  that  was 
bad.  All  at  once  he  paused,  and  recited  the  remainder  of 
the  verse : ‘But  know  then  that  for  all  these  things  God 

will  bring  thee  into  judgment.’  The  attention  of  all  had 
become  so  perfectly  secured  by  this  time  that  the  most  pro- 
found silence  prevailed  all  over  the  ground.  He  then 
went  into  such  a description  of  the  final  judgment  day — 
Gabriel’s  blowing  the  trumpet — suiting  his  action  and 
voice  to  the  occasion,  as  to  make  the  scene  most  awful  and 
terrific.  1 ears  flowed  down  many  faces ; sobs  and  groans 
could  be  heard  in  all  directions.  The  countenances  of  the 
wicked  were  pictures  of  sadness ; as  he  proceeded  cries  of 
mercy  were  heard  in  all  directions,  and  as  he  closed  up  a 
large  number  rushed  to  the  altar  of  prayer,  and  the  night 
passed  away  with  singing,  praying  and  shouting,  that 
made  the  adjoining -mountains  ring  and  listening  angels 
rejoice.”  At  a camp  meeting  near  Youngsville,  Pa.,  he 
preached  his  celebrated  sermon  on  the  fundamental  rules 
of  arithmetic  from  the  text  beginning:  “Add  to  your 

virtue,  Knowledge.”  He  added  the  graces  together,  and 
showed  the  perfect  man ; he  then  subtracted  them,  one  by 
one,  replacing  each  by  its  opposite,  and  showed  the  char- 
acter of  such  a man ; after  this,  he  multiplied  the  Christian 
graces,  and  pictured  the  good  thus  advancing ; then  giving 
another  turn  to  his  discourse,  he  applied  division,  as,  be- 
fore the  judgment  throne,  he  separated  those  who  pos- 
sessed their  graces  from  those  who  lacked  them;  and 

36 


562  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


finally  he  applied  the  rule  of  loss  and  gain  in  a manner 
both  thrilling  and  powerful. — ( Gregg , History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference,  J^ol.  1,  pp.  2 55-259 -) 

James  Gillmore  died  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  Sept.  27, 
1866.  “He  possessed  more  than  ordinary  mental  power, 
could  reason  with  logical  accuracy  and  at  the  same  time 
thrill  an  audience  with  overpowering  eloquence.  He  was 
not  only  an  able  controversialist,  but  what  was  far  better, 
a powerful  revival  preacher.”* 

Springboro  and  Clintonville. 

The  Springboro  Methodist  class  was  organized  on  the 
upper  floor  of  Butler's  tannery  in  1828  by  Daniel  Richey 
of  the  Albion  charge,  with  five  members — Joel  Jones  and 
wife,  and  Mary,  Maria,  and  George  Cook.  In  1829  the 
class  was  attached  to  Conneautvifle  Circuit,  with  which  it 
remained  until  1867  when  W.  A.  P.  Eberhart,  a local 
preacher,  was  employed  as  a supply.  Spring  Circuit  was 
formed  in  1868.  The  meetings  of  the  Springboro  class 
were  transferred  to  the  school  house  and  a few  years  later 
to  the  second  floor  of  Butler’s  store-room  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Cussawago  streets.  Here  the  little 
society  worshiped  until  1864  when  a frame  building  was 
erected  on  the  north  side  of  Cussawago  street  at  a cost  of 
$1,200. — (History  of  Crawford  County;  Warner , Beers 
& Co.,  p.  651 ; Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People,  p.  616.) 

The  building  erected  at  the  Anderson  furnace  was  one 
of  the  earliest  places  of  worship  in  Clinton  township,  Ve- 
nango County,  Pennsylvania.  Here  ministers  of  differ- 
ent denominations  conducted  religious  services.  “Oc- 
casionally a Methodist  brother,  and  once  a Mormon  were 

*James  Gillmore — Licensed  to  preach,  1812;  admitted  on  trial, 
Genesee  Conference,  1812;  full  connection,  1814;  deacon,  1814, 
McKendree;  elder,  1816,  McKendree;  transferred  to  Pittsburg 
Conference,  1828;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Erie,  Pa.,  September  27,  1866. 
Appointments — 1812,  Lyons,  N.  Y.;  1813,  Ontario,  N.  Y.;  1814, 
Canaan,  N.  Y.;  1815-16,  superannuated;  1817-18,  supernumerary; 
1819,  Tioga,  Pa.;  1820,  Crooked  Lake,  N.  Y.;  1821,  Batavia,  N.  Y.; 
1822,  Genesee,  N.  Y.;  1823,  supernumerary;  1824,  Prattsburg,  N. 
Y.;  1825-6,  Seneca,  N.  Y.;  1827,  superannuated;  1828,  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.;  1829,  Forestville;  1830,  Youngsville;  1831,  Butler;  1832, 
Ashtabula;  1833,  superannuated;  1834,  supernumerary;  1835, 
superannuated;  1836,  supernumerary;  1837-8,  superannuated; 
1839,  Hartford;  1840,  Ellsworth;  1841,  Braceville;  1842-54,  super- 
annuated; 1855,  Conneautville;  1856,  Pleasantville;  1857,  super- 
annuated; 1858,  Frewsburg;  1859-66,  superannuated. 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


563 


permitted  to  occupy  the  sacred  pulpit.”  The  Methodist 
Society  at  Clintonvilje  was  organized  in  1828.  One  ac- 
count states  that  James  Hughes  was  the  first  class  leader; 
while  another  gives  that  honor  to  Jacob  Hovis.  The  first 
church  building  was  erected  in  1828.  This  was  replaced 
by  a more  substantial  and  commodious  edifice  in  1852. 

“Rev.  Jacob  Bear  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting  in 
Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1818,  where  he  im- 
mediately united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  moved  to  Mount  Jackson,  Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  in 
1825,  and  was  the  first  Methodist  and  class  leader  in  that 
town.  The  first  Methodist  preaching  in  that  place  was  by 
Elder  Eddy  and  B.  O.  Plimpton.  A class  was  formed  in 
1 828,  consisting  of  Jacob  Bear  and  wife,  Stephen  Bryan 
and  wife,  Louis  Haulette,  Isabella  McGill  and  her  two 
daughters.  This  class  was  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
village,  and  the  meetings  were  held  at  Mr.  Bear’s  log 
house  until  1838.  About  the  time  the  class  was  formed, 
Mr.  Bear  received  license  to  preach,  which  he  continued  to 
do  until  he  died,  in  1858.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  262.) 

The  Polk  Circuit. 

W e present  portions  of  a paper  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Keeley, 
relating  to  the  “Old  Sandy  Church 

“When  the  writer  came  to  this  section  nearly  two  years 
ago,  he  found  the  hills  and  valleys  perfumed  by  the  pre- 
cious memory  of  the  lives  and  deeds  of  the  fathers  and 
mothers  of  our  Methodist  Israel  of  threescore  and  four- 
score years  ago.  In  a circuit  paper  a year  ago  he  sug- 
gested a suitable  commemoration  of  the  founding  of  the 
■Methodist  Episcopal  Church  eighty-five  years  ago  in  the 
Big  Sandy  Valley,  about  five  miles  southwest  of  Frank- 
lin, Pa.,  and  the  building  here  of  the  first  Methodist 
Church  seventy-five  years  ago.  The  suggestion  did  not 
receive  much  encouragement  at  first;  but  this  year  the 
project  was  undertaken,  and  all  outlay  and  effort  were 
largely  rewarded  by  the  concluding  of  a very  successful 
anniversary  celebration,  June  21  and  22. 

“Nearly  one  hundred  years  ago  James  Cannon,  a na- 
tive of  Ireland,  with  his  family  and  brother-in-law,  and 
others,  settled  south  of  Franklin,  near  the  present  town 
of  Polk.  Many  of  these  had  been  Methodists  in  Ireland, 


564  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  some  of  them  had  heard  John  Wesley  preach.  The 
early  itinerant  found  their  cabins  and  the  cabins  of  their 
neighbors — the  Fosters,  Adamses,  Reynoldses,  Running  - 
ers,  McElhaneys  and  others — before  the  war  of  1812. 
But  in  1817  the  Rev.  Ira  Eddy,  then  on  his  first  work 
on  a circuit  which  extended  from  Lawrence  County  to 
W arren,  organized  in  the  log  cabin  of  James  Cannon, 
near  the  site  later  of  the  old  Sandy  Church,  the  first  class. 
For  ten  years  services  were  held  in  the  homes  of  the 
settlers.  Then  the  church,  30x40  feet,  and  of  good 
height,  was  built.  James  Cannon  gave  the  ground  and 
the  raw  timber  for  all  material.  Robert  Temple  sawed 
it  at  his  mill  in  the  valley.  Aaron  McKissick,  a ship  car- 
penter from  Maine,  supervised  the  building,  and  the  work 
was  donated  by  friends  and  members  of  the  class.  About 
all  the  money  spent  was  for  nails  and  such  things.  The 
church  was  in  use  thirty  years.  Its  congregation  came 
from  a radius  of  ten  or  more  miles  on  all  sides  except 
Franklin.  It  was  abandoned  when  five  or  six  churches 
were  begun  around  within  five  to  ten  miles  of  it,  its 
congregation  being  thus  absorbed  by  these  others. 

“The  first  itinerants  that  traveled  the  Big  Sandy  were 
from  the  Baltimore  Conference.  Beginning  with  Joseph 
Shane  in  1801,  the  list  includes  x\sa  Shinn,  George  Askin, 
Joseph  Hall,  R.  R.  Roberts,  David  Best,  James  Reed, 
James  Watts,  Thomas  Church,  James  Charles,  Jacob 
Dowell,  Eli  Towne,  Jacob  Gruber,  Abel  Robinson,  Jacob 
Gorwell,  John  Elliott,  John  Summerville,  J.  P.  Kent,  Ira 
Eddy,  D.  D.  Davidson,  Samuel  Adams,  Charles  Elliott, 
Ezra  Booth,  Charles  Trescott  and  William  Swayze  up  to 
1825,  when  this  section  was  included  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  at  its  formation.  As  William  Swayze  became 
elder  of  Erie  District,  including  this  region,  and  served 
for  three  years,  he  was  present  during  the  building  and 
dedication  of  the  old  Sandy  Church  in  1827.  In  1826 
John  Leach  and  Hiram  Kinsley  were  the  preachers;  1827, 
John  P.  Kent  and  Samuel  Ayres;  and  thereafter  Thomas 
Carr,  Robert  Armstrong,  John  Summerville,  L.  D.  Pros- 
ser, Thomas  Thompson,  John  Scott,  John  Robinson, 
Zerah  H.  Coston,  Daniel  Ritchey,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  Wil- 
liam Carroll  and  Ahab  Kellar  in  1835.  Then  the  Erie 
Conference  was  organized,  and  the  records  are  definite 
since  that  date. 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


“The  anniversary  gathering  June  21  and  22,  1902, 
proved  very  successful.  About,  fifteen  hundred  people 
were  present  on  Sunday ; the  best  of  order  prevailed,  and 
the  greatest  interest  was  manifested  even  by  the  youth  of 
to-day.  The  meetings  were  held  in  a maple  grove  near 
old  Sandy  cemetery,  the  site  of  the  old  Sandy  Church. 
The  camp  was  prepared  hastily,  and  left  as  primitive  as 
possible  consistent  with  comfort.  It  was  a reminder  of 
the  days  of  the  fathers.  Slabs  with  flat  sides  up  served 
as  seats.  Old-time  hymns  were  sung,  mingled  with  the 
songs  of  to-day,  by  the  Epworth  Leaguers.  The  singing 
was  full  of  fervor,  and  the  souls  of  the  worshipers  wTere 
full  of  fire.  The  verdict  of  all  was  a glad  thanksgiving 
that  they  were  permitted  to  come  together.  The  program 
was  not  so  long  as  the  pastor  first  projected.  He  dreamed 
of  a reunion  of  all  the  pastors  who  had  ever  served  the 
circuit  who  are  yet  living.  This  was  not  indorsed  by 
the  committee,  and  so  was  abandoned.  But  the  older 
pastors  and  the  older  settlers  were  called  upon,  and  re- 
sponded nobly.  The  Rev.  J.  H.  Vance,  of  Panama,  who 
had  served  the  circuit  in  i853-’54,  who  had  preached  in 
the  old  church,  was  present,  and  was  an  inspiration  by 
his  reminiscences  and  his  exhortations.  The  Rev.  S.  E. 
Winger,  who  was  pastor  in  1875,  preached  twice,  and 
met  many  of  the  friends  who  helped  in  his  day  to  build 
the  church  at  Polk,  the  immediate  successor  of  the  old 
Sandy  Church. 

“The  Rev.  John  Peate,  D.D.,  was  present  and  preached 
on  ‘Peace’  Sunday  morning;  also  gave  several  excellent 
talks  at  other  times.  He  was  Presiding  Elder  in  this 
section  twenty  years  ago,  and  is  young  yet  in  his  eighty- 
third  year.  The  Rev.  William  Branfield,  who  had  been 
pastor  in  1 877-^79,  was  present  and  did  not  ‘hide  his  light 
under  a bushel.'  He  made  the  woods  ring  with  his  joy- 
ful ‘Amens.’  He  preached  twice,  and  took  the  collec- 
tion for  expenses — and  got  more  than  enough. 

. “The  historical  part  was  given  Saturday.  These  pa- 
pers, as  has  been  requested,  are  to  be  printed.  The  pas- 
tor will  edit  them,  and  other  matter,  and  have  them  ready 
in  the  near  future.  These  papers  are  invaluable.  They 
were  not  so  much  thought  of  until  this  gathering.  Many 
sa*nts  are  gone  to  glory;  the  others  are  fast 
following.  The  sadness  which  clouded  our  happiness  at 


566 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


this  anniversary  was  that  so  few  of  the  fathers  were  with 
us.  Nearly  a score  of  the  old  landmarks  of  Methodist 
history  have  gone  to  their  reward  from  this  section  in  a 
few  years.  But  the  papers  of  D.  T.  Nicklin,  H.  E.  Mc- 
Elhaney,  J.  M.  Foster,  J.  H.  Vance,  J.  B.  Marshall,  W. 
S,  Adams,  William  Branfield  and  others,  especially  that 
of  Hon.  S.  P.  McCalmont,  will  preserve  much  that  will 
be  prized  more  highly  as  the  years  pass.  Dr.  S.  H. 
Prather,  of  Titusville,  also  read  a poem,  which  was  much 
appreciated.  This  also  will  be  printed. 

“As  the  more  aged  friends  who  saw  and  sang  in  the 
old  Sandy  Church  met  and  mingled  their  greetings  on 
this  occasion,  we  thought : 

‘How  dear  to  my  heart  are  the  scenes  of  my  childhood, 

When  fond  recollection  presents  them  to  view.’  ” 

The  following  historic  sketches  of  churches  belonging 
to  the  Polk  charge  are  taken  from  “The  Circuit  Monitor,” 
published  at  Polk  in  1902: 

“James  Cannon  was  born  in  1770,  married  about  1795’ 
and  came  to  America  shortly  after,  and  lived  for  some 
years  in  Penn  Valley,  Center  County.  He  came  to 
Sandy,  five  miles  southwest  of  Franklin,  before  the  war 
of  1812  (some  say  1802).  In  his  log  house  on  the 
Sandy's  banks  was  the  first  class  formed.  Ira  Eddy  is 
said  to  have  been  the  minister.  Alexander  McElhaney 
was  the  first  leader.  John  Foster  and  wife,  James  Can- 
non and  wife,  S.  Vincent'  and  wife,  Aaron  McKissick 
and  wife,  Welden  Adams  and  wife,  John  Pratt  and  wife, 
were  among  the  first  members.  The  class  met  in  pri- 
vate houses  for  years.  They  came  from  the  points 
around,  ten  to  twelve  miles.  The  mode  of  travel  was  on 
horseback  or  on  foot.  There  were  no  light  wagons  or 
buggies,  and  if  there  were  the  roads  were  often  impass- 
able. About  1825  the  project  of  the  erection  of  a church 
was  mooted.  In  1826  it  was  decided.  In  1827  it  was 
raised,  and  in  1828  it  was  dedicated.  James  Cannon 
gave  the  land,  as  he  also  gave  the  land  for  the  cemetery 
at  its  side.  His  grandchild  was  the  first  person  buried 
there,  infant  of  James  and  Letitia  Adams.  The  church 
was  unusual  for  its  days,  as  it  was  a frame  structure 
30x40  feet.  The  studding  were  4x4.  Robert  Temple  at 
that  time  run  a sawmill  on  the  Sandy  near  where  the 
present  dwelling  house  of  John  and  Norah  Doutt 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


567 


stands,  which  was  first  the  McClaren  farm.  He  sawed 
the  stuff.  Aaron  McKissick  was  from  Maine,  where  he 
had  ‘built  ships/  so  he  led  in  the  carpenter  work.  ‘All 
hands  helped/  It  was  a fine  building  for  that  day;  log 
cabins  and  log  school  houses  and  churches  were  yet  be- 
ing built  everywhere.  It  was  high  and  lined  with  plain 
boards;  its  acoustic  properties  were  excellent,  ‘resound- 
ing melodiously’  with  the  singing  and  the  x full  voiced 
tone  of  the  speaker.  It  is  said  the  voice  of  the  early 
pioneer  in  prayer  and  song  could  be  heard  distinctly  on 
the  hills  two  miles  away.  Those  were  prayers  offered  by 
men  who  ‘feared  neither  man  nor  the  devil/  They  sang, 
‘making  melody  in  their  hearts  to  God/  and  melody  also 
through  the  corridors  of  the  forest — reverberating  from 
the  rocks  on  the  cliffs. 

“In  February,  i860,  the  committee  appointed  to  sell 
‘old  Sandy  Church’ — so  it  was  then  called — reported 
that  they  had  sold  it  for  $28,123/2.  They  had  taken  a note 
for  this  amount  for  one  year.  The  note  was  put  into 
the  custody  of  the  Recording  Steward.  The  record  does 
not  say  who  bought  the  building. 

“In  1864  the  sum  of  $128.70  was  reported  for  mis- 
sions. This  same  year  a committee  was  appointed  to 
look  after  the  note  given  four  years  before  for  old  Sandy 
Church— $28. 12  J4.  John  Coleman  and  Henry  Clulow 
were  appointed,  and  they  were  instructed  to  have  the 
note  renewed. 

“The  last  conference  of  1866  reported  about  $125  for 
benevolences,  $57  of  it  was  for  missions.  Rev.  R.  M. 
Bear  did  not  serve  the  full  year,  and  $150  was  paid  to 
Brother  Jones  for  filling  out.  The  quarterly  conference 
records  are  very  full.  Trustees  report  Reynolds  church 
property  worth  $3,000.  William  McElhaney,  Seth  Tem- 
ple and  Isaac  Bunnell  are  the  trustees  for  ‘Sandy  Church.’ 
These  were  continued  to  keep  track  of  that  note  of 
$28,123/2,  and  to  plan  a new  church,  no  doubt. 

“There  was  preaching  at  times  for  years  at  the  house 
of  Jonah  Reynolds,  ten  miles  west  of  Franklin.  The 
‘brick  house’  on  that  well  known  farm  was  built  in  1834. 
It  stands  well  preserved  to-day.  Hiram  Reynolds,  son 
of  Jonah,  used  to  came  to  ‘Sandy’  for  many  years.  Hi- 
ram’s daughter,  Sarah,  says  she  was  born  in  1833.  His 
oldest  daughter  was  married  in  1847.  So  his  marriage 
was  probably  about  the  date  the  ‘Sandy’  Church  was 


568 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


built.  There  were  occasional  preaching  services  at  the 
Reynolds  homestead,  in  the  brick  house  and  in  a ten- 
ant’s house  across  the  road,  from  1825  to  1840,  and 
that  year  a class  was  formed  of  about  twenty  members. 
Some  of  them  were  the  following:  Jonah  Reynolds 

and  Hiram  Reynolds  and  wife,  Jane;  John  Stone  and 
wife,  Mary;  also  Sarah  and  Betsy  Stone;  Samuel  Shan- 
non and  wife,  Betsy;  Marie  and  Sarah  Reynolds;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Beni j ah  Cary,  George  Casady,  Elijah  Wil- 
liams and  wife,  Jane;  Alex.  Sikes  and  wife,  Lucy;  James 
Paden  and  wife,  Hannah;  Mrs.  Malissa  Ray,  Mrs.  Fer- 
guson, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hitchcock,  David  Reagle  and  wife, 
Ezra  Fobes  and  wife,  Hannah;  Nicholas  Wagner  and 
wife,  Robert  Williams  and  wife,  Samuel  Ray,  Rebecca. 
Mary  and  Nancy  Reed,  Rachel  and  Charity  Pierce. 
Thosa  Partridge  and  wife,  Mary  M. 

“Some  of  these  no  doubt  came  in  after  1840,  perhaps 
later  than  1850.  We  get  from  memory  of  old  members, 
not  from  written  records.  The  class  decided  to  have  a 
place  of  worship  and  in  1845  completed  a log  church 
on  land  given  by  Hiram  Reynolds,  one-half  mile  east  of 
his  residence,  the  ‘brick  house.’  He  also  gave  land  for 
the  present  cemetery  near  the  church.  His  mother,  Jo- 
nah’s wife,  however,  was  buried  in  Franklin,  where  her 
first  husband,  David  Nickerson,  had  been  buried.  The 
log  church  was  used  for  twenty  years,  when  it  was  re- 
placed by  a frame  structure  in  1865.  This  building 
stands  to-day,  it  having  been  remodeled  three  years  ago, 
and  still  serves  well  the  needs  of  the  locality.” 

Rev.  James  M.  Foster  writes : 

“Just  when  the  fires  of  Methodism  were  first  kindled 
in  the  region  of  country  known  as  Bully  Hill,  is  not  def- 
initely known.  If  unwritten  history  could  be  defined  or 
the  hieroglyphs  of  the  foot  prints  of  the  early  settlers  de- 
ciphered, I think  there  is  not  a shadow  of  doubt  but 
what  the  fires  of  Methodism  were  kindled  in  the  hearts 
of  these  early  settlers  even  before  coming  to  this  loca- 
tion, and  hence  came  with  them  and  were  kept  burning 
on  their  family  altars  ever  afterwards. 

“John  Foster,  my  grandfather,  who  lived  on  the  banks  of 
the  Allegheny  river,  and  died  about  June,  1837,  is  a strik- 
ing illustration  of  the  above  statements,  and  no  doubt  as 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


569 


much  could  be  said  of  some  of  his  cotemporaries.  John 
Foster  seems  to  have  imbibed  the  atmosphere  of  Meth- 
odism even  before  landing  in  this  region,  and  ever  after 
was  a living  example  of  what  Methodism  means.  Of 
him  it  might  truly  be  said  as  of  one  of  old,  ‘As  for  me  and 
my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord/  The  history  of  his 
family  goes  to  show  that  he  ruled  his  household  accord- 
ing to  the  divine  order,  being  head  and  priest  of  the 
same. 

“His  house,  therefore,  was  not  only  the  stopping  place 
for  the  occasional  circuit  rider  who  chanced  to  push  his 
way  out  into  a new  territory,  but  like  Cornelius  of  old, 
when  the  minister  of  God  came  he  accepted  him  as  sent 
of  God,  and  therefore  gathered  together  his  family,  and, 
indeed,  his  neighbors,  to  hear  the  whole  counsels  of  God, 
as  given  by  Christ’s  ambassador.  Unlike  too  many  in 
the  present  day  he  was  not  content  to  be  simply  a wor- 
shipper of  the  true  and  living  God,  but  felt  it  a duty  to 
be  a member  of  the  visible  church;  therefore,  he  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Big  Sandy,  at 
or  near  its  first  organization. 

“James  Foster,  my  father,  was  converted  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  in  the  year  1827  at  a meeting  held  at  Sandy 
Church.  Caleb  Foster  was  converted  two  years  later  in 
the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age.  Ross  Foster  was  not 
converted  until  the  year  1849.  His  conversion  occurred 
at  the  Foster  school  house  during  a great  revival. 

'‘The  first  class  formed  on  the  Hill  was  at  the  Durn- 
ing  school  house  in  1843. 

“In  1847  there  was  a class  formed  at  the  Foster 
school  house  consisting  of  James  Foster  and  wife  and 
mother — his  father  having  died  years  before;  Elizabeth 
Foster,  the  wife  of  Ross  Foster;  John  Brown  and  wife, 
and  probably  some  others.  John  Brown  was  appointed 
leader,  and  became  eventually  Sunday  School  Superin- 
tendent and  chorister. 

“A  great  revival  soon  followed  this  formation  of  a 
class  and  many  were  converted,  among  these  were  the 
following:  Ross  Foster,  his  son,  John,  and  daughter, 

Lizzie;  Hiram  and  Robert  Graham,  Steven  D.  Smith. and 
his  three  sisters,  Hannah,  Cidney  and  Martha;  Maggie 
Brown,  now  Mrs.  Welton;  Mary  L.  Foster,  Mary  L. 
Gordon,  Philander  Brown  and  Mrs.  Robert  Graham. 


570  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

James  Brown  had  been  converted  the  winter  before  at 
'the  Hill  school  house. 

“The  above  revival  was  conducted  by  John  Abbott, 
who  was  noted  for  his  success  as  a revivalist. 

“In  the  winter  of  1852-' 53  there  was  another  awaken- 
ing in  this  same  place  under  the  direction  of  Ahab  Kellar. 
At  this  meeting  Louisa  Smith,  now  Mrs.  Ramsdell,  and 
many  others  were  converted. 

“A  class  of  young  people  was  now  formed,  and  John 
Foster  appointed  leader. 

“The  first  regular  preaching  at  this  place  was  on 
Monday  afternoon  at  four  o'clock ; how  often  I do  not 
know,  probably  once  in  four  weeks. 

“The  church  was  not  built  until  1863. 

“Mv  memory  carries  me  back  to  the  old  log  school 
house,  with  its  furniture  consisting  of  shelves  nailed  to 
the  wall  for  writing  desks,  and  seats  made  by  turning  the 
flat  side  of  a slab  uppermost,  and  putting  legs  on  it.  But 
sacred  are  these  memories,  for  it  was  honored  of  God 
and  the  religious  services  were  characterized  by  great 
demonstration  of  power  during  sermon  and  class  and 
prayer  meeting. 

“What  a contrast  between  many  professors  of  this 
day  and  those  early  saints  of  God.  It  was  not  an  unusual 
thing  for  William  Smith,  of  Rockland,  my  father's 
brother-in-law,  to  come  with  his  wife  and  baby  on  foot 
to  father's  on  Saturday  evening,  and  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing the  men  would  leave  the  women  behind  and  come 
all  the  way  to  old  Sandy  to  attend  prayer  meeting  and 
class  meeting  on  Sabbath,  when  there  was  no  preaching. 
Many  a modern  professor  is  absent  from  Sabbath  ser- 
vices when  he  lives  almost  under  the  eaves  of  the  church. 
They  could  well  adopt  the  language  of  the  Psalmist  and 
say  ‘I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  let  us  go  up  to 
the  house  of  God.  One  day  in  Thy  courts  is  better  than 
a thousand.  Yes,  I had  rather  be  a door  keeper  fit  the 
house  of  my  God  than  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wicked- 
ness.' '' 

We  are  chiefly  indebted  to  Brother  Daniel  Nicklin  for 
the  substances  of  the  notes  that  follow. 

There  had  been  occasional  preaching  from  several 
sources  in  this  neighborhood  before,  but  we  begin  with 
a definite  record  in  1842.  In  that  year  J.  R.  Locke,  pas- 


The  Polk  Circuit.  571 

tor  at  Franklin,  held  a meeting  at  the  Lyons  school 
house  that  stood  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Lyons,  but  occupied 
by  D.  T.  Nicklin  and  family  for  the  past  fifty  years. 
This  meeting  resulted  in  the  formation  of  a class  of  the 
following  members,  with  Essington  Kephart  as  leader: 
Essington  Kephart  and  wife,  Mary  A. ; Robert  Seaton 
and  wife,  Mary  Jane;  Jackson  Seaton,  David  Vincent, 
Samuel  Nickerson  and  wife,  Sarah;  David  Nickerson, 
Samuel  Lyons  and  wife,  Sally;  William  Lyons  and  wife, 
Tane;  George  Cummings  and  wife,  Bessie;  Miss  Jane 
Lyons  and  Miss  Lucinda  Evans.  The  only  surviving 
member  of  this  historic  company  is  David  Nickerson, 
who  has  been  an  honored  member  here  for  fifty-nine 
years.  He  is  now  a trustee  and  he  has  been  an  official 
for  years. 

For  nine  years  after  this  revival  the  class  was  main- 
tained, and  was  known  as  the  “Lyons”  appointment,  and 
was  supplied  from  Franklin.  The  “place  of  worship"  is 
thus  described  by  Brother  D.  T.  Nicklin,  who  settled  in 
this  locality  in  1851 : 


“It  was  some  distance  from  the  road  in  the  woods. 
It  was  built  of  round  logs,  and  on  either  side  a log  was 
cut  and  the  space  filled  by  8x10  panes  of  glass,  the 
only  avenue  of  light  when  the  door  was  shut.  The  roof 
was  clapboards  on  pole  rafters,  held  in  place  by  weight 
poles.  The  seats  were  made  of  split  polesv  with  holes 
bored  near  the  ends  and  middle  and  pegs  inserted  for 
legs.  Pegs  or  pins  in  the  logs  on  the  wall  had  boards 
laid  thereon  for  ‘desks.’  No  stove  was  found  therein, 
but  a huge  fire  place.” 

Janies  Paden  was  lead.er  in  the  later  forties.  The  mem- 
bership had  increased  somewhat  and  changes  took  place. 
In  1851  “Lyons”  was  made  part  of  Hendersonville  Cir- 
cuit, and  Edwin  Hull  became  pastor,  with  J.  G.  Thomp- 
son as  junior  preacher. 

In  the  spring  of  1852  a meeting  was  held,  at  which 
among  others  John  Cummings  and  his  sister,  Eliza  Cum- 
mings, now  Mrs.  John  Runninger,  united  with  the 
church,  and  both  are  yet  honored  and  faithful  members 
of  this  class,  he  having  long  been  an  official,  and  is  now 
a trustee.  During  this  series  of  services  the  preachers 
changed  the  place  of  meeting  to  the  Gould  school  house, 
about  two  miles  west.  This  move  was  not  endorsed  by 


572  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

many  of  the  older  members,  who  found  it  a hardship  to 
go  so  far.  So  shortly  after  they  secured  the  use  of  the 
new  school  house  then  being  built  not  far  from  the  site 
of  the  old  “Lyons,”  but  on  the  northern  limit  of  the 
same  farm,  and  known  as  the  Nicklin  school  house,  and 
W.  F.  Day,  then  pastor  in  Franklin,  preached  for  them. 
The  class  was  organized  and  Robert  Seaton  became  lead- 
er and  continued  until  he  moved  to  Franklin. 

One-half  acre  of  land  was  offered  by  Brother  Nicklin 
in  1869 — to  revert  if  it  ceased  to  be  used  for  church 
purposes.  This  was  accepted,  and  D.  T.  Nicklin  ap- 
pointed to  collect  funds.  David  Runninger,  William 
Sandford  and  D.  T.  Nicklin  were  made  building  commit- 
tee. 

1 he  sum  of  $1,000  was  raised  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  $500  was  secured  from  generous  friends  in  Franklin. 
The  work  was  pushed  so  that  by  December  10  of  that 
year  the  house  was  built  and  carpeted,  furnished,  heated 
and  lighted.  Material  then  was  so  expensive,  however, 
that  they  were  $700  in  debt.  G.  W.  Maltby  preached, 
and  in  thirty  minutes  the  sum  was  subscribed,  and  then 
the  church  was  dedicated.  This  marked  an  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  class.  A house  of  worship,  the  need  of 
which  had  been  felt  for  twenty  years,  was  a reality;  and 
it  has  been  a Bethel  of  blessing  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  It  was  well  built  and  is  in  good  condition  yet. 
Brother  John  Cummings  gave  one-half  acre  south  of  the 
church  for  a yard,  which  with  its  excellent  shade,  serves 
the  purpose  well. 

A short  time  after  the  close  of  a revival  meeting  held 
in  1853,  the  following  sad  item  of  history  occurred:  Rev. 
Parker  Dodd,  of  Franklin,  brother  of  Hon.  S.  C.  T. 
Dodd,  of  New  York  City,  formerly  a Franklin  boy,  came 
out  and  preached  in  the  Nicklin  school  house.  While  re- 
turning home,  in  company  with  Elizabeth  Selders  and 
Mary  Ann  Stocker,  they  were  accompanied  by  William 
Sandford,  who  had  volunteered  to  take  them  across 
French  creek  at  the  Echols  farm.  They  had  to  cross  in  a 
boat.  Two  young  men  or  boys  assisted  to  row  across. 
Through  indiscretion  or  lack  of  care  on  the  part  of  the 
boys,  the  boat  capsized  and  Rev.  Dodd  and  the  Misses 
Selders  and  Stocker  were  drowned.  Mr.  Sandford  and 
the  boys,  with  great  difficulty,  reached  the  bank  in  safety. 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


5 73 


Through  forty-eight  years  this  sad  occurrence  remains 
fresh  in  the  memory  of  those  who  knew  the  lost  ones. 

In  1838  J.  A.  Hallock  and  Isaac  Scofield  were  the  cir- 
cuit preachers,  and  in  1839  Rufus  Parker  and  D.  W. 
Vorse.  The  circuit  was  readjusted  and  called  “Hender- 
sonville Circuit.”  We  find  this  record:  “James  Riddle, 
George  Taylor  and  W.  Sedwick  be  a committee  to  settle 
the  account  of  the  parsonage  house  at  Harrisville.”  The 
following  entry  also  appears:  “The  trustees  of  said 

house  are  requested  to  rent  the  house  one  year,  if  the 
preachers  do  not  occupy  it.” 

The  first  preacher  in  Erie  Conference  who  came  to 
this  circuit  had  to  live  in  an  old  log  house  on  the  farm 
of  Louis  Egbert,  near  Fairview.  That  year  a lot  was 
bought  and  parsonage  built  at  Hendersonville.  Though 
not  a costly  house,  it  was  hard  to  get  paid  for.  After 
some  ten  years  struggling  with  debts  on  it,  in  1849  a 
committee  was  appointed  for  about  the  sixth  time  to  “in- 
quire into  and  provide  for  the  parsonage  house  debts.” 
Six  months  later  the  committee  reported  that  they  had 
“gone  into  particulars  and  details  and  had  found  $7.53 
debts.”  Next  year  this  seems  to  have  been  partly  can- 
celled and  a “committee  was  appointed  to  paint  the  par- 
sonage.” J.  Henderson  and  the  two  circuit  preachers 
were  the  committee.  John  Abbott  and  Peter  Burroughs 
were  the  preachers.  But  it  seems  that  there  was  noth- 
ing done,  for  next  year  we  find  the  junior  preacher,  D. 
M.  Stever,  trying  to  collect  funds  to  paint  the  parsonage. 
At  the  second  quarterly  conference,  he  reported  that  he 
was  at  it;  at  the  third  he  also. “reported  his  success,  that 
he  had  done  nothing/’  The  record  is  that  “his  report 
was  accepted  and  he  was  discharged.”  A new  commit- 
tee was  appointed  and  instructed  to  get  a painter  and 
paint.  Six  months  later  they  reported  the  par- 
sonage painted,  but  not  paid  for.  A later 
report  says  that  before  the  painting  was 
all  paid  for  “the  parsonage  was  sold  for  taxes.”  J.  Car- 
michael, J.  Henderson  and  E.  Kephart  were  “appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  legality”  of  the  catastrophe.  A vear 
later  they  report  expenses  of  the  suit  over  the  affair.  But 
still  there  was  a debt.  In  1854  the  record  is  made  “that 
the  trustees  and  stewards  are  instructed  to  discharge  all 
debts  against  the  parsonage  house.”  Next  year  Brother 


574 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Stuntz  brought  in  a bill  for  repairs,  $5.17.  But  before 
the  famous  house  was  twenty  years  old  it  was  at  least 
once  reported  “all  debts  paid.” 

An  incident  related  by  J.  B.  Marshall  we  think  worthy 
of  mentioning.  It  was  a brief  account  of  a meeting  of 
marvelous  power  and  results  that  occurred  at  the  old 
Sandy  church.  It  occurred  in  the  3o's  as  near  as  can  be 
ascertained.  There  had  been  a prayer  meeting  at  one 
of  the  homes — perhaps  that  of  Isaac  Bunnell.  There 
was  such  a feeling  of  earnestness  and  power  that  the 
meeting  could  not  close.  They  were  praying  for  an  out- 
pouring of  God’s  Spirit.  It  came,  but  not  at  first.  There 
was  soul  agony  and  great  burden  of  heart.  All  felt  it. 
They  could  not  shake  it  off  and  they  would  not  go  home. 
They  remained  all  night.  At  day’s  dawn  the  power  of 
victory  fell  upon  them.  They  separated,  and  as  they 
went  home  the  very  trees  sang  praises.  The  rising  sun 
was  like  a heaven  of  glory.  Then,  as  they  gathered  at 
the  old  Sandy  church  that  night  the  power  continued. 
The  preacher  was  ablaze  with  it.  Saint  and  sinner  felt  it. 
There  was  a holy  hush,  or  an  awful  conviction.  As  they 
began  to  sing  and  pray  the  house  was  divided;  almost 
all  rushed  to  the  altar,  and  the  few  that  did  not  rushed 
out  of  doors  and  hurried  away.  The  meeting  continued 
late  into  the  night,  and  the  shouts  of  scores  followed  peni- 
tent cries,  and  prayers  of  faith.  The  meeting  continued 
for  some  time  after  that  propitious  beginning,  and  in  it 
were  converted  many  of  the  men  and  women  who  were 
later  leaders  in  church  work  for  miles  around,  for  nearly 
half  a century. 

Such  meetings  were  not  often  so  marked,  nor  so  nu- 
merous, when  we  take  in  the  years,  but  they  were  more 
frequent  than  to-day,  and  usually  showed  greater  vic- 
tories and  more  marked  conversions  than  are  seen  to-day. 
This  thing  is  certain,  when  God  works  none  can  hinder, 
and  He  is  anxious  to  pour  out  His  Spirit  upon  hearts 

ready  to  receive  Him. 

The  following  reminiscences  of  Old  Hendersonville 
Circuit  are  given  by  D.  T.  Nicklin: 

“During  the  annual  conference  of  1839  Henderson- 
ville Circuit  was  formed  from  a part  of  Centerville,  But- 
ler County;  C.  Vorse  and  R.  Parker  were  preachers. 
There  being  no  parsonage  Rev.  Vorse  lived  in  an  old  log 


The  Polk  Circuit. 


■ 


house  on  the  farm  of  Lewis  Egbert.  During  the  year  a 
lot  was  secured  and  a parsonage  built  in  Hendersonville. 
At  that  time  the  circuit  had  three  M.  E.  churches,  the  old 
Sandy,  Hendersonville  and  Fairview. 

“The  following  were  members  of  the  old  Sandy  church : 
James  Canon  and  wife,  Welden  Adams  and  wife,  his  sons, 
John,  William  and  James  and  their  wives,  John  Foster 
and  wife,  his  sons,  Ross  and  James  and  their  wives,  Isaac 
and  Alfred  Bunnel  and  their  wives,  Robert  and  David 
Temple,  Robert  McCutcheon  (a  local  preacher),  Aunt 
Lydia  Seaton,  the  McCalmonts  and  McKissicks,  David 
and  John  Vincent,  Jacob  Runninger  and  wife,  Alexander 
McElhenny,  Hugh  Durning,  Elijah  Morrison  and  wife, 
and  others. 

“At  Hendersonville  Jonathan  Henderson  (local  preach- 
er), Archibald,  Robert,  William  and  Joseph  Henderson, 
John  Carmichael  and  wife,  his  sons,  John  and  Aaron  and 
their  wives,  Augustine  Geibner  and  wife,  and  others. 

“At  the  Fairview  church  located  one  mile  west  of  Mill- 
brook,  were  Rev.  Wm.  Carroll,  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference, David,  Jonathan  and  John  Carroll,  George  and 
James  Wilson  and  their  wives,  Valentine  Geibner  and 
wife,  Bennett  Birtchfield  and  wife,  W.  J.  Jacobs  and  wife, 
Rev.  Thomas  Lamb  and  wife,  and  others. 

“The  society  at  the  Geibner  school  house  in  1839  was 
composed  of  the  following  members:  Francis  Mears, 

leader,  Annie  Mears,  Lewis  Egbert  and  wife,  Richard 
Fowler  and  wife,  Samuel  Buckley  and  wife,  Thos.  Clulow 
and  wife,  Thos.  Wright  and  wife,  John  Hibbs  and  wife 
and  others.  During  the  year  1840  a difficulty  arose  be- 
tween the  members  and  one  of  the  preachers  which  termi- 
nated in  breaking  up  the  society  at  the  Geibner  school 
house.  Most  of  the  members  joined  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist and  were  supplied  by  that  conference  at  the  Geibner 
school  house  until  they  built  Zion  church. 

“The  appointment  at  the  Barker  school  house  near 

Brown’s  mill,  now  Sandy  Lake,  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing members:  Jared  Tuttle  and  wife,  Wm.  Geibner, 

exhorter,  Eleanor  Geibner,  James  Barker  and  wife.  Jason 
Barker,  leader.  Major  Dorchester  and  wife,  and  others. 
This  class  later  was  merged  into  Sandy  Lake  and  Stone- 
boro,  they  being  in  the  bounds  of  the  Barker  class. 


5/6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“The  appointment  at  Reynolds  met  at  the  house  of 
Jonah  Reynolds  until  1846  when  they  built  a log  church 
on  the  Reynolds  farm.  The  members  in  1839  were  Jonah 
Reynolds  and  wife,  Hiram  Reynolds  and  wife,  John  Stone 
and  wife,  Thomas  Partridge  and  wife,  Samuel  Shannon 
and  wife,  E.  S.  Williams  and  wife,  E.  Fobes  and  wife  and 
later  Henry  Clulow  and  wife  and  others.  In  1865  the 
present  Reynolds  church  was  built. 

“There  was  an  appointment  at  a school  house  near  Me- 
chanicsville,  with  Joseph  Allen  and  wife,  Solomon  Davis, 
John  F.  Henderson  and  wife,  Thomas  Galloway  and  wife 
and  others  as  members.  In  a short  time  they  built  Pleas- 
antview  church,  one-half  mile  north  of  Mechanicsville, 
which  is  now  in  Clintonville  charge. 

“There  was  an  appointment  at  the  Foster  school  house, 
now  East  Grove  church,  also  at  the  Durning  school  house 
and  the  Graham  school  house  which  were  merged  into  the 
Pleasant  Grove  church,  which  was  built  in  1872. 

“Center  church  built  some  time  near  i860  by  the  late 
John  and  W in.  Adams,  Simcox  and  others. 

“The  Nicklin  class,  formed  in  1842  was  in  charge  of 
the  Franklin  preacher  until  1857,  it  being  in  the  bounds  of 
Hendersonville  Circuit.  The  circuit  preachers  took  charge 
of  it.  Thus  we  find  in  1839  three  M.  E.  churches,  now 
there  are  eleven  within  the  bounds  of  the  old  Henderson- 
ville Circuit. 

“In  1847  I attended  quarterly  meeting  at  Fairview 
church.  H.  S.  Winans  was  preacher  in  charge.  The  fol- 
lowing were  a part  of  the  official  members  present : John 

Brown,  leader  at  Foster  school  house  (distance  18  miles), 
E.  S.  Williams,  local  preacher  from  Reynolds,  Thos.  Gal- 
loway, steward  from  Pleasantview,  Jared  Tuttle  from 
Baker’s  school  house,  and  I was  informed  that  every  ap- 
pointment on  the  circuit  was  represented  in  that  quarterly 
conference.  That  manifested  commendable  zeal  on  the 
part  of  the  members  fifty-five  years  ago  when  traveling 
was  more  difficult  than  at  the  present  time. 

“Then  love  feast  commenced  on  Sabbath  morning 
promptly  at  9 o’clock,  at  which  time  the  doors  were  closed, 
until  the  close  of  love  feast,  the  members  having  pre- 
viously received  tickets  of  admission. 

“To  those  old  pioneers  the  old  Hendersonville  Circuit  is 
greatly  indebted.  Many  with  whom  I was  intimately  ac- 


Revivals  in  1827 — ’28. 


577 


quainted  were : James  Foster,  Essington  Kephart,  David 

Vincent,  John  Adams,  Henry  Clulow,  Hiram  Reynolds, 
Aaron  Carmichael  and  many  others.  They  were  grand 
good  men,  men  whose  lives  were  in  strict  accord  with  the 
golden  rule,  men  who  were  safe  counselors  and  true 
friends.  May  we  who  survive  so  emulate  their  lives  that 
it  may  finally  be  said  of  us,  'they  have  done  what  they 
could/  ” 

The  origin  of  Methodism  in  Utica,  Venango  County, 
Pennsylvania,  is  veiled  in  obscurity.  It  is  known  that 
Methodist  itinerants  visited  the  French  Creek  settlements 
long  before  the  town  was  founded,  but  it  was  not  until 
some  time  in  the  thirties  that  an  attempt  was  made  to 
effect  a permanent  organization.  An  olck  resident  of  the 
borough  some  years  since,  in  answer  to  inquiries,  said  that 
the  first  class  in  Utica  was  formed  during  the  ministry  of 
John  Van  Horn  of  Meadville.  He  states  that  there  were 
about  sixteen  members  enrolled  at  the  first  meeting  among 
whom  he  remembers  the  following : Jacob  Whitman  and 

wife,  Thomas  Johnson,  John  Martin,  William  Hays  and 
wife,  John  Duffield  and  wife,  Philip  Duffield  and  wife,  and 
Samuel  Jackson  and  wife.  The  class  was  attached  to  Le- 
banon Circuit,  but  later  was  connected  with  the  Coopers- 
town  Circuit.  The  district  school  house  was  used  as  a 
place  of  worship,  but  upon  the  erection  of  the  Utica  Acad- 
emy,  a room  in  that  building  was  fitted  up  for  church  pur- 
poses. In  1862  a small  but  neat  frame  building  was 
elected  near  the  central  part  of  the  borough,  and  during 
all  these  years  it  has  served  as  a place  of  worship. 

Revivals  in  1827-28. 

J.  S.  Barris  writes,  Jan.  8,  1828,  from  the  Chautauqua 
Circuit : 

“In  this  section  we  have  witnessed  the  outpouring  of  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  upon  the  people.  V e have  received 
into  society  on  trial  about  eighty  persons  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  conference  year.  However,  in 
general,  this  appears  to  have  been  the  fruit  of  the  labor  of 
our  predecessors.  This  is  common  among  us  as  a body ; 
one  sows  and  another  reaps,  and  we  feel  as  ready  to  re- 
joice and  give  glory  to  God,  as  though  we  had  been  the 
favored  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord  in  bringing 
about  this  great  work.  And  our  prayer  is,  that  the  Lord 


37 


578 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


would  give  a still  greater  increase  of  graces  and  numbers, 
until  all  mankind  shall  have  experienced  the  power  of  con- 
verting and  sanctifying  grace.’' — (The  Christian  Advo- 
cate and  Journal  and  Zion's  Herald,  Jan.  IJ,  1828.) 

W.  B.  Mack,  Jr.,  writes  under  date  of  February  8, 
1828  : “A  great  work  of  reformation  has  been  going  for- 

ward on  this  circuit’’ — the  North  East  Circuit — “which 
has  not  been  confined  to  age  or  sex.  The  rich  as  well  as 
the  poor  have  found  favor  with  God.  Some,  who  for  a 
long  time  have  been  strong  advocates  of  Universal  ism,  re- 
nounced their  false  hope,  and  sought  and  obtained  a new 
one,  through  grace ; and  are  now  contending  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints." — (Methodist  Magazine , 
Vol.  XI,  p.  161.) 

From  the  North  East  Circuit  we  find  also  the  follow- 
ing, Feb.  8,  1828: 

“On  entering  upon  our  charge,  we  found  the  state  of  re- 
ligion in  general  prosperous.  The  members  were  lively, 
and  much  engaged  in  prayer  for  the  enlargement  of  Zion’s 
borders ; and  the  fields  were  white  and  ready  to  harvest ! 
The  present  revival  commenced  at  our  first  quarterly 
meeting,  which  was  held  in  Venango,  Pa.,  at  the  forks  of 
French  Creek.  As  this  was  the  first  meeting  of  the  kind 
ever  held  in  the  place  and  our  society  small,  on  our  first 
round  on  the  circuit,  we  entered  into  covenant  with  most 
of  the  societies,  to  pray  at  least  twice  a day,  until  quarterly 
meeting  that  God  would  meet  with  us,  and  render  it  an 
occasion  of  good  to  the  people  of  that  place,  and  the  cir- 
cuit in  general.  Nor  did  we  pray  in  vain.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  meeting,  God  met  with  us ; and,  on  the 
first  evening,  four  persons  professed  to  find  peace  in  be- 
lieving. 

“On  the  Sabbath,  the  Lord  made  a conspicuous  displav 
of  his  power,  in  rescuing  sinners  from  the  bondage  of  sin, 
and  bringing  them  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of 
God.  Before  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting,  seventeen 
souls  were  made  the  hopeful  subjects  of  renewing  grace; 
since  which  time  the  work  has  continued  to  spread  in  this 
place,  with  increasing  rapidity.  After  the  sermon,  on 
Sabbath  evening  last,  those  who  were  seeking  religion, 
and  desired  an  interest  in  our  prayers,  were  invited  to 
come  forward  to  seats  prepared  for  the  purpose.  Three 
young  men  came  forward,  and  we  all  bowed  down  before 


Revivals  in  1827 — ’28. 


579 


God,  and  raised  our  hearts  and  voices  in  prayer  in  their 
behalf.  After  some  time  they  were  enabled  to  rejoice  in 
God  their  Savior.  The  seats  were  again  cleared  and 
others  were  invited  to  come  forward  to  receive  the  benefits 


of  prayer.  Nineteen  pressed  through  the  crowd,  and 
humbly  bowed  at  the  ‘mourner’s  bench,’  nine  of  whom, 
before  the  meeting  was  dismissed,  were  enabled  to  testify 
that  God  has  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins. 

“The  work  is  not  confined  to  Venango;  a heavenly  in- 
fluence is  felt  at  almost  every  appointment  on  the  circuit. 
More  than  one  hundred  and  seventy  persons,  within  a few 
weeks,  have  received  the  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  they 
can  cry  ‘Abba,  Father,’  of  whom  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  have  united  in  church  fellowship  with  us. 

“The  other  townships  which  have  shared  in  the  revival 
are  Ripley,  Mina,  Beaver  Dam  and  North  East.  Over 
Harbour  Creek  and  Erie,  a cloud  is  seen  gathering,  above 
the  bigness  of  a man’s  hand  and  there  is  heard  a sound  of 
abundance  of  rain. 

“ 1 he  work  has  not  been  confined  to  age  or  sex — the 
rich,  as  well  as  the  poor, „ have  found  favor  with  God. 
Some,  who  for  a long  time  have  been  strong  advocates  for 
Unitarianism,  have  renounced  their  false  hope,  and  sought 
and  obtained  a new  one,  through  grace ; and  are  now  con- 
tending for  ‘the  faith,  once  delivered  to  the  saints.’  The 
work  at  no  time  has  been  more  promising  than  at  the  pres- 
ent. ‘What  shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits  unto  us?'  ‘We  will  bless  the  Lord  from  this  time 
forth,  and  forever  more.’  ’’ — (The  Christian  Advocate 
and  J ournal  and  Zion's  Herald , March  7 , 1828.) 

A correspondent  sends  a report  from  Erie  Circuit  April 
7,1823:  P 

Dear  Brethren : — The  Lord  is  reviving  his  work  in 
this  section  of  his  spiritual  vineyard.  Methodism  has 
many  formidable  barriers  to  surmount,  but  through  the 
divine  blessing  it  appears  at  present  to  be  rising  superior 
to  all  opposition.  Our  congregations,  considering  the 
scattered  state  of  our  population,  are  large,  respectable, 
and  in  general  very  deeply  affected  under  the  administra- 
tion of  the  word.  On  this  circuit  many  wandering  souls 
aie  resolved  to  arise  and  go  to  mv  Father.’  Many  have 
found  peace  and  are  happy  in  the  Lord.  The  work  is  still 
going  on ; tears  of  repentance  flow  from  many  eyes ; 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


580 


mourning  souls  are  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion,  and  there 
is  now  a pleasing  prospect  of  a glorious  work.  Prayers 
are  ascending  daily  to  the  throne  of  grace  and  we  trust 
that  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  will  visit  this  wilder- 
ness land  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  with  his  royal  pres- 
ence, and  cause  the  wilderness  to  be  glad,  and  the  desert 
to  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  Ride  on,  victorious, 
conquering  Jesus!  ‘Glory  to  God!  I am  happy  while  I 
write!’  ” — (Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and  Zion s 
Herald,  May  16,  1828.) 

I.  H.  Tackitt  writes  from  Meadville,  May  19,  1828: 

“The  work  of  reformation  is  still  going  on,  gradually  in 
general,  and  in  some  places  rapidly  on  this  circuit.  Num- 
bers have  embraced  religion  this  year  and  have  joined  our 
Church ; and  the  borders  of  Zion  are  enlarging  so  much, 
that  our  laborers  are  too  few  for  the  much  we  have  to  do ; 
and  we  frequently  have  been  solicited  to  take  in  a number 
of  new  appointments  to  preach,  in  neighborhoods  where 
we  thought  there  was  the  least  prospect,  of  any  other 
places,  of  doing  good;  but  we  find  that  prejudice  is  flying 
fast  as  our  doctrines  are  fully  known.  ...  A ball 
room,  a few’  miles  above  this,  on  French  creek,  which  was 
last  year  turned  into  a preaching  room,  still,  blessed  be 
God!  continues  to  be  a room  where  God  is  worshiped  and 
adored,  and  the  class  which  was  formed  there  last  year, 
out  of  those  who  filled  that  room  with  music  and  dancing, 
is  still  going  on  in  ways  of  piety  and  peace,  and  has  in- 
creased to  nearlv  forty ; and  the  congregation  that  attends 
the  preaching  of  the  word  there,  is  large  and  respectable 
generally,  although  on  a week  day ; so,  to  view  the  vast  con- 
trast between  their  former  and  present  situations  and  re- 
lations to  God,  oh,  how  astonishing  and  vast  the  change !” 
— ( Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and  Zion's  Herald, 
June  16,  1828.) 

I.  H.  Tackitt  writes  from  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  un- 
der date  of  August  15,  1828,  as  follows: 

“This  year  as  the  former  has  been  a prosperous  year 
with  us  in  the  things  of  religion.  The  Lord  has  done 
great  things  for  us  indeed ; has  converted  at  least  one 
hundred  souls,  we  think,  ‘whereof  we  are  very  glad-’ 
How  frequently  have  I thought  of  the  language  of  the  in- 
spired writer,  ‘What  is  man  that  Thou  art  mindful  of  him 
or  the  son  of  man,  that  Thou  visitest  him.’  I do  not  re- 


Revivals  in  1827 — ’28. 


581 


member  of  one’s  turning  back  altogether  since  the  last 
year.  Although  persecution  raged  for  a while,  with  all 
fury,  yet  in  the  midst  of  the  storm,  it  seems  that  Christ 
walked  on  the  water,  and  there  is  now  a considerable 
calm,  so  that  few,  if  any,  are  lost. 

“At  the  winding  up  of  last  year,  we  had  a two  days’ 
meeting  at  Gravel  Run,  and  seventeen  professed  religion. 
The  principal  part  of  them  were  young  people;  and  al- 
though persecution  was  leveled  against  them  with  more 
than  ordinary  vigilance,  yet  they  seem  to  be  faithful  to 
their  gracious  Redeemer.  O may  they  ever  adorn  the 
doctrines  of  Christ. 

‘‘At  our  camp  meetings  we  have  had  good  times  gen- 
erally. At  our  last  camp  meeting,  which  was  held  at  Oil 
Creek,  there  appeared  rather  a ‘new  thing  under  the  sun.’ 
A very  respectable  company  of  artillery  volunteers,  head- 
ed by  Captain  Horskins,  applied  to  have  a sermon 
preached  to  them  at  the  camp  meeting,  at  three  o’clock  in 
the  evening  on  Saturday.  They  were  to  come  in  uniform 
and  regular  order,  but  without  martial  music.  And  in 
the  meantime  two  other  companies  took  their  examples, 
and  volunteered  to  go  and  hear  the  sermon  also.  They 
came  in  solemn  procession,  in  single  file,  to  the  encamp- 
ment, and  then  formed  a solid  column  in  front  of  the 
preacher’s  stand,  to  hear  the  sermon;  and  conformed 
strictly  to  the  rules  of  the  meeting.  They  rose  when  we 
sang,  and  kneeled  when  we  prayed ; and  then  listened  with 
the  greatest  attention  and  seriousness  imaginable,  while 
the  minister  preached  to  them  from  John  8:  36.  ‘If 
the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  in- 
deed.’ Then  they  arose  and  marched  off  in  beautiful  order, 

I took  off  their  uniforms  and  returned  to  the  encampment, 

and  helped  us  to  keep  good  order  during  our  meeting. 
But  the  best  of  all  was,  before  the  meeting  was  over,  we 
had  the  unspeakable  happiness  of  seeing  several  of  them 
volunteer  under  the  command  of  Christ,  happily  converted 
to  God,  and  praising  their  great  General  in  the  highest 
strains,  who  had  led  them  to  such  great  victory  so  early  in 
the  engagement.  O ! may  all  those  respectable  companies 
volunteer  under  our  Prince  Immanuel,  gain  the  victory 
over  the  power  of  darkness,  and  get  to  that  happy  land 
w here  the  clang  of  war  is  never  heard ! 


582  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

“We  suppose  there  were  fifty  converted  at  this  meeting. 
It  was  kept  up  the  last  night  till  daylight,  and  just  as  the 
day  began  to  break,  several  rose  suddenly  from  the 
mourner’s  bench,  declaring  that  God  had  converted  their 
souls.  Then  all  sang,  ‘Lord,  in  the  morning  Thou  shalt 
hear  my  voice  ascending  high,’  etc.,  and  thus  were  re- 
joicing as  the  sun  beautifully  gilded  the  easterly  horizon. 

“I  will  only  mention  another  fact,  for  time  would  fail 
me  to  write,  and  you  to  print,  the  gracious  and  many 
works  of  the  Lord ; — and  that  is,  at  the  same  place  where 
the  ball-room  was  turned  into  a preaching  and  class-room, 
on  French  creek,  above  Meadville  (as  published  in  your 
93d  number,)  we  held  another  two  days’  meeting  last  Sat- 
urday and  Sunday ; and  to  cap  the  climax,  sirs,  the  fiddler 
himself  was  happily  converted  to  God,  and  joined  our 
church,  amidst  the  tears,  the  shouts,  and  great  joy  of  the 
people  of  God! 

“May  God  sweep  infidelity  from  the  earth.” — (The 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and  Zion’s  Herald,  Dec., 
1828.) 

“Our  prospects  of  good  on  this  circuit  are  brighten- 
ing. We  attended  our  second  quarterly  meeting  for  the 
present  conference  year  at  Harbour  Creek  on  the  12th 
and  14th.  The  society  in  this  place  within  a few  weeks 
has  built  a large  and  commodious  brick  church.  They 
did  not  commence  building  this  house  without  prayer  to 
God  for  His  blessing.  Nor  was  He  slow  to  hear  and  an- 
swer ; for  while  engaged  in  making  the  brick  a cloud  of 
divine  mercy  overshadowed  the  workmen.  Two  irre- 
ligious young  men  employed  in  the  yard  were  so  power- 
fully wrought  upon  as  to  cry  to  God  for  salvation.  He 
heard  their  cry  and  sent  them  deliverance.  On  the  first 
day  of  the  quarterly  meeting  a greater  number  of  friends 
assembled  than  usually  attend  in  this  country  on  such 
occasions.  Our  Heavenly  Father  was  pleased  to  favor 
us  with  His  gracious  presence,  and  many  of  the  people 
could  say,  ‘This  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God 
and  heaven’s  gate.’  A general  seriousness  pervaded  the 
congregation,  and  many  under  a deep  sense  of  their  es- 
tate ‘fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before 
them.’  Thirteen  found  peace  with  God  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  eleven  of  whom  joined  the  society  be- 
fore they  left  the  house.  We  ardently  pray  that  this  may 


Jacob  Jcnks,  Tillinghast  Vaughn,  etc.  583 


be  no  more  than  a few  drops  before  a more  plentiful 
shower.”  David  Preston,  from  North  East,  December 
16,  1828,  so  writes. — (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Jour- 
nal and  Zions  Herald , January  2j,  1829.) 

J.  S.  Harris  writes  from  Forestville,  Chautauqua 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  1,  1828: 

“I  attended  another  camp  meeting  on  Chautauqua  Cir- 
cuit. I came  there  about  10  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  truly 
there  was  a mighty  stir  among  the  dry  bones,  and  their 
voices  were  as  the  sound  of  many  waters.  I found  about 
one  hundred  around  the  mourners’  benches,  raising  their 
cries  with  every  external  evidence  of  earnestness  to  God 
to  have  mercy  upon  them  and  grant  them  pardon’through 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Here  about  one  hundred  were 
converted  to  God.  The  people  that  professed  religion 
seemed  all  alive  to  the  important  work.  God  heard  and 
answered  their  prayer.  We  had  good  preaching  and 
God  was  with  the  word,  and  gave  it  power  in  the  soul  of 
saint  and  sinner.  We  have  had  an  increase  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  on  this  circuit,  for  which  we  truly  can 
say,  ‘Bless  the  Lord/  ” — (Christian  Advocate  and  Jour- 
nal and  Zion's  Herald,  October  17,  1828.) 

Jacob  Jenks,  Tillinghast  Vaughn,  W illiam  Butt. 

Jacob  Jenks  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1829;  admitted  in  full  connection  in  1831, 
and  was  ordained  elder  in  1832.  I do  not  find  any  rec- 
ord of  his  ordination  to  the  deaconate.  He  was  made 
supernumerary  in  1835,  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization  in  1836,  and  located  the 
same  year.  His  appointments  were:  1829,  New  Castle; 

1830.  Lisbon;  1831,  Beaver  Circuit;  1832,  Springfield; 
1833-1834,  Cambridge.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Jenks 

was  a very  tall  and  slim  man,  rather  dull  as  a preacher, 
but  esteemed  a good  man.” 

Tillinghast  Vaughn  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1828,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Har- 
rison Circuit.  In  1829  he  was  third  preacher  on  the 
Cleveland  Circuit,  with  John  Chandler  and  John  Mc- 
Lean. He  was  discontinued  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Mr.  Gregg  makes  the  following  record  of  William 
Butt : “Rev.  William  Butt,  second  preacher  on  the 

Jamestown  Circuit,  was  born,  raised,  converted,  and 


584 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


graduated  to  the  ministry  in  North  East,  Pa.,  and  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1829, 
and  into  full  connection  and  ordained  a deacon  in  1831, 
and  an  elder  in  1833.  Mr.  Butts  was  a short  man,  of  | 

Dutch  parentage,  of  limited  attainments,  and  a passable 
preacher;  rather  abrupt  in  his  manners,  which  often 
gave  offense.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  265.).  Of  his  location,  Mr.  Gregg 
says:  “He  had  not  succeeded  as  well  in  the  ministry  for 

a few  years  past,  especially  in  financial  matters,  as  he  de- 
sired to  do,  and  consequently  became  discouraged  and  lo- 
cated and  settled  his  family  in  Quincy,  Chautauqua 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  business  he  did  not  fully 
understand,  and  lost  all  he  possessed ; became  involved  in 
trouble,  was  expelled  from  the  Church,  soon  after  which 
he  became  sick  and  died.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II.,  p.  61.) 

John  McLean. 

John  McLean  was  born  in  the  Shenango  settlement, 

Mercer  County,  Pa.,  July  22,  1805.  His  parents  were 
members  of  the  first  class  formed  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Erie  Conference.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  made  a 
public  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ,  and  six  or  seven 
years  later  began  the  work  of  a Methodist  minister  and 
labored  under  the  elder  on  the  Forestville  Circuit  one 
year.  He  was  received  as  a probationer  at  the  session 
of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  held  in  Salem  in  1828.  In 
1842  he  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  and  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. He  served  important  charges  and  did  ex- 
cellent work.  Mr.  McLean  was  “a  man  of  good,  sound 
sense,  maintained  a uniform  Christian  character,  and 
was  a good  preacher,  excelling  more  in  goodness  than  in 
eloquence.”  During  his  last  sickness  he  said  to  his  pas- 
tor : “I  am  entering  the  valley.  It  is  not  a dark  valley, 

and  I think  I see  the  new  land  beyond.  All  is  well.” 

He  entered  into  rest  February  15,  1887. 

*William  Butt — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1829; 
full  connection,  1831;  deacon,  1831,  Hedding;  elder,  1833,  Rob- 
erts; became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1836;  located,  1837.  Appointments — 1829,  Jamestown, 

N.  Y.;  1830,  Butler;  1831,  Mercer;  1832,  Southport;  1833,  Cone- 
maugh  and  Cambria;  1834-5,  Kittanning;  1836,  Randolph. 


John  McLean. 


585 


We  have  received  from  the  eldest  daughter  of  John 
McLean,  Mrs.  H.  E.  M.  Pattee,  a sketch  of  his  early  life 
and  experience  written  by  himself : 

“I  was  born  in  Salem,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  July  22, 
1805.  My  parents  were  both  church  members  and  ob- 
served strictly  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of  religion,  and 
taught  their  children  to  pray  as  soon  as  they  could  be 
made  to  understand  its  import. 


“I  know  of  no  period  in  my  childhood  and  youth 
when  I did  not  fear  the  Lord,  and  especially  to  hold  in 
utter  abhorrence  any  profanation  of  His  Holy  Name. 
During  the  years  running  from  ten  to  fourteen,  I had 
lively  convictions  of  sin,  and  feared  to  allow  myself  to 
sleep  lest  I should  find  myself  in  torment  before  morning. 
While  piling  and  burning  brush  in  my  father’s  clearing 
one  day,  as  the  flames  devoured  the  brush  I would  re- 
volve the  question:  ‘Are  the  flames  of  hell  more  ardent 


and  destroying?’  until  in  a perfect  perspiration  I would 
cry  to  God  to  have  mercy  upon  me.  Oftimes  at  the 
prayer  meetings,  which  I constantly  attended,  though  it 
would  occasion  a walk  of  from  one  to  two  miles,  my 
sense  of  sin  was  so  oppressing,  that  I could  not  at  all 
times  refrain  from  weeping.  Thus  I wrestled  with  my 
convictions  until  I was  about  sixteen  years  old,  resisting 
all  promptings  and  invitations  to  give  my  case  to  the 
Church  as  a subject  of  prayer;  desiring  all  the  time  to  be 
a Christian,. but  through  sheer  diffidence  feared  to  ven- 
ture. This  state  of  things  with  some  variableness  as  to 


intenseness  ran  through  a period  of  nearly  four  years..  By 
this  time  I had  acquired  a greater  control  over  my  con- 
victions, and  was  wearing  them  out  and  acquiring  a 
hardness  of  heart  that  enabled  me  to  hear  the  most  co- 
gent appeals  without  breaking  down. 

“At  the  meeting  at  which  I at  length  yielded,  (a  quar- 
terly meeting)  the  call  had  been  made  for  penitents  to 
come  forward  to  the  altar  for  prayers.  I heard  it  un- 
moved. Others  of  my  acquaintance  had  gone  forward, 
and  matters  at  the  altar  were  rising  to  fever  heat.  I sat 
meditating  on  my  condition  ; no  tears  as  at  other  times, 
when  all  at  once  as  if  by  inspiration  the  thought  dashed 
through  me  ‘You  are  being  given  over  to  hardness  of 
heart  and  a reprobate  mind.’  This  so  alarmed  me  I 


586 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


scarcely  knew  what  to  do,  or  which  way  to  run.  After 
a moment's  reflection  I came  to  the  determination  to  go 
forward  for  prayers;  it  would  nor  could  not  make  my 
case  any  worse.  I arose  and  pressing  my  way  amid  the 
crowd,  I had  scarcely  reached  the  altar,  when  my  hard- 
ness of  heart  was  all  broken  up,  and  I wept  and  prayed, 
and  others  prayed  for  me,  and  in  a little  time,  not  more 
than  an  hour,  all  my  burden  of  sin  was  removed,  and  I 
had  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

“Because  of  my  extreme  diffidence  I declined  to  unite 
with  the  church,  but  faithfully  attended  the  means  of 
grace,  except  the  sacrament,  which  I desired  much  to 
do,  but  not  being  a church  member,  I thought  it  would 
not  be  admissible.  Then  I half  starved  my  spiritual  na- 
ture for  more  than  a year,  until  some  of  my  young 
friends,  somewhat  older  than  myself,  entreated  me  to 
unite  with  the  church,  which  I did.  Now  I gathered 
strength  to  some  extent.  Thus  on  for  about  three  years 
I tried  to  live  as  a Christian,  but  had  a very  fluctuating 
experience.  Sometimes  happy,  and  oft  in  doubt  as  to 
my  relation  to  God  and  to  eternity.  I had  a terrible  fear 
of  death  and  the  judgment,  nevertheless  it  was  perceived 
by  my  friends  that  I was  making  some  progress  in  gifts 
and  graces.  During  the  four  years  above  mentioned  I 
read  with  much  care  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Plain  Account  of 
Christian  Perfection,’  which  made  a deep  impression  on 
my  mind,  to  the  effect,  that  there  was  a deeper  exper- 
ience needed,  in  order  to  be  established  in  the  life  of 
faith.  I also  read  the  experience  and  life  of  Wm.  Brom- 
well  and  of  Wm.  Carvasso,  and  Timothy  Merritt’s  ‘Chris- 
tian Pattern,’  from  each  of  which  I obtained  light  and 
encouragement  to  seek  for  a deeper  work  of  grace.  I was 
at  this  time  a member  of  a band,  such  as  was  recognized 
in  Mr.  Wesley’s  older  disciplines.  The  rules  of  the  band 
required  that  we  fast  all  Fridays  in  the  year.  This 
scrupulously  observed,  even  when  at  hard  work  on  the 
farm,  such  as  plowing,  reaping,  grubbing  and  chopping 
and  making  rails.  Nevertheless  I would  abstain  from 
the  morning  meal  and  eat  sparingly  at  noon  and  even- 
ing. Thus  I was  acquiring  a sober  turn  of  mind,  though 
naturally  volatile. 

“These  ordeals  strengthened  my  hunger  and  thirst 
after  righteousness.  More  and  more  I was  receiving 


John  McLean. 


587 


light  on  the  difference  between  justification  and  sanctifi- 
cation, my  longing  for  the  latter  becoming  more  intense. 
About  this  time  on  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  four 
years  of  my  experience  noted  above  I became  impressed 
that  it  was  the  design  of  my  Heavenly  Father  that  I 
should  at  no  distant  day  give  myself  to  the  ministry. 
Some  of  my  friends  intimated  the  same.  How  could 
this  be  was  my  constant  inquiry?  How  can  a youth,  now 
about  twenty-two,  lacking  in  scholarship  except  such  as 
could  be  obtained  at  a district  school,  stand  up  before 
the  people  to  ask  them  to  be  reconciled  to  Christ?  This 
conviction,  together  with  my  thirst  for  a deeper  exper- 
ience, occupied  and  exercised  my  mind  with  increasing 
intensity  for  more  than  a year.  When  I sought  for  sanc- 
tification my  reluctance  amounting  to  an  unwillingness 
to  give  myself  up  to  the  ministry,  stood  in  the  way  to 
the  attainment  of  the  blessing.  My  heart  was  panting 
for  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  I was  gaining  light 
on  the  fact  that  not  all  my  vows,  fastings  and  self-denials 
could  bring  the  blessing.  I reached  the  point  that  the 
indispensable  conditions  were,  entire  consecration  and 
unfeigned  faith. 

“Now  I proved  myself  with  the  question:  ‘Are  you 
willing  to  give  up  your  will  to  God  in  all  that  He  calls 
you  to  do  ?’  ‘Are  you  willing  under  the  anointing  of  the 
Father,  to  give  yourself  to  the  ministry?’  After  a pause 
I responded,  ‘Yes,’  and  immediately  such  a baptism  fell 
upon  me  as  permeated  my  entire  being — soul,  body  and 
spirit,  overwhelmed  with  the  divine  fulness.  I was  at 
this  time  all  alone  in  a tall  oak  forest  near  home,  kneel- 
ing amid  the  branches  of  a fallen  tree.  For  a time,  I 
know  not  how  long,  I was  oblivious  to  earthly  things, 
God  in  me,  God  around  me,  God  everywhere,  I nothing, 
God  All  in  All.  I had  been  happy  before  at  times,  but 
never  like  this.  Such  blissful  rest,  such  tranquility.  ‘The 
speechless  awe  that  dares  not  move,  and  all  the  silent 
heaven  of  love.’ 

“It  was  a Sabbath  afternoon  in  June,  the  sun  during 
my  stay  at  this  spot  had  lowered  from  the  tops  of  the 
trees  to  near  the  horizon.  O what  a sunset,  his  golden 
beams  shining  through  the  lower  branches,  quivering 
with  glory,  with  this  weight  of  divinity  in  me  and  about 
me  I walked  back  to  the  house.  I sat  alone ; I did  not 


588 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


want  anyone  to  speak  to  me.  I was  alone  with  God.  In 
a few  hours  it  was  time  to  go  to  the  prayer  meeting, 
which  was  less  than  a mile  distant.  All  the  way  I was 
debating  in  my  mind  about  declaring  what  the  Lord  had 
done  for  me,  with  the  strong  impression  that  I ought  to 
confess  it.  But  when  I reached  the  place  of  prayer  and 
saw  the  throng  of  persons  present  and  discovered  that  a 
large  majority  were  old  Christians,  from  whom  I had 
never  heard  anything  of  the  sort,  my  courage  failed,  and 
I went  home  much  depleted  of  that  burning  flame  of 
love  which  I enjoyed  a few  hours  before.  I renewed  my 
praying  for  a deeper  work  of  grace,  but  was  withstood 
with  the  thought,  ‘why  seek  for  a work  already  wrought/ 
and  that  previous  Sabbath  afternoon  in  the  forest  would 
come  up  before  me,  as  the  place  a.nd  the  time  when  the 
work  was  done  for  me.  Now  I had  to  be  content  with  a 
degree  of  that  calm,  steady  peace,  though  less  in  inten- 
sity than  it  would  have  been  had  I told  the  brethren  what 
the  Lord  had  done  for  me. 

“This  state  of  mind  continued  for  a few  months,  when 
the  Presiding  Elder  came,  and  stopping  at  my  father’s, 
inquired  for  John.  I was  told  the  elder  wanted  to  see 
me.  I went  into  his  presence,  and  after  a friendly  and 
familiar  chat,  he  said  there  was  a vacancy  in  one  of  the 
circuits  of  his  district,  and  he  fixed  his  mind  on  me  to 
fill  that  vacancy.  ‘What  to  do?’  I asked  him.  He  an- 
swered, ‘Well,  to  travel  the  circuit.’  (Which  was  a large 
circuit  in  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus  counties,  in  New 
Tork.)  I talked  as  though  I could  not  go,  but  he  in- 
sisted until  I yielded  consent.  I called  up  the  consecra- 
tion I had  made  a short  time  previous,  when  I put  all  on 
the  altar,  a living  sacrifice,  and  dare  not  go  back  on  my 
consecration. 

“I  cast  about,  got  a limited  outfit,  borrowed  a horse 
from  a kind  neighbor,  and  set  out  on  horseback,  a jour- 
ney of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  without  a ser- 
mon ahead,  or  one  in  my  pocket,  all  the  way  inquiring 

with  myself  ‘What  shall  I say  when  I get  there?’  The 
words  of  Jesus  were  as  oft  repeated,  ‘It  shall  be  given 
you  in  that  selfsame  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.’ 

“Arriving  upon  the  circuit  I learned  of  the  preacher 
in  charge  that  quarterly  meeting  would  be  due  next  day,- 
and  we  would  see  about  the  work  when  the  elder  would 


John  McLean. 


589 


come.  At  the  quarterly  conference  the  diffident  youth 
from  Pennsylvania  was  introduced,  and  the  official 
brethren  being  present  from  all  the  appointments,  of 
which  there  were  twenty-two,  it  was  soon  noised  all 
over  the  circuit  that  the  boy  from  Pennsylvania  would 
be  round,  and  at  each  of  the  appointments  we  were 
greeted  with  a full  house. 

“My  time  on  this  charge  ran  from  November,  1827, 
till  late  in  June  of  1828,  when  at  a local  preachers'  con- 
ference I was  examined  on  doctrine  and  discipline  and 
licensed  to  preach,  and  was  recommended  to  the  Annual 
Conference  for  admission  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference. 

“The  conference  held  its  session  in  August,  1828,  in 
connection  with  a camp  meeting  held  near  Leach’s  Cor- 
ners, in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  within  one  mile  of  my 
father's  residence.  Two  of  the  preachers,  George  Brown 
and  Thomas  Hudson,  boarded  at  my  father’s  during  the 
conference.  From  this  conference  I received  my  appoint- 
ment to  Canton,  Ohio,  Philip  Green,  preacher  in  charge. 
This  circuit  was  larger  than  the  one  I had  traveled  the 
preceding  nine  months,  and  was  about  as  far  west  as 
the  other  was.  east.  Bishop  R.  R.  Roberts  presided  at 
this  conference,  and  being  an  old  acquaintance  and  near 
neighbor  of  my  father’s,  he  was  very  kind  to  me.  He 
desired  much  that  I should  accompany  him  to  Indiana, 
then  his  home,  and  enter  the  Indiana  Conference.  We 
journeyed  together  on  horseback  by  way  of  Hartford 
and  Canfield,  Ohio.  Here  we  spent  our  second  night 
with  Dr.  Shadrack  Bostwicl^,  who  at  this  time  was  an 
eminent  physician  and  local  preacher,  and  had  some  ac- 
quaintance with  the  bishop.  The  next  night  we  stopped 
at  a farm  house  north  of  Alliance,  Ohio.  The  next  day 
we  reached  Canton,  the  headquarters  of  our  large  circuit. 
W e put  up  for  the  balance  of  the  day  at  Dr.  Branfield’s, 
who  was  one  of  the  stewards  of  the  circuit. 

“At  another  stopping  place,  dinner  ready,  we,  i.e.,  the 
preacher  and  the  family  sat  down  to  the  table,  on  which 

there  was  not  a plate,  except  those  which  contained  the 
victuals,  only  a knife  and  fork  opposite  each  chair  or 
stool.  The  plate  of  fried  pork  was  cut  into  bits  suitable 
for  a bite  or  mouthful.  The  bread  (rye)  was  broken 
into  bits,  stuck  on  to  the  fork  and  sopped  in  the  gravy 


590 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


in  the  center  of  the  table.  ‘Indeed,’  said  the  lady  of  the 
house,  ‘it  is  all  pride  that  makes  the  people  use  plates.’ 
‘Come  off  the  bed,  George,'  she  cried.  ‘Law  me!  Those 
beds  look  like  distress ; they  have  not  been  made  up 
these  three  weeks.’  Their  appearance  would  justify  her 
exclamations. 

“In  LeRoy,  South  Ridge,  we  preached  in  a dwell- 
ing house,  a double  log  house,  and  as  it  was  larger 
than  its  neighbors,  we  held  our  meeting  here.  Here 
lay  a young  woman  of  the  family,  a raving  maniac, 
much  like  those  we  read  of  in  the  gospels,  which  were 
caid  to  be  possessed  of  the  devil.  During  meeting  time 
her  draw-bed  was  shoved  into  a recess  out  of  the  way 
of  the  comers  to  the  meeting.  Strange  to  say  all  the 
time  of  the  religious  service  she  was  comparatively  quiet, 
but  at  other  times  was  exceedingly  noisy  and  boisterous, 
and  often  vented  a viciousness  that  was  hard  to  control.” 

Then  follows  this  note  written  by  his  daughter  above 
named : 

“The  narrative  breaks  off  here.  I think  the  remainder 
must  be  with  some  of  his  other  children.  On  the  divi- 
sion of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  father  fell  into  the 
Erie  part  of  it.  The  date  I do  not  know,  and  when  the 
Erie  was  divided  some  years  after  he  fell  into  the  East 
Ohio  Conference.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  youngest 
son  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  in  1886,  and  was  buried  in  Elyria.”* 

Caleb  Brown. 

Caleb  Brown  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1802.  He  was  converted  near  King’s  Chapel  in 
1824.  He  was  licensed  to  exhort  in  1827,  and  soon  after 

*John  McLean — Licensed  to  preach,  1827;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1828;  full  connection,  1830;  deacon,  1830, 
Soule;  elder,  1832,  Emory;,  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1842; 
deceased,  Elyria,  O.,  February  15,  1886.  Appointments — 1828,  Can- 
ton; 1829,  Cleveland;  1830,  Grand  River;  1831,  Chardon;  1832, 
Cleveland;  1833,  Ravenna;  1834-5,  Dover;  1836,  New  Lisbon; 
1837-8,  Butler;  1839-40,  Chartiers;  1841,  East  Liberty;  1842, 
Franklin,  O.;  1843,  Ravenna;  1844,  New  Castle;  1845-6,  Green- 
ville and  Clarksville;  1847-8,  Hartford;  1849-50,  Salem,  Mercer 
County;  1851,  Rockville 1852-3,  Springfield;  1854-5,  Waterford; 
1856,  Wesleyville;  1857-8,  Morgan;  1859-60,  Bloomfield  and  Bris- 
tol; 1861,  Windsor;  1862,  Vienna;  1863,  Green  and  Mecca;  1864, 
Jackson;  1865-6,  Canfield  and  Ellsworth;  1867-8,  Deerfield;  1869, 
Windham;  1870-2,  superannuated;  1873,  Mineral  Ridge;  1874, 
Ohlton;  1875-86,  superannuated. 


Greenville,  Pa.,  and  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio.  591 

employed  by  Elder  Swayze  on  the  Meadville  Circuit, 
where  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  entered  the  travel- 
ing connection  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1828,  and 
endured  cheerfully  the  trials  and  hardships  of  the  itiner- 
ant life.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  and  the  East 
Ohio  Conferences  at  their  organization.  He  was  seven- 
teen years  effective,  in  the  meantime  having  sustained  a 
superannuate  relation  two  years.  He  rallied  to  take  Gus- 
tavus  charge  in  1847,  but  again  superannuated  in  1848, 
and  continued  in  that  relation  until  December  17,  1887, 
when,  at  Deerfield,  Ohio,  he  gently  fell  asleep.  ‘‘During 
forty  years  of  superannuation  he  was  not  idle,  but  was 
busy  in  the  Sunday  School,  in  the  prayer  meeting,  in 
visiting  the  sick,  and  in  every  good  word  and  work.  He 
was  not  disposed  to  criticise  the  changes  which  have 
taken  place  since  he  began  the  work  of  the  ministry,  but 
rejoiced  in  the  progress  the  Church  had  made.  He  kept 
abreast  with  the  spirit  of  the  Church  and  of  the  times  in 
every  moral  reform.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol. 
XXII.,  1888,  p.  353.) 

Greenville,  Pa.,  and  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio. 

The  first  Methodist  class  in  Greenville,  Pa.,  was  or- 
ganized in  1829,  in  a frame  building  on  the  west  side, 
where  the  “Red  Front”  now  stands.  There  were  seven 
pioneer  members — John  Nelson,  Lilly  Nelson,  Jane  Nel- 
son, Catherine  Nelson,  “Father”  Fisher,  John  Keck  and 
Mary  Ann  Keck.  The  class  belonged  to  Mercer  and  Sa- 
lem Circuits  until  1837,  when  Greenville  was  made  a 
station  and  J.  R.  Locke  appointed  to  the  work.  At  the 
close  of  his  pastorate  in  1839,  Greenville  and  Clarksville 
were  united.  Greenville  became  a station  a second  time 

* Caleb  Brown— Licensed  to  preach,  1827;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1828;  full  connection,  1830;  deacon,  1830, 
Soule;  elder,  1832,  Emory;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  befcame  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Deerfield, 
O.,  December  17,  1886.  Appointments — 1827,  Meadville  Circuit 
under  the  presiding  elder;  1828,  Tuscarawas;  1829,  Grand  River; 
1830,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1831,  Ashtabula;  1832,  Youngstown; 
1833,  Gustavus;  1834,  Westfield;  1835,  North  East;  1836,  Frank- 
lin  Pa.;  1837,  Clarksville;  1838,  Freedom;  1839,  Akron  and  Mid- 
dlebury;  1840,  Edinburg;  1841,  Painesville;  1842,  Edinburg;  1843, 
New  Castle;  1844-6,  superannuated;  1847,  Gustavus;  1848-86' 
superannuated. 


Church 


Middlebury. 


. 593 


in  1842,  and  was  again  united  with  Clarksville  in  1844. 
In  1849  ^ became  a permanent  station. 

In  1830  the  society  from  the  west  side  began  to  wor- 
ship in  a log  church  which  was  built  on  the  site  of  the 
present  structure.  This  old  log  meeting  house  was  re- 
placed by  a frame  building  in  1840.  The  latter  was  en- 
larged and  repaired  in  1863,  and  continued  in  use  until 
the  dedication  of  the  present  edifice,  February  9,  1885, 
by  Dr.  I.  C.  Pershing,  of  Pittsburg.  The  cost  was 
$22,500. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Ohio,  dates  back  to  1831.  (Mr.  Gregg  dates  this  first 
class  in  the  winter  of  1829  and  1830  and  differs  in  the  list 
of  members.)  The  first  class  embraced  the  following  mem- 
bers: John  Rummell  and  wife,  David  Wadsworth  and 
wife,  Apollos  K.  Wadsworth  and  wife,  Timothy  Starr 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Elmore  and  Hulda  Elmore, 
Charles  Hamlin  and  his  mother,  Mrs.  Deacon  Hamlin, 
Mary  and  Canantz  Hamlin,  Mrs.  Graham,  John  Man- 
ner and  wife,  Catherine  Yokely,  Abigail  Ally,  Mary 
Edie,  Thomas  Turner  and  wife,  Allen  Foutz  and  wife, 
Mary  Wilcox,  John  Ward,  Sarah  Jenkins,  William  Teal 
and  Norton  Hamlin,  who  was  the  leader.  Lois  Hollo- 
way and  J.  F.  Holloway  and  his  wife  seem  also  to  have 
been  members.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  vil- 
lage, one  mile  north  of  the  present  town,  in  an  old  stave 
house  owned  by  Stowe  and  Wetmore.  The  society  suf- 
fered many  persecutions — the  stove  thrown  down,  cats 
thrown  into  the  room  at  the  time  of  the  service,  and 
other  annoyances.  In  1837  a movement  was  inaugurated 
for  the  erection  of  a new  church.  The  society  was  poor 
and  much  assistance  was  received  from  thos?  who  were 
not  members. 

Middlebury. 

There  was  a Methodist  Society  in  Middlebury,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  before  a class  had  been  formed  in  Ak- 
ron, of  which  Middlebury  afterwards  became  a part.  The 
first  Methodist  preaching  dates  back  to  about  1829.  The 
first  class  was  organized  in  1832.  Mr.  Gregg  says : 
“During  this  year  Rev.  Aurora  Callender,  on  the  Canton 
Circuit,  established  an  appointment  in  Middlebury,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  where  he  soon  after  was  enabled  to 

38 


Middlebury. 


. 593 


in  1842.  and  was  again  united  with  Clarksville  in  1844. 
In  1849  ^ became  a permanent  station. 

In  1830  the  society  from  the  west  side  began  to  wor- 
ship in  a log  church  which  was  built  on  the  site  of  the 
present  structure.  This  old  log  meeting  house  was  re- 
placed by  a frame  building  in  1840.  The  latter  was  en- 
larged and  repaired  in  1863,  and  continued  in  use  until 
the  dedication  of  the  present  edifice,  February  9,  1885. 
bv  Dr.  I.  C.  Pershing,  of  Pittsburg.  The  cost  was 
$22,500. 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Ohio,  dates  back  to  1831.  (Mr.  Gregg  dates  this  first 
class  in  the  winter  of  1829  and  1830  and  differs  in  the  list 
of  members. ) The  first  class  embraced  the  following  mem- 
bers : John  Rummell  and  wife,  David  Wadsworth  and 
wife,  Apollos  K.  Wadsworth  and  wife,  Timothy  Starr 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Elmore  and  Hulda  Elmore. 
Charles  Hamlin  and  his  mother,  Mrs.  Deacon  Hamlin, 
Mary  and  Canantz  Hamlin,  Mrs.  Graham,  John  Man- 
ner and  wife,  Catherine  Yokely,  Abigail  Ally,  Mary 
Edie,  Thomas  Turner  and  wife,  Allen  Foutz  and  wife, 
Mary  Wilcox,  John  Ward,  Sarah  Jenkins,  William  Teal 
and  Norton  Hamlin,  who  was  the  leader.  Lois  Hollo- 
way and  J.  F.  Holloway  and  his  wife  seem  also  to  have 
been  members.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  vil- 
lage, one  mile  north  of  the  present  town,  in  an  old  stave 
house  owned  by  Stowe  and  Wetmore.  The  society  suf- 
fered many  persecutions — the  stove  thrown  down,  cats 
thrown  into  the  room  at  the  time  of  the  service,  and 
other  annoyances.  In  1837  a movement  was  inaugurated 
for  the  erection  of  a new  church.  The  society  was  poor 
and  much  assistance  was  received  from  those  who  were 
not  members. 


Middlebury. 

There  was  a Methodist  Society  in  Middlebury,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  before  a class  had  been  formed  in  Ak- 
ron, of  which  Middlebury  afterwards  became  a part.  The 
first  Methodist  preaching  dates  back  to  about  1829.  The 
first  class  was  organized  in  1832.  Mr.  Gregg  says: 
“During  this  year  Rev.  Aurora  Callender,  on  the  Canton 
Circuit,  established  an  appointment  in  Middlebury,  Sum- 
mit County,  Ohio,  where  he  soon  after  was  enabled  to 

38 


594  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

form  a class  consisting  of  John  Britton,  wife  and  two 
daughters;  Bennet  Vial,  wife  and  daughter;  Thomas  C. 
Southerland  and  wife,  Richard  Biggs  and  Thomas  Bull.” 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
E,  p.  302.)  A church  building  was  erected  in  1840 — 
at  least  there  is  an  old  subscription  list  taken  for  that 
purpose  at  that  time,  which  may  still  be  examined.  This 
subscription  paper  seems  to  have  been  in  the  hands  of  A. 
Britton.  The  church  was  repaired  about  1870.  The 
circuit  was  known  as  Middlebury  Circuit.” 

The  Pittsburg  Conference  met  in  Wheeling,  Va.,  July 
16,  1829,  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts  presiding.  The  fol- 
lowing appointments  were  made : Erie  District,  \\  ilder 

B.  Mack,  Presiding  Elder ; Springfield,  Samuel  Ayres, 
Daniel  C.  Richey;  North  East,  Joseph  S.  Barris;  For- 
estville,  James  Gillmore,  Allured  Plimpton;  Meadville, 
Nathaniel  Callender,  Aurora  Callender;  Youngsville, 
John  P.  Kent;  Jamestown,  David  Preston,  William  Butt; 
Shippenville,  John  Johnson,  John  C.  Ayres.  Ohio  Dis- 
trict, Ira  Eddy,  Presiding  Elder;  Youngstown,  Billings 
O.  Plimpton,  Richard  Armstrong;  Hartford,  Job  Wilson; 
New  Castle,  Joseph  W.  Davis,  Jacob  Jenks;  Mercer, 
Thomas  Carr,  Isaac  Winans.  Canton  District,  William 
Swayze,  Presiding  Elder;  Deerfield,  John  W.  Hill,  Cor- 
nelius Jones;  Windsor,  John  Scott;  Cleveland,  John 
Chandler,  John  McLean,  Tillinghast  Vaughn;  Grand 
River,  John  Crawford,  Caleb  Brown. 

Erie  Circuit  now  appears  as  “Springfield,"  and  Lake 
as  “Forestville.”  Revivals  are  mentioned  on  the  Shippen- 
ville and  Springfield  Circuits  at  Smethport  and  Quincy, 
at  Brady’s  Bend  and  elsewhere.  A church  was  erected 
one  mile  west  of  Euclid,  where  a meeting  had  been  held 
by  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser,  resulting  in  a good  revival.  An- 
other church  was  built  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  one  com- 
menced in  Mercer,  Pa.,  and  another  in  Edinburg,  Ohio. 

Allured  Plimpton,  Isaac  Winans,  Daniel  C. 

Richey. 

Allured  Plimpton  was  admitted  on  trial,  1829;  full 
connection,  1831;  deacon,  1831,  Hedding;.  elder,  1833, 
Roberts ; became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1836;  located  at  his  own  request,  1839; 
after  retiring  from  the  conference  he  devoted  his  life  to- 


Allured  Plimpton , I.  Winans,  D.  C.  Richey.  595 


the  practice  of  medicine  and  did  good  service  as  a local 
preacher  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Painesville, 
Ohio,  November  24,  1862.* 

Isaac  Winans  was  admitted  on  trial,  1828;  full  con- 
nection, 1831  ; deacon,  1831,  Hedding;  elder,  1833,  Rob- 
erts; became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference,  1836; 
withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church 
on  account  of  differences  of  opinion  from  his  conference 
as  to  the  best  method  of  settling  the  slavery  question, 
and  afterwards  was  in  the  ministry  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist,  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Congregational 
Churches.  He  died  in  the  ministry  of  the  Congregation- 
al Church,  f 

Daniel  C.  Richey  was  born  in  1797  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey.  While  quite  young  he  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  the  vicinity  of  Cayuga  Lake,  N.  Y.  He  entered 
upon  the  work  of  the  traveling  ministry  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1829,  and  in  1836  fell  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  superannuated  in  1845, 
and  died  March  25,  1855.  “Brother  Richey  was  a man 
of  humble  pretentions  as  a scholar,  of  moderate  talents 
as  a preacher,  and  rather  hesitating  in  his  gift  of  utter- 
ance; but  in  point  of  zeal,  integrity  and  fidelity  to  duty 
and  principles  he  had  but  few  equals,  and  perhaps  no  su- 
periors. His  real  moral  worth  was  not  always  graded  up 
to  its  true  admeasurement.  In  the  month  of  March  last 
he  was  overtaken  by  a prevailing  disease  of  a bilious  and 
inflammatory  type,  rapidly  reducing  his  physical  strength 
and  greatly  confusing  and  bewildering  his  thoughts ; but 
at  each  lucid  interval  the  Christianity  which  he  had 
preached  to  others  afforded  him  strong  consolation  and 
hope  in  Christ  in  the  trying  hour.” — (General  Minutes, 
I$55>  P-  5$4-)  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Richey  was  a 

small  man,  of  moderate  attainments  and  preaching  abili- 
ties, but  a very  amiable  and  excellent  man,  and  loved  to 

♦Appointments— 1829,  Forestville;  1830,  Meadville;  1831,  Erie; 
1832,  Washington;  1833,  Chardon;  1834,  Warren,  Pa.;  1835,  Ridg- 
way  Mission;  1836,  Ashtabula;  1837,  North  East;  1838,  Agent, 
Allegheny  College. 

tAppointments — 1828,  New  Lisbon;  1829,  Mercer;  1830,  But- 
ler; 1831,  Chardon;  1832,  Hartford;  1833,  Warren,  O.;  1834, 
Agent,  Allegheny  College;  1835,  Meadville  District;  1836-7,  Ra- 
venna District;  1838,  Gustavus. 


59^ 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


do  good  whenever  it  was  in  his  power.”* — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  L,  p.  264.) 

At  the  second  quarterly  conference  of  the  Jamestown 
Circuit  held  at  John  Huntington’s,  “Connewango  town,” 
Jan.  10,  1829,  the  following  action  was  taken:  “A 

charge  had  been  preferred  against  Brother  Beedle.  The 
committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  same  reported  it 
was  such  a nature  that  he  could  not  be  brought  to  trial. 
Conference  agreed  to  make  his  case  a subject  of  prayer. 

Methodism  in  Conneautville. 

In  1829  the  first  class  was  formed  in  Conneautville, 
Pennsylvania,  by  Joseph  W.  Davis,  consisting  of  seven 
members:  Tesse  Danley,  the  first  class  leader,  and  wife, 

Thomas  Landon,  wife  and  daughter,  Esther,  and  George 
Nelson  and  his  grand-daughter,  Margaret  Nelson.  There 
had  been  occasional  Methodist  preaching  previous  to  this 
date,  but  Joseph  W.  Davis  was  appointed  to  the  Erie  Cir- 
cuit by  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1828.  Conneautville 
became  a part  of  the  newly  formed  Springfield  Circuit  in 
1829.  Mrs.  Polly  Fulwiler  was  the  first  death  in  the  so- 
ciety. This  occurred  in  1831.  While  attending  class  in 
the  "school  house,  she  closed  her  testimony  by  saying  that 
she  was  trying  to  live  in  readiness,  that  when  the  sum- 
mons should  come  she  could  die  in  peace  and  go  to  her 
heavenly  home.  She  sat  down,  leaned  her  head  on  the 
shoulder  of  a friend  seated  by  her  side,  and  was  uncon- 
scious. She  passed  away  at  about  nine  o’clock  the  same 
evening.  In  1833  the  Summerhill  Circuit  was  formed. 
There  were  fifteen  appointments:  Conneautville,  Har- 

monsburg,  McDowell’s,  Spring,  Pierpont,  Huntleys’ 
Penn  Line,  Freys,  Moorehouse,  Cussewago,  Higernell, 
Thomas’,  Holton’s,  and  Smith’s.  Joseph  A.  Shackelford 
had  formed  a class  at  the  house  of  James  McDowell,  in 
Summerhill,  Crawford  County,  in  1802.  Conneautville 
paid  the  two  circuit  preachers,  in  1833,  four  dollars;  and 

♦Daniel  C.  Richey — Admitted  on  trial,  1829;  full  connection, 
1831;  deacon,  1831,  Hedding;  elder,  1833,  Roberts;  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  de- 
ceased, Albion,  Pa.,  March  25,  1855.  Appointments— 1829,  Spring- 
field;  1830,  Hartford;  1831,  Windsor;  1832,  New  Castle;  1833, 
Centerville;  1834,  Oil  Creek;  1835,  Cambridge;  1836,  Lawrence- 
burg  Mission;  1837,  Harmonsburg;  1838,  Williamsfield;  1839, 
Geneva;  1840-1,  Mesopotamia;  1842-3,  Wattsburg;  1844,  Spring- 
field;  1845-54,  superannuated. 


Methodism  in  Conneautville. 


the  whole  circuit  paid  $145.  In  1837  a camp  meeting  was 
held  in  the  McDowell  neighborhood.  “The  meeting  was 
of  great  power;  many  were  converted  and  added  to  the 
church  in  the  different  societies.”  The  first  church  edifice 
was  completed  in  1840,  and  cost  $875.  At  the  first  quar- 
terly meeting  held  in  1838  in  a room  that  had  been  fitted 
up,  a resolution  was  passed  advising  all  members  of  the 
church  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  ex- 
cept as  a medicine  in  extreme  cases,  and  ordering  the  reso- 
lution to  be  read  in  all  the  societies  on  the  circuit.  In 
1839,  there  were  on  the  circuit  five  local  preachers  and  six 
exhorters.  Among  the  former  was  Rev.  Lawton  Rich- 
mond, father  of  the  eminent  lawyers,  H.  L.  Richmond  and 
A.  B.  Richmond,  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  “He  was 
a good  and  useful  man.”  In  1840,  the  Presbyterians  and 
Methodists  occupied  the  same  school  house  for  services, 
the  former  preceding  the  latter,  and  both  congregations 
attending  the  two  services.  Stephen  Heard  was  one  of 
the  circuit  preachers.  In  those  days  controversies  upon 
Calvinism  and  Methodism  ran  high.  On  one  occasion  the 
Presbyterian  minister  was  not  expected  to  be  present,  and 
Brother  Heard  thought  it  a good  opportunity  to  show  up 
the  inconsistencies  of  Calvinism  and  the  harmony  of  the 
Methodist  doctrines  with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  de- 
termined to  make  special  preparation  and  make  the  most 
of  the  occasion.  But  unexpectedly  the  other  minister 
came  and  preached  a powerful  sermon  on  election,  repro- 
bation, and  foreordination  as  taught  by  Calvin;  and  con- 
demned Arminianism  in  unmeasured  terms.  Brother 
Heard’s  eyes  flashed  fire,  and  when  his  turn  came  he  was 
ready,  and  gave  Calvinism  such  a dressing  down  as  it  had 
not  received  for  many  a day. 

The  name  of  the  circuit  had  been  changed  to  Harmons- 
burg  in  1834,  and  in  1842  it  was  divided  into  the  Con- 
neautville and  Evansburg  charges.  In  the  latter  year  the 
first  carpet  was  put  down  in  the  church — a rag  carpet 
which  several  ladies  of  the  church  took  turns  in  weaving. 
In  1844  there  were  eight  local  preachers  and  ten  ex- 
horters on  the  circuit.  In  1845,  the  Sons  of  Temperance 
organized  a society  in  Conneautville,  and  the  next  quar- 
terly conference  passed  a resolution  requesting  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  to  refrain  from  joining  secret  organiza- 
tions of  any  kind.  In  1853,  the  claim  of  the  circuit 


598 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


preachers,  John  K.  Hallock  and  I homas  S.  Bennett,  was 
$540,  and  there  was  paid  $542.50.  ‘This  is  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  our  church  that  the  claim  was  fully  paid.’ 
In  1858  at  the  first  quarterly  conference,  a resolution  was 
passed  requesting  the  steward  to  furnish  the  pure  juice  of 
the  grape  for  sacramental  purposes.  The  next  year  the 
vote  of  the  third  quarterly  conference  was  unanimous 
against  lay  delegation.  In  1868,  Conneautville  was  made 
a station. — (Hon.  IV.  S.  Crozier,  History  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Conneautville,  printed  in  Conneautville  in 
1877.  Mr.  Crozier  became  a member  of  the  quarterly 
conference  in  1837.  He  says:  “Since  then  there  have 

been  159  held.  I have  been  present  at  all  but  six,  and 
secretary  of  all  but  13.”) 

Our  Church  at  Sugar  Grove. 

“The  first  knowledge  we  have  of  Methodism  in  Sugar 
Grove  places  the  date  of  its  origin  here  at  about  the  period 
between  1825  and  1830.  Previous  to  that  time  Sugar 
Grove  had  had  the  misfortune  to  be  counted,  as  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  that  church  had  said,  merely  one  of 
the  picket  posts  of  some  circuit,  and,  indeed,  practically 
continued  to  be  so  counted  until  1855-  Lntil  the  last 
mentioned  date  the  members  were  few  and  scattering,  and 
held  at  irregular  periods  such  services  as  they  could  in  the 
log-  house  of  some  settler.  Occasionally  also  prayer  meet- 
ings and  class  meetings  were  called  to  keep  up  the  interest 
of  those  who  adhered  to  that  faith.  Among  these  pioneers 
of  Methodism  in  Sugar  Grove  are  found  the  names  of 
Gregg,  Warner,  Carter, Thorp,  Crouch,  Andrews,  Mahan, 
Pero  and  others.’’ — (History  of  Warren  County,  D.  Ma- 
son & Co.,  1887,  p.  440.) 

The  first  class  was  formed  in  1840  by  I.  C.  T.  Mc- 
Clelland and  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  preachers  on  the  Harmony 
Circuit.  J.  Andrews  was  the  class  leader.  On  the  fifth 
of  October,  1846,  a meeting  was  held  in  the  house  of  An- 
drew Gregg  to  consider  the  feasibility  of  building  a house 
of  worship.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of  March  the  contract 
was  let  to  Stephen  Crouch  who  had  been  soundly  con- 
verted at  one  of  the  log  cabin  meetings.  The  edifice  was 
dedicated  in  1852  by  J.  H.  Whallon.  “It  is  truthfully  re- 
lated that  when  the  people  met  to  cut  down  and  prepare 
the  timber  for  the  building,  two  women  of  the  society, 


The  Randolph  Church. 


599 


Mrs.  Dunbar  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Fox,  sawed  off  the  first 
log  amidst  great  shouting  and  applause. ” In  1855,  Sugar 
Grove  was  set  off  from  what  was  called  the  Ashvill  Cir- 
cuit, and  a new  circuit  formed,  called  ‘Sugar  Grove.' 

“Since  the  year  1855  the  influence  of  the  church  upon 
the  people  has  not  been  without  its  good  effect.  Many  of 
the  ministers  have  been  men  of  force  and  usefulness.  Re- 
vivals of  religion  have  been  of  frequent  occurrence,  and 
the  community  has  been  thus  benefited  by  the  elevating 

influence In  conclusion  it  may  be  truthfully 

said  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Sugar  Grove 
has  been  aggressive  in  its  warfare  against  sin,  and  its 
altar  fires  have  never  been  permitted  to  be  for  a moment 
extinguished.” — (History  of  Warren  County,  D.  Mason 
& Co.,  1887,  pp.  441,  442.) 

The  Randolph  Church. 

The  history  of  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Ran- 
dolph dates  back  more  than  three-quarters  of  a century. 
Methodist  meetings  were  held  at  the  home  of  Thomas 
Harvey  and  others  as  early  as  1823,  although  the  names 
composing  the  congregation  have  been  lost  in  history.  A 
society  was  organized  December  16,  1830,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a church.  Cornelius  Kiearstead,  ’Squire 
Powell  and  Richard  Salisbury  were  chosen  trustees  and 
undertook  the  erection  of  the  building.  This  was  not 
fully  finished  but  served  its  purpose  until  1840,  when  it 
was  removed  to  Main  street  and  located  on  a lot  very  near 
the  present  site  of  Alexander  Wentworth’s  present  resi- 
dence. In  1858  the  building  was  again  removed  to  its 
present  site,  and  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a chancel, 
vestibule  and  tower. 

In  1865  it  was  dedicated,  and  the  same  year  a parsonage 
was  built.  In  later  years  the  old  wooden  pews  were  re- 
placed by  opera  chairs,  thus  giving  larger  seating  ac- 
commodations. Between  1830  and  1845  the  same  minis- 
ter served  Randolph  and  East  Randolph. 

The  church  history  of  Randolph  is  to  a great  extent  the 
history  of  the  township,  and  many  honored  names  that  ap- 
pear upon  the  records  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
are  closely  identified  with  the  growth  and  development 
of  this  section.  This  church  was  consumed  by  fire  Feb- 
ruary  3,  1907,  leaving  only  the  charred  and  dismantled 


600  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

shell  of  the  building  standing. — (The  Randolph  Register, 
Feb.  8,  1907.) 

A Methodist  society  was  organized  at  East  Randolph, 
at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foy,  by  Alexander  Barris,  in  1829. 
The  following  were  the  pioneer  members:  Samuel  Foy 

and  wife,  David  Foy  and  wife,  Otis  Haywood  and  wife, 
A.  C.  Merritt  and  wife,  and  J.  H.  Merritt.  A.  C.  Mer- 
ritt was  the  first  class  leader.  Prior  to  this  date  there 
had  been  occasional  Methodist  preaching  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. The  next  year  we  find  John  P.  Kent  traveling 
the  Napoli  and  Smethport  Circuit  to  which  East  Ran- 
dolph at  first  belonged.  A Sunday  school  was  organized 
in  1843,  and  A.  F.  Payne  was  the  first  superintendent. 
Work  on  a new  church  began  in  1851,  and  in  the  winter 
of  1852  the  church  was  dedicated  by  Calvin  Kingsley, 
then  professor  in  Allegheny  College. 

“A  class  of  Methodists  was  formed  in  1826,  at  the 
house  of  Jotham  * Metcalf,  by  the  Rev.  Job  Wilson,  of 
Canada.  It  was  known  as  ‘The  Elm  Creek  Class,’  and 
had  as  members : Jotham  Metcalf  and  wife,  John  Hunt- 

ington and  wife,  Arnold  Huntington  and  wife,  Silas  Earle 
and  wife,  Lyman  Parmerly  and  wife,  and  Harvey  Par- 
merly  and  wife.  Jotham  Metcalf  was  chosen  leader,  and 
the  meetings  were  held  at  his  house  and  in  a log  school 
house  near  by.  Occasionally  there  was  also  preaching, 
and  soon  after  the  class  was  formed,  a revival  ensued,  in 
the  course  of  which  fifty-persons  were  converted.  The 
class  continued  prosperous  a number  of  years,  but  when 
churches  were  organized  in  the  adjoining  towns,  the  mem- 
bership was  so  much  absorbed  that  it  was  allowed  to  go 
down.”  It  has  since  been  reorganized,  and  still  continues. 

A class  was  organized  at  “Treat  School  House,”  in 
1830,  with  ten  members:  Nathan  Burt  and  wife,  John 

Moran  and  wife,  John  Towers  and  wife,  Orestes  Seager 
and  wife,  and  David  Newcomb  and  wife.  Orestes  Sea- 
ger was  the  first  class  leader,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
for  more  than  twenty-five  years. — (History  of  Cattarau- 
gus County,  L.  H.  Everts,  1879,  P-  222.) 


XII. 


IMPORTANT  CHURCHES  FOUNDED, 
GREAT  DEBATES. 

1830-1832. 

At  the  session  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  which  met 
in  Uniontown,  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  August  20,  1830, 
Bishop  Joshua  Soule  presiding,  appointments  were  made 
as  follows:  Ohio  District,  Ira  Eddy,  presiding  elder; 

Cleveland  Station,  Billings  O.  Plimpton;  Cleveland  Cir- 
cuit, Caleb  Brown,  John  Ferris;  Grand  River,  John  W. 
Hill,  John  McLean;  Deerfield,  Cornelius  Jones,  John  H. 
Maffitt;  Youngstown,  Alfred  Brunson,  Thomas  Carr; 
Windsor,  Philip  Green,  Peter  D.  Horton ; Hartford, 
James  Hitchcock,  Daniel  C.  Richey;  Mercer,  John  Sum- 
merville, Lorenzo  D.  Prosser ; New  Castle,  Richard  Arm- 
strong, one  to  be  supplied.  Erie  District,  Wilder  B. 
Mack,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Joseph  S.  Barris,  Alcinous 
\oung;  North  East,  John  Chandler,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Springfield,  Samuel  Ayres,  John  C.  Ayres;  Meadville, 
Aurora  Callender,  Allured  Plimpton;  Forestville,  David 
Preston,  Samuel  E.  Babcock;  Jamestown,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley,' John  Scott;  Napoli  and  Smethport,  John  P.  Kent, 
one  to  be  supplied ; Youngsville,  James  Gillmore,  John  J. 
Swavze ; Franklin,  William  R.  Babcock,  John  Robinson; 
Clarion,  Job  Wilson ; Conference  Missionary,  William 
Swayze. 

Ihe  Springfield  Circuit  is  now  divided,  and  the  east 
half  called  “Erie” ; and  a new  circuit  is  formed  out  of 
part  of  Forestville  and  called  “Napoli  and  Smethport.” 
The  following  account  is  taken  from  official  records : 
“The  Methodists  held  occasional  worship  at  an  early 
date  in  various  portions  of  the  country,  but  principally 
in  the  western  and  southwestern  townships.  The  first 
service  of  which  there  is  any  positive  knowledge  was  led 


I 


602  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

by  Rev.  Joseph  Bowen,  a local  preacher,  at  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Mershon,  near  West  Spring-field,  in  September, 
1800.  A class  was  organized  near  Lexington,  in  Con- 
neaut  township,  in  1801,  and  the  same  year  a great  re- 
vival was  held  at  Ash’s  Corners,  Washington  township. 
The  first  church  building  was  erected  in  1804,  about  a 
mile  south  of  West  Springfield,  and  soon  after  its  dedi- 
cation was  the  scene  of  a famous  revival,  during  which 
Rev.  Andrew  Hemphill  was  the  instrument  of  convert- 
ing 100  souls.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in 
that  church  in  July,  1810.  Meetings  of  the  denomination 
in  Erie  were  held  at  long  intervals,  commencing  in  1801. 
Worship  took  place  in  the  winter  of  1810-11,  in  a tavern 
on  the  west  side  of  French  street,  between  Sixth  and 
Seventh.  A congregation  would  seem  to  have  been  par- 
tially established  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  centurv, 
but  was  probably  unable  to  support  a pastor  until  1826, 
at  which  period  the  first  church  of  Erie  City  dates  its  or- 
ganization. The  earliest  of  the  congregations  in  the 
country  were  those  of  Mill  Village,  organized  in  1810: 
North  East,  in  1812  ; Fair  Haven,  Girard  township,  1815  : 
Girard  Borough,  1815  ; Waterford  Borough,  1816  ; Union 
City  and  Fairview,  1817;  Middleboro,  1819;  Northville. 
1820:  Wattsburg,  1827;  Wesleyville,  1828. 

The  following  interesting  incidents  relative  to  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Erie  County  were  contributed  by 
Mr.  Frank  Henry  to  the  Erie  Gazette:  “At  the  annual 

session  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  held  in  Uniontown,  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  in  the 
month  of  August,  1830,  the  following  resolution  was 
passed,  viz. : 

“Resolved,  That  a new  circuit  be  formed,  and  called 
Erie  Circuit.  That  it  shall  comprise  that  part  of  North 
East  Circuit  lying  west  of  North  East,  Greenfield  and 
Venango  Townships,  and  that  part  of  Meadville  Circuit 
lying  north  of  Waterford  and  east  of  Springfield  Town- 
ships, in  Erie  County. 

“I  have  the  original  minutes  of  the  new  circuit  up  to 
the  time  when  it  was  again  subdivided  and  Wesleyville 
Circuit  was  formed.  Also,  the  complete  minutes  of  the 
Wesleyville  Circuit  to  the  present  time. 

“Nearly  all  the  preachers  who  met  in  conference  in 
Uniontown  in  1830  went  there  on  horseback  over  moun- 


Quarterly  Conferences.  603 

tains  and  through  the  wilderness,  fording  or  swimming 
through  creeks  or  rivers,  and  often  camping  out  at  night. 
Some  were  too  poor  to  own  a horse  and  went  to  con- 
ference on  foot.  They  were  indeed  heroes  and  those 
were  ‘the  heroic  days  of  Methodism.’  What  a wonder- 
ful change  has  been  wrought  in  the  last  half  century  that 
has  passed  away.  There  are  only  a few — perhaps  half  a 
dozen  of  the  conference  of  1830  who  are  now  living. 
Nearly  all  the  persons  whose  names  are  recorded  in  the 
minutes  have  passed  ‘from  labor  to  reward/  but  their 
names  are  written  in  the  Book  of  Life.  Many  readers  of 
the  Gazette  well  remember  those  old  pioneers,  and  will  be 
interested  to  have  the  work  of  the  fathers  recalled  to 
memory,  and  will  doubtless  be  pleased  to  read  a few  ex- 
tracts from  the  ‘old  log  book/ 

“First  quarterly  conference  for  Erie  Circuit  held  at 
Harbor  Creek,  September  13,  1830.  Present,  William  B. 
Mack,  presiding  elder,  Joseph  A.  Barris  and  Alcinous 
Young,  circuit  preachers.  Roll  call,  present,  local  preach- 
ers, N.  W.  Curtis,  Barney  Bort,  William  Stafford : ex- 
horters,  Luther  Stone,  D.  D.  Daniels,  Y.  Wilkins,  Joseph 
S.  Buck,  Justus  Osborn;  class  leaders,  David  Burton,  A. 
Bowers,  William  Allen,  William  Campbell,  Edmund 
Brace : circuit  stewards,  James  Flowers,  Sturkley  Staf- 
ford, John  Wheaton.  James  McConkey,  recording  stew- 
ard. Voted  unanimously  that  the  members  of  this  quar- 
terly conference  will  do  all  they  can  to  establish  weekly 
class  collections  on  this  circuit. 

(Signed:)  William  B.  Mack,  P.  E. 

Andrew  Young,  Sec’y.” 

“During  the  conference  year,  Rev.  Mr.  Barris,  preacher 
in  charge,  received  his  salary  in  full,  viz.,  $167.  The 
salary  now  paid  the  pastor  of  one  of  the  charges — in  the 
City  of  Erie,  would  have  endowed  a college  professorship 
in  those  primitive  times.  This  meeting  was  held  in  warm 
weather  and  the  doors  and  windows  were  open.  An  en- 
terprising and  devout  cat  persisted  in  annoying  those  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  communion  basket,  causing  merriment 
among  some  of  the  young  people  present,  and  disturbing 
the  service.  Finally  Brother  Barris  took  the  cat  outside 
and  beat  out  its  brains  against  the  corner  of  the  house.  It 
is  said  that  the  cat  was  none  of  the  nine-lived  species. 
This  act  filled  the  hearts  of  the  ‘beam  in  their  own  eye’ 


604  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ones  with  holy  indignation  and  horror.  The  storm 
eventually  subsided  and  the  good  brother  was  not  ‘cast 
out  of  the  synagogue/ 

“On  the  26th  of  December,  1830,  at  the  close  of  a 
meeting  in  a court  house,  where  the  Methodists  then  wor- 
shiped, a subscription  paper  was  circulated  to  raise 
money  to  pay  the  preacher.  We  notice  the  names  of 
George  Moore,  Captain  Wright,  Albert  Kelso,  J.  Lantz, 
Pressly  Arbuckle,  William  Himrod  and  Thomas  Moore- 
head,  Jr.,  on  the  paper.  At  the  next  meeting  $4  was 
raised  to  pay  for  wood  and  candles. 

“The  second  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  West  Mill 
Creek,  in  December,  1830.  Josiah  Flower  was  one  Qf 
the  exhorters  present,  John  Brace  of  Beaver  Dam;  Tim- 
othy Clark  of  North  East;  and  Thomas  Stephens,  of  Erie, 
were  added  to  the  Board  of  Stewards. 

“The  third  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Harbor 
Creek,  February  19,  1831.  Stephen  Stuntz,  A.  C.  Barnes, 
Watts  B.  Lloyd  and  Josiah  Flower  were  among  the  ex- 
horters present  and  James  McConkey  was  secretary. 

“The  4th  was  held  in  connection  with  a camp  meeting 
in  a grove  on  the  farm  of  Judge  Sterrett,  in  Harbor 
Creek,  near  Wesleyville,  June  25,  1831.  James  Flower, 
a steward,  resigned  and  John  Shadduck  was  appointed. 
The  following  local  preachers  were  present : Barney  Bort, 
William  Stafford,  John  Keese  Hallock,  N.  W.  Curtis, 
Philip  Osborn,  William  Burton,  Titus  Cook.  Josiah 
Flower  joined  the  Annual  Conference.  Exhorters  pres- 
ent : Justus  Osborn,  Luther  Stone,  D.  D.  Daniels, 

Nehemiah  Beers,  Stephen  Stuntz,  David  Burton,  John 
McClune,  Joseph  S.  Buck,  Watts  B.  Lloyd,  Freeman  Pal- 
mer and  Franklin  Vandoozer. 

“The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Erie  District  Bible, 

Tract  and  Sunday  School  Society  was  held  at  the  brick 
meeting  house.  Harbor  Creek,  July  4,  1836,  Rev.  W.  B. 
Mack,  chairman;  James  McConkey,  secretary,  and  John 
Shadduck,  treasurer.  Managers:  Stephen  Stuntz,  John 

Wheaton,  Stukely  Stafford,  J.  S.  Buck,  Thomas  Adams, 
Timothy  Clark,  D.  D.  Daniels,  George  Walker,  James 
Flower,  E.  N.  Hurlburt,  John  Richards  and  David  Ster- 
rett. The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  Wheaton’s 
Meeting  House  in  Mill  Creek,  July  4,  1832.  Almond 


Quarterly  Conferences . 


605 

Fuller  and  Stewart  Chambers  were  among  the  subscribers 

to  the  funds  of  the  society. 

“The  first  quarterly  conference  of  the  Erie  Circuit  ever 
held  in  the  borough  of  Erie,  met  November  19,  1831,  W. 
B.  Mack,  presiding  elder;  John  P.  Kent  and  Allured 
Plimpton  were  circuit  preachers.  Peter  Haldeman  acted 
as  secretary,  pro  tempore.  James  Flower,  Peter  Halde- 
man, John  Magee,  A.  Bowers,  James  Boyle,  and  Mr. 
Sweetland  were  the  class  leaders  present.  Watts  B. 
Lloyd  was  by  verbal  consent  allowed  to  preach  for  the 
time  being.  Stephen  H.  Wilcox  was  licensed  to  preach. 

“The  next  meeting  was  held  in  Wesleyville,  and  Eze- 
kiel Chambers  was  licensed  to  preach.  The  fourth  quar- 
terly conference  was  held  at  Peter  Himebaugh’s,  in  Beaver 
Dam,  July  28,  1832.  David  Vorse,  Asa  White  and  Ed- 
mund Brace  were  among  the  exhorters,  and  William 
Chambers,  James  Bail,  William  B.  Weed,  Luther  Lewis 
and  B.  Deighton,  class  leaders.  A committee  to  build  a 
meeting  house  in  McKean  was  appointed,  viz. : John 

K.  Hallock,  Ezra  White  and  James  Bail.  The  following 
local  preachers’  licenses  were  renewed:  Barney  Bort, 

William  Stafford,  Philip  Osborn,  Josiah  Flower,  Nehe- 
miah  Beers,  David  Vorse  and  Peter  Haldeman.  At  this 
meeting  Watts  B.  Lloyd  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Wilkins  was  licensed  to  exhort.  At  their  own 
request,  the  papers  of  Stephen  Stuntz  and  Justus  Osborn 
were  not  renewed. 

“Second  quarterly  conference  was  held  in  Wesleyville, 
Feb.  9,  1833,  J-  S.  Barris,  presiding  elder;  John  Chandler 
and  E.  P.  Steadman,  circuit  preachers.  Luther  Stone  was 
silenced  and  expelled  from  the  Church.  Edmund  Brace 
and  F.  Vandoozer  returned  their  licenses  to  exhort.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  estimate  the  expense  of  build- 
ing a meeting  house  in  Erie.  viz. : J.  McConkey,  T. 

Stephens,  and  E.  N.  Hurlburt ; trustees  for  the  same,  E. 
N.  Hurlburt,  J.  McConkey,  T.  Stephens,  David  Burton 
and  John  Richards. 

“The  third  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Erie,  April 
x833.  W.  Rogers  and  J.  Hay  and  J.  McCoy  were 
made  an  estimating  committee  to  build  a meeting  house 
in  Fairview.  The  fourth  quarterly  meeting  was  held  on 
the  camp  ground  in  Fairview  June  22,^1833.  E.  Van- 
doozer was  expelled  from  the  Church,  after  a trial  by 


6o6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


a committee,  viz. : W.  S.  Chambers,  N.  Beers,  William 

May,  Solomon  Riblet,  George  W.  Walker,  P.  Cauffman, 
Robert  Ferguson  and  Alva  Phelps.  An  appeal  by  Barney 
Deighton  was  laid  over. 

“At  a regular  meeting  of  the  Stewards  of  Erie  Circuit, 
held  in  Erie,  September  21,  1833,  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  proper  amount  of  money  to  be  collected  from 
each  class  for  the  support  of  the  preachers,  the  following 
apportionment  was  made,  viz. : ‘ Wesley  ville,  $40 ; Erie, 

$55  ; Haybarger’s,  $8;  Burton's,  $10;  Brown’s,  $10;  Mc- 
Kean, $12 ; Bean's  (3),  $12 ; Lake  Pleasant,  $10;  Adam’s, 
$10;  Wheaton’s,  $30;  Bradish,  $6;  H.  Clark’s,  $6;  Back- 
us's, $12  ; T.  Clarke's,  $8;;  Haldeman’s,  $8;  Rees  Hill, 
$18;  Gospel  Hill,  $18.’ 

“Rev.  J.  Chandler  and  Samuel  Gregg  were  the  ‘cir- 
cuit riders,'  and  the  amount  estimated  for  the  support  of 
the  two  men  and  their  families  for  an  entire  year  was 
$343.  During  the  conference  year,  beginning  Septem- 
ber, 1879,  and  ending  September,  1880,  the  combined 
salaries  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  preachers  within  the 
limits  of  the  same  territory,  including  house  rent,  was 
$8,054. 

“The  second  quarterly  conference  for  the  year  1833, 
met  at  Wheaton  Meeting  House  (now  Asbury),  in  West 
Mill  Creek.  Rev.  Hiram  Kinsley  was  presiding  elder. 
The  minutes  are  in  the  peculiarly  illegible  handwriting  of 
-Rev.  Samuel  Gregg,  author  of  ‘History  of  Methodism 
Within  the  Bounds  of  the  Erie  Conference'.  James  Mc- 
Conkey  tendered  his  resignation  as  steward,  and  George 
W.  Walker  was  elected  as  recording  steward. 

“The  following  trustees  were  ‘appointed  to  secure  a 
proper  location  . and  build  a meeting  house  in  Fairview 
Township,  viz. : James  McClelland  or  Miller,  Henry 

Rogers,  John  McKee.  (?),  Stephen  Stuntz,  James  Mor- 
ton. The  fourth  quaiterly  meeting  met  in  Wesleyville 
July  7,  1834,  Rev.  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder,  in  the 
chair.  The  name  of  Audley  McGill  appears  oh  the  min- 
utes as  class  leader.  Also  the  name  of  Christian  Bort. 
Local  preachers  Capt.  Thomas  Wilkins,  and  Philip  Os- 
born were  also  present.  E.  N.  Hurlburt  was  appointed  a 
steward  for  Erie,  and  Henry  Rogers,  steward  for  Fair- 
view.  The  decision  of  the  committee  in  the  case  of  John 
Dillon  was  sustained.  A committee  was  appointed  to 


Quarterly  Conferences.  607 

build  a parsonage  for  the  use  of  the  circuit,  viz. : George 

W.  Walker,  Thomas  Rees,  and  William  Chambers.  This 
committee  was  authorized  to  apportion  to  each  class  the 
amount  expected  from  them  to  pay  for  the  same.  The 
parsonage  was  built  in  Wesley ville  and  has  been  used  for 
the  purpose  ever  since. 

“The  preachers  were  paid  in  full.  The  accounts  read 
as  follows: 

“Preachers — John  Chandler,  $100;  wife,  $100;  child, 
$16 ; total,  $216.  Paid  Samuel  Gregg,  $100,  paid.’  The 
recording  steward  very  properly  classed  Mrs.  Chandler 
and  child  as  preachers  and  paid  them  accordingly.  There 
is  no  class  of  women  on  earth  more  earnestly  devoted  and 
Self-sacrificing  than  the  wives  of  Methodist  preachers. 
Many  successful  men  owe  more  to  their  wives  than  to 
their  own  unaided  exertions,  but  are  not  magnanimous 
enough  to  admit  the  fact. 

“The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Fairview,  Rev. 
Alfred  Brunson,  presiding  elder;  P.  D.  Horton,  circuit 
preacher;  Harry  Rogers,  Christian  Bort,  F.  Dixon,  M. 
Haybarger,  R.  Weeks  and  J.  Bradish  were  the  class  lead- 
ers present. 

“The  second  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Wesley- 
ville  December  6,  1834.  George  W.  Walker  was  released 
from  the  parsonage  building  committee  and  Rev.  P.  D. 
Horton  put  in  his  place. 

“The  third  quarterly  meeting  met  at  Wheaton’s  meet- 
ing house  February  28,  1835.  David  Chambers  appealed 
from  the  decision  of  the  committee  at  Wesleyville,  and 
the  committee  were  not  sustained.  G.  Hawly  was  chosjen 
recording  steward,  in  place  of  George  W.  Walker,  re- 
signed. 

“The  fourth  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  McKean, 
May  23,  1835.  U.  Gittings,  D.  Ray,  George  Deighton,  S. 
Brace,  William  Kinnear,  Philip  Osborn  and  William  Staf- 
ford were  the  local  preachers  present. 

“At  the  session  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  held  in 
the  summer  of  1834,  a new  circuit  called  ‘Wesleyville 
Circuit,’  was  set  off,  and  the  rest  of  Erie  Circuit 
left  to  take  care  of  themselves.  The  minute  book  was  left 
for  the  use  of  the  Wesleyville  Circuit,  and  the  last  record 
is  in  the  handwriting  of  .William  P.  Trimble,  recording 
steward,  and  bearing  the  date  of  January  25,  1862.  I be- 


6o8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


lieve,  however,  that  Weslevville  Circuit  for  a long  time 
contained  all  the  territory  of  the  old  Erie  Circuit  outside 
the  borough  of  Erie. 

“A  quarterly  conference  for  Wesleyville  Circuit  was 
held  at  Backus  School  House  in  South  Harbor  Creek, 
March  12,  1846;  Isaac  Winans,  presiding  elder;  Thomas 
Graham  and  P.  D.  Horton,  circuit  preachers. 

“A  new  committee  was  appointed  to  build  a meeting 
house  at  or  near  McKean  Corners,  viz. : Stutely  Staf- 

ford, Ezra  White  and  James  Bayle. 

“The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Wesleyville 
June  25,  1836.  Philip  Osborne  and  Barney  Bort  were 
recommended  to  the  annual  conference  for  admission  to 
the  'traveling  connection.’  Some  of  the  membership 
charged  the  preacher’s  family  with  extravagance  in  using 
up  so  large  a salary.  It  was  not  considered  advisable  to 
pay  the  preachers  much  money  in  those  days.  It  had  a 
tendency  to  make  them  ‘stuck  up  and  worldly  minded.’ 
Any  unmarketable  produce,  such  as  rancid  butter  or  lard, 
moldy  hay,  or  wilted  potatoes,  etc.,  was  often  taken  to  the 
parsonage  ‘quarterage,’  and  the  preacher  and  his  wife 
were  expected  to  receive  these  tokens  of  brotherly 
thoughtfulness  with  becoming  humility  and  thankfulness. 

“In  1836,  J.  Chandler,  L.  D.  Mix,  and  Albina  Hall 
were  the  circuit  preachers.  At  a meeting  held  at  Wesley- 
ville, Jan.  2 1,  1837,  David  W.  Vor§e,  of  McKean,  was  li- 
censed to  preach.  At  a meeting  held  in  McKean  July 
4,  1837,  he  was  recommended  to  the  Annual  Conference 
for  admission  to  the  itineracy.  David  Chambers  was 
made  an  agent  of  the  circuit  to  build  the  parsonage.  This 
enterprise  seemed  to  move  along  slowly.  A resolution 
to  sustain  him  unanimously  passed. 

“The  next  meeting  was  held  at  Hoag’s  School  Plouse, 
in  South  Harbor  Creek,  Sept.  '30,  1837.  A committee  on 
temporal  interests  was  appointed,  viz. : William  Camp- 

bell, George  W.  Walker,  and  David  Chambers.  This 
committee  was  directed  to  notify  subscribers  to  the  par- 
sonage fund  that  they  must  pay  up  or  be  dealt  with  ac- 
cording to  discipline.  D.  Preston  and  D.  Prichard  were 
the  preachers.  March  3,  1838,  at  a meeting  held  in  Fair- 
view,  Peter  Haldeman  was  licensed  to  preach. 

“At  the  meeting  held  irt  McKean,  June  2,  1838,  Philip 
Osborn  was  recommended  to  the  Annual  Conference  for 


Methodism  m Erie.  609 

deacon’s  orders.  All  that  part  of  Wesleyville  Circuit  west 
of  the  Waterford  Turnpike  was  formed  into  a new  cir- 
cuit to  be  called  the  McKean  Circuit.  The  following  is 
the  first  official  board  of  McKean  Circuit:  Joel  Staf- 

ford, recording  steward,  Joseph  S.  Buck.  Lewis  Calder, 
Philip  Osborn,  George  Deighton  and  John  Palmiter,  and 
one  whose  name  cannot  be- read — John  L.  B . 

“At  a meeting  held  in  Wesleyville,  June  15.  1839.  Ma- 
thias Himebaugh  was  licensed  to  preach.  David  Pres- 
ton. and  Theodore  Blinn  were  the  circuit  preachers.  The 
former  received  a salary  of  $169.58  and  Mr.  Blinn  re- 
ceived $93.65.” — (History  of  Erie  County,  Warner, 
Beers  & Co.,  1884,  pp.  249-254.) 

Methodism  in  Erie. 

Gregg  says:  “Erie,  Pennsylvania,  was  a flourishing 

village,  in  which,  though  Methodist  preaching  had  fre- 
quently been  enjoyed  by  the  people,  no  permanent  or- 
ganization had  been  made  until  this  year.  Mr.  Tames 
McConkey  and  wife,  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Baltimore,  moved  to  Erie  to  reside;  and  Mr. 
David  Burton  and  wife  attended  the  meeting  at  Harbor 
Creek,  and  were  there  converted,  and  invited  Mr.  Knapp 
to  establish  an  appointment  in  Erie,  and  the  same  winter 
a class  was  formed  composed  of  the  above-named  persons 
and  a few  others.  Air.  McConkey  was  appointed  leader, 
and  soon  after  secured  to  the  church  the  lot  on  Seventh 
street,  on  which  their  first  church  was  subsequently  built ; 
the  cost  was  $300. — Gregg , History  of  Methodism,  Eric 
Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  239.)  The  Air.  Knapp  referred  to 
was  Henry  Knapp,  who  at  this  time,  was  in  charge  of  the 
North  East  Circuit  where  he  had  just  enjoyed  a glorious 
revival. 

This  was  the  nucleus  of  the  first  church  of  Erie.  The 
preachers  who  served  the  church  for  the  first  few  years 
were : Nathaniel  Reeder  and  Edward  Stevenson,  in 

1826;  Job  Wilson  and  Joseph  W.  Davis,  in  1827;  Joseph 
W . Davis  and  Joel  Jones,  in  1828;  Samuel  Avres  and 
Daniel  C.  Richey,  in  1829;  in  1830  the  Erie  Circuit  was 
formed  by  the  division  of  the  Springfield  Circuit,  and  the 
eastern  half  took  the  familiar  name  of  “Erie  Circuit” — 
the  old  Erie  Circuit  had  lost  its- name  but  one  year  prior  to 
this  date — and  Joseph  S.  Barris  and  Alcinous  Young  were 

39 


610  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

appointed  as  circuit  preachers.  Mr.  Barris’  salary  was 
$167.  In  1831,  John  P.  Kent  and  Allured  Plimpton  were 
the  circuit  preachers  ; in  1832,  John  Chandler  and  Elk- 
anah  P.  Steadman;  and  in  1833,  John  Chandler  and  Sam- 
uel Gregg.  In  1833,  the  First  Church  subscribed  $55  for 
the  support  of  the  preachers. 

In  1836  and  1837  the  subject  of  a house  of  worship  was 
considered  but  nothing  was  done  until  1838-1839.  At  the 
close  of  the  conference  year  in  1839,  the  official  meeting 
was  held  for  the  first  time,  in  “Wesley  Chapel.”  In  1844 
the  building  was  enlarged  at  an  expense  of  $1,300,  and 
accommodated  the  Erie  Conference.  In  1851  a parson- 
age was  erected.  The  present  imposing  church  edifice, 
located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Seventh  and  Sassafras 
streets,  was  erected  in  1859-60  at  a cost  of  $14,000,  and 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson,  Nov.  14,  i860. 

“In  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of  1858,  a meeting  of 
eight  weeks  was  held  by  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Street 
Church,  W.  F.  Wilson.  It  was  wonderfully  blessed  of 
the  Lord,  many  souls  being  converted  and  reclaimed. 
Nearly  a hundred  were  added  to  the  Church  and  quite  a 
number  of  them  were  in  what  is  now  South  Erie.  The 
brethren  of  the  last  named  locality,  feeling  that  the  class 
and  prayer  meetings  could  be  held  with  profit  there,  in 
that  part  of  the  city,  as  many  of  the  young  converts  were 
in  that  section,  besought  the  pastor  to  organize  a class, 
which  he  did,  and  appointed  Heman  Janes  the  leader. 
He  remarked  at  the  time : T do  it  with  a measure  of 

sadness,  for  this  is  the  germ  of  a new  and  distinct  so- 
ciety.' As  if  by  special  providence.  Brother  Heman  Janes 
had  secured  a lot  and  erected  a building  for  a select  school 
on  Sassafras  Street,  near  at  hand,  where  the  class  could 
meet  for  prayer  meetings  or  social  worship.  These 
gatherings  were  well  attended  and  were  seasons  of  great 
spiritual  refreshing.  The  number  of  members  thus  as- 
sociated was  twenty-five.  Soon  after  this  a Sunday 
School  was  organized,  which  commenced  with  sixty-three 
in  number,  and  never  has  been  less  to  this  day.  Capt. 
Thomas  Wilkins,  of  precious  memory,' was  its  first  su- 
perintendent. The  school  house  continued  to  be  the  main 
rallying  place  till  the  new  church  was  built,  when  it  was 
moved  on  to  the  church  lot,  and  became  part  of  the  present 
parsonage.  Before  this,  and  during  the  pendency  of  3 


Methodism  in  Erie. 


question  of  building  on  Seventh  Street — when  fear  was 
predominating  over  hope — about  the  first  of  May,  the 
brethren  and  friends  of  the  church  began  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  building  a chapel  in  this  part  of  the  city. 
Brother  Wilson  being  applied  to,  organized  a board  of 
trustees  composed  of  Thomas  Wilkins,  Heman  Janes, 
Emanuel  Goodrich,  Alvin  Thayer,  A.  K.  Miller,  E.  J. 
Ames,  and  Adam  Acheson.  Though  these  steps  were 
taken  and  subscriptions  were  made,  yet  the  subscribers 
proposed  to  turn  their  contributions  into  the  funds  for 
building  down  town  if  that  enterprise  was  renewed  and 
moved  forward,  but  it  was  not  renewed.  In  the  mean- 
time the  lot  where  the  present  church  building  and  par- 
sonage now  stands  was  purchased  by  Capt.  Thomas  Wil- 
kins and  Heman  Janes  on  their  personal  responsibility, 
for  the  sum  of  $500,  and  they  held  it  in  reserve  to  await 
the  demands  of  the  church.  The  church  at  Seventh 
Street  having  given  up  building  at  that  time,  the  pastor 
announced  that  he  was  in  favor  of  building  on  the  lot  pur- 
chased by  Wilkins  and  Janes.  A subscription  was  circu- 
lated and  sums  were  pledged,  some  of  the  largest  as  fol- 
lows : Thomas  Wilkins,  $300 ; Emanuel  Goodrich,  $200 ; 

Dr.  Dickinson,  $100;  Adam  Acheson,  $100;  A.  Yale, 
$100;  Jacob  Hanson,  $100;  H.  Janes,  $500;  in  all  about 
$1,600.  This  was  the  condition  of  things  when  the  an- 
nual conference  came  in  1858.  W.  F.  Wilson,  having 
filled  the  two  years’  pastorate,  was  succeeded  by  D.  C. 
Wright.  Soon  after,  Bishop  Simpson,  whose  health  was 
impaired,  visited  Erie,  spent  some  days  in  its  healthful 
atmosphere,  and  learning  the  facts  of  church  extension 
history  and  conditions  in  the  city,  bade  those  brethren  and 
friends  in  South  Erie,  Good  Speed.  Having  secured  a 
subscription  to  justify,  on  the  third  of  August  they  let  the 
contract,  and  the  work  began  in  earnest.  At  times,  how- 
ever, the  circumstances  were  very  unpropitious,  and  dis- 
couragements severe.  Brother  Wright  stood  aloof  and 
had  never  a word  of  cheer,  and  some  of  the  good  brethren 
in  the  city  looked  upon  the  new  church  as  the  tomb  of 
Methodism,  but  it  has  proved  to  be  the  temple  of  God. 
1 o bring  the  enterprise  to  a successful  termination  re- 
quired sturdy  financial  lifting  on  the  part  of  a few.  Nobly, 
generously,  and  bravely  did  they  bend  their  backs  to  the 
sacrifice  and  toil.  Earnestly  was  prayer  offered  for  the 


6l  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


success  of  the  enterprise,  and  under  the  guidance  and 
blessing  of  divine  Providence  it  was  grandly  achieved. 

When  all  was  ready,  that  prince  of  Israel,  Bishop  Simp- 
son, was  called  to  minister  on  the  joyful  occasion  of  open- 
ing for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  this  place  of  rest. 
This  crowning  event  took  place  June  19,  1859.” — (His- 
tory of  Eric  County,  Warner , Beers  & Co.,  1884 , pp. 

56  ~9,  570.) 

Such  is  the  early  history  of  Simpson  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  Erie,  Pennsylvania. 

• “Erie  Tenth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of 
January,  1874,  the  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives,  D.D.,  officiating. 
This  church  enterprise  was  inaugurated  by  the  Method- 
ists of  Erie  a little  over  two  years  ago  in  the  eastern  part 
of  this  city  in  the  midst  of  German  Catholics.  A Sunday 
School,  gathered  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associa-  t 
tion,  was  transferred  to  us,  also  the  use  of  the  school 
rooms  for  a preaching  place.  Two  years  ago  Methodism 
in  this  part  of  the  city  was  represented  by  less  than  a 
dozen  members,  now  the  society,  including  probationers, 
numbers  about  seventy.  A church  and  parsonage  worth 
together  some  ten  thousand  dollars,  are  now  owned  by 
the  society.  Eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars,  two  thousand  above  all  indebtedness,  was  pro- 
vided for  at  the  dedication,  which  will  be  applied  toward 
providing  a bell  and  additional  Sunday  School  facilities.” 

— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Feb.  5,  18/4.) 

The  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  Tenth 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Erie,  Pennsylvania, 
was  celebrated,  March  24,  1904,  with  appropriate  exer- 
cises. Revs.  Edwin  A.  Johnson,  of  First  Church,  and 
John  H.  Tagg,  of  Simpson,  inaugurated  the  movement, 
and  a subscription  of  $3,000  was  taken  in  these  churches. 
“During  the  year  1868-9,  Rev.  A.  S.  Dobbs  was  pastor  of 
the  First  M.  E.  Church  in  Erie.  In  a revival  meeting 
held  during  this  year  in  the  First  Church,  Seymour  Torn* 
was  converted  and  through  his  influence,  assisted  by  the 
pastor,  services  were  held  in  a private  house  on  the  east 
side.  Rev.  Henrv  Sims  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter 
and  soon  after  as  a local  preacher,  that  he  might  take 
charge  of  the  work  on  the  east  side.” 


Centerville  Circuit. 


613 


Services  were  held  by  W.  W.  Wythe,  of  the  First 
Church,  assisted  by  A.  N.  Craft,  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  rooms, 
on  Eleventh  Street,  near  Parade.  At  a joint  meeting  of 
the  official  boards  of  First  and  Simpson,  called  by  D.  M. 
Stever,  Erie  Conference  was  requested  to  send  a mis- 
sionary to  this  part  of  the  city.  R.  F.  Keelor  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  work,  and  an  appropriation  of  $350  se- 
cured from  the  missionary  society.  Meetings  were  con- 
tinued in  the  same  rooms,  and,  in  October  8,  1871,  a class 
was  organized  consisting  of  the  following  members : Sey- 
mour Torry,  class  leader,  John  S.  Grove,  Sarah  A.  Grove, 
Mark  F.  Hope,  Robert  Hare,  Augusta  Spackmen,  Mary 
Thompson,  Charles  N.  Wheeler,  and  Rose  M.  Wheeler. 
The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  gave  the  control  of  their  Sunday  School 
to  the  new  society,  and  E.  L.  Pelton  was  elected  superin- 
tendent. 

The  site  of  the  present  church  was  purchased  for  $3,- 
369.  The  first  quarterly  conference  was  held  November 
9,  1871,  by  D.  M.  Stever.  presiding  elder.  The  trustees 
appointed  at  that  time  secured  a charter,  and  the  corner 
stone  of  a church  edifice  was  laid  May  15,  1873.  The 
church  was  dedicated  January  15,  1874.  The  cost,  in- 
cluding that  of  the  lot,  was  $9,869.  The  parsonage  was 

valued  at  $3,500. — (Erie  Times , March  25,  1904.)  The 

two  accounts  differ  as  to  exact  date  of  dedication. 

Centerville  Circuit. 

An  early  Methodist  society  flourished  at  Centerville, 
Crawford  County,  Pa.,  prior  to  1831.  Services  were  held 
at  the  school  house,  at  the  cabin  of  Samuel  Winton,  and 
elsewhere.  Samuel  Winton  and  wife,  James  Coyle,  Wil- 
liam Haskins,  and  Roswell  Buell  were  members  of  the 
first  class.  The  class  continued  to  meet  until  1838  when 
it  was  abandoned.  Another  class  was  organized  in  1863  ; 
and  among  the  early  members  were  Johnson  Merrill  and 
wife,  Samuel  Post,  John  Buell,  and  Samuel  Winton  and 
wife.  The  class  was  a part  of  Riceville  Circuit  until  1873 
when  Centerville  Circuit  was  formed  embracing  Center- 
ville and  Riceville.  At  present  Britton  Run  belongs  to 
this  circuit. — ( Brown , History  of  Crazvford  County , p. 
6ig.) 

The  Riceville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  S.  N.  Forest  in  1849  with  four  members: 


614 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


J.  W.  Gray  and  wife,  Myron  S.  Staring,  and  Mrs.  Lorina 
Austin.  Meetings  were  held  for  about  five  years  in  the 
Old  Red  School  House ; afterward  in  a hall,  and  still  later 
in  the  Congregational  Church.  The  present  church  was 
erected  in  1874,  at  a cost  of  about  $4,500.  Riceville  Cir- 
cuit was  formed  in  1851. 

Westfield  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

“The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Westfield  was  or- 
ganized in  1831.  It  was  composed  of  Brainard  Spencer 
and  wife,  Joseph  Clark  and  wife,  Reuben  Peck  and  wife 
and  others.  Reuben  Peck  was  class  leader,  and  the  charge 
embraced  what  was  then  called  Chautauqua  Circuit. 
Glezen  Fillmore  was  presiding  elder,  R.  C.  Hatton, 
preacher  in  charge,  Benjamin  P.  Hill,  assistant.  The  so- 
ciety continued  to  increase  in  numbers  until  a church 
building  of  very  respectable  proportions  was  erected  in 
1830  on  Main  Street  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  where 
it  still  remains,  being  occupied  as  a dwelling.  This 
church  was  the  scene  of  many  glorious  revivals  such  as 
were  characteristic  of  the  early  history  of  Methodism, 
and  was  occupied  until  1850,  when  a second  church  was 
erected  more  modern  in  style  and  more  favorable  as  to  lo- 
cation and  all  its  appointments.  This  building  was  lo- 
cated on  Clinton  Street  near  North  Portage  Street.  It 
had  a basement  story  for  Sunday  School  and  class  meet- 
ings, and  like  the  former  was  occupied  for  a period  of 
twenty  years  when  the  society  and  congregation  having 
outgrown  its  capacity  began  to  look  about  for  a new  lo- 
cation, and  in  1871  a third  church  was  erected  on  Main 
Street.  This  was  built  of  brick  at  a cost  of  about  $30,- 
000  and  was  in  every  way  creditable  to  the  zeal  and  de- 
votion of  those  who  were  its  projectors.  The  building 
committee  were  Dr.  J.  C.  Gifford,  W.  T.  Hynes,  Oris 
Persons,  and  J.  H.  Towle,  who  were  also  trustees  of  the 
church  at  that  time. 

The  erection  of  this  building  cost  the  society  a severe 
struggle  and  left  them  somewhat  embarrassed  with  debt 
and  this  burden  was  increased  by  the  financial  crisis  of 
those  times,  but  in  the  year  1878,  through  the  herculean 
labors  of  R.  W.  Scott,  who  was  pastor  at  that  time,  the 
last  of  this  burden  was  lifted  and  the  church  was  well  es- 
tablished in  its  new  location  which  will  furnish  the  society 


Curllsville,  Pa.,  and  Kent,  Ohio.  615 

a pleasant  home  for  years  to  come  and  long  remain  as  a 
monument  to  the  wisdom  and  benevolence  of  its  founders. 
The  church  lot  extends  from  Main  to  Clinton  Streets  and 
directly  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  fronting  Clinton  Street, 
is  a comfortable  parsonage  valued  at  $1,500. 

Young,  in  his  history  says  that  a Methodist  class  was 
formed  about  1837  or  1838,  at  a log  school  house  near 
Isaac  Porters'.  The  members  were  Rand  Miles  (class 
leader),  Robert  Hill,  Alanson  Jones,  and  their  wives,  Re- 
becca Wheeler,  Deborah  Harmon.  Nicholas  Jones  and 
wife,  and  Laban  Jones  joined  soon  after.  The  place  of 
meeting  was  afterwards  fixed  at  Howards’  Corners.  A 
meeting  house  was  built  in  1852.  The  minister  present 
at  the  formation  of  the  class  is  believed  to  have  been 
Darius  Smith.” — (P.  W . Bemis  in  History  of  Chautauqua 
County,  New  York,  W.  A.  Fergusson  & Co.,  pp.  586- 
588.) ' 

Curllsville,  Pa.,  and  Kent,  Ohio. 

The  first  society  of  Curllsville  and  Sligo  Charge  was 
organized  at  Curllsville  by  Abner  Jackson  in  1831.  Sarah 
and  Jared  Howe,  George  and  Morris  Reid, Fid- 

dler, Daniel  Murray,  David,  Barbara,  Daniel  and  Sarah 
Slaugenhaupt,  Thomas,  Michael  and  Mary  Riley,  and 
Sarah  Benn  were  members  of  the  class  when  first  or- 
ganized. Curllsville  Charge  then  included  much  of  what 
is  now  the  Clarion  District;  but  it  was  divided  and  sub- 
divided until  1865,  when  it  had  six  appointments:  Cherry 
Run,  Curllsville,  Greenville,  Madison  Furnace,  Monroe 
or  Polk  Furnace,  and  Sligo. 

The  first  quarterly  conference  was  held  at  Cherry  Run 
September  4,  1865;  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder,  and 
J.  F.  Hill,  circuit,  preacher.  Official  members  present: 
J.  C.  Hoover,  Adan  Davis,  B.  F.  Baker,  Jacob  Hcdil, 
John  Bole,  Lewis  Crick,  S.  C.  Wilson  and  Thomas  Riley. 

In  1867  Greenville  was  dropped  from  the  circuit,  and 
in  1872  Madison  Furnace.  The  charge  was  then  com- 
posed of  the  remaining  four  appointments  until  1892  when 
a church  near  Pinev  belonging  to  the  L^nited  Brethren  was 
purchased  by  our  people  and  an  appointment  known  as 
Pine  Grove  established  there 

Cherry  Run  for  a great  many  years  has  been  a good, 
:strong  country  church.  The  class  worshiped  in  a little 


6i6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


old  school  house,  which  is  still  standing,  until  the  present 
church  was  erected  in  1872.  Boston  Gardner  is  the  oldest 
member  who  is  still  living  (1902).  He  has  been  a mem- 
ber of  this  class  sixty-seven  years. 

Curllsville  class  abandoned  the  old  church  which  stood 
on  the  hill  above  town  in  1871  and  erected  the  present 
building  which  was  remodeled  a few  years  ago,  making  a 
very  neat  and  attractive  church. 

Monroe  class  met  in  a schoolhouse  until  the  house,  with 
bibles  and  hymn  books,  was  burned  by  an  enemy  of  all 
Methodists.  The  present  church,  a fairly  good  building, 
was  erected  in  1861. 

There  is  a good,  strong  class  at  Sligo  with  an  excel- 
lent church.  It  was  practically  rebuilt  during  the  pas- 
torate of  F.  A.  Mills.  In  1882  the  old  parsonage  at 
Curllsville  was  sold  and  a new  one  built  on  a lot  alongside 
the  church  at  Sligo. 

The  Cherry  Run  camp  ground  is  within  the  bounds  of 
this  charge.  Camp  meetings  have  been  held  there  every 
year  since  the  charge  has  had  an  existence.  Thousands 
attend  these  meetings,  which  are  a source  of  great  spirit- 
ual profit. 

There  seems  to  have  been  a Methodist  class  at  Kent, 
Ohio,  previous  to  1830,  but  the  exact  date  of  its  organi- 
zation or  by  whom  it  was  organized  we  are  not  able  to 
learn.  The  place  was  known  as  “Franklin  Mills.”  As 
early  as  1823  there  was  an  upper  and  a lower  village, 
and  the  former  was  called  “Carthage.”  In  1863  the 
combined  vllage  was  named  “Kent.”  The  noted  Indian 
fighter,  Captain  Samuel  Brady,  made  his  famous  leap 
across  the  Cuyahoga  two  hundred  yards  above  the  bridge 
at  Kent.  The  place  is  still  known  as  “Brady's  Leap.” 
Until  1844  the  Methodists  held  services  in  a school  house, 
when  a substantial  frame  church  was  built  and  occupied 
for  divine  worship  until  1893.  The  present  fine  brick 
edifice  was  then  erected  at  a cost  of  $23,000.  Three 
years  later  the  old  building  was  dismantled.  Several 
glorious  revivals  have  visited  the  church — notably  those 
of  1856  and  1 876-77. 

Jacob  Gruber,  writing  from  the  Salem  Circuit,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1830,  says: 

“Thanks  and  praise  to  the  Lord  for  health  and  pros- 
perity in  this  circuit.  Our  ordinary  meetings  have  been 


Columbus , Lupher  Chapel . 


good  in  general,  and  considerable  revivals  in  some  of  our 
week-day  appointments.  Please  to  drop  a hint  to  our 
members  and  hearers  in  general  to  attend  their  week-day 
meetings  regularly,  and  the  Lord  will  bless  them  more  in 
spiritual  and  temporal  things.  Redeem  and  improve 
time,  rise  up  early  in  the  morning,  begin  with  prayer,  pay 
no  unnecessary  visits,  lose  no  time  in  unprofitable  talk- 
ing, standing  about  the  corners  of  the  streets,  the  mar- 
ket places,  etc.,  (where  the  Pharisees  used  to  say  their 
prayers),  stores  and  mechanics’  shops,  groceries,  etc., 
attend  to  their  business,  waste  no  time  in  going  to  sales 
or  vendues  when  they  have  no  money,  or  don’t  want  to 
buy  anything,  or  to  courts  or  musters  where  they  have 
no  business,  or  to  see  persons  hung,  etc.  Now,  I think 
it  is  not  quite  clear  that  persons  cannot  take  a few  hours 
once  in  two  weeks  to  go  to  meeting  on  a week-day,  when 
hours  and  days  are  wasted  in  the  course  hinted  above, 
not  to  say  anything  about  the  money  spent  in  parties  and 
visits  to  see  things.  But  I must  mind  my  circuit;  our 
prospects  have  been  good;  and  our  camp  meeting,  the 
first  week  of  this  month,  was  pronounced  by  many  the 
greatest  and  best  ever  held  in  this  country.  \\  e had 
more  than  one  hundred  tents,  some  large  enough  to  hold 
a congregation,  a good  number  of  wagons,  etc.  The 
Lord  was  with  us  of  a truth  by  day  and  night.  The 
shout  of  a king,  the  cry  of  mourners  and  the  new  song  of 
the  converted,  and  the  triumph  of  others  who  found  full 
salvation,  joy  unspeakable  and  fully  of  glory — all  glory 
to  God!  It  was  a scene  not  to  be  described.” — (The 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , October  13,  1830.) 

Columbus,  Lupher  Chapel. 

In  1830  many  of  the  settlers  of  Columbus,  Pa.,  were 
Methodist  in  their  church  preferences.  Among  the  early 
members  were:  James  Sears  and  wife,  Samuel  H.  Ayres, 
Joseph  Sheffield  and  wife,  A.  Soggs,  David  York  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Eli  Crosby,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marsh,  Lloyd  Smith,  Mr.  Brightman,  William 
Jackman  and  wife  and  Watson  Miller  and  wife.  A 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1839.  “The  most  pros- 
perous period  in-  the  history  of  the  church  was  about 
1840.”  Joseph  O.  Rich  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 


— 


6i8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


preacher. — (History  of  Warren  County , D.  Mason  & 
Co.,  1887,  f>.  492.) 

In  the  summer  of  1830  a class  was  formed  in  Troy, 
Jefferson  County,  Pa.,  on  the  Shippenville  Circuit, 
among  whose  members  were:  Philip  Clover  and  wife, 

Abram  Miller  and  wife,  John  Welch  and  wife,  ‘‘Father” 
Carrier  and  wife,  E.  Carrier  and  wife,  James  McElvain 
and  wife  and  Mrs.  McElvain. 

“Lupher  Chapel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  on  the 
northeastern  part  of  Canal  Township,  is  an  old  organi- 
zation, its  history  dating  from  about  the  year  1830.  Ow- 
ing to  the  absence  of  records  but  limited  satisfaction  was 
derived  in  tracing  the  early  history  of  the  society,  but 
from  the  most  reliable  information  obtainable  the  follow- 
ing appear  to  have  been  among  the  first  members:  Jacob 
Lupher,  Martha  Lupher,  Eliza  Lupher,  Chancy  Hart, 
Magdalene  Hart,  Erastus  Hart,  Ruth  Hart,  Thomas 
Lupher  and  wife,  David  Taylor,  William  Wright,  Lucy 
Wright,  Rev.  John  L.  Moore  and  wife,  Andrew  Hays, 
John  Coxson,  Samantha  Coxson  and  Phyan  Dufifield. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  Lupher  school  house  until 
about  the  year  1835,  at  which  time  a substantial  frame 
temple  of  worship  was  erected  a short  distance  from 
Canal  Centre  on  land  donated  for  church  purposes  by 
Jacob  Lupher.  It  was  improved  from  time  to  time  and 
served  as  a meeting  place  until  1882,  when  it  was  torn 
down  and  the  present  handsome  frame  structure,  repre- 
senting a cost  of  $1,700,  erected  on  the  same  lot.  . . . 

The  first  class  leader  was  Jacob  Lupher,  and  Erastus 
Hart  was  the  first  steward.  The  present  class  leader  is 
Barnett  Lupher,  who  has  held  the  position  for  a period 
of  twenty  consecutive  years.*  The  church  is  one  of  the 
active  societies  of  the  Cooperstown  Circuit,  and  has  a 
membership  of  about  fifty.” — (History  of  Venango 
County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1890;  p.  642.)  An  older 
history  says  the  class  was  organized  by  S.  W.  Ingra- 
ham in  1835,  and  the  first  house  of  worship  erected  in 
1839  and  “dedicated  in  May,  1840,  by  Rev.  H.  J. 
Clark.” — (History  of  Venango  County,  published  by  J. 
A.  Caldwell,  1879 ; p.  554.) 

*Barnett  Lupher,  son  of  Jacob  Lupher,  died  February  4,  1905. 
He  had  been  class  leader  forty-five  years.  Lupher  Chapel  is  now 
known  as  “Wesley  Chapel.” 


Methodism  in  Dunkirk  and  Sheakleyville.  619 

Methodism  in  Dunkirk  and  Sheakleyville. 

A Methodist  class  was  organized  in  Dunkirk  about 
1830.  Services  were  held  in  private  houses,  over  Par- 
sons’ wagon  shop,  and  in  school  houses  until  about  the 
year  1845,  when  a small  building  was  erected  on  Fourth 
street.  The  house  soon  proved  inadequate  and  about 
i860  was  sold  and  removed  from  the  lot  and  a new 
edifice  erected.  In  1877  this  was  remodeled  and  a Sun- 
day School  room  added  at  an  expense  of  $3,000.  Dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  E.  M.  Kernick  a neat  and  convenient 
parsonage  was  erected  on  one  end  of  the  lot.  In  1900 
the  church  was  repaired  and  beautified  at  a cost  of  nearly 
$3,000.  To  the  Ladies*  Aid  Society  much  credit  is  due 
for  the  new  parsonage  and  the  repaired  church.  From 
the  organization  of  the  church  the  growth  has  been 
gradual,  and  among  the  membership  are  found  some  of 
Dunkirk’s  most  enterprising  and  successful  business 
men. 

Dunkirk  became  a separate  appointment  in  1853.  Pre- 
vious to  this  time  it  had  been  part  of  a circuit,  sharing 
the  labors  of  the  pastor  with  Fredonia  and  Portland.  D. 
C.  Wright  was  the  first  preacher  appointed  to  Dunkirk 
station. 

Previous  to  1829  Methodist  services  were  held  at  the 
home  of  John  Williams,  two  miles  from  Sheakleyville. 
“Mother”  Williams  being  the  active  promoter. 

Our  church  was  organized  in  Sheakleyville,  Mercer 
County,  in  1830,  with  seven  members — George  W.  Lee. 
Griffith  Burnett  and  wife,  Cyrus  Church,  James  Dunn 
and  wife  and  Letitia  Hazen.  “The  first  class  leader  was 
Cyrus  Church,  who  held  his  membership  as  one  of  the 
charter  members,  and  continued  in  such  relation  sixty 
years.”  At  first  John  Summerville,  “a  jolly  Irishman, 
an  eloquent  preacher  and  valuable  pastor,”  held  services 
in  the  school  house.  A great  revival  under  the  labors 
of  John  Crum  and  Aurora  Callender,  traveling  the  Sa- 
lem Circuit  in  1846,  greatly  encouraged  the  little  band. 
They  had  erected  a church  building  in  1842  upon  a lot 
deeded  by  Justus  Holcomb.  The  first  church  bell  in  the 
village  called  the  Methodist  congregation  to  worship. — 
(History  of  Mercer  County , Brozvn,  Runk  & Co.,  1888; 

pp • 477-478.) 


()20 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 
Conneaut. 


■ 


About  1830  a Methodist  class  was  formed  at  Con- 
neaut, Ohio,  and  not  long  subsequent  to  this  date  a frame 
building  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  little 
band  of  worshipers.  The  cornerstone  of  a new  brick 
church  was  laid  on  the  old  site,  corner  of  Buffalo  and 
Madison  streets,  September  1,  1887.  This  building  was 
dedicated  May  13,  1888.  In  1902  a mission  was  opened 
in  East  Conneaut.  Property  was  secured  on  the  corner 
of  Ridge  road  and  Rone  street,  and  the  new  edifice  was 
.dedicated  by  J.  W.  King,  September  6,  1903. 

A model  parsonage  was  erected  during  the  pastorate 
of  E.  A.  Juter.  Conneaut  charge  has  (1906)  a member- 
ship of  about  four  hundred. 

Samuel  E.  Babcock,  John  J.  Swayze. 

Samuel  E.  Babcock  was  converted  in  the  town  of  Or- 
well, Ohio,  in  1822,  and  with  his  brothers,  James  and 
William  R.,  assisted  in  forming  a society  in  that  place. 
He  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1830;  he  was  admitted  into  full  connection  and  ordained 
deacon  in  1832,  and  ordained  elder  in  1834.  When  the 
Erie  Conference  was  organized  in  1836  he.  remained  in 
the  Pittsburg  Conference,  where  he  labored  with  great 
success  until  the  infirmities  of  age  and  hardships  laid 
him  aside.  He  died  in  the  spring  of  1864. 

Entering  the  itinerancy  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism, 
“he  had  many  large  and  laborious  fields  to  cultivate ; and 
on  his  various  fields,  whether  circuit,  statipn  or  district, 
he  was  a laborious  and  earnest  preacher.  His  preaching 
was  characterized  by  earnestness  and  pathos,  and  he  was 
blessed  on  many  of  his  fields  of  labor  with  extensive  re- 
vivals of  religion.  He  was  affectionate  as  a husband  and 
father,  and  ardent  as  a friend.  Few  men  formed  a larger 
circle  of  acquaintances,  or  enjoyed  the  society  of  friends 
more  than  he  did.  For  several  years  his  health  was  fail- 
ing, and  a man  of  less  hopefulness  than  he  would  have 
retired  from  the  work ; but  he  was  as  anxious  to  toil  on 
as  in  the  days  of  his  strength.  His  sickness  was  short, 
and  his  sufferings  severe;  but  he  evinced  Christian  confi- 
dence * and  resignation,  and  died  in  strong  hope  of  a 


Samuel  E.  Babcock,  John  J.  Swayze. 


621 


blessed  immortality.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol. 
X.,  1865,  p.  28.) 

John  Ferris  was  discontinued  at  the  close  of  one  year 
of  service. 

John  J.  Swayze,  son  of  Rev.  W illiam  Swayze,  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  August 
30,  1812.  He  was  converted  early  in  life,  joined  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  on  trial  in  1830.  He  was  a highly 
esteemed  brother,  and  did  good  service.  He  was  nine 
consecutive  years  Presiding  Elder.  Mr.  Gregg  says: 
“He  was  a tall,  straight,  gentlemanly-appearing  young 
man,  possessed  a fine,  descriptive,  poetical  imagination: 
an  eloquent  speaker,  but  did  not  possess  the  power  and 
pathos  of  his  father.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference , Vol.  I.,  p.  273.)  He  died  in  Allegheny 
City,  Pa.,  February  18,  1853.  As  he  neared  the  spirit 
world  he  said  to  a friend : “As  to  my  enjoyments  there 

is  not  one  dim  or  flickering  beam.  My  hope  in  Christ 
is  firm  as  a rock,  and  God's  love  to  me  is  a constant  pour- 
ing of  heaven’s  sunlight  into  my  soul.”f — (Minutes  of 
Conferences,  Vol.  V .,  1833,  P * 242-) 

The  oldest  religious  organization  in  Pinegrove  Town- 
ship is  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  or- 
ganized about  1830.  Among  the  first  members  were: 
E.  W.  Chase,  Almira  Chase,  Joseph  Lindsey,  Catherine 
Lindsey  and  Richard  Allen.  In  1852  the  following  were 
members : Joseph  Lindsey  and  wife,  Joseph  Jones  and 

wife,  H.  B.  Herrick  and  wife,  John  Allen  and  wife,  J. 
W.  Akelv  and  wife,  H.  Demmon,  J.  W.  Demmon,  Ira 

*He  served  the  church  in  the  following  fields  of  labor:  1830, 

Forestville;  1831,  Youngsville  and  Smethport;  1832,  Greenfield; 
1833,  Greensboro;  1834,  Beallsville;  1835,  Brownsville;  1836, 
Brownsville  and  Bridgeport;  1837-8,  Pittsburg,  Smithfield  Street; 
1839-40,  Steubenville;  1841-2,  Wheeling;  1843-6,  Wheeling  Dis- 
trict; 1847-8,  Uniontown;  1849-50,  Pittsburg,  Smithfield  Street; 
1851-2,  Allegheny  City,  Beaver  Street;  1853,  South  Pittsburg; 
1854,  Ninth  Ward  Mission;  1855,  located;  1856-7,  re-admitted. 
Johnstown;  1858-9,  Conemaugh;  1860-1,  Pittsburg,  Wesley 
Chapel;  1862-4,  Wrellsville. 

tHis  appointments  were:  1830,  Youngsville;  1831,  Canton; 

1832,  Smithfield;  1833,  Wheeling;  1834,  Clarksburg;  1835,  Eliza- 
beth; 1836,  Summerfield;  1837,  Brownsville;  1838,  supernumer- 
ary, attached  to  Canton;  1839,  Wellsville;  1840,  Clarksburg;  1841, 
Agent  Northwest  Virginia  Academy;  1842,  Coshocton;  1843-5, 
Clarksburg  District;  1846-8,  Uniontown  District;  1849-51,  Alle- 
gheny District;  1852,  superannuated. 


622 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Badger,  Harriet  Badger,  Nancy  Vansile,  Mary  Moll, 
Mary  Hodges  and  L.  Akely.  Until  the  summer  of  1854 
services  were  held  in  private  houses  and  the  school 
house  on  the  east  side  of  Conewango  creek.  At  the 
date  mentioned  a house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  about  $2,000. — (History  of  Warren  County,  D. 
Mason  & Co.,  1887;  pp.  452-453.) 

John  Robinson. 

While  John  W esley  was  preaching  in  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, a gentleman  opened  his  gates  and  let  the  multitude 
in,  that  they  might  listen  more  comfortably  under  the 
shade  of  the  trees.  Mr.  Wesley  was  preaching  on  “the 
witness  of  the  Spirit."  One  of  the  crowd  threw  a stone 
which  hit  him  on  the  head,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground. 
Two  men  sprang  forward,  and  raised  him  up.  As  soon 
as  he  became  conscious,  he  proceeded  with  his  discourse 
as  though  nothing  had  happened.  A little  girl  stood  near 
him,  and  saw  the  blood  streaming  from  his  hair  and 
dropping  to  the  ground.  When  he  was  about  to  close  his 
sermon,  she  saw  him  press  his  hand  on  the  hair  saturated 
with  blood,  and  then  show  his  bloody  hand  to  the  multi- 
tude, and  exhort  them  to  seek  the  grace  of  God  by  which 
they  might  know  they  were  accepted  of  Him.  “If  you  do 
not  heed  this  warning,”  exclaimed  Mr.  Wesley,  “this 
blood  will  witness  against  you  in  the  day  of  judgment!” 
The  appeal  reached  the  heart  of  the  little  girl.  She  was 
converted,  and  obtained  “the  witness  of  the  Spirit”  that 
she  was  a child  of  God.  She  met  with  great  opposition, 
but  continued  faithful.  She  married  one  of  Wesley’s 
class-leaders,  and  came  to  America. 

She  became  the  mother  of  John  Robinson,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio  County,  Virginia,  June  29,  1806,  and  was 
converted  at  a camp  meeting  at  Castleman’s  Run,  in 
Brooke  County,  Virginia,  in  1826.  He  was  three  years  a 
student  at  Madison  College ; was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  quarterly  conference  of  Ohio  Circuit  at  the  church  at 
Short  Creek,  in  1827,  traveled  one  year  under  the  presid- 
ing elder,  William  Stevens,  and  the  next  year  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He  became 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Erie  Conference.  He 
was  thirty-six  years  effective,  and  served  twenty-six  dif- 
ferent charges,  some  of  them  among  the  most  important 


John  Robinson. 


623 


in  the  Conference.  He  was  six  years  presiding  elder  on 
Franklin  and  Erie  Districts.  He  was  superannuated  in 
1854,  but  the  next  year  was  restored  to  the  effective  list. 
He  was  again  superannuated  in  1870,  and  maintained  this 
relation  till  the  close  of  life.  He  was  called  to  rest  at 
West  New  Brighton,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  March  21, 
1888. 

Mr  Robinson  was  a member  of  the  historic  General 
Conference  of  1844.  “The  preaching  of  our  brother  was, 
in  some  sense,  peculiar,  and  at  times  quite  effective : yet 
nothing  in  it  seemed  specially  new  or  extraordinary.  Men 
were  moved  by  truths  familiar  to  them  when  plainly  pre- 
sented, because  they  were  true,  and  the  preacher  felt  their 
importance.' ’ His  memory  was  amply  stored  with  num- 
erous passages  of  scripture,  which  he  could  call  forth  at 
his  will.  Often  his  tears  flowed  freely  while  he  was 
preaching,  and  the  effect  upon  the  audience  was  always 
wholesome. 

Mr.  Robinson  saw  many  glorious  revivals  and  wonder- 
ful conversions.  We  will  let  him  relate  one  or  two  in- 
stances : “I  was  told  that  God  never  came  within  five 

miles  of  a certain  village  on  the  Ohio  Canal.  It  was  not 
within  the  bounds  of  my  conference,  but  I obtained  per- 
mission to  preach  there.  I went,  took  a look  at  the  vil- 
lage, and  entered  a dry-goods  and  whisky  store.  At  my 
request  I was  introduced  to  the  leading  member  of  the 
firm.  I found  him  to  be  a very  intelligent  man.  I told 
him  who  I was,  and  that  I had  come  to  see  the  town,  and 
as  I found  they  had  no  preaching  in  the  place  I proposed 
to  leave  an  appointment  and  preach  to  them.  ‘Well,’  said 
he,  ‘you  can  not  do  it;  there  is  no  place  you  can  get.’  1 
replied : T will  preach  in  your  streets : you  can  not  pre- 

vent me.'  We  talked  for  some  time,  when,  to  bluff  me 
off,  he  said : ‘There  is  no  place,  except  my  large  whisky 

warehouse.’  ‘Well,  then,’  said  I,  ‘I  will  go  there.  I will 
stand  at  the  last  door  leading  into  hell,  turn  my  back  to  it, 
and  prevent  all  from  going  in  whom  I can.  I think  this 
is  the  last  door.’  I left  an  appointment,  and  upon  my  re- 
turn found  the  great  room  filled.  Great  solemnity  pre- 
vailed. Upon  my  next  visit,  in  two  weeks,  I found  they 
had  provided  a hall.  At  the  close  of  my  sermon,  the 
daughter  of  the  man  who  had  said  that  I could  not  preach 
there,  rose  and  asked  the  privilege  of  speaking.  It  was 


624  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

granted.  She  said  she  had  never  attended  preaching,  but 
under  the  sermon  two  weeks  previously  she  was  led  to  see 
herself  a sinner,  and  had  gone  away  alone,  sought  and 
found  pardon.  The  relation  produced  a wonderful  ef- 
fect. I continued  to  preach  at  that  place  six  months, 
when,  on  one  of  my  visits,  the  two  men  of  the  whisky  firm 
took  me  into  their  counting-room,  and  locked  the  door. 
The  elder,  addressing  me,  said  : ‘When  you  came  here  to 

preach,  we  thought  there  was  nothing  in  religion,  but 
your  last  sermon  convinced  us  that  it  is  a reality,  a tre- 
mendous reality.  We  want  to  get  it.  We  want  to  quit 
sinning,  and  to  quit  sinning  we  must  quit  selling  rum. 
When  you  left  us  two  weeks  ago,  we  locked  up  our  whisky 
warehouse,  and  have  not  unlocked  it  since.  We  have  a 
large  amount  on  hand ; now  you  are  not  going  out  of  this 
room  until  you  tell  us  what  to  do  with  it.’  Waiving  the 
question  of  the  disposition  of  the  whisky,  they  sought  sal- 
vation, and  were  both  powerfully  converted.  ’ Mr.  Rob- 
inson continued  this  work  for  two  years. 

Several  years  subsequent  to  these  events,  the  Erie  Corn 
ference  sat  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  “I  was  chairman  of  the 
board  of  stewards, v continues  Mr.  Robinson,  “and  went 
to  a broker’s  office  to  dispose  of  a quantity  of  uncurrent 
money  which  had  come  into  my  possession.  Here  I met 
the  younger  member  of  the  whisky  firm,  who  was  about  to 
go  abroad  for  his  health,  and  was  getting  foreign  ex- 
change. As  he  looked  up  and  recognized  me,  he  com- 
menced praising  God,  and  took  me  in  his  arms.  When 
he  could  master  his  feelings,  he  turned  to  the  astonished 
men  in  the  office,  and  said : ‘Gentlemen,  do  not  think  I 

am  crazy.  This  man  led  me  to  God.’  He  remained  with 
me  three  days,  and  I went  to  the  boat  to  see  him  off.  As 
he  was  about  to  leave,  he  said : T am  going  to  sea  for 

my  health,  but  I will  not  get  well.  It  is  no  matter ; my 
books  are  posted  for  both  worlds.  I owe  no  man  living 
or  dead.  My  name  is  written  in  the  Book  of  Life.  I 
will  be  in  heaven  long  before  you;  but,  if  God  permits, 
when  you  come  1 will  meet  you,  and  proclaim  to  all: 
“This  man  led  me  to  God.” 

Upon  another  occasion  Mr.  Robinson  went  to  a town 
where  the  only  church  was  Presbyterian.  He  secured  the 
use  of  the  church  for  preaching,  but  after  some  days  re- 
ceived a letter  from  the  pastor,  saying  that  he  could  not 


John  Robinson.  625 

occupy  the  church  after  Saturday  evening.  He  says : “I 

read  it  to  the  congregation.  Then,  looking  out  at  the 
window,  I said:  ‘We  will  build  a tabernacle  to-morrow. 

I will  plan  it  this  afternoon,  and  will  preach  on  the  doc- 
trines and  usages  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
10:30  a.  nv  After  meeting  Friday  evening,  I presented 
my  plan,  and  appointed  two  good  men  to  manage  it.  Sat- 
urday they  commenced  at  9 a.  m.,  and  at  3 p.  m.  finished 
a building  which  would  seat  not  far  from  four  hundred 
persons.  I appointed  a love  feast  for  9 a.  m.  Sunday 
morning,  and  at  its  close  organized  a Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  I was  here  eighteen  days,  preached  thirty-four 
sermons,  took  up  a subscription  to  build  a church,  ap- 
pointed trustees,  let  the  contract,  and  the  work  was  begun 
before  I left  the  town.”* 

Philip  Green  writes  from  Painesville,  Ohio,  Dec.  29, 
1830:  “The  work  of  religion  is  reviving  in  Windsor  Cir- 
cuit. We  have  received  since  my  appointment  here  about 
sixty  on  probation,  and  the  work  is  still  spreading.”  He 
writes  again,  August  8,  1831  : “The  Lord  is  generously 

watering  his  heritage  in  this  circuit.  Though  the  people 
were  somewhat  low  in  religion  when  we  commenced  our 
labors,  a more  general  attention  has  been  awakened,  and 
many  have  found  peace  in  believing,  and  not  less,  than  one 
hundred  have  joined  the  church.  The  prospects  indeed 
are  quite  promising." — (Christian  Advocate  and  Journal, 
Jan.  28,  1830;  Sept.  16,  1831.)  John  Chandler  writes 
from  North  East:  We  have  glorious  times  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  More  than  two  hundred  have  united 
themselves  with  us,  and  new  recruits  are  coming  in  al- 
most every  day."  About  two  months  later,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley writes  from  the  Jamestown  Circuit:  “Our. Confer- 

% 

*John  Robinson — Licensed  to  preach,  1829;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1830;  full  connection,  1832;  deacon,  1832, 
Emory;  elder,  1834,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  West  New  Brighton, 
Staten  Island,  New  York,  March  21,  1888.  Appointments — 1830, 
Franklin,  Pa.;  1831,  Forestville;  1832,  Centerville;  1833,  Har- 
mony; 1834,  Meadville;  1835,  Cambridge;  1836,  Youngstown; 
1837,  Mercer;  1838,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1839-40,  Akron  and  Middle- 
bury;  1841,  Chardon;  1842,  Warren,  O.;  1843-4,  Franklin  District; 
1845-8,  Erie  District;  1849-50,  Harmony;  1851,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.; 
1852,  Forestville;  1853,  Silver  Creek;  1854,  superannuated;  1855, 
Perrysburg;  1856,  Randolph;  1857,  Sherman;  1858-9,  W'arren, 
Pa.;  1860-1,  Clymer;  1862-3,  Girard,  Pa.;  1864-5,  Conneaut;  1866-8, 
Madison  and  Perry;  1869,  Montville;  1870-87,  superannuated. 

40 


626 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


ence  year  having1  now  expired,  I would  inform  you  that 
God  has  favored  us  the  past  year  with  an  increase  of 
something  more  than  one  hundred  church  members  on 
this  circuit.  Also  a revival  is  now  progressing  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Jamestown  on  this  circuit.” — (Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal , June  24,  1831 ; August  26,  1831.) 


James  Hitchcock. 

James  Hitchcock  was  born  in  Derby,  New  Haven  Co., 
Conn.,  July  16,  1784.  The  family  moved  to  Tioga 
County,  New  York,  in  1809.  His  early  religious  train- 
ing resulted  in  his  conversion  in  the  seventeenth  year  of 
his  age.  “His  unaffected  piety,  his  ardent  zeal,  and  the 
propriety  with  which  he  labored  in  his  sphere  for  the  con- 
version of  sinners,  convinced  his  brethren  that  God  had 
called  him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  they  soon 
gave  him  license  as  a local  preacher.”  In  1819  he  re- 
moved to  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1830  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  on  trial,  and  remained 
a member  of  the  same  until  his  transfer  to  the  Illinois 
Conference  in  1835.  A physical  injury  permanently  dis- 
qualified him  for  the  labors  of  the  ministry,  and  in  1839  he 
requested  and  was  granted  a location.  His  life  as  a 
Christian  was  most  exemplary.  “His  conception  of  die 
gospel  scheme  was  clear,  and  he  believed  its  doctrines 
earnestly,  with  all  his  heart.  He  was  a man  of  great 
power  in  prayer.  His  fervent  appeals  to  the  throne  of 
grace  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  him. 
His  sermons  were  clear,  logical,  and  full  of  Christ.  Earn- 
estness always  characterized  their  delivery,  and  they  sel- 
dom failed  to  do  good.  He  excelled  in  exhortation. 
When  he  portrayed  the  unshrinking  and  terrible  decision 
with  which  God  will  punish  the  wicked,  the  most  hard- 
ened trembled;  and  when  tc  the  penitent  he  presented 
those  gospel  persuasions  with  which  his  faithful  mind  was 
so  well  stored,  the  attractions  of  the  cross  seemed  almost 
irresistible.  From  the  time  of  his  location  until  the  in- 
firmities of  increasing  years  disqualified  him  for  it,  he 
filled  the  place  of  a class  leader — a place  for  which  he  was 
eminently  fitted.  Always  alive  in  religion,  he  stimulated 
others.” 


Alcinous  Young. 


627 


His  last  illness  was  protracted  and  severe.  His  end 
was  peace.* — (A.  Magee  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, July  ii,  1863.) 

Alcinous  Young. 

Alcinous  Young  was  born  in  New  Hampshire.  De- 
cember 16,  1796,  and  died  in  Marion,  la.,  March  30, 
1876,  in  his  eightieth  year.  From  early  childhood  he 
was  taught  to  pray  by  a pious  mother,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  in 
1827,  after  hearing  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  preached, 
both  he  and  his  excellent  companion  were  so  impressed 
that  they  at  once  identified  themselves  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Being  licensed  to  preach,  he  was  soon 
after  admitted  into  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  For  six 
consecutive  years  he  lived  in  the  midst  of  the  most  gra- 
cious revivals  on  Erie,  Meadville,  Youngsville  and 
Deerfield  Circuits.  On  Lisbon  and  Steubenville  stations 
great  additions  were  also  made  to  the  Church.  On 
Meadville  Circuit  the  membership  was  more  than  doubled, 
leaving  it  with  more  than  five  hundred  members.  At 
Wellsburg,  Va.,  where  infidelity  was  entrenched,  such 
were  the  exhibitions  of  divine  grace  under  Father 
Young's  labors,  that  the  strongholds  of  infidelity  were 
completely  overthrown.  These  manifestations  of  power 
commenced  with  his  labors  on  the  first  circuit,  and  con- 
tinued through  most  of  his  itinerant  career  of  nearly 
thirty  years,  during  which,  we  may  say,  thousands  were 
brought  to  Christ.  The  other  fields  of  labor  in  Pitts- 
burg Conference  were  Wesley  Chapel,  Pittsburg;  Mo- 
nongahela  City,  Uniontown  stations  and  Redstone  Cir- 
cuit. In  1846  he  was  transferred  to  the  Iowa  Confer- 
ence, and  stationed  successively  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa 
City,  Burlington,  Dubuque  District,  Iowa  City  District. 
He  was  conference  missionary  one  year.  But  his  health 
had  become  so  much  impaired  from  toil  and  exposure  that 
he  was  unable  to  do  much  effective  service  after  the  close 
of  his  term  on  the  Iowa  City  District,  which  then  ex- 
tended from  the  mouth  of  the  Cedar  river  to  the  north 

*He  served  the  following  charges  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference: 
1830,  Hartford;,  1831,  Mercer;  1832,  Franklin;  1833,  Windsor; 
1834,  Deerfield;  1835,  Illinois  Conference,  Quincy;  1836-8,  super- 
annuated; 1839,  located. 


628  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

line  of  the  State,  including  the  settlements  on  both  sides 
of  the  Iowa  and  Cedar  rivers.  Roads  were  then  un- 
made, streams  unbridged  and  settlements  far  distant  from 
each  other,  and  consequently  he  was  compelled  to  endure 
the  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 

For  nineteen  years  his  name  has  been  on  the  superan- 
nuated list;  but  he  has  been  loved  and  revered  by  the 
entire  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  as  he  was  one  of  the 
original  active  members  at  its  formation.  In  close  prox- 
imity with  the  failure  of  his  health  was  the  departure  of 
his  devoted  and  godly  companion,  of  whom  he  often 
said  she  was  one  of  the  best  of  women,  and  given  to  him 
in  answer  to  prayer.  Since  her  death  he  has  been  kindly 

and  tenderly  cared  for  by  his  children,  having  his  home 

most  of  the  time  in  Iowa  City  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Judge  Carlton,  and  for  the  last  three  years  with  his  son, 
Hon.  J.  B.  Young,  Marion,  la.  He  occasionally  assisted 
in  pulpit  and  other  services  of  the  sanctuary,  always  par- 
ticipating in  the  sacramental  and  love  feast  meetings  if 
his  health  would  permit.  During  the  week  his  time 
was  mostly  spent  in  reading  books  and  periodicals,  and 
especially  the  Book  of  Books.  His  Greek  Testament 
was  his  constant  companion,  and  to  the  last  of  life  he 
was  interested  in  comparing  the  different  translations. 
He  was  a strong  advocate  and  defender  of  Arminian- 
ism,  and  at  one  time  wrote  and  published  an  able  work 
on  this  subject.  He  has  occupied  almost  every  important 
and  responsible  place  in  the  church,  at  one  time  adding 
to  his  other  duties  that  of  college  professor,  and  always 

and  everywhere  his  work  was  well  done.  His  last  sick- 
ness or  physical  decline  lasted  about  five  days.  There 
was  no  violent  disease.  His  mind  was  clear  to  the  last, 
and  his  visions  were  of  the  pure  and  saintly,  often  speak- 
ing of  children  robed  in  white.  He  talked  freely  of  going 
to  meet  the  loved  ones  on  the  other  shore.  He  greatly 
enjoyed  singing  of  triumphant  Christian  songs.  When 
asked  if  he  had  any  message  for  the  brethren  of  the 
conference,  his  reply  was  deliberate.  ‘Tell  them  I be- 
lieve in  a triune  God,  and  that  God  was  in  Christ  recon- 
ciling the  world  unto  Himself.’’  And  when  further 
asked,  “Do  you  feel  thus  fully  reconciled?”  “Oh,  yes,” 
and  added,  “I  don’t  think  of  this  as  dying,  for  it  is  just 
beginning  to  live.”  And  thus  his  spirit  passed  away 


Pittsburg  Conference — 1831.  629 

peacefully.* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XVI.,  i8j6, 

p • 15SJ 

Pittsburg  Conference — 1831. 

The  Pittsburgh  Conference  met  in  Pittsburg,  August 
17,  1831,  Bishop  Elijah  Hedding  presiding.  The  list  of 
appointments  was  as  follows : Ohio  District,  Ira  Eddy, 

Presiding  Elder;  Youngstown,  Cornelius  Jones,  John 
Luccock;  New  Castle,  John  Scott,  Richard  Armstrong; 
Centerville,  Thomas  Thompson,  John  Summerville; 
Mercer,  James  Hitchcock,  William  Butt;  Ashtabula, 

Caleb  Brown,  Peter  D.  Horton;  Windsor,  Daniel  C. 

Richey,  John  E.  Aikin;  Chardon,  Isaac  Winans,  John 

McLean,  Thomas  Jamison;  Deerfield,  Billings  0.  Plimp- 
ton, Thomas  Carr;  Euclid  and  Cleveland,  Alfred  Brun- 
son, Dennis  Goddard,  John  J.  Steadman;  Hudson,  John 
W.  Hill;  Hartford,  Philip  Green,  William  Carroll.  Erie 
District,  Wilder  B.  Mack,  Presiding  Elder;  North  East, 
Hiram  Kinsley,  John  H.  Ebbert,  Andrew  McCammon; 
Erie,  John  P.  Kent,  Allured  Plimpton;  Springfield,  Theo- 
dore Stowe,  William  R.  Babcock;  Meadville,  Joseph  S. 
Barris;  Meadville  Circuit,  Alcinous  Young,  Benjamin 
Preston;  Forestville,  David  Preston,  John  Robinson, 
Nelson  Henry;  Jamestown,  John  Chandler,  Almon  C. 
Barnes;  Napoli,  John  K.  Hallock ;Youngsville  and  Smeth- 
port,  John  C.  Ayres,  Samuel  E.  Babcock;  Franklin, 
Samuel  Ayres;  Clarion,  Job  Wilson;  Conference  Mis- 
sionary, William  Swayze. 

Cleveland  Station  and  Cleveland  Circuit  do  not  ap- 
pear in  the  list,  but  we  have  “Euclid”  and  “Cleveland.” 
We  do  not'  meet  with  Grand  River,  but  we  find  “Char- 
don” and  “Hudson.”  “Centerville”  also  puts  in  an  ap- 
pearance, formed  out  of  portions  of  Mercer  and  New 
Castle  Circuits,  and  Smethport  and  Youngsville  have  be- 
come “Napoli,”  and  “Youngsville  and  Smethport.” 

*Mr.  Young’s  appointments  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  were: 
1830,  Erie;  1831,  Meadville  Circuit;  1832,  Youngsville;  1833, 
Deerfield;  1834,  Lisbon  and  Wellsville;  1835,  Lisbon;  1836,  super- 
annuated; 1837-8,  Wellsburg;  1839-40,  Pittsburg,  Wesley  Chapel; 
1841-2,  Monongahela  City;  1843,  Uniontown;  1844-5,  Redstone;  in 
the  iowa  Conference,  1846,  Mount  Pleasant;  1847-8,  Iowa  City 
Mission;  1849,  Burlington;  1850-1,  Dubuque  District;  1852-5,  Iowa 
City  District;  in  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  1856,  Agent  of  the 
Tract  Society;  1857-75,  superannuated. 


630 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Alnion  C.  Barnes  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg- Conference  in  1831 ; he  was  received  into  full  con- 
nection and  ordained  deacon  in  1833,  and  expelled  in 
1835.  His  appointments  were  Jamestown,  Clarion  and 
Washington  Circuit,  each  one  year.  In  1834  he  was  left 
without  appointment. 

Benjamin,  son  of  David  Preston,  was  converted  at  a 
camp  meeting  held  by  William  Swayze  on  the  Chautau- 
qua Circuit,  and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1831.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “He  was  a 

stout-built  young  man,  of  medium  height,  full  of  good 
liumor,  possessed  excellent  natural  abilities,  and  with 
dose  application  to  study  might  have  been  brilliant;  could 
preach  a good,  strong  sermon.”* 

Theodore  Stowe  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1830,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization.  He  “was  located  by  the 
conference  on  account  of  unacceptability  with  the  peo- 
ple” in  1841,  “he  being  absent  from  the  seat  of  confer- 
ence and  unapprised  of  any  such  intended  action.  Mr. 
Stowe  was  a good,  easy,  patient  man,  habitually  behind- 
hand, and  on  that  account  had  fallen  into  disrepute  with 
the  people.  He  was  inoffensive  as  a child,  and  was  a 
very  correct  and  pleasant  speaker.  He  was  restored  in 
1842,  but  not  being  cured,  was  again  located  in  i844.”t 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol. 
II.,  p.  164.) 

♦Benjamin  Preston — Licensed  to  preach,  1831;  admitted  on 
trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1831;  full  connection,  1833;  deacon, 
1833,  Roberts;  elder,  1835,  Andrew;  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  suspended,  1838;  with- 
drew, 1839.  Afterwards  joined  the  Congregational  Association 
and  became  pastor  of  a Congregational  Church  at  Cleveland,  O. 
When  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  was  formed  he  entered 
its  ministry.  Deceased,  Harmony,  N.  Y.,  March  10,  1841.  Ap- 
pointments— 1831,  Meadville  Circuit;  1832,  North  East;  1833, 
Smethport  and  Sinnemahoning  Mission;  1834,  Youngstown;  1835, 
Williamsfield;  1836,  Harmonsburg;  1837,  North  East. 

fTheodore  Stowe — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1830;  full  connection,  1832;  deacon,  1832,  Emory;  elder,  1834, 
Soule;  located,  1841;  re-admitted,  1842;  located,  1844.  Appoint- 
ments— 1830,  Canton;  1831,  Springfield;  1832,  Westfield;  1833, 
Summerhill;  1834,  Salem;  1835,  North  East;  1836,  Youngsville; 
1837-8,  Gerry;  1839-40,  Forestville;  1842,  Parkman;  1843,  Meso- 
potamia. 


John  K.  Hallock. 


631 


John  K.  Hallock. 

We  quote  from  the  memoir  of  John  K.  Hallock,  pre- 
pared by  his  life-long  friend,  George  W.  Clark,  D.D. : 

“John  K.  Hallock  was  born  in  Peru,  Clinton  County, 
N.  Y.,  February  2,  1798,  and  died  at  Conneautville, 
Crawford  County,  Pa.,  April  3,  1885.  His  parents  were 
Quakers,  and  he  was  trained  in  the  faith  of  that  people. 
In  1818  he  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Melissa  Griffith, 
and  two  years  after  moved  to  McKean,  Erie  County, 
Pa.  In  1826,  at  a camp  meeing  held  by  William  Swayze, 
he  was  awakened  to  a sense  of  his  lost  condition,  and 
after  returning  home,  while  engaged  in  prayer  with  his 
family,  found  peace  and  pardon. 

“He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1828,  employed  two 
years  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  and  in  1831  received  on 
probation  by  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  After  eleven 
years  of  very  active  service  he  received  a supernumerary 
relation  and  was  foyr  years  without  an  appointment.  His 
health  being  restored,  he  was  again  made  ‘effective/  and 
continued  in  the  pastoral  work  for  twenty-five  years, 
making  in  all  an  active  ministry  of  thirty-six  years.  In 
1869  he  was  superannuated,  and  so  remained  to  the  last. 
This  servant  of  Christ  was  a man  among  his  brethren, 
of  not  more  than  their  average  ability,  and,  not  having 
the  advantages  of  a thorough  education  now  within  the 
reach  of  our  young  men,  was  never  esteemed  a great 
preacher,  but  he  had  such  gifts,  grace  and  usefulness  as 
justified  the  Church  in  sending  him  forth  as  one  of  her 
accredited  ministers,  and  for  fifty-five  years  his  name  has 
been  called  in  the  conference  with  the  uniform  response, 
‘Nothing  against  Brother  Hallock/  He  was  of  fine  per- 
sonal appearance  and  manly  bearing,  and  great  earnest- 
ness in  the  work  made  him  generally  acceptable  among 
the  people  whom  it  was  his  pleasure  to  serve. 

“In  the  earlier  days  of  his  ministry  there  were  many 
adversaries  and  he  was  often  in  sharp  conflict  with  the 
prevailing  heresies  of  the  times,  not  forgetful  of  his  vow 
to  ‘drive  away  all  erroneous  and  strange  doctrines/  But 
while,  when  occasions  required,  contending  earnestly  for 
the  faith,  he  was  not  contentious,  but  of  a kindly  disposi- 
tion and  sufficiently  liberal,  disposed,  so  far  as  was  pos- 
sible and  right,  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men.  His  es- 


) 


632  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

timable  wife,  sharer  of  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  mother 
of  his  children,  died  as  the  minutes  show,  in  1877,  and 
he  was  afterwards  married  to  Emeline  Crowell,  of  Rock 
Creek,  Ohio,  who,  aged  and  in  feeble  health,  survives 
him,  as  do  also  seven  of  his  children  (1885). 

“For  a time  after  his  retirement  from  the  active  work 
of  the  ministry,  considerable  strength  remained,  and  he 
had  but  the  often  infirmities  of  an  old  man,  whose  sun 
was  near  its  setting.  The  trials  that  came  and  the  bur- 
dens which  were  laid  on  him,  were  borne  with  becoming 
patience,  and  there  seemed  reason  to  hope  that  when 
the  storm  was  all  over  and  the  clouds  dispersed  ‘at  even- 
ing time  there  would  be  light.’  But  subsequently  his 
mental  powers  seemed  to  decay  even  more  rapidly  than 
the  physical,  and  he  lingered  long  in  the  pitiable  state  of 
second  childhood,  with  but  a dim  consciousness  of  what 
he  suffered  himself,  or  of  the  suffering  he  occasioned  the 
friends  who  loved  him  well.  For  the  last  two  years, 
mostly  helpless  as  a child,  he  was  tenderly  cared  for  in 
the  family  of  his  eldest  son,  and  thence  taken  up  beyond 
the  darkening  cloud  through  which  few  rays  of  light  or 
comfort  could  penetrate.”* 

John  E.  Aikin,  Andrew  McCammon,  John  H. 

Ebbert. 

John  E.  Aikin  was  born  in  the  town  of  Chatham, 
Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  March  18,  1802.  When  fif- 
teen years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  father’s  family  to 
Euclid,  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio.  In  his  eighteenth  year 
he  was  converted  in  a Presbyterian  revival,  and  at  once 
consecrated  his  life  to  the  service  of  God.  “Methodism 
on  the  Reserve  at  that  period  was  in  its  infancy;  yet  » 

*J.  K.  Hallock — Licensed  to  preach,  1828;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1831;  full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833^ 
Roberts;  elder,  1835,  Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  deceased,  Conneautville  Pa 
April  3,  1885.  Appointments— 1828-9,  Meadville  (supply) ; 1836’ 
North  East  (supply);  1831,  Napoli;  1832-3,  Forestville;  1834’ 
Chardon;  1835,  Tallmadge  and  Middlebury;  1836-7,  Hudson;  1838, 
Cleveland  Circuit;  1839,  Cleveland;  1840,  supernumerary;  1841-3, 
superannuated;  1844,  supernumerary;  1845-6,  Clarion;  1847,  Ship- 
pen  ville;  1848,  Warren,  Pa.;  1849,  May  ville;  1850-1,  Wattsburg; 
1852-3,  Conneautville  1854-5,  Conneaut;  1856-7,  Gustavus;  1858, 
Vienna;  1859-60,  Braceville;  1861-2,  Waterford;  1863,  Columbus;’ 
1864-5,  Jefferson;  1866-7,  Saegertown;  1868,  Wesley  ville;  1869-84, 
superannuated. 


Andrew  McCammon,  John  H.  Ebbert.  633 


Brother  Aiken,  though  reared  among  Episcopalians,  and 
converted  among  Presbyterians,  chose  to  suffer  affliction 
with  this  people — their  doctrines  and  usages  according 
more  fully  with  his  own  experience.”  He  was  licensed 
to  exhort  in  1824.  He  now  felt  that  he  ought  to  devote 
himself  to  the  ministry  and  endured  great  mental  anx- 
iety until  he  yielded  to  the  divine  calle.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence in  1831,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization.  In  1849,  while  laboring  on 
the  Harpersfield  Circuit,  his  health  failed,  and  at  the 
next  session  of  the  conference  he  was  granted  a super- 
annuated relation.  He  fell  “asleep  in  Jesus,”  December 
17,  1853.  “He  died  as  the  man  dieth — in  peace,  full  of 
faith,  and  with  the  cheering  prospect  of  having  minis- 
tered unto  him  an  abundant  entrance  into  God’s  ever- 
lasting kingdom.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , 1854,  p. 
410.)* 

Andrew  McCammon  was  born  January  1,  1810.  He 
was  converted  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  licensed  to  preach 
in  1830,  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence in  1831.  His  first  appointment  was  North  East, 
with  Hiram  Kinsley  and  John  H.  Ebbert.  In  1832  he  was 
sent  to  Westfield,  and  in  1833  to  Napoli.  Here  his  health 
failed.  Pulmonary  consumption  carried  him  away,  May 
27,  1834.  His  last  words  were:  “My  sufferings  will 

soon  be  over — Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit.”  Mr.  Mc- 
Cammon was  a very  tall,  firmly  built,  robust  young  man, 
noble  and  dignified  in  his  appearance.  He  possessed  a 
good  mind,  a strong  voice,  with  untiring  zeal  in  his 
work.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  I.,  p.  285;  Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  Aug. 

1S34.) 

Mr.  Gregg  calls  John  H.  Ebbert  “a  good,  warm,  in- 
teresting  preacher.”  His  ministry  in  the  active  work 
was  brief.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 

*J.  E.  Aikin — Licensed  to  preach,  1831;  admitted  on  trial,  1831; 
full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833,  Roberts;  elder,  1835,  Andrew; 
deceased,  Euclid,  Ohio,  December  17,  1853.  Appointments — 1831, 
Windsor;  1832,  Hudson;  1833,  Deerfield;  1834,  Gustavus:  1835-6. 


634 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Conference  in  1831,  and  filled  successively  the  North 
East,  Cleveland,  Braddock’s  Field  and  Redstone  charges 
one  year  each.  In  1835  he  was  left  without  appointment 
at  his  own  request,  and  in  1836  superannuated.  He  re- 
mained in  this  relation  until  death  called  him  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  March  28,  1889.  He  was  born  in  Union- 
town  in  1809.  Speaking  of  Mr.  Ebbert  while  engaged 
in  business  in  Pittsburg,  the  General  Minutes  say : “Dur- 
ing this  time  he  attended  Christ  Church,  and  in  the  dif- 
ferent departments  of  church  work  he  exercised  the  zeal 
and  fidelity  which  afforded  the  best  proof  of  devotion  to 
Christ  and  capacity  for  Christian  usefulness.  Those  who 
knew  him  best  speak  of  sweetness  of  spirit  and  gentle 
cheerfulness  as  his  predominant  traits.  He  was  quite 
modest  and  retiring,  with  a childlike  simplicity  of  spirit, 
and  his  companionship  was  always  most  agreeable.” — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXII,  1889,  p.  392-) 

John  J.  Steadman. 

In  1831  John  J.  Steadman  was  appointed  third  preach- 
er on  the  Euclid  and  Cleveland  Circuit.  He  was  a native 
of  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y. ; his  parents  died  when 
he  was  quite  young,  and  the  bereaved  family  moved  to 
Charlestown,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  where  young  Stead- 
man was  converted  under  the  labors  of  B.  O.  Plimpton  in 
1824-’ 25.  He  immediately  gave  himself  wholly  to  the 
Lord  and  zealously  engaged  in  His  service.  He  thirsted 
for  knowledge  and  found  time  to  study  at  the  home  of 
A.  C.  Gardner,  Esq.,  of  Parkman,  Ohio.  He  carried  a 
book  with  him  to  the  field,  the  woods,  the  barn,  and  em- 
ployed every  spare  minute  to  reading,  but  never  was  re- 
miss in  his  work.  Early  and  late  he  gave  himself  to 
study.  “Mr.  Steadman  was  below  medium  size,  except 
his  head,  which  was  very  large,  presenting  a noble,  well 
developed  forehead,  in  which  was  housed  a gigantic  in- 
tellect, which  was  always  busy.  If  an  unfortunate  brother 
got  into  trouble  and  was  complained  of  to  conference, 
his  first  resort  was  to  Steadman  for  help,  and  he  was 
sure  to  get  it ; for  Steadman’s  great,  noble  heart  was  full 
of  kindness  and  sympathy  for  his  brethren.  He  never 
was  known  to  take  up  a case  against  a member  of  his 
conference.  If  he  could  not  help  him  he  would  not  op- 


John  J.  Steadman.  635 

pose  him.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  I.,  pp.  283-284.) 

The  General  Minutes  contain  the  following  appreci- 
ative notice : “He  was  regarded  as  a man  of  sound 

mind  and  rare  talents,  rather  than  an  extraordinary 
genius,  and  having  from  the  beginning  of  his  public  ca- 
reer in  the  midst  of  abundant  labors,  cultivated  habits  of 
close  reflection,  observation  and  study,  the  hopes  that 
were  indulged  respecting  his  future  standing  as  an  emin- 
ent and  useful  member  of  the  conference  were  by  no 
means  disappointed.  Our  lamented  brother  was  not  so 
vain  as  to  rely  for  success  on  the  noble  endowments  of  a 
gifted  mind  which  he  was  permitted  to  bring  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  church ; nor  so  much  of  an  enthusiast  as  to 
dream  of  excellence  from  divine  aid  without  continued 
industry  and  research  into  the  various  subjects  connected 
with  his  sacred  calling.  Obedient  to  the  apostolic  in- 
junction, he  gave  attention  to  reading,  and  studied  to 
show  himself  approved  unto  God,  a workman  that  need- 
eth  not  be  ashamed.  Hence  his  profiting  appeared  unto 
all;  and  having  in  due  time  graduated  to  deacon’s  and 
elder's  orders,  he  filled  with  great  acceptability  for  a 
period  of  more  than  twenty  years  many  of  the  most  im- 
portant appointments  in  the  conference.  Whether  on 
the  circuit,  the  station,  or  district,  or  in  the  capacity  of 
agent  for  our  college,  he  was  an  efficient  laborer,  and 
accomplished  much  for  the  church.  His  influence  as  one 
of  the  most  active  and  leading  members  in  his  confer- 
ence has  long  been  felt  and  acknowledged,  even  by  those 
who  have  differed  from  him  on  some  questions  of  polity. 
He  was  a member  of  the  General  Conferences  of  1844 
and  1848. 

“Brother  Steadman  knew  the  peculiarities  of  Metho- 
dism, and  loved  them  well.  Having  under  solemn  cir- 
cumstances promised  to  be  ready  ‘to  drive  away  all  er- 
roneous and  strange  doctrines,’  he  was  often  in  close  con- 
flict with  their  advocates,  and  the  cause  of  truth  did  not 
suffer  in  Jiis  hands.  As  a polemic,  for  conducting  an 
oral  discussion,  he  had  few  equals,  perhaps  no  superiors 
in  the  connection. 

“That  his  personal  enjoyments  and  progress  in  spirit- 
ual religion  were  sometimes  marred  and  hindered  by  the 
heat  and  strife  of  controversy,  is  more  than  probable.  He 


i 


II' 


636  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  himself  fully  aware  of  his  own  loss  and  danger  from 
that  source;  but  when  the  truth  was  assailed,  or  the 
enemy  attempted  any  aggression  on  his  charge,  no  per- 
sonal considerations  could  deter  him  from  standing  in 
the  front  ranks  of  our  army  and  manfully  contending 
for  the  truth  and  right.  But  those  who  knew  him  only 
from  his  conference  speeches,  or  as  a controversialist, 
could  hardly  do  otherwise  than  form  inadequate  views 
of  his  merits  as  a devoted  Christian  minister.  His  min- 
istrations in  the  sacred  desk  are  seldom  if  ever  complained 
of  as  wanting  in  fervency,  spirituality,  or  the  unction 
of  the  Holy  One.  If  his  preaching  was  at  times  doc- 
trinal and  argumentative,  addressed  to  the  understanding, 
it  was  also  evangelical  and  practical,  and  had  a powerful 
application  to  the  heart  and  conscience  of  the  hearers. 

“As  a friend,  in  the  various  relations  of  domestic,  so- 
cial and  public  life,  he  was  frank  and  confiding,  pos- 
sessed of  a kind  heart  that  deeply  felt  alike  the  jovs  and 
sorrows  of  those  around  him. 

"We  need  not  now  refer  to  his  departure  from  us,  fur- 
ther than  to  say  that  his  last  sickness  which  was  pro- 
tracted through  some  eight  weeks  of  suffering,  was  en- 
dured with  great  patience,  without  a murmur  or  com- 
plaint. During  all  this  time  he  had  apparently  constant 
peace,  arising  from  his  unwavering  trust  in  the  sacrifice 
of  Christ  as  his  present  all  sufficient  Savior.  That  peace 
often  flowed  as  a river,  so  that  the  brethren  who  visited 
his  room  to  sympathize  with  the  sufferer  and  minister 
to  his  wants,  could  not  but  feel  that  the  place  was  ‘privil- 
eged beyond  the  common  walks  of  virtuous  life,  quite 
on  the  verge  of  heaven.’ 

“As  his  last  testimony,  we  have  here  to  record  that  but 
a short  time  before  the  weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still, 
and  the  pure  spirit  took  its  flight  from  the  house  of  clay, 
he  exclaimed  in  holy  triumph,  ‘Free,  free,  free,  through 
the  blood  of  Christ !’  Thus  fell  a great  and  good  man  in 
our  Israel.  We  mourn  his  loss  and  will  miss  him  much ; 
yet  light  ariseth  in  the  darkness — God  removes  His  labor- 
ers, but  carries  on  His  work.” — (Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences, Vol.  V,  1852,  pp.  87-88.) 

H.  H.  Moore  writes  of  Mr.  Steadman,  whom  he  knew 
well : 


John  J.  Steadman. 


63  7 


“My  earliest  information  in  regard  to  John  Judson 
Steadman  locates  him  as  a Christian  lad  in  the  fam- 
ily of  A.  C.  Gardner,  Parkman,  Ohio.  Mr.  Gardner 
was  a prosperous  merchant  and  a prominent  Methodist, 
two  of  whose  daughters  married  Methodist  preachers. 

“At  a prayer  meeting  Mr.  Gardner  was  a little  wor- 
ried because  the  J)oy  ‘John’  was  unusually  slow  in  taking 
part  in  the  service.  He  soon  saw  him  remove  and  put 
into  his  pocket  a fancy  necktie,  the  first . he  had  ever 
worn,  and  a few  moments  after  this  ‘weight’  had  been 
laid  aside  he  led  in  prayer.  As  a man  he  always  pre- 
sented a decent  appearance,  but  was  never  extravagant 
in  dress. 

“Mr.  Steadman  was  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height, 
square  built,  of  florid  complexion,  his  hair  tinged  with 
yellow,  soft  and  fine  as  that  of  an  infant,  his  eyes  grey 
and  deep  set,  his  head  large  with  a high,  bulging  fore- 
head, and  his  mouth  large,  reminding  the  observer  of  the 
mouth  of  Henry  Clay. 

“The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Mr.  Steadman  were  given 
to  reading  and  study  and  serious  thought.  The  ordi- 
nary amusements  and  recreations  of  young  men  appar- 
ently had  no  attractions  for  him.  His  life  indicated  that 
he  felt  that  he  belonged  to  Christ  and  was  not  at  liberty 
to  trifle  away  his  time.  Books  were  his  brothers,  sisters 
and  friends. 

“As  a preacher  Mr.  Steadman  was  evidently  set  for 
the  defense  of  the  truth.  On  one  of  his  first  appoint- 
ments a disturber  of  Zion  having  put  in  an  appearance, 
he  hastened  to  the  far  end  of  his  circuit  to  notify  his 
colleague,  the  noted  Alfred  Brunson,  of  the  danger,  and 
proposed  to  exchange  appointments  on  Sabbath  that  the 
enemy  might  be  properly  cared  for.  No  labor  or  sacri- 
fice he  thought  was  too  great  for  the  truth.  But  so  rap- 
idly did  Steadman  grow  that  whilst  he  was  yet  a young 
man  the  doctrines  and  polity  of  the  church  were  safe  in 
his  hands. 

“In  those  days,  especially  on  the  Western  Reserve, 
Methodism  was  required  to  fight  for  every  foot  of  ground 
it  would  possess.  Its  assailants  were  Calvinists,  Arians, 
Universalists,  Comeouters,  Ultra-Abolitionists  and  in- 
fidels, besides  nondescript  specialists.  The  quietness  and 
harmony  which  now  prevail  were  unknown  even  fifty 


63S 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


years  ago.  Steadman  fully  grasped  the  situation  and 
armed  himself  for  any  combat  whatever  and  by  whomso- 
ever the  challenge  might  be  given.  It  may  be  doubted 
whether  the  Church  anywhere  ever  put  into  the  field  an 
abler  champion  for  the  truth. 

“Mr.  Steadman  could  master  facts,  documents  and 
material  with  great  facility,  and  every  proposition  and 
word  naturally  fell  into  their  logical  position.  His  ideas 
were  expressed  with  transparent  clearness  and  with  ir- 
resistible force.  In  a half  hour’s  speech  in  debate  a re- 
dundant word  would  seldom  occur,  nor  would  an  idea 
be  repeated.  The  topic  itself  so  fully  occupied  his  mind 
that  it  suggested  the  language  in  which  it  should  be 
clothed.  Clearness  and  vigor  of  conception  gave  mar- 
velous strength  to  the  presentation. 

“The  action  of  the  General  Conference  of  1836  on 
slavery,  condemning  abolition  and  assuming  to  control 
the  conscience  and  the  tongue  of  Methodist  preachers  in 
regard  to  these  matters,  belongs  to  the  species  of  tower- 
ing idiocy  and  caused  endless  discussions  and  created  an 
excitement  that  shook  the  church  to  its  very  founda- 
tions. It  appears  in  the  sequel  that  the  preachers  were 
men  first,  that  they  knew  their  rights  as  citizens,  and 
had  the  courage  to  maintain  them.  The  action  of  that 
conference  was  prodigiously  fruitful  in  results  the  oppo- 
site of  what  was  intended.  The  leading  men  of  the  Erie 
Conference — Hiram  Kinsley,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  J.  J. 
Steadman  and  others — were  loyal  to  the  action  of  the 
General  Conference,  whilst  the  opposition  was  led  by 
Joseph  S.  Barris,  a very  able  man;  Isaac  Winans,  Thos. 
Graham,  Ralph  Clapp  and  others  of  no  mean  ability. 
The  abolitionists  were  slightly  in  the  minority  till  1846, 
when  the  tables  were  turned. 

“It  may  not  be  easy  to  explain  how  such  a man  as 
Steadman  could  submit  to  and  defend  the  action  of  the 
General  Conference  of  1836,  but  surely  he  did  it  and  he 
was  as  honest  then  as  ever  he  was  in  all  his  life.  The 
fact  is,  Methodist  preachers  in  those  times  were  men  of 
one  work ; they  were  intensely  engaged  in  preaching  the 
gospel,  caring  for  new  converts  and  building  up  the 
Church.  No  politician,  or  Mason,  or  club  man,  ever 
cared  for  his  society  more  than  these  preachers  cared  for 
their  church.  For  her  had  they  joyfully  toiled  and  suf- 


John  J.  Steadman. 


639 


fered  year  after  year  as  only  soldiers  toil  and  suffer 
in  a terrible  campaign.  They  had  a passion  for  Meth- 
odism, they  had  realized  more  of  the  infinite  in  its  ser- 
vice than  anywhere  else,  and  there  was  nothing  better 
for  them  this  side  of  heaven  than  the  church.  The 
alarm  was  given  that  the  abolition  argument  was  divert- 
ing time  and  attention  from  the  church  and  injuring  it, 
and  nothing  was  more  natural  than,  that  such  men  should 
without  consideration  smite  abolitionism  as  an  enemy. 
The  conception  of  slavery  as  set  forth  by  Garrison,  Love- 
joy  and  others,  they  had  never  laid  to  heart,  and  Uncle 
Tom’s  Cabin  at  that  time  was  not  written.  It  was  in 
his  debates  with  the  ‘Comeouters,’  Foster  and  Kelly, 
and  Garrison  Abolitionists  that  Steadman  learned  that 
the  time  had  come  when  the  Church  must  take  advanced 
ground  on  the  question  of  slavery;  and  this  he  did  with- 
out a moment's  hesitation. 

“In  1843  he  participated  in  a debate  with  Graham  and 
Calvin  Kingsley  against  Luther  Lee,  founder  of  the 
Wesleyan  Church,  and  Edward  Smith,  both  able  men 
and  experienced  controversialists,  on  the  relation  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  slavery,  taking  the  ground 
which  the  church  holds  to-day.  This  Wesleyan  move- 
ment came  to  the  thriving  village  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
first  in  time  to  avail  itself  of  a deep  trouble  over  the 
question  of  instrumental  music,  and  effected  a secession 
which  threatened  the  existence  of  the  society.  The  Wes- 
leyans  built  a church  and  for  a time  claimed  to  be  the 
true,  if  not  the  only  Methodism  in  the  place.  Thomas 
Graham  initiated  the  debate  by  accepting  a challenge 
from  Mr.  Lee,  but  Mr.  Steadman  and  Calvin  Kingsley 
were  associated  with  him.  They  had  met  worthy  foe- 
men  in  Lee  and  Smith,  but  the  ability  with  which  they 
conducted  the  discussion  saved  the  church.  Kingsley 
closed  the  debate  and  his  speech  is  yet  spoken  of  as  a 
master  specimen  of  convincing  eloquence.  Wesleyanism 
has  passed  away,  its  church  is  burned  up,  but  the  old 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  moving  along  on  the  high 
tide  of  prosperity  second  in  influence  to  none  other  in 
the  city. 

“In  this  connection  I will  refer  to  the  ablest  discussion, 
as  I judge,  that  ever  took  place  on  the  floor  .of  Erie  Con- 
ference. This  was  in  1846,  the  year  I became  a proba- 


640 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tioner.  Up  to  this  time  on  every  issue  which  had  come 
up  in  conference  since  1836  the  Abolitionists  had  suf- 
fered defeat.  But  a change  was  in  the  air  and  the  oft 
vanquished  champions  of  anti-slavery  felt  that  victory 
was  nigh.  The  ‘Conieouters’  had  made  their  fiercest 
assaults  upon  the  church  because  of  the  resolutions  passed 
by  the  General  Conference  at  Cincinnati  in  1836,  and 
still  more  terrific  assaults  were  made  upon  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  account  of  its  half  crazy  proceedings  at  its 
session  in  Painesville  in  1839.  In  his  debate  at  James- 
town, referred  to  above,  and  in  another  held  in  Fredonia 
in  the  winter  of  1856,  Mr.  Steadman  took  advanced 
ground  and  made  no  attempt  to  defend  or  apologize  for 
the  Cincinnati  or  Painesville  action,  or  resolutions. 

“After  reading  such  a report  as  would  defy  the  criti- 
cism of  the  ‘Conieouters’  he  made  in  its  exposition  and 
defense  a speech  loaded  down  with  facts  and  pierced 
home  with  convincing  eloquence.  He  said : ‘Our 

fathers  met  the  slavery  question  in  their  day  as  it  pre- 
sented itself  for  consideration,  and  we  must  meet  the 
question  in  its  different  and  peculiar  form  as  it  now  pre- 
sents itself  to  us.  The  fathers  hated  slavery,  condemned 
it,  and  looked  and  prayed  for  its  “extirpation,”  their 
children  and  grandchildren  love  it,  love  it  dearly , ap- 
prove of  it  and  strive  for  its  perpetuity  and  extension 
over  territory  now  free.  This  change  of  conditions  de- 
mands a change  equally  radical  on  our  part.’  Seldom 
has  a man  in  the  use  of  a few  words  produced  such  a 
change  in  the  appearance  of  a conference.  He  had 
made  the  question  a new  one  and  opened  the  new  line  of 
thought  he  was  prepared  to  present  and  did  present  in 
his  own  masterly  manner.  He  said : ‘The  man  who  of 

choice  and  for  gain  held  his  fellow  beings  in  bondage, 
bought  and  sold  them  as  chattels  and  desired  and  la- 
bored to  perpetuate  and  extend  the  brutal  and  barbarous 
practices  of  such  a system  of  labor  over  territory  now 
free  was  a sinner  if  a sin  can  be  committed.  If  such 
slavery,  the  sum  of  all  villainies,  is  not  a crime  then 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  wrong  and  this  is  not  a moral 
world.  I would  obey  the  law,  I would  not  excite  the 
insurrection  of  the  slaves,  nor  would  I prevent  it  in  the 
interest  of  slave  owners,  but  I would  have  the  Church 
bear  strong  and  unequivocal  testimony  against  it,  not 


John  J.  Steadman.  641 

only  as  an  evil  that  should  be  extirpated  but  as  a crime 
against  God  and  humanity — a crime  excluding  the  guilty 
party  from  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Slavery  for  gain,  as 
I have  defined  it,  is  robbery  and  as  such  it  exists  at  this 
time  in  ninety  cases  out  of  one  hundred  where  it  exists 
at  all.  It  is  the  reverse  of  every  Christian  virtue  and  if 
the  Erie  Conference  can  do  no  more,  shall  it  fail  to  re- 
cord its  protest  against  its  demand  for  the  sanction  of 
Christianity?’ 

“He  then  compared  and  contrasted  the  inseparable 
facts  of  slavery  and  the  basal  elements  of  religion,  and 
sat  down  amidst  thunderous  applause. 

“All  eyes  were  now  on  Kinsley  and  he  did  not  dis- 
appoint the  conference.  He  said:  ‘Methodists  from 

\\  esley  down  to  the  present  day  had  borne  steady  and 
emphatic  testimony  against  the  evil  of  slavery  and  had 
done  what  they  could  for  its  extirpation,  and  that  any 
attempted  forward  movement  would  be  a useless  beating 
of  the  air,  would  do  no  good,  but  would  distract  and  in- 
jure the  Church.’ 

“Kinsley  was  an  accomplished  debater,  cool,  analytic- 

Ial,  incisive,  logical,  well  informed,  honest  and,  I think, 
the  only  man  Steadman  ever  feared  to  meet  in  debate. 
On  this  occasion  he  made  the  most  of  his  position  and 
■ of  the  material  he  had  in  hand,  but  from  the  first  he  was 

conscious  of  defeat.  Others  may  have  spoken  to  these 
resolutions,  but  I recollect  nothing  except  what  was  said 
by  the  champions.  The  resolutions  passed  by  a good 
majority  and  from  that  day  on  there  was  no  further  need 
of  the  discussion  of  the  slavery  question  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. 

“Bishop  Morris,  the  presiding  officer,  regretted  the  ac- 
tion of  the  conference,  but  spoke  of  Kinsley’s  argument 
to  his  wife  at  his  lodgings  as  being  one  of  the  best  he 
ever  heard  on  the  floor  of  a conference. 

"In  1843  Rev-  John  K.  Hallock  was  in  business  at 
Chagrin  Falls  and  I was  attending  school  at  that  time  in 

!that  place.  Mr.  Hallock  got  into  an  altercation  with  the 
Disciples  on  the  question  of  baptism  in  one  or  more  of 
its  phases  which  resulted- in  a public  discussion.  He 
called  Mr.  Steadman  and  John  Luccock  to  his  assist- 
ance. Rev.  Mr.  Hazen  and  Rev.  , (I  forget 

his  name),  a tall,  black-haired,  swarthy  complexioned 


41 


64 2 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

and  able  man,  appeared  for  the  Disciples.  A Mr.  Ball, 
an  able  and  learned,  but  rather  seedy-looking  ex-lawyer, 
occupied  the  chair  as  moderator.  The  debate  lasted  four 
days,  and  infant  baptism,  the  mode  of  baptism,  and 
what  baptism  is  for,  received  a vigorous  examination, 
for  the  quartet  of  disputants  were  all  able,  fearless  men 
and  valiant  for  the  truth  as  they  understood  it.  For  the 
affirmative  arguments,  Steadman  built  columns  of  truth 
logically  dovetailed  together;  the  opposition  attacked. 
Luccock,  a keen,  severe,  coarse  and  remorseless  critic, 
defended  Steadman  and  assailed  the  arguments  of  the 
opposition.  The  matter  used  at  that  time  has  been 
thrashed  over  a thousand  times  and  need  not  be  repro- 
duced here.  I remember  that  in  the  midst  of  the  debate 
Mr.  Hallock,  at  his  own  suggestion,  made  a speech.  He 
insisted  that  in  the  words,  ‘Be  baptized  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  for  the  remission  of  sins,’  the  emphasis  ' 
should  be  put  on  the  name  of  Christ.  That  the  apostles 
aim  was  to  secure  loyalty  to  Christ,  the  crucified  one, 
and  that  without  such  loyalty  there  could  be  no  remis- 
sion; that  the  touch  of  Christ,  not  water,  secured  for- 
giveness of  sins.  This  was  really  one  of  the  best  points 
made  in  the  debate,  and  it  took  well  with  the  people. 

“So  far  as  I could  judge  each  side  beat  every  time  a 
speech  was  made.  Had  Steadman  and  Luccock  been 
critical  Greek  scholars  they  could  have  handled  the  word 
‘baptize'  with  more  confidence.  In  the  midst  of  the  de- 
bate a gentleman  presented  himself  to  Mr.  Hazen  and 
requested  baptism,  much  to  his  gratification.  This  inci- 
dent excited  many  and  conflicting  remarks,  and  the  ir- 
revent  indulged  in  some  laughter.  In  the  debate  it  was 
not  referred  to. 

“The  debate  enlightened  all  parties  on  the  subjects  dis- 
cussed, and  confirmed  them  in  their  faith.  The  Disciples 
in  the  place  were  few  in  number;  the  Methodists  were 
very  strong,  and  this  condition  of  things  continued 
whilst  I remained  at  the  Falls.  The  good  done  con- 
sisted in  giving  all  parties  a wider,  deeper  and  better 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation.  There  was  in  it  no 
proselyting  power. 

“Alexander  Campbell,  founder  of  the  Disciple  Church, 
was  an  ecclesiastical  iconoclast,  and  assailed  without  re- 
morse all  church  creeds  and  church  organizations.  About 


John  J.  Steadman. 


643 


1820  he  entered  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  giving  but 
secondary  attention  to  the  reformation  of  wicked  men, 
but  striking  right  and  left  at  the  preachers  and  religious 
bodies  of  the  country.  Wherever  he  could  he  organized 
societies,  but  these  were  composed  mostly  of  persons  he 
had  drawn  from  the  churches.  Campbell  was  the  ablest 
defender  of  the  dogma  of  immersion  this  country  has 
produced,  and  because  of  this  he  gained  a ready  access 
to  Baptist  churches.  He  made  a convert  of  Sidney  Rig- 
don,  an  able  and  eloquent  Baptist  minister,  and  he  co- 
operated with  Campbell  in  making  havoc  of  the  Baptist 
churches.  All  other  churches  suffered  in  a measure. 
When  Rigdon  saw  he  could  do  no  more  harm  as  a Dis- 
ciple he  and  Simon  Rider  abandoned  Mr.  CampbelFs 
church  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  Mormons.  The 
Baptist  Church  was  largely  absorbed  by  the  Disciples, 
and  the  other  churches. became  targets  for  all  Campbell- 
ite  preachers. 

“Mr.  Steadman  was  quick  to  see  the  dangers  to  which 
Methodism  was  exposed  and  entered  the  field.  Just  how 
the  debate  was  brought  about  I arq  unable  to  say,  but  it 
was  not  long  before  the  triumvirate,  Steadman,  Graham 
and  Luccock,  stood  face  to  face  in  Warren  County  in 
fierce  contest  with  three  champions  of  Mr.  CampbelFs 
church  on  the  different  aspects  of  baptism.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell himself  was  present  as  a spectator  a part  of  the  time 
and  listened  to  the  discussion  and  afterwards  commented 
on  it  at  length  in  the  “Millennial  Harbinger/'  his  home 
organ.  He  complained  that  in  the  statement  of  the 
questions  his  friends  had  given  the  enemy  an  advantage 
and  that  their  cause  as  a consequence  had  suffered.  He 
urged  with  much  zeal  that  .his  people  should  guard 
against  giving  their  opponents  an  advantage  in  the  word- 
ing of  a question  to  be  discussed.  I was  not  at  this  de- 
bate, but  from  the  reports  that  reached  me,  and  from 
this  sorrowful  wail  of  Mr.  Campbell,  I concluded  that 
the  friends  of  Methodism  achieved  a decided  triumph. 

“Had  Sidney  Rigdon  and  Simon  Rider  been  true  to 
their  church  in  its  hour  of  need,  had  thev  according  to 
their  ability  been  loyal  and  faithful  as  were  Steadman, 
Graham  and  Luccock,  the  great  and  spiritual  Baptist 
Church  might  to-day  have  been  a power  on  the  Reserve. 


644 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“This  debate  was  quite  as  much  a blessing  to  the 
Presbyterian  and  other  churches,  according  to  their 
strength,  as  to  the  Methodist. 

“It  should,  be  stated  that  the  gentlemen  who  gave 
their  time  and  ability  to  these  discussions  did  so  mostly 
without  money  and  without  price,  all  parties  having  a 
common  interest  in  the  defense  of  the  truth  and  in  the 
stability  of  the  church.  In  those  days  it  was  not  ex- 
pected that  people  would  devise  liberal  things,  nor  were 
they  able,  and  nobody  was  disappointed. 

“In  1842  I left  school  and  attended  a camp  meeting  in 
Bainbridge,  Ohio.  A little  before  twelve  o’clock  noon, 
J.  C.  Ayres,  Alva  Wilder  and  Mr.  Steadman,  on  horse- 
back, rode  upon  the  ground,  covered  with  dust  and 
‘looking  very  much  the  worse  for  wear/  They  had  been 
engaged  in  a three  days’  debate  with  a Universalist  at 
Parkman,  Ohio,  some  twenty  miles  away.  They  were 
hailed  with  delight  by  the  people  and  promptly  taken 
care  of.  Ablutions,  clean  linen  and  a hearty  dinner  gave 
them  quite  a changed  appearance.  Spontaneously  every- 
body expressed  a wish  that  Mr.  Steadman  should  preach 
at  two  o’clock,  but  he  persistently  declined,  urging  that 
he  was  too  thoroughly  worn  out  to  undertake  the  task, 
and  Asahel  Reeves  was  asked  to  occupy  the  pulpit.  As 
the  audience  was  singing  the  last  hymn  of  the  introduc- 
tory service,  Mr.  Steadman  slipped  up  into  the  pulpit, 
whispered  a few  words  to  Reeves,  and  took  the  Bible 
from  his  hands.  He  announced  as  his  text  the  words, 
Rev.  1 : 5-6,  “Unto  Him  that  loved  us  and  washed  us 
from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood  and  hath  made  us  kings 
and  priests  unto  God  and  His  Father,  to  Him  be  glory 
and  dominion  forever  and  forever.  Amen.’ 

“He  first  spent  about  five  minutes  in  making  a state- 
ment of  the  freedom  of  the  will  as  the  ground  or  basis 
of  the  awful  responsibility  of  determining  between  right 
and  wrong,  which  in  creation  had  been  made  the  con- 
troling  factor  of  man’s  existence,  and  then  added : Tn 

all  that  God  has  done  for  us  He  has  done  nothing  nor 
will  He  do  anything  which  it  is  necessary  for  the  human 
will  to  do  to  constitute  an  act  virtuous.’  A clearer  or  more 
concise  statement  of  man’s  volition  I have  never  met 
with  in  print  or  heard  from  the  lips  of  a speaker.  Could 
it  have  been  transferrtd  to  print  it  would  have  stood  as  a 


IkJ 


John  J.  Steadman. 


645 


fine  specimen  of  psychology,  logic  and  rhetoric.  He 
then  opened  up  his  text,  presenting  the  atonement  as — 

“ ‘First — A manifestation  of  the  infinite,  unsearchable 
love  of  God. 


“ ‘Second — Christ  as  the  Healer  of  the  breach  which 
sin  had  made  in  the  moral  government  of  God,  being 
Himself  a “new  and  living  way”  for  man  to  utilize  to 
accomplish  his  intended  destiny. 

“ ‘Third — Restoring  to  the  universe  of  God  its  wrecked 
moral  department,  for  this  government  was  put  upon  His 
shoulders,  and  at  no  point  did  He  fail.’ 

“He  then  turned  to  consider  the  results — ‘hath  made 
us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  His  Father.’  As  he 
was  nearing  the  close  of  his  remarks  on  this  point  I no- 
ticed that  the  audience  was  standing  and  massed  as  nearly 
as  possible  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  At  the  same  time,  far 
away  in  the  west,  a peal  of  thunder  was  heard.  Soon 
after  the  ragged  edge  of  a black,  threatening  cloud  could 
be  seen  above  the  tree  tops,  and  other  thunder  peals, 
nearer  than  the  first,  were  heard.  No  one  paid  any  at- 
tention to  the  approaching  tempest.  Every  eye  was  fixed 
on  the  preacher.  As  I well  remember  he  stood  calm 
as  a statue,  but  his  countenance  was  all  aglow ; tear,  fol- 
lowing tear,  crept  down  his  cheek;  apparently  his  mind 
was  working  at  a white  heat,  and  yet  he  was  holding 
firmly  his  reserved  force,  whilst  the  facts  of  the  gospel 
and  its  principles  logically  arranged,  were  poured  in  a 
steady,  melting  stream  upon  the  audience.  Soon  the 
heavens  were  black  above  us,  and  the  day  grew  dark,  but 
apparently  the  gathering  shower,  with  its  lightning 
flashes  and  sky-splitting  thunder,  only  lent  inspiration  to 
the  preacher,  who  was  beseeching  men  to  be  reconciled  to 
God.  Apparently  he  utilized  the  power,  grandeur  and 
fury  of  the  elements  as  if  he  was  the  stronger  and  the 
ruling  force,  interweaving  them  with  his  message,  to 
give  it  a supreme  effect.  Finally  great  rain  drops  pat- 
tered down  upon  the  audience,  and  pausing,  Steadman 
cried : ‘To  your  tents,  O Israel,’  but  not  a soul  moved 

and  he  went  on  with  his  sermon.  Men  stood  with  um- 
brellas in  hand,  but  did  not  think  to  raise  them,  and  not 
a soul  left  the  audience  till  the  speaker  closed  the  Bible 
and  sat  down. 


646 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“Since  then  I have  listened  to  Simpson,  Durbin,  Fos- 
ter, Beecher,  Talmage,  Gough,  Garfield,  McKinley  and 
other  mighty  men,  but  nothing  comparable  to  the  occa- 
sion described  have  I ever  witnessed  elsewhere. 

“Mr.  Steadman  was  a single-hearted,  humble,  friendly 
man.  He  delighted  to  honor  and  befriend  a brother, 
and  nothing  but  proof  undeniable  of  guilt  could  make 
him  an  antagonist.  He  died  at  the  early  age  of  fifty-six, 
and  died  because  he  was  worn  out.  Nature  gave  him  a 
good,  well  balanced  constitution,  but  much  and  exhaust- 
ive work,  physical  and  mental,  prematurely  consumed  it. 
An  intellect  of  such  activity,  day  and  night,  needed  the 
body  of  a Hercules.  His  emotional  nature  was  quite  as 
strong  and  active  as  the  mental,  and  when  aroused  to 
action  time  was  required  before  quietness  was  restored. 

» Probably  he  expended  in  each  debate  he  had  not  less 
than  a year  of  his  natural  life.  I was  with  him  two 
nights  after  the  conference  debate  noted  above  and  all 
night  long  his  dreams  were  full  of  that  highly  important 
event. 

“Mr.  Steadman  was  in  the  General  Conference  of 
1844,  and  had  not  Hamline  (the  bishop)  got  the  floor 
the  moment  he  did,  lie  would  have  secured  it  and  made 
an  argument  along  the  same  line.  I can  easily  believe 
this  for  the  logical  faculty  worked  about  the  same  way  in 
the  mental  structure  of  both  men.  The  death  of  John  J. 
Steadman  was  deeply  deplocd  by  the  multitude  of  lay- 
men as  well  as  by  the  preachei  s who  knew  him  well ; but 
in  the  thirty-two  years  of  his  active  life,  he  worked  more 
hours  and  did  severer  work  than  most  preachers  do  in  a 
long  life.  He  seemed  to  know  that  ‘the  house  of  his 
tabernacle'  was  badly  wrecked  by  the  many  storms  he 
had  encountered,  • and  longed  to  exchange  it  for  ‘the 
house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens/  His 
last  words,  as  heard  on  this  side,  were:  ‘Free,  free, 

through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb/  ”* 

*J.  J.  Steadman — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1831;  full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833,  Roberts;  elder,  1835, 
Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1836;  deceased,  Poland,  O.,  October  20,  1851.  Appoint- 
ments— 1831,  Euclid  and  Cleveland;  1832,  Brookfield,  1833-’34, 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1835,  Warren  and  Hartford;  1836-’37,  super- 
annuated; 1838,  Meadville;  1839,  Saegertown;  1840,  Erie;  1841, 


Richard  Armstrong,  William  Carroll.  647 


Thomas  Thompson,  Thomas  Jamison. 

Thomas  Thompson  died  at  Richmond,  Jefferson  Co., 
Ohio,  Feb.  13,  1851,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  par- 
ents were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was 
converted  at  a camp  meeting  held  by  William  Swayze, 
and  was  soon  after  licensed  to  preach.  After  serving 
Butler  Circuit  as  a supply  for  one  year,  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  This  was  in  1830. 
After  spending  part  of  his  first  year  on  the  Leesburg 
Circuit,  he  was  removed  to  the  Canton  Circuit.  He 
served  Centerville,  one  year;  Mercer,  one  year,  New  Cas- 
tle, one  year;  Indiana,  one  year;  New  Castle  again,  one 
year;  Richmond,  one  year;  Dover,  one  year;  Leesburg, 
two  years;  Salem,  one  year;  Buffalo,  one  year;  Grand- 
view, one  year. 

He  received  the  supernumerary  relation  in  1843,  and  was 
superannuated  in  1848.  During  his  non-effective  rela- 
tions to  the  Church,  he  continued  to  preach  as  strength 
would  permit  until  the  fatal  stroke  of  paralysis  which,  af- 
ter sixteen  years  of  suffering,  yielded  him  to  death  and — 
glorious  reward! — (T.  WinStanley  in  the  Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , May  6,  1851.) 

Thomas  Jamison,  a supernumerary,  was  a supply  on  the 
Chardon  Circuit  with  Isaac  Winans  and  John  McLean. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  in 
1817,  and  in  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  1819, 
and  elder  in  1821.  He  became  a member  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  at  its  organization  in  1825.  “Mr.  Jami- 
son was  but  one  year  within  our  bounds,  and  a supernu- 
merary at  that.” 

Richard  Armstrong,  William  Carroll. 

Richard  Armstrong  was  born  in  Ireland,  December  25, 
1775-  He  was  converted  and  united  with  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church  at  the  age  of  twenty-five.  He  was 
soon  licensed  to  preach,  and  exercised  his  gifts  several 
years  in  his  native  land.  He  came  to  America  in  1812, 
and  labored  four  years  as  a missionary  in  Nova  Scotia 
under  the  auspices  of  the  home  conference.  In  1819  he 

agent,  Allegheny  College;  1842-’43,  Jamestown  District;  1844, 
Braceville;  1845,  Windham;  1846,  Mesopotamia;  1847,  Ashta- 
bula; 1848,  supernumerary;  1849,  Parkman;  1850-’51,  Poland. 


648 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


was  admitted  to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  organization. 
Me  superannuated  in  1841,  and  died  August  16,  1859. 

“As  a Christian  his  piety  was  profound,  consistent,  and 
uniform,  absorbing  all  his  affections,  and  employing  all 
hie  energies  in  the  service  of  his  Master.  As  a minister 
he  was  faithful  in  the  work  assigned  him.,  His  discourses 
were  plain  practical  presentations  of  substantive  gospel 
doctrines.  His  seventeen  years  superannuation  was 
marked  by  the  same  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God,  and  desire 
for  the  salvation  of  men,  that  distinguished  him  in  his 
effective  labors.  His  last  illness  was  brief,  only  one  week, 
during  which  he  expressed  implicit  confidence  in  Christ, 
and  uncomplaining  acquiescence  in  the  divine  disposal. 
On  the  morning  of  his  departure  he  fully  responded  to 
an  interrogation,  ‘All  is  well,’  This  was  his  last  intel- 
ligible utterance.  ‘ He  sleeps,  but  sleeps  in  Jesus.”* — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  VIII,  i860,  />.  70.  J 

We  do  not  know  how  long  William  Carroll  labored  as 
a local  preacher,  but  he  sustained  this  relation  in  a camp- 
meeting quarterly  conference  of  the  Erie  Circuit  held  in 
Meadville.  August  15,  1812.  He  was  ordained  deacon 
by  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts  at  Pithole,  July  3,  1818. 
Mr.  Carroll  seems  to  have  been  distrustful  of  his  pulpit 
ability ; at  least,  this  explains  the  action  taken  at  the  camp 
meeting  quarterly  conference  held  on  French  creek,  Au- 
gust 21,  1813.  We  find  the  following  entry  in  the  min- 
utes : “A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  a letter  of 

address  be  sent  to  William  Carroll  advising  him  of  the 
necessity  and  propriety  of  exercising  as  a preacher  oftener 
in  public.  Carried.,,  He  was  recommended  for  admis- 


sion to  the  “itinerant  connection* * by  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  the  Butler  Circuit,  June  11,  1831,  and  the  same 
year  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference. 
He  was  sent  to  the  “Brookfield  Mission  District”  in  1837. 
Mr.  Gregg  says  he  “was  a stout,  energetic  man,  of  me- 
dium preaching  talents,  and  was  selected  for  that  field  of 

* Appointments— 1819,  Ohio;  1820,  Mahoning;  1821,  Lewis; 
1822,  Pendleton;  1823,  Severn;  1824,  Penn’s  Valley;  1825,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  Greenfield;  1826,  Monongahela;  1827,  Monroe; 
1828,  Mercer;  1829,  Youngstown;  1830-’31,  New  Castle;  1832,. 
Woodsfield;  1833,  Ohio;  1834,  Chartiers;  1835,  Middleburne; 
1836,  Redstone;  1837,  superannuated;  1838,  Braddocksfield;  1839„ 
Wavnesburg;  1840,  Beallsville;  1841-’59,  superannuated. 


The  Three  Henry s. 


649 


labor  because  it  required  bone  and  muscle,  as  well  as  faith 
and  zeal,  to  accomplish  its  duties.  The  entire  region  of 
country  was  new,  wild,  rough,  and  mountainous,  with 
many  rapid,  bridgeless  streams  to  cross.  The  settlements 
were  far  from  each  other,  and  the  people  poor  but  gener- 
ous. Never  since  the  days  of  Young  and  Finley  did  any 
presiding  elder  encounter  such  difficulties.  Calvinism  in 
its  primitive  characteristics  had  been  planted  there,  and 
its  advocates  contested  the  ground  with  great  tenacity  and 
zeal.  But  to  this  field  of  toil  and  sacrifice  the  new  presid- 
ing elder  and  his  little  band  of  youthful  heroes  hastened 
away  and  sowed  the  good  seed  with  tears,  and  reaped  a 
rich  harvest  of  souls.” — ( Manuscript  Minutes  of  the 
Several  Quarterly  Conferences  of  Erie,  Mercer,  Butler , 
and  Centerville  Circuits,  18 12-1836 ; Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  64,  63.) 

After  three  years  of  labor  in  this  hard  field,  we  are  pre- 
pared to  learn  that  Mr.  Carroll  superannuated,  and  two 
years  later  took  a location.  He  was  not,  however,  idle. 
The  next  year — 1843 — we  find  him  associated  with  Israel 
Mershon  on  the  Mercer  Circuit.* 


The  Three  Hexrys. 

Nelson  Henry  was  born  in  Washington,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  July  27,  1803;  and  died  in  Missouri,  March  18, 
1853.  He  was  the  brother  of  Calvin  P.  Henry,  who  de- 
parted this  life  less  than  a month  later.  “When  about 
fifteen  years  old,  he  narrowly  escaped  death  from  the  fall- 
ing of  some  timber  at  the  raising  of  a mill — was  taken  out 
for  dead,  but  on  examination  it  was  judged  that  his  in- 
juries were  not  mortal,  one  leg  only  being  badly  frac- 
tured, which  caused  him  to  halt  during  life.  On  coming 
to  himself,  he  cried  out,  4I  am  dying  and  going  to  hell' ; 
and  exhorted  all  around  him  to  prepare  to  meet  God. 
His  words  sent  conviction  to  many  minds,  which  some 
did  not  lose  till  renewed  by  the  grace  of  God.  His  own 
convictionsofthenecessityandimportanceof  religion  were 

*William  Carroll — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1831;  full  connection,  1833;  ordained  deacon  and  elder  while  he 
was  a local  preacher,  dates  and  bishops  not  ascertainable;  be- 
came a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836; 
located,  1842.  Appointments — 1831,  Hartford;  1832-’33,  Butler; 
1834,  Centerville;  1835,  New  Castle;  1836,  supernumerary;  1837- 
’39,  Brookville  Mission  District;  1840,  superannuated. 


650 


/ { is  to  ry  of  E ri  e Con  fcren  cc. 


at  the  time  pungent,  and  never  wholly  left  him ; — but  it 
was  not  until  about  three  years  subsequent  to  this  that  he 
was  clearly  converted  to  God.”  He  soon  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  felt  called  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  but  stifled  his  convictions  until  he  lost 
much  of  his  religious  enjoyment;  hut  in  1831,  while  at- 
tending a quarterly  meeting  at  Orange,  Cuyahoga  County, 
Ohio,  he  was  powerfully  renewed,  roused  from  his 
lethargy,  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Bainbridge,  and  gave  himself  to  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1831,  served  three  years,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the 
Missouri  Conference.  Here  he  served  important  stations, 
and  held  the  office  of  presiding  elder  for  several  years. 

“The  climate  of  the  west  never  agreed  with  his  con- 
stitution; or  perhaps  he  never  became  fully  acclimated; 
hence  he  suffered  much  with  fever  and  ague.  His  friends 
often  urged  him,  in  view  of  his  health,  to  return  to  Ohio. 
But  he  only  replied,  ‘If  you  were  here,  and  saw  the  need 
of  laborers,  as  I do,  you  would  cease  urging  me  to  leave.' 
His  constitution  finally  gave  way  under  the  influence  -of 
climate  and  the  labors  of  a large  district,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  take  a superannuated  relation.  For  the  last  two 
years  of  his  life  he  suffered  much.  His  last  sickness  was 
short,  but  severe ; but  he  bore  all  with  Christian  patience 
and  resignation — said  from  the  first  he  should  not  recover. 
The  God  he  served,  and  in  whom  he  trusted,  did  not  for- 
sake him  in  the  trying  hour.  His  end  was  peace/'* — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , June  14,  1853.) 

Calvin  P.  Henry  was  born  in  Washington,  Berkshire 
County,  Mass.,  March  24,  1807,  and  died  at  his  residence 
in  Bainbridge.  Ohio,  April  11,  1853.  His  parents  came 
to  Ohio  with  their  family  in  1817.  In  February,  1840, 
during  the  progress  of  an  interesting  meeting  held  in  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Bainbridge,  he  became  the  sub- 

♦Appointments — 1831,  Forestville;  1832,  -iapoli;  1833,  Olean; 
1834,  Missouri  Conference,  Cape  Girardeau;  1835,  Bellevue;  1836, 
Independence f 1837-’38,  Hannibal;  1839,  Cape  Girardeau;  1840, 
Fredericktown ; 1841-’44,  Cape  Girardeau  District;  1845 — here  I 
cannot  trace  him  until  1848,  when  he  is  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
Arkansas  Mission  District  of  the  new  Missouri  Conference,  which 
held  its  first  session  in  connection  with  the  Illinois  Conference, 
September  13,  1848.  He  holds  the  same  position  in  1849,  and  in 
1850  he  is  appointed  to  the  Fredericktown  Mission.  He  super- 
annuated in  1851. 


Appointments — 1832. 


ject  of  converting  grace,  and  immediately  became  active 
in  Christian  work.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1841, 
and  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1842. 
Before  the  close  of  the  conference  year  of  1846-7,  his 
health,  which  for  years  had  been  rather  delicate,  so  far 
declined  that  he  was  obliged  to  desist  from  preaching ; and 
at  the  next  session  of  the  conference,  despairing  of  being 
able  longer  to  serve  a circuit,  he  received  a location,  and 
continued  in  this  relation  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  “a  man  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost. ”* — ( Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , June  14,  1833.) 

John  N.  Henry  was  licensed  to  preach  three  years  later 
than  his  uncle  Calvin  P.  Henry;  and  was  also  received  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  three  years  later.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Johnston,  Trumbull  County,  Ohio, 
Sept.  28,  1822.  “He  was  awakened  to  see  and  feel  his 
lost  condition  as  a sinner  while  teaching  a school  in  Penn- 
sylvania during  the  winter  of  1839-40,  but  did  not  re- 
ceive a satisfactory  evidence  of  his  acceptance  as  a child 
of  God  until  his  return  to  Ohio,  while  attending  the  pro- 
tracted meeting  in  Bainbridge  in  February,  1840.“ — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
II,  p.  263.)  After  eleven  years  of  acceptable  labor  in  the 
active  ministry  of  the  Church,  he  returned  to  the  local 
ranks,  f 

Appointments — 1832. 

From  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  which  met  in  Wells- 
burg,  Va.,  August  16,  1832,  Bishop  John  Emery 
presiding,  went  forth  to  toil  and  conquest,  the  Command- 
ers of  God’s  army:  Warren  District,  Wilder  B.  Mack, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland,  John  McLean,  John  E.  Eb- 
bert;  Hudson  Station,  John  Luccock;  Hudson  Circuit, 

*C.  P.  Henry — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  located,  1847. 
From  the  date  of  his  location  to  his  death  he  resided  in  Bain- 
bridge, O.,  where  he  rendered  very  useful  service  as  a local 
preacher.  Deceased  at  Bainbridge,  O.,  April  11,  1853.  Appoint- 
ments— 1842,  Freedom;  1843,  Chardon;  1844,  Newburg;  1845, 
Middlebury;  1846,  Chagrin  Falls. 

tJ.  N.  Henry — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
1845;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  located  at  his  own  request,  1854.  Appointments — 1845, 
Randolph;  1846,  Napoli;  1847,  Gerry;  1848-’49,  Forestville;  1850, 
Gerry;  1851,  Ashville;  1852,  Youngsville;  1853,  Riceville. 


65 2 History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Thomas  Carr,  John  E.  Aikin ; Chardon,  Billings  O. 
Plimpton,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Youngstown,  Philip  Green, 
Caleb  Brown;  Hartford,  Isaac  Winans,  Lorenzo  D.  Pros- 
ser; Deerfield  and  Ravenna,  Ira  Eddy,  John  W.  Hill, 
Peter  D.  Horton;  Ashtabula,  James  Gillmore,  Arthur  M. 
Brown;  Windsor,  Dennis  Goddard,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Brookfield,  John  J.  Steadman;  Erie  District,  Joseph  S. 
Barris,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  John  Chandler,  Elkanah 
P.  Steadman;  Springfield,  Jacob  Jenks,  one  to  be  sup- 
plied; Youngsville, Alcinous  Young,  Thomas  J.  Jennings; 
Smethport,  William  Butt,  Samuel  Gregg;  North  East, 
William  R.  Babcock,  Benjamin  Preston;  Westfield,  Theo- 
dore Stowe,  Andrew  McCammon;  Forestville,  John  K. 
Hallock,  Daniel  M.  Stearns;  Jamestown  John  C.  Ayres, 
John  L.  Holmes;  Napoli,  Nelson  Henry,  John  Prosser; 
Cambridge,  Hiram  Kinsley,  Joseph  E.  Lee;  Meadville 
District,  Zerah  H.  Coston,  presiding  elder;  Meadville, 
David  Preston;  Franklin,  Job  Wilson,  James  Hitchcock; 
Clarion,  Abner  Jackson,  Almon  C.  Barnes;  Mercer,  Cor- 
nelius Jones,  Thomas  Thompson;  New  Castle,  Daniel  C. 
Richey,  Ahab  Keller;  Centerville,  John  Scott,  John  Rob- 
inson. 

Hudson  and  Meadville  have  become  stations^  Mead- 
ville is  the  first  station  which  maintains  its  rank  perma- 
nently. Meadville  District  has  been  formed.  Ashtabula, 
Brookfield,  and  Smethport  are  new  circuits.  “Cambridge 
is  a new  name  to  the  old  Meadville  Circuit.”  “Center- 
ville” is  formed  out  of  portions  of  Mercer  and  New  Cas- 
tle Circuits. 

Thomas  Stubbs. 

Thomas  Stubbs  was  born  in  Kendal,  England,  in  1801, 
and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  John  Stubbs,  who  was  converted 
in  the  days  of  John  Wesley,  and.  for  60  years  preached  the 
gospel. 

Soon  after  conversion  the  son  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  was  regularly  employed  as  a local  preacher  till  he  , 
came  to  America  in  May,  1832. 

Landing  in  New  York  at  the  time  conference  was  in 
session  he  presented  his  credentials  to  the  bishop.  He  was 
accepted  and  appointed  as  junior  preacher  on  a circuit  on 
Long  Island. 


Thomas  Stubbs. 


653 


When  he  found  he  was  appointed  as  a single  man,  he 
went  to  the  bishop  and  explained  that  he  had  a family. 
It  was  too  late  to  remedy  the  case.  The  bishop  said : 
“What  was  your  plan  in'  coming  to  this  country?”  His 
reply  was  “I  had  heard  of  the  great  State  of  Ohio,  and 
thought  I would  make  my  way  there.” 

“All  right,”  said  the  bishop.  “Our  conference  meets 
in  July  and  I will  give  you  a letter  to  the  presiding 
bishop.” 

The  little  family  made  its  way  over  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo  and  by  steamer  to  Cleveland.  When  on  the  canal 
a man  from  Ohio  seemed  to  take  a great  interest  in  the 
little  group  of  strangers.  They  struck  up  an  acquaint- 
ance. Found  they  were  all  Methodists.  The  preacher 
told  his  story,  and  the  gentleman,  Mr.  Redfield,  from 
Ohio,  said  : “Come  to  my  house  and  live  till  conference.” 

On  reaching  Cleveland  the  family  was  left  on  the  beach 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga.  They  made  a hollow 
square  of  their  goods,  and  slept  all  night  to  the  music  of 
the  waves. 

The  next  day  they  were  on  their  way  to  Akron  by 
canal.  Reaching  their  destination  they  found  Mr.  Red- 
field  with  teams  to  take  them  and  their  goods  to  Atwater. 

It  was  soon  noised  that  a preacher  had  come  and  he 
was  kept  busy  by  the  presiding  elder  till  the  session  of  the 
Pittsburg  Conference,  in  July  1832,  when  he  began  his 
active  ministry. 

It  was  in  the  days  of  six-week  and  four-week  circuits, 
and  saddle-bags — and  Indian  trails,  and  swimming  rivers 
— log  houses  and  barns  for  churches.  All  of  the  Western 
Reserve  was  familiar  with  his  form,  and  listened  to  his 
eloquence.  Lawrence  and  Mercer  Counties  delighted  in 
his  ministrations.  In  1836  the  Erie  Conference  was 
formed  and  he  was  one  of  the  charter  members. 

^ In  1846  he  was  appointed  to  Erie.  Then  followed 
Cleveland,  Ravenna,  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Cleveland,  Paines- 
ville,  Akron,  Meadville,  Chagrin  Falls,  Titusville,  War- 
ren, Pa. 

Then  on  account  of  his  wife’s  health  he  remained  su- 
pernumerary till  his  decease  in  1884,  though  he  served 
Newburg,  East  Cleveland,  Ashtabula  and  the  Bethel. 
From  1870  to  1884  he  preached  frequently  in  all  the 
churches  of  all  denominations  in  the  City  of  Cleveland. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


On  his  8 1 st  birthday  he  preached  in  his  son’s  pulpit  at 
Forestville,  New  York,  a sermon  full  of  animation,  vigor, 
thought  and  eloquence. 

He  was  full  of  buoyancy,  sunshine,  animation,  poetical 
in  fancy,  by  John  Bain  called  “Old  Man  Eloquent.” 

He  was  a revivalist.  He  never  served  a charge 
where  he  did  not  have  a revival,  some  of  them 
notable.  Some  of  the  most  magnificent  scenes  ever  wit- 
nessed were  altar  scenes  at  Painesville,  Akron,  and  Mead- 
ville.  At  Akron  one  Sunday  evening  he  startled  his 
congregation  by  saying:  “Brethren,  we  are  going  to  have 
a revival  and  you  will  have  to  knock  out  this  end  of  the 
church  and  build  larger.”  One  of  the  good  members 
came  to  him  and  said : “How  dare  you  say  such  a thing  ? 

We  haven't  had  a revival  in  years.” 

But  the  revival  came  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
modern  church. 

The  revival  in  Meadville  has,  perhaps,  never  been 
surpassed  in  the  history  of  that  church.  It  had  a mighty 
grip  on  students  and  townspeople. 

Thomas  Stubbs  had  all  the  graces  of  a true  orator.  His 
personnel  was  impressive,  his  voice  was  music,  chaste  and 
elegant  in  diction;  rich  in  imagination,  a prose  poet, 
brainy  as  an  egg  is  full  of  meat,  bold  in  his  utterances, 
loving  liberty  as  his  soul  and  sublime  at  times  in  his 
flights  of  eloquence.* 

Samuel  Gregg. 

Samuel  Gregg  was  born  near  Youngsville,  Warren 
County,  Pa.,  March  13,  1809,  and  died  in  Cleveland,  O., 
Oct.  14,  1877.  Early  in  life  he  became  the  subject  of 
saving  grace,  and  joined  the  Church  when  sixteen  years 
of  age.  His  conversion  was  radical,  and  he  had  clear 

♦Thomas  Stubbs — Licensed  to  preach,  1821;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1832;  full  connection,  1834;  deacon,  1834, 
Soule;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1836;  elder,  1836,  Soule;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  February 
8,  1884.  Appointments — 1832-’33,  Chardon;  1834,  Warren,  O.; 
1835-’36,  Youngstown;  1837,  Hartford;  1838-’39,  Edinburg;  1840- 
’41,  New  Castle;  1842-’43,  Greenville;  1844,  Poland;  1845, 
Youngstown;  1846,  Edinburg;  1847-’48,  Erie;  1849-’50,  Cleveland; 
1851-’52,  Ravenna;  1853,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1854-’55,  Cleveland, 
Erie  street;  1856,  Cleveland,  City  Mission;  1857-’58,  Painesville; 
1859,  Akron;  1860-’61,  Meadville;  1862-’63,  Chagrin  Falls;  1864-’65, 
Titusville;  1866,  Warren,  Pa.;  1867,  supernumerary;  1868,  East 
Cleveland ;i  1869,  Ashtabula;  1870-’83,  supernumerary. 


Samuel  Gregg. 


655 


and  satisfactory  experience  of  the  deep  things  of  God. 
Soon  after  his  conversion  he  was  inwardly  moved  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  consecrate  himself  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1832,  and  the  next 
year  was  received  as  a probationer  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference. He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference 
at  its  organization.  He  filled  many  important  stations  in 
the  conference — Erie,  Jamestown,  Painesville,  Akron, 
Cleveland,  and  others.  He  did  excellent  service  as  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Ravenna  District.  He  was  a delegate 
to  the  General  Conference  in  1856.  He  is  the  author  of 
“Early  Ripe  Fruit,”  “Infant  Church  Membership,”  and 
two  volumes  of  “History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence.” 

“As  a preacher  Brother  Gregg  gave  evidence  of  a clear 
and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  saving  grace, 
presenting  Christ  as  the  all-sufficient  Savior  of  those  who 
by  faith  accept  him,  and  by  his  persuasive  eloquence  lead- 
ing many  to  the  fountain  of  life  and  salvation,'  who  will 
be  stars  in  his  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord. 
He  was  modest  and  unassuming,  and  yet  possessed  of  a 
laudable  ambition  to  succeed  in  his  calling  as  a minister  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  led  him  to  use  all  the  means 
within  his  reach  to  qualify  himself  for  any  work  the 
Church  might  assign  him.”  He  triumphed  gloriously  in 
his  death. — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XVII,  18  j8,  p. 
89.) 

We  will  permit  Brother  Gregg  to  relate  the  story  of  his 
conversion,  since  it  was  characteristic  of  the  conversions 
of  those  early  years:  “Elder  Swayze  held  a camp  meet- 

ing on  the  camp-ground  in  Frank’s  Settlement,  three  miles 
southwest  of  Jamestown.  New  York,  which  commenced 
the  eleventh  of  June,  1826,  and  was  a meeting  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  multitudes  of  people,  and  especially  by  the 
writer  of  these  pages.  We  attended  the  meeting,  not 
from  choice,  nor  by  compulsion,  but  because  our  good 
father  promised  us  a new  hat,  to  be  bought  in  Jamestown. 
The  new  hat  was  obtained,  and  so  was  a new  heart.  On 
Monday  evening,  June  13,  1826,  Mr.  Swayze  preached 
one  of  his  awful  sermons.  The  congregation,  which  was 
very  large,  became  terribly  excited,  most  of  them  upon 
their  feet,  many,  however,  strewed  the  ground;  some 
groaning  in  agony,  others  pleading  for  mercy,  while  many 


5j6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

shouted  for  joy.  The  writer  was  seated  on  a slab  some 
distance  from  the  speaker’s  stand,  where  he  could  witness 
the  whole  scene.  The  last  half  hour  of  the  sermon,  the 
speaker  was  engaged  in  delivering  the  most  m emn  p 
peals  of  warning  and  expostulation  to  the  wicked,  clot 1 e 
with  the  most  terrific  language  and  figures,  and  w fill  sue 
pathetic  tones  of  voice  as  no  heart  could  withstan  . 
that  vast  crowd  no  one  was  unmoved.  At  the  close  of 
the  sermon  Swayze  leaped  from  the  stand  to  the  ground 
in  front,  and  up  the  center  aisle  he  went  tow  aid  the  larg 
altar  with  his  voice  of  invitation  to  sinners  distinctly 
heard  above  the  continuous  roar  of  the  multitude ; at  the 
same  time  six  or  eight  ministers,  who  had  been  stationed 
at  different  places  in  that  vast  crowd,  and  wholly  unob- 
served until  Swayze  sprang  from  the  stand  were  now 
moving  slowly  forward  toward  the  altar  exhorting  sin 
ners  with  all  their  might.  The  scene  at  this  time  was 
truly  awful.  We  became  so  alarmed  as  we  saw  one  ot 
the  ministers  approaching  the  place  where  we  stooc  t ia 
we  wheeled  round  and  ran  w.ith  all  our  might  into  the 
woods  and  climbed  on  to  a stump,  where  we  stood  foi 
some  time  listening  to  the  terrific  roar  of  voices,  as  the 
revelation  says,  ‘like  the  sound  of  many  waters.  At 
length  the  exhorting  ceased,  and  a hymn  was  sung, 
was  the  hymn  commencing, 

“ ‘Show  pity,  Lord,  O Lord,  forgive, 

Let  a repenting  rebel  live/ 

Sum'-  to  ‘Old  Hundred’ ; and  such  majestic  music  as  those 
hundreds  of  voices  sent  up  to  heaven  we  never  heard  e 
fore  nor  since.  We  there  determined  to  seek  our  soul  s 
salvation  come  what  might,  and  coming  down  from  the 
stump,  we  walked  deliberately  back  to  the  ground  and 
stood  for  a time  looking  in  wonder  at  the  scene.  Not  less 
than  fiftv  persons,  male  and  female,  were  on  their  knees 
in  the  altar  pleading  for  mercy,  while  perhaps  three  hun- 
dred Christians  were  engaged  in  talking  with  and  praying 
for  these  penitents.  A lady  of  our  acquaintance  happen- 
ing to  see  us  looking  very  solemn  came  and  took  us  by  the 
hand,  and  kindly  invited  us  to  go  with  her  to  the  altar 
We  went,  and  soon  from  a kneeling  posture  we  lay  tia 
upon  the  ground,  with  our  head  pillowed  upon  the  roots 
of  a large  maple  tree,  where  we  remained  in  great  distress 
of  mind  until  about  midnight,  when  suddenly  a stream  of 


Ahab  Keller. 


65  7 


light,  much  the  color  of  gold,  came  down  from  heaven 
and  penetrated  our  dark,  hard  heart,  and  permeated  our 
whole  soul  and  body.  We  immediately  sprang  to  our 
feet,  giving  ‘glory  to  God  in  the  highest’  for  his  goodness 
and  mercy.  After  a few  hours  of  sweet  rest  we  awoke  in 
the  morning  and  walked  forth  in  what  appeared  like  a new 
world.  That  day  we  returned  home  with  many  others, 
with  but  little  to  say,  but  full  of  peace  and  good  resolu- 
tions for  the  future.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Eric  Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  230-233.) 

Ahab  Keller. 


Ahab  Keller  was  born  in  Monongahela  County,  West 
Virginia,  Nov.  18,  1804,  and  died  in  Princeville,  Illi- 
nois, June  1,  1889.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of 
eighteen;  licensed  to  preach  in -1828;  and  received  on  trial 
in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1832.  His  first  appoint- 
ment was  to  New  Castle  Circuit,  a large  and  laborious 
charge,  calling  for  preaching  about  thirty  times  every 
four  weeks.  “Having  entered  upon  his  life-work,  he 
pursued  it  with  a steady  hand  fifty-seven  years.  He  never 
lost  the  holy  fire  kindled  at  conversion.  Experimental  re- 
ligion was  his  theme.  There  wras  a peculiar  unction  at- 
tending his  ministry,  and  God  put  great  honor  on  his  la- 
bors in  the  conversion  of  hundreds  of  precious  souls.  He 
was  a loyal  Methodist,  believing  in  the  doctrines,  usages, 
and  discipline  of  his  Church;  he  was  an  ardent  lover  of 
the  itinerant  ministry,  and  rejoiced  in  the  privilege  of 
sharing  its  sacrifices  and  toils.  He  was  a plain,  modest 

*Samuel  Gregg — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on  trial, 
1832;  full  connection,  1834;  deacon,  1834,  Soule;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  1836, 
Soule;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  October  14,  1877. 
Appointments — 1832,  Smethport;  1833,  Erie;  1834,  Forestville; 
1835,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1836-’37,  Warren  and  Kinzua;  1838,  For- 
estville; 1839,  Meadville;  1840-’41,  North  East;  1842,  Painesville; 
1843-’44,  Cleveland;  1845,  Ravenna;  1846,  Akron;  1847,  Newburg; 
1848-’49,  Hudson;  1850-’51,  Erie;  1852-’53,  Panama;  1854-’55, 
Cleveland,  Erie  street;  1856,  Painesville;  1857-’60,  Ravenna  Dis- 
trict; 1861,  Newburg;  1862-’63,  East  Cleveland;  1864,  New  Wil- 
mington; 1865,  Bedford;  1866,  Saybrook;  1867,  Madison  and 
Perry,  (second  preacher);  1868-’69,  supernumerary;  1870-’72,  East 
Cleveland,  (second  preacher);  1873,  Chaplain  Western  Seamen’s 
Friend’s  Society;  1874-’75,  Chaplain  Cleveland  Bethel;  1876-’77, 
superannuated. 


42 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


658 

man  retiring  in  manner,  never  pushing  himself  for  choice 
appointments  or  easy  fields  of  labor.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  Rock  River  Conference  in  1855,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Conference  at  its  organiz- 
ation He  diil  cheerfully  the  work  assigned  him  by  the 
authorities  of  the  Church,  and  was  always  happy  in  that 
work.  He  was  a man  of  general  reading,  and  had  a large 
store  of  useful  knowledge.  He  was  well  instructed  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  was  a diligent  stu- 
dent of  Clarke.  Fletcher  and  Watson,  and  111  lus  hands 
the  trumpet  of  the  gospel  gave  no  uncertain  sound  on  the 
doctrines  of  Methodist  theology.  In  the  tented  grove  he 
was  at  home.  The  camp  meeting  was  to .him  a Bethel. 

I have  seen  him  on  such  occasions  among  the  King  s ene 
mies.  -terrible  as  an  army  with  banners,  always  at  the 
front  charging  on  the  works  of  the  enemy.  e was  a 
true  friend",  one  who  could  be  trusted  open,  generous  and 
manly  in  all  his  intercourse  with  lus  brethren.  -(IV.  H. 
Hunter  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  July  11,  10  9 ) 
Married  to  an  elect  lady,  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
God.  she  proved  an  efficient  helper  in  his  ministry.  His 
last  sickness  was  somewhat  protracted,  and  lus  sufferings 
severe.  All  that  affectionate  children  and  kind  friends 
could  do  to  alleviate  his  pain  was  freely  done.  Visiting 
him  and  engaging  in  prayer,  a friend  said : TeU  me 

Brother  Keller,  how  does  it  look  on  the  other  side . V itn 
holy  fire  flashing  front  his  eyes,  and  glory  beaming  in  his 
countenance,  he  responded  with  emphasis:  All  right, 

all  right!  all  right!”’*—  (Minutes  of  Conferences,  hot. 

XXH,  1889,  p.  393-) 

»Ahab  Keller — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conferenc^  1832; 
full' connection,  1834;  deacon,  1834,  Soule;  became  a member  of 
Pnnfprpnce  at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  183b,  boiue, 
transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference,  1 855 ; a ™*^ed’' 

of  Central  Illinois  Conference  at  its  orgamzaUon  1856  deceased. 
Prince ville,  111.,  June  1,  1889  Appointments  1832 New  Castle 
i goo  Franklin  Pa.-  1834,  Brookville;  1835,  Centerville,  tsuuei 
Co.;’l836--37,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1838,  Clarksville;  l *T»n; 
ville  and  Clarksville;  1840-  «dj^rlt  i.4rHU^'r  1S49, 
1843--44  Parkman;  l^^f-  ^mburg  Hend’ersonville.  1854, 

Hartford;  185^,^uXgnoUa  111;  1857,  Lacon,  111.;  1858-’59, 
Cooperstown  1855- ; n\i  Prtace’ville  111  ; 1862,  Brimfield  and 

Groveland ,11. ; 188 1 s’mithviile,  111. ; 1865-'66, 

Kickanoo,  111.,  Ioo3,  ivicKapoo,  u , T11  . iqaq  Wpthprs- 

Mt.  Bedding,  111.;  1867--68,  L. ; Frame  Centre  1.,  1869,  Wether^ 

ford,  111.;  1870-’71,  Victoria,  111.,  187Z,  Zion,  in.,  io<o, 


Ahab  Keller. 


659 


Rev.  B.  F.  Delo  visited  Ahab  Keller  in  1875,  and  ob- 
tained from  him  the  list  of  appointments  he  served  while 
on  the  New  Castle  and  Franklin  Circuits.  These  circuits 
belonged  to  the  Meadville  District,  and  in  1832,  Zerah 
H.  Coston  was  the  presiding  elder,  and  Daniel  C.  Richey 
was  in  charge  of  New  Castle  Circuit — Brother  Keller  be- 
ing junior  preacher.  The  following  were  the  appoint- 
ments on  this  circuit:  “Freedom,  Musser’s  Meeting 

House,  Black’s  Mound,  Crow’s  Bottom,  Hamilton’s  Meet- 
ing House,  Sear’s,  Sewickley,  near  Charles  Thorn’s  farm, 
Jackson’s  Meeting  House,  Rodebaugh’s  Meeting  House, 
Ramage’s,  Perrysville,  Pine  Creek,  mouth  of  Pine  Creek, 
Bakerstown,  Mother  Wakefield’s,  Brown’s ; Richmond 
township  (Butler  County),  Brakeneck,  Zelienople;  the 
place  where  the  lady  gave  John  McMahon  the  frog  in  the 
mush  (name  not  remembered)  ; Portersville,  Prospect, 
Slippery  Rock,  four  miles  from  Slippery  Rock,  on  the 
road  to  New  Castle;  Roberts’  Chapel  (south  of  New  Cas- 
tle), New  Castle,  King’s  Chapel,  Charles  Painter’s,  Wil- 
mington ; Beaver  Dam,  Wear’s  neighborhood,  Brush 
Creek,  Freedom  (home).” 

The  next  year,  Brother  Keller  served  the  Franklin  Cir- 
cuit, Rouse  B.  Gardner  in  charge,  Alfred  Brunson  presid- 
ing elder.  He  gives  the  following  list  of  appointments : 
“Franklin,  Hazlet's,  Brown’s,  Blood’s,  mouth  of  Oil 
Creek,  Alcorn’s,  Holman’s,  Tionesta,  Tionesta  Mills,  Pit- 
hole  Church,  Allender’s  School  House,  mouth  of  Dawson 
Run,  Samuel  Henderson’s,  Tidioute  (Joshua  Richard- 
son’s,) Courson's  Tavern,  Pleasantville,  Henderson’s 
School  House,  Titusville,  Henderson’s;  Rome  Township, 
Crawford  County — Centerville,  Riceville,  Wheeler’s, 
Muddy  Creek,  Richmond,  Hunt’s,  Troy,  Benn’s,  Alcorn’s, 
Kane’s  Tavern,  Randolph,  Baird’s,  Wentworth’s,  Coch- 
ranton,  Tyler’s,  Sugar  Creek  Lake,  Deitz’s  School  House, 
Plumer’s,  Sugar  Creek,  Cooperstown,  Herring's,  Cum- 
ming’s  School  House,  Foster’s.”  On  the  New  Castle  Cir- 
cuit he  received  $107,  out  of  which  he  paid  his  own  house 
rent.  On  Franklin  Circuit  he  received  $110,  including 
$15  for  house  rent. — (B.  F.  Delo  in  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  July  22,  1875.) 

Atkinson,  111.;  1874,  North  Henderson,  111.;  1875,  Ionia,  111.;  1876, 
Wataga,  111.;  1877-’88,  superannuated. 


66o  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Joseph  E.  Lee,  Elk  an  ah  P.  Steadman. 

Toseph  E.  Lee  had  been  a local  preacher  for  several 
years,  residing  at  North  East,  Pennsylvania,  when  he  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and  ap- 
pointed second  preacher  on  the  Cambridge  Circuit  with 
Hiram  Kinsley  in  charge.  His  health  failing  he  wa 
obliged  to  give  up  the  work,  and  at  the  close  ot  the  yea 
was  discontinued.  He  labored,  as  his  strength  would  per- 
mit, in  the  local  ranks  until  called  to  his  heavenly  rest. 

Mr  Gre^e  gives  a most  favorable  account  o . 'ana 
P Steadman:  He  was  for  several  years  a physician  in 

Mayville.  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.  “He  was  quite  in- 
clined to  infidelity;  but  by  the  conversion  of  Ins  wife  m a 
revival  of  religion,  which  took  place  in  the  winter  of 
181T-2,  was  induced  to  attend  the  meetings,  and  was  soon 
awakened  and  powerfully  converted  to  God.  He  im- 
mediatelv  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
o-ave  up  a lucrative  business,  received  license  to  pieach 
and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Confei  ence  in 
,sr?  ” He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization.  “Mr.  Steadman  was  a tall  slim  man 
full  of  energy  and  zeal,  and  was  a good  preacher,  except 
that  he  was  rather  monotonous  in  his  style  of  speaking. 
He  was  active  in  Sabbath  Schools,  and  the  few  yeais  le 
was  with  us  gave  them  a great  start  within  our  bounds ; 
one  too  that  was  greatly  needed,  as  the  ministry  genera  y 
thought  they  had  enough  else  of  more  importance  to  at- 
tend to,  but  were  stirred  up  to  greater  activity  in  their 
behalf  through  his  instrumentality.  *— (Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  V ol.  I,  p.  f94-)_  . 

Mr.  Steadman  was  suspended  from  the  ministry  in 

1837- 

Arthur  M.  Brown,  D.  M.  Stearns. 

Arthur  M.  Brown  was  born  near  Steubenville  Jeffer- 
son  County,  Ohio,  Aug.  25,  1805,  and  died  at  his  resi- 
dence  in  Kidder,  Missouri,  Feb.  i,  1890.  At  the  age  of 

~*E.  P.  Steadman— Licensed  to  preach  1832;  ^mitted  on  trial, 
T>m«hnr£r  Conference,  1832;  full  connection,  1834,  deacon,  1834, 
Soule;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  i s organn 
zation,  1836;  elder,  1836,  Soule;  suspended,  1837  ^XTtne- 
—1832,  Erie;  1833,  Warren,  Pa.;  1834,  Erie,  183b,  Agent 
gheny  College;  1836,  supernumerary. 


Arthur  M.  Brown , D.  M.  Stearns. 


66 1 

nine  years  he  felt  called  to  be  a Christian,  and  at  the  same 
time,  called  to  the  ministry.  He  was  converted  at  Cross 
Creek,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Joshua  Monroe;  and  was  licensed  to  preach  at  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  of  the  Freeport  Circuit  in  1824,  the  li- 
cense bearing  the  signature  of  Mr.  Monroe.  He  was 
recommended  in  1825,  by  the  same  Quarterly  Conference, 
it  is  supposed  to  the  Baltimore  Conference.  He  entered 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1831,  and  became  a member 
of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1843,  anc^  re-trans- 
ferred in  1847;  transferred  to  the  Kansas  Conference  in 
1867,  and  re-transferred  a year  later.  Mr.  Gregg  says 
of  Brother  Brown : “Mr.  Brown  was  very  tall,  manly, 

and  dignified,  with  a heavy  voice,  full  of  emotion,  tal- 
ented and  promising,  and  an  excellent  preacher.” 

A correspondent  writes  of  Mr.  Brown  as  follows : 

“In  1842  I was  at  the  opening  service  of  a camp  meet- 
ing held  in  Twinsburg,  O.  I.  H.  Tackitt  preached  the  in- 
troductory sermon — a trumpet  call  to  arms  and  to  battle. 
His  text  was:  “By  the  rivers  of  Babylon  we  sat  down, 

yea  we  wept  when  we  remembered  Zion,”  using  the  entire 
Psalm.  The  sermon  was  an  earnest  sensible  appeal  to  the 
judgment  of  the  audience,  urging  many  arguments  and 
reasons  why  each  one  should  then  come  up  to  the  help  of 
the  Lord  against  the  mighty.  He  also  touched  upon  the 
possibility  of  falling  away  into  a careless  backslidden 
state  and  imperilling  the  soul. 

“As  Mr.  Tackitt  took  his  seat  Mr.  Brown  advanced  to 
the  front  of  the  rude  pulpit  and  delivered  an  exhortation 
of,  as  I thought,  astonishing  power.  Mr.  Brown  was  a 
fine  specimen  of  a man,  six  feet  in  height,  and  had  as 
symmetrical  and  finely  turned  form  as  you  would  see  in  a 
crowd  of  thousands.  Artists  would  have  been  pleased 
with  his  physique  as  a model.  His  voice  was  strong, 
clear,  musical  and  well  modulated.  He  was  not  a great 
student  of  books,  he  had  no  taste  for  metaphysics,  and 
cared  but  little  for  logic,  and  it  never  bothered  him.  His 
forte  was  exposition,  illustration,  description  and  appeal, 
and  on  this  occasion  he  was  at  his  best  in  all  these  lines  of 
thought.  The  audience  was  so  moved  that  a rousing 
prayer  meeting  easily  followed. 


662 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“Afterwards  in  mingling  with  the  people  I was  sur- 
prised to  hear  made  some  rather  sour  and  bitter  com- 
plaints. ‘I  have  been  taught/  said  one,  ‘that  once  in  grace 
always  in  grace/  Another  inquired : ‘Can  a soul  perish 
for  which  Christ  died  ?’  Some  one  responded : ‘Did  not 

Christ  say : “He  that  endureth  to  the  end  shall  be 

saved?”  ’ and  thus  back  among  the  seats  quite  a discussion 
arose,  revealing  the  fact  that  old  style  Calvinism  had  not 
wholly  departed  from  among  men. 

“I  met  Mr.  Brown  the  next  year  at  a camp  meeting  in 
Charlestown,  Ohio.  He  was  then  pastor  of  the  St.  Clair 
Street  Church  in  Cleveland.  In  that  city  Methodism  had 
in  all  the  past  been  supremely  unfortunate.  Disaster  fol- 
lowed disaster  till  some  in  despair  said  there  was  no  room 
in  Cleveland  for  the  Church.  There  were,  however,  a few 
names  even  in  this  Sardis,  and  the  preachers  had  never 
learned  how  to  sound  retreat.  Money  was  borrowed  of  a 
capitalist  to  built  this  St.  Clair  Street  Church.  He  justi- 
fied himself  for  making  the  loan  when  laughed  at  by  his 
friends  by  saying : ‘Methodism  blotted  out ! Nonsense! 

It  has  as  many  lives  to  live  as  a cat.'  The  time  had  come 
when  the  money  thus  borrowed  must  be  paid,  and  Mr. 
Brown  appeared  at  the  camp  meeting  as  a solicitor  in  be- 
half of  that  Church.  The  privilege  of  presenting  his 
cause  to  the  people  was  readily  granted  and  all  the  preach- 
ers gave  him  their  fullest  sympathy.  He  announced  as 
a text  these  words : ‘There  is  that  withholdest  more  than 
is  meet  and  it  tendeth  to  poverty/  Proverbs.  The  audi- 
ence was  composed  mostly  of  farmers  and  it  was  easy  for 
Mr.  Brown  to  make  them  see  that  if  they  withheld  more 
than  was  meet  of  seed  in  springtime  that  the  tendency 
would  be  to  poverty  when  harvest  time  came,  that  with- 
holding a proper  amount  of  food  from  the  calves,  cattle 
and  horses  would  bring  but  poor  return  when  they  were 
taken  to  the  market,  and  that  withholding  books  and 
teachers  from  the  children  would  result  in  but  a poor  edu- 
cation. On  the  other  hand  the  Bible  teaches  that  if  we 
would  reap  bountifully  we  must  sow  liberally. 

“He  then  gave  a brief  sketch  of  the  secessions,  schisms 
and  financial  blunders,  etc.,  which  had  nearly  blotted 
Methodism  out  of  Cleveland  and  of  the  importance  of  our 
retaining  our  foot-hold  on  St.  Clair  Street.  The  collec- 
tion taken  was  liberal  for  the  times. 


Arthur  M.  Brown , D.  M.  Stearns. 


663 


"A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Newton  obtained  a pri- 
vate interview  with  Mr.  Brown  and  thanked  him  for  his 
sermon  and  urged  him  to  repeat  it  as  often  as  he  had  an 
opportunity.  He  then  slipped  into  his  hand  $30.00  and 
said:  'This  is  for  you.  I put  $10  into  the  collection 

and,  mark  me,  not  a dollar  of  this  goes  to  the  Church  ; you 
will  need  it  for  your  family.* 

"The  effects  of  this  service,  spiritually,  surpassed  any 
that  had  gone  before.  Mr.  Brown  was  greatly  blessed, 
and  in  blessing  him  the  people  were  blessed. 

"This  church  was  saved,  but  the  most  thorough  and 
consecrated  work  had  scarcely  redeemed  Cleveland  from 
the  dire  effects  of  schisms  and  financial  mis-carriages 
which  occurred  many  years  ago.  The  church  has,  how- 
ever, become  strong  and  is  gaining  ground.  We  reap 
the  fruit  of  heroic  efforts  made  a half  century  past."* 

Daniel  M.  Stearns  was  a man  of  deep  and  ardent  piety, 
conscientious  and  manly,  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1807,  and  there  spent 
his  early  life  and  received  his  early  education.  He  was 
converted  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  Chautauqua  County,  N. 
Y.,  in  1826.  Having  been  licensed  to  preach  he  "traveled 
under  the  presiding  elder  one  year."  He  was  admitted  to 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  on  trial  in  1832,  and  became  one 
of  the  original  members  of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
a supernumerary  or  superannuated  for  many  years.  He 
received  a stroke  of  paralysis,  and  fractured  his  right  arm. 
One  of  his  family,  who  was  with  him  in  his  affliction, 
writes : “He  never  feels  a doubt  about  the  future,  but  his 

palsied  hand,  unable  to  grasp  any  other  object,  holds  firm- 

*A.  M.  Brown— Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1831;  full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833, 
Roberts;  elder,  1835,  Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Pittsburg 
Conference,  1843;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1847;  trans- 
ferred to  Kansas  Conference,  1867 ; transferred  to  Erie  Confer- 
ence, 1868;  deceased,  Kidder,  Mo.,  February  1,  1890.  Appoint- 
ments— 1831,  Summerfield;  1832-’33,  Ashtabula;  1834,  Windsor; 
1835,  Painesville;  1836-’37,  Warren,  O.;  1838,  Mesopotamia;  1839, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  1840-’41,  Cleveland;  1842,  Erie;  1843-’44,  Steu- 
benville; 1845-’46,  Bridgewater;  1847-’48,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1849- 
’50,  Ravenna;  1851-’52,  West  Farmington;  1853-’54,  Braceville; 
1855,  Agent,  Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1856-’57,  Kingsville; 
lS58-’59,  Ashtabula;  1860-’61,  Perry;  1862.-’64,  Mentor;  1865,  East 
Cleveland;  1866,  Mayfield;  1867,  not  appointed;  1868,  Bedford; 
1869,  Kent;  1870,  supernumerary;  1871-’89,  superannuated. 


1 


664 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ly  to  the  throne  of  God ; and  his  eye,  dimmed  with  age, 
rests  on  the  promises  of  the  Father,  written  on  the  page  of 
memory,  and  with  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.”  He  passed 
away  quietly  at  his  home,  Strawberry  Point,  Iowa,  April 
14,  1883.* 

Zerah  H.  Coston. 

Previous  to  1832,  there  had  been  some  talk  of  trans- 
ferring Allegheny  College  to  the  patronage  and  control  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  at  the  session  of  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  held  that  year  at  Wellsburg,  Virgin- 
ia, Zerah  H.  Coston  was  appointed  to  the  Meadville  Dis- 
trict ; and  Zerah  H.  Coston,  W.  B.  Mack,  and  Alfred 
Brunson  were  appointed  a committee  to  secure  the  trans- 
fer. This  committee  met  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Morrison,  president  of  the  board.  The  latter 
gentleman  said  to  them  that  they  had  a good  college  build- 
ing, a splendid  library,  and  ample  grounds,  but  the  num- 
ber of  students  was  only  seven.  They  owed  President  Al- 
den  seven  hundred  dollars,  and  there  was  no  money  in  the 
treasury.  Other  Presbyterian  institutions  were  offering 
superior  inducements,  and  drawing  away  the  students. 
He  said  in  conclusion : “We  hold  this  college  enterprise 

dear  to  our  hearts ; and  before  we  give  it  over  to  the  con- 
trol of  the  Methodist  Conference,  it  is  but  reasonable  that 
we  ask  what  you  can  do  for  us  to  make  our  college  a suc- 
cess.” Mr.  Coston,  as  chairman  of  the  committee,  ans- 
wered : “Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Board,  I 

am  authorized  to  say  to  you,  that  if  you  put  this  college 
under  our  patronage  and  control,  we  propose  for  Faculty 
Martin  Ruter,  D.D.,  as  President,  Homer  J.  Clark,  A.M., 
Vice  President,  and  Augustus  Ruter,-  Professor;  and  as 
for  students,  if  our  population  is  sparse,  our  field  is  ample. 
The  bounds  of  our  conference  are,  a line  running  from  the 

*D.  M.  Stearns — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1832; 
full  connection,  1834;  deacon,  1834,  Soule;  became  a member  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  1836,  Soule; 
deceased,  Strawberry  Point,  la.,  April  14,  1883.  Appointments — 
1832,  Forestville;  1833,  Dover;  1834,  Randolph;  1835,  Hudson; 
1836,  Chagrin  Falls;  1837,  Akron;  1838-’39,  superannuated;  1840, 
Ravenna;  1841-’42,  superannuated;  1843,  Twinsburg;  1844,  Chag- 
rin Falls;  1845,  Newburg;  1846-’47,  Franklin,  0.;  1848,  Chardon; 
1849,  Concord;  1850,  superannuated;  1851-’52,  supernumerary; 
1853-’65,  superannuated;  1866-’67,  Mantua;  1868,  Windham;  1869- 
’82,  superannuated. 


mouth  of  Cattaraugus  Creek,  New  York,  to  Olean  Point , 
thence  to  the  top  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains;  thence 
along  the  top  of  said  mountains  to  the  head  of  Tygart's 
Valley  in  Virginia;  thence  down  the  valleys  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Muskingum,  in  Ohio ; thence  up  the  Muskingum 
to  the  Coshocton ; thence  up  the  White  Woman  River  to 
the  summit ; thence  down  the  Cuyahoga  River  to  Lake 
Erie ; thence  down  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. Into  this  field  we  propose  to  send  two  hundred 
live  Methodist  preachers,  as  agents,  to  gather  the  material 
to  build  up  your  college,  and  to  make  it  a permanent 
Methodist  institution.  The  Conference  regards  your  of- 
fer as  an  opening  of  Providence — a call  of  God  to  duty ; 
and  they  are  united  and  have  faith  in  the  enterprise.  The 
college  will  open  this  fall,  under  Vice  President  Clark,  and 
Professor  Ruter.”  Mr.  Morrison  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
said : Gentlemen,  this  looks  more  like  having  a college 

than  anything  we  have  seen  before' ' ; and  to  this  they  all 
agreed.  The  transfer  was  made,  and  the  college  opened 
— President  Ruter  taking  charge  at  the  close  of  his  term 
in  Pittsburg. 

Mr.  Coston  gave  the  college  a bell  which  was  trans- 
ported from  Pittsburg  to  Meadville  by  wagon.  After  a 
time  it  lost  its  tone,  and  was  found  to  be  unsound  and  like 
honey-comb  in  the  crown.  Dr.  Ruter  shipped  it  on  a flat- 
boat  to  Pittsburg  where  it  was  recast.  The  name  of  the 
donor  was  on  the  old  bell  in  raised  letters  around  the 
crown,  and  some  thought  this  lettering  was  the  cause  ot 
the  defect.  The  name  was  omitted  on  the  new  bell,  and  it 
has  done  duty  faithfully  in  calling  the  students  to  their 
daily  duties. 

“Mr.  Coston's  bright  anticipations  in  respect  to  the  col- 
lege were  hardly  realized — at  least  not  immediately.  For 
although  the  preachers  of  the  old  Pittsburg  Conference 
entered  with  a good  deal  of  spirit  on  the  enterprise,  there 
were  difficulties  ahead  they  knew  not  of.  They  sub- 
scribed liberally  to  the  college,  but  unfortunately,  on  the 
poor  pay  of  those  times,  when  conference  rolled  around 
and  pay  day  came,  many  of  them  found  themselves 
cramped  to  meet  their  obligations.  In  the  course  of  time 
murmurings  arose  and  opposition  began  to  manifest  itself. 
Mr.  Coston  was  for  many  years  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  education,  and  had  to  meet  and  overcome  those  un- 


666 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


toward  circumstances.  Happening  to  pass  through  Mead- 
ville  at  one  time,  he  learned  that  the  college  instruments, 
costing  six  hundred  dollars,  had  been  sold  for  a part  of 
the  purchase  money.  He  settled  the  trouble  by  giving  his 
check  for  the  amount,  and  the  instruments  were  returned 
to  the  college  as  a permanent  donation.  He  always  took 
an  active  interest  in  its  welfare  and  in  many  ways  be- 
friended it.  Though  his  gifts  to  the  college  were  not  so 
great  as  some  later  ones  happily  have  been,  yet  the  part 
which  he  acted  in  its  second  founding,  and  the  labors  and 
care  he  bestowed  upon  it  for  many  years,  places  Allegheny 
College  under  a lasting  debt  of  gratitude  to  him.  Alle- 
gheny College  should  record  the  name  of  Zerah  Hale  Cos- 
ton  on  its  roll,  among  the  noblest  of  its  benefactors.” — 
( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , June  ?$,  1874.) 

Rev.  William  Cox  writes  in  1894  his  recollections  of 
Mr.  Coston : “He  was,  as  I remember  him,  a man  some- 

what above  medium  size,  well  proportioned,  dark  hair,  and 
with  an  open,  sunny  and  benignant  face.  He  had  a broad, 
strong  and  inquisitive  mind,  a thirst  for  knowledge  on  all 
subjects  and  from  all  sources  open  to  him.  In  heart  he 
was  in  full  sympathy  with  all  institutions  which  tended  to 
the  welfare  of  man.  In  his  support  of  the  benevolences 
of  the  Church,  and  in  gifts  to  the  poor,  there  was  no  limit 
but  an  exhausted  bank  deposit  and  an  empty  purse.  He 
possessed  extraordinary  cheerfulness ; his  frequent  terrible 
headaches,  extending  through  all  the  years  of  his  min- 
istry, made  him  neither  gloomy  nor  irritable.” — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , May  //,  1894.) 

Zerah  Hale  Coston  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Herkimer 
County,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  6,  1793 ; and  died  in  Lawrence,  Kan- 
sas, June  3,  1874.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen. In  early  manhood  he  found  his  way  down  the  Alle- 
gheny river  in  a skifif,  in  company  with  two  or  three  other 
young  men,  of  whom  Augustus  Eddy,  father  of  Rev.  T. 
M.  Eddy,  was  one.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1820; 
and  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  he  was  received  into  the  travel- 
ing connection  in  the  Ohio  Conference  the  same  year.  He 
was  appointed  to  the  Meadville  District  in  1832;  but  re- 
mained on  the  district  only  one  year.  He  had  become  a 
member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  by  transfer  in  1829.* 


* Appointments — 1820,  West  Wheeling;  1821,  Fairfield;  1822, 


Zerah  H.  Cost  on. 


66  7 


V 


Abner  Jackson,  John  Luccock. 

Abner  Jackson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Exeter,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1795;  was  converted  in  1822; 
and  in  1832,  admitted  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  and 
assigned  to  the  Clarion  Circuit.  He  was  twice  married : 
to  Phosa  Hendryx,  who  died  in  1870,  and  again  to  Mrs. 
Nancy  Eckert,  who  was  called  home  in  1879.  He  entered 
the  army  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age  and  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  was 
for  a time  chaplain  of  the  Ringgold  Cavalry.  He  died 
Aug.  24,  1883,  at  Reynoldsville,  Pa.,  where  he  began  his 
active  ministry  more  than  fifty  years  previously.  A life- 
long friend  says  of  him : “In  the  sixty-three  years  I have 

known  him,  my  mind  has  always  been  deeply  impressed 
that  he  was  good.  Such  have  been  the  fixed  impressions 
of  my  childhood,  youth,  middle  life,  and  old  age.  Yes, 
he  was  good.  He  was  a sweet-spirited,  affectionate,  hon- 
orable man.  His  life  was  a living  example  of  the  religion 
of  Christ.”  His  son,  L.  A.  Jackson,  in  whose  home  he 
died,  says : “He  was*  like  a shock  of  corn  fully  ripe. 

Without  any  disease,  without  any  pain,  he  passed  away  as 
sweetly  as  ever  a tired  babe  went  to  sleep  in  its  mother’s 
loving  arms.  The  watch  ran  down,  and  as  the  spring 
ceased  its  pressure,  the  wheels  stood  still.”* — (Rev.  C.  IV. 
Smith,  D.D.,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Sept. 
27, 1883.) 

Mr.  Jackson,  in  writing  of  his  wife,  says : “She  and  her 
husband  were  converted  at  the  same  altar  and  within  a 


Hockhocking;  1823,  Black  River;  1824,  Granville;  1825,  Zanes- 
ville Circuit;  1826-’28,  Detroit  District;  1829,  “transferred  to 
Pittsburg  Conference  and  stationed  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,” 
but  name  does  not  appear  in  that  Conference;  1830,  Pittsburg; 

1831,  Wheeling;  1832,  Meadville  District;  1833-’34,  Allegheny 
District;  1835,  left  without  appointment;  1836,  name  not  in 
“General  Minutes”;  1837,  Beaver;  1838,  Monongahela  City;  1839, 
Pittsburg,  Liberty  street;  1840-’41,  supernumerary;  1842,  Alle- 
gheny City,  South  Common;  1843,  Agent  of  Allegheny  College; 

1844,  supernumerary;  1845-’46,  superannuated;  1847,  Barnesville; 
1848,  Beaver  District;  1849-’52,  Uniontown  District;  1853-’54, 
Sharpsburg;  1855-’57,  supernumerary;  1858-’74,  superannuated. 

•His  appointments  took  him  to  the  following  fields  of  labor: 

1832,  Clarion;  1833,  Brookville  and  Ridgway  Mission;  1834-’35, 
Butler;  1836-’37,  Harmony;  1838-’39,  Beaver;  1840,  Allegheny 
City,  Beaver  street;  1841-’42,  Beallsville;  1843-’44,  Chartiers; 

1845,  Carmichael  town;  1846,  superannuated;  1847,  Ruffs  Creek 
Mission;  1849-’50,  superannuated;  1851,  Canonsburg;  1852-’53, 
Greenfield;  1854-'82,  superannuated. 


668  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

few  minutes  of  each  other  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  by 
the  presiding  elder,  William  Swayze,  at  the  house  of  Capt. 
Henry  Ball/'  in  Conneaut,  Erie  County,  Pa.  '‘The  first 
remove  was  to  Rockland,  Clarion  County,  seventy  miles 
distant,  five  children  to  care  for  and  husband  gone  most 
of  the  time — home  one  Sunday  in  four  weeks  and  as  many 
nights  as  possible — one  hundred  ninety-eight  miles  around 
the  circuit  and  thirty-two  appointments,  this  was  in  1832. 
The  next  year  the  circuit  was  divided  into  Brookville  and 
Shippenville  Circuits,  and  our  lot  was  to  move  to  Brook- 
ville. The  circuit  was  almost  three  hundred  miles  and 
thirty  appointments.  On  this  circuit  her  husband  was 
home  but  one  day  and  three  nights  in  four  weeks.” 

John  Luccock  was  a native  of  England  where  he  was 
converted  early  in  life.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  as  a probationer  in  1831,  and  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  served 
in  the  best  charges  in  the  conference.  In  1846  he  lo- 
cated and  moved  into  Illinois,  and  the  next  year  his  name 
appears  in  the  Rock  River  Conference.  By  the  division 
of  this  conference,  he  became  a member  of  the  Peoria,  now 
Central  Illinois  Conference,  where  he  labored  as  pastor 
and  presiding  elder,  leading  on  the  Israel  of  God  to  vic- 
tory. He  superannuated  in  1874,  and  passed  to  his  rest 
at  Half  Moon  Bay,  Cal.,  Sept.  9,  1885,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  “In  all  his  appointments  he  showed  himself  to  be 
an  able  defender  of  the  faith  ‘once  delivered  to  the  saints.’ 
He  felt  that  he  was  ‘set  for  the  defense  of  the  gospel,’  and 
was  ready  to  expose  error  in  every  form  in  which  it  ap- 
peared. No  man  ever  labored  more  diligently  to  fulfil 
his  ordination  vow  than  he ; always  ready  to  drive  away 
erroneous  and  strange  doctrines  from  the  Church  of  God, 
that  the  faith  of  the  people  might  not  stand  in  the  wisdom 
of  man,  but  in  the  power  of  God.  ’ — ( Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences, t ol.  XX.,  1885,  P • 344-)  “Mr.  Luccock  was  a 
middling  tall,  stout-built  man,  rather  rough  in  his  fea- 
tures, abrupt  in  his  manners  and  address;  was  shrewd 
and  witty,  excessively  fond  of  controversy,  and  possessed 
a talent  of  superior  ability  for  such  preaching.  The  Lord 
pity  the  Universalist,  Campbellite,  or  Calvinist  that  fell 
in  his  way.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  281.) 


♦John  Luccock — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1831; 
full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833,  Roberts;  elder,  1835,  Andrew; 


John  Prosser. 


669 


John  L.  Holmes  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1832;  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  formation.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
young  man  of  much  promise — “talents  every  way  respect- 
able,” says  Mr.  Gregg.  He  was  superannuated  in  1853, 
and  continued  in  that  relation  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Zumbrota,  Minnesota,  Feb.  17,  1877. 
We  are  able  to  gather  little  information  concerning  the  life 
of  this  brother.* 

Mr.  Gregg  says'of  Thomas  J.  Jennings:  “Mr.  Jen- 

nings was  extremely  tall  and  slim,  a correct  speaker  and 
sermonizer,  but  slow  and  wanting  in  zeal.  He  was  a very 
amiable,  straightforward  man,  of  good  sense.”  After 
seven  years  of  faithful  service  he  asked  for  a location.! 

John  Prosser  was  born  in  Edmondson,  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  April,  1808,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  East 
Springfield,  Erie  County,  Pa.,  December  22,  1882.  He 
was  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  his  eighteenth  year,  in  Hamlet,  Chautauqua 

County,  N.  Y. 

became  a member  of  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836; 
located,  1846;  re-admitted  Rock  River  Conference,  1850; 
became  a member  of  the  Peoria,  afterwards  Central  Illinois  Con- 
ference, at  its  organization,  1856;  deceased,  Half  Moon  Bay,  Cal., 
September  9,  1885.  Appointments — 1831,  Youngstown;  1832-’33, 

Hudson;  1834,  Chardon;  1835-’36,  Geneva;  1837-’38,  Youngstown; 

, 1839,  New  Castle;  1840,  Hartford;  1841-’42,  Mesopotamia;  1843- 
’44,  Ashtabula;  1845,  Morgan;  1850,  Mt.  Carroll,  111.;  1851,  Can- 
ton, 111.;  1852,  Brimfield;  1853,  Rock  Island  District;  1854-57, 
Washington  District;  1858-’60,  Peoria  District;  1861,  Peoria  Cir- 
cuit; 1862-’63,  Mt.  Hedding;  1864-’65,  Groveland;  1866,  Pleasant 
Hill;  1867,  Wataga  and  Shanghai;  1868-’69,  Blandinville;  1870, 
Hudson;  1871-’72,  Chenoa;  1873,  Rook’s  Creek;  1874-’84,  super- 
annuated. 

*J.  L.  Holmes — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1832; 
full  connection,  1834;  deacon,  1834,  Soule;  became  a member  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  1836,  Soule; 
deceased,  Zumbrota,  Minn.,  February  17,  1877.  Appointments — 
1832,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1833,  Youngstown;  1834,  Jefferson;  1835, 
Twinsburg;  1836,  Akron;  1837,  Geneva,  O.;  1838,  Springfield; 
1839,  Espyville;  1840,  Chardon;  1841-’42,  Freedom;  1843,  Frank- 
lin, O.;  1844,  Mercer — did  not  go  to  his  appointment;  1845,  Park- 
man;  1846,  Hubbard;  1847-’48,  Edinburg;  1849-’50,  Gustavus; 
1851-’52,  Southington;  1853-’76,  superannuated. 

tT.  J.  Jennings — Admitted  on  trial,  1832;  full  connection,  1834; 
deacon,  1834,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference 
at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  1836,  Soule;  located,  1839.  Ap- 
pointments— 1832,  Youngsville;  1833,  Smethport  and  Sinnema- 
honing  Mission;  1834,  North  East;  1835,  Gerry;  1836,  Fredonia, 
N.  Y.;  1837,  Mesopotamia;  1838,  Williamsfield. 


670 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


In  1864  Brother  Prosser  and  family  settled  in  East 
Springfield.  Too  feeble  to  do  effective  work  in  the  min- 
istry during  the  last  twenty-two  years  of  his  life,  he  was, 
nevertheless,  abundant  in  labors. 

John  Prosser  was  a faithful  minister.  He  was  made 
many  years  ago  wonderfully  useful  in  awakening  sinners 
and  leading  them  to  Jesus.  His  talents  were  more  of  the 
useful  than  of  the  dazzling  kind.  He  was  decidedly  evan- 
gelical ; he  made  his  grand  aim  to  impress  the  truths  of  the 
gospel  in  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  He  was  eminently  a 
man  of  convictions,  and  no  force  of  circumstances  could 
ever  swerve  him  one  jot  or  tittle  from  what  he  believed  to 
be  right.  Simplicity  marked  his  appearance,  his  reasoning 
and  his  whole  conduct.  He  was  always  genuine  and 
natural.  There  was  in  him  an  unaffected  humility;  with 
him  it  was  not  the  man,  but  the  cause.  He  was  remark- 
able also  for  his  habitual  devotion  and  regard  to  divine 
Providence.  Nor  was  he  less  distinguished  for  his  social 
qualities.  Love  appeared  in  all  his  purposes  and  acts. 
You  could  not  be  in  his  company  without  feeling  it.  He 
was  ready  for  every  good  work  or  word.  Those  who  saw 
him  once  knew  him;  intimacy  gave  a deeper  insight,  but 
furnished  no  ground  for  changing  the  opinion  first  formed 
of  him.  He  would  both  originate  and  elucidate  topics  so 
that  his  conversation  was  always  fertile,  elegant,  and  at- 
tractive. 

His  last  sickness  was  pneumonia.  As  the  end  drew 
near  he  said : “I  am  almost  home.”  On  Sabbath,  Dec. 

24,  1882,  his  body  was  taken  to  the  East  Springfield 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  E.  M.  Kernick  to  the  largest  congrega- 
tion ever  assembled  in  the  church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gel- 
ford,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crompton,  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  the  Rev.  N.  W.  Jones,  of  Erie  Con- 
ference, participated  in  the  services,  after  which  all  that 
was  mortal  of  him  was  laid  away  in  the  East  Springfield 
Cemetery. 

John  Prosser  was  one  of  the  company  of  ministers 
which  Chautauqua  County  has  given  to  the  Methodist 
Church.  Small  of  stature,  of  fair  ability  as  a sermonizer, 
he  was  very  efficient  as  a laborer  in  the  Master’s  vineyard. 
His  mind  was  clear,  active  and  in  the  peculiar  range  it 


John  Prosser.  671 

took,  it  cut  like  a diamond.  There  was  in  him  the  poetic 
element  which  on  occasions  would  flash  forth  in  brilliant 
thought,  as  surprising  to  him  as  to  those  listening.  His 
lively  and  creative  imagination  would  on  the  instant  form 
conceptions  which  were  as  original  as  they  were  striking. 

He  could  preach — he  could  sermonize,  but  his  force  was 
in  exhortation,  prayer  and  song.  His  voice  was  clear, 
strong  and  musical.  So  sensitive  was  his  temperament 
that  he  became  an  incarnation  of  the  moral  elements  of 
surrounding  circumstances.  He  could  not  but  weep  with 
them  who  wept,  and  rejoice  with  them  who  rejoiced. 
When  in  health  and  strength,  he  was  a great  power  at 
camp  meetings  and  in  revival  meetings.  Sometimes  a 
few  words  spoken  in  a love  feast  were  followed  by  a feel- 
ing of  awful  solemnity,  and  at  others  by  thrills  of  rapture 
and  shouts  of  joy. 

Such  was  .the  sensitive  temperament  of  Mr.  Prosser  that 
he  could  endure  but  little  excitement,  and  after  a few  years 
of  labor,  much  of  the  time  at  camp-meetings  and  in  pro- 
tracted meetings,  he  broke  down  and  retired.  Rest 
brought  him  into  the  work  again,  but  in  less  than  a year  . 
his  health  failed  once  more.  His  last  regular  appoint- 
ment was  to  the  Girard  Circuit  in  1848,  but  his  usefulness 
by  no  means  terminated  at  this  time.  Making  Spring- 
field,  Pa.,  his  home,  he  sustained  for  many  years  to  his 
conference  a superannuated  relation.  He  made  for  him- 
self a comfortable  home,  and  such  was  his  industry  and 
economy,  that  he  was  able  to  resign  to  others  all  Confer- 
ence funds.  Such  was  his  high  character  and  warm  tem- 
perament that  he  was  in  every  way  suited  to  officiate  on 
funeral  occasions,  and  but  few  persons  have  been  called 
upon  more  frequently  than  John  Prosser  to  bury  the  dead. 

He  was  equally  happy  in  his  method  of  officiating  at  wed- 
dings, and  his  services  in  that  respect  were  often  called 
into  requisition.  At  social  gatherings  he  was  reserved, 
and  yet  he  always  had  a word  of  good  cheer  for  every 
one.  As  a friend,  he  was  steadfast : as  a counselor,  safe. 
The  sick  and  dying  often  sent  to  him  for  instruction  in  the 
way  of  salvation,  and  not  in  vain : for  to  him  the  way  of 
life  was  a plain  and  familiar  path.  He  never  ceased  to 
take  a lively  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  church  mili- 
tant till  he  was  called  to  join  the  church  triumphant.* 

*John  Prosser — Licensed  to  preach.  1832;  admitted  on  trial, 


6/2  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Mr.  Gregg’s  Experience  on  the  Smethport  Circuit. 

Mr.  Gregg  relates  an  interesting  bit  of  experience,  and 
we  will  let  him  tell  the  story:  “In  connection  with  Mr. 

Butt,  J was  sent  by  the  conference  to  form  a new  circuit 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Allegheny  river,  along  the  Tun- 
ungwant  creek,  up  and  down  the  different  branches  of  the 
Sinneniahoning  creek,  embracing  Potato  creek,  and  on  the 
intervening  ridges  and  mountains,  with  Smethport,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  our  headquarters.  As  yet  there  was  hut  one 
society  formed  in  this  region,  and  it  was  at  Smethport, 
consisting  of  about  twenty-six  members.  Our  circuit, 
when  formed,  gave  us  a ride  of  three  hundred  miles,  cross- 
ing- large  hridgeless  streams  thirty  times,  and  preaching 
from  thirty  to  forty  sermons  every  four  weeks,  and  in 
several  places  we  were  compelled  to  travel  from  fourteen 
to  eighteen  miles  without  an  inhabitant.  T he  second  Fri- 
day after  conference  adjourned  found  us  late  in  the  even- 
ing at  Smethport,  having  traveled  during  the  day  on 
horseback  from  Kinzua,  on  the  Allegheny  river,  a dis- 
tance of  thirty  miles,  along  a blind  footpath,  over  rugged 
mountains,  without  finding  a single  inhabitant. 

“The  first  and  second  Sabbaths  we  spent  upon  our  new 
charges  we  were  at  Coudersport,  county  seat  of  Potter 
County,  Pa.,  situated  on  the  Allegheny  river,  six  or  eight 
miles  from  its  head  spring.  At  this  time  there  was  not  a 
court  house,  church,  school  house,  nor  a religious  society 
in  the  place.  We  preached  twice  each  day  in  Mr.  Carty’s 
barroom  to  a small  congregation ; but  we  left  a society  of 
forty  members  in  that  place  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

“The  second  time  we  were  at  the  mouth  of  the  first 
branch  of  the  Sinneniahoning,  after  a hard  day’s  travel, 
having  put  up  for  the  night  at  a friend’s  house,  we  were 
sitting  in  a rather  despairing-  mood,  our  thoughts  running 
on  this  wise : Here  we  are,  far  from  home  and  friends, 

Pittsburg  Conference,  1832;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased.  East  Springfield,  Pa., 
December  22,  1882.  Appointments — 1832,  Napoli,  1833-’34,  with- 
out appointment;  1835,  Springfield;  1836,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1837, 
Ashtabula;  1838-’39,  superannuated;  1840,  supernumerary;  1841, 
Geneva;  1842,  Evansburg;  1843,  Mayville;  1844,  Quincy  and 
Westfield;  1845,  Westfield;  1846,  Mill  Creek'  Mission;  1847, 
Springfield;  1848~’54,  superannuated;  1855,  Albion;  1856,  Con- 
neaut;  1857,  superannuated;  1858,  McKean;  1859-’82,  superan- 
nuated. 


BM 


■■■■■■■■■■■Hi 


Samuel  Gregg  s Experience.  673 

clothes  nearly  worn  out,  no  money  to  get  new  ones  with, 
and  no  society  to  look  for  help ; a cold  winter  is  approach- 
ing; we  must  perish  in  these  long  wilderness  rides  as  we 
are  clad ; our  cheeks  have  several  times  been  wet  during 
the  day,  as  they  then  were.  Suddenly  in  came  a young 
man  and  took  hold  of  our  hand  and  shook  it  heartily  say- 
ing, that  since  we  were  there  before,  he  had  been  re- 
claimed from  the  backslidden  state  he  was  then  in,  and 
was  now  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  religion.  After  a 
few  other  remarks  he  invited  us  to  walk  down  street  with 
him,  which  we  did.  He  took  us  into  a tailor’s  shop  and 
ordered  down  a roll  of  cloth  he  had  left  there,  and  told  the 
tailor  to  measure  this  man,  and  make  him  a new  suit  of 
clothes  throughout,  coat,  pants,  and  vest,  and  to  have  them 
ready  next  time  he  came  round.  It  was  done  as  ordered, 
and  never  was  there  an  act  of  the  kind  more  unlooked  for. 
more  needed,  more  providentially  sent,  or  more  thankfully 
received. 

“One  cold,  blustering  day  about  the  middle  of  March 
we  were  under  the  necessity  of  riding  on  horseback  from 
Smethport,  about  fourteen  miles,  to  a settlement  to  the 
Tunungwant  creek,  where  we  had  an  appointment  to 
preach  the  next  day,  there  being  no  human  habitation  be- 
tween the  two  settlements.  About  four  miles  this  side  of 
the  place  of  our  destination  we  came  to  the  Tunungwant 
creek,  which  must  be  crossed.  The  creek  was  badly  swol- 
len, and  the  water  was  clear  over  its  banks  at  the  place  of 
crossing,  it  having  rained  hard  the  day  before.  There 
was  a poorly  constructed  bridge  across  the  stream,  con- 
sisting of  loose  plank  laid  across  round  logs,  which  served 
as  sleepers ; but  the  water  was  running  around  both  ends 
of  the  bridge.  We  succeeded  in  getting  our  skittish  horse 
on  the  bridge  and  part  way  over  it,  when  he  suddenly 
took  fright  at  a limb  of  a tree  which  lay  at  our  right,  and 
sprang  furiously  in  the  opposite  direction.  We  saw  that 
he  would  go  off  the  bridge,  and  so  drew  our  feet  from  the 
stirrups,  and  as  the  horse  went  down  into  the  water  we 
caught  hold  of  a sleeper  and  held  fast,  so  as  not  to  go  en- 
tirely under  the  water,  thoughtfully  retaining  hold  of  the 
horse’s  bridle  in  one  hand.  We  soon  drew  ourself  up  on 
the  log  and  started  for  the  dry  land,  leading  our  horse, 
which  soon  reached  the  bank,  and  clambered  up  on  it,  and 
over  logs  and  brush  partly  covered  with  water,  until  we 


43 


674 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


reached  a dry  place,  where  we  tied  him  to  a small  tree  and 
returned  to  get  our  saddle  and  portmanteau.  As  the 
horse  went  off  from  the  side  of  the  bridge  the  girth  gave 
way,  and  both  the  saddle  and  postbags  had  fallen  on  a 
plank  which  the  horse  had  tipped  into  the  water,  and 
which  had  kept  them  from  sinking  or  floating  away. 
We  soon  got  hold  of  them  and  placed  them  on  the  horse, 
mounted,  and  rode  him  as  fast  as  he  could  run  the  re- 
maining four  miles,  halting  at  the  first  inhabited  log  house 
we  came  to,  so  nearly  perished  that  the  good  people  had 
to  help  us  dismount  and  into  the  house,  where  our  frozen 
clothes  had  to  be  thawed  before  a good  hot  fire.  After 
getting  some  refreshments  we  kneeled  down  with  the  fam- 
ily, and  thanked  our  kind  heavenly  Parent  that  it  was  no 
worse  with  us. 

“At  the  end  of  the  year  we  left  twelve  societies,  contain- 
ing two  hundred  and  five  members,  on  our  new  circuit. 
This  year  was  one  of  great  prosperity  throughout  oui 
work.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  I,  pp.  299-302.) 

Methodism  in  Ravenna. 

“Father  Shewel,”  a faithful  old  pioneer  and  local 
preacher,  living  in  Rootstown,  formed  numerous  Meth- 
odist classes  in  Eastern  Ohio.  During  the  summer  of 
1814  he  established  an  appointment  for  preaching  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town  of  Ravenna,  about  one  mile  from 
the  present  village.  Here  he  formed  a class  of  seven 
members.  Ravenna  proper  did  not  have  regular  preach- 
ing until  1825.  Thus,  for  some  six  years  previous  to  the 
year  of  1831  it  was  favored,  in  addition  to  other  Church 
privileges,  with  monthly  preaching  by  Methodist  itiner- 
ants. On  one  of  those  occasions — Sunday,  March  13, 
1831 — the  preacher  invited  those  of  the  congregation  who 
felt  so  disposed  to  tarry  at  the  close  of  the  services  for 
class.  Five  responded,  and  gave  him  their  names.  Two 
weeks  from  this  date,  in  a log  school  house  some  two  miles 
north  of  this  village,  these  members,  together  with  three 
others,  were  fully  organized  into  a Church. 

Ravenna,  at  the  time  of  this  organization,  was  within 
the  boundaries  of  the  Ohio  District.  The  meetings  of  the 
society  were  continued  in  the  log  school  house  during  the 
spring  and  summer  of  that  year.  Early  in  September  they 


s 


Methodism  in  Ravenna. 


675 


were  removed  to  the  brick  school  house  in  the  village. 
On  Sunday,  the  eighteenth  of  September,  the  same  year, 
a Sunday  School  was  organized.  The  society  continued 
to  occupy  the  brick  school  house  for  a place  of  worship 
until  the  completion  of  the  first  meeting  house,  which  was 
dedicated  in  December,  1832,  less  than  two  years  from  the 
meeting  of  that  little  band  of  eight  in  that  rural  retreat, 
the  country  log  school  house.  It  was  a good  substantial 
frame  building.  In  1856  it  was  removed,  to  give  place  to 
one  of  larger  dimensions.  The  fine  .brick  building  we 
now  occupy  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Simpson  on  January 
30, 1857. 

The  Centennial  year  of  Methodism,  1839,  was  duly  ob- 
served by  us,  in  common  with  Methodists  all  through  the 
country.  In  July,  1857,  the  Erie  Conference  held  its  ses- 
sion in  this  place,  Bishop  Scott  presiding. 

In  1873  was  inaugurated  the  “Woman’s  Temperance 
Crusaders,”  also  called  “The  Praying  Band.”  Here,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Woodbridge  took  the  lead.  Ravenna  was  her 
home.  Ere  she  died,  she  became  a power  in  the  tempe- 
rance cause,  on  both  sides  of  the  ocean,  as  a co-worker 
with  Frances  E.  Willard  and  Lady  Henry  Somerset. 

Quite  extensive  repairs  were  made  on  our  church  prop- 
erty in  1896.  The  old  steeple  was  taken  down,  and  a new 
one  put  up.  A room  was  excavated  under  the  church  for 
a furnace,  and  a furnace  put  in.  The  lot  was  graded,  the 
church  and  parsonage  painted,  and  a new  carpet  laid  down 
in  the  church.  Our  congregations  and  our  church  prop- 
erty are  probably  on  a par  with  those  of  our  neighbors, 
with  whom  we  have  cordial  intercourse. — ( Barker , His- 
tory of  Ohio  Methodism , pp.  41 3-41 5.) 

Mr.  Gregg  says  of  the  beginning  of  Methodism  in  Ra- 
venna : 

‘‘Ravenna,  Portage  County,  Ohio,  had  enjoyed  Meth- 
odist preaching  for  many  years,  and  at  one  time,  a class 
was  accustomed  to  meet  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 
Because  of  reduced  numbers  and  lack  of  proper  oversight, 
this  pioneer  class  had  been  abandoned. 

In  1831,  Samuel  Foljambe,  who  had  been  a member 
of  the  old  John  Street  Church  in  New  York  City  and 
later,  of  the  Franklin  Mills  Class,  moved  to  Ravenna. 

L pon  his  invitation  the  circuit  preachers  established  a per- 
manent appointment  in  the  village,  and  a class  of  nine 


676  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

members  was  organized — Samuel  Foljambe  and  wife,  Su- 
san Brown,  Dennis  Sutliff  and  wife,  Darius  Ely,  Edwin 
Bostwick,  Hannah  Sapp  and  Sarah  Sapp.  Cyrus  Prentis 
and  wife  soon  joined  the  little  society.’ ’ — ( Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  288,  289.) 

History  of  Methodism  in  Akron,  Ohio. 

The  first  camp  meeting  ever  held  in  this  part  of  the 
country  was  held  a few  miles  southwest  of  Akron  on  the 
lands  of  Dr.  Clarke.  The  “word  preached  was  attended 
with  power  to  the  hearts  of  the  people/’ 

Gregg  says  that  Akron  “was  frequently  visited  by 
Methodist  preachers,  who  found  a welcome  home  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Paul  Williams.  Yet  no  society  was  or- 
ganized until  1824.  Rev.  James  Mclntire,  on  the  Huron 
Circuit,  Ohio  Conference,  succeeded  in  forming  a class, 
consisting  of  Mr.  Singlee  and  wife,  Mr.  Barkdull  and 
wife,  and  a few  others.’’ 

E.  C.  Gavitt  states  in  his  biography  that  he  preached 
in  Akron  in  1829,  in  a warehouse  owned  by  Mr.  Green. 
During  this  year  he  established  the  first  Sabbath  School 
in  that  city,  with  two  teachers  and  nine  scholars.  Akron 
was  at  this  time  within  the  bounds  of  the  North  Ohio 
Conference. 

In  about  1832,  and  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John 
Janes,  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference,  the  erection  of  the 
first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  edifice  was  commenced, 
and  it  was  several  years  in  building.  It  was  a plain 
wooden  structure  of  40  by  60  feet,  and  was  located  di- 
rectly in  front  of  the  present  one,  and  fronting  westward. 
It  was  not  entirely  completed  when  destroyed  by  fire, 
March  16,  1841,  John  Robinson  being  the  pastor  at  this 
time.  Not  disheartened  by  the  misfortune  in  the  loss  of 
its  church  edifice,  the  society,  with  its  scanty  means, 
caused  to  rise,  phoenix-like,  from  its  ashes,  another  of  like 
character,  which  served  as  the  spiritual  birthplace  of  many 
who  have  joined  the  Church  triumphant. 

During  the  pastorate  of  J.  D.  Norton,  in  order  to  meet 
the  increased  wants  of  the  society,  it  was  found  that  the 
old  church  must  undergo  extension  and  reparation.  The 
necessity  for  this  having  been  urged  upon  the  trustees  by 
the  pastor,  the  work  of  reversing  its  front,  and  of  enlarg- 
ing and  otherwise  improving  it,  was  effected  at  a cost  of 


History  of  Methodism  in  Akron , O.  677 


about  $3,500.  In  the  spring  of  1867  ground  was  broken 
for  the  present  edifice,  and  by  the  late  autumn  the  stone 
foundation  walls  were  raised  to  about  one-half  of  their 
intended  height.  The  work  of  building  was  then  per- 
mitted to  rest  for  the  winter,  and  was  again  resumed  in 
the  spring  of  1868,  and  prosecuted  to  the  entire  enclosing 
of  the  building  by  the  return  of  the  autumn  following. 
Another  winter’s  cessation  from  the  work  was  followed 
by  its  resumption  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and  by  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Sunday  school  and  the  remaining  first-story 
apartments  in  April,  1870. 

The  present  church  edifice,  erected  during  the  years 
i866-?72,  was  at  the  time  a radical  departure  from  exist- 
ing practice  in  church  construction,  its  principal  peculiar- 
ity being  its  more  prominent  recognition  of  the  Sabbath 
school  and  accommodations  for  it  than  had  been  the  cus- 
tom in  the  past.  The  plan,  since  widely  known  as  the 
“Akron  Model,”  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  combined  ef- 
forts of  Hon.  Lewis  Miller  and  the  late  Jacob  Snyder, 
architect,  both  of  this  city. 

It  would  seem  useless  at  this  late  day  to  go  into  details 
regarding  the  plan  of  this  church  and  school,  as  the 
“Akron  Model”  has  been  so  widely  adopted  in  the  suc- 
ceeding years  that  it  has  become  well  known,  not  only  to 
Methodists,  but  to  nearly  all  denominations  in  the  country, 
as  its  general  idea  has  been  adopted  almost  universally  in 
prominent  buildings  erected  during  recent  years.  Al- 
though the  pioneer  church  built  after  this  model,  it  is  gen- 
erally conceded  that  it  has  never  been  surpassed  in  work- 
ing efficiency.  Not  only  was  it  the  first  church  built  on 
these  original  lines,  but  it  was  the  first  Sunday  school 
operated  on  the  graded  plan. 

The  prayer-meeting  rooms,  parlors,  etc.,  are  well  ar- 
ranged for  devotional  and  social  work.  The  auditorium 
is  commodious,  and  elegant  in  its  appointments  and  will 
seat  one  thousand  people  in  its  comfortable  pews,  with 
emergency  sittings  for  three  hundred  more. 

In  connection  with  the  church  are  three  well-equipped 
and  liberally-endowed  libraries,  one  of  which  is  a library 
of  current  literature. 

Within  twenty-five  years  five  churches  have  been  or- 
ganized from  among  the  members  of  “Old  First  Church,” 
as  the  city  has  rapidly  grown.  It  has  now  a membership 


678  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

of  one  thousand,  its  Sunday  school  enrolling  about  eight 
hundred. 

Many  influential  and  able  laymen  have  managed  the 
affairs  of  this  great  church,  and  it  has  been  served  by  some 
very  able  ministers.  The  present  official  board  is  com- 
posed mainly  of  progressive  business  and  professional 
men.  and  the  church  never  had  better  prospects  or  wider 
opportunities  for  usefulness  than  now. 

The  tine  parsonage,  standing  on  a lot  adjoining  the 
church,  cost,  including  its  furnishings,  $13,000. — ( Bar- 
ker, History  of  Ohio  Methodism , pp.  306-308;  Treasury 
of  Religious  Thought,  Vol.  XXIV,  p.  141.) 

The  organization  of  the  City  Evangelization  Union  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Akron,  Ohio,  has  al- 
ready worked  to  the  advantage  of  Methodism  in  that  city. 
The  Arlington  Street  Church  came  to  Methodism  from 
the  Congregationalism  April  4,  1904,  the  church  is  prob- 
ably valued  at  $6,000,  has  a growing  Sunday  school  and 
a small  membership.  The  Wooster  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  the  winter  of  1904-5,  and  prayer  meetings  were 
held  in  different  houses,  funds  were  raised  in  different 
churches  in  Akron,  a beautiful  lot  was  secured  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Raymond  Street  and  a chapel  erected  at  a cost  of 
about  $1,000  and  dedicated  June  4,  1905,  by  L.  H.  Stew- 
art, presiding  elder. 

Universalism,  at  an  early  date,  was  strong  in  Akron 
and  its  immediate  vicinity.  It  was  accepted  and  believed 
by  some  influential  families  among  the  first  settlers,  and 
long  retained  prestige  and  position  in  the  history  of  the 
community.  But  the  later  years  have  changed  this.  Im- 
perceptibly it  lost  ground,  and  to-day  has  but  a few  ad- 
herents. 

Knox,  and  Cambridge  Springs. 

We  can  find  no  record  of  the  organization  of  the  first 
class  at  Edenburg — now  Knox.  It  may  have  been  as 
early  as  1832.  That  year  a camp  meeting  was  held  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Thompson  Farm.  Zerah  H.  Coston 
was  the  presiding  elder.  It  was,  at  that  time,  a part  of 
the  Shippenville  Circuit,  which  consisted  of  eleven  ap- 
pointments scattered  over  a wide  territory.  Later  it  be- 
came a part  of  the  Salem  Circuit.  The.  earliest  records 
carry  us  back  to  1851.  Among  the  members  were  Fran- 


Knox  and  Cambridge  Springs. 


679 


cis  Thompson,  John  G.  Mendenhall  and  wife,  and  J.  Rath- 
ford  and  wife.  Brother  Rathford  was  the  class  leader. 

E.  M.  Kernick  was  sent  to  the  work  in  1875,  and 
preached  also  at  Turkey  City,  Salem,  Mount  Joy  and 
Perry  Chapel.  Edenburg  first  appears  as  an  appointment 
in  1876.  A church  was  erected  and  dedicated  June  16, 
1876.  The  trustees  were  William  P.  Finley,  Maj.  J.  B. 
Maitland,  J.  J.  Bradley,  Daniel  Gilger,  J.  I.  Best,  G.  G. 
Howe,  and  R.  C.  Armstrong.  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  J.  G.  Mem 
denhall  gave  three  lots  for  a site,  and  at  the  first  quarterly 
meeting  presented  to  the  church  a costly  communion  ser- 
vice. The  church  cost  $5,000.  There  were  but  thirteen 
members  when  the  work  on  the  church  began ; there  were 
sixty  when  the  church  was  dedicated.  “Mr.  J.  G.  Men- 
denhall, who  had  given  so  much  toward  the  erection  of 
this  new  church,  and  whose  great  ambition  amid  all  his 
other  business,  was  to  see  a church  established,  was  taken 
from  his  bed  to  the  dedication,  where  he  put  on  his  last 
thousand  to  see  it  dedicated,  and  was  carried  back,  and 
was  never  out  of  his  house  again  until  he  was  carried  out” 
to  his  burial. — ( Miss  Hettie  A.  Keatley,  Compendium  of 
Edenburg  and  Edenburg  People,  p.  38.) 

A parsonage  was  also  erected  at  a cost  of  $1,600.  Jan- 
uary 5,  1877,  ^e  church  burned  down.  The  work  of 
erecting  a new  church  progressed  rapidly,  and  a fine  edi- 
fice, costing  nearly  $10,000,  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  J.  P. 
Newman,  D.D.,  Oct.  17,  1877.  Less  than  one  year  later, 
this  church  was  destroyed  in  the  great  conflagration  which 
swept  Edenburg.  The  parsonage  was  also  consumed. 
A third  church  was  erected,  and  caught  fire  in  January, 
l&79>  but  fortunately  the  flames  were  soon  extinguished. 
A new  parsonage  was  also  secured,  but  was  sold  in  1881 
and  another  built  on  the  church  lot. 

The  first  religious  edifice  erected  in  Cambridgeboro — 
now  Cambridge  Springs — was  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  East  Church  Street.  It  was  dedicated  in  1832. 
This  was  replaced  by  a new  and  more  commodious  build- 
ing in  1865.  The  class  had  been  organized  since  1828. 
Services  were  held  for  some  time  in  the  school  house  and 
in  John  W.  McFadden's  old  distillery  which  stood  where 
the  Congregational  Church  now  stands.  Among  the 
leading  members  of  the  society  were : Christian  Blv> 

stone,  Eleazer  Rockwell,  Bernard  and  Rebecca  Rockwell, 


68o  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

and  John  W.  McFadden.  Cambridge  Circuit  was  form- 
ed in  1832,  continuing  until  1844  when  Cambridge  was 
connected  with  the  Rockville  Circuit  until  1878  when  the 
name  again  appears  ip  the  list  of  appointments.  The  cir- 
cuit at  that  time  included  Cambridge,  Venango,  and  Skel- 
ton. 

“The  first  real  revival  at  Cambridge  dates  from  the  con- 
version of  Laura  A.  Bonifield  while  on  what  was  supposed 
to  be  her  death  bed.  People  came  from  all  the  surround- 
ing country  to  see  her,  and  she  so  preached  Jesus  to  them 
that  they  became  deeply  concerned  and  a seriousness  came 
over  the  whole  community  such  as  had  never  been  known 
previously.  In  the  winter,  at  the  quarterly  meeting  held 
bv  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  the  presiding  elder,  a revival  broke 
out,  and  was  carried  on  by  S.  K.  Paden,  the  circuit 
preacher.  The  whole  house  was  a mourner’s  bench.” 

Our  Church  in  Sherman. 

Methodism  had  its  birth  in  Sherman  in  1832,  when  a 
class  was  gathered  by  Otis  Miller,  who,  with  his  family, 
came  from  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  the  spring  of  the 
same  year.  Among  the  members  of  the  early  class  were 
John  Pierson,  Jud  Pierson  and  wife,  Otis  Miller  and  wife. 
Polly  Miller  and  Esther  Kip.  The  first  convert  to  be 
added  to  the  class  after  its  organization  was  Ezra  Smith, 
still  living  (1902.) 

The  services  of  a regular  minister  were  not  easily  pro- 
cured in  that  early  day,  hence  it  was  not  until  Dec.  12, 
1833,  that  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was  preached  in 
Sherman.  This  was  delivered  in  the  home  of  Otis  Miller 
by  Darius  Williams.  From  a diary  kept  by  Mrs.  B.  H. 
Kip,  it  is  learned  that  the  text  chosen  on  this  occasion  was 
Matthew  9:  12.  “But  when  he  heard  it,  he  said,  they 
that  are  whole  have  no  need  of  a physician,  but  they  that 
are  sick.”  Associated  with  Mr.  Williams  was  F.  A. 
Dighton,  who  organized  the  class  officially  Dec.  26,  1833  : 
seven  members — King,  Ruth  and  Welcome  Henry;  Wil- 
liam Green  and  wife ; Ezra  Smith  and  Clarissa  Smith. 
From  the  diary  above  mentioned  it  is  learned  that  his 
first  sermon  preached  in  Sherman  was  on  that  date,  and 
from  the  text,  Col.  2 : 6,  “As  therefore  ye  received  Christ 
Jesus,  the  Lord,  so  walk  in  him.”  The  Sherman  appoint- 
ment was  attached  to  the  Westfield  Circuit,  and  enjoyed 


Our  Church  in  Sherman. 


68 1 

preaching  every  four  weeks.  The  home  of  Otis  Miller 
was  used  as  a place  of  worship  until  1836  when  a room  in 
the  carding-mill  of  Kip  & Miller  was  used.  This  was  lo- 
cated on  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Franklin  streets. 
During  the  summer  of  1835,  the  first  school  house  of  the 
village  was  erected  at  the  point  where  Kip  Street  enters 
Main.  Soon  after  this  was  erected,  it  was  used  as  the 
place  for  public  worship. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  built  in  1848. 
The  building  was  donated  by  Elijah  Miller.  Labor  in 
that  day  was  more  plentiful  than  money,  and  so  with  an 
expenditure  of  money  amounting  to  less  than  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  and  a liberal  donation  of  sendee  the 
new  church  was  soon  completed  and  dedicated  by  J.  H. 
Whallow,  preacher  in  charge. 

The  church  now  entered  upon  an  era  of  prosperity 
which  soon  made  it  necessary  to  provide  still  more  com- 
modious quarters.  In  1866,  this  new  enterprise  was  in- 
augurated. The  story  of  raising  the  necessary  funds  for 
the  proposed  church  would  form  an  interesting  history, 
and  one  characterized  by  both  pleasantry  and  pathos.  The 
history  would  tell  of  “quilting  bees”  and  “rag  bees”  given 
by  the  women.  It  would  tell  of  contributions  of  labor 
and  various  materials  by  the  men.  Besides,  it  would  tell 
of  sacrifices  made  and  prayers  offered  on  the  part  of  the 
whole  membership  of  earnest  and  zealous  workers.  In 
1868  the  new  building  was  completed,  and  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  January  of  that  year  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God  by  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 

When  Sherman  became  a place  of  residence  for  one  of 
the  preachers  appointed  to  the  Mavville  and  Sherman  Cir- 
cuit, a parsonage  was  erected,  the  first  occupant  of  which 
was  Alexander  Barris.  The  present  parsonage  was  erect- 
ed under  the  pastorate  of  C.  W.  Minor  in  1884. 

In  1842  Mayville  became  the  head  of  a new  circuit  with 
Sherman  as  an  out  appointment.  In  1851,  Sherman  ap- 
pears for  the  first  time  as  an  appointment,  and  then  as 
“Mayville  and  Sherman.”  Previous  to  this  time  Sher- 
man had  been  known  as  Millersville,  then  as  Kippville. 
In  1853  it  became  the  head  of  a circuit.  In  1892.  during 
the  pastorate  of  H.  M.  Burns,  the  Xorth  Harmony  ap- 
pointment was  made  a part  of  the  Panama  Circuit,  and 
Sherman  became  a station. 


682 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


The  first  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1834  in  the 
home  of  B.  H.  Kip,  located  on  Main  Street,  on  the  site  of 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Dr.  Guy  L. 
Granger.  Otis  Miller  was  superintendent.  Seating  ac- 
commodations were  provided  by  the  use  of  old  sap 
troughs. 

Eight  men  have  been  called  from  the  altars  of  this 
church  to  preach  the  gospel : David  C.  Osborne,  G.  W. 

Gray,  E.  T.  Green,  Stephen  Parker,  Orin  Parker,  James 

L.  Chace,  Will  O.  Calhoon  and  Herbert  A.  Ellis. — -(Early 
History  of  Sherman  Methodism , by  Rev.  Elmer  E.  Hig- 
ley , printed  in  1902.) 

Gracious  Revivals. 

Alcinous  Young  writing  from  Erie,  Pa.,  April  20,  1831, 
says : 

“A  two  day’s  meeting  has  been  held  in  this  place,  which 
was  attended  with  very  happy  effects.  From  this  time  a 
new  impulse  has  been  given  to  the-  work  of  God  in  this 
region  of  country,  and  our  Presbyterian  brethren  have  en- 
tered into  the  good  cause.  The  large  brick  church,  the 
court  house,  the  academv  and  the  private  school  rooms 
are  thronged  with  deeply  attentive  hearers  and  with  weep- 
ing penitents.  All  seem  agreed  at  present  to  urge  upon 
the  sinner  the  immediate  acceptance  of  salvation  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ ; and  a hope  is  indulged  that  the 
young  converts  may  never  have  their  minds  poisoned  with 
the  doctrine  of  unconditional  decrees.  For  the  present, 
our  doctrine  of  free  salvation  through  Christ  for  all  men, 
as  well  as  the  singing  of  our  hymns,  etc.,  is  used  with 
great  effect  by  our  neighbors  as  well  as  by  ourselves. 
May  this  doctrine  everywhere  and  always  prevail.” 

W.  B.  Mack  writes  from  Meadville,  Pa.,  May  27,  1831 : 
“Our  heavenly  Father  has  been  pleased  to  favor  us  .with 
a gracious  revival  of  religion  within  the  bounds  of  this 
district  this  year.  Forestville,  North  East  and  Erie  Cir- 
cuits have  been  favored  with  a fertilizing  shower  of  divine 
grace.  About  five  hundred  have  been  received  as  proba- 
tioners for  membership  in  our  church  as  fruits  of  this  re- 
vival, and  our  present  prospects  encourage  us  to  hope  Tor 
yet  greater  additions.  There  has  been  a gradual  increase 
to  our  members  on  almost  every  circuit  on  the  district 
since  conference,  and  we  are  devoutly  praying  for  a more 


Gracious  Revivals. 


683 


general  work  among  the  people  of  our  charge.  I have 
recently  attended  a four  days’  meeting  at  Portland,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  N.  Y.,  which  was  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing seasons  I ever  witnessed.  Our  congregations  were 
unusually  large,  solemn,  and  attentive.  The  number  of 
persons  who  gave  evidence  that  they  were  seeking  relig- 
ion, and  desired  the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God,  exceed- 
ed one  hundred  and  fifty,  of  whom  rising  of  seventy  dur- 
ing the  meeting  found  peace  in  believing.  It  would  be 
impossible  to  describe  this  scene.  The  last  day  was  truly 
the  great  day  of  our  feast.  Many  were  inclined  to  say, 
‘What  hath  God  wrought!’  The  work  is  not  confined  to 
our  congregations.  United  Brethren  and  Presbyterians 
are  reaping  a considerable  harvest,  the  latter  of  whom  are 
displaying  a zeal  perhaps  unprecedented  in  the  history  of 
their  church.  What  will  be  the  ultimate  result  of  the 
measures  they  have  adopted  to  carry  on  the  revival  and 
obtain  proselytes,  futurity  alone  can  fully  develop.  We 
have  pursued  our  onward  course,  and  thought  it  best  to 
preach  the  doctrines  of  our  own  church  and  in  no  instance 
have  we  denied  or  altered  our  ‘confession  of  faith,’  or  con- 
cealed the  distinctive  features  of  Primitive  Methodism,  to 
influence  others  to  join  us.  We  believe  that  ‘honesty  is 
the  best  policy.’ 

“This  district  embraces  a large  extent  of  newly  settled 
territory,  and  our  ministers  are  called  to  endure  privations 
unknown  to  many  of  our  worthy  brethren  who  travel  in 
older  and  more  thickly  settled  countries.” — (The  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal , June  10,  1831.) 

Philip  Green  writes  from  Painesville,  Ohio,  under  date 
of  April  15,  1831: 

“It  rejoices  my  heart  to  see  accounts  so  frequently  of 
the  prosperity  of  Zion,  and  of  the  great  revivals  in  the 
eastern  states,  and  other  sections  of  the  country.  We  are 
doing  pretty  good  business  in  Windsor  Circuit,  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  There  were  returned  last  year  three 
hundred  and  fifty  members ; there  are  at  present  four  hun- 
dred and  forty-four.  The  work  of  the  Lord  is  still  pro- 
gressing, and  our  numbers  are  yet  on  the  increase.  I 
think  there  is  a more  general  reformation  on  this  circuit 
than  I have  seen  for  several  years,  where  I have  traveled. 
The  Lord  has  been  gracions  in  the  outpouring  of  his  spirit 
upon  us,  for  which  we  praise  him.  My  colleague  is  trulv 


684 


— . — r- 


History  of 


Erie  Conference. 


zealous  in  the  Lord,  laboring  with  all  his  might  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  our  blessed  Savior ; and  thank  God, 
truly  our  labors  are  not  in  vain.” — (The  Christian  Advo- 
cate and  Journal,  May  13,  1831.) 

Alcinous  Young  of  the  Meadville  Circuit,  writes  from 

Waterford,  Pa.,  as  follows:  . 

“The  Lord  continues  to  water  this  region  with  the 
showers  of  divine  grace,  and  the  far-famed  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  promises  to  become  a fruitful  field.  It  is 
truly  pleasing  to  see  with  what  earnestness  the  young  con- 
verts engage  in  prayer  at  our  meetings.  There  were  re- 
turned to  conference  from  Meadville  Circuit  last  year 
three  hundred  and  twenty-one.  We  shall  return  this  year 
five  hundred  and  fifty — a net  increase  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine,  with  the  addition  of  eight  new  societies  to 
the  Church.  Praise  the  Lord!” — (The  Christian  Advo- 
cate and  Journal , August  31,  1832.) 

J.  C.  Ayres,  under  date  of  June  22,  1832,  describing  a 
camp  meeting  held  at  Youngsville,  Pa.,  says  : 

“The  great  Head  of  the  Church  was  with  us  in  his 
awakening  and  converting  power.  I think  I never  saw 
the  preachers  and  people  more  earnestly  engaged  for  holi- 
ness of  heart  than  they  were  at  this  meeting.  The  preach- 
ers labored  as  men  commissioned  from  on  high,  and  God 
owned  his  word,  which  became  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation  to  every  one  that  believed.  About  forty  pro- 
fessed to  have  experienced  religion  during  the  meeting, 
while  the  old  professors  were  quickened  in  the  way  to 
heaven.  Our  prospects  on  the  circuit  are  more  flattering 
than  they  were  in  the  forepart  of  the  year.  We  have  re- 
ceived into  the  church  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dur- 
ing the  year,  which  is  about  closing.”  There  were  ten 
Sunday  schools  on  the  circuit  numbering  about  four  hun- 
dred scholars.  The  Youngsville  Circuit  Missionary  So- 
ciety was  also  organized  and  raised  $32.50  which  was  for- 
warded to  the  parent  society. — (The  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal,  August  10,  1832.) 


XIII. 

ACRES  OF  PREACHERS— MARTIN  RUTER. 

1833-1834. 

Acres  of  Preachers — Martin  Ruter. 

The  Pittsburg  Conference  met  in  Meadville,  Pa.,  July 
1 7,  1833,  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts  presiding,  and  the 
following  appointments  were  announced:  Warren  Dis- 

trict, Wilder  B.  Mack,  presiding  elder;  Youngstown, 
David  Preston,  John  L.  Holmes;  Warren,  Isaac  Winans, 
James  H.  McMechen;  Deerfield,  Alcinous  Young,  John  E. 
Aikin;  Ravenna,  John  McLean;  Hudson,  John  Luccock; 
Twinsburg,  Thomas  Carr,  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser;  Cleve- 
land, John  W.  Hill,  Milton  Colt;  Chardon,  Billings  O. 
Plimpton,  Thomas  Stubbs,  Allured  Plimpton;  Ashtabula, 
John  C.  Ayres,  Arthur  M.  Brown ; Gustavus,  Caleb 
Brown,  Alfred  G.  Sturgis;  Windsor,  James  Hitchcock, 
one  to  be  supplied  : Erie  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presid- 

ing elder;  Springfield,  William  Todd,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Erie,  John  Chandler.  Samuel  Gregg;  North  East,  Peter 
D.  Horton,  one  to  be  supplied;  Westfield,  Darius  Wil- 
liams, Francis  A.  Dighton  : Forestville,  John  K.  Hallock, 
Ignatius  H.  Tackitt  ;Napoli,  Andrew  McCammon;  Olean, 
Nelson  Henry;  Smethport  and  Sinnemahoning  Mission, 
T.  J.  Jennings,  Benjamin  Preston,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Youngsville,  Hiram  Luce,  Daniel  Pritchard;  Warren, 
Elkanah  P.  Steadman;  Jamestown,  John  J.  Steadman; 
Gerry,  William  R.  Babcock;  Meadville  District,  Alfred 
Brunson,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Homer  J.  Clark; 
Franklin,  Rouse  B.  Gardner,  Ahab  Keller;  Centerville, 
Daniel  C.  Richey,  Samuel  W.  Ingraham — he  was  appoint- 
ed to  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  immediately  after  confer- 
ence ; Mercer,  Ralph  Clapp ; New  Castle,  Thomas  Thomp- 
son : Allegheny  District,  Zerah  H.  Coston,  presiding  elder  ; 
Brookville  and  Ridgway  Mission,  Abner  Jackson — Ches- 


586  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ter  Morrison  assisted  as  a supply  ; Shippenvdle,  John 
Scott ; Joseph  S.  Barris,  Agent  for  Allegheny  College. 

Ravenna.  Warren  (Pa.),  Jamestown,  and  Mead- 
ville  have  become  stations  Brookville  C.rcu.t  has  been  en- 
larked  and  the  circuit  called  Gustavus  , and 
ville  and  Ridgwav  Mission”  has  been  formed  out  of  a 
part  of  Clarion  Circuit.  Olean  is  a new  c.rcmt  on  the 
Allegheny  river  in  New  \ork. 

As  the  supply  for  Springfield  Circuit  Lewis  Todd  was 
emoloved  by  the  presiding  elder.  He  had  been  a noted 
Universal.st  and  had  been  preaching  m jamestown^  New 
York  and  elsewhere.  He  was  converted  in  3 > 
changed  his  theological  views;  and  was  soon  after  1 
censed  to  preach.  During  the  year  he  published  a book 
against  Universalism.  At  the  close  of  the  year  he  ceased 
to  labor,  and  returned  to  his  old  faith. 

The  Presiding  Elder.  Zerah  H.  Coston,  sent  Chester 
Morrison  to  the  Brookville  and  Ridgway  Mission  to  assist 
Abner  Tackson  Mr.  Morrison  gives  the  following 
preying  places  »„  ft.  grot  circuit : . Rkte«»y. 

(Green’s  School  House),  Sinnemahoning  Mr.  WiLons 
house  on  Bennett’s  Branch,  Hickory  Kingdom,  Mr.  Ray 
house  at  Luthersburg,  The  Irish  Settlenient  or  Beec  i- 
_ _ j_  Rmrtwav’s  Mr  Coonrod  s house  on  the  l^ittie 
S 'S  &pl.  lW.*  (McCauley’s)  Sctool 
House.  Brookville,  Troy,  William  Smullen  s house  in  Red 
Bank,  Peter  Fidler’s  house,  Robert  Travis  house.  S 
tonville  C.  Wilson’s  house,  seven  miles  south  of  Stratton 
vilie  David  Stoner’s  house,  Mr.  Hosey’s  house  below 
Rimersburg,  Rose  Log  meeting  house,  Howe  s house  on 
the  Allegheny  river,  Slaugherhaupt  s house  between 
Howe’s  and  Stoner’s,  Thomas  Haggerty’s  house  across 
the  river  not  far  from  the  Howe  appointinent,  Cla 
(Bartlett)  house  not  far  from  Haggerty  s,  Greenville  at 
Widow  Travis  house.  The  circuit  was  traveled  in  four 
weeks.  Mr.  Morrison’s  salary-from  the  people  «8, 
from  the  Missionary  Society,  $25  amount  total,  3* 
Tames  H.  McMechen  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1832  and  appointed  to  the  oh,o  Cir- 
cuit with  George  McCaskey  in  charge.  He  labored  with 
us  but  one  year.  He  withdrew  from  the  Methodist  min- 
istry  in  1837  and  united  with  the  Protestant  Episcopa 


Brockwayville.  6 87 

Church,  and  became  active  in  the  ministry  of  our  sister 
denomination. 

Darius  Williams  came  into  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
in  1833,  and,  after  laboring  two  years — at  Westfield  and 
Napoli,  each  one  year — was  discontinued.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Genesee  Conference  on  trial  in  1836,  and 
appointed  to  Sardinia  and  Java.  He  served  Aurora  two 
years,  and  Batavia  one  year — and  here  I lose  track  of 
him  in  the  “General  Minutes.” 

Brockwayville. 

Tradition  says  that  Oliver  Ege  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon in  the  neighborhood  of  Brockwayville,  Pennsylvania. 
His  visit  was  made  several  years  prior  to  the  appointment 
of  Abner  Jackson  to  the  Brookv.ille  and  Ridgway  Mission. 
Mr.  Ege  preached  at  Curwensville.  ( C.  IV.  Darroiv, 
Manuscript  note  to  the  author.)  Zerah  H.  Coston,  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Allegheny  District,  appointed  Chester 
Morrison  to  assist  Mr.  Jackson.  The  circuit  had  twenty- 
nine  preaching  places,  and  was  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  around.  For  twelve  years  Methodist  itinerants  held 
services  in  school  houses  and  cabins.  In  1845  J.  K.  Cox- 
en  and  H.  M.  Chamberlain  traveled  the  Luthersburg  Cir- 
cuit that  extended  from  Brookville  to  Ridgway.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  says : “There  were  thirty  preaching  places 

on  this  circuit  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  miles 
around.”  A class  was  organized  at  Beman  or  Beaman 
School  House  in  1845,  consisting  of  Mrs.  Rhoda  Beman, 
Mrs.  Anna  Allen,  and  Ray  Giles  who  was  appointed  lead- 
er. Kate  M.  Scott  in  History  of  Jefferson  County  gives 
the  names  of  the  three  members  as  Ray  Giles,  and  Messrs. 
McKenny  and  Crider.  E.  R.  Knapp,  in  his  historical 
sketch  of  the  history  of  Brockwayville  Church  says  that 
in  1844,  Thomas  Benn  and  Josiah  Hildebrand  preached 
at  “Beech  woods”  and  also  at  “Firman's”  “situated  about 
two  miles  east  of  Brockwayville,  and  organized  a class 
there  of  the  following  members : Rhoda  Beman,  Malissa 

Crider,  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Myers.  Others  were  soon 
added  and  their  number  soon  increased  and  the  society 
was  removed  to  the  school  house  in  the  neighborhood  and 
became  a very  important  class  known  as  the  ‘Sibley 
Class.’  ” Mrs.  Beman  had  carried  her  certificate  of  mem- 
bership twenty  years  before  she  had  the  opportunity  of 


688 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

■ ■ > The  appointment  at  Beman  School  House 

depositing  it.  1 ,le  • 1 1 or  Bawltown,  Brock- 

lias  also  been  known  as  Ba  Mines.  The  tern- 

way's.  Sibley's  Cranshaw  and  Oanon  ^ ^ Confer. 

torv  seems  to  have  been  g Conference  sent  Nathan 
ence.  In  .854  the.  ^“nmnt th"  Caledonia  Cir- 
Shaffer  and  N^tha,^'^Be^^s  Branch  Creek.  A re- 
mit lying  mostly  ak  „ resulted  in  twenty-five 

vival  at  Balltown  School  House  resu  ^ consisting  of 

conversions,  and  the  ben  pOWell,  Allen  Green, 

James  Woodbury,  leadei,  Tohn  Prindle.  Miss  Scott, 

Joseph  Green.  Julia  Green,  and  John  Bru  ^ FnJSt 

History  of  Jetterson  Cou  . ^ southwest  of  Brock- 

School  House,  one  and  a a { j erome  Wood- 

!V  A5b4i  ”r  VS  S wS  J.  V.  and 

bury,  leader,  Abie  • i j ewjs  Grant  and  wife, 

wife.  John  Johnson  and  wife,  and  1 ; l86o  to 

After  various  fortunes  the  Mc- 

the  old  school  house  forme  ly  ’}le.  The  next 

Laughlin  Bros,  wagon  ^ £ Bwas  purchased,  and  corn- 
year  the  site  tor  a new  1 Letter  to  the  author.) 

pleted  m 1864.— ( c • 1 / ua  ’ £ the  Punxsutawney 

V George  F.  Reeser  while  m “a‘gaet°Belechw0ods  consist- 

Circuit  in  1852-3.  forme  a ^ Groves  and  wife, 

mg  of  Daniel^ Groces  an  ^ afterwards  became  a 

Thomas  Groves,  J.  ;u-  ' ' d Matthew  Smith. 

member  of  the  .f^^^ry  neat  country  church. 

They  succeeded  m eiect  > reference  David  Lat- 

In  1864.  by  appointment  of  ch  in  the  new 

shaw,  in  his  army  bl°“se’  ^ was  seated  with  planks 
church  at  Brockwavu  . ar  a parsonage  was  pur- 

laid  upon  blocks.  The  sa  ^jnder  the  labors  of 

chased  and  the  ltinerai  commodious  parsonage  was 

V fttt  ThTpre^iclmrch  was  built  in  ■889-90. 

erected  in  18/ 1 • V born  Jn  Boiling 

Oliver  Ege,  mentione  a ^ ^ at  Mechanics- 

Springs,  Pennsylvania.  £ ’converted  in  Harrisburg 

ville.  August  9,  1889.  “e  h traveling  connection  m 
in  1819  and  was  admitted  to  the  tra  united  m 

the  Baltimore  Conterence  Thompson  of  Berwick, 

marriage  with  Miss  IJE Tn  lai»riou.  fields 

Pennsylvania,  in  J»33-  F numerary  relation. 


Prosperity  on  Meadville  District. 


engaged  in  educational  work  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years. 
He  was  a strong  and  effective  preacher.  One  who  heard 
him  long  ago  said : “He  was  direct,  earnest,  forcible  and 

heart-searching.”  J.  H.  McGarrah  says  in  the  Western 
Christian  Advocate : “His  religious  character  was 

strongly  marked.  He  laid  hold  of  experimental  religion 
and  vigorously  taught  it.  He  was  a plain,  earnest  preach- 
er, a ready  and  vigorous  exhorter,  fond  of  revival  work, 
and  very  successful  in  winning  souls.” 

“He  was  a splendid  type  of  that  class  of  godly  men 
who,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  them,  endured  the 
cross,  despised  the  shame,  gloried  in  tribulation,  and  con- 
tinued with  heroic  perseverence,  toiling  on  until  they  saw 

the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  prosper  in  their  hand,  the  wilder- 

ness  and  desert  place  blossom  and  rejoice  as  the  rose,  and 
where  sin  abounded  grace  did  much  more  abound.” — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXIII,  1890,  p.  nj.) 

Prosperity  on  the  Meadville  District. 

Alfred  Brunson,  of  the  Meadville  District,  writes  under 
date  of  Dec.  25,  1833 : “I  have,  since  conference,  held, 

with  the  assistance  of  my  brethren  two  camp  meetings 
and  fifteen  quarterly  meetings,  at  all  of  which,  except  two, 
more  or  less  professed  to  be  converted.  I think  about 
four  hundred  have  been  added  to  the  church  in  the  dis- 
trict since  conference,  and  our  prospects  are  brightening 
every  day.  But  the  most  pleasing  and  encouraging  part 
of  the  revivals  in  progress  at  present  in  the  district  is  that 
of  scripture  holiness:  more  or  less  at  all  the  meetings 
above  named  have  professed  to  have  obtained  the  blessing 
of  perfect  love;  and  I have  always  found  that  when  this 
work  progresses,  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  sin- 
ners follow.  I cannot  give  the  precise  proportion,  but  at 
one  quarterly  meeting  where  eight  were  converted  five 
were  sanctified.  We  make  it  a rule  to  invite  those  to  the 
altar  for  prayer  who  wish  for  clean  hearts,  as  well  as  those 
who  wish  for  pardon.  And  so  many  come  forward,  that 
in  conversing  with  them,  we  must  first  ascertain  their 
wishes,  before  we  know  how  to  address  them;  and  I am 
happy  to  have  it  to  say  that  the  prayer  of  faith  is  an- 
swered, the  witness  of  the  spirit  given,  and  the  subsequent 
fruits  of  holiness  are  seen  to  our  ample  satisfaction  in  the 
case  of  scores  and  hundreds.” 


690 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Mr.  Brunson  speaks  of  new  churches  dedicated  in  Tall- 
madge,  Canton,  and  Wellsyille,  and  then  continues:  “We 
have  several  more  churches  in  progress,  and  some  just 
finished,  which  have  been  standing  for  years;  one  of 
which,  in  Mercer,  is  already  rendered  too  small  for  the 
increase  of  the  congregation.  In  the  town  of  Mercer 
there  is  a gracious  revival.  And  the  circumstances  of 
the  case  show  the  propriety  of  making  stations  of  our 
towns,  so  soon  as  the  people  desire  it,  and  will  support  a 
preacher;  and  especially  when  we  can  give  them  suitable 
men.  Methodism  has  dragged  heavily  in  this  place  for 
fourteen  years  since  the  first  society  was  formed;  and 
though  we  have  had  for  years  some  excellent  members 
in  the  place,  yet,  preaching  there  only  once  in  two  and 
sometimes  once  in  four  weeks,  did  not  and  could  not  se- 
cure a congregation  respectable  for  number,  nor  produce 
any  great  moral  and  religious  effect.  But  this  year  the 
town  was  made  a station,  to  which  were  added  three  or 
four  small  week-day  appointments,  just  enough  to  keep 
up  the  itinerant  and  missionary  motion,  and  give  the 
preacher  suitable  exercise  for  health  and  variety,  all  of 
which  put  together  contained  about  one  hundred  mem- 
bers. ” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal , Feb.  1,  1834.) 

Milton  Colt. 

Milton  Colt  was  born  in  Oswego  County,  New  York,  in 
1810;  and  died  in  Canton,  Ohio,  Jan.  1,  1836.  He  was 
blessed  with  a pious  mother  to  whose  prayers  and  Chris- 
tian example  he  attributes  his  first  religious  impressions. 
When  young,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Chautau- 
qua County,  where  he  found  pardon  in  the  twentieth  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  North  East  Circuit  in  1830,  and  em- 
ployed on  the  Leesburg  Circuit.  Here  he  was  en- 
tertained one  night  with  a family  whose  head  was 
a hardened  infidel,  though  his  wife  and  daughter  were  de- 
voted Methodists.  His  host  to  draw  him  into  conversa- 
tion requested  him  to  relate  his  Christian  experience  and 
call  to  the  ministry.  Mr.  Colt  answered : “I  have  been 

wonderfully  favored  with  a very  pious  mother,  to  whose 
instruction  and  prayers,  under  God,  I attribute  my  salva- 
tion. As  I approached  manhood,  notwithstanding  all  her 
early  instruction,  I became  very  fond  of  parties  and  es- 


Milton  Colt. 


691 


pecially  of  dancing.  One  night  there  was  a ball  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  my  partner  was  engaged  and  I about 
starting  to  the  hall  of  giddy  mirth  when  my  mother  ap- 
proached me,  not  with  chiding  words,  but  with  eyes  full 
of  tears,  and  said,  ‘Milton,  my  son,  while  you  are  on  the 
floor  dancing  to-night,  remember  your  mother  is  praying 
for  you.'  I went  to  the  place,  the  company  assembled, 
and  I was  invited,  with  my  partner,  to  lead  off  in  the 
dance.  The  music  was  stirring,  and  the  scene  was  ani- 
mating; but  the  thought  that  my  dear  mother  was  then 
praying  for  me,  so  disturbed  my  feelings  that  I grew  sick 
and  faint,  and  retired  from  the  room,  and  hastened  to  my 
home,  in  which  as  I approached,  I heard  the  voice  of 
prayer,  and  as  I entered,  I fell  on  my  knees  by  the  side  of 
my  mother,  and  there  we  continued  to  plead  for  mercy  un- 
til God  came  down  and  converted  my  soul.  I then  soon 
felt  that  God  had  called  me  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
and  ‘woe  was  me  if  I preached  not  the  Gospel.’  And  a 
few  weeks  since  I bade  farewell  to  that  same  weeping 
mother,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Church  came  into 
these  parts  in  search  of  the  ‘lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel.’  ” Seeing  that  his  friend  was  touched  by  the  nar- 
rative, Mr.  Colt  urged  upon  him  the  duty  of  immediate 
surrender  to  God.  The  infidel  heart  was  broken,  and  he 
fell  on  his  knees  and  was  soon  converted.  He  delayed 
not  to  go  to  Leesburg  to  tell  the  people  what  the  Lord  had 
done  for  his  soul.  The  first  man  he  met  was  a pious  old 
Dutchman  to  whom  he  related  his  story.  The  latter,  in 
astonishment,  replied:  “Vel  now,  is  dat  pozzible?  Sure- 

ly, den,  de  next  convert  vill  be  de  devil.”  On  through 
the  village  the  new  convert  went  telling  all  whom  he  met 
of  the  wonderful  experience.  A great  revival  was  the  re- 
sult and  some  forty  or  fifty  souls  were  saved. 

In  1&33  Mr.  Colt  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg  Conference,  and  with  J.  W.  Hill  was  appointed  to 
the  Cleveland  Circuit.  In  1836  while  in  the  pulpit  preach- 
ing* disease  prostrated  him,  and  lingering  but  a short 
time,  was  called  home.  “Mr.  Colt  was  about  medium 
height,  but  rather  slenderly  built,  and  made  a fine  gentle- 
manly appearance;  had  a comely  countenance,  with  well 
formed  features ; possessed  a keen,  black  eye,  and  when 
animated  in  preaching,  his  face  would  brighten  into  a 
heavenly  glow.  His  voice  was  melodious,  with  an  ex- 


, 


692 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


cellent  flow  of  words,  descriptive  of  brilliant  bought, 
wanned  with  a divine  unction,  which  usually  attended  his 
Breaching  His  congregations,  usually  large  and  atten 
dve  were  often  greatly  excited,  and  at  times  melted  to 
tear's  He  was  an  excellent  pastor,  combining  so  muc 
gentleness,  kindness,  and  devotion  in  family  visitations 
hs  to  make  them  feel  that  one  of  God  s best  messenger 
With  with  them.” — (Rev.  S.  Gregg,  Pittsburg  Christian 

Advocate,  April  24,  1869.) 

Methodism  in  Warren,  Pa. 

Warren  was  laid  out  in  1795  by  General  William  Irvine 
and  Colonel  Andrew  Ellicott,  commissioners  appointed  by 
Governor  Mifflin.  The  location  is  picturesquely  beauti- 
ful “Nestling  at  the  southern  foot  of  a high  precipito  , 
and  wooded  ridge— the  former  shore  of  the  ancient  Alle- 
gheny when  it  was  a mighty  stream— its  residents  are 
Protected  almost  wholly  from  the  chilly  northern  and 
northwestern  blasts  of  winter.  The  Conewugo  forms 
its  eastern  boundary.  In  front  the  waters  of  the  Aik 
gheny  flow  ceaselessly  on,  around  a bend  grand  and  sym- 
metrical in  its  proportions.  Away  beyond  the  nver 
hills  of  Pleasant  township,  which  once  formed  the  sou 
ern  shore  of  old  Allegheny,  stand  out  in  bold  relief,  w 
extended  views,  up  and  down  the  stream  o success^ 
ranges  of  high  hills,  fading  gradually  away  in  the  distance 
in  a blue  west  complete  a picture  of  rare  loveliness.  - 
(Schenck,  History  of  Warren  County,  p.  324-J 

The  first  church  edifice  of  the  Methodist  Episcopa 
Church  in  Warren  was  erected  where  the  present  church 
now  stands.  W.  W.  Painter  in  his  historical  sermon 
preached  in  the  old  church  on  the  last  Sunday  before  its 
demolition  places  the  dedication  of  that  church  in 
That  building  was  one  of  the  first,  probably  the  very  irs 
brick  structure  erected  in  the  borough,  if  not  in 
county.  Considering  the  days  when  it  was  made,  it  was 
far  superior  to  any  other  public  building  of  the  town.  It 

was  Meed  a substantial  edifice  and  f ^Xt“^ 
fiftv  vears  well  The  original  deed  for  the  lot  is  dated 
Tan  30  1834,  and  is  from  Edward  Work  of  Chautauqua 
County  New  York,  to  Albinus  Stebbins,  James  Morrison, 
Robert 'Arthurs,  Joseph  Mead,  John  Andrew,  Martin 
Reese,  and  Judah  L.  Spencer,  trustees,  and  the  consider 


Methodism  in  Warren,  Pa. 


693 


ation  is  $100.  The  trustees,  on  April  9,  1834,  purchased 
the  lot  east  of  and  adjoining  this  from  Archibald  Tanner. 
This  latter  lot  was  sold  on  Feb.  2,  1844,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  six  feet.  Tradition  says  that  the  funds  received 
from  this  sale  were  used  to  build  the  front  portion,  com- 
prising the  entry  and  rooms  each  side,  and  the  steeple, 
of  the  old  church.  The  charter  of  the  church  was  granted 
in  1835,  and  is  sigped  by  Samuel  Ayres,  William  L.  Sny- 
der, and  Benjamin  Bartholomew. 

Methodism  in  Warren,  however,  dates  back  to  near  the 
beginning  of  the  last  century.  Robert  R.  Roberts  visited 
Warren  County  in  1806  and  preached  in  Warren.  He 
was  probably  the  first  Methodist  minister  who  preached 
the  gospel  in  the  county.  In  1812,  Jacob  Young,  presid- 
ing elder  of  the  Ohio  District  held  a quarterly  meeting 
on  the  banks  of  the  Conewango,  a short  distance  above  the 
village  of  Warren.  At  this  meeting,  Bishop  McKendree 
was  present  and  preached  with  great  eloquence  and  power. 
In  1817  Ira  Eddy  preached  a sermon  on  the  banks  of  the 
Allegheny,  two  or  three  miles  below  Warren,  and  quite  a 
revival  of  religion  followed ; and  a class  was  formed  con- 
sisting of  Joseph  Mead  and  wife,  Martin  Reese  and  wife 
and  mother,  Benjamin  Mead,  and  David  Mead.  The 
class  soon  increased  to  twenty-six  members.  In  1830 
Tames  Gillmore  was  appointed  to  Youngsville  Circuit,  and 
visiting  Warren  found  a small  class  still  worshiping  be- 
low the  village.  During  the  year  an  extensive  reforma- 
tion occurred  in  Warren,  and  the  class  there,  of  about 
seventy  members,  was  transferred  to  the  village.  This 
was  the  first  Methodist  organization  in  the  borough.  Un- 
til a church  building  was  erected,  divine  worship  was 
held  in  the  school  house. 

In  1881  it  became  apparent  that  the  needs  of  the  so- 
ciety, which  was  rapidly  growing,  required  additional 
room  to  accommodate  the  church  in  her  several  depart- 
ments of  Christian  work,  and  it  was  decided  to  erect  a 
new  edifice,  but  the  building  committee  was  not  appointed 
until  March  25,  1886.  This  committee  consisted  of  M. 
B.  Dunham,  B.  Nesmith,  and  A.  Fisher.  The  last  service, 
however,  had  been  conducted  in  the  old  church,  May  31, 
1885.  The  Court  House  was  secured  for  religious  ser- 
vices until  the  new  house  should  be  ready  for  occupancy. 
The  present  model  edifice  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  T.  N. 


694 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Boyle,  of  Pittsburg  Conference,  assisted  by  Dr.  C.  N. 
Sims,  Chancellor  of  Syracuse  University,  Sept.  19,  1886. 
The  cost,  all  complete  was  about  $35,000.  This  church 
has  been  served  by  some  of  the  strongest  men  of  the  con- 
ference. 

The  oldest  quarterly  conference  records  in  existence  are 
dated  Oct.  6,  1865.  Tracing  through  these  minutes  we 
find  much  to  interest  us.  August  26,  1871,  the  trustees 
report:  “During  the  year  the  property  has  been  im- 

proved and  increased.  Parsonage  house  and  lot  on  High 
Street  bought  at  $2,900,  and  paid  for  by  sale  of  former 
parsonage  and  lot  at  $1,200,  balance  subscription  by  Rev. 
E.  J.  L.  Baker.  The  new  house  being  without  a kitchen, 
one  has  been  built.  A bell  has  been  hung  in  the  steeple  of 
the  church,  and  the  exterior  woodwork  painted.”  The 
above  may  recall  an  incident  that  occurred  concerning  the 
bell  at  the  time  of  rebuilding.  “One  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee  thought  that  the  days  for  bell  ringing  were 
over,  and  proposed  to  sell  the  bell  along  with  some  othet 
furniture  of  the  church  ; and  accordingly  had  an  advertise- 
ment put  in  newspapers  to  that  effect.  Brother  E.  T. 
Hazeltine,  who  had  been  a member  during  the  period 
above  mentioned,  when  the  bell  was  bought,  was  opposed 
to  the  idea,  and  to  ascertain  the  sentiment  of  the  congrega- 
tion, he  sent  to  each  member  of  the  church  a sealed  enve- 
lope with  a ballot  enclosed,  upon  which  they  expressed 
their  views.  The  result  was  an  overwhelming  ballot  in 
favor  of  retaining  the  bell ; it  was  accordingly  placed  in 
the  belfry,  where  it  hung  silent  until  midnight  of  Dec.  31, 
1887,  when  at  the  close  of  a watch  meeting  held  by  Rev. 
J.  M.  Bray,  he  caused  it  to  be  rung;  he  having  himself 
previously  purchased  and  attached  the  rope  to  the  bell. 
From  that  time  forward  the  bell  has  been  regularly  rung 
for  the  different  meetings  of  the  church. 

“On  October  15,  1883,  it  was  ordered  that  a street  lamp 
be  erected  in  front  of  the  church  building,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 5,  1883,  committee  reported  that  same  had  been  or- 
dered and  arrangements  made  for  its  erection;  whereupon 
it  was  voted  to  erect  it  directly  in  front  of  the  church 
building,  outside  the  sidewalk.  That  lamp  was  actually 
erected  eight  years  afterwards.” — (W.  D . Hinckley, 
Esq.,  Communication  to  the  author.) 


695 


■ 


Francis  A.  Dighton. 

Francis  A.  Dighton. 

“Francis  A.  Dighton  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Northeast,  Erie  County,  Pa.,  Oct.  7,  1812.  He  was  the 
second  son  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  and  Mary  Dighton.  His 
father  having  died  before  he  was  two  years  old,  he  was 
brought  up  and  educated  by  his  mother  and  grandfather, 
John  Kent.  He  experienced  religion  June  24.  1827,  it  is 
believed, at  a camp  meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Villenovia, 
state  of  New  York.  In  1833,  being  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  he  was  admitted  into  the  traveling  connec- 
tion as  a probationer,  and  labored,  during  the  two  years 
of  his  probation,  with  acceptability,  and  usefulness,  on 
Westfield  Circuit,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  St. 
Clairsville  Circuit,  in  the  state  of  Ohio ; and  was  admitted 
into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  1835.  This 
year  he  was  appointed  to  Cleveland  station,  and  reappoint- 
ed in  1836.  The  next  year  he  obtained  leave  to  travel  as 
an  agent  for  the  American  Bible  Society.  He  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  agency,  and  prosecuted  them  with  suc- 
cess; but  his  health  having  failed,  he  was  unable  to  con- 
tinue his  labor  to  the  close  of  the  year.  At  ,the  conference 
held  in  August,  1838,  he  was  superannuated.  The  disease 
with  which  he  was  afflicted  continued  to  progress,  and  he 
died  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December  following.  His 
life  in  the  ministry  was  short,  extending  to  little  over  five 
years.  He  possessed,  in  more  than  an  ordinary  degree, 
considering  his  age,  many  of  the  qualifications  of  a min- 
ister of  the  gospel ; — he  easily  acquired,  and  easily  re- 
tained, knowledge,  easy  in  his  manners,  agreeable  in  con- 
versation, and  eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  he  generally  pos- 
sessed in  a high  degree,  the  affection  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  labored.  During  the  short  period  of  his  min- 
isterial life  he  was  the  honored  instrument  of  bringing 
many  sinners  to  repentance.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  II,  1839,  p.  95.) 

“It  is  no  vain  eulogy  when  it  is  said  of  him,  that  in  his 
pulpit  labors  he  gave  evidence  of  genius  and  mental 
energy  of  high  grade,  and  which,  prepared  as  they  were 
by  mental  cultivation  and  the  sanctifying  power  of  divine 
grace,  fitted  him  for  a ‘workman  that  needed  not  to  be 
ashamed.’”  On  June  20,  he  wrote  to  his  brother : “My 

communion  with  God  daily  is  very  precious.  I expect  to 
recover,  but  I am  not  afraid  to  die.  I think  I can  say  the 


696 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


will  of  the  Lord  be  done.”  On  the  eighth  of  October  he 
wrote : “I  have  some  prospect  of  gaining  my  health,  and 

yet  I know  it  very  possible  I may  not.  But  I think  I can 
say  in  reference  to  this  matter,  that  I am  free  from  any 
painful  anxiety,  and  from  all  fear.  Most  of  the  time  dur- 
ing the  summer,  my  peace  has  been  wonderful.  I some- 
times have  severe  temptations,  but  I never  lose  my  confi- 
dence in  God.  If  I live,  I mean  to  dedicate  myself  anew 
to  his  service ; if  I die,  I think  I can  say,  I have  no  fears. 
And  in  this  happy  state  of  mind  passed  away  this  choice 
young  man.* 

Samuel  W.  Ingraham  was  born  in  Bristol,  Rhode 
Island,  Feb.  8,  1795.  In  his  early  childhood  his  parents 
moved  to  Dutchess  County,  New  York.  When  about 
thirty  years  of  age  he  came  to  Chautauqua  County.  In 
1833  he  joined  the  Pittsburg  Conference  as  a probationer, 
and  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie,  and  East  Ohio  Conferences  at  their 
organization.  Several  times  he  was  made  supernumerary 
or  superannuated,  and  was  finally  superannuated  in  1857. 
He  died  August  17,  1885.  He  was  effective  fourteen 
years,  f 

Mr.  Ingraham  relates  his  first  experience  as  an  itiner- 
ant: “In  the  years  1833-4  I traveled  Franklin  Circuit, 

notwithstanding  a certain  historian  has  located  my  labors 
somewhere  else.  Franklin  Circuit  then  embraced  all  the 
territory  within  certain  boundaries,  commencing  at 

*F.  A.  Dighton — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1833;  full  connection,  1835;  deacon,  1835, 
Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1836;  elder,  1837,  Roberts;  deceased,  St.  Clairsville,  O., 
December  26,  1838.  Appointments — 1833,  Westfield;  1834,  St. 
Clairsville;  1835-’36,  Cleveland  Station;  1837,  Agent  American 
Bible  Society. 

tS.  W.  Ingraham — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1833;  full  connection,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  deacon,  not  able  to  ascertain; 
elder,  1835,  Andrew;  became  a member  of  East  Ohio  Conference 
at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Niles,  0.,  August  15,  1885. 
Appointments — 1833,  Centerville,  Butler  Co.;  1834,  Franklin,  Pa.; 
1835,  Shippenville  and  Tionesta  Mission;  1836,  Shippen- 
ville  and  Bloomfield  Mission;  1837,  Williamsfield; 
1838,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1839,  New  Castle;  1840,  Wattsburg; 
1841,  supernumerary;  1842-’43,  superannuated;  1844,  Clinton ville ; 
1845,  supernumerary;  1846-’50,  superannuated;  1851,  Ellsworth; 
1852,  Edinburg;  1853,  superannuated;  1854,  Charleston;  1855-’56. 
Parkman;  1857-’84,  superannuated. 


S.  W . Ingraham. 


697 


Franklin,  extending  up  the  Allegheny  river  as  far  as 
Tidioute;  from  thence  across  to  Riceville,  on  Oil  creek; 
thence  to  Randolph,  and  to  Mead  township,  near  Mead- 
ville;  thence  down  French  creek  to  Franklin;  embracing 
all  that  is  known  as  the  oil  region  of  Pennsylvania.  I 
think  we — Rev.  Ahab  Keller  and  myself — visited  and 
preached  in  every  settlement  within  these  bounds  which 
then  existed,  except  Titusville  and  Cooperstown.  I was 
invited  to  preach  in  Titusville  in  a log  meeting  house  be- 
longing to  the  Presbyterians,  but  was  denied  a second 
privilege  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hampton,  he  claiming  that  the  peo- 
ple had  a right  to  invite  whomsoever  they  pleased  into  the 
house,  but  the  pulpit  was  his,  and  he  should  defend  it,  and 
should  not  allow  another  denomination  to  use  it.  It  was 
evident  that  unpleasant  feelings  were  being  generated,  and 
altercations  were  rising,  when  I promptly  declined  preach- 
ing there  again. 

‘'There  was  a Mr.  Proper,  in  whose  neighborhood  I 
preached,  who  told  some  of  our  friends  that  every  time 
Keller  came  round  he  would  send  all  the  people  down  to 
hell  and  keep  them  there  until  the  other  preacher  came, 
who  would  coax  them  all  out  again.  He  doubtless  had 
reference  to  our  different  manner  of  address. 

“Our  labors  that  year  were  not  light.  We  had  thirty- 
three  appointments  to  fill  in  four  weeks,  and  invariably 
held  class  meetings  after  preaching.  There  were  many 
conversions  on  the  circuit,  among  whom  was  John  Gra- 
ham, of  the  Erie  Conference.  Our  quarterage  was  about 
half  paid,  or  perhaps  a little  over,  with  no  allowance  for 
table  expenses.  Happily  I had  at  that  time  a little  farm, 
from  which  I derived  something  to  help  eke  out  a living 
for  myself  and  family. 

“During  that  year  the  Franklin  society  resolved  to  build 
a house  of  worship,  and  made  preparations  accordingly. 
They  had  an  old  subscription  of  several  years  standing 
describing  the  site  and  form  of  the  house  to  be  built. 
Some  of  the  subscribers  had  moved  away,  and  some  had 
changed  their  relation  to  and  feelings  toward  the  church ; 
and  some  hard  feelings  were  occasioned,  which  stood  in 
the  way  of  further  extending  our  subscription.  . . 

“At  the  close  of  that  year  the  society  in  Franklin  re- 
quested to  be  set  off  as  a station,  and  also  that  I should  be 
returned  to  them.  Their  requests  were  granted.  There 


698 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


were  appended  to  Franklin  six  appointments  out  of  town 
— at  Jacob  Lupher’s,  at  Brown’s,  seven  miles  up  the  pike; 
at  Heriman’s,  on  Sugar  Creek;  at  Haslett’s;  at  Francis 
McClintock’s,  on  Oil  creek,  where  Petroleum  Center  now 
stands;  and  at  Oil  Creek  Furnace,  where  Oil  City  now 
stands ; to  which  number  I soon  added  Cooperstown, 
where  we  raised  a good  class  during  the  year,  making 
seven  appointments  on  week  days.  Such  was  Franklin 
station  in  its  origin. 

“Soon  after  the  conference  in  1834  I was  called  on  to 
lay  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  church  and  to  preach  on 
the  occasion ; at  which  time  there  were  present  three  old 
men  who  had  been  soldiers  in  the  old  forts — Mr.  Power, 
Mr.  Sutley,  and  Mr.  Wentworth — from  whom  I learned 
much  of  the  early  history  of  Franklin,  and  of  many  excit- 
ing scenes.  Our  church  edifice  proceeded  slowly,  and  re- 
quired constant  urging  to  get  up  the  walls  and  get  it  in- 
closed before  winter.  Being  built,  as  above  stated,  on  an 
old  subscription,  the  money  was  raised  very  slowly,  and 
not  without  considerable  trouble.  When  the  walls  were 
about  half  way  up  to  the  gallery  windows,  the  work 
stopped  for  want  of  brick.  The  brick-maker  refused  to 
furnish  more  brick  unless  paid  up,  and  the  builder  could 
not  pay  unless  the  trustees  could  advance  to  him.  One 
of  the  trustees — A.  McCalmont,  Esq., — in  my  hearing 
told  the  builder  to  get  some  one  to  go  his  security  for  the 
brick,  and  the  trustees  would  pay  him  in  a short  time  and 
relieve  his  surety.  In  a few  days  the  builder  came  to  me, 
and  said  the  brick-maker  had  agreed  to  advance  the  brick 
provided  I would  endorse  a note  for  the  amount.  Hav- 
ing a strong  desire  to  have  the  house  inclosed  before 
winter,  I consented  to  endorse  a writing  for  the  brick,  and 
thus  became  involved  in  a difficulty,  from  which  I did  not 
get  fully  extricated  for  some  years. 

“The  lack  of  competent  support  that  year,  together  with 
the  extreme  scarcity  of  provisions,  involved  me  in  finan- 
cial troubles  beyond  the  income  of  my  little  place ; and  I 
do  not  know  that  I ever  fully  recovered  from  it.  Perhaps 
I was  blame-worthy  for  my  excessive  desire  to  promote 
the  interest  of  the  church.  In  this  year  the  Sabbath 
School  was  first  organized.  Books  were  wanted,  and  the 
Sabbath  School  Society  resolved  to  purchase  fifteen  dol- 
lars’ worth  of  books ; but  to  resolve  and  to  pay  are  some- 


W . Ingraham. 


699 


times  two  things.  I was  directed  to  go  to  Mercer  and 
get  the  books  from  Ralph  Clapp.  When  ready  to  go  they 
furnished  me  with  between  seven  and  eight  dollars,  with 
the  hope  of  soon  raising  the  remainder.  I went  and 
bought  the  books  according  to  resolution,  and  run  my 
risk  of  getting  the  rest  of  the  money — which  risk  is  stilT 
running. 

“Let  no  one  think  this  was  a year  of  unmixed  trials. 
Far  from  it.  It  was  one  of  the  brightest  years  of  my 
itinerant  life.  We  got  our  church  inclosed  in  December. 
We  laid  down  a temporary  floor,  fixed  temporary  seats, 
placed  a joiner’s  bench  for  a pulpit,  and  held  a quarterly 
meeting  in  it  next  day.  A glorious  revival  had  already 
commenced.  Our  prayer  meetings  held  in  the  old  acad- 
emy were  crowded  more  than  could  get  in,  and  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  we  preached,  was 
far  too  small,  and  several  souls  were  converted  before  the 
quarterly  meeting.  Brother  Brunson  came  to  the  quar- 
terly meeting  with  high  expectations,  labored  in  faith,  and 
before  he  left  us  we  had  forty  individuals  at  the  mourn- 
ers’ bench.  Our  meeting  was  protracted,  and  night  after 
night  we  had  about  forty  forward  for  prayers.  For  sev- 
eral evenings  none  were  converted,  though  all  appeared 
powerfully  wrought  upon.  Something  seemed  to  be  in 
the  way.  My  feelings  were  indescribable,  and  drove  me 
to  study  the  cause.  At  length,  on  opening  the  prayer 
meeting  one  evening,  I took  occasion  to  remark  upon  the 
peculiarity  of  the  case,  and  urged  the  necessity  that  there 
should  be  a unity  of  effort,  referring  them  to  the  great 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  when 
three  thousand  were  converted  in  one  day.  They  were  all 
of  one  accord.  After  affectionately  and  with  tears  ex- 
horting them  to  all  take  hold  and  labor  for  the  conversion 
of  those  seeking  religion,  we  called  the  seekers  forward, 
and  when  we  commenced  our  prayers  several  came  into 
and  around  the  altar  who  had  hitherto  kept  back.  This 
seemed  to  put  new  life  and  stronger  faith  into  the  faithful 
band.  Such  a meeting  as  we  had  that  night  I have  seldom 
seen.  If  my  memory  serves  aright,  there  were  fourteen 
professed  conversion. 

“A  better  class  of  laborers  than  Franklin  then  afforded 
it  has  not  been  my  lot  to  find.  While  I have  felt  and  be- 
moaned my  weakness  as  a preacher,  I have  felt  the  need 


li 


700  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

to  bring  out  all  the  strength  of  the  church;  and,  to  this, 
under  God,  I attribute  the  great  revivals  where  I have 
labored.  . . . Such  was  the  result  of  the  revival 

at  that  time,  that  scores  and  scores  were  added  to  the 
Church,  until  it  was  frequently  said  that  there  was  not  a 
respectable  young  woman  and  but  few  young  men  in  town 
who  were  not  members  of  the  church.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , Dec.  23,  1865 — an  article  by  S.  W . 
Ingraham  on  “Now  and  Then  in  the  Oil  Regions.” ) 

Daniel  Pritchard  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut, 
May  12,  1813.  He  was  converted  in  the  town  of  Nelson, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  from  this  place  enlisted  in  the 
itinerant  ranks,  being  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1833.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was  located  at  his 
own  request  in  1847.  He  withdrew  from  the  Church  and 
returned  his  parchments  in  1855.  He  seems  to  have 
again  united  with  the  Church  at  a later  date.  His  resi- 
dence was  in  Fredonia.  New  York,  where  he  died  April 

1 7, 1897. 

Mr.  Pritchard  possessed  superior  natural  talents,  and 
was  sociable  and  pleasant.  He  evidently  looked  back  to 
the  years  of  his  ministry  with  peculiar  pleasure,  and  his 
reminiscences  of  those  pioneer  times  were  full  of  inter- 
est.* 

Darius  Smith. 

Darius  Smith  was  thirty-nine  years  effective,  and  four 
years  presiding  elder  on  the  Jamestown  District.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the 
Westfield  Circuit  in  1833,  and  employed  on  the  Smethport 
Charge  by  the  presiding  elder  until  the  session  of  the 
Pittsburg  Conference,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Napoli  Cir- 
cuit; and  in  1834  he  was  received  on  trial.  He  became 
a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  the  time  of  the  di- 
vision. He  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 

♦Daniel  Pritchard — Admitted  on  trial,  1833;  full  connection, 
1835;  deacon,  1835,  Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  elder,  1837,  Roberts ;(  located  at 
his  own  request,  1847;  deceased  at  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  April  17,  1897. 
Appointments — 1833,  Youngstown;  1834,  Gustavus;  1835,  Oil 
Creek;  1836,  Conneaut;  1837,  Randolph;  1838,  North  East;  1839, 
Cambridge;  1840,  Brookville  Mission;  1841,  Forestville;  1842, 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1843,  Napoli;  1844,  Wattsburg;  1845,  Hender- 
sonville; 1846,  Shippenville. 


Darius  Smith. 


701 


July  19,  1805.  He  moved  to  Chautauqua  County,  New 
York,  in  1825,  where  he  was  converted  in  1827.  “Mr. 
Smith  was  a tall,  slim,  spare  man;  sober,  grave,  and 
deeply  pious;  preached  with  a great  deal  of  zeal  and 
pathos,  was  rather  lengthy  in  his  sermons,  but  always 
highly  esteemed  by  the  people  as  a prudent,  conscientious, 
holy  man.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference,”  Vol.  I,  p.  328.) 

His  biographer  says : “His  life  was  a most  beautiful, 

even  and  consistent  one.  He  was  sedate,  cool  and  de- 
liberate; a man  of  much  prayer.  His  example  was  al- 
ways safe  for  young  ministers  to  imitate.  He  was  mod- 
est and  respectful  to  others,  and  careful  and  precise  in  his 
administration  of  justice.  He  was  also  a good,  sound 
systematic  preacher — more  practical  and  experimental 
than  doctrinal — a man  that  good  people  loved,  and  even 
bad  men  respected.  He  was  mild,  unassuming,  and  re- 
tiring, never  pressing  himself  for  recognition  or  public 
favor.  He  stood  in  his  place  ready  to  do  the  work  as- 
signed him.  His  work  on  his  charges  was  always  well 
and  faithfully  done.  His  pastoral  work  was  always  full 
and  complete.  He  was  pre-eminently  a man  of  peace  and 
a man  for  peace.  He  was  very  free  from  the  element  of 
combativeness,  and  took  very  little  part,  if  any,  in  the  bel- 
ligerent contests  on  the  conference  floor.  His  fields  of  la- 
bor lay  principally  along  the  lake  shore,  the  most  beautiful 
region  of  Erie  Conference.  Forty-one  years  did  he  sound 
the  gospel  trumpet  and  occupied  fields  which  have  opened 
into  our  best  appointments.  He  was  much  loved  and  re- 
spected by  the  community  in  which  he  died,  and  it  is 
unanimous  in  according  to  him  a very  high  type  of  piety 
and  goodness.  He  always  desired  to  pass  the  confines  of 
life  without  a lingering  or  suffering  disease.  His  desire 
was  fully  realized.  On  the  day  of  his  death  the  Ladies’ 
Aid  Society  had  its  gathering  at  his  house.  He  was  ac- 
tive in  receiving  and  cheerful  in  entertaining  it.  At  tea 
he  ate  heartily,  and  while  serving  the  young  people  at 
second  table  he  sank  into  a lounge  and  expired.  He  was 
thus  surrounded  by  a band  of  loving  and  loved  friends, 
and  so  passed  from  a company  militant  to  a company 
angelic  and  triumphant.  His  sun  is  at  last  set ; its  golden 
rays  shone  beautifully  and  brightly  till  clipped  by  the  west- 
ern horizon.  His  morning  in  glory  is  begun.  The 


70  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


sprays  of  Jordan  are  shaken  from  his  garments,  and  robed 
in  white,  he  enjoys  peace  and  rest.  “He  passed  from  the 
kitchen  of  God’s  Universe  into  his  great  parlor.’  ”* 

Sturgis,  Luce,  Gardner. 

Alfred  Gallatin  Sturgis  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  11,1813.  He  experienced  religion  while 
in  college  in  1829,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1832  and 
employed  by  Charles  Elliott,  presiding  elder,  to  form  a 
new  circuit  in  Virginia  in  the  region  of  the  Monongahela. 
He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1833  and  appointed  second  preacher  on  Gustavus  Circuit, 
Warren  District.  He  served  Salem  Circuit  in  1834,  and 
Erie  Station  in  1835.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization;  and  filled  the  work  on 
Hudson,  Painesville  and  Ravenna  Circuits.  He  was  ap- 
pointed to  Warren,  Ohio,  in  1840  and  1841,  and  to  Po- 
land Circuit  in  1842.  In  1843, he  was  stationed  at  Youngs- 
towm  and  in  1844  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  Here  his 
health  began  to  decline  and  he  was  compelled  to  desist 
from  labor,  and  returned  to  his  home  at  Uniontown.  i In 
all  the  above  appointments  brother  Sturgis  sustained  the 
reputation  of  a man  of  sound  learning,  of  an  unblemished 
character,  and  of  deep  piety.  He  possessed  talents  of  a 
superior  order  as  a minister ; and  the  zeal  and  devotion 
with  which  he  prosecuted  every  part  of  the  work  of  a 
regular  itinerant  Methodist  minister  will  long  live  in  the 
remembrance  of  all  who  were  permitted  to  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  his  labors.  As  a colleague,  a pastor,  a hus- 
band, a father,  he  always  exhibited  a most  amiable  and 
affectionate  disposition.  The  high  estimate  in  which  he 
— 

♦Darius  Smith — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836;  deacon, 
1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  Saybrook,  O.,  May 
12,  1875.  Appointments — 1833,  Smethport,  and  after  Pittsburg 
Conference  session,  Napoli;  1834,  Columbus;  1835-’36,  Forestville, 
1837-’38,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1839-’40,  Westfield;  1841,  Forestville; 
1842,  North  East;  1843,  Erie;  1844-’47,  Jamestown  District;  1848- 
’49,  McKean  and  Girard;  1850-’51,  Ashtabula;  1852-’53,  Warren, 
O.;  1854,  Mercer;  1855,  superannuated;  1856-’57,  Geneva;  1858, 
Bloomfield  and  Bristol;  1859,  Willoughby;  1860-’61,  Ashtabula; 
1862-’63,  Perry;  -1864,  East  Cleveland;  1865-’66,  Tidioute;  1867, 
Grand  River;  1868,  Madison  and  Perry;  1869,  Huntsburg;  1870, 
East  Ashtabula;  1871-’72,  Saybrook;  1873,  East  Ashtabula;  1874. 
superannuated. 


f 


Sturgis , Luce,  Gardner. 


7 03 


was  held  by  his  brethren  of  the  Erie  Conference  may  be 
seen  in  part  from  the  fact  that  for  six  years  in  succession 
he  was  elected  without  opposition  to  the  responsible  office 
of  conference  secretary.”  Prostrated  by  a severe  hem- 
orrhage of  the  lungs,  he  hastened  to  the  grave,  and  quiet- 
ly fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  Nov.  4,  1845.* — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  IV .,  1846,  pp.  55,  54.) 

Hiram  Luce  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
March  18,  1799,  and  died  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  Nov.  20, 
1881.  He  was  converted  in  his  eighteenth  year  in  Vi- 
enna. New  York,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1828.  He  la- 
bored in  the  local  ranks  until  1833  when  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  and  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie,  and  East  Ohio  Conferences  at  their  or- 
ganization. He  remained  in  the  effective  ranks  twenty- 
six  years  when  failing  strength  compelled  him  to  take  a 
supernumerary  relation,  and  the  following  year  he  su- 
perannuated. He  was  a most  excellent  man,  and  de- 
voted to  his  chosen  profession.! 

Rouse  B.  Gardner  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1833,  and,  after  laboring  three  years 
with  us,  was  discontinued,  and  became  a minister  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr. 

Gardner  was  a tall,  spare  man,  possessed  of  some  talents 
for  preaching,  especially  for  controversy,  but  was  rather 
unhappy  in  his  disposition,  and  did  not  pass  smoothly 

*A.  G.  Sturgis — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on  trial, 
1833;  full  connection,  1835;  deacon,  1835,  Andrew;,  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  elder, 
1837,  Roberts;  deceased,  Uniontown,  Pa.,  November  4,  1845.  Ap- 
pointments— 1833,  Gustavus;  1834,  Salem;  1835,  Erie;  1836,  Hud- 
son; 1837,  Painesville;  1838-’39,  Ravenna;  1840-’41,  Warren,  O.; 
1842,  Poland;  1843,  Youngstown;  1844,  Meadville;  1845,  super- 
annuated. 

tHiram  Luce — Licensed  to  preach,  1828;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1833;  full  connection,  1835;  deacon,  1835, 
Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1836;  elder,  not  stated  in  General  Minutes;  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876; 
deceased,  Ashtabula,  O.,  November  20,  1881.  Appointments — 
1833,  Youngsville;  1834,  Forestville;  1835,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1836, 
Wattsburg;  1837,  Randolph;  1838-’39,  McKean;  1840-’41,  Hender- 
sonville; 1842,  Oil  Creek;  1843,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1844,  Ship- 
pen  ville;  1845,  New'  Castle;  1846,  Greenville  and  Clarksville; 
1847-’48,  Cooperstown;  1849,  'Waterford  and  Cussewago  Mission; 
1850-’51,  Saegertown;  1852-’53,  Espy  ville;  1854,  Clarksville;  1855, 
West  Salem;  1856,  Clinton  ville;  1857-’58,  Denmark  and  Pierpont 
Mission;  1859-’81,  superannuated. 


704  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

among  the  people.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism. 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  313.) 

Appointments — 1834. 

From  the  Pittsburg  Conference  which  met  in  Wash- 
ington,  Pa.,  July  16,  1834,  Bishop  Joshua  Soule,  presid- 
ing ; Charles  Cook,  secretary ; the  following  laborers  were 
sent  forth  into  the  Lord’s  vineyard : Ravenna  District, 

William  Stevens,  presiding  elder  Cleveland  Station, 
George  McCaskey;  Cleveland  Circuit,  William  S.  Wor- 
rallo : Twinsburg,  Ira  Eddy,  one  to  be  supplied ; Hudson, 
Milton  Colt,  George  W.  Clarke;  Tallmadge  and  Middle- 
bury,  Billings  O.  Plimpton;  Deerfield,  James  Hitchcock, 
Dennis  Goddard ; Ravenna,  Aurora  Callender ; Chardon, 
John  K.  Hallock,  John  Luccock:  Warren  District,  Wil- 

der B.  Mack,  presiding  elder ; New  Castle,  Rouse  B.  Gard- 
ner, one  to  be  supplied;  Youngstown,  John  W.  Hill,  Ben- 
jamin Preston;  Warren,  Thomas  Stubbs,  Wellington 
Weigley;  Jefferson,  John  L.  Holmes;  Windsor,  Arthur 
M.  Brown,  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser;  Ashtabula,  John  C. 
Ayres,  Dillon  Prosser;  Gustavus,  John  E.  Aikin,  Daniel 
Pritchard:  Meadville  District,  Alfred  Brunson,  presid- 

ing elder;  Meadville,  John  Robinson;  Allegheny  College, 
Martin  Ruter,  Homer  J.  Clark;  Mercer,  Ralph  Clapp; 
Salem,  Theodore  Stowe,  Alfred  G.  Sturgis ; Centerville.. 
William  Carroll,  one  to  be  supplied;  Franklin,  Samuel 
W. Ingraham; Oil  Creek,  Daniel  C.  Richey,  Reuben  Peck; 
Harmonsburg,  G.  Hills,  Philander  S.  Ruter ; Cambridge, 
Jacob  Jenks,  one  to  be  supplied;  Springfield,  John  Chand- 
ler, one  to  be  supplied ; Erie,  Elkanah  P . Steadman ; Wes- 
leyville,  Peter  D.  Horton,  one  to  be  supplied : Jamestown 

District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder ; Jamestown, 
John  J.  Steadman,  Lorenzo  D.  Mix— part  of  the  year, 
Justus  O.  Rich—;  Warren,  Allured  Plimpton;  Youngs- 
ville,  David  Preston,  one  to  be  supplied ; Columbus,  Darius 
Smith;  North  East,  T.  J.  Jennings,  James  E.  Chapin; 
Westfield,  Caleb  Brown,  Simeon  W.  Parks;  Fredoma, 
William  Todd,  Lorenzo  Rogers ; Forestville,  Hiram  Luce, 

*R.  B.  Gardner  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1833;  full  connection,  1835;  deacon,  Wesleyan  Church;  elder, 
Wesleyan  Church;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1836;  discontinued,  1836;  subsequently  became 
a minister  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  of  America.  Ap- 
pointments— 1833,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1834,  New  Castle;  1835,  Deer- 
field. 


Appointments — 1834.  705 

Samuel  Gregg;  Napoli,  Darius  Williams,  Joseph  A.  Hal- 
lock;  Smethport,  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt,  Bryan  S.  Hill: 
Allegheny  District,  Zerah  H.  Coston,  presiding  elder; 
Brookville,  Ahab  Keller;  Ridgway  Mission,  Gideon  D. 
Kinnear;  Shippenville,  John  Scott,  Chester  Morrison; 
Joseph  S.  Barris,  Isaac  Winans,  Agents  for  Allegheny 
College. 

The  Ravenna  District  was  formed  out  of  the  western 
part  of  the  Warren  District;  and  the  Erie  District  was 
divided  forming  the  Jamestown,  and  Meadville  Districts. 
Jamestown,  New  York,  again  became  a circuit.  “Tall- 
madge  and  Middleburv”  was  formed  out  of  a part  of 
Canton  Circuit ; “Warren  Circuit,”  from  a part  of 
Youngstown;  Oil  Creek,  from  a part  of  Franklin;  “Wes- 
leyville”  is  the  old  Erie  Circuit  except  Erie;  and  Har- 
monsburg,  from  parts  of  several  circuits. 

Reuben  Peck  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence, 1834  ; became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836;  dea- 
con, 1836,  Soule;  elder,  1840,  Hedding;  located,  1841. 
For  a number  of  years  after  his  location  he  served  the 
Church  most  acceptably  as  a local  preacher  at  Portland, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  died  April  1,  1876.* 

Simeon  W.  Parks  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1834,  and  appointed  to  Westfield, 
Caleb  Brown  in  charge.  He  located  in  1838,  and  entered 
upon  mercantile  business  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  which  lie 
had  abandoned  when  he  entered  the  ministry.  “Mr.  Parks 
was  a tall  spare  man,  of  poor  health ; not  able  to  endure 
the  hardships  and  labors  of  a Methodist  itinerant  of  that 
day.”  Subsequently  he  withdrew  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  united  with  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Church  in  which  he  continued  to  labor  as  a local 
preacher,  f 


♦Appointments — 1834,  Oil  Creek;  1835,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.; 
1836,  Centerville,  Butler  Co.;  1837,  Shippenville;  1838,  Red  Bank 
and  Mahoning;  1839,  Red  Bank;  1840,  Conneautville. 

tS.  W.  Parks — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834; 
became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1836;  full  connection  1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder, 
1838,  Waugh;  located,  1838.  Appointments — 1834,  Westfield; 
1835;  Fayette;  1836,  Gerry;  1837,  Wesley ville. 


45 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Gideon  D.  Kinnear,  Lorenzo  Rodgers. 

Gideon  D.  Kinnear  was  born  in  Franklin,  Venango 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  1809;  and  was  converted  and  united  with  the 
Church  in  his  boyhood.  In  1831  he  was  employed  by  the 
presiding  elder  of  the  Erie  District  to  labor  on  the 
Youngsville  Circuit,  and  the  next  year  entered  the  regular 
itinerant  ranks  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Ridgway  Mission  in  1834.  The  General 
Minutes  give  Salem  as  his  appointment  for  1833.  Gregg 
mentions  neither  Mr.  Kinnear  nor  Salem.  He  superan- 
nuated in  1874,  but  continued  to  labor  as  his  strength 
would  permit.  At  the  Hollow  Rock  camp  meeting,  on  the 
evening  on  Sunday,  Brother  Kinnear  fell  while  preach- 
ing with  great  power  in  the  tabernacle.  To  those  who 
ran  to  support  him  he  said : '‘Let  the  meeting  go  on ; let 

me  die  at  my  post,”  and  a little  later : “All  is  well.”  He 

immediately  became  unconscious  and  passed  to  his  re- 
ward, September  8,  1875. 

The  following  account  of  the  death  of  Gideon  D.  Kin- 
near was  found  in  an  old  scrap  book  and  may  have  been, 
and  probably  was  taken  from  one  of  the  Advocates.  “Ac- 
cording to  information,  there  being  a great  crowd  at  the 
camp  meeting  on  Sunday,  Mr.  Kinnear  was  detailed  to 
preach  in  the  Tabernacle  in  the  evening,  while  preaching 
was  also  going  on  in  the  stand.  He  preached  for  an  hour 
or  more  in  his  usual  fervid  style  and  was  supposed  to  be 
near  his  conclusion  when  he  was  seen  to  stagger.  Some 
person  or  persons,  immediately  came  to  his  assistance  and 
relieved  the  severity  of  his  fall.  Feeling  that  he  was 
failing  the  last  words  he  uttered  were,  ‘Let  the  meeting  go 
on!’  He  immediately  became  unconscious  and  remained 
so,  to  all  appearance  till  death.”* 

*The  following  list  of  appointments  will  give  some  idea  of  the 
importance  of  the  work  of  Gideon  D.  Kinnear:  1832,  Dover; 

1833,  Salem;  1834,  Ridgway  Mission;  1835,  Birmingham;  1836, 
Braddocksfield;  1837,  Blairsville;  1838,  Mooreville;  1839-’40, 
Deersville;  1841-’42,  Salem;  1843-’44,  Brighton;  1845,  Agent  for 
Allegheny  College;  1846,  Beaver  Creek  Mission;  1847,  Barnes- 
ville;  1848-’51,  Barnesville  District;  1852-’55,  Blairsville  District; 
1856,  Temperanceville;  1857-’58,  Columbiana;  1859-’60,  Damasco- 
ville;  1861,  Enon  Valley;  1862,  Marlborough;  1863,  Columbiana; 
1864-’65,  Springdale;  1866-’67,  Elkton;  1868,  Bloomfield,  1869-70, 
New  Somerset;  1871,  Greenstown;  1872-73,  Philadelphia  Plains; 
1874,  superannuated,  but  appointed  as  a supply  to  Unionville  and 
Concord. 


Ralph  Clapp . 


707 


Lorenzo  Rodgers  was  born  in  Orange  County,  New 
York,  March  12,  1804.  His  father  died  while  he  was 
young,  and  in  his  fifteenth  year,  with  the  remainder  of  the 
family,  he  moved  to  North  East,  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Gregg  relates  that  when  Mr.  Rodgers  was  in  the  twenty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age,  he  went  one  Sabbath  to  a neigh- 
bors for  a pail  of  water,  and  found  a Methodist  class  meet- 
ing in  progress.  He  sat  down  to  listen  to  the  singing  and 
speaking  and  when  the  leader  came  to  him  he  was  so  af- 
fected he  could  not  speak.  All  kneeled  and  prayed  for 
him  until  he  was  converted,  when,  like  the  woman  in  the 
gospel,  he  left  his  pail  and  ran  home  to  tell  what  the  Lord 
had  done  for  his  soul.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1832 
and  employed  on  the  Springfield  Circuit;  and  in  1833  on 
the  North  East  Circuit.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  in  1834,  and  became  a member  on 
probation  in  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization.  He 
was  effective  nineteen  years,  supernumerary  in  1853,  and 
superannuated  from  1854  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He 
died  at  his  residence  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Feb.  17,  1865. 
“Brother  Rodgers  was  a zealous  patriot,  and  a warm  and 
sincere  friend,  an  earnest  Christian,  and  an  eloquent  and 
powerful  preacher.  His  pathetic  appeals  were  often  over- 
whelming, the  hardest  hearts  melting  like  wax  before  the 
flames.  Hundreds  were  converted  through  his  instru- 
mentality, and  thousands  will  rise  up,  in  the  day  of  eter- 
nity, and  call  him  blessed.”  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr. 

Rodgers  was  of  good  size,  stout-built,  full  of  zeal,  a very 
good  preacher,  and  could  pray  with  great  power.”* 


Ralph  Clapp. 

That  was  a notable  service  held  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  of  Tidioute,  Pennsylvania,  July  8,  in  memory 
of  the  Rev.  Ralph  Clapp,  one  of  the  most  eloquent  min- 


*Lorenzo  Rodgers — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on 
trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection, 
1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  Cleve- 
land, O.,  February  7,  1865.  Appointments — 1834,  Fredonia,  N. 
Y.;  1835,  Forestville;  1836,  Sheridan;  1837-’38,  Westfield,  1839-’40, 
Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1841,  Harmonsburg;  1842-’43,  Braceville;’ 
1844-!45,  Freedom;  1846,  Parkman;  1847-’48,  Chagrin  FaPs;  1849- 

i5o°rLTwinsburg;  185l-’52,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1853,  supernumerary; 
1854-  64,  superannuated. 


708 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


isters  that  ever  belonged  to  the  Pittsburg  and  Erie  Con- 
ferences. The  speakers  were  Dr.  Jonathan  Hamnett,  of 
Allegheny  College,  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  his  age,  the 
Rev.  B.  F.  Delo,  of  the  Erie  Conference,  seventy-five 
years  of  age,  and  Dr.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  who  in  com- 
parison is  but  a youth.  J.  M.  Clapp,  the  son  of  Ralph 
Clapp,  living  in  his  seventies,  was  in  the  congregation. 
Also  A.  W.  Couse,  eighty-three  years  old,  who  was  a 
student  of  Doctor  Hamnett  in  Allegheny  College,  and 
who  was  a college  professor  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  War.  B.  F.  Delo  also  was  a stu- 
dent of  Doctor  Hamnett.  Doctor  Hamnett,  when  seek- 
ing an  education  in  Allegheny  College,  in  1835?  became  a 
member  of  Ralph  Clapp’s  family.  The  sons,  E.  E.  Clapp 
and  J.  M.  Clapp,  have  been  benefactors  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  Tidioute,  the  latter  having  recently 
placed  a memorial  window  over  the  main  entrance  to  the 
church  to  replace  a former  memorial  window  furnished  by 
his  brother,  which  had  become  damaged.  On  the  lower 
panel  to  the  right  is  the  inscription  : “In  memory  of  Rev. 

Ralph  Clapp.  Born  1801;  Died  1865.”  To  the  left: 
“In  memory  of  Edwin  E.  Clapp;  Born,  1824;  Died, 
1897.”  This  and  former  benefactions  suggested  the 
unique  service. 

Doctor  Hamnett  spoke  with  the  clearness  and  energy 
of  his  youth,  and  B.  F.  Delo’s  voice  had  the  ring  of  his 
old  camp-meeting  oratory.  Both  were  rich  in  reminis- 
cences, and  spoke  in  highest  terms  of  Ralph  Clapp,  the 
memory  of  whose  wonderful  eloquence  still  lingers  in  all 
this  region.  His  sermons  at  camp  meetings  filled  the 
“mourners’  bench’’  with  anxious  inquirers,  and  shouts  of 
salvation  resounded  throughout  the  camp  and  shaded 
wood.  We  would  be  pleased  to  give  extensive  extracts 
from  those  addresses,  if  the  space  at  our  command  would 
allow. 

J.  N.  Fradenburgh  read  a memorial  of  the  life 
of  this  notable  man,  the  material  having  been  furnished 
by  his  son.  We  present  our  readers  with  portions  of  this 
paper : 

“Rev.  Ralph  Clapp  was  born  at  Martinsburg,  N.  Y., 
May  1,  1801,  and  died  at  President,  Pa.,  August  11,  1865. 
The  family  were  of  Danish  origin,  as  is  shown  by  the  his- 
tories and  traditions  of  Clapham  county,  England.  It  is 
found  from  these  traditions  that  among  the  followers  of 


Ralph  Clapp. 


709 


the  Danish  King  Canute,  who  conquered  England  about 
A.  D.  1015,  was  a Count  Clappa,  to  whom  the  king 
awarded  a large  part,  and  perhaps  all,  of  Clapham  county 
for  services  in  this  war  of  conquest.  In  1630  many  of 
this  Danish  family,  having  become  Puritans,  emigrated  to 
and  settled  in  New  England.  One  of  these  was  Roger 
Clapp,  whose  descendants  located  in  Connecticut,  and 
some  of  them  afterwards  became  domiciled  in  northern 
New  York,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 

“But  little  is  known  of  his  boyhood  years,  but  they 
were  doubtless  spent  in  school  and  at  home  in  the  usual 
routine  of  daily  duties.  When  quite  young  he  became 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  when 
about  eighteen  years  of  age  was  licensed  by  the  Church  as 
an  exhorter  and  local  preacher.  He  immediately  became 
active  in  church-work,  and,  during  one  year  at  least, 
‘traveled’  a circuit  under  a presiding  elder,  in  the  old 
Black  River  District,  of  the  Oneida  Conference.  PIjs 
presiding  elder  was  Nathaniel  Salisbury,  and  the  circuit 
was  Watertown,  Jefferson  County.  The  preacher  in 
charge  was  J.  S.  Mitchell.  He  came  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1831,  and  seems  to  have  labored  as  a supply  on  Franklin 
Circuit  two  years.  He  joined  the.  Pittsburg  Conference 
in  1833,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization  in  1836. 

“While  residing  in  Franklin,  probably  in  1832,  when 
traveling  up  Oil  creek,  he  was  taken  sick,  and  remained 
some  days  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Hazen,  about  two 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  While  recovering 
from  his  illness  he  became  interested  in  Mr.  Hazen’s 
method  and  success  in  gathering  what  was  then  called 
‘Seneca  oil’  from  vats  in  the  bed  of  the  creek.  Blankets 
were  spread  in  the  vats,  and  when  filled  with  oil  they  were 
taken  to  the  bank  of  the  creek  and  the  oil  squeezed  or 
wrung  out  of  them  into  a large  wooden  trough.  In  this 
way  about  twelve  barrels  of  oil  a year  was  procured,  and 
as  it  was  then  worth  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  cents  a 
gallon,  it  yielded  quite  a considerable  addition  to  the 
otherwise  small  income  of  the  farm. 

“Mr.  Hazen  had  a contract  for  the  purchase  of  the 
farm,  but  had  not  been  able  to  make  the  required  pay- 
ments, and  he  persuaded  Mr.  Clapp  to  purchase  it,  giving 
to  Mr.  Hazen  an  option  for  the  purchase  of  an  undivided 


7io 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


half  therein.  Mr.  Hazen,  however,  never  made  his  pay- 
ments on  this  new  agreement,  and  the  property  remained 
in  Mr.  Clapp’s  ownership,  and  was  known  as  the  Clapp 
farm.  This  is  perhaps  among  the  first  known  instances 
of  property  purchased  in  western  Pennsylvania  on  account 
of  oil  procured  from  it. 


“In  the  summer  of  1833  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference.  He  had  already  been  ordained 
both  deacon  and  elder.  He  was  appointed  to  the  church  at 
Mercer,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  in  1835  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  church  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  where  he  closed 
his  active  ministry.  He  then  became  a local  minister  of 
the  church,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  remaining 
in  Meadville  until  1842.  N.  C.  Brown  says  that  his  anti- 
slavery sentiments  ‘had  much  to  do  with  keeping  Brother 
Clapp  from  the  itinerancy.’ — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, Sept.  2,  1865 .)  About  this  time  he  became  engaged 
in  lumbering  in  the  eastern  part  of  Crawford  county,  and 
in  furnace  business  in  Clarion  county,  and  in  connection 
with  these  ventures  he  removed  his  family  to  Clappville, 
Pa.,  in  April,  1842,  and  from  there  in  August,  1843,  to 
Clinton  Furnace  in  Clarion  county.  Sometime  after  this 
he  commenced  purchasing  lands  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a large  iron  establishment  near  the  mouth  of  Hemlock 
creek,  which  he  named  President  Furnace. 

“Having  sold  his  interest  in  Clinton  Furnace  he  moved 
his  family  to  this  new  location  April  1,  1846,  and  the 
furnace  was  built  during  the  summer  of  that  year.  Into 
this  new  venture  he  took  his  eldest  son,  and  the  business 
was  conducted  for  some  years  in  the  firm  name  of  E.  E. 
Clapp  & Co.  This  property  passed  through  several 
changes  of  ownership,  and  the  business  of  the  family  was 
conducted  by  Ralph  Clapp  and  his  two  sons  until  his 
death. 


“During  all  this  time  he  was  devoted  to  church  interests 

and  duties,  and  to  systematic  and  thorough  investigations 

into  natural  causes  and  passing  events,  and  their  agree- 
ment with  and  confirmation  of  the  history  of  the  Christian 
religion  as  recorded  in  the  Bible  and  profane  history.  He 
believed  in  the  equality  of  man  and  the  fatherhood  of  God 
over  all,  and  spent  much  time  in  advocacy  of  the  abolish- 
ment of  slavery,  and  of  the  duty  of  all  persons  not  only  to 


Bryan  S.  Hill,  Chester  Morrison. 


7 ii 

lead  good  and  righteous  lives  themselves,  but  to  assist 
others  to  rise  above  the  thraldom  of  fallen  humanity. 

“He  was  an  earnest  and  constant  advocate  of  temper- 
ance, and  his  persistent  advocacy  thereof  brought  upon 
him  the  ill  will  of  those  engaged  in  the  liquor  traffic,  as 
well  as  those  who  could  not,  or  would  not,  control  their 
appetites  and  brought  misery  to  themselves  and  their  fam- 
ilies. He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  public  schools,  claim- 
ing that  they  were  not  only  elevating  in  their  effects,  but 
were  the  best  and  cheapest  and  greatest  defenses  of  the 
nation. 

“During  the  Civil  War  he  was  an  earnest  Union  man, 
and  was  readv  and  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  for  the 
perpetuation  of  the  American  Republic  and  the  abolish- 
ment of  human  slavery.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  legis- 
lature in  1854,  but  did  not  find  it  a congenial  life,  and  did 
not  afterward  seek  political  preferment.  He  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  Bishop  Simpson,  and  their  intimacy  ter- 
minated only  in  death.  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  and 
upholder  of  Allegheny  College,  and  for  many  years  acted 
as  one  of  its  trustees.  He  was  broad  and  liberal  in  his 
views  on  all  subjects,  and  as  an  orator  had  but  few  equals. 

“On  all  public  subjects  he  was  outspoken,  eloquent  and 
convincing,  and  he  was  continually  called  upon  to  answer 
and  refute  the  wild  and  baseless  theories  abroad  in  the 
country,  and  to  build  up  and  strengthen  temperance  and 
other  worthy  causes. 

“He  was  a man  of  remarkable  physical  endurance,  and 
led  a strenuously  busy  life,  retaining  all  his  faculties  un- 
impaired to  the  last.  He  died  of  heart-disease,  without  a 
moment’s  warning,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  was 
engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  his  ordinary  vocations, 
thus  fulfilling  his  oft-repeated  wish  that  when  death  came 
it  would  not  be  preceded  by  imbecility  and  long-continued 
suffering.”* 

Bryan  S.  Hill,  Chester  Morrison. 

Bryan  S.  Hill  was  born  in  Windham  County,  Vermont, 
May  27,  1812;  and  died  at  his  home  in  Wattsburg,  Erie 

♦Ralph  Clapp — Licensed  to  preach,  1819;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1833;  full  connection,  1835;  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  located, 
1836;  deceased,  President,  Pa.,  August  11,  1865.  Appointments — 
1833-’34,  Mercer;  1835,  Meadville. 


712 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  19,  1890.  While  he  was  quite  young,  his 
parents  came  to  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  where  he 
was  converted  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  under  the  ministry 
of  L.  D.  Prosser.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1833, 
and  was  employed  by  Hiram  Kinsley,  the  presiding  elder, 
to  labor  on  the  Forestville  Circuit.  He  was  received,  as 
a probationer,  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1834,  and 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  the  division. 
He  was  effective  twenty-seven  years,  and  presiding  elder 
of  Jamestown  District  three  years.  He  was  superannu- 
ated in  1862 — he  had  been  superannuated  one  year  pre- 
vious to  this  date,  in  185Q.  Mr.  Hill  was  twice  married 
— in  1836  to  Miss  Mary  Sanborn,  of  Chautauqua,  New 
York,  who  died  Jan.  1,  1884;  and  in  1886  to  Miss  Sarah 
Harrington,  and  was  exceedingly  happy  in  his  whole 
home  life. 

Brother  Hill  was  dignified,  but  not  stiff  and  formal. 
Twice  he  was  a member  of  the  state  legislature,  and  Chap- 
lain of  the  House.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1852.  He  was  a good  and  successful  preacher. 
“Mr.  Hill  was  rather  tall,  otherwise  of  medium  size,  pos- 
sessed an  amiable  disposition  and  a kind  heart , became 
a good  practical  preacher,  loved  more  for  his  many  excel- 
lent traits  of  character  than  for  eloquence  or  power  in  the 
pulpit.  By  diligence  and  perseverence  he  obtained  a re- 
spectable standing  in  his  conference,  and  long  maintained 
it.”* (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference, 

Vol  I.,  pp.  330 , 33I-)  t ^ . t 

Chester  Morrison  was  born  in  Geneva,  Ohio,  January 
8,1808:  was  converted  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  at  a 
place  afterwards  called  “Bunker  Hill,”  February  20,  1825, 
licensed  to  exhort  in  1830,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1832. 
He  served  Brookville  and  Ridgway  Mission  as  a supply 


*B  S Hill — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836;  dea- 
con 1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  Wattsburg  Pa., 
February  19,  1890.  Appointments  1833,  Forestville  (supply), 
1834.  Smethport;  1835,  Gerry;  1836,  Fredonia  N Y ; 1837-’38, 
Sheridan;  1839-’40,  Warren,  Pa.;  1841-’42,  Meadville;  1843  War- 
ren  O * 1844,  Youngstown;  1845-’46,  New  Castle;  1847-  48,  Green- 
ville and  Clarksville;  1849,  Springfield;  1850,  McKean  and  Gi- 
rard’ 1851,  McKean;  1852-’53,  Wattsburg;  1854,  Agent  for  Con- 
ference Tract  Society;  1855,  Panama;  1856-’58,  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict; 1859,  superannuated;  1860,  Wattsburg;  1861,  North  East; 
1862-’89,  superannuated. 


Chester  Morrison. 


(Abner  Jackson  in  charge,)  in  1833,  and  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1834,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Shippenville  Circuit  as  junior  preacher, 
John  Scott  in  charge.  He  labored  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference until  his  superannuation  in  1857.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Cevilla  Ludington,  March  17, 
1838.  He  made  his  home  in  his' later  years  in  Meadville, 
Pa.,  where  he  died  January  6,  1892. 

Mr.  Morrison  was  concise,  logical,  eloquent,  and  per- 
suasive. “His  voice  was^ remarkable  for  its  compass  and 
power,  and  remained  so  until  the  end.  In  prayer  he  was 
wonderfully  gifted.  He  preached  with  great  frequency 
after  his  superannuation,  and  in  full  consciousness  died 
happily  at  his  home,  where  he  was  laid  to  rest  to  await 
the  resurrection  of  the  just.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , 
Vol.  XXIV.,  1892,  p.  402.) 

The  following  anecdote  by  Mr.  Gregg  is  worthy  of 
preservation:  “Rev.  Zerah  H.  Coston  is  again  brought 

within  our  bounds  by  the  connection  of  two  circuits  within 
our  territory  with  the  Allegheny  District  on  which  he 
presided.  Once  as  Mr.  Coston  was  on  his  wTay*to  a quar- 
terly meeting  at  Curllsville  he  missed  his  way,  and  was 
obliged  to  sleep  at  a house  where  the  family  were  Roman 
Catholics.  . They  positively  refused  to  put  him  on  the 
right  road,  or  to  allow  him  to  stay  all  night.  But  he  as- 
sured them  that  he  must  stay,  as  he  could  not  find  the  road 
in  the  dark.  They  then  refused  him  any  supper ; but  one 
of  the  girls  managed  to  get- him  some  privately.  Mr. 
Coston  was  under  the  necessity  of  employing  a pious 
young  man” — Chester  Morrison — “on  the  Ridgwray  Mis- 
sion, whom  he  had  never  seen,  on  the  recommendation  of 
other  persons ; and  on  his  way  to  his  fijst  quarterly  meet- 
ing, five  or  six  miles  from  the  place  of  meeting,  the  elder 
and  the  young  minister  unexpectedly  came  together,  and 
without  either  one  knowing  or  even  suspecting  who  the 
other  was,  performed  the  remainder  of  the  journey  to- 
gether. The  young  man  wras  tall,  poorly  clad,  and  look- 
ing too  green  to  cause  the  elder  to  think  of  him  being  a 
preacher,  and  the  elder  w*as  too  elegantly  mounted  to  give 
the  young  itinerant  the  slightest  impression  that  he  w^as 
the  looked-for  presiding  elder.  Soon  the  young  man  in- 
quired of  the  stranger  where  he  w^as  from,  and  where  he 
was  going.  Mr.  Coston,  regarding  his  inquiries  as  being 


714  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

rather  impertinent,  gave  them  an  evasive  answer.  Soon, 
however,  the  young  minister,  warm  with  love_  to  his  Mas- 
ter, inquired  of  the  stranger  if  he  was  a professor  of  re- 
ligion. Mr.  Coston  gave  another  evasive  answer,  leaving, 
however,  the  impression  on  the  mind  of  the  young  man 
that  he  was  not  a Christian.  Full  of  zeal  in  the  cause  in 
which  he  had  so  recently  embarked  for  life,  the  young  em- 
bassador for  Christ  began  to  exhort  him  to  ‘repent  and 
give  his  heart  to  the  Lord  without  delay.’  All  of  which 
Mr.  Coston  listened  to  with  great  respect,  which  led  the 
young  minister  to  suppose  that  his  exhortation  was  pro- 
ducing the  desired  effect,  and  so  continued  his  kind  ex- 
postulations until  they  suddenly  arrived  at  the  place  of 
meeting;  when,  to  the  surprise  of  the  young  man,  the 
stranger  dismounted,  and  with  him  entered  the  meeting- 
house, and  in  a moment  went  into  the  pulpit  and  com- 
menced the  service.  When  the  quarterly  conference  was 
opened,  the  elder  was  about  as  much  surprised  to  find  that 
the  young  man  that  had  belabored  him  so  earnestly  by  the 
way  was  the  preacher  which  was  employed  on  the  circuit 
by  himself,  as  the  preacher  was  to  find  that  the  stranger  in 
whose  spiritual  welfare  he  had  taken  so  much  interest  was 
his  presiding  elder.”* — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  308-31:0.) 

William  S.  Worrallo,  James  E.  Chapin. 

WilliamS.  Worrallo  died  at  his  residence  at  Mill  Creek, 
Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  9,  1848.  He  was  born  in  Goram,  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  19,  1801.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Willoughby,  Lake  Co., 
Ohio ; and  was  converted  at  the  age  of  thirteen  under  the 
labors  of  Rev.*  James  Hitchcock.  After  serving  the 
Church  as  class  leader  seven  years  he  was  licensed  to  ex- 
hort ; and  in  1832  was  licensed  to  preach.  In  1834  he  was 
received  on  probation  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  and  ap- 
pointed to  Cleveland  Circuit.  He  was  appointed  to  Mill 
Creek  Mission  in  1847  where  he  ended  his  labors. 

♦The  appointments  of  Brother  Morrison  were:  1833,  Brook- 

ville  and  Ridgway  Mission,  supply;  1834,  Shippenville  and  Pine 
Grove  Mission;  1835,  Kingwood;  1836,  Randolph;  1837-  38,  Bran- 
donville;  1839,  Sharon;  1840-’41,  McConnellsville;  1842-’43,  Nor- 
wich; 1844,  Westchester;  1845,  Middleburne;  1846-’47,  Woodsfield; 
1848-’49,  Leesburg;  1850-’51,  Claysville;  1852-’53,  Chartiers;  1854- 
’55,  New  Somerset;  1856,  Springfield;  1857-’91,  superannuated. 


William  S.  Worrallo,  James  E.  Chapin.  715 

“Brother  Worrallo  was  one  in  whom  was  combined  an  af- 
fectionate father,  a laborious  and  useful  minister,  and  a 
firm  and  unyielding  friend  to  the  interests  of  the  Church 
of  his  early  choice.  He  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
all  his  private,  social,  religious,  and  public  duties.  Death 
found  him  prepared.  He  adjusted  all  his  temporal  con- 
cerns with  composure,  delivered  his  farewell  address  to 
the  friends  surrounding  him,  and  in  a peaceful  state  of 
mind  he  waited  the  moment  of  his  departure.  And  when 
that  moment  came,  just  as  he  was  entering  the  cold  waters 
of  Jordan,  he  was  enabled  to  say,  ‘Death  has  no  terrors  to 
me:  My  Savior’s  promises  are  sure.’  In  this  triumphant 
state  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  IV,  1848,  p.  251.) 

Samuel  Chapin  settled  in  Springfield-,  Massachusetts,  in 
1642;  and  from  him  are  said  to  have  descended  all  the 
Chapins  in  this  country.  The  parents  of  James  E.  Chapin 
moved  to  Vermont  before  marriage.  There  they  were 
united  in  holy  wedlock  and  converted ; and  there  they 
joined  the  Congregationalist  Church  in  Wadboro,  Wind- 
ham County.  There,  too,  James  E.  was  born  Feb.  15, 
1810.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  came  with  the  family 
over  the  Green  Mountains,  and  settled  in  Edinburg,  Sara- 
toga Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1830  he  went  to  Buffalo,  which  he 
reached  with  but  one  dollar  in  his  pocket.  Having  an 
uncle  living  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  County,  he  turned 
his  footsteps  thitherward.  Upon  reaching  the  place,  the 
first  thing  offered  him  was  a glass  of  whisky  which  he  re- 
fused. He  studied  under  disadvantages — principally  at 
home  by  the  light  of  the  fire  in  the  old  log  house.  He  was 
engaged  in  teaching  several  years,  and  was  accustomed  to 
recall  with  pleasure  his  first  examination  for  a teacher’s 
certificate.  In  his  autobiography,  Mr.  Chapin  says : “I 

was  then  twenty  years  of  age.  The  following  autumn, 
after  many  doubts,  fears  and  struggles,  and  much  study 
and  many  prayers,  I found  that  Christ  had  power  on 

*W.  S.  Worrallo — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference,  1836;  full  connection,  1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule; 
elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February 
9,  1848.  Appointments — 1834,  Cleveland;  1835,  Massilon;  1836, 
Ravenna;  1837,  Willoughby;  1838,  Hudson;  1839-’40,  Parkman; 
1841*’42,  Newburg;  1843,  Chagrin  Falls;  1844,  Villenovia;  1845, 
Forestville  and  Villenovia;  1846,  Napoli;  1847,  Mill  Creek  Mis- 
sion. 


716 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


earth  to  forgive  sin,  but,  having  been  educated  to  believe 
that  all  we  could  do  was  to  hope  that  we  were  saved,  it 
was  not  till  January  I,  1831,  that  I dared  to  say  that  God 
for  Christ’s  sake  had  forgiven  my  sins.  The  churches  at 
this  time  were  cold  and  inactive,  and  I went  alone  to  my 
room,  and  there,  with  the  Bible  and  the  Holy  Spirit  striv- 
ing with  me,  T read,  prayed,  and  sought  the  Lord  for 
weeks,  and  there  I found  the  Savior  precious  to  my  soul. 
At  the  same  time  I had  the  conviction  that  I must  preach 
the  gospel.  I resisted  for  some  time  until  I felt,  ‘woe  is 
me.  if  I preach  not  the  gospel !’  ” 

Brother  Chapin  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1834,  and  the 
same  year  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence. He  says : “My  first  circuit  was  North  East,  Penn- 

sylvania, extending  twenty  miles  south,  including  some 
twenty-five  preaching  places  to  be  filled  every  four  weeks. 
My  colleague  was  T.  J.  Jennings,  a man  of  excellent 
spirit,  devoted  and  faithful.  I preached,  on  an  average, 
one  sermon  each  day  for  the  whole  year.  My  salary  was 
one  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  all  told — the  expense 
of  house  rent  and  keeping  a horse  having  been  taken  out 
of  this  small  amount  left  but  a pittance  for  all  other  neces- 
sities/’ It  is  no  wonder  that  it  took  Brother  Chapin  sev- 
eral years  to  pay  for  his  horse  and  “out-fit.”  But  we  will 
let  him  continue  his  story : “My  third  field  was  Oil 

Creek  and  Tionesta  Mission.  It  was  sixty  miles  through 
it,  over  the  hills  and  mountains  of  Oil  creek,  Allegheny 
river,  and  Tionesta  creek:  it  joined  the  bounds  of  my  two 
former  circuits,  and  extended  up  the  Tionesta,  east  of  the 
Allegheny,  twenty-five  miles.  Here  were  fourteen  miles 
of  unbroken  forest;  not  a tree  had  been  cut;  not  an  in- 
habitant to  cheer  the  gloom  of  the  wilderness ; wild  beasts 
prowled  about ; we  found  our  way  through  pathless  woods 
by  here  and  there  a marked  tree.  My  colleague,  on  one  oc- 
casion. missed  the  signs,  lost  his  way,  and  wandered  in  the 
woods  a day  and  a night.  The  next  day  he  came  to  a 
shanty,  and  asked  for  something  to  eat,  but  the  woman, 
who  met  him  at  the  door  refused,  saying  that  she  had 
rather  feed  twenty  devils  than  one  minister.”  But  Mr. 
Chapin  reported  one  and  fifty  conversions.  The  Tionesta 
Mission  work  seemed  hopeless,  yet  twenty  or  more  years 
later,  he  met  a family  all  of  whom  had  been  converted 
through  the  influence  left  on  the  mind  of  the  wife  and 


Jqmes  E.  Chapin. 


717 


mother  who  had  heard  but  one  sermon.  She  had  re- 
mained in  the  woods  but  a short  time — an  unwelcome  ex- 
perience robbing-  the  wilderness  of  its  charms.  Stepping 
to  the  door  of  her  cabin,  one  day,  to  look  for  her  little  girl 
who  was  playing  near  the  steps,  she  saw  a panther,  but  a 
few  feet  distant,  about  to  spring  upon  her  child.  The 
panther  delayed  his  spring  a moment,  startled  by  her 
screams,  and  meantime  she  had  seized  her  babe  and  rushed 
into  the  room,  closing  the  door.  There  were  many 
others,  too,  who  dated  their  first  religious  impressions  at 
the  time  of  this  apparently  fruitless  ministry.  The  bread 
cast  upon  the  waters  “returned  after  many  days/’ 


Brother  Chapin  was  effective  forty-five  years,  and  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Clarion,  Painesville,  and  Fredonia  Dis- 
tricts eight  years.  He  was  an  able  minister.  His  social 
qualities  were  excellent.  He  was  especially  successful  in 
building  and  repairing  churches  and  parsonages.  A good 
brother  highly  compliments  his  preaching  when  he  says : 
“He  knew  how  to  get  the  fodder  low  enough  in  the  rack 
so  that  the  small  cattle  could  reach  it.”  He  could  say 
during  the  years  of  his  retirement:  “God  has  strewn 

my  pathway  with  abundance  of  blessings.  I have  noth- 
ing of  which  to  complain.  My  conference  appointments 
have  been  good.  I have  strong  attachments  to  the  Meth- 
odist people,  especially  to  my  brethren  in  the  ministrv. 
Although  I cannot  enter  the  heat  of  the  battle  with  them 
as  once  I delighted  to  do,  I can  yet  strike  some  effective 
blows  against  the  foe.  I can  glean  after  the  strong 
reapers,  and  rejoice  in  the  success  of  my  youthful 
brethren.  Although  I cannot  climb  the  mountain  sum- 
niit,  I can  walk  along  the  valley  and  shout  the  harvest 
home.  Brother  Chapin  heard  the  supreme  summons, 
and  departed  for  his  celestial  abode  from  his  home  in 
M estfield,  New  York,  June  30,  1893.  Just  before  losing 
consciousness,  he  said  to  his  devoted  wife:  “Louisa, 

Jesus  is  with  me  in  the  valley;  it  is  bright.”  These  were 
his  last  words.* 


. J-  E-  ChaPin— Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
i^ittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  probation,  of 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection, 
l»36;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  West* 

fooc  « Y*’  June  30’  1893-  Appointments— 1834,  North  East; 

_^oungsville;  1836,  Oil  Creek  and  Tionesta  Mission; 
1837,  Wesley ville;  1838,  Mercer;  1839,  Wattsburg;  1840,  West- 


7i8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Dillon  Prosser. 


Dillon  Prosser  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New  York, 
July  2,  1813.  He  was  converted  in  1828.  He  studied 
two  years  in  the  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1833,  and  the  following  year  became  identi- 
fied with  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  falling  into  the  Erie 
Conference  at  the  time  of  the  division.  In  1850  he  moved 
to  Cleveland,  and  gave  the  remaining  years  of  his  ministry 
to  the  work  in  that  city.  Nine  of  the  present  Methodist 
churches  there  were  organized  in  the  first  instance  by  him. 
He  started  the  “Ragged  School”  which  later  became  the 
Industrial  School.  He  was  in  the  Bethel  work  twelve 
years,  seven  as  chaplain  and  five  as  financial  secretary. 
He  did  fifty-one  years'  effective  work,  and  was  twelve 
years  supernumerary.  He  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  died  in  the  faith 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  April  11,  1897.  “His  ready  utter- 
ance and  melodious  voice,  in  speech  and  song,  fitted  him 
for  great  usefulness.  His  preaching  was  the  story  of  the 
cross.  His  appeals  were  eloquent  and  persuasive.  He 
had  great  power  over  children  and  youth,  and  often  the 
gospel  as  preached  by  him  wondrously  moved  great  mul- 
titudes.”*— (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXVI , i8j9, 
pp.  440, 441.) 


field;  1841,  Westfield  and  Mayville;  1842-’3,  Portland;  1844-’5, 
Warren  Pa.;  1846-’7,  Fredonia;  1848-’9,  Forestville  and  Villenovia; 
1850-’l,  Randolph;  1852-’3,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1854-’5,  Erie;  1856- 
’7,  Cleveland,  Erie  street;  1858-’9,  Clarion  District;  1860-T,  Paines- 
ville  District;  1862,  Meadville;  1863-’4,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1865-’8, 
Fredonia  District;  1869,  Temperance  Agent;  1870,  Westfield; 
1871,  Mayville;  1872-’3,  Ripley;  1874,  Supernumerary;  1875-’6, 
Wesleyville;  1877,  supernumerary;  1878-’80,  second  preacher  at 
Westfield;  1881-’6,  supernumerary;  1887/92,  superannuated. 


♦Dillon  Prosser — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836; 
deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleve- 
land, O.,  April  11,  1897.  Appointments — 1834,  Ashtabula;  1835, 
Williamsfield;  1836,  Jefferson;  1837-’8,  Ellsworth;  1839,  Gustavus 
and  Williamsfield;  1840,  Williamsfield;  1841-’2,  Youngstown; 
1843,  Poland;  1844-’5,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1846-’7,  Hudson;  1848-’9, 
Painesville;  1850,  Cleveland,  Erie  street;  1851-’2,  Cleveland,  City 
Mission;  1853,  Mercer;  1854-’9,  Cleveland,  Bethel;  1860-T,  Cha- 
grin Falls;  1862,  Newburg;  1863-’5,  Cleveland,  City  Mission;  1866, 
South  Cleveland  Mission;  1867,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1868-’9, 
supernumerary;  1870-’2,  Agent,  Bethel  Cause;  1873,  supernumer- 
ary; 1874,  Cleveland,  Kingsley  Chapel;  1875-’6,  Agent,  Cleveland 


Martin  Rater. 


719 


Martin  Ruter. 

Martin  Ruter  was  born  in  Charlton,  Worcester  Co., 
Mass.,  April  3,  1785.  His  parents  were,  in  early  life, 
communicants  of  the  Baptist  denomination;  but  after- 
wards became  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  whose  pale  they  lived  and  died.  When  not 
more  than  three  years  of  age,  he  had  serious  impressions, 
and  these  increased  with  years,  until  1799,  when  he  re- 
solved to  devote  himself  to  religion.  In  the  autumn  of 
that  year  he  experienced  the  pardon  of  sin,  and  enjoyed 
peace  of  mind.  In  the  following  winter  he  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  had  a taste  for  learn- 
ing from  his  earliest  recollections.  This  he  improved 
by  private  study,  and  by  attending  such  schools  as  were 
in  the  neighborhood  where,  he  lived.  His  literary  pur- 
suits were  continued  under  all  circumstances,  with  unre- 
mitting attention  during  his  whole  life. 

Previous  to  his  conversion  he  was  impressed  with  the 
conviction,  that  it  would  be  his  duty  to  preach,  at  some 
future  period.  After  he  embraced  religion  these  impres- 
sions increased,  which  led  him  to  the  study  of  divinity. 

In  1800  he  received  license  to  exhort,  from  Rev.  J. 
Brodhead,  the  presiding  elder  of  New  London  District. 
With  him  he  traveled  three  months,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
ceiving instruction  in  divinity.  In  the  fall  of  1800  he  re- 
ceived license  to  preach,  and  during  the  ensuing  winter 
and  spring,  he  traveled  under  the  presiding  elder  on 
Weathersfield  Circuit,  Vermont,  with  John  Nichols.  In 
June,  1801,  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  York 
Conference,  and  appointed  to  Chesterfield  Circuit.  In 
1802,  he  traveled  Landaff  Circuit.  In  1803,  was  ordained 
deacon,  and  appointed  to  Adams  Circuit.  In  1804,  he 
was  stationed  at  Montreal.  In  1805,  he  was  ordained 
elder,  being  a little  over  twenty  years  of  age,  and  ap- 
pointed to  Bridgewater  Circuit,  by  which  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  New  England  Conference.  In  1806,  he  was 
appointed  to  Northfield;  in  1807,  to  Portsmouth,  and  in 
1808,  to  Boston. — He  was  a member  of  the  General  Con- 

City  Church  Extension  and  Home  Mission  Society;  1877-’8, 
Cleveland,  Broadway;  1879-’81,  Prospect  and  Glenville;  1882-’4j 
Cleveland,  Kinsman  Street;  1885,  Cleveland,  First  Church,  (sec- 
ond preacher);  1886,  Cleveland,  Euclid  avenue,  (second 
preacher) ; 1887-’96,  supernumerary. 


From  Hurst’s  History  of  Methodism 


by  permission  of  EATON  & MAINS 


Rev.  Martin  Ruter,  D.I>. 


Martin  Ruter. 


721 


ference  which  was  held  in  the  year  1808.  During  the 
two  following  years  he  was  presiding  elder  of  the  New 
Hampshire  District,.  Portland,  Maine,  was  his  station 
for  1811.  The  two  next  years  were  spent  in  a located 
relation;  but  in  1814  he  was  re-admitted,  and  during  the 
two  ensuing  years  he  was  stationed  at  North  Yarmouth 
and  Salisbury.  In  1816,  he  was  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence at  Baltimore.  During  this  and  the  following  year  he 
was  stationed  at  Philadelphia.  In  May,  1818,  the  As- 
bury  College  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  A.  M.  Dur- 
ing 1818,  and  1819,  he  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the 
New  Market  Wesleyan  Seminary,  which  had  been  es- 
tablished by  the  New  England  Conference.  From  1820 
to  1828,  he  was  book  agent  at  Cincinnati;  and  was  presi- 
dent of  Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  during  the  four  suc- 
ceeding years.  In  1832,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  was  stationed  in  Pittsburg  two  years,  at 
the  close  of  which  he  was  appointed  president  of  Alle- 
gheny College,  which  office  he  filled  until  his  appointment 
to  the  superintendency  of  the  Texas  Mission  in  the  fall 
of  1837.  The  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  on  him  by 
Transylvania  University  in  1822,  without  any  solicitation 
on  his  part,  or  indeed  without  his  knowledge. — (Pittsburg 
Conference  Journal,  August  2,  1838.) 

Mr.  Ruter  followed  Elijah  Hedding  — afterwards 
Bishop  Hedding — on  the  New  Hampshire  District.  “His 
influence  was  important  in  promoting  studious  habits 
among  the  preachers,  and,  toward  the  end  of  the  period, 
he  helped  to  found  the  first  Methodist  Academy  of  New 
England,  at  New  Market,  New  Hampshire,  and  became 
the  first  principal.” — (Stevens,  History  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Vol.  IV,  p.  303.) 

In  April,  1837,  the  bishops  and  Missionary  Board  in 
New  York  resolved  upon  a vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
work  in  Texas,  and  appointed  Mr.  Ruter  as  superinten- 
dent of  the  Mission  with  Littleton  Fowler  and  Robert 
Alexander  as  assistants.  He  consulted  with  Bishop  Rob- 
ert R.  Roberts  and  Joshua  Soule  concerning  the  work, 
and,  with  David  Ayres,  started  for  his  new  field  of  labor, 
leaving  his  family  at  New  Albany,  Indiana.  He  took  a 
steamboat  crowded  with  passengers. 

“ A passenger  having  died,  Dr.  Ruter  was  called  upon 
to  read  the  burial  service.  His  character  thus  became 


722 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


known  to  the  passengers,  who  on  Sunday  requested  him 
to  preach,  and  he  did  so  morning  and  evening. 

“Landing  at  Rodney,  the  doctor  started  on  horseback 
for  Game’s  Ferry,  on  the  Sabine.  Here,  on  the  21st  of 
November,  1837,  he  met  Mr.  Alexander  on  his  way  to  the 
Mississippi  Conference.  The  two  spent  most  of  the  night 
in  conversation  and  maturing  plans  for  future  operations. 
The  next  day  the  doctor  proceeded  on  to  St.  Augustine, 
and  preached  that  night  in  a school  house.  This  was 
Friday.  He  spent  the  ensuing  Sabbath  at  Nacogdoches, 
preaching  morning  and  night  to  crowded  congregations. 
Continuing  his  course  across  the  Trinity,  he  staid  all  night 

at  the  house  of  James  Mitchell. 

“Mrs.  Mitchell  remarked  that  she  had  not  heard  a ser- 
mon since  she  had  come  to  Texas.  Dr.  Ruter  told  her  to 
collect  her  family  after  supper.  She  did  so,  and  he 
preached  them  a regular  sermon.  He  arrived  at  Wash- 
ington on  Friday,  and  preached  that  night,  and  again  on 
Saturday;  on  Sunday  morning  Rev.  Z.  N.  Morrill  (Bap- 
tist) preached.  Dr.  Ruter  preached  at  night,  receiving 
one  into  the  Church.  On  Monday  he  proceeded  down  the 
country,  calling  at  Messrs.  Foster’s,  Ayres’s,  and  Kin- 
ney’s. Mr.  Kinney  accompanied  him  to  San  Filipe,  and 
thence  across  the  country  to  Egypt,  on  the  Colorado.  The 
doctor  preached  at  the  house  of  Captain  W.  J.  E.  Heard 
on  Saturday  night,  and  again  on  Sunday  morning.  At 
three  o’clock  he  preached,  to  the  blacks.  At  night  Mr. 
Kinney  preached,  and  Dr.  Ruter  held  a class-meeting  and 
organized  a church  of  nine  members. 

“The  next  week  Captain  Heard  accompanied  the  doctor 
across  the  country  to  Houston.  A severe  norther  spring- 
ing up,  the  Captain  suggested  the  propriety  of  stopping 
until  it  should  abate.  Dr.  Ruter  replied  that  the  King’s 
business  required  haste,  and  pushed  forward  across  the 
bleak  prairie,  facing  the  fierce  tempest.  It  was  by  such 
exposures  in  his  Master’s  work  that  the  doctor  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  disease  which  was  so  soon,  alas ! to  close 
his  course.  The  doctor  rode  a large  horse,  and  traveled 
wherever  he  went  in  a sweeping  trot.  While  he  made 
great  speed,  it  must  have  been  at  the  expense  of  bodily 
comfort.  Arriving  at  Houston,  Dr.  Ruter  met  Mr.  Fow- 
ler. The  doctor’s  preaching  before  Congress  and  the 
officers  of  the  Government  made  a fine  impression.  Con- 


Martin  Ruter. 


723 


suiting  with  leading  men,  he  laid  plans  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a literary  institution.  Returning  to  the  interior, 
Dr.  Ruter,  about  the  last  week  in  January,  1838,  held  a 
quarterly  meeting  at  Center  Hill. 

“At  this  conference  A.  P.  Manley  and  D.  N.  V.  Sulli- 
van presented  their  credentials,  and  were  received  as  local 
preachers.  From  this  meeting  the  doctor  visited  Wash- 
ington, Independence,  Gay  Hill,  and  the  Kerr  Settlement, 
and  proceeded  across  the  country  by  the  Gochee  Trace  to 
Bastrop,  where  he  preached  and  organized  a church  of 
fifteen  members.  He  visited  the  extreme  upper  settle- 
ment on  the  Colorado,  and  preached  at  Mr.  Gilleland’s 

home  at  Moore’s  Fort.  This  was  in  February,  1838.  He 
had  taken  the  names  of  some  three  hundred  persons  who 
had  been  Methodists  before  coming  to  Texas.  He  had 
traversed  a large  portion  of  the  settled  part  of  the  Re- 
public. He  decided  that  he  needed  twelve  additional  mis- 
sionaries to  supply  the  work.  He  had  determined  after 
traversing  East  Texas,  to  revisit  New  York,  and  be  pres- 
ent at  the  spring  meeting  of  the  Bishops  and  Missionary 
Board,  and  make  arrangements  to  prosecute  the  mission 
on  a scale  commensurate  with  the  wants  of  this  great 
country.  He  crossed  the  Brazos  and  started  east,  when, 
feeling  unusually  bad,  he  returned  to  Washington  for 
medical  attention.  Drs.  Smith  and  Manley  were  unre- 
mitting in  their  attentions,  but  he  grew  worse,  and  died 
on  the  16th  of  May,  1838. — ( Thrall , Methodism  in  Texas, 

pp-  46-53-) 

Mr.  Ruter  encouraged  the  establishment  of  a college  in 
Texas.  “The  government  appropriated  8,883  acres  of 
land  for  its  endowment,  granted  a liberal  charter,  and 
‘Rutersville,’  the  name  of  the  township  in  which  the  col- 
lege is  located,  commemorates  the  talents  and  zeal  with 
which  its  founder  presented  the  noble  enterprise,  and  the 
veneration  which  is  felt  for  his  memory  by  his  survivors.” 
— (Bangs,  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Vol  IV,  p.  285.) 

“Brother  Ruter  had  gone  to  Texas  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  circuits,  and  superintending  the  concerns  of  re- 
ligion in  that  new  republic.  He  had  resigned  his  presi- 
dency of  Allegheny  College  that  he  might  be  a missionary 
in  Texas.  He  set  out  with  his  family  on  board  a frail 
flat  boat,  from  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  He  steered,  and 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


u 


724 


rowed,  and  pushed  with  his  own  hands,  down  the  French 
creek,  Allegheny,  and  Ohio  rivers,  till  he  moored  his  fam- 
ily at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  and  there  left  them  at  the 
house  of  a friend,  till  his  expected  return,  having  con- 
structed a temporary  kitchen  for  their  accommodation, 
with  his  own  hands.  Then  he  bid  farewell  to  his  family, 
not  without  emotion,  promising  to  return  in  the  spring. 
The  season  arrived,  the  summer  commenced,  yet  no  news 
of  his  arrival.  Every  boat  that  landed  for  weeks  was  ex- 
pected to  carry  him  to  the  bosom  of  his  family ; some  one 
of  whom  always  stood  on  the  river’s  bank  on  every  ar- 
rival, for  the  purpose  of  welcoming  Pa,  and  informing 
him  that  Ma  and  all  the  family  were  well.  Boat  after 
boat  landed ; but  no  intelligence.  At  last  the  dolorous 
letter  gave  the  mournful  news,  that  Washington,  in  Texas, 
held  his  remains.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  Au- 
gust 23,  1838.) 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Martin  Ruter,  the  New  Eng- 
land Conference  passed  the  following  resolution : 

“Resolved,  That  we  deeply  feel  this  painful  dispen- 
sation of  Divine  Providence  in  the  removal  of  one  with 
whom  many  of  us  were  allied  by  personal  and  friendly 
ties,  and  whose  loss  is  so  great  an  affliction  to  the  Church 
of  Christ.  We  honor  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  we  feel 
humbled  under  a sense  of  this  providential  chastisement, 
and  most  sincerely  supplicate  the  Divine  blessing  upon  us, 
and  upon  the  Church,  that  this  affliction  may  be  sanctified 
to  us,  and  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  God  in  gen- 
eral, and  of  the  missionary  work  in  particular.” — (Pitts- 
burg Conference  Journal,  August  23,  1838.) 

Rev.  C.  L.  Spencer,  the  ardent  admirer  of  Dr.  Martin 
Ruter,  caused  the  transfer  of  his  remains  from  Washing- 
ton, Tex.,  to  Navasota,  and  interment  on  his  own  lot  in  the 
cemetery.  He  also  started  the  movement  toward  the  erec- 
tion of  a suitable  monument,  for  which  Bishop  Mallalieu 
generously  collected  about  $400  among  his  friends,  and 
which  was,  in  the  fall  of  1901,  unveiled  by  Bishop  Joyce. 
The  inscription  on  the  monument  reads : “Ruter,  an  hon- 

ored preacher,  author,  teacher,  and  founder  of  the  West- 
ern Book  Concern  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.” 

“Ruter  was  pious,  reserved,  dignified,  learned,  and  elo- 
quent. Wherever  he  went  he  drew  large  assemblies  and 
excited  much  admiration.  In  erudition  he  was  greatly 


1 


Martin  Ruter. 


distinguished;  he  was  profound  in  mathematics,  history 
and  theology;  a very  distinguished  linguist,  and  read  the 
Scriptures  in  nine  different  languages ; he  published  some 
periodicals,  which  displayed  much  taste  and  research ; pub- 
lished a history  of  the  martyrs  and  an  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory, which  were  works  of  much  merit.  He  published 
also  an  excellent  Hebrew  grammar  and  some  good  school 
books.  He  was  principal  of  a flourishing  academy,  and 
was  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  book  agency  at  Cinci- 
nnati. He  was  subsequently  president  of  Augusta  Col- 
lege, Kentucky,  and  afterward  of  Allegheny  College, 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  sent  by  the  Conference 
to  Texas  as  a missionary;  here  his  labor  was  extensive 
and  arduous;  he  laid  off  a large  portion  of  Texas  in  dis- 
tricts and  circuits,  and  succeeded  in  getting  quite  a num- 
ber of  preachers  on  them,  whose  labors  were  crowned  with 
abundant  success.  He  adopted  measures  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a college,  which  in  time  went  into  successful 
operation.  When  we  consider  the  literary,  moral  and  re- 
ligious tone  of  influence  which  his  talents  and  piety  gave 
to  that  new,  flourishing  and  rapidly  populating  country, 
no  estimate  can  be  made  of  his  invaluable  works  of  faith 
and  labor  of  love.”* — ( Dan  Young , Autobiography , pp. 

7°,  71-) 


♦The  following  list  of  the  works  of  Dr|  Ruter  was  prepared  by 
Dr.  Hunter,  the  then  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  Journal: 
Miscellaneous  Pieces,  Explanatory  Notes  on  Ninth  Chapter  of 
Romans,  A Sketch  of  Calvin’s  Life  and  Doctrine,  A Letter  Ad- 
dressed to  Rev.  Francis  Brown,  Pastor  of  a Church  in  North  Yar- 
mouth, Containing  an  Answer  to  his  Defense  of  Calvin  and  Cal- 
vinism, Reply  to  Rev.  Francis  Brown,  President  of  Dartmouth 
College,  containing  Animadversions  on  his  Second  Publication  in 
favor  of  Calvin  and  Calvinism,  The  American  Pioneer,  The  New 
American  Spelling  Book,  An  Arithmetic,  A.  Hebrew  Grammar,  A 
History  of  the  Martyrs,  An  Ecclesiastical  History,  Conjugation  of 
French  Regular  Verbs.  Among  his  unfinished  works  are  A Plea 
for  Africa,  The  Life  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and  Sermons  and  Let- 
ters. 


Martin  Ruter — Licensed  to  preach,  1800;  admitted  on  trial, 
New  York  Conference,  1801;  full  connection,  1803;  deacon,  1803, 
(?);  elder,  1805,  (?);  transferred  to  New  England  Conference, 
1805;  located,  1812,  readmitted,  1814;  transferred  to  Philadelphia 
Conference,  1815;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1832;  be- 
came a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836; 
deceased,  Washington,  Tex.,  May  16,  1838.  Appointments — 1801, 
Chesterfield,  N.  Y.;  1802,  Landaff,  N.  Y.;  1803,  Adams,  N.  Y.; 
1804,  Montreal,  Can.;  1805,  Bridgewater,  Mass.;  1806,  Northfield, 
Mass.;  1807,  Portsmouth  and  Nottingham;  1808,  Boston,  Mass.; 

1809-’10,  New  Hampshire  District;  1811,  Portland,  Me.;  1814, 


Ilk 


l 


■ 

h'  i 


726 


w 


1 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Several  Preachers  of  Brief  Service. 

George  McCaskey  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1827,  and  appointed  to  Monongahela 
with  Shadrack  Chaney  in  charge.  In  1828  he  served 
Short  Creek  with  Thomas  R.  Ruckle  in  charge ; and  in 
1829  he  was  received  in  full  connection,  ordained  deacon 
and  appointed  to  Washington  Circuit.  In  1830  he 
traveled  the  Randolph  Circuit;  and  in  1831,  the  Ohio  Cir- 
cuit with  Hiram  Gillmore  as  second  preacher.  This  year 
he  was  ordained  elder.  He  remained  on  the  Ohio  Circuit 
in  1832  with  J.  H.  McMethen  as  second  preacher;  and 
the  following  year  he  traveled  the  Waynesburg  Circuit  as- 
sisted by  James  L.  Read.  He  was  but  one  year  with  us, 
having  been  appointed  to  the  Cleveland  station.*  He 
continued  to  labor  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  until  1849 
when  he  was  expelled. 

Wellington  Weigley  entered  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
in  1834,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Warren  Circuit  with 
Thomas  Stubbs  in  charge,  and  in  1835  traveled  the  Con- 
neaut  Circuit,  John  Bain  in  charge.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  Illinois  Conference  in  1836,!  and  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Rock  River  Conference  at  its  organization.  He 
was  expelled  in  1842. 

Joseph  A.  Hallock  was  the  brother  of  J.  K.  Hallock 
who  served  a long  ministry  in  our  conference.  He  was 
received  on  trial  in  1834,  and  “withdrew  from  the  connec- 
tion” in  1840.  Mr.  Gregg  speaks  of  him  as  “a  tall,  stout- 
built  young  man,  of  moderate  abilities  as  a preacher.”iy 

North  Yarmouth  and  Freeport;  1815,  Salisbury,  Md.;  1816-’17, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  1818-’19,  Principal,  New  Market  Wesleyan 
Academy;  1820-’8,  Western  Book  Agent,  Cincinnati;  1829-’31,  Presi- 
dent, Augusta  College;  1832-’3,  Pittsburg;  1834-’6,  President  Alle- 
gheny College;  1837,  superannuated;  1838,  superintendent,  Texas 
Missions. 

♦His  further  appointments  were:  1835,  1836,  Redstone;  1837, 

Greensboro;  1838-’39,  New  Lisbon;  1840-’41,  Richmond;  1842, 
Claysville;  1843-’44,  Bealls ville;  1845-’46,  Chartiers;  1847-’48,  New 
Brighton;  1849,  expelled. 

fHis  later  appointments  are  as  follows:  1836,  Galena;  1837, 

Dubuque  Mission;  1838,  Milwaukee  Mission;  1839,  Juliet;  1840, 
Rock  River  Conference,  Juliet;  1841,  Indian  Creek;  1842,  expelled. 

ffJ.  A.  Hallock — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834; 
became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference,  1836;  full  con- 
nection, 1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh.  With- 
drew, 1840.  Appointments — 1834,  Napoli;  1835,  Painesville;  1836, 
Brookville;  1837,  Stratton  ville ; 1838,  Centerville,  Butler  Co.; 
1839,  Franklin,  Pa. 


Methodist  Classes. 


727 


Gustavus  Hills  entered  the  Pittsburg  Conference  on 
trial  in  1834,  and  served  Harmonsburg  two  years,  the 
first  year  with  Philander  S.  Ruter  as  junior  preacher  and 
the  second  year  with  Calvin  D.  Rockwood.  In  1836  he 
traveled  the  Conneaut  Circuit  as  junior  preacher  with 
Daniel  Pritchard ; and  at  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  or- 
dained deacon  and  located.* 

Lorenzo  D.  Mix  was  converted,  licensed  to  exhort  and 
to  preach  at  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1834.  Mr. 
Gregg  says : “Mr.  Mix  was  a small  man,  of  a bright  in- 
tellect, rapid  utterance,  and  a good  preacher.'’  Because 
of  ill  health,  Mr.  Mix  superannuated  in  1844,  and  in  1852 
located.  He  made  his  home  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he 
entered  upon  a business  career  in  which  he  was  fairly  suc- 
cessful. He  preached  occasionally  as  his  strength  would 
permit,  f 

Methodist  Classes. 

The  Methodist  society  at  Harrisville,  Mercer  County, 
was  organized  in  1834  by  William  Carroll,  who  also 
formed  classes  in  several  other  neighboring  towns. 
Among  the  original  members  were:  John  McConnell, 

Josiah  Hardy,  Robert  Walker,  Robert  Knowlton,  Abner 
Gill,  and  William  H.  McGill,  and  their  wives.  Early 
services  were  held  in  the  houses  of  the  members,  and  in 
the  first  public  school  house.  In  1842  the  society  was  able 
to  erect  a church  edifice,  and  in  1852  the  membership  had 

♦Gustavus  Hills — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon,  1837,  Roberts; 
located,  1837.  Appointments — 1834-’5,  Harmonsburg;  1836,  Con- 
neaut. 

fL.  D.  Mix — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  be- 
came a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organiz- 
ation, 1836;  full  connection,  1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder, 
1838,  Waugh;  located,  1852.  After  his  location  for  several  years 
he  resided  at  Chagrin  Falls,  O.,  where  he  engaged  in  secular 
business.  The  later  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  died.  Appointments — 1834,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.; 
1835,  Wattsburg;  1836,  Wesleyville;  1837,  Conneaut;  1838,  Kings- 
ville; 1839,  Warren,  O.;  1840-1,  Ravenna;  1842,  Cleveland;  1843, 
Painesville;  1844-’51,  superannuated. 

Philander  S.  Ruter,  a son  of  Martin  Ruter,  was  admitted  on 
trial  the  same  year  with  Gustavus  Hills,  whom  he  assisted  on 
the  Harmonsburg  Circuit;  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  he  was 
discontinued. 


728 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


increased  to  two  hundred.  In  1869  the  church  suffered 
by  the  loss  of  seventy  members,  who  moved  away. — (His- 
tory of  Butler  County,  R.  C.  Brown  & Co.,  1895,  P • 640.) 

A class  of  Methodists  was  organized  at  Milk  School 
House,  about  1826,  having  among  its  members:  Silas 

Earl,  leader,  and  his  wife,  Almira  Thorp,  Ruth  Foy, 
David  Foy,  and  Jonathan  Foy. 

The  Curtis  School  House  class  was  formed  in  1844. 
Among  the  leading  members  were:  Cyrus  Thatcher, 

Abel  Merchant,  Horace  Cross,  Joseph  Davis,  and  Truman 
Merchant.  In  1873  the  class  was  transferred  to  Napoli 
Corners,  where  there  had  been  a class  since  about  1830. 
J.  F.  Stocker  organized  these  members  September  2,  1868, 
and  the  same  season  erected  a house  of  worship  at  a cost 
of  nearly  $3,000.  This  church  was  dedicated  by  W.  F. 
Day,  January  14,  1869. 

“ ‘The  first  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Napoli,’  was  organized  January  17,  1734,  at  a meet- 
ing over  which  Nelson  Henry  presided.  Thomas  Carter, 
Benjamin  Foy,  Nathan  Snow,  Lewis  P.  Thorp,  Ariel 
Wellman,  and  Nathaniel  S.  Hale  were  elected  trustees.” 
— (History  of  Cattaraugus  County,  L.  H.  Everts,  1879,  p. 
482.) 

That  many  of  our  early  preachers  deprecated  the  ex- 
citements, and  extravagant  manifestations  which  so  fre- 
quently accompanied  Methodist  revival  meetings,  has  be- 
come evident  again  and  again  as  we  have  examined  the 
old  documents  and  records.  John  McLean,  in  reporting 
the  revival  on  the  Ravenna  Circuit  says : "Permit  me  to  \ 

remark  that  we  have  seen  demonstrated,  in  the  course  of 
this  work,  that,  with  proper  management,  we  may  be 
saved  from  many  of  these  extravagancies,  etc.,  that  oft 
reproach  us  as  a people,  in  times  of  reformation.  The 
utmost  order  was  observed  throughout.  We  have  also 
derived  much  advantage  by  an  entire  abstinence  from  the 
use  of  those  light-songs  and  airs  commonly  found  in  camp 
meeting  and  social  hymn  books,  which,  when  used,  detract 
much  from  the  solemnity  and  weight  which  should  char- 
acterize religious  services  on  such  occasions.” — (Pitts- 
burg Conference  Journal,  March  8,  1834.) 

Songs  of  Victory. 

We  record  a few  other  notes  of  victory  heard  by  the 
wayside : 


Songs  of  Victory.  729 

William  R.  Babcock  says  hopefully:  “Our  prosperity 

on  North  East  Circuit  is  flattering.  We  have  received 
eighty-five  into  society  since  conference,  and  we  are  look- 
ing for  a shower  of  mercy  at  our  ensuing  quarterly  meet- 
ing in  this  place.”  At  a later  date,  Benjamin  Preston, 
second  preacher  on  this  circuit  writes : “The  Lord  is 

with  us  on  North  East  Circuit,  Pittsburg  Conference. 
We  have  received  about  one  hundred  probationers  since 
conference,  and  we  are  looking  for  a shower  of  mercy  at 
our  ensuing  camp  meeting.”  Brother  Babcock  reports 
still  greater  victories:  “We  have  received  into  the  Church 
since  conference,  about  one  hundred  and  thirty ; and  such 
are  our  prospects  that  we  anticipate  numbering  many 
more.  Some  of  the  most  gloomy  portions  ot  our  circuit 
have  been  visited  with  a gracious  shower,  the  subjects  of 
which  have  been  principally  in  the  morn  of  life.  Clymer, 
one  of  the  most  hardened  parts  of  our  circuit,  at  a recent 
two  days’  meeting,  received  an  awful  shock.  Fifteen  or 
sixteen  were  converted,  and  thirty-five  or  forty,  with 
mourning,  rushed  to  the  altar  for  prayer,  while  a crowd 
of  hardened  spectators  looked  with  wonder,  and  many 
of  them  with  tears;  and  may  God  bring  them  all  to  Jesus’ 
blessed  army.  My  worthy  colleague,  B.  Preston,  and  my- 
self feel  amply  compensated  for  our  year  of  labor  and  toil, 
with  our  scanty  pittance  for  our  support.” — (Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal , March  8 , 1833;  May  24 , 1833; 
July  12,  1833.)  Ralph  Clapp  writes  from  Mercer,  Nov. 
] 6,  reporting  an  eight  days*  meeting  at  which  forty  were 
received  on  trial.  I.  H.  Tackitt  has  a good  word  from 
Chautauqua  Circuit,  December  1 1 : “We  have  very  good 

times  and  prospects  in  our  little  station  and  on  the  circuit. 
At  our  first  quarterly  meeting  there  were  about  fifty,  we 
believe,  converted  to  God : and  at  our  second  several  pro- 
fessed to  have  found  the  pearl  of  great  price.  And  the 
more  we  preach  the  plain  and  pointed  doctrines  of  Christ, 
in  the  old  Methodist  style,  the  more  error  seems  to  fly  be- 
fore us,  and  the  people  get  religion,  and  we  ourselves  feel 
more  happy.” — ( Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  Dec.  6, 
1833;  Jan.  10,  1834.) 

J.  C.  Ayres  writes  concerning  the  work  on  Ashtabula 
Circuit,  from  Geneva,  Ohio,  under  date  of  Jan.  25,  1834: 

“God  has  graciously  visited  our  Zion  on  this  circuit 
since  the  commencement  of  the  present  conference  year. 


730 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


A work  of  reformation  commenced  in  the  town  of  Madi- 
son in  September  last,  and  between  fifty  and  sixty  were 
Happily  converted  to  God.  While  this  work  was  going  on 
among  us,  our  Presbyterian  friends  held  a protracted 
meeting  in  the  same  neighborhood,  which  was  very  gen- 
erally attended,  and  a very  great  excitement  prevailed 
among  the  people.  This  meeting  continued  nearly  three 
weeks,  and  resulted  in  a great  deal  of  good.  Many  were 
reported  as  having  ‘obtained  a hope.’  Our  prospects  on 
the  circuit  became  more  flattering,  and  there  appeared  to 
be  an  increasing  attention  to  the  subject  of  religion  on 
many  parts  of  the  circuit,  and  a number  were  made  to  re- 
joice in  a sin-pardoning  God. 

“In  December  a gracious  work  commenced  in  Austin- 
burg  at  a meeting  held  by  the  Methodists  and  Presby- 
terians together.  Many  were  brought  to  a knowledge 
of  themselves,  and  to  the  enjoyment  of  religion.  The 
work  is  still  going  on.  The  cloud  began  to  spread  over 
the  circuit,  and  drops  of  mercy  to  fall  upon  us,  when  the 
time  of  holding  our  second  quarterly  meeting  came  on. 
We  were  instant  in  prayer,  and  looking  for  a ‘time  of  re~ 
freshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.’  To  this  end,  in 
the  use  of  means,  we  set  apart  Tuesday,  the  last  day  of 
December,  as  a day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  commenced 
our  meeting  with  a sermon  at  io  o’clock,  after  which  we 
had  a general  class  meeting.  We  likewise  held  a watch 
meeting  in  the  evening,  when  eighteen  came  to  the  altar 
as  mourners,  and  several  found  peace  in  believing.  We 
kept  up  our  meeting  during  the  week,  which  increased  in 
interest  till  the  altar  was  crowded  with  mourners,  and  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  was  among  us  ‘to  kill  and  make  alive.’ 
Such  a time  was  never  before  witnessed  by  the  members  of 
this  circuit.  There  were  seen  from  eighteen  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  around  the  altar  at  one  time,  crying  for 
mercy.  Here  we  saw  the  gray-haired  father  and  his  chil- 
dren around  the  same  altar  together  while  seeking  the  sal- 
vation of  their  souls,  and  they  were  seen  to  rejoice  to- 
gether in  the  favor  of  God.  Here  parents  who  had  long 
prayed  for  their  children  saw  them  come  trembling  to  the 
foot  of  the  cross,  and  return  rejoicing  in  the  Lord.  Sin- 
ners, from  the  child  of  ten  years  to  the  old  man  of  sixty 
or  seventy,  were  the  subjects  of  converting  grace.  At 
this  meeting  there  were  seen  Methodists,  Presbyterians 


Songs  of  Victory. 


73 1 


and  Baptists,  all  on  their  knees  together,  praying  for  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  and  rejoicing  over  the  sinner  that 
repented  and  the  prodigal  that  returned  to  his  Father’s 
house.  Our  meeting  continued  for  thirteen  days,  during 
which  time  one  hundred  and  thirty  found  ‘redemption 
through  his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  sins,’  and  sixty 
were  received  on  trial  into  the  Church,  and  between  fifty 
and  sixty  were  dedicated  to  God  in  the  ordinance  of  bap- 
tism. 

“Through  the  meeting  good  order  prevailed  in  the 
congregation.  We  were  not  troubled  with  fugue  tunes 
and  spiritual  songs ; but  an  excellent  hymn  book  was  used 
altogether  in  singing. 

“The  good  work  is  still  going  on  around  the  circuit. 
We  have  peace  and  prosperity  in  our  borders.  We  have 
received  about  two  hundred  into  the  Church  since  confer- 
ence, and  our  prospects  are  still  bright.  We  are  praying 
and  looking  for  a more  general  work,  both  in  the  Church 
and  out  of  it.” — ( The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal, 
Feb.  14,  1834.) 

Alcinous  Young  writes  from  Deerfield  Circuit  .under 
date  of  Feb.  4,  1834: 

“With  heartfelt  gratitude  to  God,  I inform  you  that  the 
showers  of  divine  mercy  are  descending  upon  this  region. 
Long, had  we  labored  with  little  apparent  success,  until 
within  a few  weeks  past  the  Lord  has  made  his  power 
known  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  scores  of  souls. 
At  one  appointment  where  there  was  a society  of  six  mem- 
bers at  the  commencement  of  the  conference  year  we  have 
received  an  addition  of  forty,  thirty-six  of  whom  have 
joined  within  the  last  five  weeks,  mostly  the  heads  of 
families.  At  old  Deerfield,  known  to  most  of  the  preach- 
ers of  this  country  as  the  emporium  of  Methodism  on  the 
Reserve,  seventeen  professed  to  find  peace  in  believing  at  a 
watch-night  meeting  held  there.” — (The  Christian  Ad- 
vocate and  Journal , Feb.  28,  1834.) 

Referring  to  the  Ravenna  revival  of  the  18th  January, 
John  McLean  writes: 

“It  is  said  by  the  oldest  inhabitants  that  such  a general 
excitement  was  never  known  in  this  place.  The  old  and 
the  young  have  shared  in  the  work.”  Referring  to  the 
conversion  of  an  infidel,  he  says:  “He  had  been  bold  in 


I 


73 2 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

disseminating  his  former  principles,  but  was  convicted, 
came  to  the  altar  for  prayers  and  found  peace  in  believ- 
ing. On  a subsequent  evening  he  communicated  to  me 
the  exercises  of  his  mind  upon  the  question  of  his  duty  in 
professing  his  faith  in  Christianity.  He  could  not  feel 
easy  till  he  had  publicly  renounced  infidelity,  and  accepted 
the  Christian  religion.  Accordingly  an  opportunity  was 
given,  after  sermon,  for  him  to  address  the  congregation, 
upon  which  he  stepped  into  the  altar,  took  the  Bible  down 
from  the  pulpit,  gently  smote  it,  and  said,  ‘Friends  and 
neighbors,  I am  constrained  to  take  the  sacred  volume  for 
the  rule  of  my  faith  and  practice.’  The  effect  was  electric. 
Some  turned  pale,  some  wept  and  others  rejoiced.” — ( The 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , April  25,  1834.) 

Referring  to  the  revival  mentioned  by  W.  B.  Mack, 
James  Hitchcock  and  Gustavus  Hills,  says:  “Windsor, 

April  18,  1834.  The  good  work  spread  in  every  direc- 
tion and  progressed  most  gloriously.  Mesopotamia,  Ba- 
tavia, Newbury,  Burton,  Bristol  and  Farmington  were 
successfully  visited  with  gracious  refreshings,  and  nearly 
every  town  within  our  circuit  has  shared  in  this  needed 
work  of  mercy.  Glory  be  to  God  for  his  unspeakable 
blessings.  At  first  we  shed  the  tears  of  solicitude  but  now 
we  weep  for  joy.  We  held  various  protracted  meetings, 
at  all  of  which  the  Lord  owned  our  labors,  and  was  graci- 
ously pleased  to  revive  the  drooping  graces  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  snatch  sinners  as  brands  from  the  burning. 
We  should  not  forget  to  notice  the  timely  aid  of  Brother 
Worrallo,  a local  preacher  from  an  adjoining  circuit,  who 
was  providentially  with  us,  and  rendered  us  much  service. 
The  Lord  reward  him  for  his  labor  of  love.” — ( The 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , May  22,  1834 •) 

John  Robinson  reports  from  Harmony,  New  York, 
Feb.  14,  1834: 

“This  is  a part  of  New  Castle  Circuit,  and  was  divided 
last  year,  and  the  part  taken  off  was  called  Harmony. 
Since  the  commencement  of  the  conference  year  we  have 
received  rising  one  hundred  on  trial,  and  our  prospects  at 
present  are  better  than  they  have  yet  been.” — (The  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal , Feb.  28,  1834.) 

B.  O.  Plimpton  reports  the  work  on  Chardon  Circuit, 
March  20 : “Chardon  Circuit  embraces  a delightful  por- 

tion of  the  Western  Reservation  situated  between  the 


Songs  of  Victory. 


733 


Chagrin  and  Grand  rivers,  and  lying  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Erie,  comprising  a territory  of  about  eighteen  square 
miles,  and  has  between  twenty-five  and  thirty  appoint- 
ments, of  which  Painesville,  Chardon,  Chagrin  and  Fair- 
port  are  the  most  prominent.  When  I came  to  this  charge 
one  year  ago  last  conference,  I found  a membership  of 
about  four  hundred  and  sixty,  and  generally  pacific  and 
pious,  and  being  favored  in  the  appointment  of  my  col- 
league, my  hopes  were  sanguine  of  a pleasant  and  pros- 
perous year ; and,  glory  to  God,  we  were  not  disappointed. 
The  vital  sparks  began  to  kindle  among  the  members,  and 
our  local  brethren  and  exhorters  became  active  and  use- 
ful, and  we  were  able  to  report  a net  revenue  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty.  At  the  last  conference  we  were  per- 
mitted to  resume  our  labors  with  a reinforcement  of  a 
third  preacher.  The  good  work  has  since  become  gen- 
eral and  powerful,  and  hundreds  have  rallied  to  the  crim- 
son cross.  Between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred  have 
been  added  to  our  societies  since  conference,  and  other  de- 
nominations have  shared  with  us  in  the  feast  of  fat  things. 
Of  the  above  number  one  hundred  and  fifty  have  united 
with  us  within  thirteen  weeks.” — (The  Christian  Advo- 
cate and  Journal , May  9,  1834.) 

W.  B.  Mack  writes  from  Warren,  Ohio,  Jan.  29,  1834: 

“Warren.  A refreshing  shower  of  divine  grace  has 
been  realized  at  Hartford,  which  is  extending  into  Vernon 
and  Fowler.  At  several  other  appointments  our  pros- 
pects are  increasingly  good. 

“Windsor.  On  the  nth  inst.  the  new  church  at  Meso- 
potamia was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God.  As  it  was 
the  time  of  our  second  quarterly  meeting,  the  assembly 
was  large  and  from  all  parts  of  the  circuit.  The  services 
were  appropriate  and  solemn.  It  is  an  exceedingly  neat 
and  commodious  church,  with  a good  basement,  built  and 
seated  after  the  plan  some  time  since  recommended  in 
the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal.  Such  was  the  state 
of  feeling  manifested  on  the  occasion  that  it  was  thought 
best  to  protract  the  meeting.  The  result  was  glorious. 
About  fifty  experienced  a change  of  heart,  and  several 
united  with  the  Church.  At  Windsor  there  is  a gracious 
revival,  and  fine  prospects  in  the  circuit  generally. 

“Ravenna.  The  quarterly  meeting  held  for  this  station 
on  the  1 8th  inst.  was  a season  of  special  interest  and  pros- 


734 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


perity  to  the  church  in  this  place.  Though  I was  under 
the  necessity  of  leaving  town  on  Tuesday  in  order  to  meet 
my  appointments,  it  was  thought  advisable  for  our  breth- 
ren to  continue  the  meeting  during  the  week,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  accordingly.  Brother  Preston,  in  a let- 
ter dated  Ravenna,  Saturday  morning,  January  25th,  in- 
forms me  that  between  thirty  and  forty  had  experienced 
religion  during  the  meeting,  among  whom  is  an  aged  gen- 
tleman, (an  infidel,)  his  wife,  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
A happier  family,  he  observes,  has  seldom  been  seen.” — 
(The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal „ Feb.  14,  1834.) 

Good  news  comes  from  the  Cleveland  Circuit : 

“At  our  first  and  second  quarterly  meetings  the  Lord 
was  graciously  present  in  his  power  both  to  justify  and  to 
sanctify  the  people;  especially  at  the  last,  Heaven  des- 
cended in  his  soul-reviving  power,  saints  shouted  aloud 
for  joy ; mourners  wept  and  were  comforted.  The  best  of. 
gospel  order  prevailed,  and  God’s  people  with  one  heart 
and  one  mouth  glorified  God.  At  least  ten  obtained  the 
clear  evidence  of  sanctification,  and  as  many  more  were 
saved  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  and  born  into  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

“On  the  last  week  of  the  old  and  first  of  the  new  year 
we  held  a four  days’  meeting  in  the  village  of  Cleveland, 
which  continued  eight  days.  Here  also  we  had  all  things 
in  decency  and  good  order.  Our  Presbyterians  most  of 
the  time  favored  us  with  their  new  meeting  house  to  wor- 
ship in,  and  some  of  the  members  of  our  sister  churches 
united  with  us  in  our  devotions.  The  result  of  this  meet- 
ing was  the  conversion  of  at  least  twenty  or  thirty  souls, 
while  our  brethren,  both  in  and  out  of  the  village,  were 
much  blessed,  and  carried  the  flame  to  their  own  neigh- 
borhoods. 

“We  have  received  on  the  circuit,  since  our  conference 
year  commenced,  sixty  or  seventy,  most  of  whom  were 
new  recruits,  on  trial — all  of  whom,  however,  we  trust, 
are  happily  saved  from  sin. 

“John  W.  Hill. 

“Milton  Colt.” 

— (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , Feb.  14,  1834.) 

Caleb  Brown  sends  good  news  from  Gustavus,  Ohio, 
Feb.  23,  1834: 


Songs  of  Victory. 


73  5 


“At  our  last  quarterly  meeting,  on  Sabbath  evening, 
there  were  about  fifty  persons  who  came  to  the  altar  to 
pray,  and  twenty-five  or  more  found  peace  in  believing 
during  the  progress  of  the  meeting,  which  lasted  several 
days.  The  work  is  spreading  in  different  parts  of  the  cir- 
cuit. In  Wayne  many  are  inquiring  what  they  must  do 
to  be  saved.  One  evening  at  a prayer  meeting,  between 
thirty  and  forty  came  to  the  altar  of  prayer  with  broken 
hearts  and  contrite  spirits,  imploring  the  forgiveness  of 
their  sins.  Nor  was  their  labor  in  vain.  Twelve  or  fif- 
teen found  the  pearl  of  great  price  before  they  left  the 
place.  The  work  is  still  progressing.” — (Christian  Ad- 
vocate and  Journal , March  21,  1834.) 

Isaac  Winans,  speaks  of  the  work  of  God  on  the  War- 
ren Circuit,  Ohio,  mentioning  Hartford  and  Vernon,  and 
especially  Warren,  of  which  he  says:  “In  Warren,  also, 

which  has  Jong  been  the  seat  of  infidelity,  God  has  been 
pleased  to  pour  out  his  spirit  in  a very  powerful  manner. 
Our  quarterly  meeting,  commenced  in  this  place  on  the 
14th  inst.,  and  continued  for  several  days.  The  impres- 
sion was  so  great  and  extensive,  and  so  new  and  unusual, 
that  the  adversary  was  confounded : those  from  whom  we 
expected  opposition  stood  in  silence,  gazing  and  wonder- 
ing ; and  what  increased  this  confusion  among  gainsayers 
was  the  method  in  which  God  took  to  carry  on  his  gra- 
cious operations,  which  we  might  say  was  different  from 
what  we  sometimes  see  in  religious  awakenings.  Instead 
of  any  irregularities  or  enthusiasm,  this  was  marked  with 
the  still  small  voice : those  under  serious  convictions  ap- 
peared steady  in  attending  to  the  things  of  religion;  and 
when  they  obtained  comfort,  it  did  not  seem  to  arise  from 
mere  impression  on  the  imagination,  but  from  such  a view 
of  God  and  divine  things  as  they  never  had  before. 

The  number  that  has  come  forward  and  made  a pro- 
fession of  our  holy  religion,  in  the  above  named  places, 
is  about  eighty,  all  of  whom  appear  to  exhibit  a real 
change,  and  evidence  that  they  have  passed  from  death 
into  life.  The  work  is  still  spreading,  and  there  are  but 
few  appointments  on  the  circuit  where  God  is  not  pouring 
out  his  spirit.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  March 
1, 1834.) 

Hiram  Luce  reports  from  the  Youngsville  Circuit,  un- 
der date  of  Dec.  15,  1833:  “We  had  some  signal  mani- 


73  6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


festations  of  the  goodness  of  God  at  our  camp  meeting 
held  at  Youngsville,  Aug.  24th,  when  about  fifty  souls,  we 
trust,  found  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  since  then  the 
north  part  of  the  circuit  has  been  blessed  in  a peculiar 
manner. 

“Sept.  14th  we  held  a two  days’  meeting  at  Harmony, 
where  there  had  been  no  society  until  after  conference, 
which  at  first  was  quite  unpromising  on  account  of  the  in- 
clemency of  the  weather,  thin  settlement  of  country,  etc. ; 
but  on  Sunday  evening  God  owned  our  feeble  efforts,  and 
a revival  commenced,  which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of 
about  eighty  precious  souls,  forty  of  whom  have  already 
united  with  us  on  probation.  We  have  also  had  refresh- 
ing seasons  on  many  parts  of  the  circuit.” — (The  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal,  Feb.  7,  1834.) 

Of  Warren  District,  Ohio,  W.  B.  Mack  writes:  “On 

Warren,  Gustavus,  Ashtabula,  Twinsburg,  Ravenna, 
Deerfield,  and  Windsor  Circuits,  the  Lord  is  reviving  his 
work  in  a powerful  and  glorious  manner.  More  than  one 
thousand  have  been  received  as  candidates  for  member- 
ship in  our  church  since  conference ; and  present  prospects 
are  such  as  to  inspire  us  with  the  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions of  a still  greater  increase.  * This  work  has  been 
signalized  by  the  conversion  of  a number  of  infidels  and 
Universalists,  who  for  many  years  have  exerted  their  in- 
fluence against  experimental  Christianity.  It  is  not  con- 
fined to  age  or  sex — but  many,  from  the  sinner  of  seventy 
to  the  child  of  ten  years,  have  ‘fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold 
of  the  hope  set  before  them  in  the  gospel.’  ” — (Pittsburg 
Conference  Journal,  March  22,  1834.) 

James  Hitchcock,  writing  from  Mesopotamia,  Ohio, 
says  concerning  the  work  on  the  Windsor  Circuit : 
“When  I first  came  here,  the  state  of  religion  was  very 
low  indeed ; but  the  membership  have  arisen  to  a state  of 
energy  and  activity  in  the  great  work.  We  have  held, 
recently,  several  protracted  meetings,  all  of  which  have 
been  attended  with  refreshing  showers  of  divine  grace. 
Old  professors  are  seeking,  and  some  have  obtained,  full 
redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ:  and  it  is  believed  as 
many  as  sixty  souls  have  been  converted  to  God  at  some 
of  the  above  named  meetings.  About  one  hundred  and 
fifty  have  been  received  on  probation,  and  many  more  are 
expected.  Infidelity  is  falling,  the  powers  of  darkness 


Songs  of  Victory. 


737 


are  giving-  way,  and  the  Redeemer’s  cause  is  gloriously 
advancing.  To  God  be  all  the  glory.” — (Pittsburg  Con- 
ference Journal,'  March  22,  1834.) 


47 


XIV. 

A FINE  QUARTETTE:  THOMAS  GRAHAM, 
JOHN  BAIN,  GEORGE  W.  CLARKE, 
HOMER  J.  CLARK. 

GREAT  PROGRESS. 

1835.  . 


The  Pittsburg  Conference  met  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  July 
22,  1835,  Bishop  James  O.  Andrew  presiding.  The  list 
of  appointments  shows  the  rapid  spread  of  Methodism: 
Ravenna  District,  William  Stevens,  presiding  elder; 
Cleveland,  Francis  A.  Dighton;  Cleveland  Circuit,  H.  B. 
Stannard,  one  to  be  supplied;  Twinsburg,  Edward  H. 
Taylor,  John  L.  Holmes;  Hudson,  Daniel  M.  Stearns; 
Tallmadge  and  Middlebury,  John  K.  Hallock;  Deerfield, 
Rouse  B.  Gardner,  Asahel  Reeves;  Ravenna,  Hiram  Gill- 
more;  Chardon,  Aurora  Callender,  James  R.  Locke; 
Painsville,  Arthur  M.  Brown,  Joseph  A.  Hallock : War- 

ren District,  Ira  Eddy,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  Wil- 
liam Carroll,  Thomas  Thompson;  Youngstown,  John  W. 
Hill,  Thomas  Stubbs,  Henry  Elliott;  Warren  and  Hart- 
ford, John  J.  Steadman,  Edward  Birkett;  Jefferson,  Ira 
Norris,  Mesopotamia,  John  C.  Ayres;  Newburg,  John  E. 
Aikin,  Thomas  Carr,  sup. ; Ashtabula,  Billings  O.  Plimp- 
ton; Geneva,  John  Luccock,  Silas  Card;  Gustavus,  Ste- 
phen Hubbard,  Edwin  J.  L.  Baker;  Williamsfield,  Ben- 
jamin Preston,  Dillon  Prosser:  Meadville  District,  Isaac 

Winans,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Ralph  Clapp;  Alle- 
gheny College,  Martin  Ruter,  Homer  J.  Clark;  Mercer, 
Joseph  S.  Barris;  Salem,  Ensign  B.  Hill,  Reuben  Peck; 
Centerville,  Joseph  W.  Davis,  Ahab  Keller;  Franklin,  Al- 
fred Brunson,  George  W.  Clarke,  to  change  after  six 
months  with  Daniel  M.  Stearns ; Oil  Creek,  Daniel  Pritch- 


740 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 


ard,  Ansel  Webber;  Randolph,  Watts  B.  Lloyd;  Har- 
monsburg,  Gustavus  Hills,  Calvin  D.  Rockwell;  Cam- 
bridge, John  Robinson,  Daniel  C.  Richey;  Springfield, 
John  Chandler,  John  Prosser;  Conneaut,  John  Bain,  Wel- 
lington Weigley;  Erie,  Alfred  G.  Sturgis;  Wesleyville, 
Peter  D.  Horton,  Thomas  Graham:  Jamestown  District, 
Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Samuel 
Gregg;  Gerry,  Thomas  J.  Jennings,  Bryan  S.  Hill;  War- 
ren, Samuel  Ayres;  Youngsville,  William  Todd,  James  E. 
Chapin;  Wattsburg, Lorenzo  D. Mix, Moses  Crow;  North 
East,  Caleb  Brown,  Theodore  Stowe;  Westfield,  David 
Preston,  Justus  O.  Rich ; Fredonia,  Hiram  Luce,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Forestville,  Lorenzo  D.  Rogers,  Ignatius  H. 
Tackitt,  Darius  Smith ; Fayette,  Simeon  W.  Parks ; Na- 
poli, Josiah  Flower,  Horatio  N.  Stearns;  Smethport  and 
Sinnemahoning  Mission,  Matthew  Hanna,  two  to  be  sup- 
plied; Kinzua,  one  to  be  supplied:  Allegheny  District, 

Joshua  Monroe,  presiding  elder;  Brookville,  John  Scott, 
Charles  C.  Best ; Ridgway  Mission,  Allured  Plimpton ; 
Shippenville  and  Tionesta  Mission,  Samuel  W.  Ingraham, 
Lewis  Janney;  Elkanah  P.  Steadman,  Agent  for  Alle- 
gheny College;  William  Swayze,  Conference  Missionary. 
Wilder  B.  Mack,  James  Hitchcock,  W.  Whitney  trans- 
ferred to  the  Illinois  Conference. 

“Painesville  Circuit”  is  formed  out  of  a part  of  Char- 
don;  “Williamsfield,”  and  “Mesopotamia”  are  formed  by 
dividing  Windsor;  “Conneaut”  is  formed  from  a part  of 
Ashtabula;  “Fayette”  is  taken  from  Forestville;  and 
“Jamestown  again  becomes  a station.” 

An  old  class  book  shows  that  Caleb  Foster  was  con- 
nected with  Salem  Circuit  together  with  Ensign  B.  Hill 
and  Reuben  Peck. 

Edward  Birkitt,  John  Norris. 

Edward  Birkitt  was  born  in  Kendall,  Westmore- 
land, England,  Jan.  4,  1812;  and  died  at  Mount 
Union,  Ohio,  August  13,  1878.  His  father  was  a local 
preacher  in  the  Wesleyan  Society  in  England.  Edward 
gave  his  heart  to  God  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  four 
years  later  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  came  to  America 
in  May,  1835 ; and  in  July  of  the  same  year  was  admitted 
to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  on  trial.  He  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization;  but  was 


. Edward  Birkitt,  John  Norris. 


74i 


transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1838.  Mr. 
Gregg  says : “He  was  rather  too  anti-slavery  for  the  Erie 
Conference  at  that  time.”  When  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ence was  organized,  he  became  a member  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Birkett  was  rather  tall  and 

slim,  a beautiful  speaker,  and  powerful  preacher.”  We 
quote  from  his  memoir:  “Brother  Birkett’s  mental 

powers  and  attainments  were  of  a superior  order.  He 
was  sound  in  the  faith  and  steady  in  his  purpose  to  win 
souls  to  Christ.  His  sermons  exhibited  careful  thought, 
and  were  clothed  in  chaste  and  beautiful  language.  For 
many  months  before  his  death  he  was  a great  sufferer,  but 
he  possessed  his  soul  in  great  peace.  He  delighted  in 
hearing  the  Scriptures  read,  and  in  Christian  worship  and 
song.  Among  his  last  words  were:  ‘I  am  under  the 

shadow  of  the  Almighty.’  ”* — ( Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  XXVII,  1878,  pp.  47,  48.) 

John  Norris  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Mass.,  Oct.  23, 
1765,  and  grew  up  a vain  and  thoughtless  youth,  shelter- 
ing himself  under  the  orthodoxy  of  the  times — if  he  was 
of  the  number  of  the  elect  he  would  be  saved,  if  not,  no 
power  could  reverse  his  doom.  In  1792  listened  to 
Rev.  Lemuel  Smith,  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher,  and 
while  this  servant  of  God  was  unfolding  the  riches  and 
the  graces  of  God,  he  saw  and  felt  a full  salvation  for  all 
men  and  he  resolved  from  that  hour  to  seek  the  Lord. 
After  a short  time  he  was  enabled  to  rejoice  from  a clear 

*Edward  Birkett — Licensed  to  preach,  1830;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  dea- 
con, 1837,  Roberts;  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1838;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Mt.  Union,  0.,  Aug. 
13,  1878.  Appointments — 1835,  Warren  and  Hartford;  1836-’7, 
Meadville;  1838,  Canton,  Ohio;  1839,  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  South 
Common;  1840,  New  Brighton,  Pa.;  1841,  Canton,  Ohio;  1842,  St. 
Clairsville,  Ohio;  1843,  superannuated;  1844-’5,  Morgantown,  W. 
Va.;  1846,  Uniontown,  Pa.;  1847-’8,  Washington,  Pa.;  1849,  Bir- 
mingham, Pa.;  1850-’l,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Liberty  street;  1852,  Alle- 
gheny City,  Pa.,  South  Common;  1853,  supernumerary;  1854, 
Washington,  Pa.;  1855-’6,  Washington  District;  1857,  McKeesport, 
Pa.;  1858-’9,  Canton,  Ohio;  1860,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Trinity  Church; 
1861,  WTellsville,  O.;  1862-’3,  McConnellsville  and  McKendree, 
Ohio;  1864,  Steubenville,  Ohio,  Hamlin  Chapel;  1865-’6,  super- 
annuated; 1866,  supply  at  Williamsburg,  Cincinnati  Conference; 
1867,  Coshocton,  Ohio;  1868,  Mt.  Union,  Ohio;  1869,  Mansfield, 
Ohio;  1870,  superannuated;  1871,  New  Lisbon,  Ohio;  1872-*8,  su- 
perannuated. 


742 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


sense  of  sins  forgiven  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  was  licensed  as  a local  preacher  in  1801, 
and  was  ordained  as  a deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1805. 
In  18  12  he  moved  to  the  State  of  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Windsor,  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio.  He  was  deeply  in- 
terested in,  and  contributed  much  to  the  prosperity  of 
Methodism  in  this  place ; but  his  labors  as  a local  preacher 
were  not  confined  at  home,  he  often  accompanied  and  as- 
sisted traveling  preachers  in  the  back  settlements,  and 
served  as  their  pilot,  and  often  as  their  pioneer,  in  hunt- 
ing up  the  lost  sheep  of  Israel.  He  was  diligent  in  busi- 
ness, fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord,  and  probably 
averaged  one  appointment  each  Sabbath  for  nearly  forty 
years.  He  was  not  a great  preacher,  but  was  a holy  man, 
and  often  delivered  the  plain  and  practical  truths  of  the 
gospel  with  pathos  and  unction  which  carried  conviction 
in  every  heart.  He  died  May  21,  1840. 

His  son,  Ira  Norris,  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial  in  1835.  Ira  Norris  was  “tall  and  well 
proportioned,  and  possessed  of  a good  mind,  a pleasant, 
forcible  delivery;  and  was  very  pious  and  useful  as  a 
minister.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  Sept.  3, 
1840;  Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference, 
Vol.  I,  p.  341.) 

After  serving  the  Church  in  the  effective  ranks  for  thir- 
teen years,  he  superannuated,  and  in  1856  located. 

Preachers  Chiefly  of  Short  Terms  of  Service. 

Ira  Norris  was  admitted  on  trial,  1835 ; full  connection, 
1837;  deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  located 
at  his  own  request,  1856* 

Silas  Card,  Ansel  Webber,  and  Matthew  Hanna  were 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835; 
Card  and  Hanna  discontinued  at  the  end  of  their  second 
year;  Webber  at  the  end  of  his  third  year. 

Silas  Card  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 
1835  ; became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1836;  discontinued,  1837.1 

♦Appointments — 1834,  New  Castle,  (supply);  1835,  Jefferson; 
1836,  Williamsfield^  1837,  Johnson;  1838,  Willoughby;  1839-’40, 
Hudson;  1841,  Ellsworth;  1842,  Hubbard;  1843-’4,  Morgan;  1845, 
Hubbard;  1846,  Poland;  1847,  Poland  and  Youngstown;  1848-’55, 
superannuated. 

t Appointments — 1835,  Geneva,  O.;  1836,  Williamsfield. 


i 


Preachers  Chiehy  of  Short  Terms  of  Service.  743 


Ansel  Webber  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence, 1835 ; became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Arkansas  Confer- 
ence, 1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon,  1837;  located, 
1838.* 

Matthew  Hanna  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, 1835  ; became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  discontinued,  1837.! 
Calvin  D.  Rockwell,  also  received  at  the  same  time, 

was  received  in  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder  in  regular  course.  He  was  suspended  in  1842,  and 
in  1843  restored  to  good  ministerial  standing  and  located. 
He  had  become  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its 
organization.  In  1839  he  superannuated  but  became  ef- 
fective in  i840.§ 

Charles  C.  Best  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1834,  though  there  is  no  record  of  his  re- 
ception and  his  name  is  not  connected  with  any  appoint- 
ment. In  1835  he  is  continued  on  trial;  the  following 
year  he  was  received  into  full  connection  and  ordained 
deacon  in  the  Erie  Conference,  and  was  ordained  elder  in 

1838.  In  1839  he  returned  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference, 
in  1851  was  transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Conference; 
and  in  1868  located.f 

♦Appointments — 1836,  Batesville,  Ark.;  1837,  Jackson,  Ark. 
t Appointments — 1835,  Smethport  and  Sinnemahoning  Mission; 
1836,  Napoli. 

§C.  D.  Rockwell — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1835; 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1836;  full  connection.  1837;  deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839, 
Soule;  suspended,  1842;  located,  1843.  Appointments — 1835,  Har- 
monsburg;  1836,  North  East;  1837,  Fredo'nia,  N.  Y.;  1838,  Napoli; 

1839,  superannuated;  1840,  Ashtabula  and  Kingsville;  1841,  Saeg- 
ertown. 

|C.  C.  Best  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  ad- 
mitted into  full  connection,  Erie  Conference,  1836;  deacon,  1836, 
Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference; 
1839,  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference,  1851;  located,  1868. 
Appointments — 1834,  not  given  in  the  general  minutes;  1835, 
Brookville;  1836,  Salem;  1837,  Centerville;  1838,  Youngsville; 
1839,  Monroe  German  Mission;  1840-’l,  Wheeling  German  Mis- 
sion; 1842,  Wellsburg  and  Franklin,  Va.;  1843,  Butler,  Pa.;  1844- 
’5,  Blairsville,  Pa.;  1846-’7,  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  South  Common 
Church;  1848-’9,  Barnesville,  Ohio;  1850,  McConnellsville,  Ohio; 
1851,.  Peoria,  111.;  1852,  Freeport,  111.;  1853-’4,  Peru  District; 
1855-’8,  Galena  District;  1859-’60,  Durand,  111.;  1861-’2,  Sterling, 
111.;  1863,  Plainfield,  111.;  1864-7,  supernumerary. 


744 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Lewis  Janney  was  admitted  the  same  year,  was  re- 
ceived into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1836,  returned  to  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference in  1837,  ordained  elder  in  1839,  and  located  in 
1857.* 

Mr.  Gregg  says  of  Ensign  B.  Hill:  “Mr.  Hill  was  a 

large,  stout  man,  with  zeal  enough,  and  was  a very  pas- 
sable preacher.  After  his  withdrawal  from  the  Church  in 
1839,  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  and 
later  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  He  came  to  a 
sudden  and  mysterious  death  in  northern  Ohio/’f 

Mr.  Gregg  says  of  James  R.  Locke:  “Mr.  Locke  was 

a small,  sprightly  young  man,  but  grew  large  and  fleshy  in 
riper  years ; was  a good  practical  preacher,  and  did  much 
good.”  He  died  in  1898,  but  no  memoir  was  furnished 
for  the  “General  Minutes. ”§ 


♦Lewis  Janney — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834; 
became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1836;  full  connection,  1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  transferred 
to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1837;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  located,  1857. 
Appointments— 1834,  Butler;  1835,  Shippenville  and  Tionesta 
Mission;  1836,  Oil  Creek  and  Tionesta  Mission;  1837-’8,  Dover, 
O.;  1839,  Deersville,  O.;  1840,  Flushing  and  Moorefield,  O.;  1841- 
’2,  Leesburg,  O.;  1843,  Newport,  O.;  1844-’8,  superannuated;  1849, 
Wavnesburg,  Pa.;  1850,  Beallsville,  O.;  1851-’2,  Grove  Creek,  O.; 

1853,  Fish  Creek,  O.;  1854,  Blockville  and  Dunkard’s  Creek,  0.; 
1855-'6,  supernumerary. 

tE.  B.  Hill — Licensed  to  preach,  1831;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  dea- 
con, 1835,  Andrew;  elder,  1837,  Roberts;  withdrew,  1839.  Ap- 
pointments— 1835,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1836-’7,  New  Castle;  1838, 
Randolph. 

§J.  R.  Locke — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834; 
became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1836;  full  connection,  1836;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder, 
1838,  Waugh;  transferred  to  Illinois  Conference,  1855;  deceased, 
in  1898.  Appointments — 1834,  Smithfield;  1835,  Chardon;  1836, 
Brookville;  1837-’8,  Greenville;  1839,  Cambridge;  1840,  Spring- 
field;  1841-’2,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1843,  Meadville;  1844,  Greenville  and 
Clarksville;  1845,  Gustavus;  1846,  Middlebury;  1847,  Akron;  1848- 
’9,  Youngstown  and  Poland;  1850,  Greenville;  1851-’2,  Mercer; 
1853,  Willoughby;  1854,  Ravenna;  1855-’6,  Griggsville,  111.;  1857-’8, 
Jacksonville,  111.,  West  Charge;  1859,  Quincy,  111.,  Fifth  street; 
1860,  Pittsford;  1861-’4,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1865,  Agent,  Freed- 
men’s  Aid  Society;  1866,  Harristown,  111.;  1867-’9,  Decatur  Circuit, 
111.;  1870-’4,  Agent,  American  Bible  Society;  1875,  La  Place,  111.; 
1876,  Decatur,  111.,  West  Church;  1877-’8,  Decatur,  111.,  Janes- 
Chapel;  1879-’87,  supernumerary,  1888-’98,  superannuated. 


Hiram  Gill-more , Henry  Elliott , William  Todd.  745 

Henry  B.  Stannard  entered  the  Pittsburg  Conference, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  vear  was  discontinued  and  not  long 
after  withdrew  from  the  Church. 

Hiram  Gillmore,  Henry  Elliott,  William  Todd. 

Hiram  Gillmore  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  County,  New 
York,  Dec.  25,  i8oq.  He  was  converted  in  1823,  and 
licensed  to  preach  and  joined  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1831.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Ohio  Circuit,  Virginia. 
He  served  Ravenna  and  Painesville  Circuits,  within  our 
bounds.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference 
at  its  organization,  but  was  re-transferred,  and  at  a later 
period  was  transferred  to  the  Indiana  Conference.  In 
his  work  so  widely  extended  he  filled  some  of  the  most 
important  stations  in  the  conferences  to  which  he  be- 
longed. He  was  three  years  chaplain  of  the  Thirty-first 
Indiana  Regiment,  and  afterwards  served  as  agent  for 
the  Christian  Commission,  and  the  Bible  Society.  He 
superannuated  in  1874,  after  laboring  forty-three  con- 
secutive years.  “He  was  a true,  noble  man,  and  a warm- 
hearted sincere  friend.  As  a preacher  he  ranked  among 
the  first.”  He  departed  this  life,  August  20,  1877,  from 
the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  Captin  Sands,  at  Tolono,  Illi- 
nois, sweetly  falling  asleep  as  he  raised  his  hands  and  ex- 
claimed: “O,  bless  the  Lord!'* ** — ( Minutes  of  Confer- 

ences, Vol.  XVI,  1877,  pp.  94,  95.) 

*Hiram  Gillmore — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference, 

1831;  full  connection,  1833;  deacon,  1833,  Roberts;  elder,  1835, 
Andrew;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1836;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1837;  trans- 
ferred to  Indiana  Conference,  1850;  transferred  to  Northwest 
Indiana  Conference,  1868;  transferred  to  Indiana  Conference, 
1868;  deceased,  Tolono,  111.,  August  20,  1877.  Appointments — 
1831,  Ohio;  1832,  Canton;  1833,  Pittsburg;  1834,  Cambria  Mis- 
sion; 1835,  Ravenna;  1836,  Painesville;  1837,  Morgantown,  W. 
Va.;  1838,  Clarksburg,  W.  Va.;  1839,  Elizabeth;  1840,  West 
Alexander;  1841-’42,  Allegheny  City,  Beaver  street;  1843,  Pitts- 
burg, Liberty  street;  1844-’47,  Steubenville  District;  1848,  Bir- 
mingham; 1849,  Allegheny  City,  Beaver  street;  1850-’51,  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  Wesley  Chapel;  1852-’53,  Madison,  Ind.,  Wesley 
Chapel;  1854,  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.;  1855,  Brookville,  Ind.;  1856, 
Columbus,  Ind.;  1857-’58,  Evansville,  Ind.,  Locust  street;  1859, 
Green  Castle,  Ind.;  1860,  Agent  Indiana  Asbury  Female  College; 
1861-’63,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1864,  Agent  Christian  Commission; 
1865,  supernumerary;  1866,  Bloomington,  Ind.;  1867,  Cannelton, 
Ind.;  1868,  not  given  in  minutes;  1869,  Monrovia,  Ind.;  1870, 
Monrovia  and  Belleville,  Ind.;  1871,  Sullivan,  Ind.;  1872-’73,  New 


746  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Henry  Elliott  was  born  in  Newbury,  Orange  Co.,  Vt., 
Sept.  15,  1812  ; and  died  at  his  home  in  Farmington,  Min- 
nesota, May  28,  i8qi.  He  was  converted  in  his  native 
place  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  William  Carr,  in  1831 ; li- 
censed to  preach  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  by  Alfred 
Brunson,  in  1833,  admitted  on  trial  into  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1833;  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  the  division  in  1836.  He  was  effective  fif- 
teen years.  He  superannuated,  on  account  of  bronchial 
troubles,  in  1847;  and  again  permanently  in  1851.  In 
1855  he  moved  to  Glencoe,  Minnesota,  where  he  resided 
until  1863  when  he  was  driven  from  his  home  by  the  In- 
dians. He  finally  located  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  was  es- 
teemed as  an  honored  father  in  Israel.  He  was  a fair 
preacher,  a good  pastor,  and  quite  successful.  Rev.  H. 
M.  Chamberlain  says:  “In  1845  I was  an  inmate  of  his 

family  for  some  months.  A more  pleasant,  orderly,  and 
God-like  family  I have  never  known.  On  his  charge,  be- 
ing an  exhorter,  I was  licensed  to  preach  and  recommend- 
ed to  the  Annual  Conference;  in  his  presence  I preached 
my  first  sermon,  and  from  him  I received  instruction  that 
is  treasured  up  in  my  memory  with  grateful  recollection. 
The  last  year  and  a half  of  his  life  his  mental  faculties 
were  somewhat  deranged;  yet,  in  his  lucid  moments  he 
expressed  an  unshaken  confidence  in  Christ,  and  in  death 
he  found  rest.”* 

William  Todd  labored  in  several  conferences,  and  with 
acceptability  and  success — the  New  York,  New  England, 
Pittsburg,  Indiana,  Michigan,  and  Detroit  Conferences. 
In  1835  he  was  appointed  to  Youngsville,  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  1836  to  Westfield,  New  York.  In  1841  he  super- 
annuated, and  three  years  later  moved  to  Erie,  Pa.,  where 

Harmony,  Ind.;  1874,  superannuated;  1875,  Currysville,  Ind.; 
1876,  superannuated. 

♦Henry  Elliott — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  deceased,  Farmington,  Minn., 
May  28,  1891.  Appointments — 1835,  Youngstown;  1836,  Gus- 

tavus;  1837,  Lawrenceville ; 1838,  Oil  Creek;  1839,  Sheridan; 
1840,  Freedom;  1841,  Willoughby;  1842,  Newburg;  1843-’44, 
Twinsburg;  1845,  Geneva;  1846,  Ashtabula;  1847,  superannuated; 
1848-’49,  Windsor;  1850,  Ellsworth;  1851-’90,  superannuated. 


Thomas  Graham , the  Great  Debater.  747 

he  resided  until  his  death  which  occurred  May  15,  1869. 
He  was  born  in  Armagh  County,  Ireland.  Converted  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  he  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodists,  and 
held  the  office  of  class  leader  several  years.  He  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1818,  and  was  received  as  a 
probationer  into  the  New  York  Conference  in  1823.  “He 
was  a warm-hearted  Christian,  and  manifested  a deep  in- 
terest in  the  cause  of  Christ  during  his  long  period  of 
superannuation,  as  well  as  during  that  of  his  active  min- 
istry.”*— (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XII,  1869,  P • 
198.) 

Thomas  Graham,  the  Great  Debater. 

Thomas  Graham  was  born  in  North  Hope,  Butler  Co., 
Pa.,  Aug.  8,  1810;  and  died  in  Putneyville,  Armstrong 
County,  June  13,  1883.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  and  licensed  to  preach  by  Alfred  Brunson 
in  1834  and  employed  on  the  Springfield  Circuit.  The 
following  year,  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference,  and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Erie  Conference.  He  was  superannuated  one  year — in 
1846.  In  1849  he  was  left  without  a charge,  and  in  1850 
withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the 
Church.  During  the  six  subsequent  years  he  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Jefferson,  Ohio.  In  1856  he  was 
employed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  travel  the  Brookville 
Circuit.  He  was  re-admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1857.  He  superannuated  in  1880.  Including  three  years 
of  supply  work,  he  was  effective  thirty-nine  years. 

“Father  Graham  was  a remarkable  man,  unprepossess- 
ing in  his  appearance,  yet  a man  of  marked  ability.  As 
a preacher  he  was  clear  and  logical.  When  aroused  he 
was  a man  of  wonderful  power,  so  that  when  preaching 

*William  Todd — Admitted  on  trial.  New  York  Conference, 
1823;  full  connection,  1825;  deacon,  1825;  elder,  1827;  trans- 
ferred to  New  England  Conference,  1829;  located,  1832;  re- 
admitted, Pittsburg  Conference,  1833;  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  located,  1838;  re- 
admitted, Indiana  Conference,  1838;  became  a member  of  the 
Michigan  Conference  at  its  organization,  1840;  deceased,  Erie, 
Pa.,  1868.  Appointments — 1823-’24,  Chazey,  N.  Y.;  1825,  White 
Hall,  N.  Y.;  1826,  Pittsford,  N.  Y.;  1827-’28,  Sheldon,  N.  Y.;  1830, 
Northampton,  Mass.;  1831,  Gill,  Mass.;  1833,  Springfield;  1834, 
Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1835,  Youngsville;  1836,  Westfield;  1837,  Watts- 
burg;  1838,  Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  1839,  Allegan  Mission,  Mich.; 
1840,  Allegan  Mission,  Mich.;  1841-’67,  superannuated. 


748 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


at  times,  the  whole  congregation  would  unconsciously  rise 
upon  their  feet.  He  was  the  great  camp-preacher  of  his 
age,  and  at  such  times  his  preaching  was  attended  with 
great  power,  often  having  to  stop  before  the  close  of  his 
sermon  on  account  of  the  cries  of  the  unsaved  for  mercy. 
Few,  if  any,  equalled  him  as  a revivalist.  As  a debater 
he  had  scarcely  a rival,  and  few,  if  any,  equals.  He  was 
possessed  of  the  most  keen  and  polished  sarcasm,  and  woe 
to  the  antagonist  who  came  within  the  reach  of  his  two- 
edged  blade.  During  his  ministrv  he  held  thirty-two  pub- 
lic debates,  lasting  from  three  to  ten  days,  in  which  he  met 
the  best  of  opposing  talent.  Calvinists,  Exclusive  Im- 
mersionists,  Universalists,  Spiritualists,  and  all  others 
who  met  him  in  discussion,  went  down  under  a cyclone 
of  argument  and  sarcasm.  He  was  a man  of  fair  educa- 
tion and  of  iron  will  to  work.  The  very  close  of  his 
life  found  him  hard  at  work.  He  had  a large  well-se- 
lected and  well-used  library.  So  great  was  his  love  of 
study  that  books  were  his  almost  constant  companions. 
At  midnight,  his  last  night  on  earth,  he  was  seen  through 
the  window  of  his  room  reading.”  He  died  alone.  “No 
one  was  there  to  receive  his  last  good-bye;  no  one  to 
smooth  his  pillow — he  died  alone,  no  one  expecting  the 
death  visitant  in  the  home.  May  we  not  believe  that  the 
hand  who  laid  Moses  away  in  his  unknown  grave  was 
there  to  soothe  in  the  las.t  moment,  and  to  lead  to  im- 
mortality ?”* 

j 

Mary  North  Graham,  wife  of  Thomas  Graham,  died 


*Thomas  Graham — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837; 
deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  withdrew  from  min- 
istry and  membership,  1850,  spending  the  succeeding  six  years 
in  the  practice  of  law  at  Jefferson,  O.;  re-admitted,  Erie  Con- 
ference, 1857;  deceased,  Putneyville,  Pa.,  June  13,  1883.  Ap- 
pointments— 1834,  Springfield  (supply);  1835,  Wesleyville;  1836, 
New  Castle;  1837,  Akron;  1838-’39,  Freedom;  1840,  Willoughby; 
1841,  Chardon;  1842,  Clarksville;  1843,  Sheridan;  1844,  Fredonia; 
1845,  Harmony;  1846,  superannuated;  1847,  Meadville;  1848, 
Ashtabula  and  Conneaut;  1849,  without  appointment;  1856,  Brook- 
ville  (supply);  1857,  Brookville;  1858-’59,  Brady’s  Bend;  1860, 
Curllsville;  1861,  Rimersburg;  1862,  New  Bethlehem;  1863-’64, 
Clarion;  1865-’66,  Harrisville  and  Centerville;  1867-’68,  Hender- 
sonville; 1869,  New  Wilmington;  1870-’71,  Brady’s  Bend;  1872, 
Pithole  and  Tarr  Farm;  1873-75,  Petroleum  Centre;  1876-78, 
Putneyville;  1879,  North  Washington  (second  preacher) ; 1880-’82, 
superannuated. 


Thomas  Graham,  the  Great  Debater.  749 


in  Putneyville,  Pa.,  April  4,  1879.  She  was  born  in 
Little  Scrubgrass,  Venango  County,  December  23,  1813. 
Mrs.  Graham  was  a remarkable  woman,  and  nobly  sec- 
onded her  husband  in  all  his  ministerial  and  evangelistic 
work. 

“Whether  in  the  relations  of  wife  and  mother,  at  home, 
burdened  with  domestic  cares,  or  engaged  in  the  strug- 
gles incident  to  an  itinerant  life,  whether  in  the  pro- 
tracted meeting,  through  weeks  of  continuous  labor,  or 
on  the  camp  ground,  sheltered  from  the  dews  of  night 
by  interwoven  branches,  she  was  ever  the  same,  ardent, 
zealous  and  untiring. 

“Now  with  skill  and  taste  she  would  ply  the  needle 
to  supplement  a meagre  salary,  then  pleading  with  the 
people  among  she  moved  to  seek  the  higher  attainments 
of  Christian  life;  always  and  ever  with  an  energy  singu- 
lar and  undaunted.  She  was  the  wonder  of  thousands. 
Before  she  entered  her  rest,  and  while  she  could  yet  con- 
verse with  friends  around  her  bedside,  she  looked  with 
pleasure  over  the  fields  of  conflict,  and  aside  from  the 
love  of  Jesus  took  intense  delight  in  the  remembrance  of 
the  multitudes  she  had  been  instrumental  in  lifting  out 
of  sorrow  and  seeing  them  launched  on  the  voyage  for 
the  blissful  shore. 

“Sister  Graham  has  done  her  work  and  done  it  well. 
Always  ready  for  duty,  never  weak  in  faith  or  irresolute 
of  purpose,  her  life  forms  an  example  that  both  the  min- 
istry and  laity  would  do  well  to  imitate.” 

Mr.  Graham  was  a great  preacher  on  the  terrors  of 
the  law.  Many  recall  his  sermon  at  a camp  meeting  on 
Cherry  run.  H.  M.  Chamberlain  says : “A  large  altar 

had  been  prepared,  and  the  guard  was  instructed  to  let 
no  one  go  into  the  altar  till  the  mourners  were  invited. 
A vast  multitude  had  gathered.  Graham  rose  and  said : 
‘You  have  called  me  a fire  and  brimstone  preacher,  a hell 
and  damnation  preacher,  and  now  I am  going  to  tell  you 
what  the  Bible  says  about  it.'  He  had  cut  out  of  an  old 
Bible  all  texts  referring  to  hell  and  arranged  them  so 
that  at  a glance  he  could  repeat  them.  He  commenced 
by  describing  the  majesty  and  holiness  of  God,  and  de- 
scribed the  sinner  arraigned  before  Him.  He  then 
brought  forward  the  passages  threatening  His  doom. 
Words  fail  to  describe  the  sermon ; one  must  have  heard 

I 


750 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


it  to  realize  it.  The  awful  solemnity  and  silence  of  the 
audience  was  only  broken  by  the  cries  of  some  of  the 
people  crying  out,  ‘God,  have  mercy  on  the  sinner/  As 
Graham  sat  down  a brother  rose  to  exhort ; old  men  and 
women,  young  men  and  maidens  rushed  for  the  altar. 
In  less  than  ten  minutes  it  was  filled,  and  but  little  space 
was  left  for  the  Church  to  gather  around  them.  I was 
sent  to  take  charge  of  the  prayer  meeting,  but  that  was 
beyond  my  control.  The  cries  of  the  penitents  were  like 
a mighty  wail.  No  voice  could  be  heard  separate  from 
the  rest.  By  and  by  here  and  there  some  were  con- 
verted; they  would  rise  up  with  their  friends  and  praise 
God  with  shouts  one  after  the  other,  until  all  seemed  to 
have  found  the  pearl  of  great  price.  Among  the  con- 
verts was  a little  girl.  She  was  clapping  her  hands,  and 
cried  out,  ‘Where’s  grandpa?’ — she  had  a gray-headed 
grandfather  on  the  ground.  She  started  to  the  tent, 
found  him,  brought  him  into  the  altar,  and  he  was  con- 
verted. As  the  meeting  closed  many  were  lying  pros- 
trate on  the  ground,  their  limbs  as  rigid  as  a rail,  and 
we  had  to  carry  them  to  their  tents.  They  were  as  dead 
men,  and  through  the  night  as  they  would  return  to  con- 
sciousness, their  shouts  would  be  heard.  It  was  said 
that  a hundred  and  fifty  were  converted  that  single 
night.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  25,  1889.) 

H.  H.  Moore,  his  old  friend,  writes : 


“I  first  met  Thomas  Graham  in  1839.  He  was  then 
thirty-three  years  of  age,  and  I was  a probationer  in  the 
Church. 


r 


“Mr.  Graham  was  five  feet,  ten  inches  in  height,  sym- 
metrical in  form,  and  trim  built ; his  arms  were  small  and 
fingers  long;  his  short-clipped,  fine,  light-colored  hair 
stood  erect  on  his  head,  fully  revealing  his  ample  fore- 
head; his  light  blue  eyes  were  mild  but  keen  and  pene- 
trating ; his  voice  was  a high  tenor ; his  speech  was  rapid, 
and  his  words  were  coined  mostly  by  his  lips  and  the 
tip  of  his  tongue,  but  when  at  a camp  meeting,  as  he  per- 
sonified the  rich  man  in  hell,  lifting  up  his  eyes  in  tor- 
ment, calling  for  a drop  of  water,  and  his  entire  sermon 
focused  in  the  appeal,  ‘F-a-th-er  A-b-r-a-ham,  F-a-th-e-r 
A-bra-ham,’  his  deep  full  chest  was  brought  into  requisi- 
tion and  his  voice  thundered  off  with  terrible  effect.  In 


Thomas  Graham , the  Great  Debater. 


75* 


many  respects  Mr.  Graham  was  so  much  unlike  other 
men  that  once  seen  or  heard  he  could  not  be  forgotten. 

“He  was  not  what  the  academies  would  call  a scholar, 
but  he  was  a theologian,  an  able  lecturer  as  well  as 
preacher,  a diligent  student;  and  I could  never  see  any 
limit  to  his  reading  or  to  his  general  information.  I was 
at  the  dedication  of  a union  church.  A noted  Congre- 
gationalist  preached  in  the  morning  and  a Presiding  El- 
der in  the  afternoon.  The  morning  sermon  received  uni- 
versal applause.  The  next  day,  being  in  the  study  of 
Mr.  Graham,  he  took  from  his  library  a book  and  said, 
'Homer,  permit  me  to  read  to  you  a little.’  and  in  a 
moment  I found  myself  listening  to  the  argument  I had 
heard  read  from  the  pulpit  the  day  before.  Any  stealing 
of  this  kind  done  in  his  presence  was  very  likely  to  be 
detected. 

“For  some  years  previous  to  1840  infidelity,  in  its  va- 
rious phases,  had  been  rampant  and  shameless  throughout 
Portage  County,  Ohio.  A scurrilous  newspaper  was 
published  at  the  county  seat  by  John  Harmon,  Samuel 
Coleman  and  other  Ravenna  infidels.  It  was  conducted 
on  a very  low  literary  plane,  as  if  Christianity  deserved 
nothing  more  elevated  than  caricature  and  abuse.  In 
1837  Mr.  Graham  was  sent  to  the  Freedom  Circuit,  and 
he  was  not  long  in  finding  out  that  the  disciples  of  Paine 
abounded  everywhere  in  his  charge,  and  especially  in 
the  towns  of  Mantua  and  Shalersville.  With  but  little 
delay  he  made  a furious  assault  upon  the  outposts  of  the 
enemy,  and  spared  not  the  general  personal  character 
and  moral  influence  of  its  champions  and  leaders. 
Everywhere  he  met  large  audiences,  and  always  sent  the 
people  away  thinking,  a few  delighted,  but  many  angry. 

“Finally  a gentleman  by  the  name  of  Yeets  sent  Mr. 
Graham  a challenge  to  discuss  publicly  at . Shalersville 
the  credibility  of  the  Christian  religion.  The  challenge 
was  accepted,  the  preliminaries  arranged,  and  the  time 
set  for  holding  the  debate.  After  some  weeks  of  prepar- 
ation the  hour  of  opening  came  and  the  chairman  and 
debaters  were  in  their  places  ready  for  action.  Mr.  Gra- 
ham led  off  and  consumed  his  half  hour  in  an  exposition 
of  the  nature,  vast  scope  and  high  importance  of  the 
questions  they  had  met  to  examine.  He  withheld  all  his 
formal  arguments,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  give  his  op- 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ponent  material  upon  which  to  work,  and  thus  he  tested 
his  metal.  Mr.  Veets  floundered  about  some, fifteen  min- 
utes and  sat  down,  complaining  that  the  affirmative  had 
not  given  him  anything  to  do.  Mr.  Graham  then  closed 
in  on  his  work,  conscious  that  he  was  master  of  the  situ- 
ation, and  Mr.  Veets  made  no  further  complaints  that 
arguments  were  lacking.  Mr.  Graham’s  preparation  had 
been  thorough,  and  though  he  had  at  hand  elaborate 
notes  of  each  speech  he  was  to  make,  twelve  in  all,  he 
used  them  but  little.  The  battle  raged  till  noon  the  sec- 
ond day,  and  then  the  infidel  crowd  presented  a forlorn 
and  dilapidated  appearance.  The  real  condition  of 
things  was  too  palpable  to  be  misunderstood. 

“When  the  people  assembled  at  2 p.  m.  Mr.  Graham 
was  in  his  place,  but  Mr.  Veets  did  not  appear.  As  the 
clock  struck  two,  Mr.  Graham  deliberatelv  arose,  and  in 

j 

tones  of  sympathy  and  kindness  said : ‘My  friends,  Mr. 

Veets  is  sick — he  is  very  sick.  My  friend,  Mr.  Veets, 
will  not  be  with  us  this  afternoon,  for  he  has  gone  home. 
If  the  audience  please  to  remain  I will  present  the  re- 
maining prepared  arguments  for  this  debate.’  Not  a 
soul  left  and  for  two  hours  the  people  sat  and  listened 
to  as  compact  and  cogent  arguments  in  behalf  of  the 
Christian  faith  as  were  ever  marshaled  by  the  pen  of 
the  writer  or  tongue  of  the  orator.  An  exhortation  fol- 
lowed by  a minister  who  was  present,  and  appearances 
indicated  the  beginning  of  a revival. 

“It  was  soon  realized  that  in  Portage  County  infidelity 
had  received  a staggering  blow.  Mr.  Graham  was  hailed 
by  church  people  as  a keen-witted,  well-informed  and 
giant  defender  of  the  faith,  but  had  his  sarcasms  been 
fewer  and  far  less  blistering  in  effect,  the  applause  of  a 
few  good  folks  would  have  been  somewhat  louder.  Mr. 
Veets’  friends  conceded  that  he  had  done  the  best  he 
could,  but  it  was  evident  to  them  that  he  was  of  too 
limited  capacity  and  knowledge  to  handle  Christianity, 
and  that  in  debate  he  was  no  match  for  Thomas  Gra- 
ham. 

“After  some  weeks  a few  individuals  had  so  far  recov- 
ered from  the  stunning  blow  received  that,  still  hoping 
to  save  their  sinking  ship,  they  opened  a correspondence 
with  the  somewhat  noted  Dr.  Samuel  Underhill,  of  Cleve- 
land, and  he  was  induced  to  challenge  Mr.  Graham  to 


Thomas  Graham , the  Great  Debater. 


753 


discuss  with  him  the  claims  of  Christianity,  the  discus- 
sion to  continue  three  days  in  the  town  of  Mantua.  The 
challenge  was  accepted  and  the  preliminaries  promptly 
arranged.  Soon  after  this,  meeting  Mr.  Graham,  he  said : 
T am  often  oppressed  with  the  consciousness  that  I am 
not  qualified  to  meet  that  Cleveland  giant  in  debate.  I 
fear  the  truth  may  suffer/  Not  long  .before  the  meeting 
was  to  take  place  I met  him  again  and  he  said:  ‘I  re- 

ceived a letter  to-day  from  Dr.  Underhill,  and  what  do 
you  think?  He  spelled  my  name  “Greyam.”  That  is 
enough ; I have  no  fears.  I see  under  the  lion’s  skin  the 
tips  of  the  ears  of  an  ass.’ 

“It  was  in  the  month  of  September,,  the  weather  was 
fine  and  at  the  hour  of  ten  the  Union  Church  was 
crowded  with  an  audience  of  the  first  respectability  to 
listen  to  the  arguments  of  the  champions  of  Christianity 
and  of  infidelity. 

“In  opening,  Mr.  Graham  enlarged  upon  the  fact  that 
in  all  ages  all  nations  and  all  peoples  had  been  religious, 
and  this  he  urged  was  proof  that  religion  was  a funda- 
mental element  of  the  constitution  and  laws  of  nature, 
especially  as  incorporated  in  the  nature  of  man. 

“Mr.  Underhill  replied  that  worship  was  superstition, 
the  result  of  ignorance. 

“Mr.  Graham  admitted  that  the  facts  of  superstition 
were  the  result  of  ignorance  and  then  urged  that  man 
found  redemption  from  these  evils  only  in  the  light  and 
power  of  Christianity.  The  audience  was  deeply  af- 
fected by  this  powerful  speech. 

“Then,  to  break  the  force  of  this  argument,  Mr.  Un- 
derhill laid  out  all  his  strength  and  used  all  his  eloquence 
in  its  criticism. 

“Advancing  a step,  Mr.  Graham  held  that  Christianity 
was  but  a development  of  moral  elements  partially  re- 
vealed in  nature,  and  for  this  reason  Christ’s  parables,  so 
full  of  beauty  and  instruction,  are  drawn  from  nature. 

“Evidently  this  position  was  new  and  strange  ground 
to  Mr.  Underhill,  as  he  had  taken  nature  to  be  infidel, 
and  he  could  only  wabble  over  and  around  it  to  no  pur- 
pose. 

“Another  link  in  the  chain  of  Mr.  Graham’s  logic 
was  that  Christian  principles  fully  incorporated  in  man’s 


754 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 


nature  and  practiced  in  his  life,  were  a benefit  to  him; 
hence,  they  must  be  real,  and  if  real  true. 

“Underhill  was  forced  to  deny  that  Christianity  had 
been  a benefit  to  man,  and  drew  an  awful  picture  of 
popish  persecutions,  especially  in  Spain.  Mr.  Graham 
easily  shattered  that  lance. 

“He  then  held  up  the  character  and  life  of  Christ  as 
interpreted  by  the  sermon  on  the  mount  as  the  center 
and  soul  of  Christianity,  and  insisted  that  they  must  be  a 
real  divine  manifestation,  for  no  genius  could  have  in- 
vented them,  especially  in  a half  civilized  age. 

“Mr.  Underhill  found  that  reply  to  this  was  biting  a 
file.  Mr.  Graham  had  so  thoroughly  mastered  the  situ- 
ation that  he  could  expand  or  contract  or  modify  his  line 
of  thought  or  reply  to  Mr.  Underhill  as  the  exigencies 
of  the  case  demanded,  only  his  chain  of  fact  and  logic 
must  be  kept  firm  in  every  link  and  not  be  broken. 

“In  the  first  day's  debate  Mr.  Graham  found  he  had 
met  a foeman  worthy  of  his  steel,  and  he 'was  glad  of  it, 
for  he  was  sure  that  each  position  he  had  taken  had,  un- 
shaken, withstood  the  fiercest  assaults  that  could  be  made 
upon  them.  During  the  contest  of  the  second  day  he 
brought  into  his  arguments  a wealth  of  thought  and  a 
brilliancy  of  illustration  which  was  a surprise  even  to 
his  friends.  He  seemed  to  be  a master  of  all  the  writers 
who  had  discussed  the  evidences  of  Christianity  in  either 
ancient  or  modern  times,  and  using  them  in  his  own  way 
he  made  them  his  own.  Mr.  Underhill  put  forth  a su- 
preme effort,  but  no  one  saw  more  clearly  or  felt  more 
deeply  than  himself  that  he  had  heavily  lost  ground. 

“As  the  disputants  came  together  the  third  day  Mr. 
Graham  seemed  to  be  calm,  self-possessed,  heavily 
freighted  with  thought,  but  as  fresh  as  the  morning. 
Mr.  Underhill  presented  a troubled,  depressed  and  tired 
appearance.  Mr.  Graham  opened  the  debate  by  giving 
his  audience  with  astonishing  power  two  pictures,  the 
first  was  Christianity  triumphant,  the  second  was  infidel- 
ity as  the  curse  and  blight  of  humanity — Sabbath  gone, 
temples  in  the  dust,  and  the  death  of  a man  no  more  than 
the  death  of  a dog.  In  his  reply  Mr.  Underhill  would 
substitute  art,  music,  science,  philosophy  for  Christianity. 
This  speech  received  Mr.  Graham's  special  attention,  and 
he  made  clear  two  points.  First,  that  there  could  be  no 


Thomas  Graham,  the  Great  Debater. 


75  5 


substitute  for  Christianity ; second,  that  the  arts,  sciences, 
etc.,  were  but  the  handmaids  of  Christianity. 

“The  last  hours  of  the  debate  have  come,  the  church 
is  crowded  and  the  champions  are  at  their  tables.  Mr. 
Underhill  presents  an  unnatural  appearance.  The  light, 
easy  hauteur  expression  which  his  countenance  wore  on 
the  morning  of  the  first  day  is  gone;  his  head  is  bowed 
down,  and  the  appearance  of  his  bright  face  is  changed 
and  become  sadly  dark.  Though  sixty  years  have  passed 
since  that  day  I still  see  that  dull,  heavy,  sad  look.  The 
fact  is,  he  was  conscious  of  defeat,  and  knew  that  friends 
as  well  as  foes  were  aware  of  it.  Mr.  Graham  knew 
that  up  to  that  moment  all  was  well,  that  the  people  were 
ready  to  hail  him  as  a successful  champion  of  the  truth, 
but  he  was  quite  absorbed  in  the  final  speech  he  was  to 
make.  Calmly  and  slowly  he  summed  up  the  entire  de- 
bate. He  stretched  out  before  us,  link  by  link  the  chain 
of  his  argument,  and  designated  points  which  had  been 
assailed,  and  left  it  to  the  audience  to  judge  whether  a 
breach  had  been  effected.  Of  the  affirmative  arguments 
of  his  opponent  he  took  an  inventory  and  restated  his 
replies.  He  was  at  his  best.  From  the  first  he  had  stead- 
ily grown  upon  the  people  and  seemed  to  be  a much 
mightier  man  than  at  the  start.  His  closing  appeal 
would  have  been  appropriate  from  a camp  meeting  pulpit. 

‘‘Properly  Underhill  should  have  advanced  nothing 
new  in  closing  the  debate,  but  he  confessed  himself  a 
coward  in  presenting  nothing  but  new  matter.  ‘What,’ 
he  asked,  ‘does  Christianity  teach?  Arithmetic?  Xo. 
Geography?  No..  Medicine?  Xo.  Chemistry?  Xo.’ 
And  thus  he  exhausted  his  thirty  minutes.  This  foolish 
trick"  was  perceived  by  everyone  and  it  robbed  him  of 
the  sympathy  his  ignoble  defeat  had  elicited. 

“These  debates  put  an  end  to  rampant  infidelity  in  all 
that  section  of  Ohio,  and  it  has  not  lifted  up  its  head 
since.  Mr.  Yeets  has  prudently  been  kept  in  seclusion, 
and  I am  not  aware  that  Mr.  Underhill  has  been  heard 
from.  Samuel  Coleman,  the  infidel  editor,  became  con- 
verted, and  for  many  years  was  a useful  official  mem- 
ber of  the  Ravenna  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.” 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


William  Stevens,  Justus  O.  Rich. 

William  Stevens  was  admitted  to  the  itinerant  ranks 
in  the  New  England  Conference  in  1804;  was  made 
supernumerary  in  1844,  and  superannuated  in  1845.  But 
his  work  did  not  cease.  “He  preached  occasionally  for 
several  years,  but  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  especially 
the  asthma,  from  which  he  had  suffered  for  years,  gradu- 
ally restricted  his  labors  and  finally  confined  him  to  his 
house.  He  suffered  much,  but  suffered  patiently ; al- 
ways edifying  his  visitors  with  the  discourse  of  ripe 
Christian  experience.  During  religious  exercises  it  was 
not  uncommon  for  him  to  give  vent  to  his  emotions  in 
expressions  of  praise  to  God  for  His  abounding  good- 
ness. In  the  latter  part  of  February  he  sunk  rapidly.  He 
experienced  severe  pain,  but  expressed  his  entire  resig- 
nation in  the  divine  will,  and  spoke  freely  and  joyously 
of  his  assured  hope  of  eternal  life.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  holy  Sabbath,  after  a severe  chill,  he  sunk  into  a 
stupor,  and  did  not  revive  again,  but  calmly  passed  to 
the  heaven,  where  the  weary  find  rest.” — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  VII.,  1858,  p.  114.) 

Mr.  Stevens  was  born  in  Plymouth  County,  Mass., 
March  24,  1778,  and  died  in  Bridgewater,  Beaver  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  March  1,  1858.  He  was  converted  in  1801 ; two 
years  later  he  experienced  the  blessing  of  perfect  love, 
and  at  about  the  same  time  was  licensed  to  preach.  He 
located  in  1813,  and  was  re-admitted  in  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1820.  He  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  and 
Erie  Conferences  at  their  organization.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1839.  He  was 
eight  years  Presiding  Elder.* 

*William  Stevens — Licensed  to  preach,  1802;  admitted  on  trial, 
New  England  Conference,  1804;  full  connection,  1806;  deacon, 
1806;  elder,  1808;  located,  1813;  re-admitted,  Ohio  Conference, 
1820;  became  a member  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1825;  became  a member  of  the  Erie.  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1839; 
deceased,  Bridgewater,  Pa.,  March  1,  1858.  Appointments — 1804, 
Landaff,  Mass.;  1805,  Ashburnham,  Mass.;  1806,  Salisbury  and 
Salem,  Mass.;  1807,  Poplin,  Epping  and  Sandown,  Mass.;  1808, 
Salisbury,  Poplin  and  Salem,  Mass.;  1809-’10,  Lynn,  Mass.;  1811, 
Nantucket,  Mass.;  1812,  Boston,  Mass.;  1820,  Deer  Creek;  1821- 
'22,  Fairfield;  1823,  Piqua;  1824,  Steubenville;  1825,  Pittsburg; 
1826-’29,  Monongahela  District;  1830-’31,  Williamsport;  1832, 
Brownsville;  1833,  Uniontown  District;  1834-’35,  Ravenna  Dis- 


i 


Josiah  Flower.  757 

Justus  O.  Rich  was  born  at  Lake  Pleasant,  Hamilton 
County,  N.  Y.,  August  28,  1813.  He  was  converted  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  at  a camp  meeting  near  Albion,  Or- 
leans County,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1834,  his  license 
bearing  the  signature  of  Hiram  Kinsley.  He  supplied 
Jamestown  (N.  Y.)  Circuit  as  junior  preacher  for  sev- 
eral months  in  1835  until  the  session  of  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  of  the  same  year,  by  which  he  was  received 
on  trial.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference 
at  its  organization,  “located  at  his  own  request  to  join 
some  Western  conference/’  in  1856,  and  was  re-admitted 
by  the  Minnesota  Conference  two  years  later.  In  that 
conference  he  sustained  the  effective  relation  twenty-two 
years;  thirteen  years  he  was  in  charge  of  district  work. 
He  was  elected  a delegate  to  the  General  Conferences 
of  1872.  He  was  granted  a superannuate  relation  in 
1881,  and  died  in  Middletowm,  Conn.,  February  16,  1899. 

Mr.  Rich  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  J. 
Willman  in  1839.* 

Josiah  Flower. 

Josiah  Flower  was  born  in  West  Springfield,  Mass., 
June  19,  1803,  and  died  in  Meadville,  April  15,  1875. 
He  was  converted  in  McKean,  Pa.,  in  1828;  the  same 
year  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and  employed  by  the  Pre- 
siding Elder  on  the  Forestville  Circuit.  He  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835,  and 

trict;  1836,  supernumerary;  1837,  Ravenna;  1838,  Ravenna  Dis- 
trict; 1839-’40,  Beaver;  1841,  Wellsburg;  1842-’43,  Birmingham; 
1844,  supernumerary;  1845-’57,  superannuated. 

*J.  O.  Rich — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  located,  1856;  re-admitted,  Minne- 
sota Conference,  1858;  deceased,  Middletown,  Conn.,  February  16, 
1899.  Appointments — 1835,  Westfield;  1836,  Sheridan;  1837, 
Wattsburg;  1838,  Warren,  Pa.;  1839,  Napoli;  1840,  Forestville; 
1841,  Gerry;  1842,  Parkman;  1843,  Geneva;  1844,  Gustavus;  1845, 
Wesley ville;  1846-’47,  Randolph;  1848,  Portland;  1849,  Warren, 
Pa.;  1850,  Forestville  and  Villenovia;  1851,  Forestville  and  Sheri- 
dan; 1852,  Ellington 1853,  Westfield;  1854-’55,  Painesville;  1858, 
Carlyle  and  Lakeville,  Minn.;  1859,  Minneapolis;  1860,  Fairbault; 
1861-’62,  St.  Paul,  Market  street  and  West  St.  Paul;  1863-’64,  St. 
Peters  District;  1865-’8,  Owatonna  District;  1869-’71,  Red  Wing 
District;  1872-’75,  Winona  District;  1876,  supernumerary; 
1877,  Duluth  and  Brainard,  Minn.,  1878,  Hastings,  Minn.;  1879-’80, 
Farmington,  Minn.;  1881-’98,  superannuated. 


75« 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


the  next  year  by  the  division  of  the  conference  he  fell 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
six  years  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Clarion  and  Erie  Dis- 
tricts; he  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  in 
1856;  he  was  chaplain  in  the  army  in  1861 ; and  his  ser- 
vice -was  uninterrupted  till  his  superannuation  in  1874. 
In  his  pioneer  work  he  laid  the  foundation  of  some  of 
our  best  charges.  “Brother  Flower  was  a man  of  most 
positive  character.  His  angles  were  sharp  and  apparent 
to  all.  Christianity  has  never  had  a follower  more  ready 
to  contend  for  the  faith  than  he  was.  The  divinity  of 
Christ,  the  universality  of  the  atonement,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  body,  and  the  justice  of  God  as  visited  upon 
sinners  in  another  world,  were  his  favorite  themes,  and 
the  blows  he  dealt  were  the  blows  of  a giant.  One  of 
the  marked  features  of  his  character  was  a perfect  ab- 
horrence of  anything  like  sham.  He  was  morally  in- 
capable of  acting  a false  part.  He  was  one’s  very  ideal 
of  frankness.  He  preached  as  though  under  oath  to  tell 
the  truth,  the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  as 
he  should  answer  to  God  in  the  great  day.  No  diluted 
gospel  for  him.  To  such  as  did  not  know  him  intimately 
he  may  have  passed  for  a hard,  stern  man.  But  a 
greater  mistake  could  hardly  have  been  made.  He  had  a 
heart  as  gentle  as  a woman’s.  In  the  sacredness  of  home 
he  was  to  his  children  more  like  an  elder  brother  than 
a father.  He  had  almost  a morbid  sympathy  for  the 
weak.  It  was  this  that  in  times  of  slavery  made  him  one 
of  the  most  intense  anti-slavery  men.  It  was  this  feeling 
that  almost  ever  drew  him  to  the  defense  of  his  brethren 
whose  characters  were  under  arrest.  He  was  instinctively 
the  prisoner’s  friend.  So  strongly  was  his  disposition 
bent  in  this  direction  that  where  principle  was  not  in- 
volved you  would  almost  surely  find  him  acting  and  vot- 
ing with  the  minority.  A man  more  loyal  to  generous 
sympathies  never  answered  at  roll  call  of  Erie  Confer- 
ence.” Mr.  Gregg  says:  “His  voice  was  rough,  at 

times  grating,  especially  to  the  ear  of  an  advocate  of 
Universalism,  or  any  other  ism  that  might  happen  to  be 
under  review.  He  possessed  a mind  of  uncommon 
strength,  and  could  drive  an  argument  with  as  much  force 
as  any  other  man.  The  good  people  were  never  known 
on  any  circuit  he  ever  traveled  to  complain  of  any  failure 


Crow,  Bump,  Baker. 


7 59 


to  fulfil  that  part  of  his  ordination  vows  by  which  he 
promised  to  be  ‘diligent,  to  banish  and  drive  away  all 
erroneous  and  strange  doctrines.’”* — (Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  346.) 

Josiah  Flower,  “a  strong  and  fierce  man,”  while  the 
Erie  Conference  was  in  session  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  began 
to  belabor  a brother  who  had  crossed  his  grain.  Bishop 
Hamline,  who  was  presiding,  said : “Pause,  Bro.  Flower, 
and  the  Conference  will  spend  a few  moments  in  silent 
prayer.”  All  fell  upon  their  knees — the  bishop  said 
“Amen.”  Flower  sprang  to  his  feet  and  shouted: 
“Bishop,  that  session  of  prayer  has  cleared  my  mind  won- 
derfully, and  I now  see  more  clearly  that  the  brother  was 
wrong;”  and  so  proceeded  to  cudgel  him  more  savagely 

than  before. — ( M . C.  Briggs,  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, October  ij,  1A95J 

Crow,  Bump,  Baker. 

Moses  Crow  was  born  in  the  town  of  Montgomery, 
Mass.,  in  1816.  While  a child  his  parents  moved  to  Mc- 
Kean County,  Pa.  He  was  converted  in  Smethport,  Pa., 
at  a meeting  held  by  William  Butt  and  Samuel  Gregg 
in  1832.  His  parents  were  Presbyterians,  but  he  pre- 
ferred to  unite  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In 
1834  he  entered  Allegheny  College;  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  same  year,  and,  leaving  the  college,  was  em- 
ployed by  the  elder.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835,  and  appointed  second 
preacher  on  the  Wattsburg  Circuit.  He  became  a mem- 
ber on  probation  in  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion. In  1837  he  located  for  the  purpose  of  attending 
Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1840. 

♦Josiah  Flower — Licensed  to  preach,  1828;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837; 
deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  deceased,  Meadville, 
Pa.,  April  15,  1875.  Appointments — 1828,  Forestville  (supply); 
1835,  Napoli;  1836,  Gerry;  1837,  Youngsville;  1838,  Fredonia,  N. 
Y.;  1839-’40,  Sheridan;  1841,  Westfield  and  Mayville;  1842,  May- 
ville;  1843,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1844-’45,  Springfield;  1846-’47,  Mc- 
Kean; 1848,  Morgan;  1849-’50,  Geneva,  O.;  1851,  Clarksville; 
1852-’53,  Saegertown;  1854,  Wattsburg;  1855-’57,  Clarion  District; 
1858-61,  Erie  District;  1862-’63,  Espyville;  1864,  Hartford  and 
Orangeville;  1865,  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove;  1866-’68,  Thompson; 
1869-70,  Troy,  O.;  1871,  Saegertown;  1872,  Cooperstown;  1873, 
Harmonsburg;  1874,  superannuated. 


760  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  same  year  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  A. 
J.  Hamlin,  of  Meadville.  He  was  soon  after  re-admitted 
to  the  Genesee  Conference  and  became  a member  of  the 
East  Genesee  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was  one 
year  principal  of  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  and  three 
years  professor  in  Genesee  College.  He  received  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Allegheny  College.  He 
served  two  years  as  Presiding  Elder  of  Geneva  District, 
when  his  health  failed.  He  went  west  for  recuperation, 
but  in  vain,  and,  returning  east,  died  in  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
October  3,  1859. 

His  memoir  in  the  Conference  Minutes  concludes: 
“Dr.  Crow  was  agreeable  in  his  person  and  manners,  ex- 
emplary in  his  spirit  and  conduct,  beloved  and  respected 
by  those  who  knew  him,  possessing  a clear  and  discrim- 
inating mind,  a sound  judgment,  an  honest  heart,  and  a 
soul  aspiring  to  the  accomplishment  of  a great  and  good 
work.  His  pulpit  talents  were  of  a superior  order,  and 
had  his  health  permitted  he  promised  to  be  a shining  star 
in  the  Church;  but  he  was  early  called  from  his  work  to 
his  reward,  leaving  to  his  brethren  the  blessed  assurance 
of  his  happy  change  and  the  admonition  to  be  also 
ready.’’ — ( Conable,  History  of  the  Genesee  Annual  Con- 
ference, pp.  558-559.) 

“William  H.  Bump  was  born  in  Pawtucket,  Provi- 
dence County,  R.  I.,  November  11,  1808,  and  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Mantua,  Portage  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  embraced  religion  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  Cleveland  in  1827, 
and  continued  to  labor  as  a local  preacher  until  1835, 
when  he  was  employed  by  Elder  Brunson  to  preach  in 
Erie,  Pa.,  and  was  duly  recommended  to  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  session  in  1836,  where  he  was  admitted  on 
trial,  and  then  transferred  by  the  bishop  to  the  Arkansas 
Conference.  Here,  after  many  years  spent  in  hard  toil, 

♦Moses  Crow — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837; 
deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  located,  1837;  re-admitted,  Genesee  Con- 
ference, 1842;  elder,  1842,  Hedding;  deceased,  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
October  3,  1859.  Appointments — 1835,  Wattsburg;  1836,  West- 
field;  1842,  Rochester,  First  Church;  1843-’44,  Geneva;  1845, 
Lima;  1846,  Castleton;  1847-’48,  Ovid;  1849-’50,  Elmira;  1851, 
Principal  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary;  1852-’54,  Professor  Gene- 
see College;  1855-’56,  Geneva  District;  1857-’58,  superannuated. 


on 


Crow,  Bump,  Baker.  761 

through  a new  and  rough  country,  he  was  finally 
drowned,  I think,  in  the  Arkansas  river.  Mr.  Bump  was 
a moderate-sized  man,  of  an  excellent  Methodist  family, 
and  from  an  early  period  gave  his  life  wholly  to  the 
work  of  the  great  Master,  for  whose  sake  he  sacrificed 
his  life.  He  was  a good,  practical  preacher.”* — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II.,  pp. 

30-31)- 

Edwin  J.  L.  Baker  was  appointed  second  preacher  on 
Gustavus  Circuit  in  1835.  He  was  born  in  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa.,  February  11,  1810.  His  parents  were  Mo- 
ravians, and  his  father  dying  when  he  was  quite  young, 
his  education  and  religious  training  were  left  to  his  pious 
mother,  who  performed  her  duty  with  fidelity.  He  spent 
his  early  childhood  mostly  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. 
He  was  converted  in  Franklin,  Pa.,  in  1832,  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  next  year 
he  entered  Allegheny  College,  but  having  received  license 
to  preach  in  1834,  he  joined  the  itinerant  army  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835,  and  marched  forth  to  do 
battle  against  sin.  He  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization.  He  soon  rose  to  posi- 
tions of  influence  in  the  Conference,  was  three  terms 
Presiding  Elder,  and  a member  of  the  General  Confer- 
ences of  1852,  i860  and  1868.  He  was  a very  success- 
ful preacher  and  in  pastoral  work  he  was  indefatigable. 
He  was  a most  effective  extemporaneous  speaker,  and  a 
strong  debater  on  the  Conference  floor.  He  sought  in 
every  way  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  Church.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Church  Triumphant  from  Pleas- 
antville,  Pa.,  December  30,  1882.* 

*W.  H.  Bump — Licensed  to  preach,  1827;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  transferred  to  Arkansas  Conference,  1836;  full  connection, 
1838;  deacon,  1837;  elder,  1839;  located,  1840;  afterwards  drowned 
in  the  Arkansas  river,  date  not  ascertainable.  Appointments — 
1835,  Erie  (supply);  1836,  Washington,  Ark.;  1837,  Franklin  and 
Newtown  Mission,  Ark.;  1838,  Little  Rock,  Ark.;  1839,  Sunday 
School  agent. 

*E.  J.  L.  Baker — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1835;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  deceased,  Pleasantville,  Pa.,  December  30,  1882;  buried 
at  Erie,  Pa.  Appointments — 1835,  Gustavus;  1836,  Warren,  O.; 
1837,  Willoughby;  1838,  Ravenna;  1839,  Forestville;  1840,  Har- 
mony; 1841-’42,  Warren,  Pa.;  1843,  Randolph;  1844-’45,  Portland; 
1846,  Harmony;  1847,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1848-’49,  Franklin  Dis- 
trict; 1850-’53,  Erie  District;  1854-’55,  Kingsville;  1856-’57,  War- 


/6  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

John  Bain. 

John  Bain  was  a native  of  Scotland,  and  came  to 
America  in  1823  and  settled  in  Saybrook,  O.,  in  1824. 
The  same  year,  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  was  con- 
verted and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1828,  and  secured  a trial  in 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835.  Upon  the  division  of 
that  Conference  he  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  labored  efficiently  until  1870,  when  he  was 
made  supernumerary.  He  entered  into  rest  at  Janesville, 
Wis.,  in  1872.  He  had  been  effective  thirty-five  years, 
and  eleven  years  Presiding  Elder.  His  pastorates  em- 
braced some  of  the  most  prominent  charges  in  the  Con- 
ference. Uregg  says  of  him : “He  possessed  a more 

than  usually  strong,  active  and  shrewd  intellect,  a ready 
tact  in  debate,  could  preach  strong  doctrinal  sermons,  and 
could  scathe  terribly  any  false  ism  which  came  in  his 
way.”  He  was  very  industrious,  keeping  most  strictly 
the  rule  never  to  be  unemployed*,  or  triflingly  employed. 
He  was  able  to  procure  valuable  books,  and  spent  all 
spare  hours  in  systematic  and  hard  study.  His  religious 
experience  was  clear,  refreshing  and  joyful.  He  was 
intensely  Arminian  in  his  views  of  Christian  doctrine. 
“He  loved,  and  preached  and  vigorously  defended  the 
doctrines  of  a general,  free,  present  and  full  salvation, 
gloried  in  the  cross  and  the  propitiation  not  only  for  our 
sins,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.”  His  clear, 
comprehensive,  vigorous  understanding,  resolute  indus- 
try and  strong  originality  soon  raised  him  to  an  honor- 
able position  among  the  leading  men  of  the  Conference. 
He  was  solid,  not  sensational.  He  ignored  arbitrary 
rules  for  sermonizing,  cared  nothing  for  mere  ornament, 
attempted  little  in  the  way  of  exegesis — but  his  posi- 
tions were  well  taken,  and  sustained  with  elaborate  con- 
vincing arguments.  He  was  always  instructive,  and  his 
sermons  were  often  filled  with  the  very  marrow  and  fat- 
ness of  the  gospel.  He  was  a safe  counsellor,  and  ju- 

ren,  O.;  1858,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1859-’60,  Ravenna;  1861-’62,  Pana- 
ma; 1863-’64,  Westfield;  1865-’68,  Erie  District;  1869,  Erie,  First 
Church  (nominal);  1870-71,  Warren,  Pa.;  1872,  Mercer;  1*873-74, 
Geneva,  O.;  1875,  Mayville;  1876-77,  Cattaraugus;  1878-’80,  For- 
estville;  1881,  Leon  (released  from  serving  the  same  immediate- 
ly after  the  adjournment  of  Conference);  1882,  Pleasantville. 


John  Bain. 


7 63 


dicious  in  the  administration  of  the  discipline  of  the 
Church. 

Mrs.  Maria  Bain,  his  wife,  preceded  him  but  a brief 
time  to  the  land  of  rest.  She  had  been  a helpmeet  in- 
deed. She  was  a woman  of  more  than  ordinary  gifts 
and  attainments.  Her  faith  was  clear,  vigorous  and  ap- 
propriating; her  hope  strong  and  inspiring,  her  charity 
pure,  constant  and  unbounded.  “In  her  room,  where 
her  quiet  presence  brought  much  of  sunshine  and  glad- 
ness to  hearts  that  loved  her  well ; she  was  the  true  wife 
and  mother.  Though  of  domestic  habits  and  most 
happy  in  her  home,  she  was  not  averse  to  society — even 
casual  visitors  were  received  with  her  cordial  welcome 
and  entertained  with  her  sensible  discourse,  admired 
her  eminent  social  virtues  as  they  enjoyed  her  unosten- 
tatious hospitality.  She  was  generally  silent  with  re- 
gard to  the  faults  of  others;  and  few  have  more  rigidly 
observed  the  rule  to  speak  evil  of  no  one.  Her  Christian 
experience,  commencing  early  in  life,  was  clear,  prog- 
ressive and  most  satisfactory.  For  many  years  she  en- 
joyed and  ‘to  the  .praise  of  His  glorious  grace,'  modestly 
professed  the  high  attainment  of  perfect  love;  and  her 
pure,  earnest  life  was  seen  to  be  beautifully  consistent 
with  that  profession.  In  the  home  she  was  the  affection- 
ate, faithful  wife,  and  tender,  watchful  mother.  In  the 
church  she  was  beloved  and  eminently  useful — a burning 
and  a shining  light,  adorning  the  doctrine  of  Christ  with 
a well  ordered  life  and  a godly  conversation.  By  her 
blameless  life  and  words  of  counsel  and  encouragement, 
she  greatly  assisted  others.  So  peculiarly  was  she  to  be 
the  wife  of  a minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  so  marked 
was  her  influence  in  all  the  communities  where  they  lived 
and  labored,  that  very  much  of  her  honored  husband’s 
efficiency  and  success  was  doubtless  in  part  due  the  prog- 
ress and  earnest  efforts  of  the  wife  who  encouraged  him 
in  the  work,  sharing  his  every  cup  of  joy  and  sorrow, 
ever  ready  to  take  hold  of  the  burdens  and  help  carry 
them.  Her  religious  exercises  were  without  affectation, 
and  more  than  impressive.  With  the  most  absolute  free- 
dom from  ostentation,  and  genuine  humility,  she  did  not 
shrink  from  the  cross  even  when  it  was  heaviest.  Rely- 
ing on  Him  whose  ready  help  makes  even  our  weakness 
strong,  she  could  ever  stand  up  for  Jesus;  and  finished 


"6 4 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


her  course  the  same  saintly  woman  she  had  long  been 
among  11s.  Her  death  was  a glorious  triumph,  and  her 
memory  will  be  blessed.  The  last  few  days,  as  described 
by  her  husband,  now  with  her  in  glory,  were  hallowed 
by  manifestations  of  divine  power,  and  such  utterances 
as  seldom  come  from  human  lips.”* 

H.  H.  Moore  says  of  John  Bain : 

“John  Bain  was  a gift  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland 
to  the  United  States;  a gift  thankfully  received  and  others 
of  the  same  ‘sort'  would  be  welcomed. 

“He  had  a square  built,  muscular  body,  was  five  feet 
ten  inches  in  height,  had  a large  head,  and  in  every  way 
stood  up  a forceful  man.  He  came  to  Ashtabula  County, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  with  a fairlv  good  Scotch 
education.  Soon  after  this  he  fell  under  the  influence  of 
Methodist  people,  was  thoroughly  converted  and  joined 
the  Church.  His  religious  activity  soon  brought  him  an 
exhorter's  license,  and  in  due  time  license  to  preach  as  a 
local  preacher  and  in  1837  he  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference.  He  served  the  Church  as  pastor,  presid- 
ing elder,  agent  for  Allegheny  College  and  as  a delegate 
to  the  General  Conference.  In  whatever  work  was  as- 
signed him  he  was  a success,  and  from  first  to  last  he 
ranked  among  the  leading  men  of  the  conference.  He 
understood  well  the  law  and  polity  of  the  Church.  He 
was  a master  and  a lover  of  its  theology,  well  read  in  his- 
tory and  in  current  literature.  There  was  in  his  nature 
a vein  of  humor  which  it  was  not  easy  for  him  to  suppress, 
and  which  on  occasion  he  used  to  much  advantage.  When 

a somewhat  personal  and  perplexing-  matter  was  about  to 
come  before  the  conference  we  heard  him  remark:  T 

must  look  after  that  matter.  I can  handle  it  better  than 
any  other  one.’  And  we  were  instantly  interested  to  hear 
his  speech.  When  the  case  was  fairly  laid  before  the  con- 

*John  Bain — Licensed  to  preach,  1828;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
date  and  bishop,  not  able  to  ascertain;  elder,  1837,  Roberts;  de- 
ceased, Janesville,  Wis.,  1872.  Appointments — 1835,  Conneaut; 
1836-’37,  Springfield;  1838-’39,  North  East;  1840-’42,  Meadville 
District;  1843-’46,  agent  Allegheny  College;  1847,  Warren,  0.; 
1848,  Ravenna;  1849-’50,  Meadville;  1851,  Cleveland,  St.  Clair 
Street;  1852-’55,  Warren  District;  1856-’57,  Cleveland  District; 
1858-’59,  Painesville  District;  1860,  agent  Preachers’  Aid  Society; 
1861-’62,  Harmonsburg;  1863-’65,  Franklin;  1866,  Willoughby; 
1867-’68,  Saybrook;  1869,  Perry;  1870-’71,  supernumerary. 


John  Bain. 


765 


; 


ference  he  took  hold  of  it,  and  in  a broad  conservative 
spirit  unfolded  its  merits  and  demerits ; and  this  was  done 
with  such  a mixture  of  fact  and  inference,  of  candor  and 
humor,  that  the  anticipated  delicate  points  were  touched 
and  disposed  of  in  a good  manner.  Mr.  Bain  was  a corn 
ference  man ; he  was  very  practical  in  all  he  said  and  al- 
ways listened  to  with  interest.  His  preaching  was  ex- 
pository, or  topical,  or  descriptive,  doctrinal  or  practical, 
as  the  occasion  required,  and  he  was  as  much  at  home  in 
the  one  department  as  the  other.  His  great  weapon  was 
truth,  and  in  a single  sermon  or  conference  speech  it 
would  on  occasion  take  on  the  form  of  cool  logic,  in- 
vective, sarcasm,  irony,  humor  and  pathos.  His  versatil- 
ity was  of  a very  high  order;  and  he  knew  it  well,  also 
that  it  was  an  element  of  his  peculiar  strength  and  that  he 
could  use  it  as  he  liked.  We  once  heard  him  refer  to  his 
Scotch  brogue  as  a great  embarrassment.  We  replied : 
‘That  should  not  be  so,  your  enunciation  is  very  distinct, 
the  people  all  understand  you  and  your  Scotch  accent  af- 
fords a pleasing  variety.’ 

“ ‘Yes,’  he  replied,’  but  I would  give  all  I am  worth  to 
get  rid  of  it.’  We  replied:  ‘But  the  people  who  listen 

to  you  would  not  give  a fig  to  have  you  rid  of  it,  and  if 
they  like  it  why  should  you  object?’  ‘But  then  I do,’  he 
replied,  ‘I  am  in  America.’ 

“Mr.  Bain  never  hesitated  to  lock  horns  in  debates  on 
the  conference  floor  with  either  Kinsley  or  Kingsley  or 
Steadman,  or  any  other  one,  and  his  ability  was  fully  re- 
spected by  them.  If  there  were  weak  places  in  their  arm- 
or they  were  careful  not  to  expose  them  when  he  was  an 
opponent. 

“Mr.  Bain  possessed  the  coolness,  the  shrewdness  and 
the  calculation  of  a thorough  going  business  man.  His 
ability  in  this  respect  went  far  and  did  much  to  keep  Alle- 
gheny College  on  its  feet  and  save  it  to  the  Church.  Had 
it  not  been  for  the  claims  of  the  people  he  might  have  be- 
come one  of  the  successful  bnsiness  men  of  the  country 
and  made  a great  property. 

“He  was  also  a brotherly,  kind-hearted  man.  As  a 
presiding  elder  he  was  as  likely  to  cure  the  faults  of  a 
preacher  by  a flash  of  good  natured  humor  as  by  sage 
counsel.  His  men  were  represented  to  conference  for  all 
they  were  worth,  and  among  the  people  he  stood  by  them 


766 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


as  far  as  truth  would  permit.  On  the  whole  John  Bain 
was  an  all  around  gentlemanly,  devout,  solid  and  trust- 
worthy man,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  all  that  knew  him. 
He  was  a thorough  Methodist  and  a pillar  in  the  confer- 
ence. Were  we  to  characterize  the  strongest  and  lead- 
ing element  of  his  nature  we  should  call  it  keen  common 
sense.  In  this  respect  he  was  a universal  genius.” 

George  W.  Clarke. 

George  W.  Clarke  was  born  near  Canton,  Stark  Co.,  O., 
July  11,  1810.  His  parents  were  among  the  first  settlers 
in  that  part  of  the  state,  and  being  devout  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  were  diligent  in  the  religious  train- 
ing of  their  children.  When  about  ten  years  of  age,  un- 
der the  faithful  ministry  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Fenn,  George 
was  the  subject  of  deep  religious  impressions,  sought  the 
Lord  earnestly,  and  found  peace  through  believing.  He 
says : “There  being  no  children  members  of  the  church 

of  my  parents  at  that  time,  I remained  over  five  years 
without  uniting  with  any  church,  some  of  the  time  in  a 
partially  backslidden  state,  with  but  little  religious  enjoy- 
ments, though  constant  in  my  attendance  at  the  place  of 
worship,  in  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  in  secret 
prayer — a habit  formed  so  early  that  even  when  the  heart 
was  cold,  and  the  days  spent  too  carelessly,  it  could  not  be 
omitted  without  great  uneasiness,  though  sometimes  the 
opportunity  for  entire  secrecy  was  not  found.  In  my  six- 
teenth year,  attending  a prayer  meeting  held  in  a farm 
house  near  Uniontown,  O.,  by  a few  earnest  Methodist 
people,  where  social  and  literary  advantages  had  been 
few,  but  whom  I had  learned  to  love  for  their  zeal  and 
goodness,  the  Holy  Spirit  was  present  in  subduing  power, 
I,  with  Charles  Reed,  a medical  student,  made  our  first 
public  profession  not  of  religion  but  of  our  purpose  to  seek 
earnestly.  The  Methodist  Church  for  some  time,  both 
as  to  her  doctrines  and  usages  had  been  approved  as  most 
scriptural  and  helpful — so,  leaving  nearly  all  my  friends, 
a church  home  was  at  once  sought  with  them,  and  every 
opportunity  sought  to  kneel  at  her  altars,  and  seek  the  in- 
struction of  those  who  knew  the  path  of  life.  The  way 
of  faith  seemed  not  so  easy  as  before  I had  departed  from 
it,  and  some  months  passed  before  the  long  sought  rest 
was  found.  The  supreme  faith  and  rapturous  enj  oyment 


■HnaHHHHi 


1 


George  IV.  Clarke. 


of  a few  German  Methodists  that  were  taken  as  model 
Christians,  for  a time  bewildered  me.  The  answer  to 
prayer  often  made  them  leap  and  shout.  It  came  not  to 
me,  as  at  first  expected,  in  a flood  of  light  and  rapturous 
joy.  It  was  simply  peace,  sweet  peace,  and  that  for  a 
time  disturbed  by  doubts  and  fears.  Many  happy  seasons 
were  enjoyed,  but  it  was  nearly  a year  before  the  evidence 
was  such  as  seemed  to  justify  the  words  of  assurance  so 
often  since  repeated,  ‘Jesus  saves,  saves  me  now.’  The 
subsequent  life  has  been  blessed  indeed,  though,  in  the 
service  rendered,  far  from  what  it  ought  to  have  been. 

1 he  record  is  with  God  and  the  Church.  Both  have  borne 

with  many  imperfections.  Others  will  estimate  the  work 
done.” 

• 

Mr.  Clarke  received  license  to  exhort  soon  after  joining 
the  Church.  He  used  his  license  and  it  was  renewed 
year  after  year  till  his  junior  year  in  college  when  he  was 
licensed  to  preach.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  This  was  in  1834.  He 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  and  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ences at  their  organization.  In  1881  he  was  transferred 
from  the  latter  to  the  Erie  Conference,  where  he  remained 
till  God  took  him.  He  was  educated  at  the  Western  Re- 
serve College,  and  Allegheny  College  where  he  completed 
his  course  in  1835.  After  filling  three  appointments — 
Hudson,  Franklin,  and  Mercer — he  was  called  to  his 
Alma  Mater  as  Professor  of  Greek,  and  two  years  later 
elected  vice  president.  This  position  was  held  seventeen 
years,  when  failing  health  compelled  him  to  seek  a change 
of  employment.  He  was  presiding  elder  of  the  New  Cas- 
tle District  in  1860-1863;  and  financial  agent  of  the  col- 
lege in  1876-1880.  He  labored  in  the  pastorate — except 
as  above  stated — until  1883  when  he  was  superannuated. 
His  name  appears  on  the  Minutes  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference as  a supernumerary,  but  he  says : “The  relation 

practically  lasted  but  two  weeks  as  I returned  home  to  re- 
ceive an  appointment  to  work  on  the  Centerville  Charge, 
Erie  Conference.* * Mr.  Clarke  was  a delegate  to  six  Gen- 
eral Conferences,  and  a reserve  delegate  in  the  General 
Conference  which  elected  Calvin  Kingsley  as  one  of  the 
bishops — thus  entitling  him  to  a seat.  He  served  also  in 
two  judicial  conferences. 

Dr.  Clarke  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 


768  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Pattie  Plumer,  of  Franklin,  Pennsylvania  and  his  second 
Mrs.  Mary  Sullivan.  His  union  in  both  cases  was  most 
happy. 

In  concluding  the  paper  from  which  our  sketch  is  made, 
Dr.  Clarke  says : “This  is  written  while  in  a prostrated 

condition,  and  with  doubt  whether  my  strength  will  be 
sufficient  to  fill  out  the  year.  If'  it  please  the  Lord,  I 
would  like  to  continue  in  the  effective  ranks  for  the 
fiftieth  year,  but  His  will  be  done.”  His  desire  was  more 
than  gratified.  He  adds  to  the  paper  this  note  : Aug., 

1887,  I remained  fifty-two  years  in  the  regular  work  re- 
ceiving fifty-two  appointments  successively  and  filling 
them.”  He  entered  upon  his  heavenly  inheritance  July 

l8’  l892*  • , , 

Brother  Clarke  was  a man  of  great  good  sense,  and 

excellent  judgment,  and  often  served  his  conferences  in 
matters  requiring  clear  thought,  and  mild  but  firm  ad- 
herence to  justice.  He  was  of  untiring  purpose  and  un- 
swerving integrity.  He  was  always  hopeful  and  sunny, 
and  the  very  spirit  of  kindness  and  meekness.  He  was 
sound  in  doctrine,  and  ever  true  to  the  Church.  “He 
was  clear  in  thought  and  forcible  and  impressive  in  ex- 
pression, enforcing  scriptural  truth  in  a masterly  way. 
He  was  dignified  in  manner,  but  always  approachable  by 
all  classes.  He  was  cheerful  and  companionable  to  young 
and  old,  retaining  a delightful  spirit  of  youth  through 
every  stage  of  his  long  life.  His  presence  at  the  confer- 
ence sessions,  after  his  superannuation,  with  his  beaming 
and  happy  face  and  warm  greetings,  has  been  a benedic- 
tion to  many.  The  celebration  of  his  eighty-second  birth- 
day was  held  on  the  Monday  evening  preceding  his  death. 
On  the  Sunday,  he  spoke  in  the  class  meeting  and  ad- 
dressed the  Epworth  League  of  Grace  Church,  East  Ak- 
ron. Sitting  at  the  breakfast  table  next  morning,  with- 
out a moment’s  warning,  he  heard  the  supreme  call,  and 
breathed  out  his  life  gently  and  sweetly  as  a babe  that  falls 
asleep  in  its  mother’s  arms.* 

*G.  W.  Clarke — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836; 
deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1881;  deceased,  Akron,  O.,  July  18,  1892. 
Appointments— 1834,  Hudson;  1835,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1836,  Mercer; 
i837-’43,  Professor  Allegheny  College;  1844-’45,  Jamestown,  N. 


Stephen  Hubbard,  Asahel  Reeves,  E.  J.  Kinney.  769 


Stephen  Hubbard,  Asahel  Reeves,  Edwin  J.  Kinney. 

Stephen  Hubbard  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Feb.  15, 
1800  and  died  at  Edinburg,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  May  8, 
1891.  He  was  converted  in  his  sixteenth  year,  and  in 
1834  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference. 
He  became  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference, and  was  twenty-four  years  effective.  He  was 
made  supernumerary  once,  and  five  times  superannuated, 
the  last  of  which  was  in  1866.  “Brother  Hubbard  was  a 
preacher  well  qualified  for  the  times  in  which  he  did  his 
most  effective  work — a man  who  felt  that  he  was  called 
of  God  to  preach  his  word.  He  was  eminently  success- 
ful in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  and  hundreds  were  brought 
into  the  fold  through  his  preaching:.”* 

Asahel  Reeves  was  born  in  Turin,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1810  ; and  died  at  West  Farmington,  Ohio,  Aug. 
11,  1892.  He  was  converted  at  a prayer  meeting  in  his 
native  town  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  his  age.  In  1828 
he  married  Miss  Lydia  Phelps,  of  Phelpsville,  New 
York,  with  whom  he  lived  in  love  and  happiness  for  over 
sixty  years.  After  her  death  in  1887,  he  kept  account  of 
the  months,  weeks,  and  days  from  the  time  of  her  de- 
parture, and  longed  for  the  blessed  day  of  reunion.  He 

Y.;  1846-’53,  Vice  President  and  Professor  Allegheny  College; 
1854,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1855-’56,  Ravenna;  1857-’58,  Akron;  1859, 
Erie;  1860-’63,  New  Castle  District;  1864,  Youngstown;  1865-’67, 
Westfield;  1868-’69,  Forestville;  1870-’71,  Ashtabula;  1872-’74, 
Middlesex;  1875,  Ravenna;  1876-’80,  Financial  Secretary  Allegheny 
College;  1881,  Centerville  (Meadville  District);  1882,  Cochran- 
ton;  1883,  Meadville,  Second  Church,  assistant  pastor;  1884, 
Meadville,  First  Church,  assistant  pastor;  1885-’91,  superannu- 
ated. 

♦Stephen  Hubbard — Licensed  to  preach,  1824;  admitted  on 
trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection, 
1836;  deacon,  not  able  to  learn;  elder,  1836,  Soule;  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876; 
deceased,  Edinburg,  O.,  May  8,  1891.  Appointments — 1834,  Co- 
lumbiana; 1835,  Gustavus;  1836,  Hartford;  1837,  Parkman;  1838, 
superannuated;  1839,  Freedom;  1840,  Parkman;  1841,  superannu- 
ated; 1842-44,  supernumerary;  1845,  Ellsworth;  1846,  superan- 
nuated; 1847,  Hubbard;  1848,  Hartford;  1849,  Clarksville  and 
Sharon;  1850,  Wilmington;  1851,  Conneautville;  1852,  superan- 
nuated; 1853,  Bloomfield;  1854,  West  Farmington;  1855-’56,  Pier- 
pont  and  Denmark  Mission;  1857,  Hendersonville;  1858-’59,  Bur- 
ton; 1860,  Edinburg;  1861,  Jackson;  1862-’63,  Southington  and 
Nelson;  1864,  North  Washington  and  Clintonville;  1865,  super- 
numerary; 1866-’90,  superannuated. 


49 


77° 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


was  licensed  to  preach  in  1833,  and  served  as  a supply  on 
the  Twinsburg  Circuit  in  1834;  and  the  year  following 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  and  East  Ohio  Conferences 
at  their  organization.  He  was  effective  eighteen  years  and 
thirty-nine  years  superannuated — preaching,  however, 
as  his  own  health  and  the  condition  of  his  family  would 
permit  while  holding  the  latter  relation.  On  July  18, 
1892,  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  knew  the  time 
of  his  departure  was  at  hand.  “He  calmly  and  thought- 
fully made  all  the  arrangements  for  his  funeral,  and  then 
waited  for  the  change  to  come.”  “Mr.  Reeves  was  a 
small-sized  man,  with  sharp  features,  clear  in  thought,  a 
ready  speaker,  fervent  in  prayer,  and  deeply  pious.”* — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  I, 

P ■ 339-1 

Edwin  J.  Kinney  passed  from  labor  to  reward  Nov.  29, 
1859.  It  was  at  Geneva,  Ohio,  his  last  field  of  labor. 
“As  a gospel  minister,  our  brother  was  pre-eminent.  His 
ardent  temperament  was  made  tributary  to  his  success. 
With  a manner  peculiarly  pathetic,  his  expostulations 
were  often  overwhelming,  and  sinners  by  scores  ‘fled  from 
the  wrath  to  come,’  and  embraced  the  Savior.  Firm  in 
his  belief,  and  able  in  his  defense  of  the  doctrines,  usages 
and  polity  of  the  Church  of  his  choice,  he  constantly 
sought  her  advancement.  The  universal  welfare  of  his 
fellows,  the  freedom  of  the  oppressed,  the  salvation  of 
souls,  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer,  were  ever  the  objects 
of  his  burning  zeal,  until  mortal  life  was  spent,  and  life 
eternal  gained.”  He  was  born  in  Starkey,  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  29,  1810.  He  was  converted  to  God  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  and  licensed  to  exhort,  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Genesee  Conference.  He  entered  Cazenovia  Semi- 


♦Asahel  Reeves — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  West  Farm- 
ington, O.,  August  11,  1892.  Appointments — 1834,  Twinsburg, 
under  Presiding  Elder;  1835,  Deerfield;  1836,  Edinburg;  1837, 
Freedom;  1838,  Gustavus;  1839,  Mesopotamia;  1840,  superannu- 
ated; 1841,  Franklin,  O.;  1842,  Hudson;  1843,  Freedom;  1844, 
Hartford;  1845,  Twinsburg;  1846,  superannuated;  1847-’48,  Park- 
man;  1849,  Nelson;  1850,  Hubbard;  1851,  Mesopotamia;  1852, 
Bloomfield;  1853,  Gustavus;  1854-’68,  superannuated;  1869,  Kins- 
man and  State  Line;  1870-’91,  superannuated. 


Horatio  N.  Stearns,  Watts  B.  Lloyd. 


771 


nary  soon  after  his  conversion.  He  came  to  Ohio,  and 
in  1833  was  licensed  to  preach  and  employed  as  a supply 
on  Springfield  Circuit.  In  1834  he  was  married  to  Amelia 
A.  Curtin.  He  served  Gustavus  Circuit  for  a few 
months,  and  was  then  admitted  to  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference on  trial.  A year  later  the  division  made  him  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference.  Removing  in  1856  to 
Minnesota  Conference,  he  was  appointed  to  St.  Paul,  and 
chosen  Chaplain  of  the  Territorial  Legislature.  After  a 
year’s  absence,  he  returned  to  the  Erie  Conference,  and 
was  stationed  at  Chagrin  Falls,  and  in  1858  appointed  to 
Geneva  and  Saybrook  where  he  closed  his  career.* 


Horatio  N.  Stearns,  Watts  B.  Lloyd. 

Horatio  N.  Stearns  was  a native  of  Vermont.  He  was 
born  in  Wilmington,  May  24,  1810;  and  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Chautauqua,  New  York,  in  1818.  In  1834  he 
was  licensed  to  preach,  and*  the  year  following  joined  the 
itinerant  ranks  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He  became 
a member  of  the  Erie,  and  the  East  Ohio  Conferences  at 
their  organization.  ‘‘He  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
ministers  of  his  conference.  For  many  years  the  blending 
of  the  intellectual  with  the  emotional  in  his  pulpit  efforts 
made  his  deliverances  at  times  so  powerful  that  his  audi- 
ences were  swayed  like  forests  bending  before  the  storm.” 
He  was  thirty-nine  years  effective,  during  seven  of  which 
he  filled  the  office  of  presiding  elder  on  the  Franklin,  War- 
ren, and  Ravenna  Districts.  He  was  supernumerary  and 
superannuated  five  years  before  his  final  superannuation  in 
1877.  He  died  at  Madison,  Ohio,  Jan.  22,  1894.  “He 


*E.  J.  Kinney — Licensed  to  preach,  1833;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837; 
deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  located,  1839;  re-admitted,  1840;  elder, 
1841,  Roberts;  located,  1856,  and  the  same  year  re-admitted, 
Minnesota  Conference;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1857;  de- 
ceased, Geneva,  O.,  November  30,  1859.  Appointments — 1833, 
Springfield  (supply);  1834,  Gustavus  (supply);  1835,  Butler; 
1836,  Chardon;  1837,  Ravenna;  1838,  Cleveland;  1840,  Geneva; 
1841,  Fredonia  and  Portland;  1842,  Quincy;  1843,  North  East; 
1844-’45,  Akron;  1846,  Painesville  and  Willoughby;  1847,  Paines- 
ville;  1848,  Concord;  1849,  Ashtabula;  1850,  Windsor;  1851-’52, 
Meadville;  1853-’54,  Meadville  District;  1855,  Cleveland  District; 
1856,  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  1857,  Chagrin  Falls;  1858-’59,  Geneva  and 
Saybrook. 


j 


772  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

was  retiring,  courteous,  and  in  the  fullest  sense  a Chris- 
tian gentleman.  Companionship  with  him  was  a rare 
privilege,  his  loving  spirit  a benediction,  his  counsels  wis- 
dom, his  friendship  steady  and  unselfish,  his  integrity  un- 
blemished, his  loyalty  to  the  right  unswerving  to  the 
end.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXV , 1894,  P • 
4^i) 

Watts  B.  Lloyd  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1835,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie 
Conference  at  its  organization.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr. 

Lloyd  was  a tall,  stout-built  man,  with  a good  mind;  of 
limited  acquirements,  but  with  proper  culture  and  care 
might  have  made  a very  useful  Methodist  preacher;  but 
his  unbounded  zeal  in  praying  and  speaking  injured  his 
usefulness  and  destroyed  his  health.  He  was  a good 
man.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  342,  343.)  Mr.  Lloyd  was  three  times  super- 
annuated, and  located  at  his  own  request  in  1854.  He 
resided  some  time  in  Waterford,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  held  in  high  esteem  and  did  good  service  as  a local 
preacher.  He  died  in  the  faith  in  Tullahoma,.  Tennessee, 
Oct.  4,  1875.1 

Notes  of  Triumph. 

There  were  many  revivals  during  the  conference  year 

*H.  N.  Stearns — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839,  Soule;  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Madison, 
O.,  January  22,  1894.  Appointments — 1835,  Napoli;  1836,  Watts- 
burg;  1837,  Cleveland  and  Ohio  City;  1838,  Akron;  1839,  Mercer; 
1840,  Salem;  1841-’42,  Clarion;  1843-’44,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1845-’46, 
Franklin  District;  1847-’48,  Warren  District;  1849-’51,  Ravenna 
District;  1852,  Cleveland,  Perry  street;  1853,  Cleveland,  Erie 
street;  1854-’55,  New  Castle;  1856-’57,  Bloomfield;  1858-’59, 
Youngstown;  1860-’61,  Chardon;  1862-’64,  superannuated;  1865- 
’66,  Chagrin  Falls;  1867-’68,  Kingsville;  1869,  Saybrook;  1870-’71, 
supernumerary;  1872-’73,  Morgan;  1874-’75,  Kingsville;  1876, 
Union ville;  1877-’93,  superannuated. 

fW.  B.  Lloyd — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1835; 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839, 
Soule;  located  at  his  own  request,  1854;  deceased,  Tullahoma, 
Tenn.,  October  4,  1875.  Appointments — 1835,  Randolph;  1836, 
Centerville,  Crawford  Co.;  1837-’38,  Cambridge;  1839-’40,  super- 
annuated; 1841,  Springfield;  1842,  Forestville;  1843-’46,  superan- 
nuated; 1847,  Harmony;  1848,  Columbus;  1849-’53,  superannu- 
ated. 


Notes  of  Triumph. 


773 


of  1835.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Rev.  Messrs.  Aikin  and 

Carr,  on  the  Newburg  Circuit,  established  an  appoint- 
ment at  Parkham,  Ohio,  where  they  had  a revival,  result- 
ing in  the  conversion  of  fortv  persons,  who  were  formed 
into  a class.  Also  a revival  occurred  in  Troy,  on  the 
same  circuit,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a church  in 
that  town.  Rev.  Messrs.  Ayres  and  Crum  held  a meet- 
ing in  East  Farmington,  at  which  between  sixty  and 
seventy  conversions  took  place.  At  Southington  a re- 
vival took  place  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  D.  Prosser, 
which  resulted  in  thirty  being  added  to  the  Church.  Rev. 
S.  Gregg  reports  a revival  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  in  which 
between  thirty  and  fortv  were  converted.  A protracted 
meeting  was  held  in  Ashville,  N.  Y.,  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
Chapin  and  Gregg,  in  which  sixty  souls  were  converted. 
Youngsville,  Pa.,  enjoyed  a gracious  revival  through  the 
labors  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Chapin,  in  which  one  hundred  were 
converted.  In  Palmvra,  Ohio,  a church  was  finished  and 
dedicated,  and  followed  by  a revival,  resulting  in  fifty 
conversions.  A protracted  meeting  was  held  in  Lennox, 
on  the  Jefferson  Circuit,  by  Rev.  I.  Norris,  at  which 
eighty  souls  were  converted.  Revivals  also  occurred  in 
Morgan  and  Rome,  on  the  Jefferson  Circuit.  Elder  Win- 
ans  held  a quarterly  meeting  at  Pierpont,  Ohio,  at  which 
forty  were  converted.  Rev.  J.  Luccock  held  a meeting  in 
a school  house  on  the  Geneva  Circuit,  at  which  sixty  were 
converted.  Rev.  W.  B.  Lloyd  held  a meeting  at  one  of 
his  appointments  on  the  Randolph  Circuit,  resulting  in 
thirty  conversions.  At  a quarterly  meeting  held  in  Kins- 
man, Ohio,  between  twenty  and  thirty  were  converted. 
There  were  revivals  also  in  Johnson  and  Mecca,  on  the 
Geneva  Circuit.  Rev.  G.  Hills  reports  sixty  conversions 
at  Bagley’s  settlement,  and  thirty  at  Hickernell’s,  on  the 
Harmonsburg  Circuit.  Rev.  Messrs.  Gardner  and  Reeves 
held  a meeting  at  Charlestown,  Ohio,  at  which  there  were 
eighty  conversions.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  pp.  351,  352.) 


Ingraham’s  Itinerary  to  Tionesta. 

In  1835  S.  W.  Ingraham  was  appointed  to  the  Ship- 
penville  and  Tionesta  Missions,  and  on  August  4,  1836, 
writes : “When  my  friends  learned  that  I was  appointed 

to  this  mission,  they  appeared  to  think  that  I had  several 


: 

1 


774  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

lives,  and  invented  ways  for  the  destruction  of  them  all. 
Some  would  have  me  lost,  and  lie  out  in  the  woods,  and 
the  wild  beasts  destroy  me.  Some  that  I would  starve  in 
the  woods;  and  some  that  I would  starve  among  the  in* 
habitants,  who  could  not  even  supply  their  own  children 
with  bread.  Some  would  have  me  drowned  in  attempt- 
ing to  ford  the  large  streams.  Others  expected  to  hear 
of  my  falling  off  the  narrow  paths  over  rocks  and  preci- 
pices, where  both  horse  and  rider  would  be  found  dead, 
my  long  unsocial  rides : and  all  predicted  that  my  health 
and  some,  kind  hearts,  thought  I must  freeze  to  death  on 
would  not  endure  so  hard  an  appointment.” 

He  then  assures  his  brethren  of  his  good  health,  and 
gives  an  account  of  his  work.  He  then  gives  a short 
extract  from  his  journal,  an  account  of  an  itinerary  to 
Tionesta. 

“Wednesday,  July  27,  left  home  at  1 p.  m.,  rode  ten 
milesi  preached  at  4 p.  m.  to  eight  adult  hearers,  and  bap- 
tized about  the  same  number  of  children.  After  preach- 
ing rode  to  Brother  Joshua  Leech’s,  about  five  miles,  and 
lodged — stayed  the  next  day.  During  the  day  a bear 
came  and  took  off  a hog  close  to  the  house — a hunter 
pursued  him,  and  found  him  eating  the  hog — fired  at  him 
and  frightened  him  away — probably  unharmed.  On  Fri- 
day morning  left  Brother  Leech’s  on  foot  in  company 
with  two  others,  Brother  Leech  and  a hunter.  We  start- 
ed through  the  woods  a northerly  course,  for  Siverly’s,  on 
Tionesta,  equipped  with  a rifle,  a hatchet,  a scalping  knife, 
three  pocket  compasses,  fireworks,  and  some  provisions. 
Arrived  at  Coon  creek  about  noon,  sat  down  on  the  bank 
and  ate  our  dinner.  Thus  far  we  were  guided  by  the 
hunter.  Our  hunter  being  now  out  of  his  latitude,  we 
commenced  running  by  the  compass,  making  our  way 
with  the  hatchet.  About  3 p.  m.,  came  to  the  Little  Coon 
creek — our  guide  assured  us  this  must  be  Bear  creek, 
which  caused  us  to  bend  our  course  more  to  the  west, 
much  to  our  disadvantage.  About  4 p.  m.,  we  came  to 
Bear  creek,  which  runs  a westerly  course.  We  struck  the 
creek  too  low  down,  among  the  hills,  to  continue  our 
course  to  advantage,  so  we  turned  and  followed  it  to 
its  mouth,  whereby  we  struck  the  Tionesta  three  miles 
lower  than  our  original  design.  Arrived  at  Siverly’s 
about  6 o’clock,  having  been  in  the  woods  ten  hours.  It 


i 


Ingraham's  Itinerary  to  Tionesta. 


77S 


rained  in  the  morning,  and  during  the  day  we  were  con- 
tinually wet  by  the  brushes.  Next  my  companions  left 
me  and  returned.  Sunday  morning  I went  down  the 
creek  three  miles  and  preached ; returned  and  preached  at 
three  at  Mr.  Siverly’s.  The  congregation  being  too  large 
for  the  house,  we  retired  to  the  sawmill.  We  had  ex- 
cellent attention  through  the  day.  Took  up  a collection 
in  the  morning  amounting  to  $6.94.  The  inhabitants  o,n 
Tionesta  are  a hardy,  enterprising,  intelligent,  and  be- 
nevolent people.  They  come  several  miles  to  meeting  in 
their  Tionesta  carriages — canoes — and  return  cheerfully 
against  the  current. 

‘Nor  think  the  labor  hard.’ 

“None  here  have  professed  to  experience  religion,  but 
there  is  evidently  a great  moral  change.  Monday, 
traveled  ten  miles  on  foot  to  Battletown.  Here,  just  as 
I arrived  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Barns,  the  old  gentleman 
was  brought  in  nearly  killed  by  a log  as  it  was  rolled  from 
the  hill  above  him.  No  physician  could  be  had  in  less 
than  twenty  miles.  Providentially,  I had  a lancet  with 
me,  which  I had  bought  a few  days  before  for  cases  of 
emergency.  I had  not  been  in  the  house  three  minutes 
till  the  blood  was  running.  After  bleeding  he  soon  came 
to  his  reason.  In  about  an  hour  the  people  collected  for 
preaching.  Standing  at  the  foot  of  the  wounded  man's 
bed,  I preached  from,  ‘Set  thine  house  in  order  for  thou 
shalt  die  and  not  live.’  It  was  a solemn  time.  After 
giving  the  old  gentleman  some  advice,  the  next  morning 
I started  at  eight  o’clock  for  Blood’s  settlement.  Here  I 
traveled  twelve  miles  through  the  woods  without  com- 
pany, guide,  or  path.  I went  partly  by  some  old  blazes 
on  the  trees,  and  partly  by  my  compass,  through  tremend- 
ous windfalls  of  hemlock  timber;  climbing  at  times  over 
huge  piles  of  fallen  trees.  Here  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and 
the  panther  range  unmolested,  and  have  their  lairs  amid 
the  great  heaps  of  fallen  timber,  thrown  together  ‘in  con- 
fusion wild.’  I got  safely  through  at  2 p.  m. 

“Blood’s  settlement  contains  two  families,  far  removed 
from  each  other.  The  men  were  all  away  several  miles 
in  the  woods,  getting  hay  on  a beaver  meadow.  Next 
morning  started  early  for  Brother  Leech’s,  on  a plain  path, 
and  traveled  sixteen  miles  straight  measure — probably 
more  than  twenty  taking  the  serpentine  course  of  the  road. 


776 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Nothing  special  occurred  on  this  walk.  The  road  leads 
through  one  of  the  finest  districts  of  land  that  may  be 
found  in  the  state,  sufficiently  level,  and  of  a rich,  warm 
soil.  About  half  way  I came  to  a settlement  of  Roman 
Catholics,  containing  four  or  five  families ; otherwise  the 
whole  way  is  a lonely  walk.  Took  my  horse  and  started 
for  home — got  thoroughly  wet  in  a thunder  storm,  and 
arrived  safely  before  sunset.  On  the  whole  I have  been 
highly  pleased  with  my  route.” — (Pittsburg  Conference 
Journal , Aug.  18,  1836.) 

Many  missionary  and  other  societies  were  organized 
in  local  churches  early  in  the  history  of  Methodism, 
prophetic  of  some  of  the  great  benevolences  and  recog- 
nized arms  of  service  in  our  world-wide  evangelism.  We 
will  give  but  one  example,  reported  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference Journal,  July  30,  1835. 

S.  W.  Ingraham,  writing  from  Franklin,  Pa.,  says: 
“As  an  evidence  of  what  may  be  done  by  small  means, 
I would  mention  the  success  of  the  ‘Female  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society’  in  Franklin. 

“This  society  was  organized  about  a year  ago,  consist- 
ing of  about  thirty  members,  and  was  mentioned  in  the 
Conference  Journal.  During  the  last  year  some  have  re- 
moved, some  have  withdrawn  from  this  benevolent  work, 
and  one,  a leading  member,  has  gone  to  the  reward  of 
labor.  Considering  our  whole  missionary  work  in  its 
operations,  they  chose  to  style  themselves  a ‘Home  Mis- 
sionary Society,'  reserving  the  appropriations  of  the  funds 
to  their  own  disposal,  designing  to  send  it  to  the  parent 
missionary  society,  provided  their  own  preacher  or  others 
near  at  hand  were  not  in  special  want  of  assistance.  They 
have  raised  the  year  past  about  $27,  which  has  been  dis- 
posed of  as  follows:  $17.25  were  paid  to  the  circuit 

stewards,  which  sum  was  used  as  quarterage ; the  remain- 
der has  been  appropriated  to  relieve  the  pressing  wants  of 
some  of  our  traveling  preachers.  The  zeal  and  perse- 
verence  of  some  of  our  sisters  have  been  highly  commend- 
able.” 

Ralph  Clapp  preached  at  a camp  meeting  on  the  old 
Franklin  District.  He  was  obliged  to  leave  the  ground 
in  the  morning.  He  told  the  congregation  he  very  much 
disliked  to  leave,  but  duty  called  him  away ; and  he  knew 
not  that  he  should  meet  them  again  until  he  should  meet 


II 

i 


The  Work  Prospers. 


them  in  Heaven. 
Lord  grant  it !” 


‘Amen!”  said  a good  brother;  “the 


The  Work  Prospers. 


E.  H.  Taylor  writes  from  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  Oct. 
21,  1835: 

“We  rejoice  in  being  able  to  say  that  we  have  some 
prosperity  here.  At  a protracted  meeting  recently  held 
in  this  place,  some  thirty  or  more,  during  the  meeting  and 
since,  have  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and  more  than 
twenty  have  attached  themselves  to  the  Church;  and  we 
think  a number  more  will  give  in  their  names  for  mem- 
bership among  us.  This  excitement  is  in  the  village,  at 
the  falls  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  its  immediate  vicinity ; and 
we  think  the  prospects  are  brightening  in  other  parts  of 
our  charge.” — ( The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , 
Nov.  20,  1835.) 

Writing  from  Deerfield,  Ohio,  Dec.  1,  1835,  William 
Swayze  says : 

“We  have  recently  seen  the  glory  of  the  Lord  and  the 
excellency  of  our  God  displayed  in  the  conversion  of  many 
precious  souls.  Truly  the  eyes  of  the  blind  have  been 
opened,  and  the  ears  of  the  deaf  unstopped ; the  lame  man 
has  leaped  as  a hart,  while  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  was 
made  to  sing.  May  this  blessed  work  continue  to  blossom 
more  abundantly,  and  we  will  rejoice  ever  with  joy  and 
singing. 

“The  above  referred-to  meeting  I held  on  Warren  Cir- 
cuit, town  of  Brookfield,  Trumbull  County.  It  com- 
menced under  rather  gloomy  appearances.  Our  field  was 
white  and  ready  for  harvest,  we  had  common-sense 
preaching,  directly  calculated  to  accomplish  its  primary 
object,  the  conversion  of  souls.  Strange  to  tell,  several 
philosophical,  hawk-eyed  L^niversalists,  skeptics,  etc., 
were  convinced  of,  renounced  their  errors,  and  embraced 
the  truth  as  the  wisdom  of  God  and  the  power  of  God. 
In  justice  to  my  brethren,  in  the  ministry,  and  some  of  the 
membership,  may  I be  allowed  to  say,  there  never  was  in 
my  opinion  a set  of  regulars  in  Washington's  army  who 
manifested  greater  activity,  courage,  etc.  We  will  not 
except  Napoleon’s  invincibles.  I will  name  a circum- 
stance— to  me  it  is  without  a parallel.  I had  occasion  to 
offer  a few  reflections  on  that  passage  of  Scripture,  'Go 


I 


778  ' History  of  Erie  Conference. 


out  quickly,’  etc.  While  showing  the  necessity  of  im- 
mediate compliance  on  the  part  of  the  ministry,  etc.,  there 
were,  say  five  or  six  young  men  of  promise,  who  a few 
evenings  previous  came  to  the  altar  in  the  character  of 
mourners — they  started  as  with  a touch  of  electric  mis- 
sionary flame,  and  passed  through  the  congregation, 
above  and  below,  as  blazing  meteors,  returning,  bringing 
(why  not  say  to  the  marriage  supper?)  the  poo^  the 
maimed,  the  halt,  and  the  blind — however,  it  could  not 
be  said  as  formerly,  ‘And  yet  there  is  room.’ 

“The  altar  and  aisle  was  literally  crowded  with  mourn- 
ers, insomuch  that  many  had  to  stay  back  for  want  of 
room.  This  is  going  out  quickly.  I will  say  to  all  our 
young  men  under  similar  circumstances,  ‘Go  and  do  like- 
wise.’ ” — (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal , Dec.  25, 

i835-) 

Again  under  date  of  Dec.  23,  Mr.  Swayze  writes  of  the 
dedication  of  a Methodist  Church  in  Poland,  and  a meet- 
ing at  which  fifty-four  were  converted. — (The  Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal , Jan.  15,  1836.) 

I.  H.  Tackett  writes  from  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 

1835: 

“On  this  circuit  there  are  many,  no  doubt,  who  are 
the  servants  of  the  Most  High,  but  had  been,  it  would 
seem,  walking  in  darkness,  and  had  no  light.  Many 
things  had  transpired  to  throw  them  into  gloominess  and 
perplexity.  Apollyon,  with  some  of  his  emissaries  and 
vassals,  had  been  carrying  on  his  machinations  for  sev- 
eral years  upon  rather  a new  scale.  Some  with  the  garb 
of  morality,  others  with  that  kind  of  religion  peculiar 
to  themselves  (such  as  teach  that  all  men  will  be  saved, 
whether  they  have  their  souls  washed  in  the  blood  of 
Christ,  or  their  hands  imbrued  in  the  blood  of  their 
neighbors),  while  others  would  ‘come  fluting  and  fiddling 
to  the  Lord’  in  the  house  of  God.  Thus  seeking  out 
many  inventions  by  which  to  serve  the  great  God  of 
heaven,  and  work  their  way  up  to  the  Empyrean  of  glory. 

“But  in  the  midst  of  this  darkness  our  members  gen- 
erally, with  but  few  exceptions,  we  believe,  trusted  in  the 
Lord,  and  stayed  themselves  upon  their  God,  so  that 
darkness  gives  way  and  the  shadows  flee,  and  sinners 
are  converted  to  God.  The  work  first  commenced  at 
Bro.  A.  M.  Huyck’s  class,  at  a meeting  which  began  the 


•77t£  Work  Prospers.  779 

4th  of  November,  called  a two  days’  meeting,  but  was 
protracted  on  account  of  those  who  were  seeking  religion. 
And  twelve  at  least  we  think  experienced  the  forgive- 
ness of  their  sins,  and  acknowledged  their  Savior  before 

men,  yea,  before  a gainsaying  and  wicked  world  pub- 
licly. 

“On  other  parts  of  the  circuit  several  more  have  been 
converted  within  a month  or  two  past.  This  meeting 
prepared  the  way  for  our  second  quarterly  meeting  which 
commenced  an  the  28th  of  November  in  Forestville.  At 
this  meeting  the  Lord  converted,  we  presume,  about 
twelve  more,  seven  of  whom  live  in  the  village,  we  un- 
derstand.”— (The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  Dec. 
2 5 > i835-) 

Concerning  the  work  of  God  on  the  Chardon  Circuit, 
Aurora  Callender  gives  a most  encouraging  account : “I 
would  say  a few  words  in  reference  to  the  work  of  the 
Lord  among  us,  as  it  will  no  doubt  be  grateful  to  many 
to  hear  of  the  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom,  and 
especially  to  those  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  who 
have  labored  in  this  region  in  years  that  have  gone  by — 
many  have  labored  and  we  have  entered  into  their  labors 
and  are  permitted  to  reap  a glorious  harvest. 

“According  to  the  nearest  estimate  that  we  can  make, 
about  three  hundred  souls  have  been  converted  to  God  in 
about  three  months  past,  and  about  two  hundred  added 
to  the  Church  on  this  circuit  since  conference.  The  work 
has  embraced  all  ranks  in  society,  from  the  gentleman 
and  lady  down  to  the  poor  sceptic  and  drunkard,  and 
from  the  aged  sinner  of  seventy,  down  to  the  youth  of 
ten  years  of  age.  The  work  was  preceded  in  every  so- 
ciety by  much  engagedness,  and  looking  for  holiness  of 
heart  and  life,  and  blessed  be  God,  some  have  found  the 
great  blessing.  This  has  given  in  every  instance  an  im- 
petus to  the  good  cause.  The  subjects  of  this  revival, 
in  the  general,  give  evidence  of  a thorough  work  of 
grace  in  their  hearts.  The  societies  which  have  been 
more  particularly  favored  are  the  following:  Chardon, 

Chagrin,  Thompson,  Montville,  Hampden  and  Chester. 
We  have  but  two  meeting  houses  on  this  circuit;  they 
were  both  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Lord  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  year,  since  which  time  they  have  been 
owned  by  God,  by  the  cloud  of  His  glorious  presence, 


;8o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  as  near  as  we  could  ascertain,  between  sixty  and 
seventy  were  converted  in  the  Chardon  meeting  house, 
and  between  eighty  and  one  hundred  in  the  Chagrin 
meeting  house — thus  has  the  pious  industry  of  the 
Church  been  crowned  with  abundant  success;  our  breth- 
ren, the  local  preachers,  have  been  much  engaged  in  this 
labor  of  love,  and  successful  in  carrying  on  the  word  of 
the  Lord.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  February 
iS,  1836.) 

The  work  continued  until,  according  to  a later  report 
of  Mr.  Callender,  four  hundred  and  fifty  had  been  con- 
verted and  three  hundred  and  fifty  added  to  the  Church. 

The  following  incident  may  have  occurred  ten  or  more 
years  prior  to  this  date : 


“When  Revs.  William  Swayze  and  John  Chandler 
were  holding  a quarterly  meeting  in  Greenville,  Mercer 
County,  Pa.,  they  gave  an  opportunity  for  seekers  of  re- 
ligion "to  come  to  the  altar  on  Saturday  evening.  Many 
came.  One  young  man,  who  was  almost  induced  to  go, 
held  back.  The  thought,  however,  that  it  'was  now  or 
never’  haunted  hm  so  that  at  last  he  arose  and  went  part 
way  down  the  aisle,  with  the  intention  of  going  forward ; 
he  stopped,  however,  and  going  back  .resumed  his  seat. 
Still  this  idea  troubled  him.  He  arose  and  went  part 
way  a second  time.  A third  time  he  arose  and  went 
down,  but  instead  of  kneeling  down  at  the  altar,  he  went 
out  of  the  house,  intending  to  go  home;  but  being  im- 
pressed with  the  idea  that  it  was  ‘now  or  never,  he 
turned  about  and  came  back,  and  stood  at  the  altar,  and 
looked  on  the  scene  for  a short  time;  then  clenching  his 
fist,  and  shaking  it  in  the  air,  he  shouted : ‘God  Al- 

mighty, I will  not!’  and  left  the  house.  From  that  mo- 
ment he  said  his  feelings  left  him.  He  walked  on  home, 
but  as  he  stopped  on  his  own  doorstep  and  put  his  hand 
to  the  door  to  open  it,  he  said  a light  shone  around  him, 
and  a voice  distinctly  said:  ‘He  is  joined  to  his  idols, 

let  him  alone,’  and,  shrieking  aloud,  he  fell  on  the  pave- 
ment. His  neighbors  came  and  carried  him  in.  They 
sent  for  Swayze  and  Chandler,  who  came  and  offered  him 
the  consolation  of  the  gospel,  but  without  avail.  His 
reply  was : ‘It  is  too  late ! too  late ! too  late ! and  con- 

tinued thus  to  exclaim  until  about  sunrise  the  next  morn- 
ing, when  his  spirit  took  its  flight  to  God,  whom  he  had 


Centerville. 


refused  and  insulted.” — (Shaw,  Touching  Incidents  and 
Remarkable  Answers  to  Prayer,  pp.  75-76.) 

“In  the  spring  of  1816  several  brothers,  who  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  moved  and  settled  in  Chardon,  Ohio, 
where  a class  was  formed  the  following  September,  con- 
sisting of  Zeadock  Benton  and  wife,  Ariel  Benton  and 
wife,  Otis  Benton  and  Gideon  Morgan  and  wife.  Preach- 
ing was  in  the  Court  House  until  1835,  when  a church 
was  built.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  I.,  p.  142). 

A church  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  Chardon, 
Geauga  County,  Ohio,  under  the  ministry  of  Aurora  Cal- 
lender and  James  R.  Locke,  who  traveled  the  circuit  in 
1835.  This  was  followed  by  a protracted  meeting,  dur- 
ing which  sixty  or  seventy  souls  were  converted.  An- 
other church  was  dedicated  at  Chagrin  Falls,  and  at  the 
protracted  meeting  between  eighty  and  one  hundred  peni- 
tents bowed  at  the  altar. — (Gregg,  History  of  Metho- 
dism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  551.) 

Centerville. 

Stephen  Cooper  settled  on  the  site  of  Centerville,  But- 
ler County,  in  1798.  The  postoffice  is  Slippery  Rock. 
It  was  known  to  old  settlers  as  “Ginger  Hill.”  Here 
Rev.  William  Carroll  organized  a Methodist  class  in 
1834.  Among  the  members  were:  Scott  Stephenson 

and  wife,  John  C.  Ramsey  and  wife,  John  Reynolds, 
Michael  Christley,  Elizabeth  Christley,  Rachel  Christley, 
Ephraim  Rose,  Eleanor  Rose,  Jane  Rose,  John  Wallace, 
Susan  Wallace,  Alice  Emery,  Levi  Hillger,  Rachel  Hill- 
ger,  Nancy  Hillger,  Mary  McKee,  Daniel  Neyman,  Mary 
Neyman,  Moses  Huselton  and  perhaps  two  or  three 
others.  Daniel  K.  Hill,  John  Christley  and  Campbell  Robb 
were  early  members.  The  greater  number  subsequently 
formed  a class  in  Cherry  township,  which  became  the 
nucleus  of  a church.  In  1837  a small  meeting  house  was 
erected.  This  was  torn  down  and  replaced  by  a brick 
edifice  in  i860.  This  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  C.  R.  Pat- 
tee.  The  appointment  belonged  to  the  Harrisville  Cir- 
cuit, of  which  Mr.  Pattee  was  the  pastor.  At  the  time 
Dr.  A.  M.  Patterson  moved  to  Centerville  in  1854,  the 
older  members  were  the  Christleys,  Neymans,  Ramseys, 


782 


\ 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


widow  Hill,  Dr.  Livingston  and  wife,  Darwin  DeWolf 
and  wife,  Samuel  Adley  and  John  Cook  and  wife. — 
(History  of  Butler  County , R.  C.  Brown  & Co.,  1895,  p. 

631-) 

In  1836  Reuben  Peck  and  W.  B.  Lloyd  were  appointed 
to  Centerville  Circuit,  but  the  headquarters  of  this  large 
circuit  were  at  Harrisville.  Joseph  S.  Barris  was  Pre- 
siding Elder  of  the  Meadville  District.  Mr.  Barris  af- 
terwards left  the  Church  because  of  the  slavery  contro- 
versy. The  first  quarterly  conference  was  held  at  Fair- 
view  meeting  house,  February  11,  1837.  Twenty-five 
members  we;*e  present.  The  record  closes  thus:  ‘‘The 

committee  appointed  for  ascertaining  the  house  rent,  fuel 
and  total  expenses  of  the  preachers  for  the  Conference 
year  report  the  probable  expenses  will  be  for  each  preach- 
er as  follows:  Table  expenses,  $10  each;  fuel,  $5  each; 
house  rent,  $5  each;  whole  amount,  $40.”  The  next 
quarterly  conference  was  held  on  April  29,  1837.  C.  C. 
Bert  and  A.  S.  Hitchcock  traveled  the  circuit  the  next 
year,  and  quarterly  conferences  were  held  at  Sandy  Lake, 
“Sandy  meeting  house,”  “Old  Sandy  Church,”  “Fair- 
view  meeting  house”  and  “Wolf  Creek  meeting  house.” 
At  this  quarterly  conference  the  license  of  N.  Hall  was 
renewed  “on  condition  that  he  use  it,”  and  a committee 
was  appointed  to  inquire  as  to  its  use. 

There  were  fifteen  classes — Centerville,  Harrisville, 
Paiden’s,  Bond’s,  Gibner’s,  Barker’s,  Smith’s,  Sandy, 
Foster’s,  Fairview,  Coleman’s,  Riddle’s,  Burn  s,  Hovis’s, 
and  Hamilton’s.  There  appear  later  classes  at  Rose’s, 
Mear’s.  Ray’s  and  Strickland’s. 

During  the  next  year  we  find  the  names  Reynolds, 
Amity,  Leesburg,  and  McClarrens  among  the  places  that 
contributed.  The  names  Adams,  Rankin  and  Wilson  are 
also  found,  but  we  are  not  certain  whether  these  are  all 
“classes.”  There  is  one  entry,  “Thorn’s  Class.”  Some 
of  these  are  probably  former  classes  under  a new  leader. 
At  least,  in  1839,  “Adam’s  class”  reports  “quarterage” 
raised.  In  1839  also  J.  Reynolds,  John  Henderson  and 
V.  Gibner  are  reported  as  contributing,  and  “Deer  Creek” 
and  “Cool  Spring”  are  mentioned  as  classes  in  1840. 

The  Warren  (Ohio)  Circuit  covered  a large  territory 
when  J.  J.  Steadman,  E.  Birkett  and  Dillon  Prosser 
were  circuit  preachers.  David  King  says : “About  eigh- 


: 


. 


Cony.  783 

teen  months  after  my  conversion  I was  at  my  father’s, 
then  in  the  bounds  of  the  Warren  six  weeks’  circuit.  The 
preaching  places  were  Warren,  once  in  two  weeks)  in 
the  forenoon  in  the  old  school  house;  Braceville,  in  a 
log  meeting  house,  the  only  church  we  then  owned  on  the 
charge ; Newton  Falls,  Southington ; Champion  How- 
land, Bazetta,  Vienna,  Fowler,  Brookfield,  Hartford, 
Shannon,  Vernon,  Burghill  and  Brockway  Mills.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , September  15,  1866.) 

Corry. 

The  old  Hare  Creek  appointment  of  the  Columbus 
Circuit  was  within  the  bounds  of  the  city  of  Corry,  and 
dates  its  origin  back  in  the  3o’s. 

Later  an  appointment  was  made  at  the  Red  School 
House  which  absorbed  the  old  Hare  Creek  class,  and  ser- 
vices there  were  discontinued.  Through  the  efforts  mainly 
of  William  Brightman,  a church  was  built  on  the  corners, 
near  the  Red  School  House,*  for  their  accommodation, 
about  the  year  1858. 

During  the  pastorate  of  J.  S.  Lytle  in  1866,  the  class 
came  bodily  with  N.  Steadman,  their  leader,  and  became 
a part  of  Corry  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Sub- 
sequently the  church  building  near  the  Red  School  House 
was  moved  into  Corry,  near  the  cemetery,  and  the  class 
went  back  and  formed  the  North  Corry  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  to-day. 

The  first  Sunday  School  in  Corry  was  opened  in  the 
summer  of  1862  in  a rough  board  shanty  on  Concord 
street,  near  its  junction  with  South  street.  Dr.  J.  B. 
Chase  was  its  superintendent,  assisted  by  J.  D.  Burrows. 
There  G.  F.  Reeser,  of  the  Columbus  Circuit,  preached 
his  first  sermon  to  the  people  of  Corry  fifteen  months  be- 
fore Corry  was  incorporated  as  a borough.  During  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  the  Sunday  School  was  transferred 
to  the  second  story  of  a building  on  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  West  Wayne  streets,  temporarily  occupied 
as  a school  room  on  week  days  and  used  as  a place  for 
preaching  on  Sundays. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  it  was  moved  into  an  old  build- 
ing in  the  French  refinery,  thence  to  the  finished  school 
building  on  Concord  street,  and  finally  to  its  present 
house  in  the  basement  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 


G.  F.  Reeser  came  here  from  Columbus  and  preached 
to  the  people  in  various  places  during  the  latter  part  of 
1 S(>2  and  the  beginning  of  1863. 

In  May,  1863,  he  organized  a class  which  consisted 
of  J.  D.  Burrows,  leader,  and  wife,  Dr.  J.  B.  Chase  and 
wife,  J.  L.  Hatch  and  wife;  B.  O.  Ball,  Mrs.  Eunice 
Briggs  and  Mrs.  Susanna  Wright,  the  first  wife  of  Eu- 
gene Wright.  The  meeting  that  day  was  in  the  second 
story  of  a new  unfinished  building  situated  on  East  Main 
street,  now  occupied  by  Bush  & Sweet  as  a grocery. 

J.  K.  Hallock  succeeded  G.  F.  Reeser  and  was  himself 
followed  by  J.  W.  Wilson  in  1864,  assisted  by  G.  W. 
Staples.  Under  their  ministry  a church  was  built  at  an 
expense  of  $12,000  on  a lot  donated  by  King  & Francis, 
at  the  corner  of  Concord  and  Pleasant  streets. 

A new  edifice  has  been  erected  at  the  corner  of  Cen- 
ter and  Pleasant  streets.  It  is  a handsome  structure  and 
most  commodious  building. 

Thomas  Thompson  organized  a class  in  Petersburg, 
on  the  New  Castle  Circuit,  in  1835.  consisting  of  seven 
members — James  Wallace  and  wife,  J.  K.  Swisher  and 
wife,  Hosea  Hoover  and  his  mother,  and  Rachel  Piatt. 

New  Classes  Organized. 

John  Middleton  removed  from  Forest  County  into 
Scrubgrass  township  in  1835,  and  settled  in  the  Big  Bend 
neighborhood.  At  his  earnest  solicitation,  Rev.  J.  H. 
Jackson,  of  Butler,  was  induced  to  visit  the  neighborhood 
and  preach  at  intervals  of  four  weeks.  Mr.  Middleton 
opened  his  house  for  these  religious  services.  Rough 
wooden  benches  were  the  seats  provided ; and  these  were 
removed  at  the  close  of  each  service.  A class  of  two  mem- 
bers was  formed  in  1835 — John  Middleton  and  Elisha 
Lawrence.  Mr.  Middleton  was  the  leader.  Mr.  Lawr- 
ence gave  half  an  acre  of  land  for  the  site  of  a church  and 
burial  ground.  His  wife  was  the  first  person  buried 
therein,  and  William  Middleton,  who  died  May  5,  1835, 
was  the  second.  A modest  frame  church  was  built  in 
1836.  The  present  structure  was  dedicated  October  17, 
1883,  and  cost  $1,700.  The  organization  belonged  to  the 
Clintonville  Circuit  for  many  years.  It  is  now  a part  of 
the  Eau  Claire  Circuit. — ( History  of  Venango  County, 
Broun,  Runk  & Co.,  1890,  pp.  558,  559 •) 


i 


New  Classes  Organized. 


7%5 


At  an  early  period  a class  of  Methodists  was  organized 
west  of  Leon  Centre,  which  had  among  its  members: 
Simeon  Harmon  and  wife,  Ichabod  Franklin,  and  Rich- 
ard Oathout  and  wife.  Mr.  Harmon  was  the  leader,  and 
meetings  were  usually  held  at  his  house.  “The  preachers 
on  the  Conewango  Circuit  also  held  meetings  here  and 
in  the  neighboring  school  house.”  A society  was  formed 
November  23,  1835,  an(1  the  erection  of  a church  build- 
ing agreed  upon.  James  Dunlap,  Benjamin  Southwick, 
Simeon  Harmon,  Simeon  L.  Winchell,  Thomas  Mills,  Ira 
Creeley,  Ira  Sanders,  Aaron  Edwards  and  Michael  Bren- 
ninstol  were  elected  as  trustees.  The  next  season  a church 
edifice  was  erected.  This  was  remodeled  and  modernized 
in  1858  under  the  direction  of  a committee  composed  of 
D.  Brand,  M.  Mills  and  Gaylord  Kellogg.  “One  of  the 
most  notable  changes  was  the  addition  of  a tower,  which 
was  supplied  with  a good  bell.”  The  building  afforded  a 
most  comfortable  place  of  worship.  In  1847  a parsonage 
was  erected  which  was  replaced  in  1873  by  a more  at- 
tractive building.  The  circuit  was  formed  in  1847. — 
(History  of  Cattaraugus  County,  L.  H.  Everts,  1879,  p. 
49I-) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  the  oldest  religious 
society  in  Sharpsville.  The  first  Methodist  preaching  in 
this  region  was  on  the  farm  of  William  Fruit,  whose  ten- 
ant, William  Hays,  was  of  this  faith.  The  place  of  meet- 
ing was  changed  shortly  afterward  to  the  house  of  An- 
drew' Byerly.  A class  was  formed  in  1835  under  the 
leadership  of  Robert  Rice.  He  was  succeeded  by  James 
Hays,  Andrew  Byerly  and  Phineas  Dunham.  The  class 
book  of  Mr.  Byerly  is  still  in  existence  and  furnishes  the 
following  list  of  members:  William  Hays,  Charlotte 

Hays,  John  Dunlap,  Elizabeth  Dunlap.  James  Hays.  Mary 
Hays,  William  Gay,  Edna  Gay,  Nancy  Hays,  Elizabeth 
Bendy,  Andrew  Byerly,  Elizabeth  Bear,  Michael  Bear, 
Isaac  Klingensmith,  Mary  Klingensmith,  Michael  Cole, 
Mary  J.  Bear,  William  Hofis,  Martha  Hofis,  and  Robert 
Rice.  At  first  this  appointment  belonged  to  the  Salem 
Circuit — Ensign  B.  Hill  and  Reuben  Peck  were  the  cir- 
cuit preachers.  In  1837  it  became  a part  of  the  Old 
Clarksville  Circuit — with  many  sister  appointments ; 
Greenville,  Sharon,  Clarksville,  Orangeville,  Charlestown, 


50 


786  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Big  Bend,  Keel  Ridge,  and  others.  Sharpsville  became 

a separate  charge  in  1869.  . . T , _ 

Among  the  leading  laymen  of  the  early  society  John 
Dunlap  deserves  especial  notice.  He  is  described  as  a 
man  of  considerable  culture,  the  school  teacher  of  the 
time,  with  all  the  frontiersman’s  courage  and  daring,  as 
evinced  in  his  adventures  with  the  Indians ; and  yet  he 
was  gentle  and  unassuming.  His  piety  commanded  tl  e 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  t le 
strength  and  life  of  the  little  society. 

For  several  years  the  society  worshiped  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  Byerly,  afterwards  in  the  Furnace  School  House. 
The  first  meeting  house  was  erected  about  1857  or  i«58- 
It  stood  on  Mercer  Avenue.  During  the  pastorate  o 
John  Perry,  i874-’75>  it  was  remodeled  and  enlarged 

A parsonage  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  H 
Merchant,  and  R.  M.  Bear  organized  the  first  Methodist 
Sunday  School,  although  a union  Sunday  School  had  been 
Held  for  some  years. 

There  have  been  many  revivals.  We  may  mention 
those  held  by  Ahab  Keller  in  Andrew  Byerly  s grove 
when  forty  were  added  to  the  society ; by  R.  A.  Caruthers 
in  the  school  house  with  fifty  additions;  and  by  J.  tl. 
Merchant  with  more  than  one  hundred  conversions. 

Homer  J.  Clark. 

Homer  Jackson  Clark  was  born  at  Mount  Holly,  Ver- 
mont. Dec.  23.  1803.  and  died  at  Homersville  Ohio.  Sept. 
'’A  187;  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  William  Swayze 
in  1822?  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  m 
1824*  but  the  year  following  he  was  discontinued  that  he 
might  pursue  his  studies.  He  was  readmitted  to  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  in  1830,  and  became  a member  of  the 
Erie  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1841.  In  1831  he  was 
Professor  in  Madison  College:  and  held  a similar  chair  in 
Allegheny  College  in  i834-’36-  In  1837  he  was  made 
President  and  Professor  of  Moral  Science ; and  the  same 
year  received  the  degree  of  “Doctor  °f  Divmity  from 
Transylvania  University,  in  Kentucky.  He  held  this  po- 
sition until  1844  when  the  college  was  suspended  for  lack 
of  funds ; and  then  he  labored  two  years  as  its  agent  ills 
• “Perpetual  Scholarship  Plan”  saved  the  college.  He  le 


: l 


am 


Homer  J.  Clark. 


787 


turned  to  the  presidency,  and  led  the  college  on  to  larger 
success  until  1848  when  he  was  granted  a superannuate 
relation,  returning  to  the  active  service  in  1850.  He  was 
editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  in  i852-’55; 
and  presiding  elder  on  the  Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  Dis- 
tricts for  eight  years  when  he  was  superannuated.  He 
was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of  1844,  1852, 
and  i860. 

“In  his  early  days  he  always  wrote  and  committed  his 
sermons.  All  his  discourses  were  polished  perform- 
ances, and  many  of  them  masterly  efforts.  A man  of 
more  unblamable  life  and  purity  of  character  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find.  A gentleman  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
word,  a scholar  of  no  mean  attainments,  an  educator  who 
has  left  behind  him  the  proof  of  his  works,  a preacher 
whose  beautiful  and  impressive  discourses  instructed  his 
hearers  and  moved  them  to  a better  life,  a Christian  of  the 
noblest  type,  conscientious,  diligent,  meek,  quiet,  unosten- 
tatious, and  unobtrusive,  and  commanding  unusual  re- 
spect for  his  virtues  and  attainments.” 

The  following  notice  of  Dr.  Clark  is  from  an  editorial 
in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate: 

“Rev.  Homer  J.  Clark,  D.D.,  was  born  at  Mount 
Holly,  Vermont,  in  1803.  His  parents  on  both  sides  were 
of  Revolutionary  ancestry,  and  the  family  of  his  mother 
came  over  to  Plymouth  Rock  in  the  Mayflower.  His 
father  in  1820  removed  to  Ohio,  then  the  Tar  West,’  and 
settled  near  Portage — now  called  Barberton — and  there 
with  his  family  made  a home.  The  father  and  mother 
were  Presbyterians,  but  Homer  was  converted  in  a Meth- 
odist revival  meeting  which  was  held  in  a little  school 
house  near  his  home.  His  conversion  was  of  the  old 
fashioned  sort — may  it  never  go  out  of  fashion — and  he 
shouted  aloud  the  praises  of  God.  Word  was  carried  his 
father  that  Homer  was  at  a Methodist  meeting  and  had 
gone  crazy.  The  father  hurried  to  the  spot,  looked  in  the 
illuminated  face  of  the  happy  boy,  and  said:  'Would 

God  all  my  boys  were  as  crazy  as  Homer  is  at  this  minute.’ 

“As  was  the  wont  in  those  times,  Homer,  then  but 
seventeen,  was  set  to  exhorting  immediately  after  his  con- 
version, and  soon  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district  em- 
ployed him  as  a supply.  After  a year’s  work  in  this  re- 
lation, he  so  realized  his  deficiencies  for  the  work  of  the 


i 


788  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ministry  that  he  resolved  to  go  to  college.  His  father 
gave  him  a colt,  with  saddle,  bridle  and  the  indispensable 
‘saddle-bags/  and  five  dollars  in  money.  He  packed  his 
few  books  and  clothes,  and  rode  the  colt  to  Athens,  Ohio, 
carrying’  his  bagfsrage  with  him  and  was  thete  entered  as  a 
student  in  Ohio  University.  There  is  no  record  of  his 
hard  struggle  with  poverty  through  his  four  years  course. 
Whatever  it  was,  he  conquered,  and  graduated  with  hon- 
or. So  high  did  he  stand  in  scholarship  and  Christian 
character  that  immediately  after  his  graduation  he  was 
elected  to  a professorship  in  the  university.  He  taught 
there  one  year,  the  memorable  year  of  the  great  revival 
in  the  college  in  which  E.  R.  Ames,  afterwards  bishop, 
Doctor  Trimble,  and  others  who  became  prominent  in 
Methodism  were  converted. 

“From  Athens  he  went  to  Uniontown,  Pa.,  as  pastor  of 
the  church  there,  but  was  soon  called  to  a chair  in  Alle- 
gheny College.  At  the  close  of  his  first  year  in  Alle- 
oheny  College  Doctor  Ruter  resigned  the  presidency,  and 
Doctor  Clark  was  elected  to  his  place.  Tfiere  he  served 
for  twenty-two  arduous  years.  The  college  was  seriously 
embarrassed  financially,  but  he  succeeded  in  extricating  it 
from  its  embarrassments,  and  added  to  its  endowment  and 
character  so  that  at  the  close  of  his  administration  it  had 
rank  with  the  best  of  our  colleges.  The  history  of  Alle- 
gheny College  can  not  be  written  without  giving  Doctor 
Clark  a high  place  among  its  builders. 

He  retired  from  the  college  in  broken  health,  but  by 
daily  outdoor  exercise  he  soon  recovered.  He  was  elect- 
ed editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  by  the 
General  Conference  in  1852.  In  this  office  he  served 
with  ability  for  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  the  work 
he  most  loved,  the  pastorate.  He  served  Smithfield 
Street  Church,  old  South  Common  and  other  prominent 
charges,  and  was  four  years  presiding  elder  of  Pittsburg 
District,  and  four  years  on  Steubenville  District.  At  the 
close  of  his  work  as  presiding  elder  he  retired  to  his  farm 
in  Ohio,  holding  relation  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  as  a 
superannuate.  He  died,  full  of  years  and  honors,  in  1875* 
Four  of  his  five  children  survived  him,  one  of  whom  is  the 
Rev  Stepheen  R.  Clark,  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference, 
and  another,  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  B.  Castle,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

“Doctor  Clark  was  a man  of  superb  ability,  ripe  scholar- 


Homer  J . Clark. 


7 89 


I 


ship  and  spotless  Christian  life.  Those  yet  living  who 
had  the  privilege  of  hearing  him  preach  cannot  forget  the 
charm  of  his  presence,  the  melody  of  his  voice,  the  beauty 
and  richness  of  his  thought.  We  have  had  many  great 
men  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  whose  names  are  house- 
hold words  in  Methodism,  but  none  greater  than  Homer 
J.  Clark.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  August  28, 

Jp02.) 


1 

l 


*H.  J.  Ciark — Admitted  on  trial,  Ohio  Conference,  1824;  dis- 
continued to  attend  college,  1825;  re-admitted,  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, 1830;  full  connection,  1832;  deacon,  not  able  to  ascer- 
tain; elder,  1832,  Emory;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1836;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence, 1841;  deceased,  Homersville,  O.,  September  24,  1875.  Ap- 
pointments— 1824,  Fairfield,  O.;  1829,  Pittsburg;  1830,  Union- 
town,  Pa.;  1831,  Professor  Madison  College,  Uniontown,  Pa.; 
1832,  Steubenville,  O.;  1833,  Meadville;  1834-’36,  Professor  Alle- 
gheny College;  1837-’47,  President  Allegheny  College;  1848-’49, 
superannuated;  1850,  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  South  Common;  1851, 
Pittsburg,  Smithfield  street;  1852-’55,  Editor  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate;  1856-’59,  Pittsburg  District;  1860-’63,  Steubenville  Dis- 
trict; 1864-75,  superannuated. 


I 

I 


- 


A PEOPLE  WHICH  WAS  NO  PEOPLE. 

ERIE  CONFERENCE  ORGANIZED  — TWO 
YEARS  OF  HISTORY. 

PREACHERS. 

1835-1836. 

At  the  session  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  held  in 
Pittsburg  July  22,  1835,  a resolution  was  passed  request- 
ing the  General  Conference  to  divide  its  territory  into 
two  conferences.  The  following  were  the  delegates  of 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  to  this  General  Conference  who 
responded  to  their  names  at  the  opening  of  the  first  session 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May  2,  1836.  Charles  Elliott,  Mar- 
tin Ruter,  Thomas  M.  Hudson,  Wesley  Browning,  Joseph 
S.  Barris,  Robert  Hopkins,  Joshua  Monroe.  S.  R. 
Brockunier  presented  his  credentials  May  12,  and  took 
his  seat. 

The  Division. 

A committee  on  boundaries,  consisting  of  one  mem- 
ber from  each  annual  conference,  was  appointed;  and 
Joshua  Monroe  was  the  representative  of  the  Pittsburg 
Conference.  The  resolution  concerning  boundaries  was 
presented  by  Mr.  Monroe  on  the  third  day,  and  adopted 
at  a later  date. 

The  boundaries  of  the  new  Erie  Conference  were  des- 
cribed as  follows  : “The  Erie  Conference  shall  be  bound- 

ed on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie,  on  the  east  by  a line  com- 
mencing at  the  mouth  of  Cattaraugus  creek ; thence  to  the 
Allegheny  river,  at  the  mouth  of  Tunanquant  creek; 
thence  up  said  creek  eastward,  to  the  ridge  dividing  be- 
tween the  waters  of  Clarion  and  Sinnemahoning  creek; 


’ History  of  Erie  Conference. 


thence  eastward  to  the  head  of  Mahoning  creek ; thence 
down  said  creek  to  the  Allegheny  river ; thence  across  said 
river  in  a northwesterly  direction  to  the  Western  Reserve 
line,  including  the  north  part  of  Butler  and  New  Castle 
Circuits,  west  to  the  Ohio  canal ; thence  along  said  canal 
to  Lake  Erie,  including  Ohio  City.” — (General  Confer- 
ence Journal , 1836,  Vol.  I,  pp.  469,  470.) 


First  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  first  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
the  old  Court  House  in  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  August 
17,  1836,  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  presiding.  Bishop  Thom- 
as A.  Morris  was  also  present.  Martin  Ruter  was  elected 
secretary  and  D.  M.  Stearns,  assistant.  Fifty-two  names 
were  found  to  be  entitled  to  membership.  Timothy  Good- 
win and  Reuben  A.  Ayleworth  were  re-admitted,  and 
James  H.  Whallon  received  by  transfer  from  the  Genesee 
Conference.  Ralph  Clapp,  Jacob  Jenks,  and  Samuel 
Ayres  located.  Sixteen  were  received  into  full  connec- 
tion. This  would  make  sixty-eight  in  full  connection. 
The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial : Peter 

Burroughs,  Albina  Hall,  John  Crum,  Lorenzo  Whipple, 
James  W.  Lowe,  John  E.  Basset,  Caleb  Foster,  Henry  J. 
Moore,  Samuel  Leech,  William  M.  Burton,  Wareham 
French,  William  H.  Hunter,  Benjamin  K.  Maltby,  John 
Demining,  Joseph  Leslie,  Harvey  S.  Hitchcock,  Rufus 
Parker,  John  F.  Hill,  Thomas  Benn,  William  H.  Bump, 
and  Philip  Osborn.  William  Swayze  and  John  J.  Stead- 
man were  superannuated.  Ansel  Webber,  William  H. 
Bump,  Thomas  Benn,  and  Philip  Osborn  were  transferred 
to  the  Arkansas  Conference.  One  hundred  and  two 
preachers  were  stationed  as  follows — Ravenna  District, 
Isaac  Winans,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  William  Stevens, 
William  S.  Worrallo;  Akron,  Thomas  Carr,  John  L. 
Holmes ; Hudson,  John  K.  Hallock,  Alfred  Sturgis ; 
Cleveland,  Francis  A.  Dighton;  Cleveland  Circuit,  Philip 
Green,  Peter  Burroughs;  Chardon,  E.  J.  Kinney,  William 
H.  Hunter;  Chagrin,  Daniel  M.  Stearns,  Henry  J.  Moore; 
Painesville,  Hiram  Gillmore,  James  W.  Lowe;  Freedom, 
Joseph  W.  Davis,  Joseph  Leslie;  Edinburg,  Asahel 
Reeves,  John  E.  Bassett;  Warren  District,  Ira  Eddy,  pre- 
siding elder;  Warren,  Arthur  M.  Brown,  Edwin  J.  L. 
Baker;  Youngstown,  Thomas  Stubbs,  John  Robinson; 


First  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 


793 


Ellsworth,  Lorenzo  D.  Prosser;  Hartford,  Stephen  Hub- 
bard, Wareham  French;  Gustavus,  Henry  S.  Winans, 
Henry  Elliott,  John  Crum;  Mesopotamia,  John  C.  Ayres, 
John  W.  Hill;  Newburg,  John  E.  Aikin,  George  C. 
Baker;  Williamsfield,  Ira  Norris,  Silas  Card;  Jefferson, 
Dillon  Prosser,  Rufus  Parker;  Geneva,  John  Luccock, 
Benjamin  K.  Maltby;  Meadville  District , Joseph  S.  Bar- 
ris,  presiding  elder;  Allegheny  College,  Martin  Ruter,  H. 
J.  Clark,  William  M.  Burton,  Billings  O.  Plimpton,  agent; 
Meadville,  Edward  Birkett;  Franklin,  Caleb  Brown, 
John  Prosser ; Centerville,  Reuben  Peck,  Watts  B.  Lloyd , 
Mercer,  George  W.  Clarke ; Salem,  Ahab  Keller,  Charles 
C.  Best;  Clarksville,  William  Carroll,  Harvey  S.  Hitch- 
cock; Lawrenceburg,  Daniel  C.  Richey;  Brookville, 
Joseph  A.  Hallock,  James  R.  Locke;  Shippenville  and 
Bloomfield  Mission,  Samuel  W.  Ingraham,  John  F.  Hill ; 
New  Castle,  Ensign  B.  Hill,  Thomas  Graham;  James- 
town District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  James- 
town, Timothy  Goodwin;  Gerry,  Simeon  W.  Parks,  Jo- 
siah  Flower;  Warren  and  Kinzua,  Samuel  Gregg,  James 
Gillmore;  Youngsville,  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt,  Theodore 
Stowe,  E.  P.  Steadman;  Wattsburgh,  Hiram  Luce,  Hor- 
atio N.  Stearns;  Westfield,  William  Todd,  Moses  Crow; 
Fredonia,  Thomas  J.  Jennings,  Bryan  S.  Hill;  Forest- 
ville,  Darius  Smith,  John  Demming ; Sheridan,  Lorenzo 
Rogers,  Justus  O.  Rich;  Napoli,  John  Scott,  Matthew 
Hanna;  Erie  District,  John  Chandler,  presiding  elder; 
Erie,  Reuben  A.  Aylworth  ; Wesleyville,  Lorenzo  D.  Mix, 
Albina  Hall ; North  East,  David  Preston,  Calvin  D.  Rock- 
well; Cambridge,  James  H.  Whallon,  Peter  D.  Horton; 
Randolph,  William  Butt;  Harmonsburg,  Benjamin  Pres- 
ton, Warren  Griffith;  Springfield,  John  Bain.  Samuel 
Leech ; Conneaut,  Daniel  Pritchard,  Gustavus  Hills ; Oil 
creek  and  Tionesta  Mission,  James  E.  Chapin,  Lewis 
Janney;  Ashtabula,  Allured  Plimpton. 

The  Erie  District  was  formed  out  of  parts  of  Meadville 
and  Jamestown  Districts. 

Martin  Ruter  and  Joseph  S.  Barris  had  been  members 
of  the  late  General  Conference,  and  had  witnessed  the  de- 
bate resulting  in  the  condemnation  of  Revs.  S.  Norris  and 
G.  Storrs,  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  for  lectur- 
ing on  abolition.  Mr.  Barris  strongly  espoused  the  cause 
of  these  brethren,  and  when  he  returned  from  Cincinnati, 


794 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


he  was  aflame  with  abolition  zeal.  In  this  he  was  strong- 
ly seconded  by  such  men  as  Ralph  Clapp,  Isaac  Winans, 
William  Swayze,  George  W.  Clarke,  Bryan  S.  Hill,  and 
Benjamin  Preston.  Mr.  Gregg  who,  was  personally 
greatly  interested  in  the  cause,  says : “Indeed  Mr.  Barris 

at  this  time  possessed  more  popular  influence  than  any 
other  member  of  the  conference  outside  of  Allegheny  Col- 
lege. He  was  now  thirty-six  years  old,  with  twelve  years’ 
experience  in  the  ministry ; small  in  stature,  but  possessing 
robust  health ; quick  in  all  his  movements,  and  exceeding 
genial  in  his  disposition.  He  was  very  apt  and  adroit  as 
a disputant,  gave  a peculiar  nod  of  his  head  when  uttering 
emphatic  words,  carrying  generally,  both  in  the  pulpit 
and  when  out  of  it,  a good-sized  quid  of  tobacco  inside 
his  under  lip.  He  was  lively  and  animated  in  his  ad- 
dress, but  rather  too  full  of  pleasantry  and  free  with 
laughable  stories  to  impress  you  in  the  most  favorable 
manner  with  the  depth  of  his  piety,  and  yet  his  zeal  for 
God’s  glory  and  man’s  well-being  was  so  great  as  to  in- 
spire you  with  great  respect  for  the  man.’’ — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  V ol.  II,  pp.  j6,  37.) 

Mr.  Barris  on  the  Meadville  District,  and  Mr.  Winans 
on  the  Ravenna,  could  not  do  otherwise  than  advance  the 
interests  of  abolitionism  on  their  districts.  They  made 
converts,  but  they  aroused  much  bitterness.  “Zion’s 
Watchman,”  an  anti-slavery  periodical,  started  in  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  under  the  editorship  of  Rev.  Orange  Scott, 
of  the  New  England  Conference,  they  recommended  on 
their  districts  and  sought  to  circulate,  to  the  neglect,  it 
was  said,  of  Methodist  Church  papers.  They  also  formed 
abolition  societies,  and  encouraged  the  passage  of  anti- 
slavery resolutions  by  quarterly  conferences.  So  great  at- 
tention was  given  to  these  matters,  that  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion— so  it  was  charged — languished,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  a change  was  made  in  the  eldership  of  these 
two  districts.  There  were  reported  16,930  members. 

New  churches  were  dedicated  this  year  at  Braceville, 
Nelson,  Mantua,  Brookfield,  and  Hartford,  all  in  Ohio. 

Philip  Osborn  was  licensed  to  preach,  1829;  admitted 
on  trial,  1836;  transferred  to  Arkansas  Conference,  1836; 
discontinued,  1837.  For  a number  of  years  afterwards 


J 


Timothy  Goodwin. 


795 


he  served  the  Church  usefully  as  a local  preacher  resid- 
ing in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died.* 

Warren  Griffith  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, 1834;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1836; 

deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  transferred  to 
Indiana  Conference,  1838;  located  1842,  re-admitted. 
North  Indiana  Conference,  1845;  located,  1847.! 

Rufus  Parker  was  born  in  Barkhamstead,  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  March  16,  1807.  His  parents  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  Rufus  was 
diligently  instructed  in  this  faith.  He  was  converted  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  twenty- 
four  years  of  age.  Before  his  probation  expired  he  was 
appointed  class  leader.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
Ira  Eddy,  May  14,  1836;  and  the  same  year  he  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  “Mr.  Parker  was 
rather  tall  and  slim,  a man  of  deep  piety  and  strong  faith, 
and  lived  a very  exemplary  life ; preached  and  prayed 
with  great  pow£r,  and  was  very  successful  in  getting  sin- 
ners converted.  He  received  on  probation  in  the  church 
at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  per  year.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
II,  pp.  25,  26 ,)  He  superannuated  in  1849,  and  was 
called  to  his  eternal  reward  from  his  earthly  home  in 
Poland,  Ohio,  May  8,  1873^ 

Timothy  Goodwin. 

Timothy  Goodwin  was  born  at  Epsom,  Merrimac  Co., 
N.  H.,  April  2,  1792.  When  quite  young  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  where,  in  1811,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Cook.  He  graduated  from  Dartmouth 


♦Appointments — 1836,  Batesville,  Ark.  He  did  not  go  to  his 
appointment. 

t Appointments — 1834,  Ligonier;  1835,  Massilon;  1836,  Har- 
monsburg;  1837,  Springfield;  1838,  La  Grange,  Ind.;  1839-’40, 
Mishawaka,  Ind.;  1841,  South  Bend,  Ind.;  1845,  Leesburg,  Ind.; 

1846,  Warren  Mission,  Ind. 

§Rufus  Parker — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  deceased,  Poland,  O.,  May  8,  1873.  Appointments — 
1836,  Jefferson;  1837,  Oil  Creek;  1838,  New  Castle;  1839,  Hen- 
dersonville; 1840,  Mercer;  1841,  Williamsfield;  1842,  Salem;  1843, 
Evansburg;  1844,  Ashtabula;  1845,  Painesville;  1846,  Springfield; 

1847,  North  East;  1848,  Mayville;  1849-’72,  superannuated. 


yg6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Medical  College  in  1813.  Immediately  after  graduation 
he  was  converted  in  a great  religious  awakening  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  home.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1814, 
and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1818. 
“His  first  field  of  labor  was  Malone  Circuit, — a field  that 
had  hitherto  been  almost  entirely  closed  to  Methodist  in- 
fluence. On  this  circuit  he  was  successful  in  establishing 
Methodism,  and  labored  on  without  interruption  until  the 
close  of  the  year, — the  first  Methodist  preacher  that  ever 
had  completed  a full  year’s  service  on  that  charge.  In 
1815  and  1816  he  traveled  Chazy  Circuit.  This  circuit 
was  four  hundred  miles  in  circumference,  requiring  him 
to  preach  three  times  every  Sabbath,  lead  all  the  classes, 
and  ride  thirty  miles.”  In  1820,  on  Guilford  Circuit,  he 
had  over  three  hundred  converts.  He  located  in  1824, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1836  he 
united  with  the  Erie  Conference,  having  removed  to 
Westfield,  New  York.  He  took  a superannuated  rela- 
tion in  1853,  and  died  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  March  20, 
1854.  He  had  been  nine  years  presiding  elder  on  four 
districts,  and  was  a member  of  the  historic  General  Con- 
ference of  1844.  “Dr.  Goodwin  was  a man  of  strong  in- 
tellect, ardent  piety,  and  warm  personal  attachment.  In 
all  the  relations  of  public  and  social  life,  as  a minister, 
citizen,  husband,  and  father,  he  was  an  example  of  stern 
integrity  blended  with  the  purest  affection.  His  end  was 
peace.  Having  finished  his  course  and  kept  the  faith,  he 
was  fully  prepared  to  receive  the  crown  of  life.”* — (Min- 
utes of  Conferences , Vol.  V , 1854,  p.  410.) 

J.  H.  Whallon,  H.  S.  Winans,  L.  M.  Reeves. 

During  an  extensive  revival  in  the  city  of  Rochester, 


♦Timothy  Goodwin — Licensed  to  preach,  1814'  admitted  on 
trial,  Genesee  Conference,  1818;  full  connection,  1820;  deacon, 

1820,  George;  elder,  1822,  Roberts.  Mr.  Goodwin  located  in  1824; 
he  was  re-admitted  in  1826;  left  without  a station  in  1827,  and 
again  located  in  1828. — (Conable,  History  of  the  Genesee  An- 
nual Conference,  pp.  221-268.)  Re-admitted,  Erie  Conference, 
1836;  deceased  in  Painesville,  O.,  March  20,  1854.  Appoint- 
ments— 1818-T9,  St.  Lawrence,  N.  Y.;  1820,  Augusta,  N.  Y.; 

1821,  Chenango,  N.  Y.;  1822-’23,  Pompey,  N.  Y.; 

1836,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1837,  Forestville;  1838-’39,  Painesville; 
1840-’41,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1842,  Akron;  1843-’44,  Erie  District; 
1845-’47,  Ravenna  District;  1848,  Cleveland  District;  1849-’51, 
Warren  District;  1852,  Cleveland,  Perry  Street  Mission;  1853* 
superannuated. 


i 


J.  H.  Whallon , H.  S.  Winans,  L.  M.  Reeves.  79 7 


1 


New  York,  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  John  Dempster,  in 
1827,  the  prayers  of  his  pious  Scotch  Presbyterian  mother, 
were  answered  in  the  conversion  of  her  son,  James  H. 
Whallon.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and,  in  1829,  removed  with  the  family  to  North 
East,  Pennsylvania.  The  same  year  he  received  from 
William  Swayze  license  to  preach.  He  had  previously 
been  licensed  to  exhort  by  Rev.  Dr.  Zachariah  Paddock. 
Returning  east  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Genesee 
Conference  in  1830.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1836.  “Mr.  Whallon  was  a sprightly,  active, 
and  well-appearing  young  man,  of  medium  size ; was  very 
social,  and  rather  jovial  in  his  disposition.  As  a Chris- 
tian he  was  warm  and  zealous;  as  a preacher,  eloquent 
and  forcible,  but  rather  too  prolix  to  be  popular.  He 
possessed  a vigorous  and  ambitious  mind,  which  he  cul- 
tivated with  commendable  earnestness  and  care.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Genesee 
College. — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence, V ol.  II,  p.  16.)  Mr.  Whallon  was  effective  thirty- 
six  years,  meantime  having  been  ten  years  supernumerary 
and  superannuated.  He  was  eleven  years  presiding  elder. 
He  was  a man  of  great  kindness  of  heart.  As  his  life  was 
drawing  to  a close  he  had  a sweeping  revival,  but  his 
excessive  labors  hastened  on  the  day  of  his  departure. 
He  entered  into  the  rest  that  remaineth  at  his  residence 
in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  14,  1876.  He  was  born  in 
Argyle,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1808.* 

Henry  S.  Winans  was  born  near  Stroudsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, Feb.  11,  1800.  While  yet  a child  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Milton,  Trumbull  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  con- 

*J.  H.  Whallon — Licensed  to  preach,  1829;  admitted  on  trial, 
Genesee  Conference,  1830;  full  connection,  1832;  deacon,  1832, 
Hedding;  elder,  1834,  Hedding;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference, 
1836;  deceased,  Erie,  Pa.,  November  14,  1876.  Appointments — 
1830,  Lewistown,  N.  Y.;  1831,  Ellicottville,  N.  Y.;  1832,  Attica 
and  Alexander,  N.  Y.;  1833,  Aurora  and  Sheldon,  N.  Y.;  1834, 
Lewistown,  N.  Y.;  1835,  Lodi,  N.  Y.;  1836,  Cambridge;  1837-’38, 
superannuated;  1839,  Ashtabula  and  Conneaut;  1840,  Meadville; 
1841-’42,  Ashtabula;  1843,  Agent  Allegheny  College;  1844,  Wind- 
sor; 1845,  McKean;  1846,  North  East  and  Quincy;  1847,  Mayville; 
1848,  Harmony;  1849-’50,  Westfield;  1851,  Cleveland,  Erie  street; 
1852-’55,  Jamestown  District;  1856-’59,  Fredonia  District;  1860-’61, 
Geneva  and  Saybrook;  1862-’64,  Erie  District;  1865-70,  supernu- 
merary; 1871-72,  superannuated;  1873,  Erie,  First  Church,  second 
preacher;  1874-75,  Dayton;  1876,  superannuated. 


1 

I 


798  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

verted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  under  the  labors  of  James  Mc- 
Mahon, and  was  early  exercised  with  reference  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  When  about  nineteen  or  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  wrote  to  his  brother : “I  cannot  get  rid 

of  the  impression  that  God  is  about  to  commit  to  me  a 
dispensation  of  the  gospel,  and  yet  it  appears  that  nothing 
short  of  a miracle  would  convince  me  that  it  is  my  duty.” 
In  a later  letter,  he  said:  “I  have  now  concluded  to 

yield,  and  throw  myself  into  the  Lord’s  crucible.”  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1834,  and  received  on  trial  in 
the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835  and  appointed  to  the 
Mahoning  Mission.  This  brought  him  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Erie  Conference,  where  he  labored  until  carried 
away  by  cholera,  while  on  his  way  to  his  last  charge, 
July  27,  1854.”  He  was  a good  man  and  successful  in 
his  ministerial  labors.* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol. 
V,  1855,  p.  584.) 

Lemuel  M.  Reeves  came  to  us  by  transfer  from  the 
Indiana  Conference,  and  returned  to  the  same  conference, 
in  1840,  after  a service  of  two  years.  He  was  born  in 
Cumberland  County,  New  Jersey,  March  6,  1809.  He 
was  a pioneer  worker  in  the  Lord’s  harvest  field  when  it 
required  sacrifice  and  meant  hardship  and  danger.  He 
began  his  ministry  in  1833  in  Indiana  when  there  were  no 
church  buildings.  His  meetings  in  school  houses  and 
private  homes  were  frequently  attended  with  great  mani- 
festations of  the  Divine  Spirit.  He  located  in  1847,  an(b 
in  1856  was  re-admitted  into  the  Kentucky  Conference 
where  he  labored  amidst  the  stirring  events  until  1869, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Southeastern  Indiana  Con- 
ference, settling  his  family  in  Milan,  Indiana,  but  continu- 
ing the  work  until  1876.  He  then  superannuated,  and 
was  called  peacefully  home  from  Versailles,  Ind.,  Dec. 
14,  1890.1 

*H.  S.  Winans — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1835;  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837;  deacon, 
1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  deceased,  Milton,  O.,  July  27, 
1854.  Appointments — 1835,  Washington  Mission;  1836,  Gustavus; 
1837,  Chardon;  1838,  Middlebury;  1839,  Geneva;  1840,  Lawrence- 
burg  Mission;  1841-’42,  Salem;  1843,  New  Castle;  1844,  Green- 
ville and  Clarksville;  1845,  Oil  Creek;  1846-’47,  Hendersonville; 
1848,  Mahoning;  1849,  Mt.  Jackson;  1850,  Williamsfield;  1851-’52, 
Gustavus;  1853,  Windham  and  Nelson;  1854,  Nelson. 

tLemuel  M.  Reeves — Admitted  on  trial,  Indiana  Conference, 
1833;  full  connection,  1835;  deacon,  1835;  elder,  .1837;  trans- 


A Group  of  Preachers. 
A Group  of  Preachers. 


799 


Caleb  Foster  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Allegheny 
river,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  14,  1812.  His  father  was 
a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  influence  of  a pious 
home  was  not  lost  on  his  heart,  and  at  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  was  soundly  converted.  He  was  educated  at  Alle- 
gheny College,  ana  joined  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in 
1836,  the  year  of  its  organization.  Gregg  says  he  was 
discontinued  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  but  gives  him  no 
appointment  for  that  year.  The  General  Minutes  say  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  He  en- 
joyed a long  and  eminently  successful  ministry  in  this  and 
other  conferences  and  passed  to  his  reward,  Sept.  8,  1898. 
He  served  Salem  Circuit  as  a supply  with  E.  B.  Hill  and 
Reuben  Peck  in  1835.  In  Reynolds’  “Manual  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference,”  we  find  that  he  was  admitted  on  trial 
in  that  conference  in  July,  1836.  In  August  of  the  same 
year  he  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference.  His 
appointment  for  this,  his  first  year,  was  Burgettstown,  in 
the  former  conference.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Rock 
River  Conference  in  1854,  and  located  in  1857. 

William  M.  Burton  was  born  in  Litchfield  County, 
Connecticut,  in  1808.  The  family  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  settled  in  Mill  Creek  Township  in  1812.  He 
made  a public  profession  of  religion  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  his  age,  and  his  religious  course  was  “remarkably  con- 
stant and  uniform.”  He  attended  the  Academy  in  Erie, 
and  spent  some  time  in  Madison  College.  He  graduated 
from  Wesleyan  University  in  1834.  He  had  been  licensed 
to  preach  by  presiding  elder  W.  B.  Mack  prior  to  his  en- 
tering the  university,  and  exercised  his  gifts  to  the  edi- 


ferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1838;  transferred  to  Indiana  Confer- 
ence, 1840;  1847,  located;  1856,  re-admitted,  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence; 1869,  transferred  to  Southeastern  Indiana  Conference;  de- 
ceased, Versailles,  Ind.,  December  14,  1890.  Appointments — 
1832,  Fall  Creek,  supply,  with  Isaac  N.  Ellsbury  in  charge;  1833, 
not  given  in  General  Minutes;  1834,  Connersville;  1835,  Brook- 
ville;  1836,  Greensburg;  1837,  Mt.  Vernon;  1838,  Parkman;  1839, 
Hudson;  1840,  Scipio;  1841,  Vernon;  1842,  Liberty;  1843,  Win- 
chester; 1844-’45,  Mooresville;  1846,  Brownstown;  1856-’57,  Au- 
gusta; 1858-’59,  Asbury  and  Alexandria;  1860,  Harrison;  1861-’62, 
Orangeburg;  1863-’64,  Maysville  District;  1865-’66,  Covington 
District;  1867,  Augusta;  1868,  Falmouth;  1869,  Versailles;  1870, 
Delaware;  1871,  Mount  Sterling;  1872,  superannuated;  1873,  Dills- 
borough;  1874,  Medora;  1875,  Elizabethtown;  1876-’90,  superan- 
nuated. 


I > 
r > 


fe  j 


History  of  Erie  Conference, 


fication  of  those  who  attended  upon  his  ministrations. 
Soon  after  his  graduation  he  became  a tutor  and  after- 
wards a professor  in  Allegheny  College,  teaching  Latin 
and  Greek,  and — somewhat  later — Mathematics. 

In  1840  Mr.  Burton  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and 
membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  be- 
came a member  and  minister  of  the  Protestant  Methodist 
Church.  Subsequently  he  was  rector  of  parishes  at  Hol- 
lidaysburg,  Pennsylvania;  St.  John’s  Church,  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  St.  Peter's,  Tecumseh,  Michigan;  and  St.  John’s, 
Clinton,  Michigan.  He  died  in  Tecumseh,  Michigan, 
Nov.  20,  1854.* 

Samuel  Leech  was  licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted 
on  trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838, 
Waugh  ; elder,  I840,  Hedding , located  at  his  own  request, 
1846.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  on  his  farm, 
Leech’s  Corners,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died  March 
30,  1875.1 

H.  S.  Hitchcock  was  licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admit- 
ted on  trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838, 
Waugh;  elder,  1840,  Hedding;  located,  1845. § 

H.  J.  Moore  was  licensed  to  preach  in  England,  date 
unknown;  admitted  on  trial, T 836;  full  connection,  1839; 
deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841,  Roberts;  deprived  of 
his  ministerial  authority  for  having  left  his  charge  with- 
out consent  of  his  presiding  elder,  1843. J 

G.  C.  Baker  was  admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence, 1835;  became  a member  on  trial  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1836;  full  connection,  1837; 
deacon,  1837,  Roberts;  elder,  1839',  Soule;  expelled  from 
the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church,  1840.** 

*W.  M.  Burton — Admitted  on  trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838; 
deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership, 
1840;  deceased,  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  November  20,  1854.  Appoint- 
ments— 1836-’39,  Professor  Mathematics,  Allegheny  College. 

t Appointments — 1836,  Springfield;  1837-’38,  Hartford;  1839, 
Gustavus  and  Williamsfield;  1840,  Gustavus;  1841,  Clinton ville; 
1842-’43,  superannuated;  1844,  Ellsworth;  1845,  Sheridan.  (A 


7 


A Group  of  Preachers. 


John  Demining  passed  to  his  reward  in  April,  1862, 
from  Pine  Valley,  in  the  vicinity  of  Corry,  Pa.  His 
preaching  was  of  the  old-fashioned  evangelistic  type  and 
in  his  work  he  was  blessed  with  gracious  revivals.  At 
the  time  of  the  severance  of  his  relations  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  the  Methodist  people  were  divided 
into  two  classes,  “anti-slavery”  and  “pro-slavery.”  The 
“pro-slavery”  wing  of  the  conference  was  at  first  the 
stronger,  but  the  conversion  of  John  J.  Steadman,  Calvin 
Kingsley,  Bryan  S.  Hill  and  others  to  anti-slavery  prin- 
ciples gave  the  ultimate  victory  to  the  latter  party.  Mr. 
Demining  became  a strong  anti-slavery  man  and  became 
a member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  which  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  until  his  death.  He  died  in  the  full  hope 
of  a blissful  immortality.* 


John  Crum  was  born  in  Elizabethtown,  Allegheny  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  25,  1809.  His  father  died  when  he  was  quite 
young,  and  his  mother  moved  to  Ohio  and  placed  him  in 
the  care  of  an  Irish  family,  members  of  the  Seceder 
Church,  from  whom  he  received  his  religious  training. 
He  united  with  that  Church,  but  this  act  brought  no  rest 
to  his  unconverted  soul.  He  read  the  Holy  Scriptures 
and  prayed,  but  it  all  availed  nothing.  “But  at  length,*” 
he  says,  “while  alone  in  the  woods,  near  the  hour  of  mid- 
night, the  Spirit  of  God  made  the  impression  on  my  mind 
that  I had  better  pray  a little  longer.  I fell  upon  my 
knees  and  in  the  most  childlike  simplicity  asked  God,  for 
Christ’s  sake,  to  have  mercy  on  me  a sinner.  I then  and 
there  felt  that  my  prayer  was  answered,  and  the  great 
burden  removed  and  heavenly  peace  filled  my  soul.* 
About  one  year  after  his  conversion  he  went  to  reside  ir. 
Ashtabula  County  where  he  heard  Methodist  preaching 
for  the  first  time,  and  united  with  the  Church  then  much 
spoken  against.  In  1835,  he  was  employed  to  labor  on 
the  Mesopotamia  Circuit,  where  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  then  transferred  to  the  New  Lisbon  Circuit  until  th. 
close  of  the  conference  year.  He  was  received  on  trial 


♦John  Demming — Admitted  on  trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838 ; 
deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1838,  Waugh;  suspended,  1847;  ex- 
pelled, 1853.  Appointments — 1836,  Forestvine;  1837,  Youngs- 

ville;  1838-’39,  Harmonsburg;  1840,  Williamsfield;  1841-’42,  Na- 
poli; 1843,  Gerry;  1844,  Gustavus;  1845,  Salem;  1846,  Hartford; 
1848,  supernumerary;  1849,  Williamsfield;  1850-51,  Waterford; 
1852,  left  with  appointment. 


1 ■ 


802 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1836,  and  was  effective  forty- 
six  years.  His  last  charge  was  Volant,  Pennsylvania. 
Christmas  night  he  said  to  his  congregation : “Either 

God  is  about  to  give  us  a glorious  revival  here,  or  he  is 
fitting  me  for  Heaven.  I have  scarcely  evei  felt  the 
power  of  God  in  preaching  the  gospel  as  I do  to-night.” 
New  Year’s  morning  he  preached  tenderly  to  the  chil- 
dren. He  preached  in  the  afternoon,  three  miles  from 
home,  and  returned  to  die.  He  lingered,  much  of  the 
time  unconscious,  until  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
January  10,  1882,  when  his  happy  spiiit  took  its  flight. 
Mr.  Crum  was  a good  preacher,  and  very  successful  in 
conducting  revivals.  He  was  a remarkable  man  in  prayer. 
His  acquaintance  with  God  was  most  intimate.  He  was 
accustomed  to  say:  “If  the  people  want  a revival,  let 

them  take  God  into  partnership  and  the  work  will  go  for- 
ward.”* 

Wareham  French  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New 
York,  Oct.  27,  1808;  and  died  in  Orwell,  Ohio,  in  July, 
1861.  When  eight  years  of  age  he  moved,  with  his 
father’s  family,  to  Parkman,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio;  and  in 
January,  1829,  in  the  township  of  Farmington,  he  was 
converted  under  the  labors  of  John  Chandler  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Farmington. 
His  only  license  to  exhort  bears  date  August  18,  1834, 
and  is  signed  by  A.  M.  Brown.  Soon  after  lie  was  em- 
ployed by  the  presiding  elder  of  Warren  District  to  sup- 
ply the  work  on  the  Columbiana  Circuit,  Pittsburg  Con 
ference.  While  on  this  circuit,  at  a quarterly  conference 
held  at  Elk  run,  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  1835  by  Ira  Eddy  to  supply  the  Williamsfield 

♦John  Crum — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial,  1836; 
full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840,  Hea- 
ding; deceased,  Volant,  Pa.,  January  10,  1882.  Appointments 
1835  Mesopotamia  and  New  Lisbon  Circuits;  1836,  Gustavus; 
1837’  Warren,  O.;  1838,  Parkman;  1839-’40,  Greenville  and  Clarks- 
ville; 1841,  Hartford;  1842,  North  East;  1843,  Springfield;  1844, 
Saegertown;  1845,  Williamsfield;  1846-’47,  Salem;  1848,  superan- 
nuated; 1849-’50,  New  Wilmington;  1851,  Hartford;  1852  Curlls- 
ville;  1853-’54,  Shippenville;  1855,  Brookville;  1856,  Curllsville, 
1857  Waterford;  1858-’59,  Villenovia;  1860,  Panama;  1861-62, 
Wattsburg  and  Mina,  the  latter  part  of  1861  serving  as  Presiding 
Elder  of  Erie  District;  1863-’64,  Pleasantville;  1865,  Riceville; 
1866  Evansburg;  1867-’68,  New  Wilmington;  1869-70,  Harrisville 
and  Centerville;  1871-’73,  North  Washington;  1874-’75*Mahonmg- 
town;  1876-’77,  Clarksville;  1878-’79,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1880,  Hender- 
sonville; 1881,  Volant. 


Peter  Burroughs. 


803 


Circuit  with  Benjamin  Preston.  He  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1836  at  its  first  session. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  Hartford  Circuit  with  Asahel 
Reeves,  and  during  the  year  about  three  hundred  souls 
were  brought  to  Christ.  While  on  the  Williamsfield  Cir- 
cuit his  health  utterly  failed  and  he  retired  to  his  home 
at  Orwell.  He  superannuated  in  1861,  but  soon  after 
conference  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  The  cause  of  his  death 
was  cancer  of  the  lower  bowels. 

“Mr.  French  was  a man  somewhat  below  the  medium 
stature;  but  when  in  health  was  vigorous  and  active,  al- 
ways on  hand  when  and  where  duty  called,  and  faithful 
in  all  his  work.  Although  not  a preacher  of  the  highest 
order  of  talent,  he  was  always  and  everywhere  acceptable, 
and  highly  valued  for  his  many  excellencies.  He  was 
loved  and  esteemed  by  his  brethren,  and  a wholesome  ex- 
ample to  the  flock  of  Christ.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  IX,  1862,  p.  125.) 

Peter  Burroughs. 

Peter  Burroughs  was  lying  on  his  death  bed  in  West- 
field,  New  York.  It  was  October  6,  1893.  Rallying 
from  a period  of  unconsciousness  and  with  his  face  beam- 
ing with  heavenly  light,  he  exclaimed:  “Joy!  Joy! 

Joy!  All  Joy!”  In  an  hour  his  soul  mounted  upward 
to  his  God.  It  was  a scene  of  joy  and  glory  never  to  be 
forgotten,  and  those  present  felt  that  they  were  quite  near 
heaven’s  gate.  He  had  traveled  through  the  greater  part 
of  Erie  Conference.  He  was  a man  of  great  pulpit  abil- 
ity and  great  kindness  and  won  his  way  to  the  hearts  of 
all  who  knew  him.  His  memory  is  as  immortal  as  the 
good  which  he  accomplished.  He  was  in  attendance  at 
the  session  of  the  conference  held  a few  weeks  before  his 
death,  and  was  the  oldest  minister  in  the  conference.  Af- 
ter preaching  fifty-two  consecutive  years,  he  was  super- 
■ 

♦Wareham  French — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on 
trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder, 
1840,  Hedding;  deceased,  Orwell,  O.,  July,  1861.  Appointments — 
1834,  Columbiana  Circuit;  1835,  Williamsfield;  1836,  Hartford; 
1837,  Freedom;  1838,  Painesville;  1839,  Willoughby;  1840,  Cleve- 
land Circuit;  1841,  Newburg;  1842,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1843,  Free- 
dom; 1844,  Twinsburg;  1845-’46,  Morgan;  1847,  Geneva;  1848, 
Ashtabula  and  Conneaut;  1849,  Quincy;  1850,  Mayville;  1851,  Co- 
lumbus;* 1852,  Williamsfield;  1853-’54,  Espyville;  1855-’56,  Salem; 
1857-’58,  Windsor;  1859,  Williamsfield;  1860,  Green  and  Mecca; 
1861,  superannuated. 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


animated  in  1887.  His  wife — nee  Minnie  Slawson — had 
preceded  him  two  years  to  the  heavenly  home. 

Peter  Burroughs  was  born  in  the  town  of  Owasco, 
Cavuga  Co.,  N.  Y„  Aug.  31,  1808.  He  was  of  good 
Holland  Dutch  stock,  and  Holland  Dutch  was  the  first 
language  which  he  learned  to  speak,  though  he  lost  the 
knowledge  of  his  mother  tongue  from  lack  of  use.  His 
parents  were  poor,  and  his  educational  advantages  were 
'limited  to  the  common  schools  of  that  early  day.  He  was 
converted  in  the  town  of  Perry,  Genesee  County — now 
Wyoming  County— N.  Y.,  in  1824.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
in  "1834,  and  was  licensed  to  preach,  at  Willoughby  by 
William  Stevens,  presiding  elder,  in  1835.  Mr.  Stevens 
employed  him  as  a supply  on  Cleveland  Circuit  which  was 
a four  weeks’  circuit  of  twenty-nine  appointments.  Dur- 
ing: this  year  the  first  class  was  formed  at  Chagrin  Falls. 
In  1836  he  joined  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial.  His 
ministry  was  acceptable  and  successful  wherever  the  au 
thorities  of  the  Church  placed  him.  At  Hudson,  in  1842, 
there  was  an  increase  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  in  the 
membership;  in  1852,  a revival  at  Sinclaii ville,  on  the 
Gerry  Circuit,  resulted  in  forty-five  conversions — such 
was  the  history  of  his  success  on  a number  of  his  charges* 

Mrs.  Minnie  S.  Lane,  daughter  of  Peter  Burroughs, 
writes  from  Oakland,  California,  in  1903 : 

“In  all  his  ministry  he  never  missed  an  appointment  on 
account  of  his  own  health.  He  has  preached  with  his  arm 
in  a sling  when  it  wras  broken ; and  at  another  time,  with 
his  knee  resting  on  a pillow  in  a chair,  having- his  leg 
crushed  by  his  horse  falling  on  it.  I distinctly  remember 
at  one  place  where  he'  was  holding  revival  services  five 
miles  from  home,  that  he  sent  for  his  horse  to  be  brought 

♦Peter  Burroughs — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836-  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  deceased,  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  October  6,  1893.  Appoint- 
ments— 1835,  Cleveland  Circuit  (supply);  1836,  Cleveland  Circuit; 
1837  Geneva;  1838,  Jefferson;  1839,  Ellsworth;  1840-’41,  Edin- 
burg’ 1842,  Hudson;  1843,  Middlebury;  1844,  Chardon;  1845, 
Chagrin  Falls;  1846,  Twinsburg;  1847,  Fredoma;  1848  Mesopo- 
tamia; 1849-’50,  Hendersonville;  1851,  Pleasantville ; 1852  Gerry; 
1853-’54  Villenovia;  1855-’56,  Sherman,  1857-’58,  Portland;  1859, 
Sinclairville;  1860,  Leon;  1861,  Sheffield;  1862-’63,  Pine  Grove; 
1864  Sunville;  1865-’66,  Cochranton;  1867-’68,  Clymer;  1869,  West 
Davton*  1870-71,  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca;  1872-73,  Irving; 
1874-76  Cherry  Creek;  1877-79,  Ellery;  1880-’82,  Clymer;  1883- 
’85,  Lockport;  1886,  Delanti;  1887-’93,  superannuated. 


Peter  Burroughs. 


805 


to  the  church,  saying  that  after  service  he  would  drive 
home ; but  j ust  as  he  closed,  a message  was  brought  him 
to  go  at  once  to  pray  with  some  one  who,  it  was  thought, 
could  not  live.  He  went,  not  thinking  of  his  horse  till 
the  next  morning,  which  was  Sunday  morning;  and,  as 
they  were  going  to  have  a love  feast,  he  went  early  to  the 
church,  and  the  first  object  that  met  his  eyes,  was  his 
horse, — faithful  old  fellow  had  stood  at  his  post  all  night 
hitched  to  the  carriage. 

“At  one  of  his  charges  was  one  appointment  where 
the  stewards  and  class  leaders  begged  him  not  to  go.  The 
rowdies  acted  so,  cutting  the  preacher’s  harness,  letting 
his  horse  go,  and  sometimes  even  putting  him  out  of 
doors.  His  reply  was,  ‘Brethren,  I go  at  my  Master’s 
bidding,  in  his  strength  and  under  his  care,’  and  go  he 
did,  with  this  result  that  soon  after,  there  was  a glorious 
revival,  and  the  leader  of  the  rowdy  band  was  the  first 
one  to  yield  to  God.  I have  often  heard  him  say  that 

when  driving  in  a very  dark  night  the  glory  of  God  so 
shone  around  him  that  it  lighted  his  way.  After  he  had 
superannuated  he  visited  my  home  in  Jamestown,  New 
York.  On  Sunday  was  the  quarterly  meeting,  and  he 
was  asked  to  lead  the  love  feast.  He  declined,  saying  that 
all  were  strangers  to  him,  but,  upon  urgent  requests, 
finally  consented.  I can  never  forget  that  meeting  nor 
how  happy  he  was,  for  so  many  in  testimony  said  he  was 
their  spiritual  father  and  told  when  and  where,  through 
his  preaching,  they  had  been  led  to  Christ. 

“Now,  dear  brother,  as  you  see,  I cannot  write  for  a 
book,  but  if  I have  given  you  anything  that  you  can  use 
to  the  glory  of  God,  I am  pleased  to  do  so. 

“The  telegraphic  dispatch  sent  me  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  this  : He  went  home  shouting  ‘Glory ! glory ! 

hallelujah  to  God.’  I have  often  prayed  that  the  mes- 
sage coming  from  coast  to  coast  over  the  wires  might 
reach  some  heart  and  cause  it  to  turn  to  God. 


“If  you  can  make  any  use  of  this  you  are  more  than  wel- 
come, and  I thank  you  for  your  kind  thoughtfulness  in 
the  remembrance  of  one  so  dearly  loved  by  all , for  he 
zvas,  I truly  believe,  without  an  enemy  in  the  world.” 
Mrs.  Rue  Bacheldor,  another  daughter,  writes : “One 

time  when  Mr.  Burroughs  was  on  Chagrin  Falls  Charge, 
he  went  to  one  of  his  appointments,  and  preached  in  the 


8o6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Ilf 


evening.  After  the  service,  he  thought  he  would  ride 
home  as  was  his  usual  custom.  1 hat  night  a terrible 
rain  storm  came  on;  he  lost  the  path,  and  was  just  going 
over  a steep  bank  into  the  river,  when  a flash  of  lightning 
showed  the  imminent  danger,  and  he  was  saved.  He  also 
found  his  way  across  a railingless  bridge  by  the  same 
means,  and  finally  reached  home,  drenched  to  the  skin  but 
thankful  to  God  for  his  own  safety,  as  well  as  the  joy  of 
his  family  as  they  learned  of  his  providential  deliverance. 

Bassett,  Whipple,  Maltby. 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Rev.  John  E.  Bassett,  whose  early 

history  we  have  not  been  able  to  procure,  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  1836.  He  was  a very  tall  man,  rather  awk 
ward  in  his  manners  and  movements,  and  possessed  a 
singular  intonation  of  voice  and  style  of  delivery  which 
seemed  hard  for  him  to  control  or  improve,  and  which 
considerably  abated  his  usefulness  and  acceptability.  He 
was  pious  and  zealous,  and  anxious  to  do  good,  not  want- 
ing in  mental  ability,  and  possessed  of  many  excellent 
traits  of  character;  and  yet  failed  to  convince  the  confer- 
ence and  the  public,  after  a few  years  of  trial,  that  he 
could  make  an  acceptable  minister.  * (Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Col.  II,  p.  22.) 

Lorenzo  Whipple  was  born  in  Herkimer  County,  New 
York,  Feb.  IO,  1810.  While  an  infant  his  family  moved 
toVillenovia,  Chautauqua  County.  He  was  converted  in 
1827,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1835.  He  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1836.!  In  1839  he 
was  located  at  his  own  request  and  settled  in  Elgin,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  as  a local  preacher  three  years. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Gaston, 
Brookville,  Pennsylvania,  August  17,  1839.  In  1842  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  in  1801 
superannuated,  which  relation  he  sustained  to  the  end. 
“In  no  sufferer  was  the  grace  of  patience  ever  more  beau- 


*J.  E.  Bassett — Admitted  on  trial,  1836;  full  connection  1838; 
eacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840  Hedding;  Seated,  1845.  p- 
iointments — 1836  Edinburg;  1837,  Napoli;  1838,  Gerry,  1839, 
larmony;  1840,  Greenville;  1841,  Cambridge;  1842,  Mesopotamia, 
843,  Ellsworth;  1844,  New  Castle. 
iThe  General  Minutes  say  that  he  labored  in  the  phtsburg 
Conference  two  years.  If  so,  it  must  have  been  as  a loca 
>reacher.  There  is  no  record  of  any  appointment  in  that  Con- 
ference. 


Bassett,  Whipple,  Malthy. 


So  7 


tifully  exhibited.”  The  Lord  came  to  his  relief  in  Ste- 
vensville,  Michigan,  Oct.  12,  1895.*' 

Benjamin  K.  Maltby  was  born  in  Williamsville,  Erie 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  18,  1809,  and  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  early 
education.  He  was  converted  at  a camp-meeting  held 
near  Painesville,  O.,  July  4,  1827.  His  call  to  the  min- 
istry was  clear  and  commanding.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Worthington  Cir- 
cuit held  at  Duncan’s  Plains,  June  21,  1834,  Augustus 
Eddy,  Presiding  elder.  He  joined  the  itinerant  ranks  in 
the  Erie  Conference  at  its  first  session.  “Mr.  Maltby 
was  tall  and  rather  slim,  quite  precise  and  gentlemanly 
in  his  deportment ; sought  earnestly  to  procure  an  educa- 
tion; was  an  easy  and  fluent  speaker.” — (Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  29.)  After 
locating  in  1849,  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  For  a number  of  years  he  edited  a 
religious  magazine  published  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Later 
he  became  rector  of  a parish  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.t 


Joseph  Leslie. 


Joseph  Leslie  was  blessed  with  Christian  parents,  and 
was  brought  to  the  Savior  in  his  fifteenth  year  at  a prayer 
meeting  held  in  the  home  of  Rev.  James  Day,  to  which  he 
was  attracted  by  the  shouting  and  singing.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1836,  his  license  bearing  the  signature 
of  Ira  Eddy;  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  itinerant  min- 
istry. For  fortv-nine  years  he  received  his  appointmnet 
from  the  bishop,  remaining  in  the  effective  ranks  without 
a break.  He  served  twentv  different  charges,  three  of 


♦Mr.  Whipple’s  appointments  were:  1836,  appointments  not  on 

record;  1837,  Shippenville;  1838,  Brookville;  1839,  located; 
1842,  Rock  River  Conference,  Savannah;  1843,  Rock  Island 
Circuit;  1844-’45,  Freeport;  1846,  Crystal  Lake;  1847,  McHenry; 
1848,  Shenango;  1849-’50,  Prophetstown ; 1851-’52,  Dover;  1853, 
Troy  Grove;  1854-’55,  Pawpaw;  1856-’57,  Hickory  Creek;  1858-’59, 
Crystal  Lake;  1860,  Chicken  Grove;  1861-’95,  superannuated. 


tB.  K.  Maltby — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  discontinued,  1838;  re-admitted,  1839;  full  connection,  1839; 
deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841,  Roberts;  located,  1842;  re-ad- 
mitted, 1843;  located,  1849.  Appointments — 1836,  Geneva;  1837, 
Gustavus;  1839,  Erie;  1840,  Akron;  1841,  Edinburg;  1843,  Hart- 
ford; 1844,  Ravenna;  1845-’46,  Cleveland;  1847,  Cleveland  City 
Mission;  1848,  supernumerary. 


f* 


j 


8o8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


them  two  terms  each.  He  was  twelve  years  presiding  el- 
der on  the  Erie,  Jamestown,  and  Franklin  Districts.  He 
was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1872.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Gibson,  Febru- 
ary 3,  1836. 

Joseph  Leslie  was  born  in  East  Liberty,  Fayette  Co., 
Pa.,  July  28,  1812.  In  his  eighteenth  year  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Randolph,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  He  died  at 
Cattaraugus,  New  York,  March  13,  1885.  He  was  a 
good  preacher,  and  faithful  as  a pastor.  In  whateyei 
capacity  we  study  him,  we  shall  always  find  true  dignity, 
kindliness,  and  high  moral  purpose.  The  illness  preced- 
ing his  death  continued  for  six  weeks  and  four  days.  It 
was  a time  of  great  suffering.  With  but  occasional  in- 
terruption, his  mental  faculties  remained  clear  till  the 
last.”  Among  his  last  words  were : “Give  every  doubt 

to  the  winds.”  “Through  Jesus  I have  all  things,  and 
abound,  abound .”  In  Brother  Leslie,  Erie  Conference 

lost  a great  and  good  man. 

“As  a preacher,  Joseph  Leslie  was  able,  forcible,  and 
true  to  the  Church  of  his  choice ; as  a pastor,  he  was  so 
kindly  as  to  make  him  a welcome  visitor  at  every  home, 
and  at  the  same  time  so  faithful  as  to  be  a very  effective 
worker  for  Christ.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences , V ol.  XX, 
1885,  p.  330.) 

Mr.  Gregg  says  of  him:  “Mr.  Leslie  was  a firm-built, 

medium-sized  young  man,  possessing  a social,  genial 
spirit;  was  warm  and  zealous  in  his  religious  devotions, 
and  quite  successful  in  revivals;  espoused  ardently  the 
anti-slavery  cause  when  it  was  discreditable  to  do  so,  and 
a risk  to  his  reception  to  full  membership  in  the  confer- 
ence. In  preaching  he  was  a little  inclined  to  be  meta- 
physical, not  always  clear,  but  usually  succeeded  in  fur- 
nishing a very  good  sermon,  and  sometimes  one  of  su- 
perior strength  and  power.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference,  J ol.  II,  p.  24.) 

*JosephMLeslie — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836 ■ full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1810, 
Hedding;  deceased,  Cattaraugus,  N.  Y.,  March  13,  1885.  APP01?J" 
ments— 1836,  Freedom;  1837,  Charleston;  1838,  Geneva;  1839, 
Tefferson*  1840,  Harmonsburg;  1841,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1842, 
Mercer?is43  Hartford;  1844,  Mesopotamia;  1846-’46,  Ashtabula;. 


James  W.  Lowe,  Albina  Hall. 


809 


“That  form,  so  noble,  so  well-known,  welcome  as  the 
sunshine,  and  tempting  as  the  luscious  fruit  of  autumn, 
will  no  longer  appear  among  us.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  in  our  various  gatherings,  coming  with  the  odor  of 
heaven  floating  from  his  presence,  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Master  nervading  his  weighty,  helpful  words,  and  with 
never  a stain  upon  his  honor,  never  a blot  upon  his  min- 
istry. He  gave  dignity  and  character  to  his  profession; 
brought  no  reproach  upon  his  brethren,  robbed  the  name 
of  his  Master  in  society,  in  home,  or  in  church.  His  life, 
long,  useful,  and  happy,  unfolded  as  the  beauty  of  some 
gorgeous  blossom,  and  in  the  fulness  of  its  splendor  was 
taken  by  divine  hands  to  enrich  heaven.” — (Memorial 
adopted  by  the  Jamestown  District  Preachers’  Association 
in  semi-annual  session  in  Kennedy,  New  York,  June  75, 
1 88 5 — Man uscript  M inutes. ) 


James  W.  Lowe,  Albina  Hall. 


“James  W.  Lowe  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1811, 
and  triumphantly  entered  the  city  of  God,  Nov.  19,  1896. 
What  a story  between  these  dates.  Boy,  early  left  to  his 
own  resources : thirst  for  education ; hunger  for  God ; 
thirtv-five  years  of  toil,  battling  in  the  itinerancy;  years 
of  ripening  character.  He  belonged  to  one  of  the  old, 
honored,  Maryland  families,  many  of  them  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  His  father  was  a ship  owner,  of  pro- 
nounced abolition  sentiments,  and  the  boy  imbibed  the 
same  lofty  spirit.  Early  converted,  conviction  of  duty 
and  desire  for  preparation  for  the  ministry  sent  him  to 
Allegheny  College.  In  1836  he  joined  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence and  was  stationed  at  Painesville,  Ohio.  During  his 
ministry  he  occupied  the  most  important  charges,  at 
Franklin;  Warren,  Ohio;  Erie;  Meadville;  Jamestown, 
New  York,  and  others.  He  served  two  terms  in  the  pre- 
siding eldership,  and  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference when  it  met  in  Philadelphia. 

“It  will  be  seen  that  his  ministry  was  in  the  pioneer 
days — the  time  of  log  houses,  scattered  communities, 


1847,  Geneva;  1848,  Williamsfield;  1849-’50,  Gustavus;  1851-’52, 
Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1853,  New  Castle;  1854-’57,  Erie  District; 
1858-’59,  Panama;  1860-’61,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1862,  North  East; 
1863-’64,  Portland;  1865-66,  Ellington;  1867-’70,  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict; 1871-’74,  Franklin  District;  1875-’77,  Panama;  1878-’80, 
Sherman;  1881-’82,  East  Randolph;  1883-’84,  Cattaraugus. 


..jcisa,,, 


8io  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

struggling  people,  foundation  laying  and  nation  building 

davs  of  ‘rifle,  axe,  and  saddle-bags.’  It  was  a saenhe- 

in<>-,  heroic  ministry,  which,  through  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
Illinois,  sowed  the  seeds  of  freedom.  When  it  cost  nerve 
and  sacrifice,  Brother  Lowe  was  one  of  the  companions  ot 

abolition.  . , 

“In  his  ministry  in  Erie,  he  had  for  Ins  preaching-place 

the  old  court  house.  He  secured  the  lot  and  laid  the. 
foundation  for  the  first  church  owned  by  the  Methodists. 
As  a pastor,  he  was  a man  of  good  oversight,  tact  and 
judgment.  Churches  prospered  under  his  care.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  efficient,  earnest,  inspiring,  evangelical. 
“In  1840  he  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane 

McBride,  of  Waterville.  New  jersey.  . • ■ A'ter 

thirtv-six  years  of  most  useful  and  successful  ministry, 
forced  by  failing  health,  they  settled  in  the  beautiful  vil- 
lage of  Girard.  ,11 

“There  they  lived  for  twenty-five  years,  honored  and 

loved  by  the  community  and  the  Church,  and  trusted  and 
cherished  by  the  ministry.  In  him  every  preacher  found 
his  best  friend  and  ablest  counsellor.  In  his  life  the 
Christian  graces  and  virtues  attained  their  perfection. 

Albina  Hall  was  born  in  Messina,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N. 
Y Oct  17  1810.  In  1816  his  father  moved  with  Ins 
family  to  Portland,  Chautauqua  County,  where  he  died  in 
18^8.'  Albina  was  next  to  the  oldest  of  fourteen  children, 
all  of  whom  were  among  the  best  class  of  society.  In 
early  life  he  struggled  with  the  privations  and  disadvan- 
tages of  pioneer  life,  and  made  the  best  improvement  of 
his  resources  for  an  education,  both  by  common  and  acad- 
emic schools  within  his  reach.  He  was  happily  converted 
in  1826,  and  entered  Allegheny  College  m 1835  to  seek 
more  thorough  qualification  for  his  life  work.  A vacancy 

*j.  W.  Lowe — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836*  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,,  183^’  oint: 

Hedding;  deceased,  Girard  Pa.,  19, 

4-c  iqqp;  Wnnlrlin  • 1836  Painesville,  1837-  38,  n^rie,  iooy  ^u, 
Springleld  j841.  Ashtabula;  1842,  Geneva;  1843  Mesopotamia; 
1044.-45  Warren,  O.;  1846,  Braceville;  1847-’48,  Cleveland,  1849- 

■50,  Willoughby;  1851,  Fredon^and  ’E"t; 

1857’  Cleveland*  Perry  streetl  1858,  Cleveland,  Scoville  avenue; 

n District;  1863-’66  M-dvine  Distnct;18^ 
Agent  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society;  1 8«8-  69  EastAsh ' f 
1870,  Fairview;  1871,  Clymer;  1872,  Lockport,  1873-81,  super 
numerary;  1882-’96,  superannuated. 


/ 


William  Henry  Hunter. 


having  occurred  on  the  Cambridge  Circuit,  he  was  ap- 
pointed as  a supply,  and  in  1836  was  received  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  twice  married,  and  each 
time  most  happily.  Two  of  his  sons  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Brother  Hall  was 
forty  years  effective,  and  four  years  presiding  elder.  He 
was  supernumerary  in  1 873-^74,  and  superannuated  in 
1878.  “He  was  a reliable  friend,  a safe  counsellor;  of  a 
sound  and  discriminating  mind;  a matured  judgment;  a 
practical,  true,  ingenious  and  faithful  man;  a Christian, 
‘one  of  God’s  noblemen,’  maintaining  his  consistent  and 
useful  life  to  the  last,  and  met  death  as  a disarmed  foe, 
and  bravely  bore  away  the  banner  of  victory.  He  died  at 
North  East,  Pa.,  October  5,  1878.  His  funeral  was  at- 
tended by  a large  and  sympathizing  concourse  of  the  peo- 
ple and  preachers  of  the  various  churches.  He  was  buried 
in  the  beautiful  cemetery  of  the  village,  where  rest  the 
remains  of  our  Thomas  Branch  and  Andrew  McCam- 


mon. 


William  Henry  Hunter. 


William  Henry  Hunter  was  born  in  Mercer,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Oct.  9,  1813,  and  died  at  Pilgrim’s  Rest,  Peoria, 
Illinois,  Nov.  4,  1901.  Dr.  Hunter  was  one  of  the  choice 
men  of  the  Church.  His  early  education  was  quite  limit- 
ed. He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  under 
the  preaching  of  Ralph  Clapp,  was  baptized  by  Alfred 
Brunson,  and  entered  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in 
1836.  After  nineteen  years  of  service  in  this  conference 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Peoria,  now  called  Central  Illi- 
nois Conference.  During  sixty-five  years  never  missed  a 
conference  roll-call.  He  served  as  pastor  nineteen  years 


♦Albina  Hall — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  deceased.  North  East,  Pa.,  October  5,  1878.  Appoint- 
ments— 1835,  Conneaut  (supply) ; 1836,  Wesleyville;  1837,  Frank- 
lin, Pa.;  1838,  Ashtabula  and  Conneaut;  1839-’40,  Jamestown,  N. 
Y.;  1841,  Erie;  1842,  McKean;  1843,  Westfield;  1844,  Painesville; 
1845-’46,  Newburg;  1847-’48,  Twinsburg;  1849-’50,  Cuyahoga 
Falls;  1851,  Greenville;  1852,  Fredonia  and  Dunkirk  Mission; 
1853-’56,  Ravenna  District;  1857-,58,  North  East;  1859-’60,  Albion; 
1861,  Kingsville;  1862-’63,  Springfield;  1864,  Sharon;  1865-’67, 
f airview;  1868-70,  Quincy;  1871,  Girard  Station;  1872,  North 
East,  second  preacher;  1873-74,  supernumerary;  1875,  Agent 
Lake  Shore  Seminary;  1876-77,  North  East,  second  preacher; 
1878,  superannuated. 


r 


8 1 2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  twenty-eight  years  as  presiding  elder.  He  was  elect 
ed  a delegate  to  six  General  Conferences,  and  was  four 
vears  chairman  of  the  Book  Committee.  He  was  agent 
and  associate  agent  of  the  Conference  Claimants  Society 
from  188}  till  his  death.  He  never  took  a supernumei ai  y 
or  superannuate  relation.  “His  statements  of  truth  were 
clear  and  strong,  his  style  plain  and  direct,  his  delivery 
deliberate  and  distinct,  his  manner  liecoming  forceful  and 
animated  as  he  approached  the  close  of  his  discourse.  He 
was  conservative  in  his  views,  zealous  for  the  purity  an 
prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  set  for  the  defense  of  the 
faith  of  the  fathers.  The  teaching  and  training  of  child- 
ren and  the  religion  of  the  home  received  from  him  careful 
attention  and  constant  emphasis.”  “In  walk  and  conduct 
he  never  lost  his  manly  bearing.  In  conversation  he 
never  descended  to  the  trifling,  unworthy  or  unbecoming. 
He  lived  above  the  taint  of  gossip.  In  a word,  he  was  a 
dignified  Christian  gentleman.  He  was  honest  with  him- 
self. his  fellowmen  and  his  God  He  was  a pos.  ive  char- 
acter, pronounced  in  his  antipathies  and  ardent  in  his  at 
tachments.  Resolute  and  persistent  in  dispose non  care- 
ful, capable  and  successful  in  business,  honorah'e  andp_ 
rio-ht  in  citizenship,  above  reproach  in  society,  he  coi 
manded  the  highest  respect  in  every  community  where  he 
lived  Without  the  slightest  design  on  his  pai t,  he  never 
failed  to  imoress  others  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of 
“ IrT^Snal,. y."-(R.  E.  B.cMe,  » tk,  PMsb.rg 

Christian  Advocate,  Nov.  28, 1901.) 

Rev.  T.  Montgomery  says  of  William  Hunter:  In 

the  pulpit  he  was  not  at  ease.  He  seeme  iai  c y 
to  know  what  to  do  with  his  eyes  or  hands.  But 
he  knew  how  to  preach,  and  with  his  eyes  upon  the  ced  g 
or  down  upon  the  floor,  at  times  he  gave  us  thoughts  tun 
of  life  andbeauty.  Nor  was  he  insensible  to  his  awkward- 
ness in  the  pulpit.  On  one  occasion  when  presiding  elder 
Tthe  Bearer  District  in  1843.  ground  for  camp  meetmg 
was  being  cleaned  up,  stand  erected,  and  g ass  Jimble 
swung  on  a wire  over  the  book-boa  d on  the  stano. 
■Brother  Hunter  was  superintending  the  work. 

K Sa"”  pu.  «h««  Brhe,kS?«L« 

one  man  Brother  Hunter  stood  up  straight  where  he  ex 
pected  to  stand  when  preaching,  and  stretching  his  ar 
Id  as  hieh  as  he  could  reach,  said  with  a smile, 


r 


John  F.  Hill,  Thomas  Benn,  R.  A.  Aylworth.  813 


‘Put  it  where  I won’t  hit  it.’  He  was  kind,  sweet-spirited, 
and  not  so  much  a singer  as  a writer  of  song,  as  his  com- 
pilations of  ‘Select  Melodies,’  many  of  which  were  his 
own  composition,  will  show.”* — ( Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , Sept.  19,  1889.) 


John  F.  Hill,  Thomas  Benn,  Reuben  A.  Aylworth. 


John  F.  Hill  was  born  in  Starkesborough,  Vermont, 
March  15,  1800.  He  was  converted  in  Monroe,  Ashta- 
bula Co.,  Ohio,  and  united  with  the  Freewill  Baptist 
Church,  but  subsequently  became  a member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1836.  He  labored  with  great  earnest- 
ness in  the  work ; and  led  many  revivals  to  glorious  vic- 
tory. His  health  failing,  he  located  in  1846  and  moved 
to  Wisconsin.  He  enlisted  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  re- 
bellion, and  lost  his  life  in  the  army  soon  after  the  battle 
of  Shiloh. t — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Eric  Con- 
ference, Vol.  II,  pp.  30,  289.) 

Thomas  Benn  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  Oct.  8,  1803.  He  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Crawford  County  in  1811.  He  became  a member  of 
the  first  class  in  Meadville  organized  by  Robert  C.  Hat- 
ton. He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Alfred  Brunson  in 
1834,  and  sent  as  a supply  to  Wesleyville  Charge.  He 


*W.  H.  Hunter,  D.D. — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on 
trial,  1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder, 
1840,  Hedding;  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference,  185a;  be- 
came a member  of  Peoria,  now  called  Central  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, at  its  organization,  1856;  deceased,  Peoria,  111.,  November 
4,  1901.  Appointments — 1836,  Chardon;  1837,  Westfield;-  1838, 
Sheridan;  1839-’40,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1841,  Geneva,  O.;  1842,  Ra- 
venna; 1843,  Akron;  1844,  Franklin,  O.;  1845,  Poland;  1846,  War- 
ren, O.;  1847,  Franklin  District;  1848-’51,  Jamestown  District; 
1852,  Ravenna  District;  1853-’54,  Cleveland  District;  1855-’56, 
Peoria,  111.;  1857,  Moline,  111.;  1858-’59,  Rock  Island  District; 
1860-’61,  Galesburg,  111.;  1862-’65,  McComb  District;  1866-’67, 
Monmouth  District;  1868-’71,  Rock  Island  District;  1872-’75, 
Peoria  District;  1876-’79,  Kewanee  District;  1880-’81,  Peoria,  First 
Church  (second  preacher);  1882,  Peoria,  Wesley  Chapel,  1883- 
1901,  agent,  and  later  associate  agent,  Conference  Claimants’  So- 
ciety. 

tJohn  F.  Hill — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  full  connection,  1838;  deacon,  1838,  Waugh;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  located,  1846.  Appointments — 1836,  Shippenville  and 
Bloomfield  Mission;  1837,  Brookville;  1838,  Stratton ville;  1839- 
’40,  Napoli;  1841,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1842,  Youngsville;  1843, 
Warren,  Pa.;  1844-’45,  North  East. 


! 


t 


I 


B 


8 14  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1836,  and 
transferred  to  the  Arkansas  Conference.  He  was  re- 
transferred in  1843;  superannuated  in  i853-’55;  and,  af- 
ter serving  Corsica  Charge,  finally  superannuated,  1857. 
He  died  in  Strattonville  Nov.  29,  1879.  His  last  sick- 
ness was  accompanied  with  intense  bodily  suffering,  but 
in  the  midst  of  all  his  frequent  utterance  was:  “The 

will  of  the  Lord  be  done.’'  His  talent  and  acquirements 
were  quite  moderate,  but  he  was  devoted  and  faithful. 
Mr.  Gregg  says : “He  was  a great  singer  and  could  pray 

well.** 

Reuben  A.  Ayl worth  was  converted  in  1810,  during  a 
severe  illness  which  brought  him  to  the  verge  of  death. 
When  friends  despaired  of  his  life,  and  an  old  Methodist 
class  leader  was  pleading  for  his  salvation,  God  spoke 
peace  to  his  heart,  and  commanded Preach  my  Gospel!” 
— “and  from  this  moment  he  began  to  amend.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  14.) 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1814.  He  joined  the 
Methodist  itinerant  ranks  in  the  Newr  York  Conference 
in  1817,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Genesee  Conference 
and  appointed  to  Caledonia  Circuit.  Failing  health  caused 
him  to  superannuate  in  1822,  and  in  1825  he  located.  He 
had  previously  moved  to  Pennsylvania;  and  he  joined  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1836  and  was  appointed  to  Erie.  He 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. In  the  Erie  Conference  he  served  Erie, 
Jamestown  District,  Chardon,  Parkman,  Willoughby  and 
Painesville.  He  was  superannuated  in  1844.  Mr.  Ayl- 
worth  was  born  at  Half  Moon,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  \ .,  April 
13,  1792 ; and  died  in  Hampden,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept. 
3,  1880.  “Being  a man  of  slight  build  and  weak  physical 
frame,  he  was  not  able  to  endure  the  fatigue  incident  to 
the  life  of  a preacher  at  that  early  day,  yet  his  preaching 

♦Thomas  Benn — Licensed  to  preach,  1834;  admitted  on  trial, 
1836;  transferred  to  Arkansas  Conference,  1836;  full  connection, 
1838;  deacon,  1838;  elder,  1840;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference, 
1843;  deceased,  Strattonville,  Pa.,  November  29,  1879.  Appoint- 
ments—1834,  Wesleyville  (supply);  1836,  Illinois  Bayou,  Ark.; 
1837,  Clayborne,  Ark.;  1838,  Catahoula,  Ark.;  1839,  Marion,  Ark.; 
1840,  Harmonsburg,  Ark.;  1841,  Clayborne,  Ark.;  1842,  Trinity, 
Ark.;  1843,  Kinzua;  1844,  Brookville;  1845,  Punxsutawney ; 1846, 
Rimersburg;  1847-’48,  Harrisville;  1849,  Saegertown;  1850, 
Bethel;  1851,  Evansburg;  1852,  Shippenville;  1853-’55,  super- 
annuated; 1856,  Corsica;  1857-’79,  superannuated. 


Business  at  Quarterly  Conferences. 


is  described  by  many  still  living,  who  heard  him  then,  as 
being  clear,  forcible,  spiritual,  and  frequently  powerful, 
and  as  a consequence  he  had  many  seals  to  his  ministry 
wherever  he  preached.  He  was  one  of  the  most  polished 
Christian  gentleman  of  his  day — splendid  in  conversation, 
gentle,  affable,  and  winning  in  his  manners.”* — (Minutes 
of  Conferences , Vol.  XVIII,  1880,  p.  243.) 

Business  at  Quarterly  Conferences. 

At  a Quarterly  Conference  held  for  Erie  Circuit  at 
Sugar  Creek  camp  meeting,  July  16,  1821,  the  following 
important  action  was  taken : 

“An  address  to  the  Annual  Conference  on  the  subject 
of  establishing  a Seminary  of  Learning  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Ohio  Conference  was  voted  for.” 

The  next  Quarterly  Conference  repeated  the  action. 

The  subject  of  a “Parsonage  House”  had  already  been 
before  the  Quarterly  Conference,  but  now  a new  step  is 
taken : 

“It  was  voted  that  a preachers’  house  should  be  built  on 
Erie  Circuit  and  that  John  Leech,  Esq.,  George  Smith 
and  William  McClane  should  be  a committee  and  to  act  as 
trustees.  It  was  also  voted  that  there  should  be  a sub- 
scription paper  issued  for  its  support.” 

Additional  action  was  taken  at  the  next  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. 

At  the  Quarterly  Conference  held  for  Butler  Circuit 
June  11,  1831  (place  not  given),  Ira  Eddy,  presiding  el- 
der, William  Carroll,  secretary,  the  following  recommen- 
dations were  made : 

“John  J.  Steadman  was  recommended  to  the  next  An- 
nual Conference  as  a suitable  person  to  enter  the  itinerant 
connection. 


*R.  A.  Aylworth — Licensed  to  preach,  1814;  admitted  on  trial 
New  York  Conference,  1817;  transferred  to  Genesee  Conference, 
1817;  full  connection,  1819;  deacon,  1819,  Roberts;  elder,  1821, 
George;  1825,  located;  re-admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference, 
1836;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization in  1876;  deceased,  Hampden,  O.,  September  3,  1880. 
Appointments — 1817,  Caledonia,  N.  Y.;  1818,  Lyons,  N.  Y.;  1819, 
Olean  Point,  N.  Y.;  1820,  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.;  1821,  Rochester,  N, 
Y.;  1822-’24,  superannuated;  1836,  Erie;  1837-’38,  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict; 1839-’40,  Chardon;  1841,  Parkman;  1842,  Willoughby;  1843, 
Painesville;  1844-79,  superannuated. 


“John  Luccock  was  likewise  recommended  as  a suuauie 

person  to  enter  the  itinerant  connection. 

“William  Carroll  was  recommended  to  the  next  Annual 
Conference  as  a suitable  person  to  enter  the  itinerant  con- 

nC^4 Benjamin  Sedwick  recommended  to  the  presiding  el- 
der to  be  employed  by  him  as  bis  wisdom  may  diiect. 

The  “quarterly  meeting  conference  for  Centerville  Cir- 
cuit appointed  at  or  near  Scrubgrass  camp  meeting,  Sept. 
9.  18^3,”  received  and  took  action  on  reports  of  commit- 
tee to  select  site  for  parsonage : 

“Report  of  the  committee  appointed  by  last  conference 
for  to  select  a site  for  parsonage,  Samuel  E.  Harris,  by 
proxy  reports  a donation  of  either  two  acres  of  ground 
near  Harrisville,  or  a town  lot  in  said  village  and  20M 

convenient  lot  and  $120 
Wolf  Creek 
a site  for  house 


brick.  James  Adams  reports  a 
will  be  given  near  Sandy  Meeting  House 
reports,  by  Jared  Tuttle,  proposes  to  give 
and  garden  and  lot  of  30  acres. 

“ ‘Resolved,  That  two  parsonage  houses  be  built  on 
Centerville  Circuit.' 

“ -Resolved,  That  Sandy  be  the  location  of  one  of  said 
houses,  to  be  a frame  18x24  feet,  tvvo  stories  high,  witi 
one  chimney  with  two  fire-places  in  it. 

“ ‘Resolved,  That  Harrisville  be  the  site  of  the  other, 
to  be  built  of  brick.  16x26  feet,  two  stories  high  with  one 
chimney  with  two  fire-places  in  it. 


our  quarterly  coniereuces,  dt  uic  j ~ • ; 

almost  universal  answer.  ‘None.’  The  old  records  which 
I am  examining  show  that,  in  our  early  Methodism,  it 
was  far  otherwise.  Much  of  the  time  of  many  of  the 
conferences  was  occupied  with  listening  to  and  deciding 
appeals  The  Quarterly  Conference  held  at  Centerville 
(now  Slippery  Rock),  July  30,  1836,  had  one  to  consider: 
“Brother  James  Hughes  appeals  from  a decision  of  a 
committee  on  charge  of  violation  of  rules  in  going  to  aw 
with  a brother.  It  appearing  that  no  charge  or  decision 
of  committee  on  which  to  act,  voted  that  the  case  is  not  111 
situation  to  be  acted  on  by  this  conference  and  that  there- 
fore  Brother  Hughes  is  restored  to  full  membership. 

( Minutes  of  several  Quarterly  Conferences  of  Erie , Mer- 


Ellington  and  Kennedy.  817 

cer,  Butler  and  Centerville  Circuits , from  Aug.  15,  1812, 
to  Nov.  26,  1836.) 

Sterretania  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  built  in 
1842.  The  society  was  organized  years  before  and  wor- 
shiped in  the  school  house.  The  appointment  was  at- 
tached to  the  McKean  Circuit  until  1880,  when  it  was 
made  a part  of  Fairview  Circuit  which  embraced  also 
Fairplane.  “The  church  building  was  erected  in  part  by 
a Presbyterian  congregation  which  had  met  previously  in 
the  school  house.  Soon  after  the  church  was  built,  it  be- 
came a Congregational  society,  and  a few  years  later 
passed  out  of  existence.” 

Ellington  and  Kennedy. 

Ellington,  with  Charlotte  and  Gerry,  belonged  to  the 
Gerry  Circuit  until  1844.  The  preaching  in  Ellington 
was  distributed  among  four  different  classes:  Water- 

boro,  North  Hill,  the  Bates  District,  and  West  Hill.  T. 

J.  Jennings  traveled  the  Gerry  Circuit  in  1835,  and  Josiah 
Flower  and  S.  W.  Parks  in  1836.  In  1837  Theodore 
Stowe  and  J.  O.  Wood  were  the  preachers.  They  were 
assisted  by  Reuben  A.  Aylworth,  presiding  elder  of 
Jamestown  District,  and  Darius  Smith,  in  a great  revival 
resulting  in  the  organization  of  a class  in  Ellington  con- 
sisting of  seventy-five  members,  with  Matthew  Lane  as 
leader.  In  1844,  “Ellington”  appears  among  the  charges, 
and  Samuel  A.  Henderson — who  was  junior  preacher  on 
the  Gerry  Circuit,  was  appointed  pastor.  The  charter 
members  were  Carey  Briggs — who  was  the  first  steward 
and  still,  in  1904,  fills  the  same  office — A.  W.  Clapp, 

David  Colburn,  Zaccheus  Davenport,  Ira  Day,  Hosea 
Felt,  David  Fisk,  Nathaniel  Fuller,  John  Hatch.  Horatio 
N.  Jacobs,  Lorenzo  Mather,  Adam  Phillips,  John  Shaw, 

Charles  Thatcher,  Theron  Thatcher,  Edwin  Briggs,  and.  * 

we  presume,  some,  at  least,  of  their  wives  and  children, 
though  this — as  in  many  other  local  church  histories — 
is  not  mentioned. 

When  the  Cherry  Creek  Charge  was  organized,  the 
Bates  District  became  a part  of  that  charge : and  later,  the 
Waterboro  class  was  absorbed  by  that  formed  at 
Kennedy.  Since  then  the  charge  has  consisted  of  El- 
lington and  Kennedy. 

52  ! 


1 


8i8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  Kennedy  class  was  organized  by  H.  H.  Moore  in 
1867,  and  worshiped  in  a Union  Church  later  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church— until  the  ministry  of  Mil- 
ton Smith,  when  a Methodist  house  of  worship  was 
erected  and  dedicated  September  21,  i879-  Hie  class 
consisted  of  Horace  Wheelock  and  wife,  Mrs.  Henry 
Wheelock,  Maria  Haight,  Horace  Chapel  and  wife,  and 

° The  society  at  Greenfield  was  organized  in  1836,  and 
was  the  outgrowth  of  a class  that  worshiped  at  an  early 
dav.  at  what  was  known  as  the  ‘ Campfield  School 
House,”  and  subsequently  at  the  “Miller  School  House. 

A.  gracious  revival  is  remembered  as  occurring  in  184 
or  "840.  and  many  who  have  been  pillars  in  the  Church 
date  their  new  life  from  that  time.  This  revival  was 
conducted  by  P.  W.  Sherwood  in  the  Mdlei  School 
House  A church  was  erected  in  1850-1852.  and  for 
more  than  fifty  years  stood  as  a landmark  of  Methodism 
A parsonage  was  built  in  1868.  which  J.  K.  Mendenhall 
was  the  first  to  occupv.  The  church  was  blessed  with  re- 
vivals of  special  interest  in  1887,  1891  and  1900.  A 
beautiful  modern  edifice  was  erected  under  die  pastorates 
of  Miller  Fording  and  A.  E.  Salisbury,  and  dedicated  De- 
cember 14.  1902.  The  appointment  lias  been  cm  the 
North  East.  Wattsburg,  Greenfield  and  Mina,  and  Green- 
field  Circuits. 

Second  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 

The  second  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Tamestown  New  York.  August  9.  1837,  Bishop  Robeit 
R^oberts  presiding.  Allured  Plimpton  was  elected  sec- 

retThe  Brookville  Mission  District  was  formed  front  a 
part  of  the  Meadville  District,  lying  west  of  the  Alleghem 
nver  Greenville  is  made  a station;  ‘Tarkman’  is  a new 
name  for  the  Newburgh  Circuit ; and  Willoughby,  John 
son.  Randolph,  Red  Bank,  and  Strattonville  are  new  cir- 

cuits.* 

. x + follows'  Ravenna  District,  Isaac 

*The  appointments  are  as 1 williain  Stevens,  E.  J.  Kin- 

Winans,  presiding  elder,  Rjyen  ’ • Kinsley  H.  N.  Stearns; 
ney;  Cleveland  and  Ohio  CUy,  Hiram  Kmgle* 

Cleveland  Circuit,  L.  D.  ’ . ^ g Worrallo,  E.  J.  L. 


Second  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 


William  Butt,  Moses  Crow,  and  Gustavus  Hills  lo- 
cated. 

James  Gillmore  and  J.  H.  Whallon  superannuated. 
William  Swayze  and  J.  J.  Steadman  had  superannuated 
the  previous  year. 

E.  P.  Steadman  was  deposed  from  the  ministry. 

Philip  Green,  Hiram  Gillmore,  and  Lewis  Janney  were 
transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference. 

There  were  received  on  probation:  Isaac  Scofield, 

Milo  H.  Bettes,  Allen  Fouts,  William  H.  Abbott,  William 

F.  Wilson,  Joseph  Marvin,  Amos  Bussey,  Stephen  Heard, 
Lewis  Burton,  Silas  Rawson,  Alexander  L.  Miller,  John 
O.  Wood,  Carlos  R.  Chapman,  Theodore  D.  Blinn,  and 
Moses  Hill. 

Amos  Bussey  and  Silas  Rawson  were  transferred  to 
the  Indiana  Conference. 

Joseph  Marvin  was  admitted  on  trial,  1837;  discon- 
tinued, 1838;  readmitted,  1842;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts; 

Winans,  Joseph  Leslie;  Edinburg,  Thomas  Carr,  Isaac  Scofield; 
Freedom,  Asahel  Reeves,  Wareham  French;  Hudson,  J.  K.  Hal- 
lock,  Joseph  Marvin.  Warren  District,  Ira  Eddy,  presiding  el- 
der; Warren,  A.  M.  Brown,  John  Crum;  Youngstown,  John  Luc- 
cock,  J.  E.  Aikin;  Ellsworth,  Dillon  Prosser;  Hartford,  Thomas 
Stubbs,  Samuel  Leech;  Gustavus,  J.  C.  Ayres,  B.  K.  Maltby; 
Mesopotamia,  J.  W.  Hill,  T.  J.  Jennings;  Johnson,  Ira  Norris; 
Parkman,  Stephen  Hubbard,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Williamsfield,  S.  W. 
Ingraham,  Allen  Fouts;  Jefferson,  H.  J.  Moore;  Geneva,  J.  L. 
Holmes,  Peter  Burroughs.  Meadville  District,  Joseph  S.  Barris, 
presiding  elder;  Allegheny  College,  H.  J.  Clark,  W.  M.  Burton, 

G.  W.  Clarke,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Agent;  Meadville,  Edward  Birkett; 
Franklin,  Albina  Hall;  Centerville,  C.  C.  Best,  H.  S.  Hitchcock; 
Mercer,  John  Robinson;  Salem,  Ahab  Keller;  Greenville,  J.  R. 
Locke;  Clarkesville,  Caleb  Brown;  Lawrenceburg,  H.  Elliott; 
New  Castle,  E.  B.  Hill,  Lewis  Burton.  Erie  District,  John  Chand- 
ler, presiding  elder;  Erie,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Wesley ville,  David  Pres- 
ton, J.  E.  Chapin,  Daniel  Pritchard;  North  East,  Allured  Plimp- 
ton, Benjamin  Preston;  Cambridge,  W.  B.  Lloyd;  Randolph,  Hi- 
ram Luce;  Harmonsburg,  Daniel  C.  Richey,  C.  R.  Chapman; 
Springfield;  John  Bain,  Warren  Griffith;  Conneaut,  L.  D.  Mix, 
William  Abbott;  Oil  Creek,  Rufus  Parker,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Ashtabula, 
John  Prosser.  Jamestown  District,  Reuben  A.  Aylworth,  presiding 
elder;  Jamestown,  Darius  Smith;  Warren  and  Kinzua,  Samuel 
Gregg;  Youngsville,  Josiah  Flower,  John  Demming;  Wattsburg, 
William  Todd,  J.  O.  Rich;  Westfield,  Lorenzo  Rodgers,  W.  H. 
Hunter;  Fredonia,  I.  H.  Tackitt,  C.  D.  Rockwell;  Forestville, 
Timothy  Goodwrin,  Moses  Hill;  Sheridan,  G.  C.  Baker,  B.  S.  Hill; 
Napoli,  John  Scott,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Randolph,  S.  W.  Parks;  Gerry, 
Theodore  Stowe,  J.  O.  Wood.  Brookville  Mission  District,  Wil- 
liam Carroll,  presiding  elder;  Red  Bank,  Stephen  Heard;  Strat- 
tonville,  J.  A.  Hallock;  Shippen ville,  Reuben  Peck,  Lorenzo 
Whipple. 


820  . 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


elder,  1848,  Hamline;  discontinued,  1844.  The  remain- 
der of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Warren,  O.* 

Mr.  Gregg  has  the  following  characteristic  remark  con- 
cerning John  O.  Wood:  “Rev.  John  O.  Wood  left  the 

tailor’s  bench  in  Dunkirk,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  a 
position  in  the  Erie  Conference,  which  he  subsequently 
left  to  become  an  eminent  Patent  Hair  Restorative  Doc- 
tor in  the  west,  where  it  is  said  he  accumulated  a fortune, 
and  then  left  it  to  try  the  stern  realities  of  the  eternal 
world.”! — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  II,  pp.  38,  5pJ. 

Theodore  Danforth  Blinn  was  born  in  Pownal,  Ver- 
mont, July  4,  1815;  and  died  in  Jefferson,  Ohio,  March 
2,  1889.  His  parents  moved  into  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  in 
1816.  He  was  converted  in  1883  under  the  ministry  of 
Arthur  M.  Brown,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1837  by 
John  Chandler,  presiding  elder  of  Erie  District.  He  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1837.  Pre- 
vious to  the  session  of  the  conference,  he  had  been  em- 
ployed as  a supply  on  the  Randolph  Circuit.  Mr.  Gregg 
says:  “Mr.  Blinn  was  a modest  and  humble-appearing 

young  man,  of  about  medium  size;  of  deep  piety  and 
earnest  zeal,  with  much  tender,  sympathetic  feeling,  man- 
ifested whether  in  reading,  praying,  or  preaching,  with  a 
tremulous  voice,  and  a tendency  to  weep.” — ( Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  36.) 

Mr.  Blinn  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference at  its  organization.  He  was  forty-five  years  ef- 
fective, superannuating  in  1883.  He  had  also  been  su- 
perannuated in  1869,  but  only  for  one  year.  During  his 
long  ministry  he  traveled  over  most  of  the  territory  of 
the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  a man  of  deep  personal 
piety  and  a faithful  minister,  and  died  a happy  and  tri- 
umphant death.  § 

♦Appointments— 1837,  Hudson;  1842,  Ashtabula;  1843,  Mecca. 

tJ  O Wood — Admitted  on  trial,  1837;  full  connection,  1839; 
deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841,  Roberts.  Expelled  from  min- 
istry and  membership,  1846.  Appointments  1837,  Gerry,  I808, 
Chardon;  1839,  Willoughby;  1840,  Cleveland;  1841,  Akron  and 
Middlebury;  1842,  Middlebury;  1843,  Quincy;  1844,  Wesleyville; 
1845,  without  appointment. 

§T  D Blinn — Licensed  to  preach,  1837 ; admitted  on  trial,  1837 ; 
full  connection,  1839;  deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841,  Roberts; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1876;  deceased,  Jefferson,  0.,  March  2,  1889.  Appointments 


Second  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 


821 


Carlos  R.  Chapman  was  born  in  Tolland,  Connecticut, 
Sept.  21,  1809.  In  his  second  year  he  was  bereft  of  his 
mother,  but  was  carefully  trained  by  a very  devout  and 
godly  Methodist  grandmother.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1812,  he  with  his 
father  came  to  the  Western  Reserve  and  settled  in  Roots- 
town,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  There  was  a revival  in  1831, 
held  in  the  Congregational  Church  of  Rootstown.  Car- 
los was  converted  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Edinburg.  “His  mind  soon  began  to  be 
exercised  upon  the  subject  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  but 
he  steadily  resisted  all  impressions  in  that  direction  until 
his  father  was  overtaken  by  a severe  illness  which  threat- 
ened his  life,  and  the  affectionate  son  betook  himself  to 
earnest  prayer  for  his  recovery;  and  one  day  while  thus 
engaged  he  was  led  to  promise  the  Lord  most  solemnly 
that  if  he  would  restore  the  health  and  spare  the  life  of 
his  dear  parent  that  he  would  devote  his  life  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  The  father  soon  recovered,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  this  sacred  engagement  the  son  com- 
menced in  good  earnest  to  fit  himself,  as  well  as  he  could, 
for  his  sacred  calling.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  57,  58.) 

Mr.  Chapman  was  licensed  to  preach  and  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1837,  and  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  He  was 
thirty-one  years  effective,  eight  years  supernumerary,  and 
sixteen  years  superannuated.  His  last  years  were  spent 
in  Willoughby,  Ohio.  He  peacefully  entered  into  rest, 
Sunday  night,  Jan.  31,  1892.  “He  lived  a cheerful 
Christian  life,  and  was  greatly  beloved  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a faithful  and  zealous  min- 


— 1837,  Oil  Creek;  1838,  Wesleyville;  1839,  North  East;  1840, 
McKean;  1841,  Harmonsburg;  1842,  Cooperstown;  1843-’44,  Har- 
mony; 1845,  Mayville;  1846,  Westfield;  1847,  Quincy;  1848,  Ell- 
ington; 1849-’50,  Portland;  1851,  Gerry;  1852-’53,  Ashville;  1854- 
’55,  Randolph;  1856-’57,  Ellington;  1858,  Forestville;  1859-’60, 
Portland;  1861-’62,  Sherman;  1863-’64,  Quincy;  1865-’66,  Wesley- 
ville and  Greene;  1867-’68,  Albion;  1869,  superannuated;  1870-’72, 
Conneaut;  1873-’74,  Nottingham  and  Glenville;  1875-’76,  Jefferson; 
1877,  Williamsfield  and  Wayne;  1878-’79,  Orwell  and  Colebrook; 
1880,  Orwell;  1881,  Rock  Creek;  1882,  Rock  Creek  and  Rome; 
1883-’88,  superannuated. 


8->-> 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 

ister  of  the  gospel  and  a constant  help  and  inspiration  in 
all  the  work  and  interests  of  the  Church.’  * 

William  F.  Wilson. 

William  F.  Wilson  was  born  in  Farmington,  Trum- 
bull Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  15.  1809-  . He  was  converted  in 
i8u  • licensed  to  preach  and  admitted  mto  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial  in  1837.  of  which  he  remained  a mem- 
ber until  1880  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  ^araii 
J.  Hitchcock.  April  13.  1841-  He  was  effective  forty 
vears  without  intermission  and  sixteen  years  of  that  time 
was  presiding  elder  on  the  Franklin,  Fredoma,  Ravenna, 
Cleveland,  and  Erie  Districts.  He  was  a member  of  the 
General  Conferences  of  1856  and  1864.  He  was  made 
supernumerary  in  1880.  and  superannuate  in  1883.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Willoughby,  Ohio  Feb.  19.  1889 
Many  revivals  attended  his  ministry.  ‘ During  the  las 
hours  of  his  life  he  gathered  his  family  about  him  and 
pronounced  a loving  blessing  upon  each  one  prosent , aiv< 
sent  an  affectionate  message  to  the  absent  one  Liot 
Wilson,  of  Columbia  River  Conference,  who  could  not  be 
present.  With  many  expressions  of  confidence  and  hope 
he  passed  from  labor  to  reward.”— (Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences. Vol.  XXII.  1889,  p.  370)-  Mr-  Gre&g  s,a>'s  of  him  • 
“Mr.  Wilson  was  very  tall,  and  rather  slim  and  spare,  was 

quite  dignified  in  appearance,  and  polite  and  gentleman  y 
hi  his  deportment.  He  possessed  a very  strong  and  heavy 
voice  which  he  used  rather  too  freely,  at  times,  to  b 

agreeable  to  his  audience.  His  talents  were  more  than 

ordinary.  and  his  reading  quite  extensive.  • His  preach 
was  often  accompanied  with  a good  degree  of  the 
divine  unction,  and  his  prayers  at  times  were  very  power- 

*C.  R.  Chapman— Licensed  to  preach,  1837  .admitted  trial, 

1837;  full  connection,  1839; ast Ohio  Conference  at  its 
Roherts;  became  a “e“a^erd°fwfnoughby  O.,  January  31,  1892. 

srs,  ^ 

:s,,m  1 or,..  -5 »» 

gan-  1866,  supernumerary;  1867-68,  Kirtland  and  C es  er, 

’75,  supernumerary;  1876-’91,  superannuate  . 


Allen  Fonts,  Isaac  Scofield. 


823 


ful.  He  entered  upon  the  itinerant  work  with  more  than 
ordinary  promise  for  the  future.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Eric  Conference,  V ol.  II,  p.  33.) 

We  take  an  appreciative  extract  from  the  resolutions 
of  respect  for  W.  F.  Wilson,  passed  by  the  Cleveland 
Preachers’  Meeting:  “In  the  death  of  Brother  Wilson 

closed  the  life  and  labors  of  a good  man;  good  in  the  best 
sense  of  that  word — a man  of  pure  and  unspotted  char- 
acter; a man  of  sound  judgment,  a safe  counsellor;  a man 
faithful  to  all  trusts  confided  to  him ; a man  genial  and 
kind  in  his  disposition,  bringing  light  and  joy  into  any 
circle  he  might  enter,  prized  and  loved  alike  by  young 
and  old;  a man  firmly  adhering  to  his  convictions,  never 
yielding  while  he  believed  himself  in  the  right;  a man 
well  equipped  for  his  work,  physically,  intellectually  and 
morally ; an  earnest,  successful,  and  eloquent  preacher ; al- 
ways beloved  and  honored  by  the  people  whom  he  was 
appointed  to  serve;  always  contented  and  happy  in  his 
work ; a man  greatly  beloved  by  his  brethren  in  the  con- 
ference ; a noble  Christian  gentleman ; a man  full  of  faith 
and  the  Holy  Ghost.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
March  14,  1889.) 

Allen  Fouts,  Isaac  Scofield. 

Allen  Fouts  was  born  in  Brooke  County,  Virginia,  in 
1808;  and  died  in  Saybrook,  Ohio,  July  4,  1890.  His 
parents  were  bitterly  opposed  to  religion.  In  1815  they 
moved  to  Morgan  County,  Ohio.  Young  Fouts  had  few 
educational  and  religious  advantages  in  this  new  and 
sparsely  populated  country.  His  prejudices  against  Meth- 
odism were  so  far  overcome  that  he  concealed  himself  in 
a barn  where  an  appointment  had  been  made  that  he  might 

*W.  F.  Wilson — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1837;  full  connection,  1839;  deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841, 
Roberts;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference,  1882;  deceased, 
Willoughby,  O.,  February  19,  1889.  Appointments— 1837,  Park- 
man;  1838,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1839,  Ravenna;  1840,  Painesville; 
1841,  Hudson;  1842,  Chagrin  Falls;  1843,  Gustavus;  1844,  Wil- 
liamsfield;  1845-’46,  Mercer;  1847-’48,  Franklin;  1849,  Clarion; 
1850-’51,  Franklin  District;  1852-’55,  Fredonia  District;  1856-’57, 
Erie;  1858-’59,  New  Castle;  1860,  Cleveland,  Erie  street;  1861, 
Ravenna  District;  1862-’65,  Cleveland  District;  1866,  Ashtabula; 
1867-’68,  Mercer;  1869-70,  Youngstown;  1871-72,  Corry;  1873, 
North  East;  1874,  Chagrin  Falls;  1875,  Fredonia  District;  1876- 
78,  Erie  District;  1879,  Warren;  1880-’82,  supernumerary;  1883- 
’88,  superannuated. 


I: 


$24  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

listen  unobserved  and  judge  for  himself.  The  result  was 
that  his  unfavorable  opinion  was  reversed  and  from  this 
time  he  attended  the  means  of  grace  He  was  power- 
fully converted,  and  began  assiduously  the  performance 
of  all  religious  duties.  His  father  was  converted,  livec. 
to  the  glory  of  God,  and  died  happy.  Mr.  Fouts  moved 
to  Cuvahoga  Falls  in  1830,  and  he  and  his  were  among 
the  members  that  constituted  the  first  Methodist  society 
of  that  place.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  and  received 
as  a probationer  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1837. ■ a"«  “ 
came  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  di- 
vision. He  was  thirty-three  years  effective,  and  s^  years 
supernumerary  and  superannuated  before  his  final  supe 
annuation  which  took  place  in  1876.  For  severa  year 
he  followed  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  was  valued  fo 

his  kindness  and  benevolence.  , 

“Mr  Fouts  was  quite  tall,  large  and  stout,  full  of  good 

humor  and  kind  feeling ; loved  to  sing,  pray, .a  nd  preach, 
and  performed  these  services  with  a great  deal  of  energy , 
was  Mud-spoken  and  full  of  zeal.  He  possessed  very 
a-ood  natural  abilities,  and  could  preach  a good  stiong 
sermon.” — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 

en  UrV Foui  kind  hearted  and  benevolent  mam 

He  was  positive  in  his  convictions  and  could  express  his 
SnTonsPso  as  to  make  them  understood.  Great  was  h.s 
attachment  to  the  Church.  He  had  a deep  and  e ear  ex- 
nerience  and  was  a tower  of  strength  in  a reviv  • 

P Isaac  Scofield  was  born  in  Albany  County,  New  Tork 
Sept  12  1812.  When  he  was  a child,  his  parents  moved 
to  Monroe  County.  They  were  not  rH.gno^  and  saa^ 
was  destitute  of  religious  instruction.  He  experienced 

*AneiT_Fouts  Licensed  to  preach,  18371  atoitted^on  trial, 

1837;  full  connection,  , the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
Roberts;  became  a member  of  the  East  un  ^ ^ 1890>  Ap 

organization,  1876 i838,  Edinburg;  1839,  Hartford; 
pointments— 1837,  Wi  yville;  1842,  Morgan;  1843,  Hub- 

1840,  Saegertown,  1841 wind sor*  1847-’48,  superannuated; 
bard;  ISll  Neison,  1845  46  Wmdso  > ^ lg54> 

1849-’50,  Middlebury,  1851,  Twin  concord*  1857,  Thompson; 
Chagrin  Falls;  SpriAgfield;  1862- 

1858,  Conneautville  1859,  Cto^eant,  1**  Saybrook; 

’63,  Jefferson,  1864  Cambridge;  1869,  supernumerary; 

S'  X™rvmer,y  1871  East  Ashtabula;  1872-’73  supernumer- 
i”®'  i874.  75  Kelliggsville;  1876-’89,  superannuated. 


Stephen  Heard. 


825 


ligion  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  at  Parma  Center 
during  “a  great  protracted  meeting”  at  which  about  two 
hundred  were  converted.  He  says : “Here  I was  li- 

censed to  exhort  within  a year  after  my  conversion.  I 
held  an  exhorter’s  license  about  a year  and  a half,  and 
then  received  license,  to  preach.  The  presiding  elder  was 
Abner  Chase.  This  license  I held  about  two  years.  I 
went  to  reside  a short  time  at  Chagrin  Falls,  remaining 
during  the  winter,  and  assisting  in  a protracted  meeting. 
I was  then  employed  by  Isaac  Winans  for  three  months 
as  a supply  on  Painesville  Circuit.  I was  recommended 
by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Cleveland  Circuit  to  the 
traveling  connection,  and  was  received  at  the  conference 
held  in  Jamestown  in  1837.” 

“Mr.  Scofield  was  about  medium  in  height,  rather  slim 
and  spare,  with  a sober  countenance,  and  of  medium  de- 
portment. His  preaching  talents  were  not  brilliant,  but 
quite  respectable.  He  was  too  quiet  in  his  demeanor  to 
attract  large  attention,  but  his  straight-forward,  consistent 
Christian  life  secured  to  him  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  people  wherever  he  labored.” 

Brother  Scofield  was  effective  thirty-five  years,  and  on 
some  of  his  charges  had  extensive  revivals.  Especially 
was  this  the  case  on  the  Shippenville,  Red  Bank,  Colum- 
bus, Leon,  Espyville,  and  Waterloo  Charges.  He  was  a 
good  gospel  preacher,  and  able  to  defend  the  doctrines  of 
the  Church.  Though  not  educated  in  the  schools,  he 
could  demolish  the  “five  points  of  Calvinism.”  He  died 
at  New  Vernon,  Pennsylvania,  March  15,  1901.* 

Stephen  Heard. 

The  early  religious  and  educational  advantages  of 
Stephen  Heard  were  only  such  as  a new  and  sparsely  set- 

* Isaac  Scofield — Admitted  on  trial,  1837;  full  connection,  1839; 
deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841,  Roberts;  deceased,  New  Ver- 
non, Pa.,  March  15,  1901.  Appointments — 1837,  Edinburg;  1838, 
Centerville;  1839,  Harmonsburg;  1840-’41,  Shippenville;  ±842, 
Red  Bank;  1843,  Cambridge;  1844,  Sheridan;  1845,  McKean; 
1846-’47,  Columbus;  1848-’49,  Leon;  1850-’51,  Perrysburg;  1852, 
Villenovia;  1853,  Quincy;  1854,  Harrisville;  1856,  Portersville; 
1857,  Espyville;  1858,  Williamsfield;  1859,  Salem,  Mercer  County; 
1860-’61,  Evansburg;  1862-’63,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1864-’65,  Delaware 
Grove;  1866-’67,  New  Lebanon;  1868-’69,  Waterloo;  1870,  super- 
numerary; 1871,  Hendersonville;  1872-’81,  supernumerary;  1882- 
’98,  superannuated. 


8i6 


Historv  of  Uric  Conference. 


tied  country  could  afford ; hut  he  made  the  most  of  these 
and  acquired  a good  knowledge  of  the  common  subjects 
of  reading  and  study,  lie  says  that  he  owed  his  earliest 
religious  convictions  to  Russell’s  Sermons  which  he  read 
with  great  interest,  while  Runyan’s  “Pilgrim’s  Progress” 
revealed  to  him  the  wav  of  salvation.  I hese  and  a pious 


mother’s  prayers  led  him  in  1832  to  give  his  heart  to 
God  at  a camp  meeting  held  at  Randolph,  Crawford 
County.  Pa.  Feeling  his  call  to  the  ministry  he  sought 
larger  preparation  for  the  work,  lie  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1837,  at  the  Brookville  Quarterly  Conference 
held  at  Scrubgrass  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  class 
he  had  formed  in  the  school  house  where  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching;  and  employed  as  a supply  on  the  Curllsville 
Circuit,  under  the  presiding  elder,  J.  S.  Harris.  rl  he 
same  year  he  was  received  as  a probationer  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  From  that  time  until  1875,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  five  years  of  superannuation,  he  labored  faithfully 
and  with  marked  success.  Mr.  Heard  was  married  in 
18^8  to  Sarah  Green  Miller,  of  Clarion,  Pa.,  with  whom 
he  lived  five  years.  He  married  as  his  second  wife  Miss 
Betsv  R.  Holman,  of  Lenox,  Ohio,  who  survived  him. 


He  served  the  Church  well  in  his  generation.  He  was  a 
man  of  refined  sensibilities,  quiet  and  unostentatious  in 
manners,  of  a well-balanced  mind  and  sweet  spirit,  of 
deep  and  fervent  piety,  gentlemanly,  cordial  in  his  bear- 
ing. sound  in  the  faith,  instructive  and  edifying  in  his 
ministrations,  “faithful  among  the  fathers.”  His  ser- 
mons were  clear  and  logical,  acute  and  full  of  divine  truth, 
and  were  often  delivered  with  much  power.  He  was  su- 
perannuated in  1876  and  two  years  later  moved  to  War- 
ren, Ohio,  where  he  finished  his  course  January  26,  1894. 
He  was  born  in  Center  Township,  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa., 
May  30,  1815.  The  later  years  of  his  superannuation 
were  full  of  Christian  work  as  God  gave  him  strength. 
While  with  his  son  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  delivered  his 
last  discourse.  It  was  in  1893  the  Children  s Day 
services  in  Wade  Park  Avenue  Church.  His  text  was : 
“My  little  children,  let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  in 
tongue,  but  in  deed  and  in  truth.”  His  last  days  were 
passed  in  much  suffering,  but  he  endured  all  without  a 
murmur.  Among  his  last  words  were : “I  am  resting  on 


the  promises.” 


Stephen  Heard. 


827 


After  fifty  years  in  the  ministry,  Stephen  Heard  writes 
reminiscences  of  the  beginning  of  the  half  century:  “The 
country  was  mostly  new,  and  the  older  settled  portions 
were  undeveloped.  In  Cleveland  we  had  two  churches, 
one  on  the  West  Side,  then  called  Ohio  City.  That  on 
the  East  Side,  on  St.  Clair  street,  was  badly  encumbered 
with  debt.  I doubt  if  we  had  any  other  town  which  sup- 
ported a pastor  without  the  help  of  one  or  more  outlying 
appointments.  There  was  but  little  manufacturing  down 
in  the  towns;  hence  there  was  but  little  to  draw  popula- 
tion, or  to  increase  their  wealth  ; while  in  the  country  the 

farmers  were  thrifty,  but  poor.  Their  farms  were  new; 

many  had  but  small  proportions  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion. Their  occupants  could  scarcely  raise  enough  to  sub- 
sist their  households  and  their  stock.  Those  who  had  a 
surplus  could  find  no  adequate  market  for  it.  Many  of 
their  houses  were  built  of  logs  which  had  never  seen  a 
broad-ax  (I  speak  more  particularly  of  the  east  part  of 
the  conference),  having  but  one  room  (and  chamber), 
which  answered  for  kitchen,  dining-room  and  chapel. 
The  barns  were  of  the  same  primitive  character.  There 
were,  however,  many  well-to-do  farmers  who  had  niucli 
better  buildings,  especially  on  the  Reserve.  The  Yankee 
aspired  after  having  a good  house,  whether  he  had  much 
inside  or  not ; the  Pennsylvanian  built  his  good  barn  first. 

“The  roads  were  of  most  execrable  memory.  There 
were  two  turnpikes,  as  they  were  called,  bisecting  the 
Pennsylvania  portion  of  our  work,  which  were  no  better 
than  ordinary  roads,  only  they  were  wider  and  the  hifls 
were  reduced  to  a certain  grade.  Many  of  the  other 
roads  were  merely  bridle-paths.  Horse-back  riding  was 
the  only  practicable  way  of  traveling.  All  the  time  I 
traveled  east  of  the  Allegheny  river  I do  not  remember 
that  I ever  saw  a buggy.  The  preacher  was  so  depen- 
dent upon  his  horse  that  he  thought  much  of  him,  and 
always  saw  that  he  was  properly  cared  for.  Methodist 
preachers  were  excellent  judges  of  a horse,  and  they  gen- 
erally being  well  mounted,  were  frequently  challenged 
for  a trade,  in  which  practice  some  of  them  frequently  in- 
dulged, and  not  always  to  their  advantage — of  which  the 
writer  has  some  painful  recollections. 

“The  single  preacher  had  no  home  in  particular.  We 
lived  with  the  people,  and  as  they  lived ; sometimes  better 


828 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

than  they  did,  for  the  best  the  good  people  could  get  was 
kept  for  the  preacher  and  his  horse.  I have  often  dined 
on  very  humble  fare,  and  enjoyed  it  as  though  it  had  been 
angels'  food,  knowing  it  was  the  best  that  willing  hands 
and  loving  hearts  could  supply,  and  that  it  was  furnished 
in  the  name  of  the  Master. 

“Our  pay  was  in  country  produce  and  orders  on  the 
stores.  1 he  latter  supplied  the  preacher’s  wardrobe,  sup- 
plemented by  the  kind  sisters  knitting  our  socks  and  mit- 
tens. We  felt  the  need  of  a little  money  the  most  for  the 
purchase  of  books  and  periodicals,  and  to  get  our  mail. 
Postage  had  to  be  paid  at  the  office  where  mail  was  re- 
ceived, at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  cents  on  letters  carried 
four  hundred  miles  or  over,  and  fen  cents  for  a less  dis- 
tance. 

“The  devotional  services  were  wonderfully  fervid  and 
demonstrative.  The  members  took  part  voluntarily. 
But  the  quarterly  meetings  and  the  camp  meetings  were 
the  great  occasions.  The  Friday  before  quarterly  meet- 
ing was  announced  all  over  the  circuit  as  a day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  preparatory  to  the  holy  communion.  The 
coming  of  the  presiding  elder  was  hailed  with  the  deepest 
interest.  For  want  of  churches  the  meetings  were  often 
held  in  groves  and  barns,  sometimes  in  private  houses. 
The  friends  in  the  neighborhood  had  their  houses  filled 
to  their  utmost  capacity  with  their  guests  from  the  dif- 
ferent appointments  on  the  circuit;  beds  had  to  be  ex- 
temporized on  the  floor.  No  person  could  be  admitted  to 
the  love  feast  without  a ticket;  and  not  then  unless  he 
was  present  by  nine  o’clock  a.  m.,  when  the  door  was 
closed.  . . . We  did  not  have  Sabbath  Schools  at 

half  of  our  appointments.  Those  that  we  did  have  were 
only  to  hear  the  pupils  read  a portion  of  scripture,  and  to 
hear  the  recitation  of  verses.  There  was  quite  a rivalry 
with  the  children  to  see  which  could  repeat  the  greatest 
number,  for  that  one  received  the  prize  of  a book  at  the 
end  of  the  season.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , 
April  28 , 1887.) 

♦Stephen  Heard — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1837;  full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  elder,  1842, 
Morris;  deceased,  Warren,  O.,  January  26,  1895.  Appointments — 
1837,  Red  Bank;  1838,  Shippenville ; 1839,  Lawrenceburg;  1840, 
Harmonsburg;  1841,  Jefferson;  1842,  Hartford;  1843,  Gustavus; 
1844,  Braceville;  1845-’46,  superannuated;  1847,  Gustavus;  1848, 


,u  , ;JT  a V 


Mcwej  Hill.  829 

Moses  Hill. 

Rev.  D.  C.  Osborne,  D.D.,  communicates  the  following 
appreciative  and  discriminating  sketch  of  the  life  and 
work  of  Moses  Hill : 

“Moses  Hill  was  born  in  Bergen,  N.  Y.,  December  6, 
1817,  and  died  of  cancer,  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  January 
21,  1898.  His  parents  removed  in  his  infancy  to  Chau- 
tauqua County,  and  settled  near  Mayville.  He  was  left 
fatherless  when  three  years  of  age,  and  early  learned  to 
be  brave  and  self-reliant,  and  when  nine  years  old  he  be- 
came self-supporting.  He  was  converted  at  fifteen,  at 
once  united  with  the  Church,  and  was  soon  appointed 
class  leader.  Two  years  after  his  conversion  he  was  li- 
censed to  exhort,  and  began  successfully  to  call  sinners  to 
repentance.  In  June,  1837,  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  in  the  following  August  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Annual  Conference,  of  which  his  older  brother, 
Bryan  S.,  was  already  a prominent  member. 

“Nature  dealt  generously  with  him,  giving  him  a 
strong,  symmetrical  body,  a beautiful  and  expressive 
countenance,  a gracious  bearing,  a musical  voice,  perfect 
self-control,  great  intellectual  might,  unusual  social 
powers,  a high  moral  purpose,  and  marked  gifts  of  leader- 
ship, all  of  which  were  freely  given  and  found  their 
highest  expression  in  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry. 

“At  twenty-two  he  married  Miss  Adaline  Reed,  the 
only  daughter  of  a family  of  wealth,  a lady  whose  educa- 
tion and  culture  fitted  her  to  grace  any  society.  Their 
home  life  was  an  ideal  one.  When  stationed  at  First 
Church,  Meadville,  Pa.,  he  entered  Allegheny  College, 
and  four  years  later  graduated  with  honor,  having  per- 
formed double  work  while  in  college.  He  served  the 
leading  churches  of  the  conference  with  great  ability,  be- 
ing constantly  sought  for  and  gladly  welcomed.  It  was 
natural  that  one  possessing  his  talents  should  be  called  to 
the  presiding  eldership,  and  for  seventeen  years  he  served 
with  conspicuous  success  in  this  wide  field  of  usefulness. 
Five  times  he  was  chosen  to  the  General  Conference.  His 

Freedom;  1849-’50,  Edinburg;  1851,  Franklin,  O.;  1852-’53,  Ells- 
worth; 1854,  Mt.  Jackson;  1855,  West  Farmington  and  Bloom- 
field; 1856-’57,  Liberty;  1858-’59,  Tallmadge;  1860-’61,  Deerfield; 
1862-’63,  Morgan;  1864-’65,  Springfield;  1866-’68,  superannuated: 
1869,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1870-71,  Linesville;  1872,  Nottingham  and 
Glenville;  1873-74,  Lockport;  1875,  Hamlet,  which  infirm  health 
prevented  him  from  serving;  1876-’94,  superannuated. 


830 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


friends  early  sought  to  elect  him  a bishop,  but  he  pre- 
ferred that  his  great  friend,  Calvin  Kingsley,  D.D.,  should 
receive  this  high  honor,  and  faithfully  sought  to  bring 
him  prominently  before  the  Church.  When  Doctor 
Kingsley  was  called  to  the  bishopric  no  one  rejoiced  more 
than  Doctor  Hill.  When  a minister  of  great  promise 
left  St.  Clair  Street  Church  in  Cleveland,  and  united  with 
a sister  church  in  the  same  city,  Bishop  Ames  took  Doctor 
Hill  from  New  Castle  District,  and  appointed  him  to  the 
church  made  vacant.  This  was  his  crowning  work  as 
pastor.  The  church  was  dispirited  and  111  debt.  He 
gathered  the  members,  and  for  four  months  carried  on  re 
cival  services.  About  five  hundred  were  converted;  the 
membership  was  nearly  doubled,  all  the  debts  were  paid 
the  church  was  beautified,  and  Methodism  for  the  first 
time  was  recognized  and  welcomed  by  the  sister  churches 
as  a great  spiritual  force.  In  order  to  provide  for  old 
age.  and  to  enable  him- to  do  the  good  he  desired,  he  in- 
vested- the  savings  of  his  life  and  Mrs.  Hl11  s Ja’e  9^^ 
father’s  estate  in  an  iron  manufactory.  Aftei  a time  it 
was  found  that  by  mismanagement  the  great  concern 
was  almost  wrecked ; debts  accumulated,  1 
failino-  and  bankruptcy  was  impending.  The  company 
.ha.  Doctor  Hill's  grea.  h«i„es.  ^ m.gh 
save  their  imperiled  interests,  if  he  would  accept  tl 
management.  He  faced  a cross  on  either  hand— if  he 
strove&  with  his  might  to  save  these  interests,  h.s  brethren 
whom  he  loved  so  strongly  might  charge  h'm  w>th  secu- 
laritv  • if  he  neglected  this  opportunity,  he  must  so 
through  life  burdened  by  debts.  He  accepted  the  charge 
^the  fear  of  the  Lord,  supplying  his  pulpit,  but  applying 
the  salarv  paid  by  the  church  to  the  parsonage  debt  A 
ter  years  of  service  he  saved  the  industry,  paid  its  in- 
debtedness, and  when  the  danger  was  past,  resigned 
presidency  to  preach  the  gospel  only. 

was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  conference,  a 
skilfuf  debater  a peacemaker  and  wise  administrator. 
Baldwin  University  honored  itself  by "^appointed 

!”  & and  tor  eight  years  one  of  .he  pubhsh- 


83o  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

friends  early  sought  to  ele^kl™  Kingsley, D.D.,  should 
ferred  that  his  great  sought  to  bring 

receive  <lm  h,gh  vfta,  Doctor 

him  prominently  be  o' e no  one  rejoiced  more 

Kingsley  was  called  to  t of  great  promise 

than  Doctoi  Hill.  .riv in  Cleveland,  and  united  with 

left  St.  Clair  Street  Chuich  A took  Doctor 

» church  in. I .«  »™  “g;  him  ,o  the 

Hill  from  New  Castle  Ltisti  . crowning  work  as 

church  made  vacant.  disoirited  and  in  debt.  He 

pastor.  The  church  \\<  ■ P months  carried  on  re- 
gathered the  mein  eisai  dred  were  converted;  the 

rival  services.  About:  all  the  debts  were  paid, 

membership  was  neat  and  Methodism  for  the  first 

the  church  was  bef  t,fi?^med  bv  the  sister  churches 
time  was  recognizee  an  order  to  provide  for  old 

as  a great  spiritual  force.  J desired,  he  in- 
age. and  to  enable  lui  d ^Irs  Hill’s  share  of  her 

vested  the  savings  ot  Ins  ^ t After  a time  it 

father’s  estate  m an  non ; t'  the  great  concern 

was  found  that.^  .‘S  accumulated,  their  credit  was 
was  almost  wrecked , deb ts  ac  ,.  The  company 

failing,  and  ^business  ability  might 

believed  that  Doctoi  Hil  - » ,{  he  woupi  accept  the 

save  their  imperiled  mte ^ ^ either  hand— if  he 
management.  He  ac  interests,  his  brethren 

strove  with  his  might  to  « " him  with  secu- 

whom  he  loved  so  st^gly  ^ must  go 

laritv ; if  he  neglecte  t He  accepted  the  chaige 

through  life  burdened  b>de^  in^  ^ but  applying 

in  the  tear  of  the  01  — f 1 - the  parsonage  debt.  At- 
the  salary  paid  by  the  churchy  ^ v paid 

SSss  and^en  the  danger  was  past,  resigned  the 

presidency  to  preach  the  gospe  on  ^ conference,  a 

“He  was  the  recognized  wise  administrator, 

skilful  debater,  a Peace,"ak  itself  bv  conferring  upon 
Baldwin  University  lion  - He  was  appointed 

him  the  degree  of  Hoc  v T hodist  Episcopal  Church  o 
fraternal  delegate  to  tl  e Me*"  y t acceptability. 

Canada,  and  performed A^wit^  General  Misston- 
For  four  years  he  was  one  o{  the  publish- 

arv  Committee,  and  tor  eiBm  . 

J 


I 


832 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


in g committee  of  the  ‘Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate.’ 
The  bishops  appointed  him  to  the  committee  for  the  cen- 
tennial observance  of  1866.  Children’s  Day  was  a cher- 
ished idea  with  him.  If  he  had  not  turned  aside  to  save 
that  great  business  interest,  he  doubtless  would  have  been 
called  to  the  bishopric.  In  1881  he  took  a supernumerary 
relation,  and  later  removed  to  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  where 
he  entered  a company  engaged  in  manufacturing  agri- 
cultural implements.  Success  crowned  their  labors,  and 
a charming  home  was  fitted  up,  in  which  he  hoped  to 
spend  the  long  sunny  afternoon  of  life.  But  his  wife 
was  suffering  with  consumption.  A journey  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast  and  to  Europe  was  taken  in  search  of  health, 
which  they  could  not  find.  She  passed  on  to  the  city  of 
the  Great  King,  and  left  him  a mourner  until  they  should 
meet  again.  Doctor  Hill  had  two  all-cqntrolling  loves, 
one  for  Christ  and  His  church,  the  other  for  his  darling 
wife.  When  she  was  gone  it  was  but  natural,  as  they 
were  childless,  that  all  his  possessions  should  be  given  to 
the  Church.  The  Church  Extension  Society  will  receive 
his  estate,  which  will  doubtless  amount  to  $40,000.  So 
he  being  dead  will  still  speak  in  places  of  worship  where 
Christ  will  be  glorified  by  the  lifting  up  of  humanity. 
His  body  rests  beside  the  form  he  loved  so  well,  in  the 
beautiful  cemetery  at  Kalamazoo,  awaiting  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  just.  He  fought  a good  fight,  and  kept  the 
faith  to  the  end.” 

Of  his  estate,  the  Church  Extension  Society  has  already 
received  over  $21,000.  In  this  benefaction  he  has  demon- 
strated his  great  love  for  and  loyalty  to  the  Church ; and 
his  life  still  proclaims  to  vast  multitudes  the  gospel  of 
salvation  through  Christ.  Among  his  last  testimonies 
were  the  words  spoken  to  a friend : “I  am  passing 

through  the  valley  of  Baca,  but  am  making  it  a well.”* 

♦Moses  Hill,  D.D.— Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1837;  full  connection,  1839;  deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1841, 
Roberts;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  January  21,  1898. 
Appointments— 1837,  Forestville;  1838,  Westfield;  1839,  James- 
town, N.  Y.;  1840,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1841,  Fredonia  and  Portland; 
1842,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1843,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1844,  Geneva,  O.; 
1845-’46,  Meadville;  1847-’48,  Saegertown;  1849-’50,  Franklin,  Pa.; 
1851,  Panama;  1852-’54,  Franklin  District;  1855,  New  Castle  Dis- 
trict; 1856-’57,  Cleveland,  St.  Clair  street;  1858-’61,  Cleveland 
District;  1862-’65,  Ravenna  District;  1866,  Newburg;  1867,  Cleve- 
land, St.  Clair  street,  second  preacher;  1868,  Cleveland,  Scoville 


! 


— ajfl-  I~  m 


William  Abbott , Milo  H.  Bettes.  833 

William  Abbott,  Milo  H.  Bettes. 

William  Abbott  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Windsor  Co., 
Vt.,  in  1811,  and  died  in  Mayfield,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1843,  having  just  completed  his  thirty-first  year.  He 
was  converted  at  Bangor,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  New  York; 
and  licensed  to  preach,  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  May,  1837, 
and  in  August  following  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference,  and  appointed  with  L.  D.  Mix  to  the  Con- 
neaut  Circuit,  but  being  in  feeble  health,  he  soon  found 
that  he  could  not  endure  the  work,  and  after  about  six 
months  was  forced  to  retire.  But  he  labored  long 
enough  to  endear  himself  to  the  people,  and  to  display 
more  than  ordinary  talents  as  a preacher  of  the  gospel. 
He  subsequently  sought  to  regain  his  health  by  a change 
of  climate,  visiting  Kentucky,  and  Cuba,  but  all  to  no 
purpose.  He  finally  abandoned  all  hope  of  recovery,  and 
returned,  as  he  said,  “to  die  with  the  few  relatives  who 
were  living  in  this  section.,,  He  continued  to  suffer 
much,  but  was  an  example  of  patience  and  resignation, 
until  his  emaciated  frame  sunk  suddenly  beneath  the 
weight  of  his  disease,  and  his  peaceful  spirit  took  flight 
to  that  land  where  the  weary  are  at  rest.  He  was  re- 
markably conscientious  and  exemplary  in  his  life,  and  his 
death  was  that  of  the  perfect  and  upright  man.”* — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Oct.  18,  1843.) 

Milo  H.  Bettes  was  born  in  Southfield,  Massachusetts, 
Oct.  17,  1814;  and  died  in  Corry,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  May 
21,  1864.  His  parents  moved  to  Ohio  in  1816  and  reared 
their  family  amid  the  toils  and  activities  of  a new  country. 
Milo  improved  such  opportunities  for  an  education  as  the 
new  country  afforded,  and  became  a scholar  of  very  cred- 
itable attainments.  He  was  converted  in  1834,  and  in 
1837  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  “He 
very  soon  took  rank  with  the  most  promising  young  men 
of  the  conference,  and  for  many  years  served,  with  gen- 

avenue,  second  preacher;  1869-70,  Cleveland,  Erie  street,  second 
preacher;  1871,  Cleveland,  Kingsley  Chapel;  1872-73,  Cleveland 
Scoville  avenue  and  Kingsley  Chapel,  second  preacher;  1874! 
Cleveland,  Erie  street,  second  preacher;  1875-76,  Cleveland’ 
Woodland  avenue;  1877-’80,  Cleveland  District;  1881,  East  Cleve- 
land, second  preacher;  1882-’97,  supernumerary. 

♦William  Abbott — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on  trial 
1837;  discontinued,  1838;  deceased,  Mayfield,  O.,  1843.  Appoint- 
ment— 1837,  Conneaut. 


53 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


oral  acceptability  and  success,  some  of  the  most  promi- 
nent charges.  1 1 is  sermons  gave  evidence  of  systematic 
thought  and  thorough  preparation,  and  though  generally 
more  didactic  than  pathetic,  they  were  usually  attended 
with  a power  which  reached  the  judgment  and  conscience. 
In  the  social  relations  he  was  affable  and  affectionate, 
and  in  his  intercourse  with  society  at  large  lie  ever  main- 
tained the  character  of  a Christian  gentleman.”  He  was 
effective  twenty-three  years,  and  superannuated  four 


years.* 


Alexander  L.  Miller. 


Alexander  L.  Miller  was  born  near  Evansburg,  Craw- 
ford Co..  Pa.,  Dec.  25,  1809:  and  died  in  Shermansville, 
May  4.  1891.  He  was  converted  in  1824;  licensed  to 
preach  in  1836;  and  the  next  year  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference,  and  transferred  to  the  Indiana  Con- 
ference In  1840  lie  located  and  returned  to  Pennsyl- 
vania. and  was  re-admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1842  He  spent  twenty-eight  years  on  a farm ; twenty- 
four.  in  the  active  ministry,  and  twenty-nine,  in  either  a 
supernumerary  or  superannuate  relation. 

"He  inherited  a firm  constitution  and  great  tenacity 
of  life  from  a long-lived  ancestry,  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents on  both  sides  having  lived  to  very  advanced  age. 
He  was  of  sturdy,  courageous,  self-reliant  stock.  His 
father.  Captain  Michael  Miller,  came  to  the  claim  after- 
ward known  as  the  Miller  Farm,  when  sixteen  years  old, 
and  staid  upon  it  alone  six  months  with  no  white  person 
within  ten  miles  of  him,  subsisting  upon  potatoes  and  wild 
game,  and  during  the  time  seeing  no  bread  of  any  color. 
He  afterward  married  and  raised  a family  of  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  marry  and  rear  families  e- 
their  own.  They  were  all  Methodists,  several  of  the  fam- 
ily becoming  distinguished  for  Methodistic  zeal,  so  that 
Miller  and  Methodist  were  almost  synonymous  terms  111 

“l,  S.  S Appointments— 1 837 , 

’ tl1*39!  sSeVHendersoi^He^^44-’45f  ^Fra^kHn^  0.;*^184fr’47 , 
Chardon;  1848,  Meadville;  1849,  Rockville;  1850-;51,  Springfield; 
1852-’53  Poland;  1854,  West  Farmington;  i855-56,  Ciarksville, 
1857,  Edinburg;  1858,  Wesleyville;  1859,  Youngsville;  1860-63, 
superannuated. 


Alexander  L.  Miller. 


*35 


the  neighborhood.  Alexander  being  the  eldest  child  save 
one,  was  early  inured  to  much  toil  and  privation.  His 
opportunities  for  obtaining  learning  were  very  limited. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  as 
much  as  he  could,  and  by  self-effort,  studying  often  by  the 
blazing  light  of  a pine  knot,  he  acquired  an  education  quite 
respectable  for  the  times,  so  that  for  several  terms  he 
taught  the  country  schools  of  the  community.  His  par- 
ents were  ardent  Methodists,  their  home,  for  several 
years,  furnished  a place  for  preaching,  Sunday  School, 
prayer  and  class  meetings.  Here  he  saw  and  heard  the 
early  itinerant  circuit  riders  and  he  desired  to  be  like 
them. 

“In  March,  1871,  returning  home  from  an  appointment, 
he  was  struck  by  a storm  of  wind  and  rain  so  violent  as  to 
drive  him,  with  great  force,  against  the  timbers  of  a 
bridge,  which  resulted  in  a fracture  of  his  right  hip.  The 
bones  not  being  properly  adjusted,  grew  together  out  of 
place,  making  one  leg  nearly  four  inches  shorter  than  the 
other.  Thenceforward,  for  twenty  years,  he  was  a feeble 
man  and  went  halting  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

“Brother  Miller  was  fearless  in  his  convictions  and  held 
fast  the  form  of  sound  words.  If  his  sermons  had  not 
modern  polish  and  finish,  they  were,  nevertheless,  sub- 
stantial outgrowths  from  gospel  facts,  and  appealed  to 
the  heart  and  conscience  with  convincing  power.  He  was 
not  boisterous  or  rough  but  tender,  pathetic,  persuasive. 
He  had  a clear  tenor  voice,  very  pleasant  to  the  ear,  which 
carried  his  distinct  utterances  to  the  farthest  auditor  in  the 
great  congregation.  He  had  power  over  men.  He  moved 
others,  because  moved  himself.  His  impassioned  words 
and  tears  melted  his  hearers  to  tears,  drove  many  to  re- 
pentance and  filled  the  altars  with  penitent  seekers.  His 
hearty  sympathy  with  the  afflicted  made  him  ever  welcome 
to  the  home  of  sorrow,  and  his  ministries,  much  desired 
at  funerals,  lightened  the  pressure  of  grief,  and  gave  hope 
and  comfort  to  the  bereaved. 

“Severe  affliction  in  his  own  family,  making  it  difficult 
or  impossible  to  move  much  of  his  time,  interfered  largely 
with  his  work,  but  with  great  devotion  to  both  he  did 
what  he  could,  frequently  riding  great  distances  after 
preaching  at  night  to  reach  his  home  before  he  slept. 
His  last  years  were  filled  with  waiting  and  suffering,  in 


836 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


which  he  was  sustained  by  the  grace  which  he  found  all- 
sufficient  in  time  of  need.  With  great  tenacity  of  life  he 
lingered  until  literally  worn  out,  particle  by  particle  the 
tabernacle  fell  without  repair,  until  completely  exhausted, 
and  then  he  fell  asleep.”* 

Lewis  Burton. 

Lewis  Burton  was  born  in  Millcreek  Township,  Erie 
County,  Pa.,  July  3,  1815.  His  pious  parents  made  a 
welcome  home  for  the  Methodist  itinerants,  and  Lewis 
was  reared  under  the  most  wholesome  Christian  influ- 
ences. Lffider  the  benign  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
he  was  converted  in  1830,  and  united  with  a little  band  of 
humble  Methodists  wihch  worshiped  in  a small  school 
house  near  his  father’s  home.  Feeling  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  preach  he  sought  to  qualify  himself  for  this  holy 
calling  and  entered  Allegheny  College  in  1833,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1837.  He  had  received  license  to  preach  the  year 
previous  to  the  completion  of  his  academic  course.  He 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1837. 


“Mr.  Burton  was  a modest,  well-appearing  young  man, 
of  medium  size,  a close  and  thorough  student,  a uniform 
and  exemplary  Christian,  a correct  and  pleasant  public 
speaker,  and  an  accomplished  gentleman.” 

In  1846  he  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  member- 
ship of  the  church,  and  became  a minister  in  the  Meth- 
odist Protestant  Church,  and  for  many  years  was  rector 
of  St.  John’s  Church,  Cleveland,  O.  He  died  in  Cleve- 
land, O.,  October  9,  1894.1 

*A.  L.  Miller — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1837;  transferred  to  Indiana  Conference,  1837;  full  connection, 
1839;  deacon,  1839,  Morris;  located,  1840;  re-admitted,  Erie  Con- 
ference, 1842;  elder,  1844,  Waugh;  deceased,  Shermansville,  Pa., 
May  4,  1891.  Appointments — 1837,  New  Castle,  Ind.;  1838,  Spen- 
cer, Ind.;  1839,  Springville,  Ind.;  1841,  Clintonville  (supply); 
1842,  Oil  Creek;  1843,  Clintonville;  1844-’45,  Hartford;  1846-’47, 
Conneautville;  1848,  supernumerary;  1849-’52,  superannuated; 
1853,  Evansburg;  1854,  superannuated;  1855-’56,  Hendersonville; 
1857-’58,  New  Lebanon;  1859-’60,  Espyville;  1861-’62,  Richmond; 
1863,  Riceville;  1864-’66,  superannuated;  1867-’68,  Townville; 
1869,  superannuated;  1870-’71,  Kelloggsville;  1872-’90,  superan- 
nuated. 


tLewis  Burton — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1837;  full  connection,  1839;  deacon,  1839,  Soule;  transferred  to 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1839;  elder,  1841,  Roberts;  withdrew  from 
ministry  and  membership,  1846;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  October 


Methodism  in  Warrensville,  Ohio. 


83  7 


Methodism  in  Warrensville,  Ohio. 

Nathaniel  C.  Haynes,  a local  preacher  in  Bedford,  O., 
was  a native  of  Andover,  Hillsborough  Co.,  N.  H.,  born 
June  13,  1794.  He  was  converted  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
and  licensed  to  preach  in  1814.  He  settled  in  Warrensville. 
Ohio,  in  1823,  and  removed  to  Bedford  in  1831.  Mr. 
Gregg  says:  “Father  Haynes  is  a tall,  slim  man,  of 

moderate  preaching  abilities,  but  regarded  as  a very  hon- 
est, sincere  Christian  man  of  an  unblemished  character,  in 
whom  the  community  where  he  lives  has  great  confidence. 
He  has  attended  and  officiated  at  more  funerals,  and  of- 
fered more  prayers  over  the  sick  and  dying  than  any  other 
gospel  minister  in  the  place  where  he  resides.”  Upon  his 
arrival  at  Bedford,  he  took  a lively  interest  in  the  re- 
ligious interests  of  the  community,  and  a Methodist  class 
was  formed  consisting  of  Mr.  Haynes  and  wife,  A.  Tur- 
ner and  wife,  Anna  Turner,  and  Hannah  Turner. — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II, 
pp.  69,  70.) 

Previous  to  1837  there  had  been  no  regular  preaching 
appointment  at  Warrensville,  Ohio;  but  a class  had  been 
formed  which  had  occasional  services.  This  class  seems 
to  have  been  absorbed  by  the  Protestant  Methodists.  On 
November  12,  1837,  Philip  Green  and  Peter  Burroughs, 
of  the  adjoining  circuit  which  comprised  the  township  of 
Newbury,  Bedford,  East  Cleveland,  Euclid,  and  some 
others ; organized  a class  composed  of  thirty-one  members. 
Among  those  were  the  Johnsons,  Hubbards,  Thorps,  Up- 
sons,  Cushmans,  Craines,  Quayles,  and  a few  others. 

The  society  held  its  meetings  in  the  school  house  until 
1846  when  a church  was  built  at  the  Centre.  In  1858  a 
revival  conducted  by  L.  E.  Beardsley  brought  into  the 
church  a number  of  devoted  members.  In  1866  the 
church  building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  when  services  were 
again  held  in  the  school  house.  In  the  summer  of  1868 
a fine  church  edifice  was  erected  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Lord  by  Cyrus  Prindle.  In  1863  a parson- 
age was  purchased,  which  was  sold  two  years  later  and  a 
house  and  lot  in  a more  desirable  location  were  secured. 

9,  1894.  Appointments — 1837,  New  Castle;  1838,  Salem;  1839, 
Wheeling,  Va.;  1840,  Wellsville,  O.;  1841-’42,  New  Lisbon,  O.; 
1843-’44,  Allegheny  City,  South  Common;  1845,  Canton,  O. 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 


C\y> 

This  second  building  was  sold  in  1886,  moved  from  the 
ground,  and  a line  new  parsonage  erected. 

In  1837  another  class  was  formed  in  North  Warrens 
ville  at  Radcliffe  School  House.  The  original  meml)ers 
were  the  following:  James  Smith,  Mary  Smith,  Robert 

Smith.  James  Lee,  Laura  Lee,  Caleb  Litch,  Mercy  Litch 
and  Elizabeth  Corlett.  However  the  circuit  preachers 
made  no  regular  appointments  here  until  1841.  The  first 
Sabbath  School  in  the  township  was  organized  at  this 
school  house  in  1837.  In  1858  East  Cleveland  and  Euclid 
were  formed  into  a circuit  by  themselves,  but  “Euclid 
Stone  School  House”  was  added  to  the  appointments  on 
the  old  circuit.  In  1858  Newburg  was  made  a separate 
appointment,  and  Orange  Circuit  was  added  to  the  War- 
rensville Charge.  In  1862  Bedford  became  self-support- 
ing'. and  Warrensville  was  served  by  a supply.  Orange 
Hill  came  in  in  1863  when  J.  K.  Mendenhall  was  appoint- 
ed preacher  in  charge.  In  1874  “East  Cleveland  Ridge 
was  united  to  the  circuit,  but  in  1878  it  was  united  with 
Nottingham  and  Glenville,  leaving  Warrensville,  Center, 
North  Warrensville,  Euclid  Stone  School  House,  Orange 
Centre,  and  Orange  Hill.  Robert  Smith,  a local  preacher, 
and  member  of  the  first  building  committee,  is  still  living 
— 1906 — at  Warrensville,  Ohio,  age  eighty-six  years. 

Frostburg  and  Silver  Creek. 

The  Frostburg  charge  has  (in  1901)  five  appointments 
— Frostburg,  Valier,  Horatio,  Lindsey,  and  Walston. 
The  class  at  Frostburg  was  organized  in  1837  by  Elijah 
Coleman,  a local  preacher,  and  consisted  of  five  members : 
Henrv  and  Barbara  Palmer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham  De 
Haven,  and  Mrs.  J.  Martin.  In  1839  the  class  was 
greatly  strengthened  by  the  advent  of  the  Swisher  family 
from  Central  Pennsylvania.  There  were  Daniel  and  Eliza- 
beth Swisher  and  their  three  children — Mary,  Joseph,  and 
Elizabeth.  A log  church  was  built  in  1841,  and  was  used 
for  thirty  vears,  when  the  present  building  was  erected  on 
the  same  lot.  For  several  years  this  class  was  connected 
with  the  Red  Bank  Circuit,  and  later  was  attached  to 
Punxsutawney.  In  1896,  the  name  appears  in  the  list  of 
appointments. 

The  Walston  class  was  organized  by  Thomas  Pollard  in 
1887,  and  the  Horatio  class  in  1888;  the  Valier  class  by 


!/'  *'/  ■■  w ....  A y YtuMi,  'dfV.il 


t.  # 


Ravenna  District  Resolutions. 


John  Frampton,  a local  preacher,  in  1894;  and  the  Lind- 
sey  class  by  T.  W.  Douglas  in  1898. 

T he  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Silver  Creek,  New  York,  was  effected  in  1837,  though  a 
class  had  been  maintained  many  years  previous  to  this 
date.  According  to  Gregg,  Lemuel  Lane,  a local  preacher 
from  the  Western  Reserve,  while  laboring  on  the  Chau- 
tauqua Circuit,  in  1812,  formed  a class  at  Silver  Creek, 
consisting  of  Artemus  Clothier  and  wife,  Norman  Spink 
and  wife,  and  a few  others.  Young’s  history  of  Chau- 
tauqua County  gives  the  date  1819,  and  mentions  the  same 
persons  with  the  addition  of  Lyscom  Mixer  and  wife ; and 
says  that  soon  after,  the  following  names  were  added  to 
the  class:  Giles  Eggleston  and  wife,  James  Wesley  and 

wife,  Emily  Nevins,  Leonard  McDaniels,  “and  others.” 
This  was  probably  a reorganization  of  the  former  class. 
G.  C.  Baker,  traveling  the  Sheridan  Circuit,  was  the  min- 
ister at  the  time  of  this  organization.  The  first  house  of 
worship  was  erected  in  1848  and  improved  and  repaired 
in  1874.  A new  edifice  was  completed  in  1889  at  a cost 
of  $8,000;  and  dedicated  by  Rev.  Benoni  I.  Ives,  D.D., 
“the  great  dedicator.”  “This  is  a fine  building,  has  a 
large  audience  room,  very  neat  and  tasteful  in  decoration, 
with  prayer-meeting  and  Sabbath  School  rooms,  and  all 
the  other  conveniences  which  these  times  demand.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , V ol. 
I,  p.  1 15;  Edson  and  Merrill,  History  of  Chautauqua 
County,  p.  64/.) 


Ravenna  District  Resolutions. 


“On  Wednesday,  May  31,  1837,  in  pursuance  of  a pre- 
vious appointment,  the  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  in  Ravenna  District,  Erie  Conference,  met 
in  Willoughby,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  greater 
unanimity  in  the  administration  of  discipline  and  usages. 
The  meeting  was  attended  by  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
preachers.  The  Rev.  Isaac  Winans  was  called  to  the 
chair,  and  opened  the  meeting  with  reading  a portion  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  singing  and  prayer,  at  9 o’clock  a. 
m.  A deep  interest  prevailed  throughout  the  meeting, 
which  was  continued  with  several  adjournments,  until 
the  afternoon  of  the  following  day.  The  subjoined  are 
.amongst  the  resolutions  passed,  viz. : 


840 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“ ‘That,  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  we  will  exert  our 
influence  with  our  societies,  to  induce  them  to  improve 
in  the  science  of  sacred  music.’ 

“ ‘That  we  do  not  consider  the  rule  requiring  us  to 
“recommend  our  tune  book,”  as  intended  to  prohibit  our 
members  from  using  other  works  of  similar  character, 
when  circumstances  appear  to  forbid  the  use  of  the  Har- 
monist.’ 

“ ‘That  our  congregations  shall  be  instructed  to  stand 
while  singing  the  introductory  and  concluding  hymns 
during  public  service,  and  to  retain  their  seats  during  the 
second  hymn.' 

“ ‘That  we  will  use  our  influence  to  induce  the  ob- 
servance of  kneeling  in  time  of  prayer  on  all  occasions.’ 
“ ‘That  we  will  be  more  uniform  in  reading  a portion 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  public  congregation,  and  also 
in  repeating  the  Lord’s  Prayer  in  divine  service,  in  ac- 
cordance with  “the  discipline.” 

“ ‘That  we  will  be  punctual  in  reading  our  general 
rules  in  the  different  congregations  and  societies  accord- 
ing to  “the  discipline."  ’ 

“ ‘That  this  meeting  do  recommend  the  general  use  of 
tickets,  and  that  they  are  to  be  considered  not  merely  as 
notes  of  admission  to  our  love  feasts,  but  as  badges  of 
membership.’ 

“ ‘That  the  preacher  in  charge  of  each  circuit  attend 
to  the  class-books  or  papers  being  regularly  marked.’ 

“ ‘That  we  zealously  recommend  the  observance  of 
our  quarterly  fasts,  and  that  we  urge  this  duty  by  our 
example.’ 

“ ‘That  it  is  the  duty  of  each  preacher  in  the  district 
to  preach  in  every  society  on  their  respective  circuits  one 
sermon  annually  on  the  subject  of  fasting.’ 

“ ‘That  we  will  endeavor,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
preach  more  expressly  on  the  subject  of  holiness.’ 

“ ‘That,  as  we  have  reason  to  think  that  pastoral  visit- 
ing has  been  very  much  neglected,  we  resolve  that  each 
preacher  on  the  district  be  required  to  visit  all  the  fami- 
lies in  his  charge  as  soon  as  possible,  as  contemplated  by 
our  discipline.’ 

“ ‘That  we  consider  the  use  of  tobacco  at  all  times  un- 
pleasant and  frequently  useless,  and  we  determine  to  ab- 


Revivals.  841 

stain  from  it,  unless  when  it  is  prescribed  to  us  by  a 
physician.’ 

“ ‘That  our  next  district  meeting  shall  be  commenced 
with  a discourse  on  the  Christian  ministry.’ 

“ ‘That  a discourse  be  delivered  during  the  next  meet- 
ing, on  Christian  perfection.’ 

“ ‘That  a missionary  meeting  shall  be  held  in  connec- 
tion with  our  next  meeting.’ 

“ ‘That  a committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  an  ac- 
count of  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting,  and  forward  it 
for  publication  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  Journal.’ 

“ ‘That  the  said  committee  shall  prepare  tickets  to  be 
handed  to  the  preachers  coming  on  to  the  district  from 
the  ensuing  conference.’ 

“ ‘That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  convene  again  in 
Akron  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  November  next.’  ” — 
(Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  June  29,  1837.) 

Revivals. 

Watts  B.  Lloyd  reports  a revival  on  the  Cambridge 
Circuit:  “We  closed  a protracted  meeting  at  Rockville, 

on  the  seventh  of  February,  which  resulted  in  the  con- 
version of  forty-nine  souls.  Thirty-five  have  joined  on 
probation.  A good  state  of  feeling  still  prevails  in  our 
congregations.  Before  we  closed,  we  drew  up  a sub- 
scription for  a meeting  house,  and  have  succeeded  in 
raising  over  eight  hundred  dollars.  We  expect  to  get 
one  thousand,  which  we  think  will  build  a sufficient  house 
for  this  place.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  Feb.  22, 
i838-) 

Speaking  of  a revival  at  Gustavus  in  1837,  H.  S.  Win- 
ans  says : “There  is  one  circumstance  wrhich  I wish  to 

notice,  before  I close  this  communication.  A sister,  who 
is  a member  of  the  church  in  this  place,  and  the  only  one 
remaining  of  those  that  composed  the  first  Methodist  so- 
ciety in  this  town  ,and  one  in  wdiose  religious  profession 
all  orders  of  people  placed  the  utmost  confidence.  This 
person  lost  her  speech,  seven  weeks  previous  to  the  be- 
ginning of  our  quarterly  meeting,  so  that  in  our  class 
meetings  she  could  only  make  signs  of  her  intention  to 
serve  God.  At  first,  it  was  supposed  by  herself  and  others, 
that  it  wras  a violent  hoarseness  she  had  taken  from 
a cold ; but  two  wreeks  before  the  quarterly  meeting  com- 


S42 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


inenced,  it  was  strongly  impressed  upon  her  mind,  that 
it  was  brought  upon  her  in  consequence  of  her  unfaith- 
fulness to  God.  She  had  once  enjoyed  the  blessing  of 
sanctification,  but  had  lost  its  enjoyment,  and  it  was  im- 
pressed upon  her  mind  that  she  would  never  be  able  to 
speak  until  she  was  restored  to  her  former  enjoyments. 
This  she  signified  to  our  presiding  elder,  in  our  love 
feast,  and  he  mentioned  it  to  the  congregation — she  was 
one  among  many,  that  was  earnestly  seeking  for  full  re- 
demption in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  on  Thurs- 
day, during  our  morning  meeting,  while  wrestling  with 
God  in  silent  prayer,  for  the  blessing,  God  in  his  mercy 
loosed  her  tongue  in  a moment,  as  quick  as  thought,  and 
she  burst  out  into  raptures  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
unto  God,  and  immediately  ran  up  before  the  admiring 
and  astonished  multitude,  and  told  what  God  had  done 
for  her:  that  he  had  cured  both  soul  and  body.” — 
(Pittsburg  Conference  Journal , March  23,  1837.) 

Allured  Plimpton  and  Benjamin  Preston  write  from 
the  North  East  Circuit:  “About  four  weeks  ago  we 

commenced  a protracted  effort  in  Greenfield,  under  some- 
what unpromising  circumstances — such  as  inclemency  of 
weather,  want  of  a commodious  house,  as  we  had  nothing 
better  than  a school  house,  and  what  was  not  the  least, 
the  fewness  and  stupidity  of  the  professors  of  religion; 
but  we  went  to  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  en- 
deavored to  press  upon  them  the  necessity  of  settling  the 
great  controversy  between  them  and  their  Maker,  and  to 
do  it  now.  It  was  soon  apparent  that  many  became 
troubled  about  this  matter,  and  during  the  progress  of 
the  meeting,  which  lasted  a little  more  than  one  week,  we 
are  happy  to  say  that  about  thirty  were  constrained  to  sur- 
render at  discretion,  and  thereby  received  a pardon.  The 
work  is  still  going  on.  We  held  our  second  quarterly 
meeting  in  the  borough  of  North  East,  commencing  the 
twenty-second  of  January.  A spirit  dearth  has  for  a 
long  time  prevailed  in  the  churches  in  this  place,  and  with 
many  it  was  literally  hoping  against  hope  that  any  im- 
portant good  would  be  accomplished;  and  there  seemed 
to  be  but  little  effect  for  the  first  two  or  three  days.  We 
thought  it  advisable,  however,  to  keep  up  our  meetings 
through  the  week  evenings,  and  we  rejoice  exceedingly 
to  say  there  has  been  a powerful  break  in  the  ranks  of 


- — 


Revivals. 


843 


the  wicked.  Our  meetings  are  still  in  progress.  Last 
evening  there  was  something  like  eighty  or  ninety  that 
rushed  to  the  altar,  to  confess  their  sins,  and  plead  for 
pardon.  Their  lamentations  and  weeping  over  their  past 
follies  and  crimes,  seemed  to  fill  the  house  but  they  were 
timely,  being  poured  out  within  the  hearing  of  mercy,  as 
some  were  enabled  to  rejoice  before  they  left  the  house. 
We  are  glad  to  say  there  is  a union  of  effort  among  the 
Christian  denominations  of  this  place,  in  rescuing  perish- 
ing sinners  from  death/’ — (Pittsburg  Conference  Jour- 
nal, Feb.  22,  1838.) 


End  of  First  Volume. 


i«v‘ 

‘War 


: ^'  <-Si#'  * •%-  -’av 

J'A?  ^ ^T 5#  '■■'•'/  fSv<V)  ^ 


Vr*'^0fr« 

\jA:%*si'^; 

; .^it  ,*;f „f  Iv  £ 


r ?v  ’<?:  <f. 


-*1^7  «*;'„]** 


k;-\;> 

IPtfl 

v„  * -wsJr*  >•; 


5$ras 


. X.V' . 


* *?> 

y^. 


UDrary  Bureau  Cat.  no.  1137 


®a**s?r* 

A 


SjMS^SNfifc 

rntm?  %&■  mm  •$&'  %, , 


8&«Sa« 


1111 


#§»** 


” -'  V .’  / •;  'V  ~V:'  * 


DUPLICATE  EMORY  UNIVERSITY  DUPLICATE 


15181297 


311— »»# 

i 


Candler  School  of  Theology 

Emory  University,  Ga. 


AD  MAJOREM 


15181298 


Fokd  Memorial  Chapel,  Allegheny  College 


HISTORY 


OF 

Erie  Conference 

(IN  TWO  VOLUMES) 


VOLUME  II. 


— BY— 

Rev.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

A Member  of  the  Conference. 

Author  of  “Witnesses  from  the  Dust,”  “Living  Religions,” 
“Old  Heroes,”  “Departed  Gods,”  “Fire  from  Strange 
Altars,”  “ Light  from  Egypt,”  “ Beauty  Crowned.” 
“ Life’s  Springtime,”  Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


Honorary  Member  of  the  American  Ethnological  Society;  Member  of 
the  Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology,  London;  Egypt  Exploration 
Fund,  London;  National  Geographical  Society,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 


1907 

Derrick  Publishing  Company, 
Oil  City,  Pa. 


’ \ j i ' ***^£^: 

«% 

s 

JfiLir 

eL&J  V ' - 

atr, r 

JSu;3 

Ford  Memorial  Chapel,  Allegheny  College. 


HISTORY 


OF 

Erie  Conference 

(IN  TWO  VOLUMES) 


VOLUME  II. 


— BY— 

Rev.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

A Member  of  the  Conference. 

Author  of  “Witnesses  from  the  Dust,”  “Living  Religions,” 
“ Old  Heroes,”  “ Departed  Gods,”  “ Fire  from  Strange 
Altars,”  “ Light  from  Egypt,”  “ Beauty  Crowned.” 
“ Life’s  Springtime,”  Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


Honorary  Member  of  the  American  Ethnological  Society  ; Member  of 
the  Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology,  London;  Egypt  Exploration 
Fund,  London;  National  Geographical  Society,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 


1907 

Derrick  Publishing  Company, 
Oil  City,  Pa. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Three  Years  of  Progress.  1838-1840. ...  13 

II.  Another  Three  Years.  1841-1843 65 


III.  Hard  at  Work.  1844-1849.  Who  Are 

Homer  H.  Moore  and  Richard  A.  Car- 
uthers?  and  Who  is  John  Peate? 141 

IV.  A Five  Years'  Trip  Among  Churches  and 

Preachers.  1850-1854 221 

V.  A Storm  Threatens,  but  the  Work  Ex- 
tends. 1855-1859 311 

VI.  A Visit  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  the 

Early  Sixties.  1860-1865 385 

VII.  Slavery — War — Peace 489 

VIII.  Still  Making  History.  1866-1869 543 

IX.  Ten  Years.  1870-1879.  Missionary  So- 
cieties   617 

X.  Approaching  the  Close  of  the  Century. 715 

Appendix 781 


28510 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

r.uu£ 

Ford  Memorial  Chapel,  Allegheny  Col- 


lege   frtmtispHW' 

Rev.  H.  H.  Moore,  D.D 

Rev.  John  Peate,  D.D . xk 

Trinity  M.  E.  Church.  Oil  City.  Pa 

Grace  M.  E.  Church.  Oil  City.  P\ 

M.  E.  Church,  Titusville.  Pa 

Rev.  Alfred  Wheeler.  D.D..  LL.D 

The  Library,  Allegheny  College 

Newton  Observatory.  Allegheny  College  74h 


Rev.  William  Henry  Crawford.  D.D. ...  7%  „ 

M.  E.  Church  and  Parsonage.  Clarion.  Pv  > 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Ford  Memorial  Chapel,  Allegheny  Col- 
lege   frontispiece 

\ 

Rev.  H.  H.  Moore,  D.D 177 

Rev.  John  Peate,  D.D 205 

Trinity  M.  E.  Church,  Oil  City,  Pa 254 

Grace  M.  E.  Church,  Oil  City,  Pa 256 

M.  E.  Church,  Titusville,  Pa 399 

Rev.  Alfred  Wheeler,  D.D.,  LL.D 586 

The  Library,  Allegheny  College 744 

Newton  Observatory,  Allegheny  College 746 

Rev.  William  Henry  Crawford,  D.D. . 754 

M.  E.  Church  and  Parsonage,  Clarion,  Pa 768 


I 


THREE  YEARS  OF  PROGRESS. 
1838-1840. 

The  third  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Painesville,  Ohio,  August  9,  1838,  Bishop  Beverly  Waugh 
presiding.  Allured  Plimpton  was  elected  secretary. 

B.  K.  Maltby  was  discontinued,  spent  a year  in  Alle- 
gheny College,  and  the  next  year  was  received  into  full 
connection. 

S.  W.  Parks,  located;  William  Todd  and  Warren  Grif- 
fith were  transferred  to  the  Indiana  Conference. 

J.  J.  Steadman  was  made  effective. 

F.  A.  Dighton,  D.  M.  Stearns,  Stephen  Hubbard,  and 
P.  D.  Horton  were  superannuated. 

Reuben  J.  Sibley,  Francis  Guthrie,  Lemuel  B.  Beach, 
William  Patterson,  Niram  Norton,  Jesse  P.  Benn,  Luther 
Kendall,  Samuel  P.  Hempstead,  Daniel  Rowland,  and 
Waldo  W.  Lake,  were  admitted  on  trial.* 


♦Appointments:  Ravenna  District,  William  Stevens,  presiding 

elder;  Ravenna,  A.  G.  Sturgis,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
John  Robinson;  Cleveland,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Ohio  City,  G.  C.  Baker; 
Cleveland  Circuit,  J.  K.  Hallock,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Painesville, 
Timothy  Goodwin,  Wareham  French;  Willoughby,  Ira  Norris,  M. 
H.  Bettes;  Akron,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Middlebury,  H.  S.  Winans; 
Chardon,  Thos.  Carr,  J.  O.  Wood;  Freedom,  Caleb  Brown,  Thom- 
as Graham;  Hudson,  W.  S.  Worrallo,  J.  W.  Davis;  Warren  Dis- 
trict, Ira  Eddy,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  B.  O.  Flimpton,  R.  J. 
Sibley;  Youngstown,  John  Luccock;  J.  C.  Ayres;  Ellsworth,  Dil- 
lon Prosser;  Hartford,  Samuel  Leech,  Dennis  Goddard;  Gustavus, 
Isaac  Winans,  Asahel  Reeves;  Mesopotamia,  A.  M.  Brown,  J.  E. 
Aikin;  Parkman,  John  Crum,  L.  M.  Reeves;  Williamsfield,  D.  C. 
Richey,  T.  J.  Jennings;  Jefferson,  Peter  Burroughs;  Geneva,  J. 
W.  Hill,  Joseph  Leslie;  Edinburg,  Thomas  Stubbs,  Allen  Fouts; 
Meadville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Allegheny 
College,  H.  J.  Clark,  president;  William  M.  Burton,  professor  of 
mathematics;  G.  W.  Clarke,  professor  of  languages;  Meadville, 
J.  J.  Steadman;  Franklin,  J.  S.  Barris;  Centerville,  J.  A.  Hallock, 
Isaac  Scofield;  Mercer,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Salem,  S.  W.  Ingraham, 
Lewis  Burton;  Greenville,  J.  R.  Locke;  Clarksville,  Ahab  Keller; 
New  Castle,  Rufus  Parker,  Samuel  P.  Hempstead;  Oil  Creek, 


2 


H 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


■* 


Isaac  Winans,  J.  S.  Barris,  E.  B.  Hill,  and  Benjamin 
Preston  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  soon  after  conference. 
The  circumstances  connected  with  their  withdrawal  will 
be  discussed  in  the  chapter  on  “Slavery.” 

Luther  Kendall  was  admitted  on  trial,  1838;  full  con- 
nection, 1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  located  at  his  own 
request,  1842.* 

L.  R.  Beech  was  admitted  on  trial,  1838;  discontinued, 

18391* 

Francis  Guthrie  was  admitted  on  trial,  1838;  deacon, 
1838,  Waugh;  discontinued,  i840.§ 

“Reuben  J.  Sibley  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vermont, 
in  1814,  where  he  received  his  early  training  and  educa- 
tion, and  where,  as  he  approached  manhood,  he  was 
happily  converted  to  God.  Methodism  was  not  popular 
at  this  time  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Green  mountains,  but 
such  were  the  religious  convictions  of  his  young  heart 
as  to  the  line  of  duty  that  he  at  once  sought  and  obtained 
admission  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  whose 
interests  he  labored  to  serve  in  that  place  until  the  fall 
of  1837,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  soon  after  received 
license  to  preach,  and  in  1838  was  recommended  to  and 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  and  thus  en- 
tered the  work  with  us  in  the  most  trying  period  of  all 


Henry  Elliott,  L.  B.  Beach;  Randolph,  E.  B.  Hill,  Allured  Plimp- 
ton, Agent  for  Allegheny  College;  Jamestown  District,  Reuben  A. 
Ayl worth,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Darius  Smith,  Whrren,  J. 
O.  Rich;  Youngsville,  C.  C.  Best,  John  Scott;  Wattsburg,  Wil- 
liam Patterson,  Luther  Kendall;  Westfield,  I.  H.  Tackitt,  Josiah 
Flower;  Forestville,  Samuel  Gregg,  H.  J.  Moore;  Sheridan,  B.  S. 
Hill  W.  H.  Hunter;  Napoli,  C.  D.  Rockwell,  Daniel  Rowland; 
Gerry,  Theodore  Stowe,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Erie  District,  John  Chand- 
ler, presiding  elder;  Erie,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Wesley vilie,  David  Pres- 
ton, T.  D.  Blinn;  McKean,  Hiram  Luce,  Niram  Norton;  North 
East,  John  Bain,  Daniel  Pritchard;  Cambridge,  W.  B.  Lloyd,  W. 
W.  Lake;  Harmonsburg,  L.  D.  Prosser,  John  Demming;^  Spring- 
field,  Aurora  Callender,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Kingsville,  L.  D.  Mix;  Ashta- 
bula, Albina  Hall,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Brookfield  Mission  District, 
William  Carroll,  presiding  elder;  Brookville,  Lorenzo  Whipple; 
Red  Bank  and  Mahoning,  Reuben  Peck,  J.  P.  Benn;  Strattonville, 
John  F.  Hill,  one  to  be  supplied;  Shippenville.  Francis  Guthrie, 
Stephen  Heard;  Lawrenceburg,  H.  S.  Hitchcock. 

♦Appointments — 1838,  Wattsburg;  1839,  Warren,  Pa.;  1840, 
Gerry;  1841,  Harmony. 

tAppointment — 1838,  Oil  Creek. 

§ Appointments— 1838,  Shippenville;  1839,  Strattonville. 


William  Patterson. 


15 


our  history.  He  was  a large  and  stout-built  young  man, 
of  good  presence  in  the  pulpit,  and  his  talents  for  speak- 
ing, though  not  brilliant,  were  respectable,  and  a little 
more  application  to  study  and  energy  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  work  would  have  made  hirp  more  than  an  ordinary 
Methodist  minister.  He  was  kind-hearted  and  genial  in 
spirit.”  He  located  in  1846,  “settled  his  family  in  Erie, 
Pav  where  he  engaged  in  business  he  did  not  under- 
stand, lost  his  property,  moved  to  the  west,  and  died.”* 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
II,  pi).  80,  81,  289.) 

William  Patterson. 

William  Patterson  was  born  in  Salem,  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1805.  He  was  converted  in  1826, 
and  during  the  next  year  married  Miss  Mary  Campbell. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  August,  1831,  and  in  the 
following  winter  removed  to  North  East,  Erie  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Here  he  exercised  his  gifts  as  a local 
preacher  for  several  years.  He  was  ordained  deacon  at 
Meadville,  Pa.,  by  Bishop  Joshua  Soule  in  1836.  He 
was  admitted  on  trial  into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1838. 
He  labored  nineteen  years,  and  superannuated  in  1857. 
He  labored  zealously  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  counting 
the  hardest  field  more  honorable  than  the  highest  po- 
sition or  reward  this  earth  could  afford.  He  was  presid- 
ing elder  of  the  Meadville  District  four  years,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1852.  He  died  in 
New  Oregon,  Howard  Co.,  Iowa,  August  12,  1865.  His 
biographer  says:  “For  several  months  previous  to  his 

decease,  he  was  sensible  that  life  was  rapidly  drawing  to  a 
close.  When  informed,  on  a later  occasion,  that  he  had 
but  a few  days  to  live,  he  said  calmly  'It  is  all  right,  the 
Lord’s  will  be  done.’  His  last  days  were  his  best  and 
happiest,  full  of  faith  and  holy  triumph.  The  Sabbath 
before  his  death,  together  with  his  family,  solemnly  and 
impressively  he  commemorated  the  dying  of  his  Lord, 
and,  as  death  approached,  he  seemed  anxious  to  depart 
and  be  with  Christ.  On  Thursday  morning  he  called  his 

*R.  J.  Sibley— Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1838;  full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  elder,  1842, 

■ Morris;  located  1846.  Appointments — 1838,  Warren,  O.;  1839, 

Edinburg;  1840,  Gustavus;  1841,  Greenville  and  Clarksville;  1842> 
Cambridge;  1843,  Wesleyville;  1844-’45,  Wattsburg. 


P 


i6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


dearest  friends  to  his  bedside,  and,  embracing  them, 
pronounced  upon  them  his  dying  blessing,  exclaiming: 
‘My  work  is  done,  and  I am  ready  to  depart.’  The  next 
day  it  seemed  that  his  departure  was  at  hand.  Unable 
to  speak  for  hours,  the  divine  power  suddenly  came  upon 
him,  and,  his  countenance  radiant  with  glory,  he  shouted 
with  a loud  voice:  T am  saved  by  grace,  I am  saved, 

glory  to  God  and  the  Lamb ! Now,  Lord,  let  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation’ — 
and,  turning  to  those  about  him,  he  said : ‘My  children, 

this  is  the  way  to  die ; this  is  the  salvation  I have  so  often 
preached  to  you.’  At  his  request,  the  hymn: 

‘Happy  soul,  thy  days  are  ended, 

All  thy  mourning  days  helow,’ 

was  sung,  and  again  his  soul  was  filled  with  the  rhap- 
sodies of  heaven  and  he  shouted  the  praises  of  God. 
Later  still  in  the  day  he  said : ‘The  great  shout  is  with- 

in me,  but  I am  too  feeble  to  shout.’  Suffering  on  till 
Saturday,  he  peacefully  and  tranquilly  passed  beyond  the 
river. 

“Our  deceased  brother  was  a man  of  fine  personal  ap- 
pearance, good  intellect,  respectable  education,  a superior 
theologian  and  an  impassioned,  eloquent  preacher.  A 
gentleman  tender  of  the  reputation  of  others,  and  sensitive 
to  a fault  as  to  his  own — pure  in  thought,  chaste  in  word, 
holy  in  heart,  full  of  faith,  and  mighty  in  prayer.  To  a 
sound  judgment,  a refined  taste,  keen  sensibility,  and  ex- 
treme diffidence  of  his  own  powers,  he  united  a devout 
heart  and  constant  reliance  upon  divine  aid.  As  a close 
student,  he  taxed  his  mind  severely  to  bring  beaten  oil 
into  the  sanctuary  and  he  thoroughly  prepared  for  the 
pulpit.  This,  together  with  his  spiritual  qualifications 
gave  him  great  power  over  his  audience,  but  of  late 
years,  left  him  the  victim  of  nervous  prostration  with 
days  and  weeks  of  suffering.”* 

♦William  Patterson — Licensed  to  preach,  1831;  admitted  on 
trial,  1838;  full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1836,  Soule;  elder,  1840, 
Hedding;  deceased,  New  Oregon,  la.,  Aug.  12,  1865.  Appoint- 
ments—1838,  Wattsburg;  1839,  Oil  Creek;  1840,  Franklin,  Pa.; 
1841-’42,  Springfield;  1843,  Conneautville;  1844-’45,  Salem,  Mer- 
cer Co.;  1846-’47,  Willi amsfield;  1848,  Gustavus;  1849-’52,  Mead- 
ville  District;  1853-’54,  Chagrin  Falls;  1855,  Newburg;  1856,  Ash- 
tabula; 1857-’65,  superannuated. 


Niram  Norton . 


1 7 


Niram  Norton. 

Niram  Norton  preached  twice  in  Meadville  on  the  Sab- 
bath before  his  spirit  departed.  Before  announcing  the 
text  for  his  morning  sermon,  he  said:  “I  have  been 

very  much  benefited  in  preparing  this  sermon.  When  I 
sat  down  to  write  my  outline,  I thought,  how  would  I 
write  this  sermon  if  I knew  it  was  to  be  my  last?  How 
often  would  our  actions  be  different  if  we  knew  that  to- 
day would  be  our  last  on  earth.”  He  died  suddenly  of 
paralysis  of  the  heart,  on  Sunday  night,  April  14,  1878. 
He  was  born  in  Hanover,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  19, 

1817.  When  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania.  They  settled 
near  Wattsburg  where  he  was  converted  in  the  winter  of 
i83i-’32.  His  license  to  preach  was  signed  by  John 
Chandler  in  1837,  and  the  next  year  he  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  Gregg  says : “Mr.  Nor- 

ton was  quite  tall  and  large,  dignified  and  noble  in  ap- 
pearance both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit.  He  was  careful 
and  precise,  and  some  would  think  a little  stiff  in  his 
manners,  words,  and  movements,  but  at  the  same  time 
so  gentlemanly  and  affable  as  to  relieve  him  of  any  sus- 
picion of  being  haughty  or  proud.  His  sermons  were 
well  studied,  systematically  arranged,  and  carefully  de- 
livered. The  old-fashioned  Methodists  would  have  liked 
a little  more  of  storm  and  power,  but  the  younger  and 
more  tasty  part  of  his  auditory  liked  it  better  as  it  was. 
Mr.  Norton  soon  took  rank  with  our  most  promising  . 
young  men,  passing  up  into  our  best  appointments,  which 
he  filled  with  general  acceptability  and  usefulness.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 

n,  p.  83.) 

Mr.  Norton  was  twice  married.  In  1840  he  married 
Miss  Ann  M.  Sterrett,  who  shared  his  toils  for  almost 
thirty  years.  In  1875  married  Mrs.  Angeline  E.  Mc- 
Clintock,  of  Meadville.  “To  him  religious  experience 
was  a matter  of  fact;  as  such  he  guarded  with  jealous 
care  the  loss  of  God’s  favor,  and  sought  not  for  the 
ecstacies  of  joy,  but  for  that  fidelity  to  conviction,  which, 
like  a thread  of  gold,  runs  through  a character  that  is 
built  of  pure  and  noble  principles.”  He  was  a member 
of  the  General  Conference  of  1864;  served  two  years  as 


i8 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


financial  agent  of  Allegheny  College  and  ten  years  as 
presiding  elder  on  the  Warren,  Meadville,  and  James- 
town Districts.  He  did  effective  service  forty-one  years, 
if  we  include  the  two  years  during  which  he  traveled  un- 
der  the  presiding  elder. 

The  “General  Minutes”  speaks  of  him  in  highest  ap- 
preciation  of  his  character:  “Mr.  Norton  was  a close 

observer  of  conference  business ; as  a wise  counsellor  and 
a successful  debater,  he  exhibited  those  qualities  of  mine 
and  heart  which  placed  hint  in  the  front  rank  at  the 
inauguration  of  any  new  measures.  Yet  lie  was  not  a 
man  who  set  the  wheels  of  new  movements  in  motion ; 
he  rather  aimed  at  working  the  machinery  of  the  Church 
as  he  found  it.  up  to  the  maximum  of  its  power.  His 
loyalty  to  the  Church  was  beyond  question.  His  in- 
fluence among  the  brethren  he  retained  until  the  close  o 

his  life. 

“As  a preacher,'  he  was  clear,  logical,  and  positive  He 
was  not  a man  of  brilliant  gifts,  nor,  we  may  say,  of  elo- 
quent tongue.  His  influence  and  power  must  be  traced 
to  a more  substantial  cause  than  these.  It  rested  upon 
his  character  as  a Christian  and  a gentleman,  as  a faith- 
ful preacher  and  a successful  pastor.  He  closed  his 
earthly  life  in  the  midst  of  his-  labors.  . . • A 

Methodist  of  the  best  type— a successful  administrator  of 
discipline,  faithful  in  his  work,  he  was  felt,  as  a true  man 
of  God  alone  is  felt,  among  the  people  for  whose  good  he 
had  toiled.  He  diligently  cultivated  truthfulness,  char- 
ity, honesty,  and  other  virtues  of  a kindred  nature,  which 
gave  a symmetry  and  completeness  to  Ins  life.  He  built 
his  hopes  of  future  reward  on  a broad  and  firm  foun  a- 
tion  of  truth,  with  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega 
of  the  super-structure.  The  following  brief  entry  made 
in  August,  1872,  by  Brother  Norton’s  own  hand,  and 
found  among  his  private  papers,  indicates  the  depth  ot 
his  religious  convictions:  ‘Fifty-four  years  this  day  1 

commenced  my  earthly  pilgrimage.  I am  now  past  life  s 
meridian — blessed  with  excellent  health,  and  a precious 
hope  of  a blissful  immortality.’  His  personal  presence 
was  marked  with  dignity,  and  to  many  people  he  bore 
the  appearance  of  a cold  nature;  but  to  those  who  knew 
him  best  he  manifested  a rare  warmth  of  sympathy  for 
those  in  need,  as  well  as  affection  for  his  friends,  and 


Hempstead,  Rowland , Lake,  Benn. 


*9 


love  for  his  Church  and  her  doctrines.  At  a memorial 
service  held  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Cor**v. 
Pa.,  of  which  Mr.  Norton  was  pastor  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  a brother  made  these  remarks:  'When  Brothe* 

Norton  came  among  us  I heard  him  preach,  and  I said : 
“He  is  too  slow  for  me”;  I met  him  in  social  life,  and 
heard  him  talk,  and  said  to  myself:  “He  is  too  slow  for 

me.”  But  when  I remember  the  good  counsel  he  gave 
me  as  my  pastor,  and  the  rich  testimony  he  gave  for 
Christ — I think  he  was  faster  than  I was.  He  was  a 
good  man.  To-day  he  is  dead  and  in  heaven,  and  I 
thinf  he  is  a good  deal  faster  than  I am.’  ”* — (Minutes 
of  C inferences,  Vol.  XVII,  i8y8,  p.  43.) 

Hempstead,  Rowland,  Lake,  Benn. 

There  were  many  martyrs  to  the  cause  of  Methodism 
whose  young  lives  were  devoted  to  her  ministry,  and  who 
accomplished  the  work  of  heroes  until  the  severe  and  con- 
stant labors,  exposure,  and  hardships  which  her  itinerant 
system  demanded  and  to  which  their  all-consuming  zeal 
led  broke  their  physical  strength  and  undermined  their 
health ; and,  after  a season  of  patient  suffering  in  peaceful 
Christian  resignation,  they  marched  away  with  God’s  con- 
quering hosts  with  shouts  of  triumph  to  be  crowned  be- 
fore the  throne.  The  names  of  many  have  been  forgot- 
ten, but  they  are  written  high  up  on  the  list  of  saints  and 
heroes  in  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Such  was  Samuel  P. 
Hempstead  who  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1838,  and  finished  his  course  in  1841.  Mr. 
Gregg  says  of  him : “Rev.  Samuel  P.  Hempstead  was  a 

young  man  of  medium  size  and  fair  complexion,  was 
deeply  pious,  had  promising  talents,  and  was  an  earnest 
and  faithful  laborer  in  his  Master’s  work — perhaps  too 
zealous  for  his  physical  strength.  Toward  the  close  of 

*N.ram  Norton — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1838;  full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  elder,  1842, 
Roberts;  deceased,  Meadville,  Pa.,  Apr.  14,  1878.  Appointments 
— 1838,  McKean;  1839,  Ashtabula  and  Conneaut;  1840;  Wesley- 
ville;  1841-’42,  Harmony;  1843-’44,  Forestville;  1845,  Fredonia: 
1846-’47,  Warren,  Pa.;  1848,  Sheridan;  1849-’50,  Jamestown,  N. 
Y.;  1851-’52,  Painesville;  1853-’54,  Meadville;  1855,  Fredonia; 
1856-’58,  Warren  District;  1859-’62,  Meadville  District;  1863,  Sae- 
gertown;  1864-’65,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1866-’67,  Financial  Agent, 
Allegheny  College;  1868-70,  Saegertown;  1871,  Rouseville;  1872, 
Meadville,  State  Street,  (second  preacher);  1873-75,  Jamestown 
District;  1876-77,  Corry. 


20  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

his  second  year,  which  was  spent  in  Salem  Circuit,  his 
health  failed  to  such  an  extent  that  the  conference  did  not 
deem  it  prudent  to  receive  him  into  full  connection,  but 
continued  him  another  year  on  trial  and  returned  him  to 
the  same  circuit,  where  he  was  both  known  and  loved; 
but  his  health  continued  to  decline  until  he  was  compelled 
to  desist  entirely  from  labor  and  yield  himself  up  to  a 
lingering  and  wasting  disease,  during  which  he  usually 
retained  a very  happy  state  of  mind,  as  ready  to  suffer  as 
to  labor,  until  death  came  to  sign  his  release  from  both, 
and  to  introduce  him  to  the  faithful  minister’s  rest.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
II,  p.  84.)  His  name  is  coupled  with  that  of  the  aged 
William  Swayze  in  the  conference  proceedings.  The  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  passed:  “Resolved  that  a com- 

mittee of  two  be  appointed  to  furnish  tombstones  for 
Brothers  Swayze  and  Hempstead’s  graves.”* — (Written 
Journal  of  the  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  1841,  p • 91-) 

Daniel  Rowland  was  born  in  Pittstown,  Rensselaer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  25,  1814.  I11  1817  the  family  settled  in 
Ellery,  Chautauqua  County.  From  his  earliest  child- 
hood his  mind  was  unusually  impressed  with  spiritual 
themes  and  he  was  saved  from  sinful  pleasures  and  amuse- 
ments. He  was  converted  June  6,  1833 — led  to  this 
happy  experience  by  reading  the  “Christian  Advocate  and' 
Journal,”  and  the  conversations  and  prayers  of  a Meth- 
odist class  leader.  “He  was  a good,  sober,  upright 
man.  f 

Waldo  W.  Lake  was  born  of  excellent  parentage  in  the 
town  of  Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1838.  “Mr. 
Lake  was  a fine  appearing  young  man,  of  very  promising 
talent,  but  a severe  attack  of  sickness  compelled  him  to 
leave  his  circuit  early  in  the  year,  and  then  to  ask  the  con- 
ference at  its  next  session  to  discontinue  him.” — ( Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  85.) 
He  was  re-admitted  in  1843,  and  again  discontinued  in 
i&45-§ 

*S.  P.  Hempstead — Admitted  on  trial,  1838;  deceased,  1841. 
Appointments — 1838,  New  Castle;  1839-’40,  Salem. 

tDaniel  Rowland — Admitted  on  trial,  1838;  full  connection, 
1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  located,  1842.  Appointments — 
1838,  Napoli;  1839-’40,  Wattsburg;  1841,  Quincy. 

§W.  W.  Lake — Admitted  on  trial,  1838;  discontinued,  1859;  re- 


The  Society  at  Newton  Falls. 


21 


Jesse  P.  Benn  was  a son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Benn  and 
brother  of  Rev.  Thomas  Benn.  He  was  born  in  Wayne 
Township,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  io,  1815.  His 
early  religious  instruction  was  of  the  best,  but  his  edu- 
cational advantages  were  limited.  He  was  converted  in 
Franklin  in  1829,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1837. 
He  was  employed  by  John  Chandler,  presiding  elder  of 
the  Erie  District,  until  the  session  of  the  conference  in 
1838  when  he  was  admitted  on  trial.  He  located  in 
1844,  and  died  in  Mill  Village,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  8, 
1875.* 

The  light  of  William  Connelly,  so  bright  in  early 
Methodist  days,  went  out  in  darkness.  At  the  quarterly 
conference  held  in  Franklin,  May  26,  1838,  the  following 
action  was  taken:  “Brothers  Barris  and  Hall  appointed 

to  labor  with  him.”  At  an  adjourned  meeting  on  Mon- 
day, the  28th,  the  committee  reported  as  follows : “The 

committee  appointed  to  labor  with  Brother  Connelly  re- 
ported that  he  says : ‘He  will  not  reform  not  attend 

class;  has  no  fellowship  with  the  Church  nor  qlesires  any.’ 
On  motion  resolved  that  his  ministerial  standing  in  the 
Church  be  taken  from  him.” — (Steward  Book  of  Frank- 
lin Station  from  August  20,  1835,  to  July  2,  1866.) 

The  Society  at  Newton  Falls. 

The  society  at  Newton  Falls,  Ohio,  was  organized  dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  E.  J.  L.  Baker  and  A.  M.  Brown  in 
1836.  There  were  seven  original  members,  prominent 
among  which  were  William  Earle  and  wife.  Services 
were  held  for  some  time  in  private  houses,  and  often  in  a 
school  house  located  in  Earlesville — now  a part  of  the 
village  of  Newton  Falls.  In  1839,  by  permission,  a pro- 
tracted meeting  was  held  in  the  Disciple  Church.  This 
resulted  in  many  conversions  and  additions  to  the  mem- 
bership. In  July  of  this  year,  Dr.  Henry  A.  DuBois 
gave  the  Church  a lot  on  Center  Street  whereon  a build- 

admitted,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  discontinued,  1845.  Ap- 
pointments— 1838,  Cambridge;  1843,  Napoli;  1844,  Gerry. 

*J.  P.  Benn — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial,  1838; 
full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1840,  Hedding;  elder,  1846,  Morris; 
located,  1844;  deceased,  Mill  Village,  Pa.,  Nov.  8,  1875.  Appoint- 
ments— 1838,  Red  Bank  and  Mahoning;  1839-’40,  Shippenville; 
1841,  Mercer  and  Wilmington;  1842,  superannuated;  1843,  super- 
numerary. 


22 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


in g was  erected  in  1843.  The  following,  taken  from  a 
letter  written  by  Mrs.  Albert  Fowler  to  her  niece,  Mrs. 
Hattie  Porter,  presents  a good  picture  of  church  affairs 
in  these  earlier  years : 

“When  we  went  to  Newton  Falls  in  1845,  ^ie  church 
was  found  in  such  an  unfinished  condition  that  it  seemed 
more  like  a barn  than  a place  of  worship.  For  several 
years  there  were  only  three  male  members  in  the  village, 
but  quite  a number  from  the  surrounding  country. 
Among  the  latter  were  Beazell,  Willderson,  Merrill,  Hoff- 
man, Bussey  and  Stiles.  I have  known  the  latter  to 
walk  four  miles  to  come  to  prayer  meeting,  and  his  good 
wife,  who  was  Jeft  with  six  helpless  children,  wove  many 
yards  of  rag  carpet  to  help  the  finances  of  the  church. 
These  brethren  usually  brought  wood,  sled  length ; and 
Starr,  Ensign  and  Fowler  chopped  the  wood,  made  the 
fires,  lighted  and  kept  the  church  in  order,  and,  when  the 
fuel  failed,  furnished  it  from  their  own  wood-piles.  We 
started  a Ladies’  Aid  Society  which  did  much  toward 
finishing  and  furnishing  the  church. 

“For  a long  time,  we  had  nothing  but  benches  for  seats 
and  paper  curtains  at  the  windows,  which  flapped  and 
tore  with  every  breeze.  We  felt  quite  proud  when  we 
got  a new  rag  carpet  to  cover  the  floor.  After  a long 
struggle,  the  debt  was  paid.  Among  the  later  improve- 
ments were  comfortable  pews.  When  the  congregation 
rose  to  sing,  they  whirled  around  to  face  the  choir  whose 
seats  were  in  the  rear  of  the  church.”  In  1887  a fine 
parsonage  was  built  on  the  south  part  of  the  church  lot  at 
a cost  of  $1,500.00.  In  1891  the  stoves  were  replaced 
bv  a furnace,  and  a year  later  there  were  other  extensive 
changes  and  improvements.  In  1894  a bell  mounted  to 
its  place  and  called  the  people  to  worship.  In  1896  the 
sixtieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  church  was 
celebrated  by  a series  of  interesting  services.  In  the  fall 
and  winter  of  1902,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
made  a survey  for  a new  road  which  was  to  pass  through 
the  church  property,  and  the  next  year  purchased  the 
property,  paying  therefor  $7,000.00,  the  church  reserv- 
ing the  furniture,  bell,  steps,  flagging,  and  parsonage. 
We  received  from  the  railroad  company  a lot  on  the  south 
side  of  Franklin  Street  to  which  the  parsonage  and  barn 
were  removed.  A lot  was  purchased  on  Center  Street  at 


Session  of  Erie  Conference  in  1839 . 


23 


a cost  of  $600.00  and  a fine  church  edifice  was  erected, 
and  dedicated  February  12,  1905.  This  building  cost 
$15,000.00.  The  present  membership  of  the  church — 
1906 — is  one  hundred  eighty-six. — ( Communication  to 
the  author  from  T.  A.  Beard,  Secretary  of  the  Official 
Board.) 

A Remarkable  Conversion. 

William  Swayze,  though  superannuated,  conducted 
several  protracted  meetings  during  the  season  which  were 
occasions  of  great  interest.  That  in  Clarksville,  Penn- 
sylvania, resulted  in  seventy  conversions.  At  Greenville, 
there  were  forty  converts,  and  at  Salem  about  the  same 
number.  At  Johnson,  Ohio,  thirty  were  brought  to  the 
Savior.  Durjng  the  meeting  at  this  appointment,  there 
occurred  a most  remarkable  conversion  of  a very  wicked 
young  man.  While  yet  at  home  he  had  become  des- 
perately wicked,  left  his  father’s  house  in  rage,  swearing 
that  he  would  never  return.  His  parents  mourned  for 
him  as  lost  without  hope.  He  ran  his  race  of  riotous 
living,  spent  all,  and  began  to  be  in  want.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  neighborhood  of  his  youthful  home,  and 
went  into  a house  where  Air.  Swayze  was  holding  a 
meeting,  but  was  not  recognized  by  any  of  his  old  com- 
panions. The  text  that  night,  most  providentially,  as  it 
would  seem,  was  the  return  of  the  prodigal  son  to  his 
father’s  house.  The  young  man  took  the  sermon  as  ap- 
plied to  himself.  He  was  powerfully  convicted,  and, 
feeling  his  wretchedness  and  loneliness,  wandered  away 
into  the  woods,  and  falling  upon  his  knees,  cried  mightily 
to  God  for  the  pardon  of  his  sins.  The  answer  came, 
and,  rejoicing  in  his  newborn  hope,  sought  and  found 
Mr.  Swayze,  and  related  his  story.  Mr.  Swayze,  that 
night,  took  the  young  man  into  the  high  pulpit  which 
quite  concealed  him  from  the  congregation,  and,  after 
the  sermon,  led  him  down  into  the  altar,  and  there  pre- 
sented the  returned  prodigal  to  his  father.  It  was  a most 
thrilling  scene  as  the  son  with  tears  of  penitence  and  the 
father  with  tears  of  joy  fell  upon  each  others  necks  and 
kissed  one  another  with  kisses  of  reconciliation,  forgive- 
ness, and  love. 

Session  of  Erie  Conference  in  1839. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  session  August  7,  1839, 


24 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


in  Mercer,  Pennsylvania,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop 
Joshua  Soule.  The  bishop  not  reaching  the  seat  of  the 
conference  until  the  close  of  the  first  day,  William  Stevens 
was  elected  president  pro  tern.  A.  G.  Sturgis  was  chosen 
secretary.  The  following  anti-abolition  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference  were  elected : B.  O.  Plimpton,  John 

Chandler,  David  Preston,  Hiram  Kinsley,  and  John  C. 
Ayres.  J.  J.  Steadman  and  A.  M.  Brown  were  elected 
reserve  delegates.  A committee  consisting  of  B.  O. 
Plimpton,  Hiram  Kinsley,  R.  A.  Aylworth,  Aurora  Cal- 
lender, J.  J.  Steadman,  and  Timothy  Goodwin,  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  “Centenary  of  Methodism.”  In  the  re- 
port of  this  committee,  which  was  adopted  by  the  confer- 
ence, a plan  was  presented  in  harmony  with  the  action  of  _ 
the  Pittsburg  Conference,  for  the  endowment  of  “The 
Soule  Professorship”  in  Allegheny  College,  in  the  sum  of 
ten  thousand  dollars.  One  half  of  the  amount  raised  was 
to  be  devoted  to  the  cause  of  “liberal  education,”  and  one 
half  to  be  -equally  divided  between  the  superannuated 
preachers’  fund  and  the  cause  of  missions — the  funds  for 
education  and  superannuates  to  be  invested  and  the  in- 
come to  be  applied  annually  or  as  the  conference  might 
decide.  A public  meeting  was  held,  and  the  names  of 
members  and  probationers  of  the  conference  were  called, 
and  each  announced  the  amount  he  would  contribute.  It 
was  also  decided  to  hold  meetings  on  the  charges,  and 
secure  subscriptions  and  report  at  the  next  conference. 

T.  J.  Jennings,  E.  J.  Kinney,  Allured  Plimpton,  and 
Lorenzo  Whipple  located.  William  Swayze,  C.  D.  Rock- 
well, P.  D.  Horton,  W.  B.  Lloyd,  John  Prosser,  and  D. 
M.  Stearns  constituted  the  list  of  superannuates.  Wil- 
liam Stevens,  Lewis  Burton  and  C.  C.  Best  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  The  following  were 
admitted  on  trial : Salmeron  Smith,  Alexander  Barris, 

Isaiah  C.  T.  McClelland,  James  M.  Plant,  David  W. 
Vorse,  and  Matthias  Himebaugh.* 

*The  appointments  for  1839  were  as  follows:  Ravenna  Dis- 

trict, John  Chandler,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  A.  G.  Sturgis,  W. 
F.  Wilson;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  A.  M.  Brown;  Akron  and  Middlebury, 
John  Robinson,  Caleb  Brown;  Hudson,  L.  M.  Reeves,  Ira  Norris; 
Cleveland,  J.  K.  Hallock,  M.  H.  Bettes;  Ohio  City,  I.  H.  Tackitt; 
Willoughby,  Wareham  French,  J.  O.  Wood;  Painesville,  Timothy 


Goodwin;  Chardon,  R.  A.  Aylworth,  Salmeron  Smith;  Freedom, 
Stephen  Hubbard,  Thomas  Graham;  Warren  District,  Billings  O. 
Plimpton,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  L.  D.  Mix;  Braceville,  J.  W. 


Session  of  Erie  Conference  in  183 9. 


25 


Salmeron  Smith,  the  brother  of  Rev.  Darius  Smith 
who  came  into  the  conference  later,  was  a man  of  deep 
piety,  great  zeal,  and  a fair  degree  of  usefulness.  Be- 
cause of  his  age,  it  was  thought  that  he  would  not  be  able 
to  perform  the  severe  labors  required  of  the  itinerant  of 
the  time;  he  was  therefore  discontinued  at  the  end  of  his 
second  probationary  year.  But  so  sure  was  he  of  his 
divine  call  to  the  ministry  that  he  withdrew  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  united  with  the  Wes- 
leyan Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  labored  successfully 
for  a number  of  years  in  Pennsylvania  and  Wisconsin.* 

Alexander  Barris,  says  Mr.  Gregg,  “was  a medium- 
sized man,  of  sober  countenance,  staid  habits,  and  was 
honest  and  exemplary  in  his  life.  As  a preacher  he  was 
not  brilliant,  but  usually  edifying  and  acceptable.  He 
generally  wore  well,  people  liking  him  better  as  the  ac- 
quaintance was  prolonged  and  his  excellent  character- 
istics were  better  known.  In  conference  he  had  but  little 

Davis,  Youngstown,  Ira  Eddy,  Dennis  Goddard;  Edinburg,  Thom- 
as Stubbs,  R.  J.  Sibley;  Ellsworth,  Peter  Burroughs;  Hartford, 
Allen  Fouts,  James  Gillmore;  Gustavus  and  Williamsfield,  Sam- 
uel Leech,  Dillon  Prosser;  Mesopotamia,  J.  E.  Aikin,  Asahel 
Reeves;  Parkman,  Thomas  Carr,  W.  S.  Worrallo;  Geneva,  Daniel 
C.  Richey,  H.  S.  Winans;  Jefferson,  Joseph  Leslie;  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Allegheny  College,  H.  J. 
Clark,  president;  W.  M.  Burton,  G.  W.  Clarke,  professors;  Mead- 
ville, Samuel  Gregg;  Saegertown,  J.  J.  Steadman,  J.  M.  Plant; 
Oil  Creek,  William  Patterson,  G.  C.  Baker;  Franklin,  J.  A.  Hal- 
lock;  Hendersonville,  Rufus  Parker,  D.  W.  Yorse;  Mercer,  H.  N. 
Stearns;  Greenville  and  Clarksville,  Ahab  Keller,  John  Crum; 
Salem,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  S.  P.  Hempstead;  New  Castle,  John 
Luccock,  S.  W.  Ingraham;  Espyville,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Jamestown 
District,  David  Preston,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Albina  Hall, 
Moses  Hill;  Gerry,  H.  J.  Moore,  Alexander  Barris;  Napoli,  J.  O. 
Rich,  J.  F.  Hill;  Forestville,  Theodore  Stowe,  E.  J.  L.  Baker; 

Sheridan,  Henry  Elliott,  Josiah  Flower;  Fredonia,  W.  H.  Hunter, 
I.  C.  T.  McClelland;  Westfield,  Darius  Smith;  Harmony,  John 
Scott,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Warren,  B.  S.  Hill,  Luther  Kendall;  Watts- 
burg,  J.  E.  Chapin,  Daniel  Rowland;  Erie  District,  J.  C.  Ayres, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  B.  K.  Maltby;  Wesley ville,  William  Butt, 
C.  R.  Chapman;  North  East,  John  Bain,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Springfield, 
Aurora  Callender,  J.  W.  Lowe;  McKean,  Hiram  Luce,  L.  D.  Pros- 
ser; Ashtabula  and  Conneaut,  J.  H.  Whallon,  Niram  Norton; 
Kingsville,  J.  W.  Hill;  Harmonsburg,  John  Demming,  Isaac  Sco- 
field; Cambridge,  Daniel  Pritchard,  J.  R.  Locke;  Brookville  Dis- 
trict, William  Carroll,  presiding  elder;  Brookville,  H.  S.  Hitch- 
cock; Red  Bank,  Reuben  Peck,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Stratton- 
ville,  Francis  Guthrie;  Shippen ville,  J.  P.  Benn;  Lawrenceburg, 
Stephen  Heard. 

*Salmeron  Smith — Admitted  on  trial,  1839;  discontinued,  1841. 
Appointments — 1839,  Chardon;  1840,  Oil  Creek. 


26 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


to  say,  and  on  this  account  his  worth  was  not  fully 
known.” — ( Gregg , History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  II , p.  hi.)  Mr.  Barris  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Hanover,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  28,  1814 — 
Gregg  says,  Dec.  28,  1815 — and  died  in  Cottage  Grove, 
near  San  Jose,  Nov.  17,  1899.  He  embraced  religion  at 
the  camp  meeting  held  by  William  Swayze  in  the  town 
Villenovia,  June  4,  1828.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
Hiram  Kinsley  in  1835.  He  says  of  his  education: 
“My  first  schooling  was  in  the  cornfield,  and  my  educa- 
tional career,  as  far  as  instruction  from  others  is  con- 
cerned, ended  in  Allegheny  College,  from  which,  how- 
ever, I was  not  permitted  to  graduate.”  He  was  em- 
ployed by  R.  A.  Aylworth  to  labor  on  Napoli  Circuit  in 
1838,  and  in  1839  joined  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  He  was  transferred  to  the  California  Con- 
ference in  1869,  and  appointed  agent  of  the  University 
of  the  Pacific.  “His  interest  in  this  institution  never 
ceased ; his  last  gift  thereto,  only  a few  months  before  his 
death,  was  his  library.”  He  maintained  his  interest  in 
all  the  various  enterprises  of  the  Church  to  the  last.  “His 
approach  to  the  gates  of  death  was  through  excruciating 
suffering,  but  he  murmured  not,  and  his  heart  kept  in 
sympathy  with  the  living  present.  He  sleeps  in  peace.”* 
— (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXVIII,  1900,  p.  437-) 

Vorse,  McClelland,  Plant,  Himebaugh. 

David  W.  Vorse  was  born  in  Smyrna,  Chenango  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July  16,  1812.  When  about  twelve  years  .of  age 
his  father  died,  leaving  his  education  and  religious  train- 
ing to  his  mother.  He  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting 
held  near  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  in  1830,  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  McKean,  Erie 

*Alexander  Barris — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1839;  full  connection,  1841;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  elder,  1843, 
Soule;  transferred  to  California  Conference,  1869;  deceased  at 
Cottage  Grove,  near  San  Jose,  Nov.  17,  1899.  Appointments — 
1839  Gerry;  1840-’41,  Warren,  Pa.;  1842-’43,  Columbus;  1844-’45, 
Sheridan;  1846,  Wesley ville;  1847-’48,  Wattsburg;  1849-’50,  Colum- 
bus; 1851-’52,  Quincy;  1853,  Sherman;  1854,  supernumerary; 
1855,  Spring  Creek  Mission;  1856,  Riceville;  1857,  Sugar  Grove; 
1858,  supernumerary;  1859-’60,  Little  Valley;  1861-’62,  Wattsburg 
and  Mina;  1863-’64,  Waterford;  1865,  Southington  and  Nelson; 
1866-’67,  Gustavus;  1868,  Hartford  and  Orangeville;  1869-’73, 
agent  University  of  the  Pacific;  1874-’86,  supernumerary;  1887-’99, 
superannuated. 


Vorse,  McClelland,  Plant,  Himebaugh. 


27 


Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Miss  Caroline  M.  Paddock  Sep- 
tember 26,  1833.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1837, 
and  labored  under  the  presiding  elder  six  months  on  the 
Cambridge  Circuit.  He  was  then  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1839.  He  died  at  McKean,  Jan. 
26,  1869.  His  early  Christian  life  was  marked  with  zeal 
and  fidelity.  He  improved  every  opportunity  to  do  good. 
His  health  would  not  permit  a long  life  of  active  service, 
but  in  his  superannuate  relation  he  was  full  of  good 
works,  laboring  up  to ' the  full  measure  of  his  physical 
strength.  He  took  an  earnest  part  in  a revival  which 
continued  four  weeks,  closing  a little  time  before  his 
death.  He  was  absent  but  two  evenings  and  was  greatly 
blessed  in  prayer,  exhortation,  and  testimony.  He  said 
to  the  brethren  and  sisters:  “I  expect  to  die  suddenly, 

and  want’  to  be  ready,  and  I want  you  to  sir^g  to  me  of 
heaven;  yes,  sing  me  over  the  river.”  His  death  was 
sudden,  according  to  his  premonition.* 

Isaiah  C.  T.  McClelland  was  born  in  Wayne  Town- 
ship, Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  March  15,  1810.  He  was  con- 
verted in  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  in  1834,  and  there 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  the  same  place  in  1836,  and  in  1839 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  located 
in  1841  in  order  to  care  for  his  aged  mother  who  was  a 
devoted  Christian.  He  was  re-admitted  in  1842.  After 
serving  the  Church  nineteen  years  he  located  in  1859.  He 
then  joined  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In 
1861  he  reorganized  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Cranberry  and  was  pastor  of  the  same  until  1864."!* 

*D.  W.  Vorse — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1839;  full  connection,  1841;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  elder,  1843, 
Soule;  deceased,  McKean,  Pa.,  Jan.  26,  1869.  Appointments — 
1839,  Hendersonville;  1840-’41,  New  Castle;  1842,  Cambridge; 
1843,  McKean;  1844,  Napoli;  1845-’46,  Gerry;  1847-’48,  Youngs- 
ville;  1849-’50,  supernumerary;  1851,  Girard;  1852-’59,  super- 
numerary; 1860-’68,  superannuated. 

tl.  C.  T.  McClelland — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on 
trial,  1839;  full  connection,  1841;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  located 
at  his  own  request,  1841;  readmitted,  1842;  elder,  1843,  Soule; 
located,  1859.  Appointments — 1839,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1840,  Har- 
mony; .1842,  Hartford;  1843,  Saegertown;  1844-’45,  Shippenville; 
1846,  Red  Bank;  1847,  Brookville;  1848,  Red  Bank;  1849,  Coopers- 
town;  1850,  Spring  Creek  Mission;  1851-’52,  Evansburg;  1853, 
Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1854,  North  Washington;  1855-’56,  New  Le- 
banon; 1857,  Edinboro  and  Venango;  1858,  Punxsutawney. 


28 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


MHMHM 


ML 


James  M.  Plant  was  born  in  Clarksburg,  West  Vir- 
ginia, May  5,  1815,  and  departed  this  life  at  the  home  of 
his  son,  W.  B.  Plant,  at  Jamestown,  Pennsylvania,  Nov. 
7,  1892. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  oldest  graduate  of 
Allegheny  College,  the  date  of  his  graduation  being  1840. 
He  worked  his  way  through  that  institution  at  his  ttade 
of  hatter.  He  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  E. 
W.  Sehon  in  1832,  and  began  to  preach  before  he  com- 
pleted his  college  course,  having  received  his  license  and 
been  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1839. 
He  was  located  at  his  own  request  in  1853.  He  resided 
for  some  years  in  Kinsman,  Ohio,  doing  faithful  service 
as  a local  preacher. 

“In  his  last  days,  though  his  mind  grasped  hardly  any- 
thing else,  he  recognized  the  visits  of  his  pastor,  and  was 
always  glad  to  have  prayer,  bestowing  his  blessing  upon 
the  minister,  and  wishing  him  success  in  his  labors.”* — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Nov.  27 , 1902.) 

Matthias  Himebaugh  was  born  in  LeBoeuff  Township, 
Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  August  31,  1819.  His  parents  became 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  still  their  home  was 
a frequent  stopping  place  for  Methodist  preachers,  and 
their  children  attended  the  occasional  Methodist  services 
held  in  Green  to  which  the  family  had  moved.  Matthias 
was  converted  when  seven  years  of  age,  but  subsequently 
lost  his  religious  joy.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  while  listen- 
ing to  the  Christian  experience  of  a young  acquaintance, 
he  was  greatly  moved,  and  at  a camp  meeting,  on  the 
night  of  the  20th  of  June,  the  light  shone  in  upon  his  soul. 
He  said : “The  evidence  of  my  conversion  was  as  bright 

as  the  sun  at  noonday.”  He  said,  further,  that  at  that 
camp  meeting,  he  believes  he  was  “justified,  regenerated, 
and  sanctified.”  In  1838  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and, 
the  following  year,  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. 


*J.  M.  Plant — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1839*  full  connection,  1841;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  elder,  1843, 
Soule;  located  at  his  own  request,  1853;  deceased,  Jamestown, 
Pa  Nov  7 1892.  Appointments — 1839,  Saegertown;  1840,  Cuya- 
hoga Falls;’  1841,  Youngstown;  1842,  Hendersonville;  1843  Ship- 
pen  vilie;  1844,  Conneautville;  1845,  Morgan;  1846,  Gustavus; 
1847-’48,  Williamsfield;  1849,  Hubbard;  1850,  Southington;  1851, 
Braceville;  1852,  Gustavus. 


Vorse,  McClelland , Plant , Himebaugh. 


29 


Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Himebaugh  was  a large,  stout- 

built  young  man,  with  good  mental  powers,  but  limited 
cultivation,  though  by  close  application  he  improved 
rapidly  in  preaching.” 

Mr.  Himebaugh  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference in  1850;  to  the  St.  Louis  Conference  in  1868;  and 
returned  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference  in  1874.  He  was 
eight  years  presiding  elder;  twenty-eight  years,  on  cir- 
cuits and  in  stations;  eight  years,  in  mission  work;  three 
years,  agent  of  Lawrence  University;  and  thirteen  years, 
connected  with  the  work  of  the  Western  Seamen’s  Friend 
Society.  For  sixty  years  he  had  received  appointments 
without  a break,  superannuating  in  1899.  This  vener- 
able servant  of  the  Church  is  spending  the  last  years  of 
his  laborious  life  near  the  scenes  of  his  later  spiritual  bat- 
tles and  triumphs.* 

John  Luccock  rejoices  in  the  success  of  the  work  on 
Youngstown  Circuit.  “Several  of  the  appointments  on 
this  circuit  have  been  favored  with  the  droppings  of  a 
shower;  but,  as  yet,  we  have  not  been  blessed  with  that 
general  revival  for  which  we  hoped  and  prayed.  At  our 
second  quarterly  meeting  in  Hubbard,  and  at  a protracted 
meeting  in  Coitsville,  eight  or  ten  souls  were  converted 
at  each,  some  of  whom  are  promising  members.  We 
have  recently  held  a protracted  meeting  two  and  a half  - 
miles  northwest  from  this  village.  It  was  a glorious 

♦Since  the  above  writing  Mr.  Himebaugh  has  passed  away.  He 
died  at  his  home  at  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  May  10,  1907. 

Matthias  Himebaugh — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on 
trial,  1839;  full  connection,  1841;  deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  elder, 
1843,  Soule;  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1850;  trans- 
ferred to  St.  Louis  Conference,  1868;  transferred  to  Wisconsin 
Conference,  1874;  deceased,  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  May  10,  1907.  Ap- 
pointments— 1839,  Red  Bank;  1840,  Napoli;  1841,  Jamestown,  N. 

Y.;  1842,  Harmony;  1843,  Youngsville;  1844,  McKean;  1845, 
Springfield;  1846-’47,  Wattsburg;  1848,  North  East;  1849,  Wesley- 
ville;  1850,  Sheboygan  Falls  Mission  (supply);  1851,  Sheboygan 
Falls  Mission,  Wis.;  1852,  Fon  du  Lac,  Wis.,  North  Ward;  1853- 
’54,  Oshkosh,  Wis.;  1855,  Madison,  Wis.;  1856-’59,  Madison  Dis- 
trict; 1860-’63,  Appleton  District;  1864-’66,  agent,  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity; 1867-’68,  superintendent.  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  So- 
ciety; 1869,  secretary,  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society;  1870-73, 
general  agent.  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society;  1874,  district 
superintendent,  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society;  1875-79,  as- 
sistant superintendent,  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society;  1880- 
’82,  Menasha,  Wis.;  1883-’84,  Depere,  Wis.;  1885-’87,  Oshkosh, 
Wis.,  Second  Street;  1888-’90,  Zion,  Wis.;  1891,  Oshkosh  Circuit; 
1892-’98,  Oshkosh,  City  Mission;  1899,  superannuated. 


3 


30 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

time.  Between  twenty  and  thirty  professed  to  have  found 
peace  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Here  parents  and  chil- 
dren, husbands  and  wives,  were  seen  to  rejoice  over  the 
trophies  of  the  cross.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal , 
April  ii,  1839.) 

Beaver  Center  and  Middlesex. 

Methodism  at  Beaver  Center,  Crawford  county,  dates 
from  1839  when  a class  was  formed,  the  Gateses,  De 
Wolfs  and  Hasketts  being  early  members.  The  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  school  house  until  1870,  when  a 
handsome  frame  church  was  completed,  at  an  expense  of 
$1,500.  The  class  was  connected  with  the  Conneaut- 
ville  Circuit,  but  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Spring 
Circuit. — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People,  1899,  p. 

483-) 

The  exact  date  of  the  organization  of  the  first  Meth- 
odist society  in  West  Middlesex  cannot  be  determined. 
The  first  sermon  preacher  by  a minister  of  this  denomina- 
tion was  delivered  by  “a  Rev.  Parker,”  in  the  house  of 
Charles  Schooks.  Itinerants  passing  through  this  region 
were  accustomed  to  hold  services  in  the  homes  of  the 
settlers.  Prior  to  1839  preaching  had  become  more  regu- 
lar, and  the  homes  of  Robert  Douthet  and  William  King 
were  opened  for  divine  worship.  This  charge  was  known 
as  “Douthet’s,”  and  afterwards  as  “King’s,”  on  the  New 
Castle  Circuit;  and  then  as  “Middlesex”  on  Mercer  and 
Hubbard  Circuit.  In  1856  it  became  an  independent 
charge.  There  was  “a  revival  of  considerable  intensity” 
in  1842,  and  preaching  became  more  frequent.  A com- 
modious brick  church  was  erected  on  Main  Street  in  1861, 
which,  together  with  the  improvements  made  in  1872, 
cost  $10,000.  This  replaced  the  small  frame  church 
which  stood  on  North  Street. 

Mr.  Gregg,  speaking  of  an  earlier  date,  says:  “In  an 

early  day  Mr.  John  F.  Newkirk  settled  his  family  about 
two  miles  from  Middlesex,  and  opened  his  log  cabin  to 
the  Methodist  ministers,  who  continued  to  preach  in  it  to 
a few  scattered  pioneers  until  1833,  when,  under  the  la- 
bors of  Rev.  Messrs.  Jones  and  Thompson,  a revival  took 
place  and  a society  was  formed,  consisting  of  J.  F.  New- 
kirk and  wife,  B.  Burnett  and  wife,  John  McBride  and 
wife,  James  McBride  and  wife,  Thomas  Swayze  and 


Methodism  in  Saegertown. 


3i 


wife,  and  Mary  Cannon.  The  class  and  preaching  were 
subsequently  moved  to  Middlesex,  where  a good  degree 
of  religious  prosperity  has  been  experienced.’' — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  71.) 

Methodism  in  Saegertown. 

The  Methodist  society  at  Saegertown  was  organized 
about  1839.  Among  the  earliest  members  were:  John 

McGill  and  wife,  Andrew  Ryan  and  wife,  Harvey  Sackett 
and  wife,  Jacob  Brookhouser  and  wife,  John  Flaugh  and 
wife,  Joseph  Housel,  and  Isaac  Blystone.  Many  of  the 
members  formerly  belonged  to  the  Seavy  class  which 
met  on  the  opposite  side  of  French  creek.  The  Saeger- 
town society  met  for  several  years  in  the  Lutheran 
Church.  The  first  Methodist  church  was  built  in  1841, 
and  the  second  in  1875.  The  latter  cost  $6,000.  Sae- 
gertown Circuit  was  formed  in  1839.  Concerning  Sae- 
gertown Methodism,  Bishop  Simpson  says : “I  assisted 

in  introducing  Methodism  into  Saegertown,  where  at  a 
protracted  meeting  we  held,  the  leaders  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  who  had  controlled  the  village,  came  forward  and 
read  a paper  protesting  against  ‘the  errors  of  Methodism,’ 
as  they  styled  them.  After  they  had  finished  reading 
their  protest  we  went  on  without  making  any  allusion 
whatever  to  them,  and  were  gratified  to  witness  a precious 
revival  of  religion.” — (History  of  Crcnvford  County, 
Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  p.  702;  Crooks,  The  Life  of  Bishop 
Matthew  Simpson,  p.  131.) 

Captain  A.  McGill,  writing  from  Saegertown,  says : 
“Methodism  was  first  preached  in  this  place  half  a cen- 
tury ago.  A society  or  class  was  formed  of  such  crude 
elements  as  then  made  up  our  population.  Meetings  were 
held  in  private  houses,  and  for  many  years  the  itinerants 
preached  in  school  houses  or  dwellings,  as  they  could 
gain  access.  In  1843,  or  thereabouts,  an  unpretending 
little  church  was  erected.  A humble  house  was  thus  es- 
tablished for  our  people,  and  their  hearts  were  made  glad, 
and  they  rejoiced  as  did  the  Israelites  when  the  taber- 
nacle was  erected  in  their  camp  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Sinai.  A generation  passed,  and  the  time  arrived  when 
the  little  old  church  must  give  way  to  the  more  stately 
edifice,  and  on  Sunday,  Jan.  30,  1876,  the  new  church 


32 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  dedicated,  and  opened  for  public  worship.”  This 
building  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives,  D.D. ; the  cost 
was  about  $6,000. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , 

March  2,  1876.) 

Revivals. 

A.  M.  Brown  writes  from  Mesopotamia  Circuit : “Our 
first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Bloomfield,  Septem- 
ber 28th  and  29th ; nothing  special.  Our  second  was  held 
in  West  Farmington,  where  our  friends  have  succeeded 
in  building  a very  neat  and  commodious  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  was  dedicated  to  Almighty  God. on  the  9th  of 
December,  dedication  sermon  preached  by  our  worthy 
presiding  elder,  Ira  Eddy,  (who  formed  the  first  society 
in  this  town,  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago,)  to  a 
large  and  attentive  audience.  Our  meeting  continued  for 
several  days,  and  notwithstanding  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness were  strong  and  mighty,  God  showed  himself  fully 
able  to  save ; souls  were  awakened  and  converted  to  God. 
On  New  Year’s  day,  Rev.  Dr.  Dewey  preached  a sermon 
on  the  subject  of  holiness ; it  was  attended  with  power. 
On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  several  felt  that  God  was 
able  to  save  from  all  sin.  Oh ! bless  the  Lord,  it  was  a 
time  of  power  and  great  glory.  From  this  meeting  the 
fire  spread,  other  societies  caught  the  sacred  flame,  some 
experienced  the  blessing  of  perfect  love,  and  rejoiced  to 
see  their  neighbors  converted  to  God. 

“Our  third  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  W indsor ; it 
was  a good  time.  Our  circuit  is  in  a tolerable  good  state 
of  prosperity ; our  prayer  is  that  it  may  continue  to  rise. 
We  feel  like  staying  on  board  the  old  ship , knowing  that 
she  has  landed  thousands  safe  in  heaven,  and  we  think 
she  has  at  present  quite  a devoted  crew  in  the  cabin  and 
on  deck,  with  their  well  tried  Captain  at  their  head,  who 
will  land  them  safe  in  port,  provided  they  keep  to  the 
ship.” — (Pittsburg  Conference  Journal,  May  23,  1839.) 

Fifth  Session  of  the  Erie  Conference. 

The  fifth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  August  5,  1840,  Bishop  Elijah  Hed- 
ding  presiding,  A.  G.  Sturgis,  secretary.  Lemuel  M. 
Reeves  was  transferred  to  the  Indiana  Conference  and 
Homer  J.  Clark  to  the  Pittsburg.  Dennis  Goddard  lo- 
cated. J.  J.  Steadman  was  appointed  to  the  Erie  station. 


Fifth  Session  of  the  Erie  Conference.  33 

but,  because  of  ill  health  was  compelled  to  give  up  the 
work,  and  J.  R.  Locke  was  transferred  from  the  Spring- 
field  Charge  to  Erie  early  in  the  year.  Mr.  Locke  re- 
ceived much  help  from  the  eccentric  “Billy  Brown”  in  a 
series  of  successful  revival  meetings. 

P.  D.  Horton  and  John  Prosser  were  supernumeraries. 

J.  K.  Hallock,  Asahel  Reeves,  and  William  Carroll 
were  superannuated. 

I.  H.  Tackitt  was  appointed  to  Cleveland  with  A.  M. 
Brown,  but  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  funds 
“abroad”  for  the  church. 

J.  A.  Hallock  and  William  M.  Burton  withdrew  from 
the  connection. 

G.  C.  Baker  was  expelled. 

Homer  J.  Clark,  D.D.,  president  of  Allegheny  College, 
was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Conference  “for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  the  two  conferences  an  equal  representa- 
tion in  the  faculty  of  the  college.” 

The  following  persons  were  received  on  trial : Lorenzo 
D.  Williams,  Alvin  Burgess,  John  Mortimer,  George  F. 
Reeser,  Edwin  Hull,  William  W.  Maltby,  John  Graham, 
Israel  Mershon,  Lewis  Clark  and  John  Van  Horn.* 

*John  Mortimer — Admitted  on  trial,  1840;  discontinued,  1843. 
Appointments — 1840,  Hendersonville;  1841,  Stratton ville;  1842, 
Saegertown. 

♦Appointments:  Ravenna  District,  John  Chandler,  presiding 

elder;  Ravenna,  L.  D.  Mix,  D.  M.  Stearns;  Cuyahoga  Falls, 
Timothy  Goodwin,  J.  M.  Plant;  Cleveland,  A.  M.  Brown,  I.  H. 
Tackitt;  Akron  and  Middlebury,  John  Robinson,  B.  K.  Maltby; 
Freedom,  Thomas  Carr,  Henry  Elliott;  Edinburg,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs, Caleb  Brown;  Hudson,  Ira  Norris,  L.  D.  Williams;  Cleve- 
land Circuit,  Wareham  French,  J.  O.  Wood;  Willoughby,  J.  E. 
Aikin,  Thomas  Graham;  Chardon,  R.  A.  Aylworth,  J.  L.  Holmes; 
Painesville,  W.  F.  Wilson.  Warren  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  pre- 
siding elder;  Warren,  A.  G.  Sturgis;  Braceville,  Aurora  Callen- 
der, P.  D.  Horton;  Youngstown,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Lewis  Clark; 
Ellsworth,  James  Gillmore;  Hartford,  John  Luccock,  Alvin  Bur- 
gess; Gustavus,  Samuel  Leech,  R.  J.  Sibley;  Williamsfield,  Dillon 
Prosser,  John  Demming;  Mesopotamia,  Ira  Eddy,  D.  C.  Richey; 
Parkman,  'Stf.  S.  Worrallo,  Stephen  Hubbard;  New  Castle,  Thomas 
Stubbs,  D.  W.  Vorse;  Greenville  and  Clarkesville,  John  Crum, 
John  Van  Horn,  J.  E.  Bassett  to  labor  at  Greenville.  Meadville 
District,  John  Bain,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  J.  H.  Whallon; 
Allegheny  College,  H.  J.  Clark,  president;  G.  W.  Clarke,  professor 
of  languages;  Oil  Creek,  Salmeron  Smith,  John  Graham;  Frank- 
lin, William  Patterson;  Hendersonville,  Hiram  Luce,  John  Mor- 
timer; Mercer,  Rufus  Parker;  Salem,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  H.  N. 
Stearns,  S.  P.  Hempstead;  Lawrenceburg  Mission,  H.  S.  Win- 
ans;  Shippen  ville,  J.  P.  Benn,  Isaac  Scofield;  Stratton  ville,  Reu- 


34  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


« 


Van  Horn,  Clark,  Maltby. 

In  1801  the  parents  of  John  Van  Horn  moved  from 
New  Jersey  into  what  is  now  Union  Township,  near 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  John  was  born  Nov.  19,  1809. 
He  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting  held  two  miles  north 
of  Meadville  by  W.  B.  Mack,  presiding  elder,  in  1831; 
licensed  to  preach  in  1839,  admitted  on  trial  in  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1840;  located  in  1850,  and  settled  near  Mead- 
ville where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
faithful  in  his  local  relation,  loyal  to  the  interests  of  the 
Church  where  he  lived,  and  helpful  to  the  preachers.  He 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in  1890.  The  following  entry  was 
found  in  his  diary : “I  have  always  tried  to  live  in  peace 

with  all  men.  I never  struck  a man,  and  I never  was  struck. 
I never  had  a lawsuit , and  I have  always  tried  to  keep  out 
of  debt,  feeling  I cannot  be  saved  by  anything  I have  said 
or  done ; and  if  I am  saved,  it  must  be  through  the  merits 
of  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  my  only  hope  of  life  and  salva- 
tion.”* 

Lewis  Clark  was  born  in  Easthampton,  Hampshire  Co., 
Mass.,  July  26,  1813,  and  died  in  Glenville,  Ohio,  March 
4,  1876.  He  embraced  religion  in  March,  1830,  during 
a revival  which  occurred- under  the  labors  of  the  Meth- 
odists and  Presbyterians  near  his  own  home.  He  was  li- 
censed tb  preach  by  J.  A.  Merrill,  presiding  elder  of  the 

ben  Peck;  Red  Bank,  G.  F.  Reeser,  Isaac  Meshon;  Brookville  Mis- 
sion, Daniel  Pritchard.  Jamestown  District,  David  Preston,  pre- 
siding elder;  Jamestown,  Albina  Hall;  Gerry,  H.  J.  Moore, 
Luther  Kendall;  Napoli,  J.  F.  Hill,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Forest- 
ville,  J.  O.  Rich,  Thomas  Stowe,  Sheridan,  Josiah  Flower,  Edwin 
Hull;  Fredonia,  W.  H.  Hunter,  Moses  Hill;  Westfield,  Darius 
Smith,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Harmony,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  I.  C.  T.  McClel- 
land; Warren,  B.  S.  Hill,  Alexander  Barris;  Wattsburg,  John 
Scott,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  Daniel  Rowland;  Quincy,  H S.  Hitch- 
cock, C.  R.  Chapman.  Erie  District,  J.  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder; 
Erie,  J.  J.  Steadman;  Wesleyville,  Niram  Norton,  L.  D.  Prosser; 
North  East,  Samuel  Gregg;  McKean,  J.  W.  Hill,  T.  D.  Blinn; 
Springfield,  J.  W.  Lowe,  J.  R.  Locke;  Ashtabula  and  Kingsville, 
William  Butt,  C D.  Rockwell,  John  Prosser,  sup.;  Geneva,  H. 
M.  Bettes,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Jefferson,  J.  W.  Davis;  Harmonsburg, 
Joseph  Leslie,  Stephen  Heard;  Cambridge,  Ahab  Keller;  Saeger- 
town,  Allen  Fouts,  W.  W.  Maltby. 

♦John  Van  Horn — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 
Waugh;  located,  1850.  Appointments — 1840,  Greenville  and 
Clarksville;  1841,  Gustavus;  1842,  Geneva,  O.;  1843,  Henderson- 
ville; 1844-’45,  Clintonville ; 1846,  Pleasantville;  1847-’48,  Oil 
Creek;  1849,  Kinzua. 


Van  Horn,  Clark,  Maltby. 


35 


Springfield  District,  in  1835.  He  spent  several  years  at 
the  Wilbraham  Academy  in  improving  his  education,  and 
then  served  as  a supply  under  the  presiding  elder  on  the 
Manchester  and  Wilbraham  Charges.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
in  1838,  and  tinited  with  the  Erie  Conference  in  1840.  Mr. 
Gregg  says  of  him:  “Mr.  Clark  was  a middling  sized 

man,  studious  and  intelligent,  modest  and  unassuming, 
and  undervalued  his  own  abilities  to  preach.  His  ser- 
mons were  usually  well  arranged,  and  gave  evidence  of 
close  and  careful  thought  in  preparation.  His  language 
was  correct  and  concise,  his  style  rather  moderate.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II, 
p.  136.) 

He  was  twenty-one  years  effective.  He  was  super- 
numerary in  1850  and  superannuated  in  1857,  but  fail- 
ing health  compelled  his  permanent  superannuation  in 
1863.  At  the  division  he  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference.  “In  his  religious  experience  and  en- 
joyments he  was  not  emotional,  but  uniform  and  pro- 
gressive, accompanied  by  a life  so  circumspect  as  to  con- 
vince all  that  knew  him  of  his  honest  sincerity,  and  steady 
advancement  in  holiness.  He  was  well  read  in  Christian 
theology  and  biblical  literature;  could  skillfully  expound 
and  successfully  defend  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible.  His 
last  sickness  was  a sudden  and  severe  attack  of  typhoid 
pneumonia,  during  which  his  great  sufferings  were  borne 
with  patient  resignation,  and  when  death  came  it  found 
him  in  peaceful  waiting,  ready  for  his  departure.  ”* — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XVI,  i8y6 , p.  124.) 

William  W.  Maltby,  brother  of  Rev.  B.  K.  Maltby,  was 
born  in  Gorham,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1818,  and  while 
yet  young  moved  with  his  parents  to  Kingsville,  Ashta- 
bula Co.,  Ohio,  “where  he  was  raised,  educated,  con- 
verted, and  licensed  to  preach ; but  the  exact  date  of  each 

*Lewis  Clark — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1839,  Soule;  elder,  1842, 
Morris;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Glenville,  O.,  March  4,  1876.  Ap- 
pointments— 1840,  Youngstown;  1841,  Hartford;  1842,  Ellsworth; 
1843-’44,  Edinburg;  1845,  Braceville;  1846,  Freedom;  1847, 
Charleston;  1848,  Middlebury;  1849,  Newburg;  1850,  supernumer- 
ary;- 1851,  Willoughby;  1852,  Parkman;  1853,  Cleveland,  City 
Mission;  1854-’55,  Geneva;  1856,  West  Farmington;  1857,  super- 
annuated; 1858-’59,  East  Cleveland  and  Euclid;  1860-’61,  Tall* 
madge;  1862,  Deerfield;  1863-’75,  superannuated. 


36  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

we  cannot  give.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the.  Erie 
Conference  at  its  session  in  1840.  Mr.  Maltby  was  quite 
tall  and  rather  stout  built,  sedate  and  deliberate  in  his  ap- 
pearance and  movements.  He  studied  and  investigated 
subjects  closely,  was  quite  a close  adherent  to  Methodist 
doctrine,  discipline,  and  usages  generally.  His  preaching 
abilities  were  more  than  medium,  and  were  generally  both 
acceptable  and  useful/’ — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , 
Erie  Conference , Vol.  II,  pp.  133,  134.)  He  requested 
a location  in  1852,  moved  to  Iowa,  where  for  many  years 
he  effectively  served  the  Church  in  the  local  ranks.* 

Alvin  Burgess. 

The  parents  of  Alvin  Burgess  came  to  Bainbridge, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  from  Booneville,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
when  Alvin  was  in  his  fourteenth  year.  His  mother  was 
a deeply  pious  woman,  and  a devoted  Methodist,  and  to 
her  he  owed  his  religious  impressions  and  early  conver- 
sion which  occurred  when  he  was  about  seventeen.  He 
says  in  his  diary:  “While  suffering  pain  of  body,  but 

more  intense  pain  of  mind,  I arose  from  my  bed  and 
kneeled  by  the  bedside  and  cried  to  God  in  the  language 
of  the  publican,  ‘God  be  merciful  to  me  a sinner/  I gave 
my  heart  to  God.  He  received  me.  My  sins  were  all 
forgiven,  my  chains  fell  off,  the  light  of  freedom  dawned 
on  my  poor  dark  spirit  and  I was  happy.”  With  the  con- 
sent of  his  father  and  the  wishes  of  his  mother,  he  be- 
came the  priest  of  the  household,  and  from  the  family  al- 
tar praise  rose  daily  as  incense  before  God.  He  was  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  preach  the 
gospel,  and  bent  his  energies  to  secure  preparation  for  the 
heavenly  calling.  The  Bible  was  his  great  text-book,  and 
he  thoroughly  studied  the  holy  scriptures.  He  became  a 
man  of  whom  it  might  truthfully  be  said : “He  was 

mighty  in  the  scriptures,  and  from  this  arsenal  he  ever 
found  ready  weapons  to  defend  and  support  the  doctrines 
of  the  Church.” 

Mr.  Burgess  was  born  in  Booneville,  New  York,  May 

*w.  W.  Maltby — Admitted  on  trial,  1840;  full  connection,  1842; 
deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844,  Waugh;  located  at  his  own  re- 
quest, 1852.  Appointments — 1840,  Saegertown;  1841,  McKean; 
1842,  Springfield;  1843,  Braceville;  1844-’45,  Mesopotamia;  1846, 
Youngstown;  1847-’48,  superannuated;  1849,  Ashtabula;  1850-’51, 
Chagrin  Falls. 


Alvin  Burgess. 


• 37 


io,  1820;  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1840,  and  the 
same  year  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  army  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  was  a “choice  young  man.”  His  first  ap- 
pointment on  the  Hartford  Circuit  associated  him  with 
that  eminently  powerful  controversialist,  John  Luccock, 
and  to  him  he  probably  owed  his  tendency  to  doctrinal 
preaching.  He  was  a most  diligent  student  all  his  life 
and  his  mind  was  active,  strong,  and  penetrating.  Though 
not  favored  with  the  training  of  the  schools,  he  acquired 
a respectable  knowledge  of  the  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew 
languages  ; and  was  well  read  in  theology,  literature,  and 
science.  His  mind  ranged  over  every  department  of  hu- 
man investigation. 

Mr.  Burgess  was  effective  thirty-three  years  without  a 
break.  In  1871  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the 
Jamestown  District.  Soon  after  beginning  his  second 
year  of  service  in  this  responsible  field,  he  was  stricken 
down  with  the  disease  which  terminated  his  life.  He  died 
at  East  Randolph,  New  York,  Oct.  22,  1872.  Being 
asked  a short  time  before  his  death  if  all  was  well  with 
him,  he  looked  up  as  if  astonished  at  the  question,  and  re- 
plied : “How  can  it  be  otherwise  ? God  is  my  God,  my 

Rock  and  my  Salvation ; my  trust  for  time  and  all  etern- 
ity. What  more  does  a man  need?” 

Mr.  Burgess  relates  the  story  of  his  conversion : 
“When  about  eleven  years  of  age,  I was  'deeply  con- 
vinced of  sin/  and  did  'earnestly  groan  for  redemption.’ 
I distinctly  remember  one  night,  when  in  my  ‘trundle- 
bed/  I gave  vent  to  agony  of  spirit  in  sobs  and  tears. 
Mother  hearing  me,  came  to  me,  and  learning  how  sick  I 
was  of  sin,  offered  fervent  prayer  for  me,  and  showed  me 
how  willing  Christ  was  to  save  me  then  and  there.  In  a 
few  days  I found  rest  for  my  soul  and  great  joy  in  be- 
lieving, and  know,  from  my  experience,  that  children  may 
be  converted  and  have  the  'witness  of  the  Spirit.'  Shortly 
after,  I was  received  into  the  Church  by  Rev.  Curtis 
Goddard,  and  ever  since  have  been’  identified  with  the 
disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  knowing  that  he  is  able 
to  keep  me  from  falling,  and  to  present  me  faultless  before 
the  throne.* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  30, 

1885.) 

♦Alvin  Burgess — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 


T 


38  • History  of  Erie  Conference. 

- 

Lorenzo  D.  Williams. 

Lorenzo  D.  Williams  lived  a three-fold  life — a teacher, 
minister  and  Christian.  As  a teacher  he  was  in  lively  sym- 
pathy with  the  highest  forms  of  truth.  While  the  study 
and  teaching  of  the  sciences  has  led  not  a few  men  to  be- 
come skeptical,  he,  as  teacher  in  the  scientific  department 
of  Allegheny  College  for  many  years,  never  veered  from 
the  standard  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Many  scientists 
constantly  fear  a conflict  between  some  branch  of  science 
and  religion,  or  between  some  new  scientific  discovery 
and  the  Bible;  indeed  there  are  scholarly  men  who  care 
more  for  their  reputation  among  scholars  than  for  their 
soul’s  present  or  future  good ; but  it  was  not  so  with  Prof. 
Williams.  He  believed  in  natural  law,  but  he  believed 
more  in  the  Bible  as  God’s  revelation  of  Himself  to  man 
and  as  the  provision  of  love  for  saving  lost  souls.  He 
wrote  an  article  which  appeared  in  the  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate  the  week  before  he  died ; it  was  entitled : 
“For  Now  We 'Know  in  Part.”  In  it  he  stated  the  scien- 
tist’s view  of  the  natural-  world  full  of  worldliness  and 
the  Christian  view  of  heaven.  He  stated  his  belief  in  God 
and  Christ  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  a future  existence  for  the 
human  soul,  and  that  a man’s  course  of  conduct  here  de- 
termines his  destiny  hereafter.  The  article  placed  over 
against  his  death,  seems  to  be  a fitting  discourse  for  this 
occasion.  “The  coming  event  casts  its  shadow  before.” 

As  a preacher,  he  was  plain,  practical  and  forceful,  and 
always  presented  the  marrow  of  the  gospel  in  his  dis- 
courses. He  abandoned  the  profession  of  teaching  sev- 
eral years  ago,  and  in  late  years  he  has  preached  but  lit- 
tle. But  while  he  ceased  to  be  active  as  a teacher  and 
preacher,  he  clung  to  his  religious  name  and  character 
with  a fondness  that  made  redolent  with  heavenly  cheer 
the  room  where  he  spent  the  last  year  and  more  of  life 
that  he  suffered  before  going  hence.  Indeed  his  Chris- 

Waugh;  deceased,  East  Randolph,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  22,  1872.  Appoint- 
ments—1840,  Hartford;  1841,  Freedom;  1842,  Franklin,  O.;  1843, 
Chardon;  1844,  Mayville;  1845,  Quincy;  1846,  Mayville;  1847, 
Forestville  and  Villenovia;  1848,  Randolph  and  Cold  Spring  Mis- 
sion; 1849,  Ashville;  1850-’51,  Ellington;  1852,  Randolph;  1853-’54, 
Portland;  1855-’56,  Morgan;  1857,  Montville;  1858-’59,  Girard,  Pa.; 
1860-’61,  Conneaut;  1862-’63,  Kingsville;  1864,  Windsor  and  Harts- 
grove;  1865,  Albion;  1866-’67,  West  Farmington;  1868,  Montville; 
1869,  Willoughby;  1870,  Twinsburg;  1871-72,  Jamestown  District. 


Lorenzo  D.  Williams. 


39 


tian  life  was  the  substratum  of  the  great  work  he  ac- 
complished in  pulpit  and  recitation  room.  This  was  what 
made  him  a teacher  and  preacher  and  the  noble  man  he 
was.  As  we  look  on  the  record  of  this  husband  and 
wife,  it  is  not  all  darkness  even  in  the  past,  nor  in  the  na- 
ture of  things  can  our  experience  be  all  sorrow.  These 
two  souls  were  strangely  knit  into  each  other  for  about 
forty  years.  Prof.  Williams  was  born  in  1813,  his  wife 
two  years  later,  in  1815.  He  was  converted  in  his  fif- 
teenth year,  she  a year  later,  in  her  fourteenth  year.  He 
was  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
ministry  fifty-one  years,  and  she  fifty  years.  He  died  on 
Monday,  the  14th  day  of  October,  1878,  and  she  died 
Thursday  of  the  same  week,  in  the  same  room.  When 
arrangements  were  perfected  for  his  burial  and  the  bear- 
ers were  gloved  and  in  the  room,  the  family  descended 
from  an  upper  chamber  to  pray  before  going  to  the  House 
of  God.  The  widow  stood  at  the  head  of  the  coffin,  look- 
ing with  tearful  eyes  on  the  remains  of  her  husband, 
when,  in  a moment  she  sank  to  the  floor  and  died.  The 
— new  loss  created  a fresh  sorrow  in  the  hearts  of  their 

children  and  grandchildren  and  friends  present,  and  cast 
a gloom  over  the  city  of  Meadville,  where  for  many  years 
they  had  lived  and  were  beloved.  On  the  following  day 
two  hearses  stood  at  the  door — two  sets  of  bearers  bore 
the  remains  of  husband  and  wife  from  the  house;  im- 
pressive services  were  held  in  the  church,  and  the  re- 
mains of  this  man  and  woman  of  God  were  borne  to  their 
resting  place  in  Greendale  Cemetery  on  the  hill.  Mrs. 
Williams  was  an  amiable  character,  a devoted  wife  and  a 
kind  mother.  As  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  she  exerted  a strong  and  positive  influence  on  the 
side  of  Christianity,  and  left  the  world  a rich  legacy  in 
her  name  and  example.  It  may  be  said  of  them  by  us, 
as  we  have  no  doubt  it  has  been  by  the  great  Father  of  us 
all : “Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant,  thou 

Hr  hast  been  faithful  over  a few  things,  I will  make  thee 

ruler  over  many  things.  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord.” — (Portion  of  an  address  delivered  before  the  Con- 
ference at  Mercer,  by  the  Rev.  T.  L.  Flood,  Sunday  after- 
noon, Sept.  28,  1879.) 

Professor  Williams  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Benajah  Wil- 
liams, a member  of  the  Genesee  Conference;  his  birth- 


40 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


place  was  Cazenovia,  New  York.  He  was  a student  of 
Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  and  “worked  his  way” 
throughout  his  student  life.  He  was  converted  at  Hone- 
oye  Falls,  New  York.  His  license  to  exhort  was  granted 
in  1835,  and  he  was  employed  by  Samuel  Luckey,  presid- 
ing elder,  to  supply  the  Genesee  Station.  His  license  to 
preach  soon  followed.  He  was  obliged  to  forego  a college 
course  because  of  ill  health;  and  in  1837  commenced  a 
select  school  at  Chagrin  Falls,  Ohio.  This  grew  into 
“Asbury  Seminary,”  and  was  taken  under  the  patronage 
of  Erie  Conference  in  1840.* 

John  Graham. 

John  Graham  was  born  near  Franklin,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1816.  When  he  was  twelve  years  old  his  mother 
died.  From  that  time  until  his  admission  to  the  Erie 
Conference  he  lived  in  Franklin.  At  that  early  period  the 
facilities  for  a liberal  education  were  not  enjoyed  by  him, 
yet  by  close  economy  and  frugality  he  was  enabled  to 
purchase  valuable  books  which  he  studied  with  eagerness 
and  success.  In  the  midst  of  his  struggle  for  the  acquire- 
ment of  knowledge  and  under  a compelling  impulse  of 
the  conviction  of  duty  he  bent  all  his  energies  towards  the 
best  possible  preparation  for  a life-work  in  the  ministry 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  brought  to  this  sacred 
calling  a well-disciplined  mind  and  a fully  consecrated 
soul. 

He  was  clearly  and  happily  converted  January  13, 
1834,  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  by  the  Rev.  Alfred 
Brunson  in  Franklin  and,  while  yet  at  the  “mourners’ 
bench,”  he  gave  his  name  to  the  Church  in  which  he 
lived,  toiled  and  sacrificed  until  his  departure  to  join  the 
Church  above.  Six  months  after  his  conversion,  at  a 
camp  meeting  held  near  Meadville,  Pa.,  he  earnestly 

*L.  D.  Williams — Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  located,  1842;  readmitted,  1855;  full  connection,  1857;  dea- 
con, 1857,  Scott;  elder,  no  record  as  to  date  or  bishop  in  either 
the  General  Minutes  or  those  of  the  Erie  Conference.  Deceased, 
Meadville,  Pa.,  Oct.  14,  1878.  Appointments — 1840,  Hudson;  1841, 
principal,  Asbury  Seminary;  1855-’61,  professor.  Natural  Science, 
Allegheny  College;  1862,  chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1863,  Saegertown; 
1864-’65,  agent,  Allegheny  College;  1866-’68,  Meadville,  second 
preacher;  1869-’70,  Cochran  ton;  1871-’72,  Meadville,  First  Church, 
second  preacher;  1873-’78,  supernumerary.  Between  1842  and 
1855,  principal,  Asbury  Seminary,  and  professor,  Natural  Science, 
Allegheny  College. 


John  Graham. 


4i 


sought  and  obtained  the  experience  of  perfect  love  and 
gave  unmistakable  evidence  of  the  reality  of  this  great 
work. 

In  his  twentieth  year  he  was  licensed  to  exhort  by  the 
Rev.  George  W.  Clarke,  D.D.  He  received  license  to 
preach  in  1839  from  the  quarterly  conference  in  Frank- 
lin and  by  the  same  conference  he  was  recommended  for 
admission  to  the  traveling  connection. 

Being  endowed  with  a perfect  physical  nature  he  was 
fully  adequate  to  the  rigors  and  hardships,  the  depriva- 
tions and  sufferings  incident  to  the  gospel  ministry  of 
that  early  time.  His  effective  service  extended  over  a 
period  of  more  than  half  a century.  At  the  session  of  the 
conference  in  1892  he  passed  to  the  superannuated  re- 
lation and  soon  after  made  his  home  in  the  city  of  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.,  where  he  resided,  respected  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him,  until  his  departure  May  18,  1898,  to  be 
forever  with  the  Lord,  amid  the  activities  of  the  Church 
of  the  first-born  in  the  Paradise  of  God. 

He  married  Miss  Cornelia  G.  Gaskill,  of  Punxsutaw- 
ney,  September  15,  1842,  who  was  a true  helpmeet  to 
him,  sharing  the  toils  and  sacrifices,  the  joys  and  triumphs 
of  ministry  of  the  Lord  Jesus  during  the  long  period  of 
fifty-four  years.  Through  this  arduous  and  extended 
journey  together  they  traveled  for  nearly  the  whole  way, 
she  having  preceded  him  but  little  more  than  a year  to 
the  final  trysting-place  of  pure  and  holy  souls,  to  their 
eternal  home  in  heaven. 

Our  lamented  brother  was  a man  of  deep  convictions 
and  on  all  occasions  one  who  had  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions. In  the  necessary  theological  controversies  of 
the  earlier  times  of  our  conference  he  was  an  earnest  de- 
fender of  the  truth  “as  it  is  in  Jesus.”  He  unfaltering- 
ly laid  siege  to  the  strongholds  of  the  enemies  of  Christ. 
His  executive  abilities  were  of  a high  order,  as  witnessed 
in  his  service  for  two  successive  terms  in  the  responsible 
work  of  the  presiding  eldership.  In  1868  he  was  elected 
as  a reserve  delegate,  and  in  1872  he  was  chosen  as  one 
of  the  representatives  of  Erie  Conference  to  the  General 
Conference. 

In  all  his  work,  whether  in  the  pastorate  or  the  presid- 
ing eldership,  he  exhibited  in  an  unusual  degree  the  quali- 
ties of  both  mind  and  heart  of  the  true  statesman.  His 


42 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


plans  for  the  enlargement  and  aggressive  movements  of 
the  Church  were  well  laid  and  of  practical  development. 
He  seldom  made  mistakes.  The  work  committed  to  his 
care  never  suffered.  He  was  ever  on  the  alert.  He  was 
ever  ready  with  an  expedient  to  meet  an  exigency.  He 
was  wise  in  all  his  administration.  All  departments  of 
our  church-work  both  at  home  and  in  the  opening  foreign 
fields  were  clearly  under  his  eye. 

In  the  pulpit  he  was  earnest  and  because  he  was  earnest 
he  was  attractive.  His  discourses  evinced  careful  pre- 
paration and  were  suited  to  enlighten,  to  convince,  to 
persuade  and  to  edify  his  congregations.  Many  were 
led  to  a saving  knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jesus  under  his 
ministry,  and  all  were  led  on  to  know  the  Lord  more  per- 
fectly. He  believed,  taught  and  exemplified  the  doctrine 
of  “going  on  to  perfection.” 

In  every  relation  of  life  he  was  a safe  counselor  and  a 
true  friend.  He  could  be  trusted  at  all  times.  Ever 
loyal  to  the  Church  and  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
he  went  cheerfully  to  the  fields  of  labor  assigned  to  him, 
counting  no  sacrifice  too  great,  no  hardship  too  severe,  so 
that  he  might  win  souls  to  Christ.  After  serving  fifty- 
one  years  in  the  effective  ranks,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-six  years,  though  in  enfeebled  bodily  strength, 
from  his  home  in  Meadville  he  served  State  Road  Church, 
four  miles  distant,  and  was  blessed  with  a gracious  re- 
vival in  which  many  were  brought  to  Christ.  His  work 
was  well  and  faithfully  done.* 

This  “Semi-Centennial  Sermon,”  by  John  Graham,  is 
worthy  of  record  in  this  history : 

“They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age ; they  shall 
be  fat  and  flourishing.” — Psalm  xcii,  v.  14. 

“In  this  congregation  there  are  many  who  have  passed 

♦John  Graham— Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 
Waugh;  deceased,  Meadville,  Pa.,  May  18,  1898.  Appointments — 
1840,  Oil  Creek;  1841,  Red  Bank;  1842,  Clarion;  1843,  Luthers- 
burg;  1844-’45,  Rockville;  1846-’47,  Saegertown;  1848-’49,  Con- 
neautville;  1850-’51,  Mt.  Jackson;  1852-’53,  New  Wilmington; 
1854-’55,  Hartford  and  Brookfield;  1856-’57,  Greenville;  1858-’59, 
Kingsville;  1860-’61,  West  Farmington;  1862-’63,  Geneva  and  Say- 
brook;  1864,  Chagrin  Falls;  1865,  Braceville;  1866-’68,  Ravenna 
District;  1869-72,  Warren  District;  1873-74,  Poland;  1875-77, 
Middlesex;  1878-79,  Sandy  Lake;  1880-’82,  Randolph;  1883-’85, 
Waterford;  1886-’88,  Cochranton;  1889-’90,  Linesville;  1891,  Al- 
bion; 1892-’97,  superannuated. 


John  Graham. 


or  are  passing  the  meridian  of  life,  as  well  as  many  who 
still  are  young  who  look  forward  to  length  of  days  and 
long  life. 

“To  those  who  feel  that  they  are  growing  old  I desire 
to  offer  such  counsel  as  may  save  them  from  the  unhappi- 
ness of  a barren  and  hopeless  old  age,  and  cause  them  to 
be  like  those  Cedars  of  Lebanon  of  which  the  Psalmist 
writes,  and  around  which  generations  have  prospered  and 
faded,  empires  flourished  and  passed  away,  but  which  still 
clothe  themselves  with  the  verdure  of  their  youth. 

“We  are  accustomed  to  contemplate  death  as  full  of  all 
that  is  sad  and  solemn — something  to  be  kept  in  the  dis- 
tance and  as  far  from  us  as  possible.  We  should  not  in- 
vest it  with  this  gloomy  anticipation  but  should  look  for- 
ward to  it  in  such  a way  as  to  have  it  awaken  in  us  a deep 
seriousness  and  pensiveness  of  spirit. 

“I  regard  old  age  and  the  death  God  decrees  for  us  and 
for  which  His  spirit  ripens  us  as  both  blessed  and  desir- 
able; but  old  age  preceded  by  carelessness  and  thought- 
lessness in  youth,  and  frivolity  and  worldliness  in  riper 
years,  can  but  cause  it  to  be  only  a desolation  and  neces- 
sarily regarded  with  excessive  dread. 

“Let  us  now  consider  some  of  the  inevitable  experiences 
of  advancing  years  which  evince  the  need  of  some  prin- 
ciple of  vitality  beyond  the  power  of  time  or  earthly 
change.  In  the  first  place,  if  our  lives  are  long,  we  will 
outlive  the  keen  enjoyment  of  the  lighter  and  gayer  forms 
of  earthly  pleasures.  It  is  impossible  to  satisfy  the  im- 
mortal with  things  which  are  mortal.  While  the  elas- 
ticity of  youth  lasts,  before  the  freshness  is  worn  away 
from  scenes  and  objects  which  early  interest  us,  before 
cares  press  heavily,  or  sorrow  teaches  its  hard  lessons, 
one  desires  almost  continuous  gladness. 

“The  round  of  amusements  incident  to  early  life  will 
bring  sweetness  from  song  and  poetry;  delightful  im- 
aginations of  blissful' days  in  the  future,  and  the  pleasant 
sensations  of  peaceful,  contented  spirits;  but  before  even 
the  noontide  of  life  arrives,  the  scene  changes  to  mind 
and  body  alike.  Growing  responsibilities  have  subdued 
the  former  buoyancy  of  spirit;  afflictions,  the  lot  of  all 
mankind,  have  rendered  him  thoughtful  and  created  a 
capacity  for  something  more  calm  and  tangible,  and  in- 
fused a lasting  pensiveness  which  makes  former  pleasures 


44 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


discordant  to  him,  while  with  advancing  years  these  feel- 
ings increase.  One  grows  to  realize  that  the  game  of  life 
is  too  doubtful,  and  the  task  too  desperate  for  trifling,  and 
the  laughter  and  merriment  which  once  found  sympathy 
in  his  soul  now  come  to  him  as  empty  and  meaningless  as 
crackling  thorns. 

“Now  as  regards  the  more  serious  pursuits  of  life,  a 
man  comparatively  early  ascertains  and  exhausts  his  ca- 
pacities and  knows  all  he  is  likely  to  be  and  do,  and  sees 
but  little  unattained  for  which  he  can  reasonably  hope. 
By  middle  life  most  persons  have  found  their  sphere  and 
place.  They  have  exhausted  the  charm  of  novelty  in 
their  profession  or  vocation,  and  yet  they  find  any  change 
in  their  mode  of  living  is  growing  more  and  more  im- 
probable. They  have  already  abandoned  many  of  their 
early  aims,  expecting  only  a competence  instead  of  wealth, 
and  mediocrity  instead  of  eminence.  Golden  visions  have 
dimmed ; wide  and  far-reaching  prospects  have  narrowed ; 
the  horizon  is  fast  shutting  in  on  every  side,  and  great 
expectations  have  dwindled  into  small  realizations.  The 
goal  almost  too  distant  to  be  striven  for,  when  reached, 
dissatisfies.  A consciousness  of  ignorance  grows  upon 
us  with  our  growth  in  wisdom,  and  in  proportion  as  truth 
enlarges  to  our  view  the  more  we  realize  how  little  we 
must  always  know.  Then,  too,  there  must  come  a period 
of  decline  and  stagnation,  made  tolerable  only  when  the 
confident  heart  has  entrusted  its  all  to  higher  care,  which 
alone  keeps  the  old  man  young.  Then,  again,  though  the 
domestic  life  of  the  aged  may  be  serene  and  happy,  it  is 
made  so  only  by  the  hallowing  power  of  the  divine,  for 
in  an  earthly  point  of  view  there  is  but  little  we  can 
promise  ourselves  in  declining  years  as  to  social  relations. 
Friends  drop  out  of  our  circle  of  acquaintance,  one  after 
another,  and  those  who  seemed  essential  to  our  very  be- 
ing must  go  also,  and  old  age  finds  us  solitary  and  almost 
as  strangers  upon  earth,  and  we  exclaim  with  the  poet : 

“The  mossy  marbles  rest 

On  the  lips  that  I have  pressed 

In  their  bloom; 

And  the  names  I loved  to  hear 

Have  been  carved  for  many  a year 


John  Graham. 


45 


from  us,  separated,  burdened  with  corroding  care,  which 
we  cannot  avert,  sorrow  crowding  their  pathway,  and 
hence  the  sorrow  is  our  own;  or,  what  is  most  to  be 
dreaded,  to  feel  the  keenest  disappointment  of  seeing  in 
our  dear  ones  the  moral  delinquency ; the  blighting  spirit- 
ual death  of  the  once  innocent  and  lovely — a warning  that 
we  must  continually  part  with  outward  advantages  which 
early  years  had  given. 

“Decrease  as  to  all  things  earthly  is  the  inevitable  law 
of  man’s  being.  We  must  have  less  and  less  in  prospect; 
our  strongest  holds  in  life,  one  by  one  are  sundered,  and 
we  must  come  to  the  evil  days  whose  strength  is  labor  and 
sorrow. 

“And  what  if  the  life  has  been  misspent — if,  when  the 
things  of  time  and  sense  are  failing  we  have  no  hold  on  a 
higher  life;  if  we  have  not  trusted  in  the  one  Master  who 
remains  faithful  to  the  hoary  head,  and  forsakes  not  his 
servant  when  his  strength  faileth  him? 

“Let  us  now  look  at  some  of  those  things  which  we 
shall  need  for  our  happiness  under  the  full  consciousness 
of  declining  years.  In  the  first  place,  of  what  great  value 
is  it  to  feel  that  we  have  lived  of  some  worthy  purpose, 
to  the  accomplishment  of  some  permanent  results ; that  we 
have  laid  up  some  treasure  that  cannot  be  taken  away. 
The  work  of  life  should  be  such  that  we  can  contemplate 
it  with  pleasure  in  our  solemn  hours. 

“Within  chastened  affections,  pure  tastes  and  a heaven- 
ly temper  we  must  have  for  our  work,  a heart  familiar  in 
its  converse  with  God  and  at  peace  with  man.  Our 
choicest  possessions  must  be  such  that  in  declining 
strength  and  failing  health  they  remain  untouched.  Just 
here  we  may  find  a beautiful  arrangement  of  divine 
mercy,  a pledge  that  the  moral  nature  shall  survive  the 
grave,  in  the  fact  that  when  the  sight  grows  dim,  and 
energy  is  palsied,  and  recollection  fails,  the  moral  traits 
remain  unmolested,  and  may  grow  in  mellowness  and 
beauty  even  to  the  confines  of  eternity.  Who  can  doubt 
that  such  a soul  has  with  it  that  which  keeps  it  in  perfect 
peace ; that  it  is  cheered  in  its  solitude  by  celestial  visitors ; 
by  the  communings  of  God  and  Jesus  and  justified  spirits ! 
Oh,  let  us  walk  with  God  now,  and  when  the  days  come 
that  we  can  no  longer  walk  with  man  we  shall  retain  our 
life  hidden  with  Christ  in  God,  and  when  hoary  winter  is 


4 


46  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

come,  and  the  harvest  of  earthly  life  is  passed  and  its 
sheaves  are  gathered  in,  the  fruits  of  piety  shall  still  be 
ripening  for  a better  harvest  in  heaven. 

“Again,  would  we  enjoy  a happy  old  age,  let  us  make 
kindness  and  love  the  mission  of  our  lips  and  lives.  Let 
us  bind  ourselves  by  the  ties  of  mutual  benefit  to  as  many 
of  our  fellow-beings  as  we  may.  Let  us  not  have  lived 
in  vain  for  those  among  whom  we  dwell,  but  so  live  that 
eyes  that  see  us  shall  bless  us,  and  ears  that  hear  us  shall 
bear  witness  for  us.  Selfishness  within  the  heart  makes 
the  young  man  prematurely  old,  while  a kind,  beneficient 
heart  makes  the  old  man  to  ‘flourish  like  the  palm  tree/ 
Generous  old  age  is  deserted  neither  by  God  nor  man. 
Kindred  may  be  gone,  but  strangers  will  soothe  the  path- 
way to  the  tomb. 

“Lastly,  let  us  not  forsake  the  communion  of  our  de- 
parted friends.  However  assiduous  and  tender  may  be 
the  ministry  of  new  and  younger  friends,  there  will  still 
be  vacant  places,  a void  which  cannot  be  filled.  Let  us 
learn,  therefore,  of  Jesus,  to  regard  those  who  have  gone 
as  still  near  us;  as  separated  from  us  only  by  a thin  veil 
which  faith  may  make  transparent;  and  as  forming  a 
goodly  company  to  welcome  us  to  our  eternal  rest,  there- 
by shedding  over  the  majestic  courts  of  heaven  a fami- 
liar, homelike  aspect.  Let  us,  by  these  Christian  means 
of  preparation,  fortify  ourselves  against  the  years  of  de- 
cline. Let  us  not  hope  for  length  of  days  without  mak- 
ing the  gift  worth  living  for. 

“This  world  presents  no  sight  so  heavenly  as  the  se- 
rene sunset  of  a well-spent  life  with  the  testimony  of  a 
good  conscience  within,  when  memory  can  point  back  to 
duties  faithfully  performed  and  conflicts  well  sustained; 
when  the  veteran  soldier  of  the  cross  can  say  with  St. 
Paul:  ‘I  have  fought  a good  fight,  I have  kept  the 
faith.'  He  may  have  borne  severe  trials  and  intense  sor- 
rows, adversity  may  have  marked  him  for  its  own,  but 
he  is  still  happy,  reposing  in  the  bosom  of  eternal  love. 
His  peace  is  that  which  Jesus  gives  and  cannot  be  taken 
away. 

“How  gently  blend  for  him  the  visions  of  memory  and 
hope!  How  tranquil  and  kind  is  nature’s  decay!  For 
him  the  evening  shadows  fall  gently,  and  they  all  point 
to  the  dawn.  He  finds  faithful  God’s  promise : ‘At 


Edwin  Hull. 


47 


eventide  it  shall  be  light.’  The  silver  cord  is  softly- 
loosed,  not  cut.  The  golden  bowl  crumbles,  is  not  broken 
at  the  fountain,  and  death  is  greeted  with  a solemn  wel- 
come. Hope  in  full  fruition  dies,  and  verified  is  the 
promise:  ‘To  him  that  overcometh  will  I grant  to  sit 

with  me  on  my  throne,’ — granted  a home  in  that  clime 
where  ‘they  need  no  candle,  neither  the  light  of  the  sun, 
for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light  and  they  shall  reign 
for  ever  and  ever.’  ” 

Edwin  Hull. 

Edwin  Hull  was  born  in  Camillus,  Onondaga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Oct.  5,  1851.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Broken- 
straw  Township,  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  spring  of  1819. 
According  to  his  own  account,  Edwin  was  impressed  with 
the  need  of  salvation  at  the  early  age  of  six  years,  but  did 
not  fully  comprehend  the  need  of  a change  of  heart.  At 
about  the  age  of  ten,  under  the  preaching  of  God’s  word, 
he  saw  his  duty  more  plainly,  began  to  pray  in  earnest, 
and  for  some  years  enjoyed  much  of  the  presence  of  the 
Divine  Spirit  in  his  heart.  He  failed  to  make  a public 
profession,  and  darkness  beclouded  his  pathway.  Again 
at  the  age  of  seventeen,  conviction  returned,  and  he  united 
with  the  Church  as  a seeker.  January  28,  1833,  he  was 
present  at  a little  prayer  meeting  in  Mr.  A.  Siggins’ 
kitchen;  and,  upon  rising  to  speak,  his  mourning  was 
turned  to  joy,  and  he  shouted:  “Glory!  glory!  glory!” 

Again  at  his  home  in  Phoenix,  Pennsylvania,  October  18, 
1886,  as  his  spirit  was  about  to  take  its  flight,  with  his 
last  breath,  he  shouted,  “Glory!  glory!  glory!”  He  re- 
ceived a license  to  preach  in  1837,  at  the  Youngsville 
Quarterly  Conference,  the  license  being  signed  by  R. 
A.  Aylworth,  presiding  elder.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1840.  He  labored  on 
large  circuits  until  1865 — except  in  1863  when  he  was 
superannuated — when  he  was  appointed  agent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Bible  Society  and  continued  in  this  work 
until  1878  when  he  was  superannuated. 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “Mr.  Hull’s  early  literary  advan- 

tages were  very  limited,  and  he  struggled  long  and  hard 
to  overcome  the  embarrassment  that  this  circumstance  oc- 
casioned, and  he  deserves  much  credit  for  what  he  did  ac- 
complish in  this  direction.  He  became  a good  and  use- 


■ 


48 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ful  minister  of  the  gospel. ” He  improved  all  opportuni- 
ties for  doing  good,  and  enjoyed  many  fruitful  revivals  of 
religion.* 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Gregg  for  the  following  no- 
tice of  Israel  Mershon.  He  was  the  “son  of  Mr.  John 
Mershon,  of  precious  memory  in  connection  with  our 
early  history  as  leader  of  the  first  class  formed  on  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  was  born  in  West  Spring- 
field,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  March  26,  1812,  and  embraced  re- 
ligion under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Reeder,  in 
the  spring  of  1827,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  place  of  his  nativity.”  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1837,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1840.  '“Mr.  Mershon  was  tall  but 
rather  slender.  He  was  an  industrious  man,  anxious  to 
be  useful,  but  did  not  understand  the  demands  of  human 
nature,  nor  could  he  adapt  himself  to  those  demands  so 
as  to  render  himself  as  popular  with  the  people  he  served 
as  his  undoubted  piety  and  admitted  talents  would  lead 
one  to  expect.  Hence  he  did  not  succeed  in  the  ministry 
to  the  extent  that  was  sufficient  to  warrant  his  long  con- 
tinuance in  the  work.  He  has  long  labored,  however,  in 
the  local  ranks,  with  a good  degree  of  usefulness  and  ac- 
ceptability. He  removed  to  the  state  of  Iowa  several 
years  since,  where  his  labors  have  been  continued  up  to 
a very  recent  date.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  135,  136.) 

Mr.  Mershon  located  in  1846.! 

George  F.  Reeser. 

David  Taylor  prepared  the  following  memoir  upon  the 
occasion  of  the  death  of  George  F.  Reeser : 

*Edwin  Hull — Licensed  to  preach,  1837 ; admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 
Waugh;  deceased,  Phoenix,  Pa.,  Oct.  18,  1886.  Appointments — 
1840,  Sheridan;  1841,  Gerry;  1842,  Wattsburg;  1843-’44,  Oil  Creek; 
1845-’46,  Washington;  1847,  Red  Bank;  1848-’49,  Clinton ville ; 
1850,  Shippenville;  1851,  Hendersonville,  1852-’53,  Cooperstown; 
1854,  Punxsutawney;  1855,  Corsica;  1856,  Pleasantville;  1857-’58, 
Kinzua  and  Tionesta  Mission;  1859,  Perrysburg;  1860-’61,  Ellery; 
1862,  Riceville;  1863,  superannuated;  1864,  Perrysville;  1865-77, 
agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society;  1878-’86,  superannuated. 

flsrael  Mershon — Licensed  to  preach,  1837;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 
Waugh;  located  at  his  own  request,  1846.  Appointments — 1840, 
Red  Bank;  1841,  Strattonville  and  Clarion  Mission;  1842,  Clinton- 
ville;  1843-’44,  Mercer;  1845,  Edinburg. 


George  F.  Reeser. 


49 


“In  the  early  morning  of  October  3,  1896,  just  as  the 
sun’s  first  beams  had  banished  the  night  and  were  usher- 
ing in  the  day,  ‘Father’  George  F.  Reeser  passed  from 
earth’s  night  into  the  eternal  sunlight  of  the  heavenly 
world.  For  some  time  past  he  had  lingered  in  the 
heavenly  twilight  ere  the  final  summons  reached  him  to 
enter  the  full  and  perfect  day.  Even  amid  the  shadows 
of  earth  he  had  known  the  truth  of  the  divine  word,  ‘If 
we  walk  in  the  light  as  He  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellow- 
ship one  with  another,’  and  his  experience  has  constantly 
brought  some  of  heaven’s  sunshine  in  his  soul.  He  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  of  the  Erie  Conference,  so 
that  the  remark  of  one  after  his  death  that  one  of  the  old 
landmarks  of  the  conference  had  been  removed,  was 
strictly  true.  The  sort  of  service  which  he  performed 
meant  hardship  as  well  as  hard  work,  for  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  conference  in  active  service  twenty-one  years  be- 
fore he  received  a salary  of  $300.00  a year. 

“He  was  born  in  Northumberland,  Pennsylvania,  Au- 
gust 28,  1815,  became  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  an  early  age  and  later,  with  the  intention  of  becoming 
a minister  in  that  denomination,  pursued  a course  of 
studies  at  the  Lutheran  College  at  Gettysburg.  He  was 
not,  however,  satisfied  with  his  spiritual  condition  and 
providentially  at  this  time  was  led  to  attend  a Methodist 
camp  meeting  within  the  bounds  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference where  he  was  clearly  converted.  He  at  once 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  embracing 
its  doctrines  with  all  his  heart,  though  by  this  step  he  was 
compelled  to  give  up  his  home.  In  1839  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Shippenville 
Circuit,  and  in  1840  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. . . . The  last  fourteen  years  of  his  life 

were  spent  at  Tidioute,  Pennsylvania,  in  rest  and  content- 
ment. 

“At  least  three  elements  characterize  his  ministry — it 
was  scriptural,  it  was  intensely  spiritual,  it  was  abund- 
antly fruitful.  Not  long  after  his  conversion  he  was  led 
to  believe  there  was  for  him  a deeper  experience  than  any 
he  had  yet  attained.  This  he  sought  and  found,  enter- 
ing into  the  rest  of  perfect  love.  This  was  the  secret  of 
his  constant  walk  with  God.  Henceforth  in  his  preach- 
ing he  maintained  the  great  doctrine  of  sanctification  as 


50 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


i 


emphasized  by  the  holy  scriptures  and  by  the  teachings  of 
Methodism.  This  living  experience  gave  a deep  spiritual 
tone  to  his  ministry.  The  principle  upon  which  he  hence- 
forth labored,  as  stated  by  himself,  was  to  base  his  preach- 
ing to  a large  extent  upon  the  divine  side  of  Christianity 
and  make  very  emphatic  the  divine  work  of  Christ,  be- 
lieving in  the  words  of  Jesus  when  he  said,  'And  I,  if  I 
be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me.’  God  honored 
his  ministry,  not  only  in  enabling  him  to  establish 
churches  where  before  there  were  none,  but  in  granting 
to  him  great  revivals  of  religion,  in  which  large  numbers 
of  people  were  brought  to  Christ.  His  ministry  was 
truly  a revival  ministry.  From  these  converts  nearly  a 
score  have  entered  the  Christian  ministry  and  the  chil- 
dren of  many  others  have  risen  up  to  call  him  blessed. 

'‘Brother  Reeser  was  of  large  frame,  capable  of  great 
endurance,  with  an  open,  expressive,  benevolent  counte- 
nance. He  had  a clear,  powerful  voice;  his  speech  was 
earnest  and  impressive,  and  brought  conviction  to  his 
hearers.  He  was  a great  friend  of  missions,  of  tem- 
perance, and  of  every  good  and  useful  work.  Mighty  in 
prayer,  his  last  service  in  the  pulpit  was  an  intensely  earn- 
est prayer  for  the  success  of  Christian  missions.  Through- 
out the  hardships  and  trials  of  his  ministry  he  held  an 
implicit  trust  in  Divine  Providence  that  somehow  God 
would  care  for  him;  and  though  this  trust  was  often  put 
to  the  test,  yet,  as  he  said  himself,  when  others  were 
burdened,  through  this  trust  his  soul  was  kept  in  peace. 
In  1840  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Morgan,  who 
died  in  1881.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  of 
whom  but  one,  Charles  A.  Reeser,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  is 
still  living.  In  1882  he  was  married  to  Miss  Malvina  C. 
Dawson,  of  Tidioute,  Pennsylvania.  In  her  he  found  a 
sympathetic  companion,  and  their  home  was  one  of 
brightness  and  peace.  During  his  last  sickness  none  could 
have  watched  with  more  loving  care  and  helpfulness  than 
did  his  anxious  and  devoted  wife,  and  her  sister,  Miss 
Dawson,  who  also  was  a member  of  the  home  circle. 

“A  little  more  than  a year  before  his  death  he  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  and  for  a time  it  was  thought  the 
end  had  probably  come,  but  after  some  weeks  he  was  able 
again  to  be  about  the  house,  and  as  spring  returned  was 
able  occasionally  to  attend  the  services  of  the  sanctuary 


George  F.  Reeser. 


5i 


and  would  exclaim  as  he  entered  the  door,  ‘I  am  again  in 
my  Father’s  house.’  But  at  length  he  gradually  failed 
in  strength,  a complication  of  diseases  set  in  and  in  a 
few  weeks,  with  much  suffering  and  yet  with  perfect 
resignation,  he  passed  away.  His  last  sickness  was  one 
of  continued  spiritual  victory  and  expression  of  the  most 
glorious  spiritual  experiences.  As  he  rallied  from  the 
stroke  which  laid  him  low,  he  said : ‘O,  how  unworthy 

I am;  but  were  I a young  man  and  beginning  my  life 
over  again,  I would  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and 
neither  wealth  nor  position  should  tempt  me  from  it.’ 
When  asked  on  his  dying  bed  what  was  his  experience, 
he  replied : 

‘Not  a cloud  doth  arise  to  darken  my  skies, 

Nor  hide  for  a moment  my  Lord  from  my  eyes.’ 

The  day  before  he  died  he  said : ‘It  is  all  glorious ; it  is 

all  well.’  The  last  time  he  was  able  to  converse,  he  said 
he  would  not  turn  his  hand  to  decide  the  matter  whether 
he  should  stay  or  go,  that  all  was  brightness  beyond, 
there  was  no  darkness.  ‘Hallelujah,  praise  the  Lord!’ 
And  who  among  his  brethren  would  not  exclaim : 

‘O,  may  I triumph  so 
When  all  my  warfare’s  past, 

And  dying  find  my  latest  foe 
Under  my  feet  at  last?’ 

“Thus  passed  from  earth  one  of  God’s  noble  servants,' 
honored  by  his  brethren,  loved  at  home,  respected  by  all. 
Having  fought  the  fight,  finished  the  course,  kept  the 
faith,  he  has  received  the  crown  and  has  joined  the  great 
host  of  former  companions  in  the  service  and  fellowship 
of  Jesus  Christ.  The  funeral  services  were  held  in  the 
church  on  the  afternoon  of  October  31st,  the  pastors  of 
the  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal  churches  of  the  town, 
brothers  McDonald  and  Ellis  of  Oil  City,  and  the  writer, 
taking  part  in  the  services.  There  was  great  respect, 
there  were  sorrow  and  tears,  but  no  shadow  of  gloom, 
for  faith  triumphed  in  that  hour  and  with  a sure  hope  of 
a glorious  resurrection  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  at  Tidioute.”* 

♦G.  F.  Reeser — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1840;  full  connection,  1842;  deacon,  1842,  Morris;  elder,  1844, 
Waugh;  deceased,  Tidioute,  Pa.,  Oct.  30,  1896.  Appointments — 
1840-’41,  Red  Bank;  1842,  Shippenville;  1843,  Cooperstown; 
1844,  Hendersonville;  1845,  Harrisville;  1846-’47,  Clintonville  Mis- 


EMORY  UNIVERSITY  ' . 28510 
THFO!  nny  ! idpadv  ' 


52 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


George  F.  Reeser  some  years  ago  wrote  for  Scott's 
History  of  Jefferson  County  as  follows: 

“In  the  month  of  July,  1840,  I was  admitted  on  trial 
in  the  Erie  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  which  held  its  annual  session  that  year  in  Mead- 
ville.  Pa.,  and  sent  as  preacher  in  charge,  with  Israel 
Mershon  for  my  colleague,  to  what  was  then  Red  Bank 
Circuit,  which  embraced  a large  portion  of  the  south  side 
of  Jefferson,  but  included  Bethlehem  in  Clarion,  Putney- 
ville,  and  two  other  appointments  in  Armstrong,  and  three 
in  Indiana  County.  The  principal  preaching  places  in 
Jefferson  County  were  Punxsutawney,  Hopewell  Church, 
Gahagan's,  Troy,  Heathville,  and  Sprankle’s  Mill.  Among 
the  early  and  leading  members  of  the  Methodist  church 
in  Punxsutawney,  Jacob  Hoover,  Daniel  Burkett,  John 
Hunt,  John  Drum,  Jacob  Bear,  Joseph  Weldon,  and 
Thomas  Robinson  and  their  wives  deserve  honorable 
mention.  Joseph  Weldon  was  subsequently  licensed  to 
preach,  and  admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference,  and  did 
good  service  for  a number  of  years. 

“Punxsutawney  was  favored  this  year  with  a wonder- 
ful revival  of  religion.  Rev.  John  Bain,  of  precious 
memory,  our  presiding  elder,  at  his  second  quarterly  visit 
remained  with  us  some  ten  days,  and  preached  the  grand 
old  gospel  of  Christ  with  matchless  simplicity  and  power, 
often  holding  crowded  congregations  spell-bound  from 
one  hour  and  a half  to  two  hours.  A general  awakening 
and  serious  thoughtfulness  upon  this  subject  of  their 
soul’s  best  interests  prevaded  the  community  for  miles 
away.  Of  the  fruits  of  this  meeting,  which  lasted  but 
two  weeks,  the  Methodist  Church  recorded  eighty-three 
new  names  to  the  roll  of  her  membership.  The  Baptist 
and  Cumberland  Presbyterian  churches  also  shared  large- 
ly in  the  benefits  of  this  revival. 

“As  neither  myself  nor  my  colleague  were  at  this  time 
ordained  ministers  we  could  not  perform  the  marriage 
ceremony,  and  were  mainly  dependent  for  this  service  on 
Rev.  Elijah  Coleman,  a venerable  patriarch,  and  for  many 

sion;  1848-’49,  Curllsville;  1850-’51,  Brookville;  1852-’53,  Punxsu- 
tawney;  1854-’55,  Luthersburg;  1856-  57,  Washington;  1858-’59, 
Pleasantville;  1860,  Youngsville;  1861-’62,  Columbus;  1863-’64, 
Sheffield;  1865,  superannuated;  1866-’67,  Washington;  1868-’69, 
Brockway ville;  1870-71,  supernumerary;  1872,  Tionesta;  1873-’96, 
superannuated. 


George  F.  Reeser. 


53 


years  a popular  and  useful  local  preacher.  In  early  life 
Father  Coleman  resided  at  Morrison’s  Cove,  but  had  now 
lived  many  years  on  the  south  side  of  Mahoning  creek, 
in  Indiana  county.  On  one  of  his  visits  to  our  charge 
he  consented  to  remain  over  Sabbath  and  preach.  His 
text  on  this  occasion  was  the  parable  of  the  sick  man, 
Dives,  as  he  called  him,  and  Lazarus.  An  old  German, 
and  an  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Coleman  while  they  lived  to- 
gether at  Morrison’s  Cove,  heard  the  sermon  and  on  his 
way  home,  it  was  said,  he  remarked  to  a friend  who  had 
also  heard  the  sermon:  TDem  tings  what  we  heard  to- 

day about  Divis  and  Lashurus  ish  all  a pack  of  lies.  I 
knew  Mr.  Divis  and  Lashurus  well  doun  dare  at  Morri- 
son’s Cove.  It  is  true,  Divis  was  a rich  man,  but  den  he 
was  not  a proud  man,  nor  a stingy  man,  and  it  ish  true 
too,  dat  Lashurus  was  a poor  man,  but  he  never  was  so 
poor  as  to  have  to  beg  hish  bread.  He  had  a yoke  of 
oxen,  and  he  drove  around  de  town  many  tings,  and  some 
times  he  just  had  slugs  of  monev.’ 

“Daniel  and  Jacob  Swisher,  two  brothers,  formerly  of 
Lewiston,  Pa.,  were  at  this  time  the  most  prominent 

members  of  the  Hopewell  church,  four  miles  west  of 
Punxsutawney.  It  was  largely  through  their  influence 
that  the  appointment  was  established,  sustained,  and  a 
house  of  worship  erected  there.  The  house  of  Daniel 
Swisher  was  always  a welcome  home  for  the  weary  itiner- 
ant. Never  can  I forget  the  kindnesses  shown  to  me  by 
the  entire  family  during  the  two  years  of  my  pastorate. 
Next  to  Punxsutawney,  Troy,  in  Jefferson  County,  was 
the  most  important  point  on  our  field  of  labor ; but  where, 
or  by  whom,  Methodist  preaching  was  first  introduced, 
I have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  Prior  to  the  General 
Conference  of  1836,  Erie  Conference  had  no  existence, 
and  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  to  which  all  that  territory 
belonged,  supplied  the  Methodist  churches  with  its  pas- 
tors. I found  in  Troy  a church  of  some  fifty  members, 
but  we  had  no  better  place  in  which  to  hold  our  public 
services  than  an  old  and  somewhat  dilapidated  school- 
house.  Nathan,  Darius,  Euphrastus,  and  Hiram  Car- 
rier, all  brothers,  Elijah  Heath,  Philip  Clover,  a Mr.  Fair- 
weather,  and  a Mr.  Fuller,  and  some  others  whose  names 
I cannot  recall,  were  among  the  prominent  and  influen- 
tial members  of  the  church  at  this  time.  The  revival 


54 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


spirit  pervaded  our  societies  generally,  and  many  were 
added  to  the  church. 

“In  the  summer  of  1841  our  conference  held  its  annual 
session  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  I was  reappointed  to  Red 
Bank  Charge.  Israel  Mershon  was  removed,  and  John 
Graham  was  sent  to  take  his  place  as  junior  preacher. 
The  form  of  our  circuit  remained  unchanged.  Two 
camp  meetings,  one  at  Putneyville,  the  other  at  Punxsu- 
tawney,  were  held  this  vear,  which  resulted  in  great 
spiritual  good ; conversions  at  both  were  numerous,  and  in 
some  instances  very  powerful  and  clear.  As  a whole, 
we  had  a laborious,  but  pleasant  and  profitable  vear; 
many  were  added  to  the  Church,  and  its  spirituality  great- 
ly increased.  The  salary  which  I received  from  the  en- 
tire charge  the  first  year  was  a trifle  less  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  The  second  year,  with  a greatly 
increased  membership,  I was  paid  less  than  two  hundred 
dollars,  and  yet,  strange  to  tell,  I was  never  obliged  to  go 
to  bed  hungry.  During  this  conference  year  Brother 
Graham  made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Cornelia  Gas- 
kell,  at  Punxsutawney,  to  whom  he  was  subsequently 
married.  Brother  Graham  has  served  many  important 
charges,  and  filled  the  office  of  presiding  elder  for  eight 
years,  and  is  still  in  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  a true 
and  good  man. 

“In  July,  1850,  I was  appointed  to  Brookville  Mission, 
as  it  was  then  called,  with  Thomas  Elliott  as  junior 
preacher.  For  some  years  prior  to  this  Brookville  and 
Luthersburg,  with  a few  outlying  appointments  at  both 
ends,  constituted  the  mission  field.  Dean  C.  Wright,  my 
immediate  predecessor,  preached  in  Brookville  and  in 
Luthersburg  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  Luthersburg  was 
now  cut  off  from  Brookville,  and  formed  into  a new 
charge,  and  the  Brookville  Mission  field  was  greatly  en- 
larged. so  as  to  take  in  Greenville,  Kearney’s  school  house, 
and  Canada,  as  it  was  called.  These  appointments  were 
in  Clarion  county,  and  with  Troy,  Holt’s,  Brookville, 
Warsaw,  Richardsville,  Ebenezer  Church,  a mile  or  two 
from  Sigel,  and  Hominy  Ridge,  near  the  Clarion  river, 
constituted  our  Sabbath  appointments;  and  with  two 
preachers  on  the  charge,  we  were  able  to  give  them  pub- 
lic service  once  in  two  weeks.  But  in  addition  to  these 
we  had  a good  many  other  preaching  places,  and  feeble 


George  F.  Reeser . 55 

societies  which  could  be  reached  and  served  only  on  week 
days  and  nights.  Thomas  Elliott,  being  a young  man  and 
a novice  in  the  country  and  the  ministry,  thinking  the  la- 
bor and  sacrifices  too  great,  became  discouraged,  and  fled 
ingloriously  from  the  field  before  the  year  was  half  ended. 
This  occasioned  my  labors  and  responsibilities  to  be 
greatly  increased;  but  later  on  Samuel  N.  Warner  was 
sent  to  my  assistance.  He  was  kind,  companionable  and 
faithful  to  his  work.  He  was  after  this  received  into  the 
Erie  Conference,  served  a number  of  charges,  then 
moved  to  Missouri ; he  subsequently  became  a presiding 
elder,  and  for  anything  I know,  to  the  contrary,  he  is  still 
alive,  and  active  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

“On  my  arrival  in  Brookville  I found  a feeble  society, 
numbering,  to  the  best  of  my  recollections,  but  twenty- 
six  in  all ; of  these,  fully  one-third  lived  four  to  six  miles 
away,  and  were  seldom  seen  at  any  of  our  Sabbath  serv- 
ices. Elijah  Heath  and  Cristopher  Fogel,  a local  preach- 
er, had  transferred  their  residences  and  membership  to 
Brookville,  and  with  Martin  Travis,  Reuben  Hubbard, 
John  Long,  Samuel  Clark,  Daniel  Silvis,  and  James 
Moore,  and  their  wives,  were  the  principal  members. 

“As  we  had  no  church  edifice,  and  the  court  house  not 
always  available  for  public  services,  I early  began  to  agi- 
tate the  matter  of  building  a church  of  our  own.  This, 
however,  was  decidedly  opposed  by  the  official  members 
generally,  and  particularly  by  Judge  Heath,  who  affirmed 
that  no  man  could  raise  a thousand  dollars  in  Brookville 
to  build  a church.  With  persistent  agitation,  however, 
their  consent  was  obtained  not  to  oppose  the  enterprise 
any  further,  provided  I would  agree  to  solicit  the  sub- 
scriptions, and  collect  the  funds,  to  which  I gave  a willing 
assent,  and  in  a comparatively  short  time  I had  good 
pledges  to  the  amount  of  $1,500.  The  judge  very  frankly 
acknowledged  his  mistake,  and  became  quite  enthusiastic 
to  see  the  building  commenced  and  carried  on  to  com- 
pletion as  rapidly  as  possible.  This  was  soon  done,  and 
I had  the  very  great  pleasure  of  preaching  and  wor- 
shiping with  my  people  in  our  own  house  of  prayer  dur- 
ing the  latter  nine  months  of  my  second  year  on  the 
charge,  and  pushing  the  subscription  as  much  as  my  time 
would  allow.  I had  the  entire  cost  of  lot,  building,  etc., 
cancelled  with  the  exception  of  about  $450,  with  nearly 


BJ.lWHMCJg.3Mg 


ll 


56  . History  of  Erie  Conference. 

the  amount  of  subscription  uncollected,  before  my  allotted 
time  expired. 

"In  the  month  of  January,  1851,  I commenced  a series 
of  meetings  in  the  court  house,  hoping  thereby  to  get  the 
church  revived,  and  her  membership  increased.  I was 
not  disappointed,  the  result  was  a glorious  revival,  such 
as  had  never  been  witnessed  before  in  Brookville.  Of 
the  new  accessions  many  were  heads  of  families,  and  be- 
came stable  and  useful  members  of  the  church.  We  were 
blest  with  a similar  revival  soon  after  we  began  to  wor- 
ship in  the  new  church. 

“From  Luthersburg  I moved  to  Clarington,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Clarion  river,  but  I had  several  preach- 
ing places  in  Jefferson  County.  In  1866  and  in  1867  I 
was  reappointed  to  Clarington  and  remained  two  years 
again,  and  had  the  same  preaching  places  in  Jefferson  as 
before.  In  1868  and  1869  I was  at  Brockway ville.  The 
charge  was  a laborious  one  and  lay  entirely  within  the 
limits  of  Jefferson  County.  Fourteen  years  of  my  min- 
isterial life  and  labors  were  thus  spent,  either  wholly,  or 
in  part,  in  Jefferson  County.  When  I first  entered  the 
county  as  a Methodist  preacher  there  was  not  a single 
parsonage,  and  but  one  house  of  worship  owned  by  the 
Methodists  in  the  county.  That  house  was  in  Punxsu- 
tawney,  and  was  a mere  shell,  small,  old,  and  somewhat 
dilapidated,  in  which  a feeble  society  had  been  worshiping 
for  a number  of  years.  The  second  house  of  worship 
erected  by  the  Methodists  was  the  Hopeweii  church,  of 

S which  I have  spoken  before;  the  third  was  at  Troy,  the 

fourth  at  Brookville,  the  fifth  at  Gahagan’s,  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  county.  Our  preaching  was  done  chiefly 
in  school  houses,  private  dwellings,  grist  mills,  and  in  the 
Open  air,  but  ‘the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  with  us,  work- 
ing with  signs  and  wonders,’  and  hundreds  were  added  to 
the  Church.  Of  the  older  members  of  my  acquaintance 
many  have  departed,  I trust  in  peace ; others  moved  away, 
and  when  I consider  how  many  new  societies  have  been 
organized,  and  how  many  parsonages,  and  houses  of  wor- 
ship have  been  built,  and  how  many  preachers  are  em- 
ployed and  liberally  sustained  within  the  limits  of  the 
county,  I am  constrained  to  exclaim,  ‘What  hath  God 
wrought?’  ” 

In  those  days  Forest  County  was  almost  an  unbroken 


George  F.  Reeser. 


57 


wilderness.  Daniel  Wolford  and  his  young  wife  moved 
into  the  woods  up  the  Clarion  river,  built  a log  cabin, 
and  prepared  to  take  out  lumber.  At  that  time  the  whole 
region  was  populated  by  wolves  which  were  much  to  be 
dreaded  by  the  new  settlers.  One  night  Mrs.  Wolford 
heard  peculiar  noises  in  the  woods,  and  told  her  husband 
that  she  believed  some  one  must  be  lost  or  in  great  dis- 
tress. He  listened,  and  said  it  was  the  howl  of  wolves; 
but  Mrs.  Wolford  would  not  be  satisfied,  and  could  not 
rest.  At  last  they  lighted  torches,  and  proceeded  in  the 
direction  of  the  sounds.  They  soon  came  upon  George  F. 
Reeser  on  his  knees  praying.  Brother  Reeser  never 
prayed  in  a whisper.  He  was  on  his  way  from  Ridgway 
to  Clarington — then  known  as  “Armstrong’s  Dam” — and 
had  lost  his  way.  He  had  called  aloud  for  some  time; 
but,  receiving  no  answer,  had  tied  his  horse  to  a sapling, 
and  broken  off  some  branches  for  it  to  eat,  and  then  pre- 
pared his  own  couch  and  knelt  down  to  say  his  evening 
prayers. 

During  Mr.  Reeser’s  superannuation  he  was  always 
glad  to  preach  the  gospel  as  long  as  health  and  strength 
would  permit.  He  had  been  very  sick  but  had  so  far  re- 
covered that  he  was  able  to  be  present  at  a camp  meet- 
ing held  on  the  Franklin  District.  As  was  befitting  he 
was  given  a place  of  honor  due  to  his  years  and  achieve- 
ments. Accordingly  he  was  announced  to  preach  on 
Sunday  morning.  There  was  a great  crowd  present.  The 
success  of  former  meetings  and  the  age  and  experience 
and  popularity  of  the  speaker,  together  with  the  reverence 
and  veneration  in  which  he  was  held  by  all — these  had 
their  effect  in  calling  the  people  together.  A minister, 
at  that  time  comparatively  young  and  inexperienced  in 
the  work,  was  called  upon  to  make  the  opening  prayer. 
In  his  earnest  supplication  that  God  would  make  the 
service  a blessing,  he  prayed  especially  for  Brother  Reeser, 
referring  to  his  advanced  age,  his  consecration  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  the  great  success  which  had  always 
accompanied  his  labors  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  the  earnestness  of  his 
heart  he  exclaimed : “O  Lord,  this  is  probably  the  last 

time  we  shall  enjoy  the  privilege  of  hearing  Brother 
Reeser  in  this  life,  as  he  is  evidently  nearing  the  borders 
of  the  stream.  When  the  extreme  moment  shall  come, 





5« 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


O Lord,  give  him  a safe  passage  over.”  At  this  point 
he  was  interrupted  by  the  fervent  ejaculation  of  the  sub- 
ject of  his  prayer,  in  a voice  of  trumpet  clearness  that 
made  all  the  sacred  grove  ring  again:  “Not  quite  yet  O 

Lord!  Not  quite  yet  O Lord!”  Brother  Reeser  lived 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  of  salvation  a number  of  years. 

There  were  sitting  on  the  platform  at  the  time  the 
presiding  elder  of  the  district  and  the  pastor  of  the  cir- 
cuit on  which  the  camp  meeting  was  held.  The  pastor, 
looking  up  through  his  fingers,  caught  a glimpse  of  the 
presiding  elder  as  he  slipped  through  the  door  at  the 
rear  of  the  platform  which  let  into  the  “preachers’  room.” 
After  two  or  three  minutes’  consideration,  he  thought  it 
quite  safe  to  follow  the  example  of  his  presiding  elder. 
So  passing  out — the  prayer  still  continuing — he  found  no 
one  in  the  room.  But  in  one  corner  of  the  room  there 
was  a large  quantity  of  straw  piled  up  to  be  used  later  as 
bedding,  and  the  pastor  had  a slight  suspicion  that  the 
straw  moved,  not  by  the  wind,  neither  by  rat  or  mouse. 
Hence,  he  determined  upon  a careful  investigation.  Re- 
moving some  of  the  straw  he  discovered  the  head  of  the 
presiding  elder  who  held  both  hands  clapped  tight  over 
his  mouth,  to  hold  back  the  excruciating  convulsions  of 
laughter  ready  to  burst  forth  in  uproarious  explosion. 

The  presiding  elder  removed  one  hand  from  one  side 
of  his  mouth,  making  an  opening  just  large  enough  for 
the  escape  of  a voice,  said : “Pap  Reeser  doesn’t  want  to 

go  to  heaven  yet !”  At  this  both  presiding  elder  and  pas- 
tor rushed  through  the  back  door  to  a distant  part  of  the 
grove  and  there  communed  together. 

George  F.  Reeser  was  one  who  believed  practically  in 
being  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season.  As  an  illus- 
tration we  will  present  an  account  which  he  gave  at  a 
conference  love  feast.  “While  traveling  on  my  circuit  in 
Clarion  County  some  years  ago,  when  the  country  was 
new  and  wild,  and  dwelling  houses  were  few,  I saw  in  the 
distance  near  the  road  a pile  of  dirt  which  was  being 
added  to  shovelful  by  shovelful  by  some  person  down 
in  the  hole  out  of  sight.  It  was  a man  digging  a well, 
as  I found  upon  gaining'  a nearer  view.  I dis- 
mounted from  my  horse  and  hitched  him  to  a sap- 
ling and  approached  the  well.  A board  lay  on  one 
side  at  the  mouth  of  the  well.  This  was  to  as- 


New  Wilmington. 


59 


sist  the  workman  in  getting  in  and  out  as  occas- 
ion might  require.  I lay  down  flat  on  the  ground,  my 
arms  on  the  board  and  my  chin  just  over  the  edge.  The 
man  had  not  seen  me  or  heard  me  approach.  I called  out, 
‘Hello,  down  there !’  He  looked  up  and  replied,  ‘Hello !’ 
I said  ‘a  man  ought  to  be  a pretty  good  man  to  work  in 
a place  so  dangerous.’  ‘O  I don’t  know, ’came  up  the  re- 
ply, ‘why  do  you  think  so  ?’  I answered,  ‘the  well  is  deep, 
the  soil  is  uncertain,  the  sides  of  the  well  might  give 
way  and  bury  him  in  an  instant.’  He  said,  ‘I  have  never 
considered  this  dangerous  work,’  and  so  saying  pushed 
his  spade  into  the  ground  with  his  foot.  I then  called 
out,  ‘prepare  to  meet  thy  God!’  and  so  saying  rose,  un- 
tied my  horse  and  rode  away.  I did  not  know  who  the 
man  was  and  the  incident  had  nearly  passed  from  my 
memory.” 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  James  Gilfillan  spoke  to 
Brother  Reeser,  and  taking  his  arm  they  walked  down 
the  street  together.  Mr.  Gilfillan  asked  him  whether  he 
ever  learned  who  the  man  in  the  well  was  to  whom  he 
sooke.  Mr.  Reeser  replied  that  he  had  not.  Mr.  Gil- 
fillan thereupon  said : “I  was  the  man  in  the  well,  and  the 
message  you  spoke  was  to  me.  I could  never  get  away 
from  the  voice  and  the  words.  Sometimes  I have  almost 
thought  it  must  have  been  an  angel  sent  from  heaven  to 
warn  me  because  of  my  sins,  for  I found  no  rest  until  I 
gave  my  heart  to  God.”  Truly  may  it  be  said:  “God 

moves  in  a mysterious  way.” 

New  Wilmington. 

The  history  of  many  of  the  charges  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference are  like  that  of  Melchizedek  of  old,  “without 
father,  without  mother,  without  pedigree,  having  neither 
beginning  of  days,  nor  end  of  life.”  Such  is  the  history 
of  New  Wilmington.  It  has  been  thought  that  H.  N. 
Stearns,  preacher  in  charge,  of  Mercer  Circuit,  came  to 
this  place  in  1839,  and  gathered  into  a class,  George  H. 
Clark,  Samuel  Ligo,  William  Shepard,  Francis  Blood, 
Seth  Poppino,  Robert  Ramsey  and  others.  The  next 
year  Rufus  Parker  was  the  preacher.  In  1841  the  work 
possibly  included  Mercer,  New  Wilmington,  Middlesex, 
and  other  appointments,  and  was  supplied  by  M.  H. 


, 


6o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Bettes  and  J.  P.  Benn.  At  this  date  we  reach  more  re- 
liable history.  Joseeph  Leslie  and  E.  B.  Lane  were  ap- 
pointed to  Mercer  Circuit.  In  1842  the  society  at  New 
Wilmington  secured  a lot,  and  a church  was  erected  and 
seated  with  puncheons.  The  year  following,  a Sunday 
school  was  organized.  In  1846  new  seats  were  pur- 
chased; and  in  1849  this  was  made  a new  charge  with 
John  Crum  as  pastor.  He  was  a preacher  of  the  old  type. 
It  is  said  that  he  took  the  flowers  from  a sister’s  bonnet 
when  she  presented  her  ticket  for  admission  to  the  love 
feast,  and  that  during  the  meeting  she  got  shouting  happy 
over  the  loss  of  these  superfluous  adornments.  In  1858 
the  church  was  repaired  and  enlarged;  and  again  in  1867, 
under  the  second  pastorate  of  John  Crum,  it  was 
improved.  At  different  times,  Volant,  Pulaski,  White 
Chapel,  Neshannock,  and  East  Brook  have  been  included 
in  the  appointments  of  the  charge. 

The  society  at  East  Brook  was  organized  in  1847  m 
School  House  “No.  2,”  a mile  northwest  of  the  village. 
In  1851  a site  was  purchased  opposite  the  school  house 
and  a church  erected.  In  1881  a lot  was  secured  in  the 
village,  and  a good  substantial  frame  building  was  erect- 
ed. In  1897,  it  was  painted,  papered,  and  otherwise  re- 
paired ; and  has  become  a model  village  church. 

Several  Classes  Formed. 

The  Pleasantview  Methodist  Society  was  organized  in 
1840,  and  their  place  of  worship  was  the  log  school  house 
at  Bullion.  Among  the  first  members  were  Stephen 
Yard,  Solomon  Sutton,  John  F.  Henderson,  Chauncey 
Hamilton,  William  Hovis,  John  McMullin,  John  Morris, 
William  Allen,  Martha  Allen,  Israel  Beach  and  wife,  Reu- 
ben Sutton,  Mary  Sutton,  John  McElphatrick,  Margaret 
McElphatrick,  Mary  and  Martha  McElphatrick,  and  Sam- 
uel Baker.  In  1850  the  present  church  site  was  pur- 
chased from  Hezekiah  Mays.  Stephen  Yard,  Solomon 
Sutton,  John  F.  Henderson,  and  Chauncey  Hamilton 
raised  the  money  and  material,  and  performed  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  work  of  its  erection.  The  church  is 
situated  in  the  northern  part  of  Irwin  Township,  half  a 
mile  from  Mays’  Corners,  on  the  Pittsburg  and  Franklin 
road. 

Methodism  was  organized  in  Mechanicsville  in  1888, 


Several  Classes  Formed. 


61 


and  an  attractive  church  erected  the  same  year.  It  was 
dedicated  in  January,  1889,  Rev.  I.  C.  Persing,  D.D., 
preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  cost  was  about  . 
$2,200. — (History  of  Venango  County,  Brown,  Rank  & 
Co.,  1890,  pp.  533-535.) 

A Methodist  class  was  organized  not  much  later  than 
1840  at  the  Pettis  cross  roads  settlement  in  East  Fairfield 
Township,  Crawford  County,  and  for  thirty  years  services 
were  held  in  the  school  houses  of  the  vicinity.  Sarah 
Wentworth,  E.  K.  Gaston,  D.  Morris,  John  Wentworth, 
and  Hannah  McFarland  were  early  members.  About 
1872  a church  edifice  was  dedicated  under  the  name  of 
Kingsley  Chapel,  which  cost  about  $2,000. — (Bates,  Our 
County  and  Its  People,  1899,  p.  512.)  The  leading 
members  at  this  time  were  L.  O.  Byham  and  wife,  George 
Marley  and  wife,  Henry  Marley,  E.  W.  Smith  and  wife, 

J.  B.  Morris  and  wife,  Hannah  McFarland,  and  Mrs. 
Johnson. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Harmonsburg  was 
erected  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  village  in  1840. 
There  had  been  a class  for  many  years,  but  the  date  of 
its  organization  cannot  be  determined.  The  society  had 
worshiped  in  a Union  Church  which  had  been  erected  in 
1821.  Among  the  earliest  members  were,  John  Smith, 
Watson  Smith,  and  Thomas  McCray.  Harmonsburg 
Circuit  was  formed  in  1834,  and  in  1842  it  was  divided 
into  Conneautville  and  Evansburg  Circuits.  Harmons- 
burg again  appeared  as  a circuit  in  1861,  having  been 
formed  from  a part  of  Conneautville  Circuit. — (History 
of  Crawford  County,  Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  1885,  p. 
666.) 

A Methodist  society  was  organized  at  Evansburg  at  a 
very  early  period.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  school 
house  and  in  the  old  log  Seceder  Church  until  about  1840, 
when  a frame  building  was  erected,  on  Elm  Street,  op- 
posite Third.  Prominent  among  the  early  members  were 
Michael  Miller,  James  Birch  and  John  Vickers. — (Bates, 
Our  County  and  Its  People,  1899,  p.  596.) 

The  founding  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Evansburg,  on  the  Harmonsburg  Circuit,  was  not  an 
easy  task.  Joseph  Leslie,  who  traveled  the  circuit  in 
1840,  with  Stephen  Heard  as  junior  preacher,  tells  of 
early  struggles  of  the  itinerant  preachers  on  this  most  un- 

5 


6 2 " History  of  Erie  Conference. 

promising  field,  and  the  final  victory : “Our  fathers  and 
brethren  in  the  ministry  have  tried  frequently  to  establish 
regular  Methodist  preaching  here,  until,  worn  out  with 
disappointment,  they  had  abandoned  it,  prophesying  there 
never  would  be  any  good  done  in  Evansburg.  In  this 
case,  the  saying,  ‘Our  extremity  is  the  Lord’s  oppor- 
tunity,’ never  was  more  appropriate.  Some  time  last 
year,  it  is  said,  Brother  Rogers  was  prevented  from 
preaching  by  being  shut  out  of  the  school  house. 

“Partly  from  this  circumstance  or  misfortune,  but  we 
suppose  mainly  from  the  good  disposition  and  liberal 
contributions  of  our  friends  in  this  village  and  vicinity, 
arose  here  a splendid  little  edifice,  neat  as  a palace,  ten- 
dered to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  a request 
for  regular  Sabbath  preaching  from  the  preachers  of  this 
circuit,  and  a strong  invitation  for  one  of  them  to  reside 
in  this  village ; — it  fell  to  my  lot.  But  Oh  ! how  dreary  a 
place  it  was! — a fine  house  to  meet  in  but  no  Methodist 
Society,  and  having  to  contend  with  prejudices  in  some, 
and  abounding  wickedness  in  others.  We  spent  our  time 
with  but  little  hope,  until  our  second  quarterly  meeting, 
which  commenced  in  this  village  on  the  twelfth  of  De- 
cember. The  Lord  blessed  our  meeting,  and  revealed 
his  mighty  power  in  the  conviction  and  conversion  of 
many  precious  souls,  some  of  whom  are  heads  of  families. 
Many  of  the  subjects  of  this  revival  bid  fair  for  useful- 
ness in  the  church.  They  were  bold  servants  of  sin,  but 
now  the  servants  of  God.  We  hope  they  will  have  their 
fruit  unto  holiness,  and  attain  unto  the  end,  even  ever- 
lasting life. 

“In  this  glorious  work  were  seen  all  the  exercises  com- 
mon on  such  occasions.  Sinners  wept  and  cried  for 
mercy,  while  young  converts  breathed  forth  prayer  and 
praise  in  sweet  simplicity.  There  was  some  noise  here, 
sometimes  we  were  fanned  with  the  gentle  zephyrs  of 
grace,  our  eyes  suffused  with  tears,  and  praise  sat  on  our 
tongues;  sometimes  it  came  like  the  rushing  of  a mighty 
wind  ; but  some  of  us  were  converted  in  a storm,  and 
knew  how  to  bear  with  it,  or  rather  we  love  noise  when 
God  is  in  it.  Here  where  was  heard  the  vile  imprecations 
of  the  wicked  is  heard  prayers  and  praise  by  the  children 
of  God.  Where  a few  weeks  ago  we  had  no  society,  we 


Several  Classes  Formed. 


63 


have  now  one  of  thirty-eight  members,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  have  been  converted  within  three  weeks  past.” 

The  McKean  Circuit  has  also  been  blessed.  J.  W.  Hill 
writes : “The  Lord  is  powerfully  at  work  at  present  on 

this  circuit,  and  sinners  are  flocking  to  Christ,  and  re- 
ceiving remission  of  their  sins  through  faith  in  Jesus’ 
blood.  Between  forty  and  fifty  have  been  received  on 
probation,  within  the  last  four  weeks,  and  we  hope  the 
good  work  is  but  just  commenced.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate , February  10,  1841.) 

A Methodist  Society  was  organized  in  Charleston, 
Mercer  County,  in  1840,  with  eight  or  ten  members. 
William  Miller  was  appointed  leader.  A hewed  log  house 
was  erected  about  the  same  date,  and  served  as  a place 
of  worship  until*  1850,  when  a more  commodious  and 
convenient  edifice  took  its  place. — (History  of  Mercer 
County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  549.) 

There  was  a Methodist  class  near  the  western  line  of 
Bloomfield  Township,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  as  early  as 
1840.  Among  the  earliest  members  may  be  named  John 
Chapin,  Hiram  Drake,  Lewis  Larkin,  Abraham  Bennett, 
and  Asahel  Hamilton.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in 
a log  school  house  in  Rockdale  township,  close  to  the 
line;  and  then  in  John  Chapin’s  house  until  1858  when 
the  meetings  were  removed  to  another  school  house. 
Here  they  were  continued  until  1868.  In  that  year 
Mark  Wilkins  donated  a lot  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
township  to  John  Chapin,  Lewis  Larkin,  and  W.  B.  Tay- 
lor, trustees,  upon  which  a frame  church  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500.  The  society  was  known  as  “Chapin’s,” 
and  was  attached  to  Mill  Village  Circuit.  Preaching  was 
abandoned  in  1876. — (History  of  Crawford  County, 
Warner , Beers  & Co.,  p.  510.)  ‘ ‘Another  Methodist  So- 

ciety was  organized  in  1856  at  the  Mickle  Hollow  School 
house,  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  township.  It 
had  a large  original  membership,  but  ceased  to  exist  after 
four  years.” — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People, 
p.  488'. ) 

Henderson  Circuit — Rufus  Parker  and  David  W. 
Vorse,  circuit  preachers,  in  the  visitations  of  grace — has 
not  been  forgotten.  “Although  we  have  had  to  mourn 
over  the  desolations  of  Zion  in  many  places  on  this  cir- 
cuit, and  the  lukewarmness  of  many  of  its  professed 


64 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


lovers,  yet  we  feel  thankful  to  the  Great  Head  of  the 
church,  who  is  the  Father  of  all  mercies  and  the  giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift,  that  He  hath  visited  us  in 
mercy,  revived  the  dying  graces  of  His  children,  enlarged 
our  borders,  and  many  that  were  far  off,  He  has  brought 
nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  we  trust  adopted  into 
His  family,  and  made  them  heirs  of  eternal  life. 

Blessed  be  God,  our  labors  have  not  been  in 
vain  in  the  Lord,  for  while  we  in  weakness  have  planted 
and  watered,  God  has  given  the  increase  so  that  we  have 
received  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  into  society  this 
conference  year.  The  revival  has  not  been  like  the  rush- 
ing wind,  or  the  mighty  torrent  bearing  down  all  before 
it,  and  more  like  the  gentle  droppings  of  a refreshing 
shower  which  has  caused  the  ground  that  was  prepared 
to  bring  forth  fruit  to  the  Glory  of  God.  We  have  taken 
in  three  new  appointments,  at  each  of  which  there  have 
been  precious  seasons  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,  and  classes  formed,  one  of  thirty-three,  an- 
other of  twenty-three,  and  a third  of  twenty-five  mem- 
bers, and  the  good  work  still  going  on.” — (Pittsburg 
Conference  Journal,  May  21,  184.0.) 


II. 

ANOTHER  THREE  YEARS. 
1841-1843. 

Sixth  Session. 

The  sixth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Warren,  O.,  commencing  July  28,  1841,  Bishop  Robert 
R.  Roberts  presiding,  Alfred  G.  Sturgis  secretary. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial:  Jacob 

W.  Clock,  Samuel  A.  Henderson,  Sweeney  C.  Frear, 
Richard  M.  Bear,  Joshua  Leech,  Albert  Norton,  Almeron 
G.  Miller,  Moses  Elkins,  Ebenezer  B.  Lane,  and  Calvin 
Kingsley. 

Samuel  A.  Henderson  was  a useful  man  so  long  as  he 
continued  in  the  work.  He  located  in  1851,  moved  to 
the  west,  and  engaged  in  secular  business. 

Moses  Elkins  labored  three  years  and  then  located. 

Theodore  Stowe  was  located  because  of  alleged  unac- 
ceptability. “Mr.  Stowe  was  a good,  easy,  patient  man, 
habitually  behindhand,  and  on  that  account  had  fallen 
into  disrepute  with  the  people.  He  was  inoffensive  as  a 
child,  and  was  a very  correct  and  pleasant  speaker.”  He 
was  re-admitted  in  1842,  but  again  located  in  1844. 

Reuben  Peck  and  William  Carroll  were  located,  the  lat- 
ter at  his  own  request.  I.  C.  T.  McClelland  also  took  a 
location. 

Samuel  W.  Ingraham  was  made  supernumerary. 

Among  the  local  preachers  who  were  efficient  in  their 
ministerial  work,  Jesse  Viets  may  be  prominently  men- 
tioned. He  was  born  in  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  in  1782. 
He  was  converted  in  1800,  licensed  to  preach  in  1802,  or- 
dained deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1812,  and  elder  by 
Bishop  George  in  1821,  and  soon  after  moved  west  and 
settled  in  Conneaut,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  of 
great  assistance  to  the  traveling  ministry,  and  was  a man 
of  much  mental  and  spiritual  power. 


66 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


The  superannuated  list  consists  of  P.  D.  Horton,  Ste- 
phen Hubbard,  L.  D.  Prosser,  and  J.  K.  Hallock.* 

Appointments  for  1841:  Ravenna  District,  John  Chandler, 

presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  L.  D.  Mix;  Cleveland,  A.  M.  Brown; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  Timothy  Goodwin;  Akron  and  Middlebury,  Ira 
Eddy,  J.  O.  Wood;  Painesville,  Caleb  Brown;  Willoughby,  J.  E. 
Aikin,  Henry  Elliott;  Franklin,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  Asahel  Reeves; 
Newburg,  Wareham  French,  W.  S.  Worrallo;  Edinburg,  Peter 
Burroughs,  B.  K.  Maltby;  Freedom,  J.  L.  Holmes,  Alvin  Burgess; 
Hudson,  Thomas  Carr,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Chardon,  John  Robinson, 
Thomas  Graham;  L.  D.  Williams  Principal  of  Asbury  Seminary. 
Warren  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  A. 
G.  Sturgis;  Braceville,  James  Gillmore,  R.  M.  Bear;  Youngstown, 
Dillon  Prosser,  J.  M.  Plant,  E.  B.  Lane;  Ellsworth,  Ira  Norris, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Hartford,  John  Crum,  Lewis  Clark;  Gus- 
tavus,  Aurora  Callender,  John  Van  Horn;  Williamsfield,  Rufus 
Parker,  J.  W.  Clock;  Mesopotamia,  John  Luccock,  D.  C.  Richey; 
Parkman,  R.  A.  Aylworth,  J.  W.  Davis;  New  Castle,  Thomas 
Stubbs,  D.  W.  Vorse;  Greenville  and  Clarksville,  B.  O.  Plimpton, 

R.  J.  Sibley.  Meadville  District,  John  Bain,  presiding  elder; 
Meadville,  B.  S.  Hill;  Allegheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  professor 
of  languages,  J.  J.  Steadman,  Agent;  Oil  Creek,  Joshua  Leech, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Franklin,  J.  R.  Locke;  Hendersonville,  Hi- 
ram Luce,  A.  G.  Miller,  William  Carroll,  sup;  Mercer  and  Wil- 
mington, H.  M.  Bettes,  J.  P.  Benn;  Salem,  Joseph  Leslie,  H. 

S.  Winans;  Clinton ville,  Samuel  Leech,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Shippenville,  Isaac  Scofield,  one  to  be  supplied;  Strattonville 
and  Clarion  Mission,  Israel  Mershon,  John  Mortimer,  H.  N. 
Stearns  to  labor  at  Clarion;  Red  Bank,  G.  F.  Reeser,  John  Gra- 
ham; Brookville,  to  be  supplied.  Jamestown  District,  David 
Preston,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  J.  F.  Hill,  Matthias  Hime- 
baugh;  Gerry,  J.  O.  Rich,  Edwin  Hull;  Napoli,  John  Demming, 
Moses  Elkins;  Forestville,  Darius  Smith,  Daniel  Pritchard;  Sheri- 
dan, H.  J.  Moore,  S.  A.  Henderson;  Fredonia  and  Portland,  Moses 
Hill,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Westfield  and  May  ville,  J.  E.  Chapin,  Josiah 
Flower;  Harmony,  Niram  Norton,  Luther  Kendall;  Warren,  E. 
J.  L.  Baker,  Alexander  Barris;  Wattsburg,  John  Scott,  C.  R. 
Chapman,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  sup.;  Quincy,  H.  S.  Hitchcock,  David 
Rowland.  Erie  District,  J.  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Al- 
bina Hall;  Wesleyville,  Allen  Fouts,  S.  C.  Frear;  North  East, 
Samuel  Gregg;  McKean,  J.  W.  Hill,  W.  W.  Maltby;  Springfield, 
William  Patterson,  W.  B.  Lloyd;  Ashtabula,  J.  H.  Whallon,  J. 
W.  Lowe;  Geneva,  W.  H.  Hunter,  John  Prosser;  Jefferson, 
Stephen  Heard;  Harmonsburg,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  T.  D.  Blinn, 
Albert  Norton;  Cambridge,  Ahab  Keller,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Saeger- 
town,  C.  D.  Rockwell,  Calvin  Kingsley.  Mr.  Kingsley  was  also 
professor  in  Allegheny  College. 

*Moses  Elkins — Admitted  on  trial,  1841;  full  connection,  1843; 
deacon,  1843,  Soule;  located,  1844.  Appointments:  • 1841,  Napoli; 
1842,  Gerry;  1843,  Villenovia. 

S.  A.  Henderson — Admitted  on  trial,  1841;  full  connection, 
1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845,  Hamline;  located,  1851. 
He  afterwards  moved  West  and  engaged  in  secular  business. 
Appointments:  1841,  Sharon;  1842,  Quincy;  1843,  Gerry;  1844, 

Ellington;  1845,  Napoli;  1846-7,  Cold  Spring  Mission;  1848, 
Quincy;  1849,  Youngsville;  1850,  Forestville  and  Villenovia. 

Joshua  Leech— Admitted  on  trial,  1841;  discontinued,  1842. 


Resolutions. 


Resolutions. 

The  following  are  among  the  resolutions  passed  in  the 
early  sessions  of  the  Erie  Conference : 

“The  committee  on  menageries,  shows,  circuses,  etc., 
reported  that  it  is  improper  to  attend  them  or  in  any  way 
to  encourage  them.  It  was  moved  and  seconded  and  car- 
ried to  adopt  the  report  and  that  it  be  published  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  Journal.” 

“On  motion  of.  J.  J.  Steadman  and  B.  O.  Plimpton, 
Resolved  that  any  preacher  who  shall  encourage  the  use 
of  any  other  liquids  than  wine  for  the  sacraments,  shall 
incur  the  disapprobation  of  this  conference.” 

“On  motion  of  Caleb  Brown  and  Martin  Ruter,  Re- 
solved that  the  members  of  this  conference,  together  with 
all  candidates  for  admission,  be  requested  to  present  a 
written  account  of  their  parentage,  time  and  place  of  their 
birth,  time  of  conversion,  their  call  to  the  ministry,  and 
the  time  of  their  admission  on  trial  into  the  traveling 
connection;  and  that  the  papers  containing  such  state- 
ments, be  given  to  the  secretary  of  the  conference  at  the 
next  session.” 

“Resolved,  That  this  conference  recommend  all  the 
preachers  to  visit  the  common  schools  within  their  several 
charges  with  a view  to  encourage  learning  and  moral  prin- 
ciples among  the  scholars.” 

“Resolved,  That  the  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence Journal  and  publishing  committee,  be  respectfully  re- 
quested to  observe  the  same  neutrality  in  that  paper  on  the 
exciting  subject  of  colonization  that  they  now  do  in  refer- 
ence to  Abolitionism.”  A motion  to  lay  on  the  table  was 
lost.  The  vote  was  taken  on  the  resolution,  and  it  was 
lost. 

“Resolved  by  the  Erie  Annual  Conference  that  the 
practice  of  making  popular  donations  to  our  ministry 
without  formal  credit  upon  the  steward’s  book  be  re- 
garded as  an  innovation  upon  the  primitive  usages  of  our 
Church  and  exceedingly  threatening  to  the  peace  and 
harmony  of  both  our  ministry  and  people.” 

The  following  is  one  of  the  by-laws:  “No  member 

shall  leave  the  conference  room  without  permission  from 

Afterwards  he  moved  to  Kirksville,  Mo.,  where  he  died.  Ap- 
pointment— 1841,  Oil  Creek. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  chair;  and  all  the  members  shall,  except  when  ur- 
gent business  requires,  avoid  whispering  in  the  time  of 
conference.” 

Sweeney  C.  Frear,  Richard  M.  Bear. 

Sweeney  C.  Frear  was  born  in  Ontario  County,  New 
York,  June  18,  1818;  and  died  at  his  home  in  Vinton, 
Iowa,  Nov.  15,  1883.  He  was  licensed  to  exhort  and  em- 
ployed as  a supply  in  1840.  He  was  admitted  into  the 
traveling  connection  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1841,  and 
appointed  by  Bishop  Roberts  to  the  Wesleyville  Circuit, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1855  he  filled  the  work  at  Hennepin, 
Illinois,  and  the  next  year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Up- 
per Iowa  Conference  in  which  he  finished  his  ministry. 
“In  1864  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the  Vinton 
District,  which  he  faithfully  served  for  the  four  following 
years.  At  the  close  of  his  eldership  he  felt  the  need  of  rest, 
and  took  a supernumerary  relation,  which  he  retained 
until  1874.  The  inspired  description  of  a model  man  in 
this  world  surely  belongs  to  him:  ‘Diligent  in  business, 

fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.’  Loyal  to  the  Church 
and  her  ministers,  regular  in  his  attendance  at  her  serv- 
ices, liberal  to  all  her  benevolences,  ready  to  share  in  re- 
vival and  other  labors,  he  was  a tower  of  strength  to 
‘Christianity  in  earnest’  during  all  these  years  of  release 
from  direct  ministerial  responsibility.  Being  somewhat 
invigorated  in  health,  and  desirous  to  die  in  the  harness — 
as  he  would  say — he  returned  in  1874  to  the  ranks  of  ef- 
fective elders,  and  served  with  at  least  his  old-time  effi- 
ciency” several  charges.  “In  December,  1882,  the 
avail  t- courier  of  the  pale  horse  and  his  rider,  appeared  in 
the  form  of  a slight  shock  of  paralysis.  He  rallied  and 
toiled  on  till  the  close  of  the  conference  year,  but  was  im- 
pressed that  the  messenger  was  at  hand,  as  we  judge  from 
his  asking  a superannuated  relation,  and  from  his  love- 
feast  testimony.” 

“Brother  Frear  was  an  acceptable  preacher,  a success- 
ful evangelist  and  church  builder,  a stanch  friend  of  edu- 
cation, a pronounced  patriot  and  prohibitionist — one  who 
was  sound  in  doctrine,  wise  in  counsel,  correct  in  practice, 
and  conscientious  in  all  things.”* — (Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences,  Vol.  XX,  1884,  p.  343 .) 


*S.  C.  Frear — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial. 


Sweeney  C.  Frear,  Richard  M.  Bear. 


69 


Richard  M.  Bear  was  a man  of  deep  and  earnest  con- 
victions, and  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  Ob- 
stacles did  not  frighten  him;  his  faith  and  courage  rose 
with  the  occasion.  He  could  endure,  and  he  often  tri- 
umphed. During  a portion  of  his  early  ministry,  he  was 
tried  by  manifold  temptations,  but  came  out  victorious  at 
the  last.  He  was  especially  devoted  to  his  work,  and 
“kept  the  faith.” 

Brother  Bear  was  born  at  Moorhead’s  Ferry,  on  the 
Susquehanna  river,  near  Millersburg,  Pennsylvania,  Aug. 
18,  1818.  In  1825,  his  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Bear,  with  his 
family,  moved  to  Beaver,  now  Lawrence  County,  and 
settled  in  North  Beaver  township,  near  Mount  Jackson. 
Richard  was  converted  at  a meeting  held  in  his  father’s 
barn  in  1837.  He  was  licensed  to  preach,  at  Edinburg, 
by  Hiram  Kinsley,  in  1840,  and  employed  on  the  Wil- 
liamsfield  Circuit,  as  junior  preacher  under  Dillon  Pros- 
ser. In  1841  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  was  effective  forty-six  years.  He  passed 
from  labor  to  reward,  at  New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  Dec. 
9,  1888.* 

1841;  full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845, 
Hamline;  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference,  1855;  trans- 
ferred to  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  1856;  deceased,  Vinton,  la., 
November  15,  1883.  Appointments:  1841,  Wesleyville;  1842, 

Morgan;  1843-’44,  Poland;  1845-’46,  Ellsworth;  1847-’48,  Wind- 
sor; 1849,  Chagrin  Falls;  1850-’51,  Chardon;  1852-’53,  Ashtabula; 
1854,  Willoughby;  1855,  Hennepin,  111.;  1856-’57,  Le  Claire,  la.; 
1858-’59,  Camanche,  la.;  1860,  Tipton,  la.;  1861-’62,  Vinton,  la.; 
1863,  Independence,  la.;  1864-’67,  Vinton  District;  1868-’73,  super- 
numerary; 1874,  Mechanicsville;  1875-’76,  West  Branch;  1877, 
Jessup;  1878-’80,  La  Porte  City;  1881-’82,  Raymond;  1883,  super- 
annuated. 

*R.  M.  Bear — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial,  1841; 
full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845,  Hamline; 
deceased,  New  Castle,  Pa.,  December  9,  1888.  Appointments: 
1840,  Williamsfield  (supply);  1841,  Braceville;  1842,  Ellsworth; 
1843,  Cambridge;  1844,  Conneautville;  1845,  Red  Bank;  1846, 
Shippenville;  1847-’48,  Clarion;  1849,  supernumerary;  1850, 
Hartford;  1851,  Williamsfield;  1852-’53,  Girard,  Pa.;  1854,  Spring- 
field;  1855,  Conneautville;  1856,  Sinclairville;  1857,  Villenovia; 
1858,  Sharon;  1859,  New  Wilmington;  1860,  Niles  and  Liberty; 
1861,  Shenango  and  Eastbrook;  1862-’64,  Chaplain,  United  States 
Hospital,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  1865,  Waterloo;  1866-’68,  Clarksville; 
1869-’70,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1871,  Agent  Lake  Shore  Seminary; 
1872,  Parker’s  Landing;  1873,  South  Oil  City;  1874,  Sheridan; 
1875,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1876-’77,  Mt.  Jackson;  1878-’79, 
Jamestown,  Pa.;  1880-’82,  Middlesex;  1883-’85,  Fredonia,  Pa.; 
1886-’87,  Volant;  1888,  supernumerary. 


70 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Ebenezer  B.  Lane. 

Ebenezer  B.  Lane  was  born  in  December,  1815;  and 
died  in  West  Middlesex,  Pennsylvania,  May  10,  1864. 
His  youth  was  spent  in  Forestville,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and,  from  memoranda  found  among  his  papers,  it  is 
evident  that  in  his  boyhood  days  he  feared  God,  and  at 
times  felt  that  religion  was  the  one  thing  needful.  He 
was  converted  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  from  that 
time  religion  was  a well-spring  of  happiness,  pure  and 
perennial.  He  soon  began  a course  of  study  to  prepare 
for  his  lifework.  His  early  advantages  were  limited,  but 
his  perseverence  overcame  all  obstacles  and  he  graduated 
from  Allegheny  College  in  1841.  The  same  year  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Adaline  R.  Ray,  of  Meadville,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  Erie  Conference  branch  of  the  itinerant  army. 
Brother  Lane  was  one  of  the  truly  eminent  ministers  of 
the  conference.  “Others  may  have  more  ample  endorse- 
ments and  a wider  reputation,  but,  when  the  books  are 
opened,  will  hardly  meet  a fairer  record  of  usefulness,  or 
have  more  stars  in  the  crown  of  their  rejoicing.”  He 
was  abundant  in  labors.  The  depth  of  his  piety  was  the 
hiding  of  his  power.  He  was  a “good  man  full  of  faith 
and  the  Holy  Ghost.”  His  last  sickness  was  not  pro- 
longed. “During  a series  of  special  meetings  held  on  his 
charge,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  work  that  delighted  him 
most,  his  health  failed.  He  spoke  of  a presentiment  that 
his  work  was  nearly  done,  and  that  he  was  then  attending 
his  last  protracted  meeting.  And  so  it  proved.  Ex- 
posure had  induced  disease  that  the  overtaxed  system 
could  not  resist,  and,  after  a few  weeks  of  patient  suffer- 
ing from  typhoid  fever,  he  died  in  the  faith  he  had 
preached  to  others,  sustained  to  the  last  by  the  conscious- 
ness of  the  Savior’s  presence,  and  happy  in  the  assured, 
joyous  hope  of  eternal  life.  During  all  his  severe  sick- 
ness he  had  the  ministry  of  kindest  friends;  enjoyed  con- 
stant peace,  and  was  mercifully  kept  in  the  full  possession 
of  his  rational  faculties  unto  the  end.  When  his  strength 
was  fast  failing,  and  he  knew  that  the  earthly  tabernacle 
must  soon  be  dissolved,  the  victory  was  complete,  and  he 
exulted  in  the  prospect  of  soon  entering  the  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.” 

“Brother  Lane  was  not — so  far  as  I know,  did  not  as- 
pire to  be — in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  that  term,  a 


Ebenezer  B.  Lane.  yi 

great  preacher.  Yet,  measured  by  the  ordinary  stand- 
ard, he  did  excel.  Many  who  are  his  superiors  in  some 
things — who  possess  more  strength  and  brilliancy  of  in- 
tellect, and  are  credited  with  more  profound  and  varied 
scholarship — have,  without  any  marked  dereliction  in 
duty,  appeared  to  accomplish  far  less  than  he.  What 
was  the  secret  of  his  success?  Not  any  extraordinary 
powers.  He  had,  as  many  others  have,  most  of  the  ele- 
ments necessary  to  make  a good  extemporaneous  speaker ; 
and  on  subjects  that  were  well  matured — about  which, 
from  experience  or  otherwise,  his  views  were  clear  and 
well  defined — his  utterance  was  fluent  and  his  speech  ef- 
fective. But,  with  neither  superior  logical  powers,  nor 
any  remarkable  aptness  for  composition — and,  indeed,  ap- 
parently caring  so  little  to  secure  a graceful  elocution, 
that  want  of  accuracy  sometimes  made  him  liable  to  the 
just  and  friendly  criticism  of  the  brethren — yet  was  he, 
as  all  will  delight  to  acknowledge,  an  eminently  useful 
and  successful  minister  of  Christ.  Hundreds  will  re- 
member him  as  instrumental  in  their  awakening  and  con- 
version, or  in  helping  them  on  in  the  way  toward  heaven. 
How  were  these  deficiencies  compensated,  these  hindr- 
ances overcome  ? And  what  secured  for  our  brother  the 
enviable  memorial  he  has? 

“The  hiding  of  his  power  was  doubtless  in  the  depth 
of  his  piety.  He  walked  with  God — was  everywhere  re- 
ceived as  a good  man,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 
He  vigorously  addressed  himself  to  his  work,  trusting 
and  realizing  the  preciousness  of  the  Savior’s  gracious 
promise,  ‘Lo  I am  with  you  always.’ 

“And  then  there  was  something  specially  objective  to 
his  labors.  What,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  he  attempted, 
seemed  an  imperative  necessity — something  that  must  be 
done,  because  specially  and  authoritatively  enjoined.  To 
think  of  failure  in  it,  or  defeat,  with  the  help  that  is 
promised,  was  regarded  as  evidence  of  moral  cowardice, 
or,  still  worse,  of  infidelity  toward  Him  who  worketh  all 
in  all.  Instrumentally  our  brother  converted  sinners, 
till  of  happy  hundreds  he  might  have  said  with  Paul,  ‘I 
have  begotten  you  through  the  gospel.’  If  in  this  he  suc- 
ceeded more  than  others,  perhaps  it  was  partly  because  he 
more  deeply  felt  that  sinners  must  be  converted  or  perish. 
Toward  this  object,  though  not  careless  to  feed  the  flock 


72 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


already  in  the  fold,  his  efforts  were  often  specially  di- 
rected, and  with  such  zeal  that  no  lawful  means  of  attain- 
ing it  were  likely  to  be  neglected.  In  much  of  our  gos- 
pel labor  the  soil  seems  barren,  and  the  fruit  does  not  ap- 
pear, and  possibly  the  failure  is  because  the  efforts  put 
forth  are  to  some  extent  liable  to  the  charge  of  being  aim- 
less. Not  that  any  good  man,  having  assumed  such  fear- 
ful responsibilities,  can  be  quite  careless  about  the  result 
of  his  labors,  or  content  to  spend  his  life  in  vain.  But, 
then,  do  we  not  often  aim,  in  a general  way,  to  do  good, 
without  considering  what  good  now  needs  to  be  done? 
This  general  desire  and  purpose  to  do  good  is  not  to  be 
despised.  If  cherished  and  persistently  carried  out,  some 
degree  of  usefulness  will  be  the  result;  but  it  can  hardly 
be  so  great  as  where  there  is  some  particular  specialty  in 
the  aim.  In  the  instance  of  ministerial  labor  now  under 
review  none  could  long  doubt  what  object  was  kept  in 
view.  Deeply  impressed  with-  the  truth  of  the  divine 
aphorism,  ‘He  that  winneth  souls  is  wise,  and  that  to 
‘convert  a sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways  is  to  save  a 
soul  from  death,’  Brother  Lane  aimed  directly  to  ac- 
complish that  object — preached  and  lived  for  it  and,  un- 
der the  gracious  gospel  economy,  the  good  results,  over 
which  men  and  angels  rejoice,  were  scarcely  less  than  cer- 
tain.”*  (George  W.  Clark  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian 

Advocate , July  2,  1864.) 


Almeron  G.  Miller,  Jacob  W.  Clock,  Albert 

Norton. 


Almeron  G.  Miller  was  born  of  Methodist  parentage  in 
Western  New  York.  Recognizing  the  value  of  a good 
education,  his  father  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Mead- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  that  his  children  might  enjoy  the 
best  literary  advantages.  Almeron  matriculated  in  Alle- 
gheny  College  in  1838,  and  showed  himself  a diligent  and 
promising  student.  He  graduated  in  1841,  and  the  same 


*E.  B.  Lane — Licensed  to  preach.,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
841*  full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845, 
[amline;  deceased,  West  Middlesex,  Pa.,  May  10,  1864  App°mt- 
ients*  1841,  Youngstown;  1842,  Mercer;  1843,  Ashtabula,  1844, 
Idinburg;  1845-’46,  Nelson;  1847-*48,  Braceville;  1849-50,  New 
astle ; 1851-’52,  Clarion;  1853  Agent  Poland  Female  Seminary,^ 
854-’55,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1856,  Warren,  Pa.,  1857-  58,  W 
urg;  1859-’60,  Mayfield;  1861,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue,  1862- 

13,  West  Middlesex. 


Aimer  on  G.  Miller,  Jacob  W . Clock. 


73 


year  received  a license  to  preach  and,  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  Meadville  Quarterly  Conference, 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  Mr.  Gregg 
says : “He  was  scarcely  medium  in  height,  but  firmly  and 
substantially  built,  and  had  a fine,  intelligent-looking 
head,  and  was  a ready  and  fluent  speaker.”  He  with- 
drew from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1849,  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and 
engaged  in  educational  work  in  which  he  was  greatly  in- 
terested and  abundantly  successful.* 

Jacob  W.  Clock  is  described  as  “a  man  of  about  med- 
ium size,  quite  eccentric,  with  a quick  and  somewhat 
/flighty  imagination,  and  at  times  witty  and  sharp;  he 
could  sometimes  preach  well.”  He  located  in  1851,  and 
soon  afterwards  removed  west. 

Jacob  W.  Clock  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Oct.  2, 
1811,  and  died  at  St.  Mary’s,  Kansas,  April  2,  1886.  He 
was  converted  near  Ithaca,  New  York  in  1831,  and  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1836.  In  1841  he  was  ordained  local 
deacon  by  Bishop  Roberts  and  received  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial.  After  preaching  several  years  he  moved 
to  Indiana,  then  to  Iowa,  and  finally  to  Kansas.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  Kansas  Conference  in  1870,  and  the  next 
year  appointed  agent  of  Baker  University  and  “worked 
nobly  and  with  a good  degree  of  success.”  “He  was  one 
of  the  most  cheerful  men  the  writer  ever  met.  His  spirit 
of  cheerfulness  was  contagious,  and  even  in  his  last  sick- 
ness he  was  joyous  and  happy.  He  anticipated  heaven  in 
his  experience  till  he  entered  into  the  fulness  of  its 
glory.” j — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXI,  1887,  P- 
92.) 

*A.  G.  Miller— Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1841;  full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845, 
Hamline;  withdrew,  1849.  Appointments:  1841-’42,  Henderson- 

ville; 1843,  Springfield;  1844-’45,  Agent  Allegheny  College;  1846, 
Springfield;  1847-’48,  Westfield. 

fJ.  W.  Clock — Admitted  on  trial,  1841;  full  connection,  1843; 
deacon,  1841,  Roberts;  elder,  1843,  Soule;  located,  1844;  re-ad- 
mitted, 1845;  located,  1851;  re-admitted,  Kansas  Conference, 
1870;  deceased,  St.  Marys,  Kas.,  April  2,  1886.  Appointments: 
1841,  Williamsfield;  1842,  Poland;  1843,  Clarion;  1845,  Green- 
ville and  Clarksville;  1846,  supernumerary;  1847-’48,  Nelson; 
1849-’50,  Mesopotamia;  1870-’71,  Agent  Baker  University,  mem- 
ber of  Baldwin  City  quarterly  conference;  1872,  Peoria  and  Le 
Loup;  1873,  Centropolis;  1876-’77,  Pomona;  1878-’80,  Clinton; 
1881-’83,  Tecumseh;  1884-’85,  St.  Marys;  1886,  superannuated. 


74 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Albert  Norton  was  born  in  Southington,  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  July  ii,  1814.  He  gave  his  heart  to  God  in  1836, 
and  soon  "entered  upon  a course  of  study  to  fit  himself  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
Hiram  Kinsley  in  1841,  and  sent  as  a supply  to  the  Ells- 
worth Circuit.  At  the  ensuing  session  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference he  was  received  on  trial.  “His  preaching  abilities 
were  not  brilliant,  but  respectable.”  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Berea,  Ohio,  in  1880.  He  was  sick  but  two  days. 
“He  entered  the  valley  with  great  composure  nnd  shared 
the  blissful  triumphs  of  a Christian  departure.”* 

Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  present  a biography  of  Bishop 
Calvin  Kingsley.  This  is  not  a part  of  our  plan  and 
would  be  impossible  within  the  limits  assigned  to  this 
work.  Some  ^account  of  his  early  life  and  the  memoir 
published  in  the  “General  Minutes”  must  suffice.  No 
adequate  life  of  Bishop  Kingsley  has  been  written  and  the 
destruction  of  his  papers  by  fire  would  render  such  a task 
exceedingly  difficult  for  the  writer.  The  following  in- 
cident, I believe,  has  never  been  published:  In  1870  there 
lived  on  a farm  between  Youngsville  and  Sugar  Creek, 
Samuel  Hazeltine,  a retired  school  teacher.  At  one  time 
he  taught  a school  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  near 
where  the  Kingsley  family  lived.  Calvin  was  then  about 
sixteen  years  of  age.  According  to  Mr.  Hazeltine  he 
made  much  trouble  for  his  teacher.  He  applied  himself- 
rather  to  mischief  than  to  study.  He  was  the  natural 
leader  of  the  boys  and  did  much  to  keep  the  school  in 
turmoil  and  render  the  teacher  unhappy.  There  was 
nothing  vicious  about  his  nature  but  he  was  full  of  life 
and  fun.  He  was  a problem  which  Mr.  Hazeltine  found 
it  difficult  to  solve.  One  day  he  succeeded  in  engaging 
him  in  an  extended  private  conversation,  in  the  course  of 

♦Albert  Norton — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1841;  full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845, 
Hamline;  deceased,  Berea,  O.,  1880.  Appointments:  1841,  Har- 

monsburg;  1842,  North  East;  1843,  Parkman;  1844,  Twinsburg; 
1845,  Chardon;  1846,  Hubbard;  1847,  Ellsworth;  1848,  Gustavus; 
1849,  Williamsfield;  1850,  McKean  and  Girard;  1851,  Youngsville; 
1852,  Leon;  1853,  Forestville;  1854,  Perrysburg;  1855,  Mayfield; 
1856,  Newburg;  1857,  Parkman;  1858-59,  Mantua;  1860-’61,  Mont- 
ville;  1862,  Chardon;  1863-’65,  Agent  American  Bible  Society; 
1866-’67,  supernumerary;  1868-73,  Agent  American  Bible  Society; 
1874-79,  superannuated. 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 


75 


which  he  addressed  him  substantially  as  follows:  “Cal- 

vin, your  responsibility  in  life  will  be  great.  God  has 
endowed  you  with  powers  of  leadership,  and  you  will  be 
a leader  of  men  whatever  you  may  do.  You  will  either  lead 
them  to  destruction  or  to  the  service  of  God.  This  will 
be  your  future  in  spite  of  all  obstacles.  The  responsibility 
is  upon  you,  but  you  have  the  choice  of  what  you  will 
make  of  yourself,  and  what  God  can  do  for  you  in  the 
future.  Good  and  evil  are  set  before  you.  I beg  of  you, 
study  the  situation  and  decide.”  Mr.  Hazeltine  says  that 
in  the  course  of  a week,  Calvin  was  remarkably  changed 
and  had  become  a most  thoughtful  and  studious  young 
man.  He  was  soon  converted  and  became  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  would  seem  that  a 
conscientious  teacher  made  Calvin  Kingsley  what  he  af- 
terwards became. 

The  following  account  of  the  early  struggles  of  Mr. 
Kingsley,  as  related  by  Mr.  Gregg,  may  be  considered 
reliable  so  far  as  the  facts  stated  came  under  his  personal 
knowledge : 

“Calvin  Kingsley  was  born  in  Amesville,  Oneida 
County,  September  8,  1812,  and  was  the  oldest  of  twelve 
children.  In  March,  1836,  the  whole  family  moved  into 
the  town  of  Ellington,  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  on  a piece  of  land  almost  entirely  covered  with 
the  native  forest,  and  having  but  a few  scattered  settle- 
ments in  the  surrounding  country  for  many  miles  dis- 
tant. Here,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  Calvin  became 
acquainted  with  the  Methodist  preachers  and  heard  them 
preach ; and  the  doctrines  of  a free,  full  and  present  sal- 
vation, preached  with  such  warmth  and  tenderness,  fol- 
lowed by  such  powerful  and  happy  conversions,  and  ac- 
companied by  such  earnest,  soul-stirring  prayers,  and  en- 
livened by  such  animated  singing,  convinced  his  judg- 
ment, convicted  his  heart,  won  his  faith,  and  in  the 
eighteenth  year  of  his  age  he  experienced  religion  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  op- 
portunities for  obtaining  an  education  were  quite  limited 
in  his  eastern  home,  but  much  more  so  in  the  present  one. 
The  first  two  years  there  was  no  school  within  his  reach, 
and  he  was  also  destitute  of  suitable  books  as  well  as  of 
the  means  to  procure  them ; but  all  these  adverse  circum- 
stances did  not  extinguish  the  desire  he  had  long  cher- 


76 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ished  to  acquire  an  education.  Suitable  books  were 
finally  procured  in  this  way:  In  addition  to  the  assist- 

ance he  had  to  render  his  father  in  carrying  on  their 
sugar  camp,  Calvin  rented  a small  one  of  the  neighbors, 
which  he  worked  on  shares,  and  at  the  end  of  the  season 
he  put  his  part  of  the  sugar  in  a sack  and  put  it  on  his 
shoulder  and  carried  it  to  Jamestown,  a distance  of 
twelve  miles,  where  he  succeeded  in  exchanging  his 
sugar  for  such  elementary  books  as  he  needed,  and,  put- 
ting them  into  his  sack,  threw  it  upon  his  shoulder,  and 
with  a light  heart  and  quick  step  hastened  back  to  his 
home  and  went  and  gathered  a quantity  of  fat  pitch-pine 
knots,  which  he  laid  away  carefully,  and  then  when  each 
day’s  toil  was  ended  he  would  lay  a few  of  these  knots  in 
the  chimney-corner,  and  there,  in  the  absence  of  candle  or 
lamp,  he  would  light  a piece  of  fat  pine  and  hold  it  in 
one  hand  and  the  book  in  the  other,  and  cheerfully  en- 
dure the  black,  curling  smoke  of  the  pitch  for  the  sake  of 
the  light  it  would  give,  and  thus  read  and  commit  to 
memory  page  after  page  until  bedtime.  The  next  tluee 
winters  he  went  to  school,  three  months  each,  in  a small 
log  school  house,  and  then  was  employed  to  teach  two 
winters  in  the  same  house,  after  which  he  was  employed 
to  teach  a new  large  select  school  in  the  town  of  Randolph 
two  winters  in  succession ; and  all  this  time,  when  out  of 
school,  laboring  constantly  to  clear  and  cultivate  the  new 
farm  and  to  support  the  large  and  dependent  family. 
Soon  after  his  conversion  Mr.  Kingsley  began  to  feel  the 
importance  of  prayer  in  the  family,  and  as  he  was  the  only 
professor  of  religion  in  it,  he  felt  strongly  impressed  that 
it  was  his  duty  to  lead  in  prayer.  Having  obtained  the 
consent  of  both  of  his  parents,  great  as  was  his  cross,  he 
bore  it  cheerfully  until  relieved  from  it  by  the  conversion 
of  his  father,  followed  by  the  whole  family.  And  soon 
he  began  to  feel  that  a 'dispensation  of  the  Gospel  was 
committed  unto  him,’  with  the  conviction  that  the  great- 
ness of  the  work  demanded  extensive  preparation,  which 
he  had  no  time  to  lose  in  acquiring.  But  the  impedi- 
ments in  the  way  seemed  at  first  to  render  this  impossible. 
He  soon,  however,  came  to  the  very  sensible  conclusion 
that  'all  things  were  possible  with  God,’  and  that  if  God 
had  called  him  to  this  work  he  could  and  would  assist 
him  both  to  make  the  preparation  and  also  do  the  work. 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 


77 


“As  near  as  we  can  ascertain  it  was  during  the  second 
term  of  his  school,  in  the  village  of  Randolph,  that  he  re- 
ceived license  to  exhort,  and  commenced  in  good  earnest, 
and  with  cheering  success,  to  'call  sinners  to  repentence,’ 
and  from  this  time  the  duty  of  preparing  himself  fully  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry  seemed  to  absorb  every  other 
interest. 

“Early  in  March,  1836,  when  the  writer  of  this  sketch 
was  stationed  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  occupying  a room  in 
the  house  of  the  sainted  Lyman  Crane,  with  whom  we 
boarded,  one  Saturday  evening,  as  the  roads  were  break- 
ing up  and  exceedingly  muddy,  we  were  sitting  in  our 
study  busily  engaged  in  preparing  for  the  coming  Sab- 
bath, when  we  heard  a rap  at  our  door,  and  on  opening  it 
saw  before  us  a young  man,  an  entire  stranger,  poorly 
clad,  and  feet  and  limbs  badly  saturated  with  mud,  with 
a cane  across  one  of  his  shoulders  and  a small  package  of 
clothes  hanging  on  the  end  thereof.  He  inquired  if  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Gregg  lived  there,  and  was  answered  in  the 
affirmative  and  invited  to  come  in.  He  did  so,  and  on 
seating  himself  said,  ‘My  name,  sir,  is  Calvin  Kingsley; 
my  home  is  out  here  in  Ellington,  where  my  parents  live, 
but  I have  been  engaged  in  teaching  a school  in  Ran- 
dolph, fifteen  miles  from  this,  and  my  school  is  out  and  I 
am  looking  for  some  good  institution  of  learning  where 
I can  improve  my  own  education,  and  have  heard  of  one 
called  Allegheny  College,  recently  taken  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Pittsburg  Conference;  and  being  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  I would  rather  go  to 
such  an  institution  if  I could.  I have  been  directed  to 
you  for  information  concerning  Allegheny  College,  and 
have  come  all  the  way  from  Randolph  to-day  in  the  mud 
to  see  you  about  it.’  We  said  in  reply,  ‘We  can  give  you 
all  the  information  you  desire  about  the  college,  but  as 
you  cannot  return  either  to  Ellington  or  Randolph  this 
afternoon  you  had  better*  remain  with  us  until  Monday, 
and  that  will  give  us  ample  time  to  say  all  we  desire  to 
about  it.’ 

“The  invitation  was  thankfully  accepted,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  afternoon  and  evening  was  spent  in  ob- 
taining the  above  facts  concerning  our  guest,  and  in 
answering  his  inquiries  in  reference  to  the  college.  On 
the  following  Sabbath  we  took  him  with  us  to  church,  to 

6 


-8  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

class,  and  to  prayer  meeting,  and  heard  him  speak  and 
pray,  and  became  very  favorably  impressed  with  the  evi 
deuces  of  the  existence  of  good  sense,  deep  piety,  and  of 
Stirling  talents  which  we  discovered.  Indeed,  we  became 
deeply  interested  in  the  young  man.  On  Monday  morn- 
ing, as  we  took  a seat  by  our  stove  in  the  study,  we  said 
to^him,  ‘Well,  Brother  Kingsley,  what  conclusion  have 
you  come  to  in  reference  to  going  to  Allegheny  College  ?’ 
He  replied  very  solemnly,  ‘I  have  spent  a very  sleepless 
night  thinking  over  the  subject.  Sometimes  it  almost 
seems  like  presumption  for  me  to  go;  and  again  I feel 
such  a pressure  on  my  mind  that  it  is  my  duty  to  go  foi- 
ward  and  trust  to  a Divine  Providence  to  guard  and  help 
me  through,  that  I believe  I will  go  and  try.  W ell,  we 
said,  ‘that  point  being  settled,  the  next  thing  to  be  dis- 
cussed is  the  way  of  getting  there.  Will  you  go  by 
stage?  If  so,  you  will  have  to  go  round  by  Erie,  Pa.,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  01  moie,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  from  eight  to  ten  dollars.  He  shook  his  head 
while  saying,  ‘O  no’ ; then  pointing  his  fingei  to  the  small 
bundle  of  clothes  he  had  carried  on  the  end  of  his  cane, 
now  lying  on  the  top  of  our  bureau,  said,  ‘Brother,  that 
suit  of  clothes  tied  up  there  and  twenty  dollars  of  money 
in  my  pocket  is  all  I have  in  this  world  to  stait  with.  I 
was  compelled  as  usual  to  divide  the  avails  of  my  w inter  s 
toil  with  my  father  and  family,  and  cannot  fall  back  on 
them  for  assistance,  and  to  spend  one  half  my  money  in 
netting  there  will  be  bad  economy.  No,  I must  go  on 
foot.’  ‘Well,  brother,  I am  very  sorry  for  you,’  we  said, 
‘for  it  is  sixty  miles  from  here  to  Meadville  the  shortest 
route  you  can  take,  and  much  of  the  country  is  low  and 
full  of  water,  the  roads  are  breaking  up  and  exceedingly 
muddy,  the  entire  route  is  new,  with  but  here  and  there  a 
settlement  commenced,  sometimes  twelve  and  fifteen  miles 
apart,  and  you  have  but  two  days  in  which  to  accomplish 
the  journey  before  the  next  term  commences.  You  will 
have  a very  hard  and  unpleasant  task  to  get  there  on  foot 

in  time.’ 

“He  sat  there  looking  into  the  small  blazing  fire  before 
him  while  we  were  making  these  statements  as  thought- 
ful cool,  and  determined  as  if  hardships  like  those  we 
mentioned  could  not  frighten  him  from  the  duty,  and  then 
replied,  ‘Well,  that  is  the  only  way  I can  get  there,  and  if 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 


79 


I should  be  a clay  behind  I can  soon  make  that  up.  I will 
do  the  best  I can.’ 

“We  both  sat  silent  and  thoughtful  a moment,  and  then 
we  said,  ‘Brother  Kingsley,  I am  thinking  of  a plan  that 
will  relieve  you.  There  are  several  young  men,  recently 
connected  with  our  Church  in  this  place,  who  ought  to  go 
with  you  to  Allegheny  College,  and  I have  talked  with 
some  of  them  on  the  subject,  and  I think  that  if  you  and  I 
were  to  go  and  see  them  we  could  induce  them  to  go ; and, 
perhaps,  we  can  procure  a cheap  team  to  take  you  and 
them  there.’  ‘Well,’  said  he,  ‘it  will  do  no  harm  to 
try.’  On  went  our  hats,  and  out  and  at  it  we  went.  Be- 
fore night  we  succeeded  in  inducing  three  promising 
yoUng  men  to  leave  all  and  go,  and  also  found  a good  old 
brother  by  the  name  of  Hart  who  had  a team  and  a rough- 
looking two-horse  wagon,  and  who  agreed  to  take  the 
four  boys  through  to  Meadville  at  a very  cheap  rate ; 
"only  enough/  the  old  brother  said,  ‘to  feed  the  team.’ 
On  Tuesday  morning,  after  giving  Mr.  Kingsley  a brief 
letter  to  Dr.  H.  J.  Clark,  president  of  the  college,  when  he 
arrived  there,  requesting  the  president  to  assist  Mr. 
Kingsley,  if  he  could,  in  getting  into  some  kind  of  busi- 
ness by  which  he  could  help  pay  his  way  to  college,  we 
bade  them  ‘good  bye,’  and  stood  with  moistened  eyes  and 
saw  them  depart.  Three  years  passed  away,  during  which 
we  never  saw  and  but  seldom  heard  of  our  young  friend 
Kingsley.  But  when  the  Erie  Conference  sat  in  Mercer, 
Pa.,  in  1839,  we  were  appointed  in  charge  of  the  Mead- 
ville Station,  embracing  Allegheny  College  within  our 
pastorate,  and  on  the  next  Saturday  evening  but  one,  af- 
ter conference  adjourned,  we  were  on  our  work,  stopping 
with  Professor  Allen,  and  while  tea  was  preparing  a rap 
was  heard  at  the  door,  and  in  came  Mr.  Kingsley  to  wel- 
come us  to  our  new  charge.  On  referring  to  our  part- 
ing at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  he  said  that  when  he  arrived  at 
the  college,  after  leaving  us,  he  gave  the  letter  to  Presi- 
dent Clark  as  we  directed  him,  who,  after  reading  it  and 
a moment’s  reflection  said,  “I  know  of  nothing  I can  get 
for  you  to  do  except  to  serve  us  as  janitor,  and  we  can 
give  you  but  a small  compensation  for  your  work,  but  it 
will  help  you  until  you  can  do  better.  And  there,’  con- 
tinued the  president,  pointing  his  finger  to  an  old,  ill- 
looking  frame  building  near  the  college,  ‘you  can  have  a 


8o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


room  in  that  dormitory  where  you  can  sleep  at  nights,  and 
by  purchasing  your  bread,  butter,  tea,  and  the  like,  down 
town,  you  can  board  yourself  very  cheap.’  The  situation, 
uninviting  as  it  was,  he  accepted,  and  next  day  entered 
the  several  classes  in  the  college  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed; and  in  connection  with  these  various  studies  he 
sawed  the  wood,  made  the  fires,  rang  the  bell,  swept  the 
buildings,  and  kept  up  with  all  his  classes.  After  passing 
some  time  in  this  way  Mr.  Kingsley  succeeded  in  getting 
a large  job  of  chopping  near  the  college,  where  he  earned 
larger  wages  so  as  to  renew  his  badly  worn  clothing,  for 
he  was  stout  and  expert  with  the  axe,  and  withal  well 
acquainted  with  the  business,  and  ashamed  of  no  honest 
industry.  In  this  way  he  accomplished  his  first  two 
years’  course  of  study  in  the  college,  and  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  third  year  he  was  employed  as  tutor  in 
the  beginning  classes,  and  in  this  way  completed  his  col- 
lege course;  for  at  the  time  of  this  interview  he  was  a 
member  of  the  senior  class,  and  graduated  with  great 
honor  at  the  end  of  the  college  year.  Some  time  during 
the  year  1838  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  Meadville 
Charge  gave  him  license  to  preach,  and  from  that  time 
forward  so  long  as  he  remained  in  the  college  he  was 
accustomed  to  preach  once  or  twice  each  Sabbath  either 
in  one  of  the  churches  in  Meadville  or  somewhere  in  the 
surrounding  country,  the  good  people  cheerfully  carrying 
him  to  their  place  of  worship  on  Saturday  and  back  to 
college  on  Monday.  He  graduated  in  August,  1840,  and 
the  next  day  was  elected  assistant  professor  of  mathe- 
matics, and  in  1841  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference,  sitting  in  Warren,  Ohio;  and  in  1842,  when 
Professor  Allen  resigned  his  position,  Mr.  Kingsley  was 
elected  professor  of  mathematics,  and  not  long  after  re- 
ceived the  master’s  degree  from  his  Alma  Mater,  and  in 
1843  he  received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  from  the 
Genesee  College,  Lima,  N.  Y.” — ( Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  I55~I^3-) 

There  seems  no  necessary  difference  between  our  state- 
ment in  this  account  of  Mr.  Gregg  and  the  reference  to 
the  same  matter  by  Moses  Hill. 

Moses  Hill  says  of  Calvin  Kingsley:  “He  was  from 

boyhood  a leader  and  controlling  spirit  among 'his  as- 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley.  81 

sociates,  and  well  he  might  be ; he  was  of  good  size,  well- 
formed,  had  a large  and  well-shaped  head,  a fine  face  and 
splendid  eyes;  and  above  all  these,  he  had  a great  and 
noble  heart,  and  remarkably  good  sense.” 

Mr.  Gregg  speaks  of  meeting  him  at  Jamestown,  look- 
. ing  for  a college.  Dr.  Hill  writes:  “The  idea  that 

Kingsley  did  not  know  at  that  time  where  he  was  going, 
but  was  expecting  to  find  some  college  lying  around  loose, 
is  preposterous.  I happen  to  know  that  Kingsley  under- 
stood well  where  he  was  going  at  that  time,  and  when  at 
Jamestown  was  fifteen  miles  on  his  way  to  the  place  of 
his  destination.  From  this  place,  by  arrangements  there 
made,  Kingsley  and  two  others  were  carried  by  team  to 
Meadville.  This  was  fortunate  for  Kingsley.  I know  a 
young  man  just  past  sixteen,  who  went  on  foot  over  a 
road  covered  with  snow,  from  this  same  Jamestown,  up 
through  Panama,  on  to  Wattsburg;  thence  to  Waterford; 
thence  on  the  pike  to  Meadville,  to  attend  .the  same  col- 
lege, as  early  as  the  time  when  Martin  Ruter  was  presi- 
dent. 

“He  was  all  his  life  opposed  to  shams  and  false  pre- 
tensions, and  no  man  could  detect  them  more  quickly  than 
he.  Some  of  our  preachers,  not  many,  thought  it  would 
be  nice  to  drop  the  ‘r,’  or  at  least  not  sound  that  letter,  in 
preaching  or  conversation.  When  they  spake  war,  it 
was  ‘wah’ ; if  they  spake  of  the  year,  it  was  ‘yeah.’  One  of 
these  was  talking  of  his  work  the  past  ‘yeah.’  Kingsley 
for  a long  time  afterwards  in  referring  to  him  would  call 
him  ‘the  past  yeah.’  So  all  affectation  was  despised  by 
him. 

“His  wit  was  peculiar  to  himself,  and  he  always  had  a 
supply  on  hand ; and  though  it  was  keen  and  fresh,  it  was 
not  cruel  or  severe.  In  repartee  he  had  few  equals,  but  his 
retorts  were  so  mingled  with  kindness  that  the  victim 
himself  would  enjoy  the  joke. 

“He  was  nearly  taken  off  his  feet  on  one  occasion.  He 
was  speaking  on  the  subject  of  education  and  the  re- 
lation of  Methodism  to  that  question.  He  referred  to 
the  college  built  by  Coke  and  Asbury,  which  was  soon 
burned  down,  and  the  Methodists  understood  it  as  an  in- 
dication that  it  was  God’s  purpose  that  they  should  give 
their  whole  attention  to  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and 
the  direct  saving  of  souls.  He  followed  Asbury  in  his 


I 


82  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

travels  from  east  to  west,  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
Kingdom  and  leading  on  the  hosts  in  this  particular  work. 
‘But,’  said  he,  ‘I  must  close,  lest  I weary  your  patience.’ 
‘No,’  said  an  old  lady  sitting  just  before  him,  ‘No,  go  on; 
that’s  all  true;  I have  read  it  in  a book.'  ” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate — date  mislaid.) 

In  Calvin  Kingsley’s  school  days,  Methodist  ministers 
were  not  in  sympathy  with  discoveries  in  science  which 
now  meet  with  their  unqualified  endorsement.  The 
author  recalls  the  presence  of  the  venerable  Benjamin  G. 
Paddock — I believe  it  was  he — who  was  present  at  an 
examination  of  a class  in  geology  when  the  subject  was 
the  presence  of  organic  remains  and  markings  in  the 
rocks.  He  did  not  consider  his  duty  accomplished  until 
he  had  told  the  teacher  and  the  class  that  he  did  not  be- 
lieve “that  stuff.”  God  had  made  all  these  things  in  the 
beginning  just  as  they  are  now.  Calvin  Kingsley,  it 
would  seem,-  was  not  easily  led  to  the  adoption  of  some  of 
the  modern  doctrines  of  science.  A.  W.  Couse,  a vener- 
able saint  of  my  acquaintence,  relates  an  incident  which 
illustrates  both  this  reluctance  on  the  part  of  Professor 
Kingsley,  then  occupying  a chair  in  Allegheny  College, 
and  the  character  of  his  wit.  The  class  in  solid  ge- 
ometry was  before  him  in  the  recitation  room  and  the 
proposition  had  just  been  demonstrated  that  the  contents 
of  solid  bodies  are  to  each  other  as  the  cubes  of  their 
homologous  parts.  Professor  Kingsley  at  this  .point 
propounded  the  following  question:  “If  a man  who 

weighs  a hundred  and  ten  pounds  is  blessed  wih  a nose 
two  inches  and  a half  in  length,  how  long  a nose  will  the 
man  boast  who  weighs  three  hundred  and  seventy  five 
pounds?”  Before  an  answer  could  be  given,  Professor 
Kingsley  continued:  “We  must  doubtless  refer  this 

question  to  the  department  of  science  and  those  learned 
professors,  who,  from  a single  tooth,  can  picture  a whole 
animal,  and  from  a fragment  of  a rib,  can  construct  a 
mastodon.” 

The  eightieth  birthday  of  Horace  Benton,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  was  recently  celebrated  in  a manner  worthy 
of  this  eminent  Christian  and  Methodist  philanthropist. 
In  a speech  which  Mr.  Benton  made,  he  said : The 

greatest  Convention  I ever  attended  was  the  Inter-Church 
Conference  on  Federation,  at  Carnegie  Hall,  New  York, 


V- 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 


83 


in  1905.  The  best  sermon  I ever  heard  was  by  Bishop 
Simpson  at  the  General  Conference  in  Buffalo  in  i860, 
on  the  text,  ‘This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the 
world,  even  our  faith.’  The  most  crushing  logic  to  which 
I ever  listened  was  by  Calvin  Kingsley  at  Fredonia,  New 
York,  in  1849,  from  the  text,  T speak  as  to  \Vise  men; 
judge  ye  what  I say.’  It  was  against  the  dogma  of 
apostolic  succession.  The  greatest  address  on  education 
to  which  I ever  listened  was  by  Jesse  T.  Peck  at  a state 
educational  convention  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The  great- 
est phillipic  against  slavery  was  delivered  by  Joshua  R. 
Giddings  after  he  had  been  expelled  from  congress  for 
his  Abolitionism.  The  greatest  lecture  I ever  heard  was 
by  Henry  Ward  Beecher  in  the  early  fifties.  The  great- 
est temperance  address  was  delivered  in  1850  in  Cinci- 
nnati by  John  B.  Gough.  The  most  spiritual  impromptu 
speech  I ever  heard  was  that  of  President  Merrick,  at  the 
farewell  meeting  of  the  Centennial  Conference  in  Mount 
Vernon  Church,  Baltimore.  The  greatest  revival  was  in 
the  Mormon  Temple  at  Kirtland,  by  a Baptist  minister, 
Elder  Weaver.  The  greatest  explosion  of  eloquence  was 
from  the  lips  of  William  Taylor  in  addressing  the  con- 
ference in  1859.” 

“Calvin  Kingsley  was  born  in  Amesville,  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  8,  1812.  His  . father  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  his  mother  of  the  north  of  Ire- 
land. Though  not  members  of  the  church  at  the  time  of 
his  birth,  they  had  been  educated  as  Presbyterians.  When- 
he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to 
Chautauqua  County,  in  the  western  part  of  New  York, 
where,  in  assisting  to  clear  and  to  cultivate  a farm,  his 
youth  was  employed,  and  he  acquired  that  physical 
strength  and  self-reliance  which  distinguished  him 
through  life.  From  his  childhood  he  had  deep  religious 
impressions,  but  had  no  idea  of  a cheerful  religious  ex- 
perience. He  never  saw  but  one  ^Methodist  till  he  w as 
thirteen  years  of  age.  In  western  New  York  he  first  at- 
tended Methodist  preaching,  and  its  earnestness,  accom- 
panied by  its  sweet  songs,  deeply  affected  him.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  professed  conversion,  and,  having  unit- 
ed with  the  Church,  he  proposed  to  establish  family 
prayer,  to  which  his  parents,  though  not  professing  Chris- 
tians, gave  their  consent,  and  in  a short  time  both  father 


84 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  mother  were  happily  converted  to  God.  His  early 
education  had  been  quite  limited ; but  after  his  conversion 
he  desired  to  pursue  a collegiate  course,  though  difficul- 
ties almost  insuperable  surrounded  him.  He  was  needed 
on  the  farm;  there  were  no  schools  of  any  high  grade, 
nor  had  he  access  to  any  books.  After  attending  a dis- 
trict school  for  three  winters  he  was  employed  as  a 
teacher,  and  the  first  books  for  higher  studies  which  he 
procured  he  purchased  by  making  maple  sugar  on 
‘shares,’  and  carrying  it  ten  miles  to  market  at  James- 
town. Subsequently  he  taught  school,  and  spent  his 
leisure  hours  so  closely  in  study  that  his  health  consider- 
ably suffered.  When  about  twenty-three  years  of  age  he 
was  licensed  to  exhort,  and  two  years  afterward  to 
preach.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  entered  Allegheny 
College,  and  was  obliged  to  support  himself  in  part  by  his 
own  labor.  His  proficiency  was  very  great,  and  in  his 
second  year  he  was  appointed  tutor  in  mathematics.  He 
graduated  in  1841.  He  was  immediately  elected  to  a 
professorship  in  the  college,  and  was  received  on  proba- 
tion in  the  Erie  Conference.  While  engaged  in  the  col" 
lege  he  also  received  a regular  appointment:  the  first 
year  on  Saegertown  Circuit,  and  the  second  year  as  junior 
preacher  in  Meadville.  In  1843  be  was  ordained  deacon 
by  Bishop  Soule,  and,  in  1845,  elder  by  Bishop  Hamline. 
He  was  not  only  an  accurate  and  extensive  scholar,  but 
also  possessed  fine  business  qualifications;  and  when  Al- 
legheny College  required  an  efficient  agent  he  was  elected 
to  work  in  its  behalf. 

“He  was  an  acute  and  thorough  theologian,  and  a 
ready  and  skillful  debater.  .Early  in  life  he  became  a 
strong  antislavery  man,  but  at  the  same  time  was  deeply 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  first  public  debate  was  with  Rev.  Luther 
Lee,  at  Salem  and  Jamestown.  His  defense  of  the 
Church  against  Mr.  Lee  was  so  clear  and  so  able  that  he 
preserved  the  Church  against  the  threatened  evils  of  a 
terrible  secession.  In  i844-’45  he  was  stationed  in  the 
City  of  Erie.  A deep  religious  influence  accompanied  his 
ministrations.  Here  he  had  a public  discussion  with  a 
Universalist  minister,  and  also  prepared  his  lectures  on 
Prof.  Bush’s  work  on  the  resurrection.  Greatly  pre- 
ferring the  life  of  a pastor  to  that  of  a professor  in  the 


Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley. 


85 

college,  he  resigned  his  place,  but  the  trustees  refused  to 
accept  the  resignation,  and  at  the  most  earnest  entreaty  of 
many  of  his  friends  he  was  induced  to  remain.  But  dur- 
ing his  connection  with  the  college  he  not  only  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  chair,  but  labored  faithfully  as  a preacher 
upon  the  adjacent  circuits  and  stations. 

“From  1846  until  1856  he  remained  in  Allegheny  Col- 
lege. In  1852  he  was  elected  by  a very  large  vote  as  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  held  in  Boston,  and 
at  that  time  received  upward  of  forty  votes  for  the 
Episcopacy.  In  1853  Genesee  College  gave  him  the  de- 
gree of  D.D.  At  the  General  Conference  in  1856  he  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate,  which 
post  he  filled  with  honor  and  with  great  success.  In  the 
General  Conference  of  i860  he  was  recognized  as  the 
leader  of  the  antislavery  sentiment.  He  was  made  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  slavery,  and  his  report  was 
recognized  as  one  of  great  ability.  He  was  elected  for 
the  fourth  time  as  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
.of  1864,  which  held  its  session  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
By  that  body  he  was  chosen  and  ordained  as  a bishop  in 
the  Church,  and  on  the  invitation  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
which  felt  in  him  a peculiar  pride,  he  made  his  home  with- 
in the  bounds  of  that  conference,  in  the  city  of  Cleve- 
land. 

“As  a bishop,  he  met  the  highest  expectations  of  the 
Church.  In  the  chair  his  decisions  were  clear  and  exact. 
In  making  the  appointments  he  manifested  great  sym- 
pathy for  the  preachers  and  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  Church.  His  ministrations  were* able  and  successful, 
and  during  the  six  years  of  his  episcopal  labor  he  gave 
himself  wholly  to  the  work  of  his  great  office. 

“In  1865  and  1866  he  visited  the  conferences  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  In  1867  he  attended  the  Mission.  Confer- 
ence in  Germany  and  Switzerland,  and  visited  the  mis- 
sions in  Western  Europe.  In  1869  he  undertook  the 
work  of  again  visiting  the  conferences  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  thence  passing  to  China  and  India.  On  the 
8th  of  September  he  sailed  from  San  Francisco.  Hav- 
ing made  a visit  to  Japan,  he  reached  China  in  October, 
and  his  interesting  letters  contain  graphic  accounts  of 
his  visits  to  the  principal  places.  On  the  16th  of  Oc- 
tober, he  met  the  missionaries,  where  he  ordained  seven 


86  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

licensed  native  preachers  as  deacons,  and  four  of  them 
as  elders. 

“Sailing  thence  for  Calcutta,  and  making  a journey  of 
eight  hundred  miles  through  the  interior,  he  reached 
Lucknow  on  the  29th  of  December.  On  January  20th  he 
opened  the  session  of  the  conference,  and,  closing  it  on  the 
29th.  prepared  for  his  homeward  journey.  He  arrived 
at  Cairo  on  the  first  of  March,  and  made  a brief  visit  to 
the  pyramids  and  other  places  of  interest.  In  the  Epis- 
copal plan  he  was  expected  to  visit  the  missions  in  Bul- 
garia, and  to  preside  at  the  conference  of  Germany  and 
Switzerland  about  the  first  of  June.  Finding  he  had  a 
few  weeks  which  he  could  spare,  he  gratified  a long- 
cherished  desire  by  passing  from  Egypt  to  the  Holy  Land. 
The  tour  was  one  of  very  great  interest  to  him,  but  was 
very  fatiguing,  and  the  more  so  as  he  was  already  ex- 
hausted bv  his  protracted  labors  and  journeying  in  a 
tropical  land.  After  having  completed  this  tour  he 
reached  the  port  of  Beyrout,  and  engaged  his  passage  for 
Constantinople.  On  the  morning  of  April  6,  the  day  on 
which  he  expected  to  sail,  he  arose  in  good  health,  and, 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Bannister,  of  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute, 
who  was  then  in  Beyrout,  he  ascended  the  housetop  to 
enjoy  a view  of  the  snowy  heights  of  Lebanon.  After 
breakfast  he  complained  of  a neuralgic  pain  in  the  left 
breast  and  side,  to  relieve  which  he  took  some  simple 

medicine,  and  on  its  continuing  with  severity  a hot  foot- 
bath was  used.  His  pain  still  continued;  but  he  said  to 
Dr.  Bannister  in  a low  voice,  T shall  soon  get  over  this, 
and  we  shall  go  on  board  this  afternoon,’  and  in  an  in- 
stant more  he  staggered  and  fell  to  the  floor,  and,  though 
immediately  lifted  to  his  bed,  his  ‘heart  and  pulse  were 
still.’  He  died  at  about  ten  o’clock  a.  m.  on  the  6th  of 
April.  A post  mortem  examination  revealed  a disease  of 
the  heart.  The  missionaries  of  the  American  Board  as" 
sisted  Dr.  Bannister  in  making  every  necessary  arrange- 
ment for  the  burial,  and,  after  appropriate  religious  serv- 
ices, his  remains  were  deposited  in  the  Prussian  Protest- 
ant cemetery. 

“Bishop  Kingsley,  though  the  youngest  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Board,  had  already  performed  a vast  amount  of 
labor,  and  the  Church  was  expecting  still  greater  things 
from  him.  As  a man,  he  was  simple  and  unaffected  in 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field. 


8 7 


his  manners,  genial  and  social  in  his  spirit.  His  intellect 
was  strong,  keen  and  logical.  He  used  a ready  pen,  and 
his  descriptions  were  clear,  concise  and  graphic.  His 
sermons  were  rich  in  doctrinal  truth,  and  by  their  clear 
conception  and  earnest  delivery  held  the  attention  of 
large  congregations.  His  executive  ability  was  of  a su- 


perior order,  and  each  successive  year  his  talents  were 
unfolding.  The  Church  expected  him  to  live  long,  and 
to  be  a prince  among  his  associates;  but  God’s  ways  are 
not  our  ways.  He  has  been  called  to  a glorious  reward. 
And  as  Bishop  Coke,  the  founder  of  Wesleyan  missions 
in  Ceylon,  sleeps  near  the  land  which  he  loved,  and  for 
which  he  toiled  and  bound  the  heart  of  Wesleyans  to  the 
missions  there,  so  our  sainted  Kingsley  sleeps  on  Asiatic 
soil,  and  binds  the  hearts  of  the  Church  in  this  western 
world  to  that  land  which  was  once,  and  in  all  probability 
is  shortly  to  be,  the  theater  of  great  events.  His  earnest 
pleading  for  missions  has  already  affected  the  heart  of 
the  Church ; his  death  has  aroused  the  heroic  feeling  in 
the  bosom  of  many  young  men,  and  an  impulse  has  been 


imparted  to  our  whole  missionary  work.  Let  the  prayers 
of  the  Church  ascend  in  behalf  of  his  surviving  widow 
and  his  son  and  daughter.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences, 
Vol.  XIII,  1870,  pp.  293-295-) 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field. 

James  Gillmore,  reporting  from  the  Ellsworth  Circuit, 
under  date  of  March  26,  1841,  says:  “Heretofore,  the 

minds  of  our  friends  have  been  too  much  taken  up  with 
the  politics  of  the  day;  a subject  which  I never  knew  to 
produce  any  good,  but  a very  bad  effect  upon  the  church 
of  God.  But  as  this  overwhelming  sea,  which  for  a year 
past  has  almost  completely  inundated  our  land,  is  rolling 
off  like  the  departed  tide,  and  the  waters  are  becoming 
more  calm,  the  friends  are  now  beginning  to  wake  up  to  a 
more  noble  theme,  to  those  high  evangelical  duties  which 


♦Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley,  D.D. — Licensed  to  preach,  1838;  ad- 
mitted on  trial,  1841;  full  connection,  1843;  deacon,  1843,  Soule; 
elder,  1845,  Hamline;  deceased,  Beyrout,  Syria,  Asia,  April  6, 
1870.  Appointments:  1841,  Saegertown;  1842,  Meadville;  1843, 

professor  of  mathematics,  Allegheny  College;  1844-’45,  Erie; 
1846-’56,  professor  of  mathematics,  Allegheny  College;  1855- 
’56,  Vice  President,  Allegheny  College;  1856-’63,  editor  Western 
Christian  Advocate;  1864-70,  one  of  the  bishops  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


88 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


have  a strict  reference  to  the  solemn  day  of  retribution.  We 
have  peace  and  tranquility  existing  throughout  our  bor- 
ders, which  I think  is  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  that  we 
can  enjoy  at  this  agitated  moment.  Our  third  quarterly 
meeting,  which  commenced  on  the  twentieth  instant,  I 
think  was  attended  with  much  good.  Although  our  pre- 
siding elder  was  not  with  us,  yet  God  deigned  to  crown 
us  with  his  royal  presence,  and  this  was  ‘the  best  of  all/ 
We  have  had  between  thirty  and  forty  added  to  our  ranks 
since  I arrived  at  my  field  of  labor  and  the  prospect  is, 
that  many  more  will  be  added  before  the  year  closes/' 

Josiah  Flower  and  Edwin  Hull  have  met  with  success 
on  the  Sheridan  Charge.  The  work  began  with  two  ap- 
pointments at  Perrysburg.  “There  has  been  no  sudden 
rush  of  large  numbers  to  the  altar ; from  two  to  six  have 
been  the  most  at  a time.  It  has  been  the  very  bone  and 
sinew  of  the  places ; quite  a number  of  the  converts  were 
rank  Universalists,  but  have  found  it  to  be  to  their  ad- 
vantage to  get  religion;  among  the  number  was  an  old 
revolutionary  soldier,  who  fought  to  obtain  his  country’s 
liberty,  but  remained  a slave  to  the  sin  and  error  of 
Universalism,  until  between  seventy-six  and  seven  years 
of  age,  but  has  now  thrown  off  his  manacles  and  has  ob- 
tained the  liberty  of  the  children  of  God.  Surely  that  is 
entering  in  at  the  eleventh  hour,  and  we  have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  does  Universalists  as  much  good  to  get 
religion,  as  any  other  sinners.  Lorenzo  Dow’s  old  Goat 
passed  along  through  the  valley  of  the  reformation,  and 
drew  off  with  him  one  of  the  lambs,  not  into  Jordan , but 
on  the  mountain,  where  the  poor  creature  has  died.  We 
have  received  sixty-four  on  probation.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , April  14 , 1841.) 

A wonderful  revival  blessed  the  church  at  Erie.  J.  R. 
Locke  writes : “We  were  favored  during  our  protracted 

meeting  with  the  efficient  labors  of  our  presiding  elder, 
brothers  J.  C.  Ayres,  I.  H.  Tackitt,  William  Brown,  a 
local  preacher,  Samuel  Gregg,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Niram  Nor- 
ton, and  Dillon  Prosser.  And  the  result  of  the  labors  of 
‘these  servants  of  the  most  high  God’  is,  that  more  than 
one  hundred  have  experienced  religion.  But  the  work 
has  not  terminated,  for,  at  every  invitation  which  is  given, 
more  or  less  come  to  the  altar,  and  go  away  blessed  of 
God.  We  have  received  into  the  church  since  this  revival 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field.  89 

commenced,  eighty-five,  and  more  or  less  join  at  every 
opportunity  which  is  given.” 

Cleveland  Circuit  enjoyed  a precious  visitation  as  re- 
ported by  John  O.  Wood : “Our  last  quarterly  meeting 

at  Newburg  was  a good  one,  and  it  was  protracted  until 
something  like  twenty  or  twenty-five  found  peace  in  be- 
lieving; nearly  all  of  whom  were  added  to  the  church. 
Soon  after  the  close  of  this  meeting,  we  held  a protracted 
meeting  on  Euclid-ridge,  and  the  Lord  was  with  us  in 
power.  The  man  whose  head  was  silvered  o’er  with  the 
frosts  of  perhaps  seventy  winters  found  his  way  to  the 
altar  of  praver,  where  was  found  the  middle-aged  and 
youth,  and  even  one  who  stated  that  she  had  placed  her 
hopes  of  salvation  on  baptism  for  the  space  of  three  years ; 
and  then  and  there  gave  themselves  up,  we  trust,  to  the 
Lord,  his  name  to  glorify,  and  found  peace  in  believing. 
The  wandering  prodigal  returned  also  to  his  father’s 
house,  and  shared  in  the  glorious  feast  made  in  readiness 
for  him.” — Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  ?i, 
1841.) 

John  Luccock  and  Alvin  Burgess,  of  Hartford  Circuit, 
writing  from  Fowler,  after  reporting  a revival  in  Brook- 
field during  which  twenty-six  joined  the  church  on  pro- 
bation, say : “The  Lord  has  blessed  our  feeble  labors,  in 

a protracted  meeting,  which  has  just  come  to  a close.  The 
meeting  was  held  in  Bazetta.  The  house  which  we  oc- 
cupied, was  small  and  very  inconvenient  for  the  congrega- 
tion, which  assembled  from  time  to  time,  and  we  had 
some  interruptions  by  disorderly  persons,  but  the  Lord 
was  with  us  indeed.  It  is  estimated  that  sixty  found 
peace  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  during  the  meet- 
ing.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  24,  1841.) 

T.  D.  Blinn  reports,  from  McKean  Circuit,  glorious 
news : “We  commenced  a protracted  meeting  in  Fair- 

view  the*  ninth  of  February,  and  held  it  two  weeks  and 
four  days.  The  Lord  was  with  us  in  power,  and  over 
sixty  souls  professed  to  experience  the  pardon  of  their 
sins,  and  forty  gave  us  their  names  as  probationers.  We 
commenced  another  at  the  Log  Meeting  house,  March  the 
third  which  is  now  in  progress.  Last  evening  over  twenty 
came  forward  to  the  altar  and  a number  were  converted. 
Parents  and  children  were  made  happy  together.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  31,  1841.) 


90 


History  of  Erie,  Conference. 


The  news  from  the  Parkman  Circuit  is  cheering.  W. 
S.  Worrallo  writes : “The  Lord  is  reviving  his  work  on 

this  circuit.  We  have  received  on  probation  during  the 
last  quarter  about  eighty.  The  work  is  still  progressing 
in  Batavia,  Parkman,  and  Troy.  The  church  is  coming 
up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord ; holiness  has  become  the  theme 
with  many,  and  thank  God ! this  blessed  work  is  increas- 
ing in  the  church.” 

Dillon  Prosser,  always  in  a revival,  writes  from  the 
Williamsfield  Circuit,  reporting  revivals  at  the  townhouse, 
in  North  Shenango,  Espyville,  and  North  Bank  in  South 
Shenango ; and,  again,  reports  a revival  and  the  dedication 
of  a church  in  the  township  of  Wayne. — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , March  3,  1841.) 

Cambridge  Circuit,  Ahab  Keller  pastor,  has  enjoyed  a 
gracious  season.  Mr.  Keller  says:  “Nothing  very 

special  or  worthy  of  note  took  place  on  this  circuit  during 
the  first  and  second  quarters,  save  that  a few  found  peace 
in  believing,  and  gave  us  their  names  as  probationers — 
say,  some  sixty.  But  at  our  second  quarterly  meeting,  it 
pleased  the  Captain  of  the  Lord’s  Hosts  to  appear  in  our 
midst,  to  give  his  gospel  success.  And  the  people,  evi- 
dently, had  a mind  to  work,  and  they  did  work  ; and 
blessed  is  the  result.  From  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  have  been  happily  converted  to  God  at  this  meet- 
ing, or  reclaimed  from  a backslidden  state.  We  thought 
it  best  to  receive  the  young  converts  into  the  church  at 
once,  that  nothing  that  was  wrought  might  be  lost;  and 
upwards  of  eighty  gave  us  their  names  as  probationers  in 
this  place,  (Rockville,)  besides  what  will  yet  join  on  the 
circuit.  Some  twenty  or  twenty-five  backsliders  were  re- 
claimed, whose  names  were  on  the  class  papers,  who  had 
not  attended  for  some  time  before.  Our  meeting  con- 
tinued without  intermission,  from  day  to  day,  for  thirty 
successive  days  and  nights.  To  God  be  all  the  glory  for 
this  wonderful  work!” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
February  24,  1841.) 

John  Demming  reports  success  on  Napoli  Circuit. 
There  was  no  fruit  at  the  first  quarterly  meeting,  but  Mr. 
Demming  was  not  discouraged.  He  says:  “We  ap- 

pointed another  meeting  at  the  same  place — Napoli — to 
commence  the  second  of  October,  and  continue  ten  days, 
and  the  Lord  was  there  to  own  and  bless  the  labors  of  his 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field. 


9i 


feeble  servants.  When  the  ten  days  were  ended  we  had 
more  than  a score  of  happy  converts.  When  an  invita- 
tion was  given  to  mourners  to  come  forward  to  the  seats 
prepared  for  them  more  than  forty  at  a time  might  be 
counted.  The  cry  of  the  penitent  for  mercy,  and  the 
prayer  of  the  church,  with  the  shout  of  young  converts 
went  up  together  before  the  Lord  like  incense  from  off  an 
accepted  altar;  and  many  were  brought  from  nature’s 
darkness  to  God’s  marvellous  light.  The  meeting  con- 
tinued to  increase  in  interest  until  a storm  seemed  to  for- 
bid our  coming  together  any  more  either  by  night  or  day 
for  a while.  We  then  could  number  sixty  that  had  been 
converted  or  reclaimed  at  this  meeting.  . . . The 

work  is  going  on  yet  and  we  look  for  better  days,  al- 
though we  are  unfortunate  as  to  laborers.  My  colleague, 
Brother  .Elkins,  who  was  received  this  year,  and  bid  fair 
to  be  useful,  has  had  the  misfortune  to  have  his  leg  broken 
by  the  kick  of  a horse,  and  the  fracture  is  such  that  he 
will  most  likely  lose  his  leg  if  not  his  life.  We  ask  the 
prayers  of  the  Church  for  us  that  the  work  may  go  on 
until  these  hills  and  valleys  of  Cattaraugus  shall  be  vocal 
with  the  high  praises  of  God.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , Nov.  17,  1841.) 

The  preachers  of  Youngstown  Circuit  rejoice  in  the 
conversion  of  many  souls.  Speaking  of  a meeting  held 
at  East  Hubbard  they — Dillon  Prosser,  J.  M.  Plant,  and 
E.  B.  Lane — say:  “The  meeting  continued  eight  days, 

and  at  the  close  we  found  that  fifty  had  given  their  names 
to  the  society  in  that  place  for  probationship.  We  have 
not  ascertained  the  exact  number  that  have  experienced 
religion,  as  the  fruits  of  that  meeting,  but  we  believe  as 
many  as  fifty-five.  Seventy-six  have  given  their  names 
to  the  church  in  West  and  East  Hubbard  within  a few 
days. 

“The  Lord  is  visiting  the  flourishing  village  of  Niles; 
seventeen  were  received  on  probation  the  week  before  our 
quarterly  meeting  by  Brother  Plant,  my  colleague.  Since 
conference  we  have  received  thirty-six  on  probation  in 
that  place.  Thirteen  months  ago  there  was  no  society 
there,  and  at  this  time  there  are  seventy  members,  and  a 
flattering  prospect  for  building  a meeting  house ; may  God 
give  us  success ! 

“In  fine,  we  have  received  more  than  one  hundred  and 


92 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


twenty-six  into  the  church  since  conference.  My  prayer 
is  that  God  will  carry  on  his  work  until  the  circuit  will 
join  in  shouting  a general  jubilee.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate , Nov.  17,  1841.) 

Hiram  Luce  and  A.  G.  Miller  held  a meeting  at  “a 
new  church  not  yet  finished”  in  the  territory  of  the  Deer 
Creek  Class,  on  the  Henderson  Circuit,  Saturday.  “Af- 
ter preaching  seven  persons  came  to  the  altar  as  seekers, 
and  five  of  them  professed  to  be  converted  that  evening. 
The  church  was  in  a good  state,  and  came  to  the  help  of 
the  Lord,  and  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  do  when  the 
church  held  up  our  hands.  In  the  love  feast  the  children 
of  God  were  melted  in  love,  and  sinners  were  melted  in 
penitent  tears.  In  the  evening  when  invited,  there  was  a 
rush  to  the  altar,  and  more  than  a score  cried  aloud  for 
mercy,  and  many  of  them  sang  a new  song  before  the 
meeting  closed ; and  they  sing  it  still.  On  Monday  even- 
ing again  more  than  a score,  almost  all  the  sinners  in  the 
house,  came  to  the  altar  of  prayer.  Great  grace  was 
upon  all  the  people.  The  children  of  God  shouted  aloud 
for  joy,  sinners  cried  aloud  for  mercy;  the  victory  turned 
on  Zion’s  side,  and  a long  loud  shout  went  up  from  the 
host  of  the  Lord,  to  the  Redeemer  of  the  world,  for  the 
victory  in  this  last  battle.  The  work  still  goes  on.  Some 
thirty  or  thirty-five  profess  to  have  found  peace,  and 
seventeen  have  joined  on  probation.  All  the  glory  be  to 
our  God.  The  work  goes  altogether  beyond  us.  Even 
our  largest  hopes  are  exceeded.  O pray  that  the  holy 
fire  may  run  all  over  the  circuit,  and  over  both  the  con- 
ferences.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Nov.  10, 
1841.) 

John  McLean  writes  of  his  trip  through  the  conference 
in  1841  as  follows:  “We  left  Lawrenceville  on  Friday 

morning,  Sept.  9th,  for  Salem — the  residence  of  my 
mother  and  brethren — and,  after  finishing  the  second 
day’s  drive,  arrived  at  the  residence  of  my  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  Stevenson,  near  Mercer,  and  found  them  getting 
ready  to  go  next  morning  to  Brother  B.  O.  Plimpton’s 
camp  meeting  near  Clarksville,  on  the  canal,  and  learning 
that  the  more  part  of  our  friends  would  be  there,  we  left 
our  course  and  came  to  the  encampment  about  two 
o’clock  on  Saturday.  The  ground,  though  small,  was 
well  surrounded  by  tents  and  well  nigh  around  the  sec- 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field. 


93 


ond  time,  and  though  the  roughness  of  the  location  and 
rudeness  of  material  of  which  it  was  prepared  formed  a 
striking  contrast  to  the  symmetry  and  beauty  of  our 
Union  Encampment  near  Pittsburg,  it  seemed  to  answer 
the  purpose  very  well  for  the  friends  appeared  to  worship 
in  the  spirit  and  rejoiced  in  the  spirit,  having  no  confi- 
dence in  the  flesh.  As  night  drew  on  Saturday  a host  of 
restless,  howling  animals,  in  the  form  of  young  men  and 
boys  beset  the  encampment,  who  (it  would  appear  from 
their  conduct,)  had  just  been  dismissed  from  the  rear 
guard  of  pandemonium  to  go  up  and  compass  the  camp 
of  saints  and  plague  the  faithful  seed.  Large  boastings 
and  threatenings  had  been  spent  of  what  they  would  do 
but  it  would  seem  that  an  Almighty  and  pervading  spirit 
had  fixed  the  bounds  over  which  they  did  not  pass.  No 
very  serious  depredations,  that  we  knew  of,  were  com- 
mitted. Against  the  influence  of  the  word  of  life  and 
prayers  of  the  saints,  the  powers  of  darkness  seemed  to 
oppose  a mighty  influence  till  near  the  close  of  Sabbath. 
Then  a light  dawned  upon  the  darkness,  power  followed 
the  word  preached,  prayer  had  power  with  God  and  pre- 
vailed, sinners  began  to  feel,  fear,  and  repent;  penitents 
were  forgiven,  and  in  quick  succession  the  shouts  of  the 
liberated  were  heard  in  the  altar  and  in  the  tents,  and 
great  grace  was  upon  them  all.  It  was  thought  that 
from  thirty  to  forty  were  converted  from  the  error  of 
their  ways,  and  saved  from  their  sins. — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate , Oct.  13,  1841.) 

It  would  appear  that  from  thirty  to  forty  were  con- 
verted at  this  camp  meeting.  Mr.  McLean  visited  his 
friends  in  Salem, . Pennsylvania,  and  continued  his  trip 
through  Warren  and  Ravenna,  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Summit 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  preached  on  the  Sabbath  in  the 
church  of  which  Dr.  Goodwin  was  the  pastor.  Of  this 
service  he  says:  “I  believe  I would  have  enjoyed  the 
occasion  much  better  but  for  the  chilling  influence  of  in- 
struments of  music  in  the  gallery  for  which  the  singers 
seemed  to  wait  and  on  which  they  seemed  to  depend.  I 
thought  it  was  the  smallest  number  of  the  congregation 
that  took  part  in  the  singing.  I am  sure  there  can  be  no 
doubt  about  it  that  the  hearty  songs  of  the  congregation 
altogether,  even  though  they  do  not  move  in  all  respects, 
in  strict  accordance  with  scientific  rule,  would  be  much 

/ 


94 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


more  effectual  and  acceptable  to  God.  About  nine  years 
ago  while  a youth,  colleagued  with  Brother  J.  Chandler, 
we  collected  together  the  foundation  of  that  society.  W e 
then  worshiped  in  a log  school  house  nearly  hid  from 
sight  by  shrubbery  which  overspread  a good  portion  of 
what  is  now  the  town  plot  and  occupied  by  very  fine 
houses,  exhibiting  much  taste.  They  have  the  elements 
of  a good  society  and  as  high  privileges  as  they  could  ask 
for  and  if  they  would  not  depend  on  ‘wood’  and  ‘cat-gut’ 
to  perform  their  part  of  the  worship  of  God,  I have  no 
doubt  as  to  their  permanent  prosperity.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  Oct.  13,  1841.) 

“At  a meeting  held  some  two  or  three  weeks  ago,  in 
Delaware  township,  in  a place  known  by  the  name  of 
Big  Bend  of  Shenango,  we  had  a work  that  will  no  doubt 
be  long  remembered  by  the  inhabitants,  especially  those 
who  were  the  happy  subjects  of  converting  grace.  Not- 
withstanding the  meeting  commenced  under  circum- 
stances, rather  unpromising,  the  mighty  God  of  battles 
undertook  our  cause,  the  devil’s  kingdom  was  made  to 
tremble  and  suffer  loss.  At  the  altar  of  prayer  were  to 
be  seen  the  old  and  the  young,  the  parents  and  the  chil- 
dren, who  found  redemption  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
The  conversions  were  clear,  as  much  so  as  in  any  revival, 
I ever  witnessed.  Glory  to  God  for  his  goodness,  and 
for  his  wonderful  works  toward  the  children  of  men. — 
Twenty-three  have  identified  themselves  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  bid  fair  to  be  shining  lights 
in  a benighted  land.  . . . May  the  great  head  of 

the  church  carry  on  his  own  work  until  the  devil  shall 
have  but  little  business  jn  our  land.”  So  write  John 
Crum  and  John  VanHorn  from  the  Clarksville  Circuit. — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  June  16,  1841.) 

In  the  same  issue,  Ahab  Keller  reports  a revival  on  the 
Cambridge  Circuit.  During  two  revival  meetings  “from 
sixty  to  seventy  found  the  pearl  of  great  price.” 

Dillon  Prosser  reports : “The  meeting  at  Richmond, 

commenced  on  Sabbath  evening,  and  continued  one  week, 
and  the  result  was,  that  nearly  all  the  neighborhood  pro- 
fessed to  have  experienced  religion.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  powerful  meetings  I ever  saw.  The  conversions 
were  clear.  Truly  God  was  with  us  to  kill  and  to  make 
alive.  Nearly  forty,  we  believe,  were  converted,  and  re- 


Shouts  of  Victory  from  the  Field. 


95 


claimed;  and  we  believe  religion  was  never  in  a more 
flourishing-  state  on  this  circuit,  than  it  is  at  the  present 
time.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  have  experienced  re- 
ligion since  last  November;  and  in  view  of  the  afflicted 
state  of  Zion  on  this  circuit,  eighteen  months  past,  we 
bless  God  for  the  work  which  he  hath  wrought  for  us  in 

so  short  a time.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  April 
28 , 1841.)  ^ 

Mr.  Gregg  gives  an  account  of  the  remarkable  conver- 
sion which  occurred  at  a revival  held  at  Drake’s  Corners, 
m the  town  of  Freedom,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  au- 
tumn  of  1841.  J.  L.  Holmes,  Alvin  Burgess,  and  Alva 
V llder  were  working  together.  Mr.  Wilder  was  at  that 
time  a local  preacher.  One  afternoon,  Jacob  Stevens,  a 
man  of  great  courage  and  physical  power,  was  in  a tailor 
shop  where  the  people  were  talking  about  the  meetings. 
The  tailor  said  to  him;  If  you  will  go  to  the  meeting 
to-night  and  knock  down  one  of  the  ministers  I will  make 
you  a new  coat.”  Mr.  Stevens  agreed  to  do  it,  and  true 
t°  his  promise  was  at  the  service  in  good  time.  Alva 
Wilder  preached  with  great  power;  many  flocked  to  the 
altar,  and  souls  were  being  converted.  Air.  Wilder  w^as 
exhorting,  walking  backwards  and  forth  in  the  altar. 
Mr.  Stevens,  with  clenched  fist,  walked  down  the  aisle  to 
fulfill  his  mission,  but  stopped  at  the  corner  of  the  altar. 
Mr.  \\  ilder,  at  every  turn  came  close  to  the  champion, 
but  the  blow  was  not  struck.  He  began  to  tremble,  tears 
flowed  down,  his  cheeks,  and  he  cried  out,  as  he  fell  on  his 
knees : ‘ I came  here  to  knock  down  the  preacher,  but 

God  Almighty  has  knocked  me  down.”  In  terrible 
agony  of  soul,  he  pleaded,  “God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.”  Men  and  women,  all  over  the  house,  fell  on 
their  knees  and  cried  mightily  to  God  in  his  behalf,  but 
above  the  roar  of  voices  could  be  distinctly  heard  his 
prayer  which  it  seems  might  have  rent  his  heart,  “God  be 
merciful  to  me  a sinner.”  Suddenly  he  leaped  to  his 
feet  with  the  triumphant  shout:  “Glory  to  Jesus!”  and 

down  the  aisle  he  ran  shouting  to  his  wicked  associates : 
“Glory  to  Jesus!  Glory  to  Jesus,  for  he  has  pardoned 
my  sins.  I came  here  to  knock  down  the  preacher,  but, 
glory  to  God!  he  has  knocked  me  down.”  And  on  his 
way  home  that  night  he  startled  the  community  shouting 


g6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

with  all  his  might:  “Glory  to  Jesus,  for  he  has  saved 

my  soul !” 

Seventh  Session. 

The  Erie  Conference  held  its  seventh  session  in  the 
St.  Clair  Street  Church  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  commencing 
August  3,  1842,  Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris  presiding, 
Alfred  G.  Sturgis,  secretary. 

Lorenzo  D.  Williams  was  discontinued  that  he  might 
continue  his  work  in  Asbury  Seminary. 

Luther  Kendall.  David  Rowland,  B.  K.  Maltby,  lo- 
cated. 

R.  T.  P.  Allen  was  transferred  to  the  Kentucky  Con- 
ference. 

The  list  of  superannuates  increases.  This  year  there 
are  D.  M.  Stearns,  J.  Iv.  Hallock,  Stephen  Hubbard,  P.  D. 
Horton,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  H.  S.  Hitchcock,  David  Pres- 
ton, Samuel  Leech,  James  Gillmore,  Thomas  Carr,  Jesse 
P.  Benn. 

“C.  D.  Rockwell  was  suspended  from  the  ministry  and 
the  sacrament  for  one  year.” 

There  were  admitted  on  trial:  Albert  M.  Reed,  Wil- 

liam Monks,  Samuel  Churchill,  Thomas  B.  Tait,  Orsemus 
P.  Brown,  Calvin  P.  Henry,  Fortes  Morse,  John  Abbott, 
Ransom  L.  Blackmar,  Alva  Wilder,  Gaylord  B.  Hawkins, 
Samuel  C.  Thomas,  R.  T.  P.  Allen,  Joseph  Martin,  John 
K.  Coxen.* 

♦Appointments  for  1842:  Ravenna  District,  John  Chandler, 

presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  W.  H.  Hunter;  Cleveland,  L.  D.  Mix; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  Wareham  French;  Akron,  Timothy  Goodwin; 
Middlebury,  Ira  Eddy,  J.  O.  Wood;  Painesville,  Samuel  Gregg; 
Willoughby;  R.  A.  Aylworth;  Chagrin  Falls,  W.  F.  Wilson; 
Franklin,  John  McLean,  Alvin  Burgess;  Newburg,  W.  S.  Wor- 
rallo,  Henry  Elliott;  Edinburg,  Caleb  Brown,  John  Scott;  Free- 
dom; J.  L.  Holmes,  C.  P.  Henry;  Hudson,  Peter  Burroughs,  Asa- 
hel  Reeves;  Chardon,  J.  E.  Aikin,  L.  D.  Prosser.  Warren  Dis- 
trict, Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  John  Robinson; 
Braceville,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  T.  B.  Tait;  Youngstown,  Dillon 
Prosser;  Hubbard,  Ira  Norris;  Poland,  A.  G.  Sturgis,  J.  W. 
Clock;  Ellsworth,  Lewis  Clark,  R.  M.  Bear;  Hartford;  I.  C.  T. 
McClelland,  Stephen  Heard;  Gustavus,  Aurora  Callender,  Alva 
Wilder;  Williamsfield,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  J.  K.  Coxen;  Mesopotamia, 
John  Luccock,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Parkman,  J.  O.  Rich,  Theodore 
Stowe;  New  Castle,  M.  H.  Bettes,  Fortes  Morse;  Greenville, 
Thomas  Stubbs;  Clarksville,  Thomas  Graham.  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, John  Bain,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  B.  S.  Hill,  Calvin 
Kingsley;  Allegheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Oil  Creek,  Hiram 
Luce,  A.  L.  Miller;  Franklin,  J.  R.  Locke;  Cooperstown,  T.  D. 


1 


1 


Seventh  Session. 


97 


Since  1833  there  had  existed  a Bible,  Tract,  and  Sun- 
day School  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church; 
but  the  General  Conference  of  1840  transferred  the  bible 
interests  of  the  church  to  the  American  Bible  Society. 
The  following  committee  was  appointed  on  the  bible 
cause:  B.  S.  Hill,  William  Patterson,  Lorenzo  Rogers, 

B.  O.  Plimpton,  and  L.  D.  Mix — and  brought  in  a strong 
report  which  was  adopted.  The  new  Sunday  School 
Union  was  also  recognized  by  the  appointment  .of  Sam- 
uel Gregg  as  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of  the  parent  so- 
ciety and  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions : 

“Resolved,  That  this  conference  direct  its  secretary 
to  furnish  a report  of  Sunday  schools  within  its  bounds 
to  the  union  in  New  York. 

“Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  great  benefits  to  be 
derived  from  an  enlarged  and  efficient  operation  of  the 
union,  we  pledge  all  consistent  and  proper  efforts  to  in- 
crease its  pecuniary  resources. 

“Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  all  our  Sunday 
schools  to  patronize  the  ‘Sunday  School  Advocate,’  pub- 
lished at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Book  Room  at  New 
York.” 

The  following  resolution  is  the  response  of  the  con- 
ference to  the  appeal  of  the  Missionary  Society  for  a 
more  liberal  support: 

Blinn;  Hendersonville,  J.  M.  Plant,  A.  G.  Miller;  Mercer,  Joseph 
Leslie,  E.  B.  Lane;  Salem,  H.  S.  Winans,  Rufus  Parker;  Clinton- 
ville,  Israel  Mershon,  A.  M.  Reed;  Shippenville,  G.  F.  Reeser, 
John  Abbott;  Clarion,  H.  N.  Stearns,  John  Graham;  Red  Bank, 
Isaac  Scofield,  William  Monks;  Luthersburg,  to  be  supplied. 
Jamestown  District,  John  J.  Steadman,  presiding  elder;  James- 
town, Moses  Hill,  Daniel  Pritchard,  Samuel  Churchill;  Gerry,  J. 
W.  Davis,  Moses  Elkins;  Napoli,  John  Demming,  O.  P.  Brown; 
Forestville,  W.  B.  Lloyd;  Villenovia,  H.  J.  Moore;  Sheridan,  Good- 
win Stoddard,  William  Butt;  Fredonia,  J.  W.  Hill;  Portland,  J.  E. 
Chapin;  Westfield,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Mayville,  Josiah  Flower;  Har- 
mony, Niram  Norton,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Warren,  E.  J.  L. 
Baker;  Youngsville,  J.  F.  Hill;  Wattsburg,  Daniel  Richey,  Edwin 
Hull;  Columbus,  Alexander  Barris;  Quincy,  E.  J.  Kinney,  S.  A. 
Henderson.  Erie  District,  John  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  A. 
M.  Brown;  North  East,  Darius  Smith,  John  Crum,  Albert  Norton; 
McKean,  Albina  Hall,  R.  L.  Blackmar;  Springfield,  William  Pat- 
terson, W.  W.  Maltby,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Ashtabula,  J.  H.  Whallon, 
Joseph  Marvin;  Geneva,  J.  W.  Lowe,  John  Van  Horn;  Morgan, 
Allen  Fouts,  S.  C.  Frear;  Conneautville,  I.  H.  Tackitt,  S.  C. 
Thomas;  Evansburg,  John  Prosser;  Cambridge,  D.  W.  Vorce, 
R.  J.  Sibley;  Saegertown,  Ahab  Keller,  John  Mortimer. 


98 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


‘‘Resolved,  That  we  carry  into  effect  the  penny-a- 
week  collection  to  replenish  the  missionary  treasury,  and 
that  the  presiding  elders  see  that  measures  are  taken  at 
the  first  quarterly  meeting  to  have  this  done  as  far  as 
possible  in  all  the  circuits  and  stations.” 

The  amount  raised  in  the  conference  during  the  cen- 
tenary year  was  a great  disappointment  to  the  friends  of 
the  causes  to  be  benefited — less  than  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  money  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a committee 
to  be  loaned  and  the  interest  paid  to  Allegheny  College. 
This  year — 1842 — a committee  was  appointed  to  secure 
the  incorporation  of  a board  to  handle  this  fund  and  any 
other  moneys  that  might  be  placed  for  the  same  purpose. 
The  incorporation  was  secured  from  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  in  the  city  of  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  dated 
February  8,  1843,  and  reads  as  follows: 

“Whereas,  The  Erie  Annual  Conference  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  has  recommended  to  the  mem- 
bers and  friends  of  said  conference  the  setting  apart  of  a 
portion  of  their  substance  as  a thank-offering  to  God  for 
all  His  benefits  conferred  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Wesleyan  Methodism,  and  for  the  accumulation  of  a 
fund  commemorative  of  the  foundation  and  centenary 
duration  of  the  establishment  of  a blessing  so  inestimable ; 
and, 

“Whereas,  The  said  conference  has  recommended  the 
appropriation  of  the  said  fund  to  the  charitable  purposes 
of  the  relief  and  sustenance  of  the  traveling  preachers  at- 
tached to  said  conference,  who  may  be  distressed,  worn 
out,  or  superannuated;  their  wives,  widows,  and  chil- 
dren, and  for  the  support  of  liberal  education  under  the 
direction  of  said  conference ; and, 

“Whereas,  It  is  the  wish  of  the  members  and  friends 
of  said  conference,  that  a corporation  be  formed,  under 
the  Acts  of  Assembly  of  this  Commonwealth,  for  the  bet- 
ter securing  the  appropriation  of  said  funds  to  the  objects 
intended  ; therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  those  members  of  the  Erie  Annual 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  who  are 
citizens  of  Pennsylvania  associate  themselves  under  the 
name,  style  and  title  of  the  Centenary  Fund  Society  of 
the  Erie  Annual  Conference,  for  the  purpose  above  set 
forth,  and  adopt  for  their  government  the  following : 


The  Centenary  Fund  Society.  99 

The  Centenary  Fund  Society. 
“CONSTITUTION. 

“Article  I. — The  Centenary  Fund  Society  of  the  Erie 
Annual  Conference  shall  be  composed  of  those  members 
of  said  conference  who  are  citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
such  lay  members  of  said  Church  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  said  conference,  and  citizens  of  this  Commonwealth, 
as  the  society  shall  from  time  to  time  appoint  upon  its 
Board  of  Trustees,  provided  for  in  Article  II  of  this  con- 
stitution. 

“Article  II. — Sec.  1.  This  society  shall  annually 
choose  from  among  its  members  a president,  vice  presi- 
dent, secretary  and  board  of  nine  trustees,  five  of  whom 
shall  be  clergymen  and  the  rest  laymen.  The  society  shall 
appoint  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees,  who  shall  faith- 
fully perform  his  duties  as  hereinafter  specified. 

“Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president,  or,  in 
his  absence,  the  vice  president,  to  give  notice  of  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  society,  and  to  call  special  meetings  of 
the  society  when  requested  by  the  board,  preside  at  their 
meetings,  and  to  perform  such  other  duties  as  usually  de- 
volve on  such  officer.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secre- 
tary to  preserve  a true  record  of  all  the  official  acts  of  the 
society. 

“Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  of  trustees 
to  invest  the  funds  subscribed,  or  that  may  be  hereafter 
subscribed,  and  also  collect  the  dividends  and  interest  of 
such  funds,  and  pay  the  same  into  the  hands  of  the  treas- 
urer. 

“Sec.  4.  The  board  shall  in  all  instances  be  subject  to 
and  obey  the  instructions  of  the  society,  and  shall  report 
annually  the  state  of  its  funds,  the  manner  of  its  invest- 
ments, the  proceeds  therefrom,  and  all  other  matters 
touching  the  discharge  of  their  duties  which  may  be  of 
interest  to  the  society. 

“Sec.  5.  Should  vacancies  at  any  time  occur  in  the 
board,  by  death,  resignation,  expulsion  from  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  removals,  or  otherwise,  it  shall 
have  the  power  to  supply  said  vacancies  until  the  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  society;  and  should  the  society 
neglect  to  elect  members  of  the  board  at  the  proper  time, 


ioo  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

the  last  elected  members  shall  act  until  such  election  takes 
place. 

“Sec.  6,  The  annual  meeting  of  the  board  shall  be 
held  on  the  third  Tuesday  after  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
society,  at  which  time  they  shall  elect  a president  and  a 
secretary,  and  transact  such  other  necessary  business  as 
shall  come  before  them. 

“Sec.  7.  The  following  gentlemen,  namely,  Rev.  John 
Bain,  Rev.  J.  C.  Ayres,  Rev.  B.  S.  Hill,  Rev.  Albina  Hall, 
Rev.  G.  W.  Clarke,  and  Mr.  James  Ford,  Mr.  Thomas 
W ilkins,  Mr.  J.  D.  Dunlap,  Mr.  Alvin  Miller,  shall  com- 
pose said  board  until  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the 
society. 

“Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  to  re- 
ceive, safely  keep  and  hold,  subject  to  the  order  of  the 
board,  all  funds  subscribed,  or  that  may  be  subscribed  for 
the  above  specified  purpose;  also  to  receive  of  the  board 
the  dividends  and  interest  of  the  money  invested,  and 
pay  the  same  to  the  order  of  the  society  at  each  annual 
meeting. 

“Article  III. — Sec.  1.  This  society  in  its  entire  ac- 
tion shall  carry  out  the  intentions  and  wishes  of  the  Erie 
Annual  Conference  as  set  forth  in  the  preamble  of  this 
constitution,  and  the  books,  contracts,  papers,  and  all 
documents  of  this  society ; and  this  board  shall  be  open  to 
the  inspection  of  the  Erie  Annual  Conference,  or  to  a 
committee  appointed  by  the  conference  for  that  purpose. 

“Sec.  2.  A majority  of  the  members  of  the  society 
shall  form  a quorum. 

“Sec.  3.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  society  shall  be 
held  at  the  place,  and  immediately  subsequent  to  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Erie  Conference.”  (This  has  been  changed 
to  the  second  day  of  the  session,  and  other  changes  have 
been  made  to  which  lack  of  space  may  prevent  further 
reference  in  this  work.) 

Robert  T.  P.  Allen  had  been  professor  of  civil  en- 
gineering, and  adjunct  professor  of  mathematics  in  Alle- 
gheny College  since  1839.  Mr.  Allen  was  a native  of 
Maryland  and  educated  at  West  Point.  He  was  a local 
preacher.  Mr.  Gregg  says : “Mr.  Allen  was  a sprightly 

little  man,  full  of  zeal,  but  troubled  with  an  impediment 
in  his  speech;  possessed  a very  friendly  disposition,  and 
was  generous  to  a fault.”  In  1842  he  was  admitted  on 


- 


IMRIS 


John  Abbott,  Orsemus  P.  Brown.  ioi 

trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  and  transferred  to  the  Ken- 
tucky Conference.  He  accepted  a professorship  in 
“Transylvania  University,”  and  became  a member  and 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  at 
' the  organization  of  that  body. 

Samuel  Churchill  superannuated  in  1847,  and  located 
in  1849.* 

John  K.  Coxon  did  not  continue  in  the  work.  He  set- 
tled in  Punxsutawney,  Pennsylvania,  and  entered  upon 
the  profession  of  law.f 

John  Abbott,  Orsemus  P.  Brown. 

John  Abbott  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Nov.  28,  1813,  and  died  near  Geneva,  March  19, 
1884.  His  parents  .were  both  members  of  the  “Mum- 
ford  Class,”  near  Meadville,  formed,  Mr.  Gregg  says, 
“most  likely  in  1799,”  and  his  grandfather,  Mr.  McFad- 
den,  was  its  first  leader.  He  was  converted  and  joined 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  thirteen  years  of 
age.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1842.  He  had  exercised  his  talents  as  a local  preacher 
for  ten  years.  He  was  supernumerary  in  1878,  and  ef- 
fective nearly  forty-one  years.  He  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Mason,  Nov.  6,  1834. 

Brother  Abbott  traveled  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
present  Erie  Conference,  and  was  a very  successful  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ.  He  was  pre-eminent  as  a revivalist. 
Several  of  his  charges  he  served  second  terms;  and  two 
charges,  three  terms  each.  One  charge  he  served  four 
terms.  God  approved  these  appointments,  since  throngs 
of  converts  were  brought  into  the  fold.  “As  a revivalist, 
in  pure  evangelistic  work,  he  was  a king,  and  had  no  su- 
perior, if  an  equal,  among  his  honored  brethren  of  the 
conference  among  whom  he  so  long  labored.”  After  a 
few  months  at  Sunville,  his  last  charge,  weary  and  tired, 
he  returned  to  his  little  farm  to  rest — to  die.  The  sum- 

*S.  C.  Churchill — Admitted  on  trial,  1842;  full  connection, 
1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  located,  1849.  Appointments: 
1842,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1843,  Clarion;  1844,  Red  Bank;  1845, 
Ellington;  1846,  Forestville  and  Villanovia;  1847-’48,  superannu- 
ated. 

fJ.  K.  Coxon — Admitted  on  trial,  1842;  full  connection,  1845; 
deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  located,  1846.  Appointments:  1842, 

Williamsfield;  1843,  Clintonville;  1844,  Red  Bank;  1845,  Luthers- 
burg  Mission. 


✓ 


102 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


mons  found  him  ready.  He  was  truly  a man  full  of 
faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 

The  popularity  of  Brother  Abbott  as  a circuit  preacher 
was  quite  pronounced  and  well-merited.  On  one  oc- 
casion, W.  P.  Bignell,  his  presiding  elder,  in  represent- 
ing him  on  the  conference  floor,  said : “Brother  Abbott 

is  the  only  preacher  I have  ever  known  who  can  make 
twelve  visits  in  the  country  in  one  afternoon,  and  drink 
a quart  of  buttermilk  at  each  place.”* 

Orsemus  P.  Brown  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Rensselaer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  22,  1808.  His  parents  were  irreligious, 
and  he  grew  up  to  early  manhood  without  serious 
thoughts  concerning  religion.  Through  God’s  providence 
he  was  led  to  attend  a protracted  meeting  held  in  his  na- 
tive place  in  the  winter  of  i827~’28  ; and  was  there  power- 
fully converted.  Because  of  this,  he  was  driven  from 
his  home  and  went  to  Oneida  County  where  an  elder  mar- 
ried sister  resided,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  Stockton, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1838,  and  in  1842  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference  in  1855, 
but,  after  having  completed  certain  business  matters,  was 
re-transferred  the  next  year — but  never  returned.  He 
was  seized  by  erysipelas  of  a malignant  type  which  dis- 
qualified him  for  several  days  for  religious  conversation, 
and  soon  terminated  his  earthly  career.  That  he  was  pre- 
pared for  the  great  change  cannot  be  a subject  for  doubt. 
“His  labors  and  sacrifices  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by 
his  brethren  who  still  toil  in  the  vineyard.”  President 
John  Barker,  who  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  writes 
of  Mr.  Brown : “He  has  left,  as  a legacy  to  the  Church, 

the  recollection  of  his  labors  and  sacrifices ; and  multi- 

*John  Abbott — Licensed  to  preach,  1832;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  deceased,  Geneva,  Pa.,  March  19,  1884.  Appointments: 
1842-’43,  Shippenville;  1844,  Cooperstown;  1845-’46,  Oil  Creek; 
1847,  Tionesta  Mission;  1848-’49,  Hendersonville;  1850-’51,  Coop- 
erstown; 1852,  Riceville;  1853-’54,  Evansburg;  1855,  Steuben; 
1856,  Saegertown;  1857-’58,  Salem;  1859,  Cochranton;  1860, 
Espyville;  1861-’62,  Pine  Grove;  1863-’64,  Hendersonville;  1865, 
Hubbard  and  Coitsville;  1866-’67,  Rockland,  1868-’69,  Coopers- 
town; 1870-71,  Salem;  1872-73,  Cochranton;  1874,  Spring;  1875- 
76,  Fagundus  and  Hickory;  1877,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1878,  supernu- 
merary; 1879,  Hydetown;  1880-’81,  Cooperstown;  1882,  Lines- 
ville;  1883  (four  months),  Sunville. 


Alva  Wilder. 


103 


tudes,  turned  through  his  instrumentality  from  the  paths 
of  sin  and  folly  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  shall  rise  up 
and  call  him  blessed.”  The  body  was  conveyed  for  in- 
terment to  Rockville,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.* — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , Feb.  24 , 1857.) 


Alva  Wilder. 

Alva  Wilder  was  born  in  Dummerston,  Vermont,  Aug. 
2,  1812 ; and  died  in  Corsica,  Pennsylvania,  Jan.  15,  1894. 
He  was  one  of  fourteen  children — seven  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  When  he  was  but  a small  boy,  his  parents 
moved  to  Phelps,  New  York,  and  then  to  Harpersfield, 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  His  early  advantages  for  an  edu- 
cation were  very  limited.  When  a young  man,  he  drove 
stage  across  the  mountains  from  Brookville  to  Bellefonte. 
In  1837  he  married  Miss  Mary  Plumer,  of  Edinburg, 
Ohio.  He  was  converted  in  1833  under  the  labors  of  J. 
C.  Ayres  and  Arthur  M.  Brown,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1836.  He  was  employed  as  a supply  on  the 
Mesopotamia  Charge,  entering  upon  his  work  March  4, 
1837.  In  1842  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  was  granted  a certificate  of  location  at  the 
conference  held  in  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1853; 
and  was  re-admitted  in  1872.  He  had  been  left  without 
a charge  one  year,  and  superannuated  one;  and  was  per- 
manently superannuated  in  1886.  During  the  period  of 
his  location,  he  lived  on  a farm  near  Edinburg,  Ohio, 
preaching  frequently.  He  was  very  successful  as  a re- 
vivalist. 

“Brother  Wilder  was  blessed  with  a strong  body  and 
great  power  of  endurance,  which  fitted  him  for  labors 
abundant,  mostly  in  rural  districts.  He  possessed  much 
native  talent,  a vein  of  ready  wit,  and  at  times  was  very 
eccentric,  but  often  spoke  with  great  power,  moving  his 
audience  to  tears  or  laughter.  He  was  an  earnest 
preacher,  and  many  have  been  blessed  under  his  ministra- 

*0.  P.  Brown — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1847, 
Janes;  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1855;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1856;  deceased,  Janesville,  Wis.,  January  24, 
1857.  Appointments:  1842,  Napoli;  1843,  Wattsburg;  1844,  Co- 

lumbus; 1845-’46,  Youngsville;  1847,  Leon;  1848,  Wesleyville; 
1849,  McKean  and  Girard;  1850,  Rockville;  1851,  Mentor;  1852, 
Kingsville;  1853-’54,  Sinclairville;  1855,  Albion,  Wis. 


1 


104 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tions.  He  was  happy  in  life,  victorious  in  death.”  His 
last  testimony  was,  “the  Master  is  with  me.” 

While  visiting  among  friends,  he  preached  his  last  ser- 
mon at  Pine  Grove  on  the  Corsica  Charge  from  the  text, 
“Set  thine  house  in  order  for  thou  shalt  die,”  2 Kings  xx, 
1.  His  labors  were  abundant,  and  many  rural  districts 
were  blessed  by  his  ministry.  “He  possessed  a good  de- 
gree of  mental  power,  but  it  was  rough,  odd,  and  amus- 
ing. At  times  he  would  speak  with  thrilling  power,  but 
was  apt  to  spoil  the  effect  with  eccentricities.  He  was  a 
man  of  much  religious  zeal  and  fervor,  and  possessed  a 
mind  of  unusual  grasp  of  thought,  and  quick  and  ready 
wit."* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  II,  p.  187.) 

Anecdotes  of  Alva  Wilder. 

On  one  occasion  in  the  early  ministry  of  Alva  Wilder 
he  was  preaching  on  the  great  theme  of  immortality,  and 
was  dwelling  particularly  upon  the  beauties  and  glories  of 
the  eternal  city.  He  spoke  of  the  walls  of  jasper,  the 
gates  of  pearl,  streets  of  gold,  the  mansions  fair,  the  sea 
of  glass  and  the  great  white  throne  of  God.  He  spoke 
of  the  beauty  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  celestial  city  as 
they  walked  along  the  banks  of  the  river  of  life,  with 
glorified  bodies  and  garments  white.  He  spoke  of  the 
angels  and  their  songs  of  praise,  golden  harps  and  the 
redeemed  who  sang  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb. 
Now  there  happened  to  be  seated  in  the  pulpit  Richard  A. 
Caruthers,  though  one  of  our  able  men,  not  remarkable,  to 
say  the  least,  for  his  beauty.  Indeed  remarks  to  the  con- 
trary have  been  freely  expressed.  It  would  not  do  to  say 
that  he  was  the  homeliest  man  in  the  Erie  Conference  for 
there  are  not  a few  other  candidates  for  this  distinction, 
but  in  making  up  a collection,  it  would  be  no  injustice  to 

♦Alva  Wilder — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  located,  1853,  during  his  location,  residing  on  a farm 
near  Edinburg,  Portage  County,  O.;  re-admitted,  1872;  deceased, 
Corsica,  Pa.,  January  15,  1894.  Appointments:  1842,  Gustavus; 

1843,  Oil  Creek;  1844-45,  Kinzua;  1846,  Harmony;  1847-’48, 
Washington;  1849,  Spring  Creek  Mission;  1850,  without  appoint- 
ment; 1851,  Luthersburg  Mission;  1852,  superannuated;  1872-’73, 
Cherry  Creek;  1874,  President;  1875,  Tionesta;  1876,  Ellery; 
1877-’78,  Arkwright;  1879,  Irving;  1880-’81,  Hydetown;  1882,  En- 
terprise; 1883,  Steamburg;  1884,  New  Salem;  1885,  Corsica; 
1886-’93,  superannuated. 


Anecdotes  of  Alva  Wilder. 


105 

others  to  place  him  among  those  who  would  be  worthy  of 
a place  on  the  front  seat.  Brother  Wilder,  while  des- 
cribing the  glories  of  heaven,  chanced  to  look  toward 
Brother  Caruthers  and  a new  illustration,  as  by  some 
special  inspiration,  was  suggested  to  the  speaker.  Going 
up  to  Brother  Caruthers  and  taking  his  beard  in  his  left 
hand,  while  placing  his  right  hand  on  his  forehead  he 
turned  his  face  full  toward  the  congregation  and  ex- 
claimed, as  the  crowning  climax  of  his  already  marvelous 
description:  “Why,  brethren!  Only  think  of  it!  When 
we  shall  be  gathered  home  and  God  shall  have  wrought 
upon  us  this  wonderful  change,  even  this  face  of 
Brother  Caruthers  will  be  beautiful !” 

In  1885  Alva  Wilder  was  appointed  to  the  Corsica 
Circuit.  This  was  his  last  regular  appointment.  The 
charge  was  spiritually  very  low.  This  was  especially  the 
case  at  one  point  where,  it  was  said,  there  could  be  found 
but  one  man  who  could  pray,  and  he  prayed  in  so  low  a 
voice  that  while  doubtless  the  Lord  heard,  it  is  certain  the 
people  did  not.  The  only  way  they  could  tell  when  he 
had  finished  his  prayer  was  when  his  mouth  ceased  to 
move  or  he  rose  from  his  knees.  At  the  first  prayer- 
meeting of  the  conference  year  Brother  Wilder  called  on 
this  man  to  pray.  He  listened  but  heard  no  sound.  He 
looked  to  see  if  the  man  understood  aright.  There  he 
was,  devoutly  kneeling,  eyes  closed,  lips  moving,  but  no 
sound  was  heard.  Mr.  Wilder  watched  his  mouth  as  it 
wobbled,  then  left  his  own  place  and  tip-toed  to  the  side 
of  the  kneeling  form,  looked  for  a minute  as  if  in  doubt 
and  perplexity  and  having  reached  his  conclusion  raised 
his  big  right  hand  and  gave  him  a resounding  whack  be- 
tween the  shoulders  which  nearly  sent  him  sprawling  on 
the  floor,  at  the  same  time  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice:  “My  God,  brother!  k Wake  up!  Wake  up!.” 

The  brother  woke  up,  the  people  who  were  present  at  the 
prayer  meeting  woke  up,  the  church  woke  up,  the  neigh- 
borhood woke  up,  and  a great  revival  followed. 

During  a revival  meeting  conducted  by  Mr.  Wilder  at 
one  of  his  appointments  the  house  was  crowded,  as  was 
frequently  the  case  in  the  course  of  his  ministry,  and 
many  rough  or  thoughtless  young  men  attended  for  fun 
or  to  create  a disturbance.  One  evening  when  the  at- 
tendance was  larger  than  usual  and  the  house  ill  ventilated 


106  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

\ 

because  of  the  winter’s  cold,  some  one  threw  some  sul- 
phur on  the  large  box  stove  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
audience  room.  Mr.  Wilder  at  the  time  was  preaching 
on  the  retribution  of  the  wicked.  He  had  noticed  the 
fumes  on  the  stove  and  as  the  people  began  to  cough  he 
called  out  in  his  stentorian  voice : “Some  of  you  young 

men  now  are  so  near  hell  that  I can  smell  the  brimstone.” 

The  wit  of  Alva  Wilder  and  his  readiness  at  repartee 
often  served  him  in  good  stead  on  occasions  in  which 
logical  argument  may  have  failed.  This,  perhaps  more 
than  anything  else,  was  the  secret  of  his  success  in  con- 
troversy. The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  days 
of  his  early  ministry,  as  also  from  its  earliest  history 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Erie  Conference,  was  compelled 
to  demonstrate  its  right  to  an  existence.  The  baptismal 
question  was  one  of  those  which  attracted  large  attention 
on  some  portions  of  the  field.  On  one  occasion,  when  Mr. 
Y\  ilder  reached  his  new  charge,  he  found  the  ground  al- 
ready preoccupied  by  a somewhat  eminent  minister  of  the 
Baptist  faith,  who  was  improving  his  opportunity  pre- 
vious to  the  arrival  of  the  Methodist  minister,  in  preach- 
ing a series  of  sermons  on  baptism.  This — so  at  least 
the  Baptist  minister  hoped — would  so  establish  the  peo- 
ple in  the  true  faith,  that  they  would  not  be  easily  led 
astray.  Mr.  Wilder  reached  the  field  in  time  to  hear  the 
last  sermon  of  the  series,  and  was  present,  unknown  to 
the  preacher.  After  the  completion  of  the  sermon  which, 
near  its  close,  summed  up  the  arguments  previously  used, 
he  said  to  the  congregation,  according  to  the  custom  of 
the  time : “I  shall  be  glad  to  answer  any  questions  which 

any  person  present  may  be  pleased  to  ask,  that  there  m^y 
be  nothing  lacking  to  the  thorough  conviction  of  my 
hearers  as  to  the  impregnable  scriptural  ground  upon 
which  our  doctrine  rests.”  Pausing  a moment,  Mr.  Wil- 
der arose  and  addressing  the  speaker  said : “I  would 

like  to  ask  a few  questions,  not  in  the  way  of  argument 
or  to  arouse  any  controversy  but  only  to  assure  myself 
that  I fully  understand  certain  minor  points  of  which  I 
am  at  present  in  doubt.  Will  the  brother  permit  me  to 
submit  several  questions  all  of  which  can  be  answered  by 
‘yes’  or  ‘no’?”  “I  shall  be  happy  to  answer  any  ques- 
tions which  the  gentleman  may  be  pleased  to  propound.” 
“Did  I understand  you  to  say  that  a person  must  be  com- 


Albert  M.  Reed , T.  B.  Tait,  S.  C.  Thomas.  107 


pletely  covered  by  water  before  he  can  be  enrolled  as 
baptized?”  “Most  assuredly,”  replied  the  minister. 
“Such  being  the  case,  if  you  were  to  lead  a candidate 
down  into  the  water,  until  it  covered  his  knees,  would 
that  be  baptism?”  “No.”  “If  you  were  to  continue  to 
go  deeper  until  the  water  reached  his  loins,  would  that  be 
baptism?”  “No.”  “If  you  were  to  go  still  farther  un- 
til the  water  rose  above  his  shoulders,  would  that  be  bap- 
tism?” “No.”  “If  you  were  still  to  proceed  until  the 
water  covered  his  mouth,  just  giving  a chance  for  him  to 
breathe,  you  would  call  that  baptism  would  you  not?” 
“Certainly  not.”  “Now  if  you  should  go  on  until  the 
candidate  was  wholly  immersed  except  a little  spot  on  the 
top  of  his  head  the  size  of  a silver  dollar,  that  would  be 
baptism  would  it  not?”  “Most  assuredly  not.”  “Well, 
then,  letting  the  man  stand  there,  if  you  were  to  fill  the 
palm  of  your  hand  with  water  and  place  it  on  the  top  of 
his  head  so  as  to  completely  cover  the  bare  spot,  would 
that  be  baptism?”  “Certainly,”  was  the  reply.  “Well, 
said  Mr.  Wilder,  with  a long  breath  as  if  he  felt  greatly 
relieved,  “I  do  not  see  that  we  differ  materially,  that’s  the 
end  of  the  candidate  that  we  Methodists  baptize.”  Say- 
ing this,  Mr.  Wilder  sat  down.  The  effect  upon  the 
congregation  was  overwhelming.  The  Baptist  minister 
forgot  to  pronounce  the  benediction,  or  to  shake  hands 
with  his  inquisitor  and,  tradition  says,  that  thereafter  Mr. 
Wilder  had  the  whole  field  to  himself. 

Albert  M.  Reed,  T.  B.  Tait,  S.  C.  Thomas. 

Albert  M.  Reed  was  born  August  2,  1820.  He  was 
instructed  in  the  duties  of  religion  by  pious  parents,  and 
converted  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age.  “He  spent 
some  time  in  preparing  for  the  duties  of  his  calling,  and 
eagerly  sought  for  such  literary  acquisitions  as  sanctified 
by  grace  would  enable  him  to  be  a workman  that  needeth 
not  to  be  ashamed.”  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1841, 
and  received  on  probation  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1842. 
He  served  Clintonville,  Ravenna,  and  Jamestown  Cir- 
cuits, and  was  in  each  charge  acceptable  and  useful.  “He 
went  to  the  conference  in  1845  m feeble  health,  but  re- 
ceived his  appointment  to  Mayville  Circuit,  where  he  la- 
bored only  a few  weeks,  and  was  taken  down  with  a 
lung  fever,  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  After 


108  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

being  apparently  near  the  grave,  he  was  mercifully  so  far 
restored  as  to  be  able  to  return  to  the  home  of  his  child- 
hood, and  die  in  the  midst  of  his  friends.  Hope  and  fear 
alternately  prevailed  until  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of 
1846,  when  the  aspect  of  the  disease  became  such  that  his 
cherished  hopes  of  living  at  the  altars  of  the  church  were 
cut  off,  and  he  quietly  resigned  himself  to  the  prospect  of 
an  early  death.  He  died  August  2,  1846,  during  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Annual  Conference.  The  religion  which  he 
commended  to  others  became  increasingly  precious  to  his 
own  soul  as  he  looked  upon  death  and  eternity/'* — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  V ol.  IV,  1846,  p.  54.) 

Thomas  Benson  Tait  was  born  in  North  Beaver  Town- 
ship, Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  June  15,  1815;  and  died  in 
Niles,  Ohio,  June  6,  1898.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
left  the  farm  and  learned  the  tailor’s  trade;  and  after- 
ward studied  medicine  at  Darlington,  Pa.  In  prepara- 
tion for  the  ministry,  he  attended  school  at  Poland,  Ohio. 
He  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  faith ; but  at  a revival 
held  at  Edenburg,  Pa.,  by  Rufus  Parker  and  S.  P. 
Hempstead  in  1839,  he  was  converted  and  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Mount  Jackson.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  Hiram  Kinsley  in  1840,  and 
two  years  later  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference 
at  its  organization.  His  active  ministry  covered  a period 
of  forty  years.  In  1882  he  took  a superannuated  relation, 
and  afterwards  resided  at  Niles.  “Mr.  Tait  was  rather 
tall  and  slim,  a good  natured  and  kind  hearted  man.  He 
made  an  excellent  pastor  and  passable  preacher,  dwelling 
mostly  on  practical  themes.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference,  V ol.  II,  p.  183.)  “His  ministry 
was  highly  useful,  resulting  in  the  strengthening  of  all 
the  churches  where  he  labored.  He  was  a good  prac- 
tical preacher,  a safe  counselor,  and  a wise  teacher. 

Though  severely  afflicted  for  several  years 
past,  he  was  never  unhappy,  and  never  complained.  He 
was  a patient,  cheerful  child  of  God.  To  him  death  was  but 
the  passport  of  life.  He  feared  not,  but  triumphed.  The 

*A.  M.  Reed — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial. 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  deceased. 
Mantua,  O.,  August  2,  1846.  Appointments;  1842,  Clinton ville; 
1843,  Franklin,  O.;  1844,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1845,  Mayville. 


Albert  M.  Reed , T.  B.  Tait,  S.  C.  Thomas.  109 

weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still  at  last,  and  he  slept  to 
awake  in  the  likeness  of  his  Lord.”* — (Minutes  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference , 1898,  p.  71.) 

Of  Samuel  C.  Thomas,  Mr.  Gregg  says : “Mr. 

Thomas  was  large  and  well-proportioned,  and  carried  an 
open,  good  natured  countenance.  He  generally  appeared 
cheerful  and  happy,  knew  how  to  secure  the  good  opin- 
ion of  others  by  treating  them  with  deference  and  gentle- 
manly respect,  was  an  original  abolitionist,  and,  with  all 
his  other  excellencies,  was  a good  practical  Methodist 
preacher.  He  improved  fast,  and  rose  rapidly  in  the  con- 
ference while  he  continued  in  it.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II,  p.  186.) 

Mr.  Thomas  was  born -in  Niagara  County,  New  York, 
March  10,  1810.  He  settled  in  Meadville,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Isabella  B.  Dunlap 
in  Belle fonte,  Pennsylvania,  September  10,  1829,  and 
was  converted  in  1837.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 

1841,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 

1842.  In  1851  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference. He  was  nine  years  an  agent  of  colleges,  ten 
3rears  a presiding  elder,  and  a delegate  to  the  General 
•Conferences  of  i860,  1864,  and  1868.  Hoping  to  lessen 
the  severity  of  chronic  complaints,  he  spent  several  years 
in  Florida.  He  died  in  holy  triumph  in  Starke,  Florida, 
June  5,  1894.1 

*T.  B.  Tait — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial,  1842; 
full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1846,  Morris; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1876;  deceased,  Niles,  O.,  June  6,  1898.  Appointments: 

1842,  Braceville;  1843,  Saegertown;  1844,  Morgan;  1845,  Wesley- 
ville;  1846-’47,  Middlebury;  1848,  Franklin,  O.;  1849-’50,  Free- 
dom; 1851,  Parkman;  1852,  Mechanicsville ; 1853,  Geneva;  1854, 
Newburg;  1855-’56,  Northampton  Mission;  1857,  Ellsworth; 
1858,  Canfield  and  Boardman;  1859,  Charlestown;  1860,  Nelson 
and  Garrettsville;  1861,  Nelson;  1862,  Wesley ville;  1863-’64,  Rich- 
mond; 1865-’67,  Niles;  1868,  Bazetta  and  Johnson;  1869,  Cort- 
land; 1870-’71,  Gustavus  and  Johnson;  1872,  Mineral  Ridge;  1873- 
’74,  Williamsfield;  1875-’77,  Montville  and  Hampden;  1878,  Bain- 
bridge,  1879-’80,  Lenox;  1881,  Colebrook  and  Rome;  1882-’97, 
superannuated. 

fS.  C.  Thomas — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1846, 
Morris;  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1851;  deceased, 
Starke,  Fla.,  June  5,  1894.  Appointments:  1842,  Conneautville; 

1843,  Geneva;  1844-’45,  Agent  Allegheny  College;  1846-’47,  Ra- 
venna; 1848,  Willoughby;  1849-’50,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1851-’52,  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  Spring  Street;  1853-’54,  Platteville  District;  1855- 


8 


no 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 
Gaylord  B.  Hawkins. 


Gaylord  B.  Hawkins  was  born  in  Franklin,  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1815.  When  five  years  of  age,his 
parents  moved  to  Vienna,  Ohio.  Subsequently  he  lived 
with  a married  sister  in  Poland,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio. 
Here  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  converted  to  God, 
and  became  a zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Feeling  that  he  was  called  to  the  Christian  min- 
istry, he  entered  Allegheny  College  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1842.  About  this  time  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emeline  E.  Hotchkiss.  He  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1842,  having  been  li- 
censed to  preach  the  same  year.  He  was  principal  of 
Juliet  Academy  in  1843,  and  of  Asbury  Seminary  in 
1847-  49.  He  was  presiding  elder  of  New  Castle  District 
in  1 856-’ 59.  He  filled  every  post  assigned  to  him  use- 
fully, and  acceptably. 

“Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  behalf  of  the  government.  His  trumpet 
gave  no  uncertain  sound.  He  rallied  the  languishing 
patriotism  of  his  country  around  the  flag  of  the  Union. 
He  was,  without  any  desire  or  solicitation  on  his  part, 
made  chaplain  of  the  2nd  Ohio  Cavalry.  With  them, 
for  months,  he  shared  the  toils,  dangers  and  privations  of 
a life  of  warfare.  At  length  being  violently  attacked 
with  typhoid  fever,  he  died  at  Fort  Scott,  Sept.  15,  1862. 
His  end  was  characterized  with  great  peace.  “Resting  in 
the  arms  of  my  Heavenly  Father,’’  and  “Precious  Savior,’’ 
were  his  last  audible  words.  Our  departed  brother  was  a 
noble  expression  of  manliness,  a good  citizen,  a true 
patriot,  an  affectionate  husband,  a kind  father,  and  a de- 
voted minister  of  the  gospel.  He  rests  from  his  labors; 
his  works  follow  him!” — (Manuscript  Record  of  Erie 
Conference  Reports , Vol.  I,  1863 , p.  226.) 

Mr.  Hawkins  was  a noble  specimen  of  manliness. 
Gregg  says  of  him:  “As  a preacher  of  the  gospel  he 

possessed  a logical  mind,  reasoned  clearly  and  forcibly, 


’56,  Milwaukee,  Jackson  Street;  1857-’60,  Agent  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity; 1861-’62,  Milwaukee,  Summerfield  Street;  1863,  Agent 
Lawrence  University;  1864-’67,  Milwaukee  District;  1868-’71, 
Janesville  District;  1872-’73,  Fort  Atkinson,  Wis.;  1874-’76, 
Lyons  and  Spring  Prairie,  Wis.;  1877-’78,  Elkhorn,  Wis.;  1879, 
Sharon,  Wis.;  1880,  supernumerary;  1881,  East  Troy,  Wis.;  1882- 
’93,  superannuated. 


' j 


Gaylord  B.  Hawkins. 


ill 


and  was  quite  original  and  independent  in  his  matter  and 
manner,  and  would  sometimes  venture  a little  beyond  the 
beaten  track  of  orthodoxy  and  proclaim  sentiments  a lit- 
tle startling  to  the  ear  of  the  doctrinal  critic,  and  when 
committed  to  a doctrine  or  idea  it  required  a master-mind 
to  dislodge  him.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  185.) 

The  following  paper  will  show  the  esteem  in  which  Mr. 
Hawkins  was  held  in  the  army : 

“Camp  of  the  2d  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry, 

“Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  Sept.  15,  1862. 

“In  consequence  of  the  death  of  Chaplain  G.  B.  Haw- 
kins, of  the  2d  Ohio  Cavalry,  a meeting  of  the  officers 
was  convened,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  W.  Ratliff  ap- 
pointed chairman.  It  was  unanimously  agreed  that  the 
following  letter  of  condolence  should  be  submitted  to  his 
bereaved  wife  and  friends : 

“ Tt  has  pleased  God,  in  His  all-wise  providence  to  re- 
move our  friend  and  brother  officer,  Chaplain  G.  B.  Haw- 
kins, from  his  field  of  labor  and  usefulness  to  the  land 
where  the  weary  are  at  rest,  and  we  feel  moved  to  offer 
our  condolence  to  his  bereaved  wife  and  family — to 
mingle  our  tears  with  theirs,  and  mourn  that  the  patriotic 
and  Christian  zeal  which  impelled  him  to  join  his  coun- 
try’s armies  as  a preacher  of  righteousness  should  so  soon 
demand  the  sacrifice  of  a life  so  dear  to  his  many  friends. 

“ ‘We  tender  to  them  our  heart-felt  sympathies,  hoping 
and  believing  that  the  God  whom  he  trusted  will  be  a 
father  to  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow’s  guide.  How  he 
has  won  in  a high  degree  our  respect  and  esteem  by  the 
manly  boldness  with  which  he  rebuked  whatever  was 
wrong — our  love  by  his  kindness  and  attention  in  hours 
of  sickness,  and  at  the  bedside  of  dying  comrades,  we  can 
fully  testify.  But  while  we  mourn,  our  loss  is  his  un- 
speakable gain. 

“ ‘Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  W.  Ratliff,  Ch’n. 

“‘Lieutenant  H.  Townsend,  Secretary.’”* — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  Dec.  13,  1862.) 

*G.  B.  Hawkins — Licensed  to  preach,  1842;  admitted  on  trial 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1846 
Morris;  deceased,  Ft.  Scott,  Kas.,  September  15,  1862.  Appoint 
ments:  1842,  Springfield;  1843,  principal  Juliet  Academy;  1844 

’45,  Painesville;  1846,  Geneva;  1847-’49,  principal  Asbury  Semin 
ary;  1850,  Mercer;  1851,  Warren,  O.;  1852-’53,  Cleveland,  St 


1 12  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Blackmar,  Morse,  Monks. 

Ransom  L.  Blackmar  was  born  in  Trumbull  town- 
ship, Ohio,  Dec.  29,  1819;  and  died  in  Buffalo,  New  York, 
May  21,  1895.  His  father  died  while  Ransom  was  an  in- 
fant, and  he  was  left  to-  the  care  of  a pious  mother.  He 
was  converted  in  Austinburg,  Ohio,  in  1834,  and  found 
a home  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1840,  and  employed  by  Hiram  Kins- 
ley as  a supply  on  the  Ellsworth  Circuit.  In  1842  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division. 
He  was  superannuated  in  1853,  and  sustained  that  rela- 
tion until  the  time  of  his  death.  Brother  Blackmar  was 
twice  married.  He  married  Eliza  Bowl  in  1842;  and  in 
1867  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  A.  J.  Bundy.  He 
had  been  a great  sufferer,  and  was  preparing  to  go  to 
Parkman,  Ohio,  when  he  was  taken  with  -inflammatory 
rheumatism,  which  went  to  his  heart  and  took  him  away. 
He  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  “Very  seldom  can 
there  be  found  one  in  proportion  to  his  ability,  whose  zeal, 
fidelity,  and  liberality  exceeded  his.”* — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  XXV , 1895,  P • 421-) 

Fortes  Morse  was  received  on  trial  in  Erie  Conference 
in  1842,  and  appointed  second  preacher  on  New  Castle 
Charge.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  Sept.  15,  1812;  and  was 
converted  in  1825.  He  served  the  Morgan,  Rockville, 
and  Conneautville  Circuits.  He  died  at  his  post  at  Con- 
neautville,  Pa.,  April  23,  1846.  “He  was  very  faithful 
in  attending  to  the  duties  of  a Methodist  preacher,  and 
was  greatly  beloved  among  those  with  whom  he  la- 
bored.”!— (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  IV,  184.6,  p. 

54-) 

Clair  Street;  1854,  Akron;  1855,  Meadville;  1856-’59,  New  Castle 
District;  1860-’61,  Poland;  1862,  Chaplain  U.  S.  A. 

*K.  L.  Blackmar — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial, 
1842;  discontinued,  1844;  re-admitted,  1849;  full  connection,  1851; 
deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  became  a member 
of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  May  21,  1895.  Appointments — 1840,  Ellsworth 
(supply);  1842,  McKean;  1843,  Harmony;  1849,  Upper  Tionesta 
and  Ridgway  Mission;  1850,  Gerry;  1851,  Leon;  1852,  Perrysburg; 
1853-’94,  superannuated. 

t Fortes  Morse — Admitted  on  trial,  1842;  full  connection,  1844; 
deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  deceased,  Conneautville,  Pa.,  April  23, 
1846.  Appointments;  1842,  New  Castle;  1843,  Morgan;  1844, 
Rockville;  1845,  Conneautville. 


The  Burning  of  Our  Church  in  Akron. 


I . 


William  Monks  was  born  near  Curllsville,  Clarion  Co., 
Pa.,  June  9,  1806.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen under  the  labors  of  I.  H.  Tackitt,  and  licensed  to 
preach  in  1840.  He  was  employed  one  year  as  a supply 
on  Shippenville  Circuit,  and  in  1842  became  a member  on 
probation  in  the  Erie  Conference.  From  Twinsburg,  his 
last  pastoral  charge,  he  received  on  the  10th  of  March, 
i860,  the  Master’s  welcome  to  the  wear^  itinerant’s  home. 
“His  grave  is  with  the  people  to  whom,  as  pastor,  he  de- 
livered his  last  message,  only  a month  before  his  trium- 
phant departure.  His  memory  is  the  common  inheritance 
of  all,  who,  in  any  period  or  relation  of  his  life,  were 
blessed  with  his  genial  influence.  In  his  life  below,  our 
brother  was  faithful,  laborious,  useful,  beloved.  His 
style  of  preaching  was  exceedingly  simple  and  plain;  his 
manner  earnest  and  impressive.  An  honest  sincerity  was 
apparent  in  all  he  said  or  did,  both  in  and  out  of  the  pul- 
pit, securing  unbounded  confidence  in  the  purity  of  his 
motives,  while  the  warmth  and  tenderness  of  his  spirit, 
won  the  hearts  of  all,  and  leaves  his  memory  deeply 
graven  there.  With  great  modesty  and  self-distrust,  his 
experience  of  the  things  of  God  was  deep  and  rich,  sancti- 
fying his  social  and  pastoral  influence,  imparting  peculiar 
unction  to  his  public  ministrations,  and  revealing,  in  the 
vale  of  death,  the  presence  of  Jesus  and  the  light  of 
heaven.  For  a full  and  adequate  representation  of  his 
character  and  labors,  we  await  the  unfolding  of  the  rec- 
ords of  eternity.”  Gregg  says  : “Mr.  Monks  was  a man 

of  large  attainments  in  religion,  read  the  Holy  Bible  much 
and  understood  its  teachings  well,  and  was  an  expounder 
of  its  truths,  and  lived  much  of  his  time  in  prayer,  a fact 
that  could  be  easily  seen  by  hearing  one  of  his  matchless 
prayers  in  public.”* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , 
Erie  Conference , Vol.  I,  p.  182.) 

The  Burning  of  Our  Church  in  Akron. 

A communication  to  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate 
from  Akron,  Ohio,  says : “While  the  rich  harvest  fields, 

♦William  Monks — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  pn  trial, 
1842;  full  connection,  1844;  deacon,  1844,  Waugh;  elder,  1846, 
Morris;  deceased,  Twinsburg,  O.,  March  10,  1860.  Appoint- 
ments: 1842-’43,  Red  Bank;  1844-’45,  Hendersonville;  1846,  Coop- 

erstown;  1847-’48,  Pleasantville ; 1849,  Saegertown;  1850-’51, 

Conneautville;  1852-’53,  Mt-.  Jackson;  1854-’55,  Franklin,  O.; 
1856-’57,  Tallmadge;  1858-’59,  Twinsburg. 


mSS 


1 14  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

loaded  with  abundant  fruits,  are  waving  in  golden  prom- 
ises from  the  breath  of  God,  and  the  joyful  chorus  of  the 
reapers,  as  they  gather  it  in,  is  heard  in  every  breeze,  even 
places  where  it  humanly  appeared  that  Ichabod  had  en- 
graved his  name,  but  where  the  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ 
have  wept  with  strong  solicitude,  and  labored  as  though 
the  fullest  harvest  stood  forth  in  immediate  expectation, 
are  breaking  out  with  living  springs  of  water. 

“Our  church  in  this  place  has  experienced  numerous 
reverses,  though  destined  not  to  be  the  least  among  the 
cities  of  our  Israel ; yet  it  would  seem  that  she  must  be 
tried  yet  so  as  by  fire.  With  small  beginnings  the  friends 
here  had  advanced  to  the  period  in  which  they  saw  reared 
and  finished  a commodious  house  of  worship,  in  which 
the  God  of  heaven  showed  his  approbation,  by  meeting 
with  his  people  and  pouring  the  waters  of  life  into  many 
hearts. 

“But  at  the  very  time  when  the  pulse  of  the  church  beat 
high,  and  the  holy  current  began  to  circulate  more  freely 
than  usual,  and  expectation  played  in  every  eye,  and  her 
bosom  was  heaving  with  strong  hopes ; while  the  ministers 
of  the  sanctuary  were  standing  with  holy  reliance,  and 
from  the  altar  of  God  were  pouring  out  the  streams  of 
salvation  upon  the  people  from  the  fullness  of  their  souls, 
at  this  very  acme,  the  fell  destroyer  approached,  and  at 
midnight  when  all  was  silent,  he  stood  and  saw  through 
the  opening  lattice  the  increasing  rage  of  the  element  al- 
ready boasting  of  the  utter  destruction  of  its  victim  with- 
out giving  the  least  alarm,  and  not  until  it  had  passed  be- 
yond the  power  of  human  possibility  to  save  was  it  dis- 
covered by  its  friends,  so  that  in  an  unexpected  hour  all 
was  gone,  and  before  the  rising  sun  our  little  church  were 
seen  hurrying  to  the  place  where  lay  in  ashes  all  their 
goodly  inheritance.  Their  temple,  its  fixtures,  Sabbath 
school  library,  all  lay  smoking  in  ruins.  Prophesy,  you 
who  can,  the  sorrows  which  sat  depicted  upon  their  as- 
tonished countenances ; and  since,  for  nearly  two  long 
years,  have  the  deep  waters  of  adversity  been  preying 
upon  their  very  vitals.  But  in  the  midst  of  discourage- 
ments a few  spirits,  unconquered  and  unsubdued,  stood 
forth  invulnerable,  holding  fast  to  the  strong  promise  of 
our  Heavenly  Father  that  better  days  were  in  reversion 
for  them  in  Akron.  Meanwhile  other  denominations,  of 


r 


The  Burning  of  Our  Church  in  Akron. 


which  we  are  favored  with  eight  or  nine  in  number,  were 
strengthening  their  stakes,  and  enlarging  their  borders. 
We  would  not  here,  however,  leave  a false  impression 
upon  the  mind,  that  the  Methodists  held  no  meetings; 
but  that  their  meetings  were  next  to  none,  compared  with 
what  they  had  enjoyed.  They  had  taken  shelter  in  the 
third  loft  of  a certain  building  uninviting  as  well  as  un- 
propitious,  but  still  they  held  a share  in  the  better  feelings 
of  this  community,  and  still  more  in  the  prayers  es- 
pecially of  those  ministers  who  had  labored  with  and 
shared  deeply  in  their  afflictions.  It  was  not  until  No- 
vember last  that  they  beheld  reared  upon  the  very  founda- 
tion of  the  old  one,  a new  temple,  complete  and  ready 
for  divine  service. 

“On  entering  this  temple,  a live  coal  from  God’s  own 
altar  touched  our  hearts,  and  an  inspiration  more  than 
human,  as  though  new  life  was  infused;  and  from  that 
period  a strong  confidence  in  God  prevailed  that  he  would 
make  bare  his  arm,  and  revive  his  work,  for  which  our 
united  prayers  ascended  the  holy  hill  of  Zion.  At  our 
first  quarterly  meeting,  which  was  on  the  second  Sabbath 
of  its  occupancy,  the  Lord  was  in  the  midst,  and  our 
meetings  continued  to  increase  in  interest,  and  a waking 
up  to  the  subject  of  salvation  was  visible  to  all.  But  it 
was  not  until  the  lapse  of  several  weeks,  that  the  cloud 
which  had  continued  to  increase,  came  directly  over,  and 
poured  its  healing  waters  of  salvation  upon  the  people  in  a 
glorious  manner,  causing  many,  very  many  hearts,  to 
overflow  with  feeling  joy.  The  rush  to  the  altar  was  as- 
tonishing, and  more  than  an  hundred  souls  were  hope- 
fully born  into  the  kingdom  of  God’s  dear  Son.  The 
strong  pillars  of  society  which  had  never  before  been 
reached  were  seen  among  the  first  at  the  altar  for  prayers, 
saying,  ‘What  must  we  do  to  be  saved?1  We  have  re- 
ceived seventy  on  probation  within  a few  weeks  past, 
principally  males,  a number  of  whom  are  strong  men,  and 
bid  fair  for  usefulness.  Surely  the  Lord  is  remembering 
mercy  for  them  that  fear  before  him.  We  are  greatly  in- 
debted to  our  beloved  Brother  Hunter,  of  Ravenna,  for 
the  ministerial  service  which  he  rendered  us,  and  are  sure 
the  Lord  will  reward  him. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, April  12,  1843.) 


n6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

The  Work  Spreads. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Versailles,  was  or- 
ganized January  26,  1842;  and  Lester  Wood,  Philander 
Porter,  and  Martin  Lindsley  were  elected  trustees.  In 
connection  with  the  Baptist  Church  the  Methodists  built 
a small  frame  meeting  house  the  same  year  which  was 
occupied  until  1878  when  an  attractive  edifice,  38x56  feet, 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  $3,000. 

“The  West  Perrysburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  Rugg  neighborhood,  is  one  of  the  oldest  societies 
of  this  faith  in  town,  and  was  organized  about  1822  as  a 
Methodist  class,  numbering  about  eight  or  ten  members. 
Services  were  thereafter  held  in  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers and  in  the  school  house  in  this  locality,  but  no 
church  building  was  erected  until  1852.  December  19, 
1851,  the  members  incorporated  themselves  as  the  ‘Rugg 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,’  and  elected 
Stephen  R.  Hall,  John  R.  Dawley,  and  Carlos  A.  Rugg 
trustees.  The  following  season  a frame  meeting  house 
was  built  on  the  northwest  corner  of  lot  38,  which  was 
remodeled  and  much  improved  in  the  spring  of  1878,  and 
is  now  worth  $1,500.  . . . The  church  is  connect- 

ed with  Versailles  and  Perrysburg  in  forming  a circuit, 
and  has  had  the  same  pastoral  care  as  these  bodies.” 

The  Perrysburg  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  in- 
corporated November  9,  1853,  with  the  following  trus- 
tees: Truman  Edwards,  William  Cooper,  Henry  C. 

Hurd,  Abiel  Titus,  Luther  G.  Chadwick,  James  Cooper, 
Jr.,  and  Chancellor  Campbell.  Soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion, a house  of  worship  was  erected  for  the  society  by 
N.  Cook,  at  a cost  of  $1,200,  and  dedicated  by  the  pre- 
siding elder,  W.  F.  Wilson,  February  8,  1854.  In  1865 
it  was  repaired  and  beautified.  There  is  also  a comfort- 
able parsonage.  The  early  history  of  the  society  pre- 
cedes the  organization.  The  oldest  record  is  the  minutes 
of  a quarterly  conference  held  in  the  village  in  1849 — W. 
H.  Hunter,  presiding  elder,  and  I.  H.  Tackitt,  pastor. 
Five  classes  were  reported  under  the  leadership  of  Charles 
Blackney,  Benjamin  Parkman,  Isaac  Dawley,  George 
Kirkland,  and  John  Waters.  The  Perrysburg  Circuit  had 
but  recently  been  formed. — (History  of  Cattaraugus 
County , L.  H.  Everts , 1879,  pp.  245,  246.) 


The  Work  Spreads. 


ii  7 

Aurora  Callender  says,  speaking  of  the  Gustavus  Cir- 
cuit : “We  have  some  prosperity  on  this  circuit.  About 

one  hundred  and  twenty  have  been  added  to  the  Church, 
and  I presume  not  less  than  two  hundred  have  been  con- 
verted since  conference.  Some  have  sought  and  found 
full  redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , April  12,  1843.) 

The  Venango  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1842  by  Ahab  Keller,  of  the  Cambridge  Cir- 
cuit. The  original  class  included : Joseph  L.  Perkins 

and  wife,  Jacob  Wood  and  wife,  Benjamin  Hays  and 
wife,  Mrs.  John  Peiffer,  Nicholas  Peiffer,  John  Terrill, 
and  Miss  Delilah  Mumford.  Meetings  were  held  in  an 
old  school  house  about  a mile  west  of  the  village,  and 
later  on  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  A large  frame  church 
was  erected  in  1846,  located  on  the  west  side  of  Church 
street,  opposite  South,  at  a cost  of  $12,200. — (History  of 
Crawford  County , Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  1883,  p.  6/p.) 

Deer  Creek  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a mile  and  a 
half  southwest  of  Milledgeville,  was  organized  early  in 
the  forties.  There  had  been  preaching  in  the  neighbor- 
hood by  Methodist  itinerants  some  time  prior  to  the 
organization  of  the  society.  In  1842  there  were  about 
sixteen  members  who  built  a small  meeting  house,  which 
was  afterwards  enlarged  and  improved  and  served  until 
1869  when  a more  imposing  structure  was  erected. — 
(History  of  Mercer  County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1883, 
P-  533-) 

L.  Sweetland,  writing  from  the  “Kenzua”  charge,  gives 
an  account  of  the  remarkable  conversion  of  an  infidel  at 
the  Quaker  Hill  appointment:  “The  first  at  the  altar 

was  an  infidel.  He  had  sought  the  Lord  for  weeks,  but 
all  was  dark — he  knelt — he  prayed — but  ‘O !’  he  cried,  T 
fear  it  is  too  late — I have  denied  the  Savior.’  He  arose 
and  warned  the  people  against  infidelity — he  said  it  was 
possible  for  a Christian  to  become  an  infidel — he  said,  T 
know  it.’  He  was  once  a Christian,  but  had  become  an 
infidel.  And  now  he  exclaimed,  T fear  I must  be  damned 
for  it!’  He  knelt  again — and  wept  and  prayed — hope 
fled!  He  arose  in  wild  despair  and  cried,  ‘Let  me  out 
of  the  tent!’  And  he  leaped  over  the  heads  of  the  peo- 
ple— ‘Let  me  go  to  the  woods  and  put  an  end  to  my  life ! 
I am  going  to  hell ! And  the  sooner  I am  there  the  bet- 


Ii8  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ter ! O pray  not  for  me ! Let  me  go  to  hell ! It’s  too 
late  with  me!  I’m  lost!  I’m  lost!’ — Thus  he  contin- 
ued for  perhaps  an  hour,  and  at  intervals  the  most  of  the 
night.  But  with  the  morning  light  the  Savior  appeared, 
and  great  was  the  joy!  He  shouted  aloud,  while  the 
angels  and  the  church  rejoiced.  The  meeting  progressed 
in  power;  and  left  a deep,  and  we  hope,  lasting  impres- 
sion. I hear  that  two  have  found  peace  since  our  meet- 
ing closed.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Oct.  5, 
1842.) 

From  Youngstown  Circuit,  Dillon  Prosser  writes: 
“We  have  just  closed  a protracted  meeting  which  has  been 
in  progress  twelve  days  in  Liberty.  As  we  had  no  meet- 
ing house  nor  society  in  that  place,  a Presbyterian  brother 
gave  us  an  opportunity  to  preach  in  his  wagon  shop.  I 
accordingly  made  an  appointment  to  preach,  and  com- 
menced on  Wednesday  evening.  The  prospect  was  dull, 
the  meeting  continued  with  but  little  prospect  for  some 
days,  at  length  the  cloud  broke,  and  the  Lord  poured 
down  his  spirit  on  the  people.  It  continued  to  increase 
in  interest  till  its  close,  and  on  the  last  day  of  the  meet- 
ing I formed  a class  of  forty-two,  and  started  a subscrip- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  building  a meeting  house,  and  in 
a short  time  raised  nearly  enough  for  that  purpose.” — 
( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  16,  1842.) 

The  report  from  Napoli  Circuit  in  1842  was  full  of  en- 
couragement. John  Demming  says:  “There  have  been 

upwards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  souls  converted  to  the 
Lord  this  year  on  this  circuit — about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  added  to  the  Church,  and  numbers  more,  we 
think,  will  join  soon.  We  commenced  a meeting  in  the 
town  of  Coldspring,  where  there  was  not  one  praying  per- 
son before  the  meeting,  and  in  one  week  we  formed  a 
class  of  thirty-three  members.  The  work  is  spreading 
and  has  found  its  wav  down  the  creek  to  the  Allegheny 
river,  on  the  Indian  reservation,  and  a meeting  has  been 
going  on  for  several  days,  and  a number  of  old  back- 
sliders have  been  reclaimed,  and  several  conversions  have 
taken  place,  how  many  I do  not  know,  but  from  what  I 
heajr,  I suppose  there  have  been  reclaimed  and  converted 
about  twenty  souls.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
June  29,  1842.) 


The  Work  Spreads. 


119 


I 


A correspondent  gives  an  account  of  a characteristic 
love  feast  of  the  time : 

“A  quarterly  meeting  love  feast  held  in  the  thriving 
village  of  Willoughby,  Ohio,  in  1842,  is  worthy  of  notice, 
not  only  on  its  own  account,  but  it  indicates  the  spiritual 
condition  of  the  Church  at  that  time.  Willoughby  Cir- 
cuit embraces  Chagrin  Falls,  Mayfield,  Russell,  Gates’ 
Mills,  and  other  places,  giving  an  abundance  of  work  to 
W.  F.  Wilson  and  Henry  Elliott,  the  preachers.  Some 
young  men  made  the  journey  on  foot  from  the  falls  to 
Willoughby,  a distance  of  eighteen  miles,  and  were  on 
time  to  hear  the  presiding  elder’s  sermon  at  1 o’clock. 
All  parts  of  the  circuit  were  represented,  and  Saturday 
night  revival  services  were  held.  But  no  one  service  dur- 
ing the  meeting  was  characterized  by  such  a manifestation 
of  spiritual  power  as  the  love  feast  Sunday  morning.  At 
an  early  hour  devout  worshipers  and  some  others  who 
had  been  admitted  by  ticket,  filled  the  sanctuary.  ‘Father’ 
Elijah  Ward,  an  aged  local  preacher,  an  original  and 
deep  thinker,  his  specialty  being  the  divinity  of  Christ  and 
the  atonement,  was  present,  and  his  testimony  was,  as 
usual,  full  of  the  quickening  spiritual  fire.  B.  O.  Plimp- 
ton, then  in  the  high  noon  of  life,  was  the  presiding  elder, 
and  he,  as  an  itinerant  had  been  in  revivals  since  his  nine- 
teenth year.  He  was  a good  strong  man  and  a power  in 
any  place.  There  may  have  been  present  some  half  dozen 
local  preachers,  fresh  from  revival  work  at  home.  Testi- 
monies given  kept  up  a running  fire  from  first  to  finish. 
The  hymns  and  spiritual  songs  sung  were  full  of  raptur- 
ous devotion.  One  sitting  at  the  front  says,  ‘What  im- 
pressed me  the  most  at  the  time  and  can  never  be  for- 
gotten was  the  bright,  calm  and  devout  appearance  of  the 
audience  during  this  love  feast.  We  cannot  recall  any- 
thing that  was  said,  but  the  heavenly  aspect  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  hallowed  atmosphere  of  the  place  is  still  as 
fresh  as  ever  in  our  mind.  There  were  present  a few 
aged  people,  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel,  a larger  num- 
ber of  middle-aged  men  and  women  with  their  armor 
buckled  on,  but  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  audience  was 
composed  of  young  people,  many  of  them  young  converts 
from  the  village  and  surrounding  country.  They  seemed 
to  combine  the  intelligence  and  solidity  of  mature  years 
with  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  youth.  In  freely  taking 


120  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

part  in  the  services  they  manifested  both  strength  of  char- 
acter and  modesty  of  deportment.  Sitting  where  I could 
read  upon  their  countenances  expressions  of  peace,  of 
calmness,  of  joy,  and  in  one  case  we  remember  well — a 
bright  young  man  sitting  near  the  center  of  the  house — of 
ecstacy.  Tears  crept  from  his  half  closed  eyes  and  his 
hands  were  clasped  as  if  he  were  holding  himself  in  check. 
The  love  feast  moved  on  as  a steadily  rising  tide  till  it 
struck  the  hour  for  preaching  to  commence,  when  the 
pastor  gathered  in  a harvest  of  young  converts  and  closed 
it.” 

Such  a religious  service  is  the  most  effective  that  can 
be  given  to  a thinking  man  to  convince  him  that  Christ  is 
a Savior  from  sin.  Christianity  may  be  explained,  argu- 
ments advanced  for  its  support,  but  in  this*  love  feast 
Christianity  itself,  the  real  article,  was  presented  and  held 
up  to  the  observation  of  the  people. 

Joshua  Soule  presided  over  the  Erie  Conference  at  its 
session  held  in  Fredonia,  New  York,  commencing  August 
2,  1843.  A.  G.  Sturgis  was  elected  secretary,  and  W.  F. 
Wilson  assistant  secretary.  The  old  church  property  on 
“East  Hill”  had  been  sold  and  the  new  church  was  favor- 
ably located  in  a central  part  of  the  village. 

Franklrn  District  was  organized  from  the  territory  of 
“Clarion  Mission  District”  with  added  work  from  across 
the  Allegheny  river. 

A.  M.  Brown  was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, and  after  serving  Steubenville,  Ohio,  two  years, 
returned  to  the  Erie  Conference. 

To  C.  D.  Rockwell  was  granted  a location. 

David  Preston  and  Jesse  P.  Benn  were  supernumer- 
aries. 

J.  K.  Hallock,  Stephen  Hubbard,  P.  D.  Horton,  S.  W. 
Ingraham,  Watts  B.  Lloyd,  Samuel  Leech,  James  Gill- 
more,  Thomas  Carr,  and  H.  S.  Hitchcock  were  super- 
annuates. 

The  first  committee  on  Sunday  schools  was  appointed 
at  this  session,  consisting  of  Samuel  Gregg,  W.  H.  Hun- 
ter, and  J.  E.  Chapin. 

The  bishop  presented  the  following  resolution  from  the 
New  York  Conference:  “Resolved,  That  the  next  Gen- 
eral Conference  so  far  suspend  the  Fourth  Restrictive 
Rule,  chap  1,  sec.  3 of  the  discipline,  as  to  admit  the  fol- 


The  Work  Spreads. 


121 


I lowing  change  in  the  general  rule,  namely,  the  present 

rule  on  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  to  be  substituted  by 
Mr.  Wesley’s  original  rule,  which  is  in  the  following 
words’:  ‘Drunkenness,  buying  or  selling  spirituous  liq- 

uors, or  drinking  them,  unless  in  cases  of  extreme  ne- 
cessity.’ ” 

The  Erie  Conference  unanimously  concurred. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  with  reference 
to  Juliet  Academy,  located  at  Albion,  Erie  Co.,  Pa. 

“Resolved,  That  the  Juliet  Academy,  in  view  of  its 
past  prosperity  and  present  prospects,  is  entitled  to  our 
confidence,  and  that  we  will  recommend  it  to  the  patron- 
age of  our  respective  charges. 

“Resolved.  That  the  presiding  bishop  be  and  is  here- 
by requested  to  appoint  Rev.  G.  B.  Hawkins  as  its  princi- 
pal for  the  coming  year.” 

Delegates  to  the  General  Conference  to  be  held  in  New 
York  City  in  1844  were  elected  as  follows:  John  J. 

Steadman,  John  Bain,  George  W.  Clarke,  John  Robinson, 
and  Timothy  Goodwin.  John  Luccock  and  Alfred  G. 
Sturgis  were  elected  reserve  delegates. 

The  following  brethren  were  admitted  on  trial : Milo 

Butler,  Waldo  W.  Lake,  Harmon  D.  Cole,  Reuben  J.  Ed- 
wards, John  W.  Wilson,  George  W.  Maltby,  David  H. 
Jack,  Hiram  Kellogg,  Leander  W.  Ely,  Joseph  Uncles, 
John  A.  Young,  John  H.  Tagg,  and  Alden  Walker.* 

* Appointments  for  1843:  Ravenna  District,  Billings  O.  Plimp- 

ton, presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  John  McLean;  Cleveland,  Samuel 
Gregg;  Akron,  W.  H.  Hunter;  Middlebury,  Peter  Burroughs,  L. 
W.  Ely;  Painesville;  L.  D.  Mix,  R.  A.  Ayl worth;  Chagrin  Falls, 
W.  S.  Worrallo,  L.  D.  Prosser;  Franklin,  J.  L.  Holmes,  A.  M. 
Reed;  Newburg,  J.  E.  Aikin,  Milo  Butler;  Twinsburg,  Henry 
Elliott,  D.  M.  Stearns,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Chardon,  John  Chandler, 
Alvin  Burgess,  C.  P.  Henry;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Aurora  Callender. 
Warren  District,  John  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  B.  S. 
Hill;  Braceville,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  W.  W.  Maltby;  Mesopotamia, 
J.  W.  Lowe,  Theodore  Stowe;  Parkman,  Ahab  Keller,  Goodwin 
Stoddard,  Albert  Norton;  Freedom,  Wareham  French,  Asahel 
Reeves;  Edinburg,  Lewis  Clark,  John  Scott;  Ellsworth,  Ira 
Eddy,  J.  E.  Bassett;  Poland,  Dillon  Prosser,  S.  C.  Frear;  New 
Castle,  Caleb  Brown,  H.  S.  Winans;  Youngstown,  A.  G.  Sturgis; 
Hubbard,  Allen  Fouts,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Hartford,  Joseph  Leslie, 
B.  K.  Maltby.  Meadville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  el- 
der; Meadville,  J.  R.  Locke;  Allegheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke, 
Calvin  Kinsley;  Evansburg,  Rufus  Parker;  Conneautville,  Wil- 
liam Patterson,  John  Mortimer;  Saegertown,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland, 
T.  B.  Tait;  Cambridge,  Isaac  Scofield,  R.  M.  Bear;  Williamsfield, 
J.  W.  Hill,  H.  D.  Cole;  Morgan,  Ira  Norris,  Fortes  Morse;  Gen- 


1 22 


History  of  Erie  Conference.  . 

Tagg,  Cole,  Jack,  Kellogg,  Walker. 

John  H.  Tagg  was  born  in  Kettering,  Northampton- 
shire, England,  in  1823.  The  family  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Rootstown,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio.  Here  John  was  converted  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  brought  to  a saving  knowledge  of  Christ 
under  the  preaching  of  Asahel  Reeves  and  J.  E.  Bassett, 
of  the  Edinburg  Circuit.  John  Luccock,  of  the  Mesopo- 
tamia Circuit  gave  him  license  to  exhort  in  1842.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  quarterly  conference  of  the 
Franklin — Ohio — Circuit,  John  Chandler  presiding,  in 
1843.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference. 

Mr.  Tagg  is  rather  small  in  stature,  but  closely  knit 
together,  and  evidently  made  to  wear.  He  is  dignified, 
but  easy  in  address,  and  quickly  accommodates  himself  to 
the  society  in  which  he  is  providentially  placed.  He  has 
been  an  industrious  student,  and  attentive  pastor,  an  effi- 
cient preacher  of  the  gospel,  prompt  to  meet  engagements, 
fervent  in  spirit,  and  successful  in  winning  souls.  His 
sunset  is  brightening,  and  a glory  is  in  the  west.* 

eva,  J.  O.  Rich,  S.  C.  Thomas;  Ashtabula,  John  Luccock,  B.  B. 
Lane;  Gustavus,  W.  F.  Wilson,  Stephen  Heard;  Salem,  J.  W. 
Davis,  Hiram  Luce.  Erie  District,  Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding 
elder;  Erie,  Darius  Smith;  McKean,  D.  W.  Vorse,  Alden  Walker; 
Springfield,  John  Crum,  A.  G.  Miller;  Wesley ville,  R.  J.  Sibley, 
Reuben  Edwards;  North  East,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Quincy,  J.  O. 
Wood,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Westfield,  Albina  Hall;  Mayville,  John 
Prosser,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Harmony,  T.  D.  Blinn,  R.  L.  Blackmar; 
Wattsburg,  D.  C.  Richey,  O.  P.  Brown;  Columbus,  Alexander 
Barris;  Juliet  Academy,  G.  B.  Hawkins.  Jamestown  District, 
John  J.  Steadman,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Josiah  Flower, 
David  Preston,  sup.;  Randolph,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Gerry,  John 
Demming,  S.  A.  Henderson;  Napoli,  Daniel  Pritchard,  W.  W. 
Lake,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Forestville,  Niram  Norton;  Villenovia,  I.  H. 
Tackitt,  Moses  Elkins;  Sheridan,  Thomas  Graham,  J.  A.  Young; 
Fredonia,  Moses  Hill;  Portland,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Warren,  J.  F.  Hill; 
Youngsville,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Kinzua,  Thomas  Benn. 
Franklin,  District,  John  Robinson,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  H. 
N.  Stearns;  Cooperstown,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Oil  Creek,  Edwin  Hull, 
Alva  Wilder;  Hendersonville,  M.  H.  Bettes,  John  Van  Horn; 
Clintonville,  A.  L.  Miller,  J.  K.  Coxon;  Shippenville,  J.  M.  Plant, 
John  Abbott,  J.  P.  Benn,  sup.;  Clarion,  J.  W.  Clock,  Samuel 
Churchill;  Red  Bank,  William  Monks,  D.  H.  Jack;  Luthersburg, 
John  Graham;  Mercer,  Israel  Mershon,  Joseph  Marvin,  sup.; 
Greenville,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Clarksville,  Joseph  Uncles;  J.  H. 
Whallon  and  John  Bain,  Agents  for  Allegheny  College. 

*J.  H.  Tagg — Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on  trial,  1843; 


Tagg,  Cole , Jack,  Kellogg,  Walker. 


123 


Harmon  D.  Cole  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sharon, 
Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  15,  1813.  He  was  converted 
when  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N. 
Y.  He  was  appointed  class  leader  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  held  this  office  until  he  removed  into  Ohio  in  1840. 
He  was  licensed  to  exhort  by  Aurora  Callender;  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  May  15,  1841,  at  a quarterly  confer- 
ence held  at  Braceville  by  Hiram  Kinsley.  One  year  later 
Mr.  Kinsley  employed  him  to  labor  on  the  Gustavus  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 

1843- 

“Mr.  Cole  was  middling  tall,  otherwise  of  medium  size, 
possessed  good  preaching  talents,  and  entered  upon  the 
itinerancy  with  much  zeal  and  good  prospects  of  ultimate 
success.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  II,  pp.  208,  209.) 

He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  in 
1876,  and  was  transferred  to  the  North  Nebraska  Con- 
ference in  1884.  In  1887  he  went  to  California  and  lived 
with  his  son  at  Vineland  until  his  death  which  occurred, 
by  an  attack  of  la  grippe,  January  2,  1891.  “He  rests 
from  his  labors  and  leaves  the  fragrance  of  a sweet  Chris- 
tian character.”* 


full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847,  Janes; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1876.  Appointments:  1843,  Napoli;  1844,  Chardon;  1845, 

Twinsburg;  1846,  Newbury;  1847-’48,  Windham;  1849,  Youngs- 
town and  Poland;  1850-’51,  Charlestown;  1852-’53,  Tallmadge; 
1854-’55,  Ellsworth;  1856-’57,  Braceville;  1858-’59,  Greenville; 
1860-’61,  Conneautville;  1862-’63,  Conneaut;  1864-’66,  Erie,  Simp- 
son Chapel;  1867-’68,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1869-70,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.; 
1871-73,  Cleveland,  Waring  Street;  1874-76,  Cleveland,  Broad- 
way; 1877,  Cleveland  Circuit;  1878-79,  Cleveland,  Woodland 
Avenue;  1880-’81,  Twinsburg;  1882,  Nottingham  and  South  Eu- 
clid; 1883-’84,  Nottingham;  1885-’89,  Glenville;  1890,  Notting- 
ham; 1891-1907,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Cleveland, 
Ohio. 


♦H.  D.  Cole — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial,  1843; 
full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847,  Janes; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1876;  transferred  to  North  Nebraska  Conference,  1884;  de- 
ceased, Vineland,  Cal.,  January  2,  1891.  Appointments:  1843, 

Williamsfield;  1844,  Salem;  1845-’46,  Geneva;  1847,  Morgan; 
1848,  Harpersfield;  1849,  Chardon;  1850,  Parkman;  1851,  Free- 
dom; 1852,  Mentor;  1853,  Cleveland,  Perry  Street;  1854,  Poland; 
1855,  Springfield;  1856,  superannuated;  1857,  Ashtabula;  1858, 
superannuated;  1859-’60,  Grand  River;  1861,  Troy;  1862-’63,  Bain- 


124 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


David  Harper  Jack  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1812,  He  was  convicted  at  a camp 
meeting  held  on  Clintonville  Circuit  in  1841,  and  soundly 
converted  on  his  way  home.  He  had  been  keeping  a 
tavern,  and  upon  his  return  broke  down  the  bar,  stopped 
the  sale  of  ardent  spirits,  and  began  to  exhort  his  as- 
sociates and  customers  with  all  his  might  to  flee  from 
“the  wrath  to  come.”  He  was  soon  licensed  to  preach; 
and  in  1843  he  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on 
trial  and  appointed  to  Red  Bank  Circuit.  While  in  charge 
of  Williamsfield  Circuit,  he  died  in  the  Lord  at  Salem, 
Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1853. 

Mr.  Jack  was  a good  preacher,  presenting  the  pure 
gospel  clearly  and  forcibly.  He  was  zealous,  beseeching 
men  to  “be  reconciled  to  God.”  He  was  strong  in  faith, 
leaning  on  the  promises  of  God.  He  was  a good  ad- 
ministrator of  discipline,  and  never  shrank  from  duty. 
He  was  eminently  successful,  and  many  revivals  rejoiced 
his  heart.  He  was  a true,  generous,  noble,  manly  Chris- 
tian man. — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  V , 1854,  p. 
411.) 

Mr.  Jack  “was  a successful  preacher  of  the  gospel. 
Through  his  instrumentality,  hundreds  of  souls  have  been 
converted ; some  of  those  souls  have  finished  their  course, 
and  gone  to  glory — others  are  yet  on  the  way.  Scattered 
all  along  his  path,  there  are  jewels,  which  the  Judge  shall 
take  and  fasten  in  his  crown  of  rejoicing  ‘in  that  day.’ 
But  he  was  successful  in  the  work  of  a Methodist  preach- 
er. Under  his  management,  churches  and  parsonages 
sprung  up  on  his  charges — old  difficulties  were  settled, 
and  estranged  brethren  were  persuaded  to  love  each  other 
again.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Nov.  22,  1853. 
Contribution  by  D.  C.  Wright.) 

Hiram  Kellogg  was  “a  short,  thick-set  man,  of  deep 
piety  and  much  zeal ; very  timid  and  easily  embarrassed 
in  preaching,  was  powerful  in  prayer  and  a good  singer. 

-bridge;  1864-’65,  Montville;  1866-’67,  Morgan;  1868-’90,  superan- 
nuated. 

*D.  H.  Jack — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial,  1843; 
full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847,  Janes; 
deceased,  West  Salem,  Pa.,  September,  1853.  Appointments: 
1843,  Red  Bank;  1844,  Clarion;  1845,  Saegertown;  1846-’47, 
Rockville;  1848,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1849,  Clarksville  and  Shar- 
on; 1850,  Clarksville;  1851-’52,  Espyville;  1853,  Williamsfield. 


Tagg,  Cole , Jack , Kellogg , Walker. 


125 


The  last  two  qualifications  helped  him  greatly,  and  study 
and  practice  soon  improved  his  preaching-,  so  that  he  be- 
came a very  useful  man  in  the  conference,  having  a great 
many  revivals.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  209.)  Mr.  Kellogg  was  born  in 
Northampton,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Sept.  14,  1815;  and 
departed  this  life  at  Welshfield,  Ohio,  Sept.  21,  1899. 
He  was  converted  at  Austinburg,  Ohio,  in  1835;  and 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  John  Chandler  in  1841  and  em- 
ployed to  labor  on  the  Parkman  Circuit,  and  on  the  Cha- 
grin Falls  Circuit  in  1842.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1843.  He  located  in  1857,  but 
was  re-admitted  the  next  year.  He  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Ruth  Murphy  in  1845.  She  was  called  to  her 
reward  in  March,  1898.  “Much  might  be  said  of  his  re- 
markable career  of  fifty-six  years  in  conference  relations, 
and  of  eight  years  as  local  preacher  and  exhorter.  One 
of  the  old  time  preachers,  he  cheerfully  bore  the  hard- 
ships, and  labored  to  win.  He  was  a successful  revivalist, 
often  receiving  more  than  a hundred  converts  in  a year. 
He  believed  in  a free  and  full  salvation,  and  was  an  il- 
lustration of  a pentacostally  endued  workman.  On  Sep- 
tember 21,  1899,  as  lie  was  walking  out  in  the  afternoon, 
he  suddenly  found  his  feet  moving  along  the  gold-paved 
streets,  amid  the  triumphal  shouts  of  many  loved  ones 
who  had  been  won  by  his  ministry,  and  the  sweet  wel- 
come of  his  wife  and  children  gone  before.  The  sorrow- 
ing company  which  crowded  the  church  to  its  utmost 
capacity  at  his  funeral  spoke  more  eloquently  than  words 
of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.”* — (Minutes  of  Con- 
ferences, Vol.  XXVIII,  1900,  p.  439.) 

*Hiram  Kellogg — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847, 
Janes;  located,  1857;  re-admitted,  1858;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Welshfield,  O.,  September  21,  1899.  Appointments:  1843, 

Twinsburg;  1844,  Ellsworth;  1845,  Gustavus;  1846,  Williams- 
field;  1847,  Hartford;  1848,  Hubbard;  1849,  Ellsworth;  1850, 
Parkman;  1851-’52,  Edinburg;  1853,  Mechanicsburg;  1854,  Man- 
tua; 1855,  Concord;  1856,  Chardon;  1858,  Newburg;  1859,  Bed- 
ford and  Warrensville;  1860-’61,  Mantua;  1862-’63,  Troy;  1864, 
Bainbridge;  1865,  Green  and  Mecca;  1866,  Southington  and  Nel- 
son; 1867,  Braceville;  1868,  Troy;  1869-’70,  Mayfield;  1871,  Mont- 
ville  and  Hampden;  1872-’73,  Warrensville;  1874-’98,  superannu- 
ated. 


9 


126 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Alden  Walker  was  born  in  Adams,  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,  May  18,  1816.  The  family  moved  to  Saybrook, 
Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  in  1822.  His  parents  were 
Quakers,  but  Alden  was  early  brought  under  Methodist 
influence  and  experienced  religion  in  an  old  school  house 
under  the  labors  of  John  Luccock  in  1835.  He  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  received  local 
preachers’  license  by  the  authority  of  the  Geneva  quarter- 
ly conference  in  1842.  The  following  year  he  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  “full  of 
zeal  and  power,  but  wanting  in  confidence.”  He  located 
in  1852,  and  made  his  home  in  Saybrook,  where  for  many 
years  he  was  station  agent  of  the  Lake  Shore  & Michigan 
Southern  Railroad  Company.  He  died  in  Saybrook,  June 
20,  1890.* — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  IE  p.  216.) 

John  W.  Wilson. 

John  W.  Wilson  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  Upper 
Canada,  September  22,  1820,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  when  a child.  The  family  lived 
in  Western  New  York.  He  was  left  homeless  at  the  age 
of  six  years.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  found  a home 
with  A.  Bennett,  a local  preacher,  in  Michigan.  He  was 
happily  converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  In  1841  he  re- 
turned to  Western  New  York  and  resided  near  Forest- 
ville.  The  same  year  he  received  license  to  exhort.  Soon 
after  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1842  J.  J.  Stead- 
man employed  him  as  a supply  on  the  Napoli  Circuit.  In 
1843  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
What  Mr.  Gregg  said  of  him  is  still  true:  “Very  few 

men  have  excelled  him  in  getting  souls  converted,  and  in 
building  and  repairing  churches  and  parsonages.” 

John  W.  Wilson  writes  under  date  of  December  22, 
1901 : 

“Dear  Brother:  I am  now  in  my  eighty-third  year 

and  fifty-eighth  in  the  ministry.  Sixty-eight  years  ago 
last  August  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  thought  it 

♦Alden  Walker — Licensed  to  preach,  1842;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  located,  1852;  deceased,  Saybrook,  O.,  June  20,  1890. 
Appointments:  1843,  McKean;  1844,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1845-’46, 

Mesopotamia;  1847-’48,  Parkman;  1849,  Chardon;  1850-’51,  New- 
burg. 


John  W . Wilson. 


12J 


best  to  try  a poor  boy  on  probation.  My  eyesight  and 
hearing  are  failing,  but  still  I often  walk  three  and  four 
miles  and  preach  three  times  when  required.  John  J. 
Steadman,  a grand  man,  employed  me  as  a supply  on  a 
large  charge  in  1842,  from  which  I was  recommended 
to  the  Erie  Conference  which  held  its  session  in  Fredonia, 
N.  Y.,  in  1843.  My  first  appointment  to  Corry,  Pa., 
where  I now  reside,  was  made  in  1868.  It  was  a time  of 
great  excitement,  only  one  small  Catholic  Church  in  town, 
five  or  six  of  us  representing  the  Protestant  churches. 
At  the  same  time  material  and  work  were  high.  I 
prayed  every  day  as  I went  with  my  subscription  that 
God  would  help  me  to  reach  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
By  His  blessing  we  succeeded.  For  many  years  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  the  strongest  church  in 
Corry,  though  of  late  years  removals  and  deaths  have 
very  much  reduced  its  strength.  ” 

On  the  Springfield  charge  in  i856-’57,  Brother  Wil- 
son paid  debts  on  the  “brick  parsonage”  and  the  Cherry 
Hill  Church,  $4,000;  and  had  a wonderful  revival  with 
more  than  one  hundred  conversions.  Among  these  were 
four  ministers — Rev.  George  J.  Squier  and  Rev.  Edgar 
A.  Squier  who  became  members  of  the  Erie  Conference ; 
Revs.  Whiting  and  Cannon,  local  preachers,  and  sisters 
Louisa  and  Ruth  Blackmar,  who  went  to  India  as  mis- 
sionaries. In  1858  Brother  Wilson  was  appointed  to 
Waterford,  and  says : “I  found  a debt  of  $800  against 
the  church  and  parsonage,  a disappointed,  feeble  church 
with  but  one  male  member  who  shunned  me,  but  meet- 
ing me  after  a while  said : ‘I  pity  you ; I have  become 

discouraged.’  We  revived  the  prayer  meetings  and  with 
faithful  visiting  from  house  to  house  and  from  store  to 
shop,  we  made  a change.  The  Lord  came  in  power,  and 
the  whole  town  was  shaken.  I continued  the  meetings 
> forty  evenings  without  interruption.  Many  students 
from  the  old  academy  were  converted.  The  debt  was 
paid  at  Waterford,  the  church  at  Mill  Village  rebuilt, 
and  one  hundred  added  to  the  church  membership.”  In 
i860,  he  built  a new  parsonage  on  the  Fairview  charge: 
in  1861  he  paid  the  debt  on  the  Albion  Church,  and  dedi- 
cated a church  in  the  “Ball  neighborhood:”  in  i862-’63 
he  built  and  dedicated  churches  at  Edinboro  and  on  the 
“Shedrack  Hill;”  in  1870  he  was  the  agent  for  Lake 


128 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Shore  Seminary,  and  raised  $7,000;  in  i873-’74  he  built 
churches  at  Riceville,  $6,000,  and  Centerville,  $3,000;  in 
i876-’78  he  was  stationed  at  Spartansburg.  He  says: 
“I  found  no  one  to  encourage  me.  They  told  me  they 
had  passed  the  time  of  even  thinking  to  build  a church. 
I told  them  we  had  been  preaching  in  that  place  more 
than  seventy  years,  and  that  God  would  help  us  if  we 
trusted  in  Him.  It  was  not  long  before  we  had  thirty 
or  forty  of  the  enterprising  ladies  interested.  We  had  a 
glorious  revival,  and  built  a church  at  a cost  of  $4,000 
for  lot,  building  and  sheds.”  In  1885  he  built  a fine 
church  at  Spring  Creek;  in  i882-’84  he  made  the  old 
church  in  Columbus  “new  outside  and  in,  with  a fine  row 
of  sheds,  fifteen  stalls,”  built  “a  fine  little  church”  at 
Carter  Hill,  and  moved  a church,  standing  one  and  a 
half  miles  out,  into  North  Corry.  We  had  no  church  at 
Bemus  Point,  but  preaching  was  held  at  times  in  the 
Universalist  Church,  the  only  building.  The  Methodists 
had  tried  to  form,  a society,  but  had  been  defeated.  As  a 
forlorn  hope.  Brother  Wilson  was  sent.  He  says  of  his 
work  on  this  unpropitious  field : “I  went,  preached  morn- 
ing and  evening,  went  from  house  to  house,  prayed 
with  and  consulted  the  people,  put  the  names  of  those 
who  wished  to  become  Methodists  on  a class  book,  and 
made  no  public  statement.  When  I had  fifty  good  names 
I put  them  in  a new  class  book  and  appointed  Dr.  Sco- 
field leader.  It  stirred  up  a big  nest.  When  Brother 
Humason,  the  presiding  elder,  came  to  appoint  trustees 
for  our  lot  they  locked  him  out.  But  a big-hearted  land- 
lord, keeping  a hotel,  with  whom  I had  a good  under- 
standing, told  the  elder  that  his  mother  was  a Methodist 
and  his  brother  belonged  to  the  church,  and  he  would 
see  fair  play.  He  got  the  key  and  opened  the  church.” 
The  building  was  erected.  It  was  a great  victory.  The 
next  year,  1894,  Brother  Wilson — he  had  been  superan- 
nuated since  1886 — supplied  East  Warren,  where  he  built 
a chapel;  in  1895  he  was  made  “effective,”  and  appointed 
to  Russell.  He  made  more  than  six  hundred  pastoral 
visits,  prayed  with  the  families,  gathered  in  the  scattered 
members,  and  encouraged  them  to  build.  He  was  in- 
vited to  go  out  three  miles  and  preach  in  a school  house, 
but  a brother  said : “You  don’t  want  to  go  out  there.  I 
have  known  them  for  forty  years.  They  are  very  pro- 


Reuben  J.  Edwards. 


129 


fane,  and  drink,  work  and  visit  on  Sundays.”  But 
Brother  Wilson  went,  and  preached  every  Sabbath.  “I 
went  over  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys;  we  had  a 
good  revival;  they  now  have  a fine  little  church  and  a 
good  congregation.  I went  to  the  dedication.”  Again 
superannuated,  he  supplied  the  “Mountain  Charge”  in 
1897,  and  organized  two  societies. 

This  is  but  a brief  record  of  Brother  Wilson’s  work, 
worthy  of  “the  heroic  days  of  Methodism.”* 

Reuben  J.  Edwards. 

Reuben  J.  Edwards  closed  his  life  and  labors  in  War- 
ren, Pa.,  Sept.  27,  1852,  being  in  the  thirty-first  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  tenth  of  his  ministry.  His  memoir 
says:  “His  early  days  were  blessed  with  the  godly  ex- 

ample, counsels  and  prayers  of  a deeply  pious  mother, 
which,  with  the  blessing  of  God’s  grace,  led  to  his  awak- 
ening and  conversion,  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age. 
Subsequently  to  this  happy  change  he  became  convinced 
of  his  divine  call  to  the  gospel,  and  ‘straightway  he  con- 
ferred not  with  flesh  and  blood.’  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  October,  1842,  and  the  same  month  commenced 
his  labors  on  the  Braceville  Charge,  which  he  served  until 
the  ensuing  annual  conference,  when  he  was  received  on 
trial.  . . . Having  earnestly  sought  and  obtained 

the  blessing  of  ‘perfect  love,’  he  gloried  only  in  the  cross 
of  Christ,  by  which  he  was  crucified  to  the  world,  and  the 
world  to  him.  His  personal  experience  of  God’s  sancti- 
fying  grace  was  professed  with  evidences  of  deep  humil- 
ity, and  often  was  he  heard  to  say,  with  strong  emotion, 

*J.  W.  Wilson — Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh.  Appointments:  1842,  Napoli  (supply);  1843,  Quincy; 

1844,  Wesleyville;  1845-’46,  Wattsburg;  1847,  Spring  Creek  Mis- 
sion; 1848,  Mayville;  1849-’50,  Springfield;  1851-’52,  Harrisville; 
1853-’54,  Salem;  1855,  Girard,  Pa.;  1856-’57,  Springfield;  1858, 
Waterford;  1859,  McKean;  1860,  Fairview;  1861,  Albion;  1862-’63, 
Edinboro;  1864-’65,  Columbus  and  Corry;  1866,  supernumerary; 
1867,  Petroleum  Center;  1868,  Wattsburg;  1869,  Beaver  Dam; 
1870,  Agent  Lake  Shore  Seminary;  1871,  Columbus;  1872,  Rock- 
land; 1873-’74,  Centerville,  Crawford  Co.;  1875,  Fairview;  1876- 
’77,  Spartansburg;  1878,  Garland  and  Spring  Creek;  1879,  Corry; 
1880-’81,  Panama;  1882-’84,  Columbus  and  North  Corry;  1885, 
Spring  Creek;  1886-’95,  superannuated;  1891,  Wrightsville  (sup- 
ply); 1895,  Mountain  (supply);  1896,  Russell;  1897-1907,  superan- 
nuated; present  residence,  Corry,  Pa. 


130 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


L 


‘But  for  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  I could  never 
have  been  accepted ! 

“In  his  preaching  he  was  plain,  pointed,  and  often 
powerful.  His  fearless  denunciations  of  error  and  vice 
were  frequently  terrible.  But  the  apparent  severity  of 
his  ministrations  has  been  aptly  compared  to  the  ‘light- 
ning from  heaven,  which  makes  holy  what  it  scathes.’ 
W hen  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  had  pierced,  our  brother 
had  a balm  for  the  wounded  heart.  He  had  skill  to  point 
the  penitent  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  remove  the  doubts 
and  still  the  fears  of  those  to  whom  he  sustained  the 
relation  of  spiritual  adviser.  . . . His  short  sick- 

ness was  borne  with  uncomplaining  patience,  and  great 
were  the  heavenly  consolations  afforded  him  in  his  hours 
of  bodily  suffering.  His  attachments  were  strong,  and 
he  felt  the  severance  of  many  tender  ties;  but  he  had 
sought  a better  country  and  knew  well  that  to  die  was 
gain.  A death  so  peaceful  and  triumphant  as  his  is  a 
priceless  legacy  for  the  church  and  the  loved  ones  he 
has  left  to  sorrow,  but  not  as  those  who  have  no  hope.”* 
— (Minutes  of  Conference,  Vol.  V 1852,  pp.  86-8 7.) 

George  W.  Maltby. 

George  W.  Maltby  became  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  born  in  Ashtabula, 
Ohio,  July  28,  1823.  He  was  blessed  with  Christian 
parents,  and  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting  on  the 
Kingsville  Charge  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1843.  “Mr.  Maltby  was  a tall,  stout-built  young  man, 
with  light  complexion  and  hair ; was  moderate  and  digni- 
fied in  his  movements,  social  and  manly  in  his  manners, 
and  possessed  talents  for  preaching  of  more  than  ordin- 
ary promise,  which  have  been  carefully  improved  by 
close  application  to  study.  After  several  years  spent  in  the 
ministry  he  was  stationed  in  Meadville  and  vicinity  a few 
years,  during  which  time  he  completed  the  entire  college 
course  of  studies,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  Allegheny 


♦Reuben  Edwards — Licensed  to  preach,  1842;  admitted  on 
trial,  1843;  full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder, 
1847,  Janes;  deceased,  Warren,  Pa.,  September  27,  1852.  Ap- 
pointments; 1843,  Wesley ville;  1844,  Mayville;  1845,  Harmony; 


George  W . Maltby.  13 1 

College;  since  which  time  he  has  ranked  among  the  first 
and  most  influential  men  of  the  conference,  filling  our 
best  appointments  acceptably  and  usefully.” — ( Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II.,  p.  210.) 

“Brother  Maltby  was  a grand  specimen  of  well-round- 
ed Christian  character.  From  the  time  of  his  conversion 
to  his  death  there  had  been  a steady,  systematic  unfold- 
ing, not  of  brilliant,  versatile  powers,  but  of  strong,  prac- 
tical piety.  Nature,  grace  and  persistent  effort  united  in 
forming  a noble  manhood.  A fine  form,  a vigorous  con- 
stitution, a well-balanced  mind,  a large  heart  full  of  gen- 
erous impulses,  a firm  will  and  moral  powers  early  awak- 
ened and  ever  active,  were  among  the  things  that  made 
his  life  eminently  successful. 

“As  a preacher  he  was  strong,  logical  and  convincing, 
yet  tender  and  persuasive;  sometimes  bearing  down  all 
opposition  with  his  clear  arguments,  at  other  times  thrill- 
ing his  audience  by  his  fervid  exhortations  to  righteous- 
ness, or  by  the  affectionate  pleadings  of  Calvary  con- 
straining the  thoughts  of  his  hearers  to  Christ.  In  each 
of  his  fields  of  labor  souls  were  converted  by  his  ministry. 
As  a pastor  he  was  faithful  to  every  interest  of  the 
church.  In  the  home  of  wealth  or  cabin  of  poverty — 
wherever  good  was  to  be  done — he  sought  entrance  and 
won  souls  to  Christ.  He  was  a safe  adviser  of  the  young ; 
a wise  counsellor  and  example  to  his  flock.  In  confer- 
ence his  brethren  trusted  him ; he  had  become  one  of  our 
recognized  leaders.  He  was  elected  a delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  of  1868.  He  was  elected  also  a 
member  of  the  Book  Committee.  For  years  he  had  been 
a member  of  the  Board  of  Control  of  Allegheny  College. 
In  his  home  life  he  was  affectionate,  yet  firm,  ruling  in 
love,  and  dispensing  a generous  hospitality  to  all  who 
came  within  his  house.  In  the  various  spheres  occupied 
by  him  he  nobly  performed  his  part,  leaving  on  all  the 
impress  of  a Christian  manhood.  His  last  sickness  was 
intensely  painful,  but  borne  uncomplainingly.  He  be- 
lieved it  his  last  mortal  struggle,  and  through  grace  was 
more  than  conqueror,  joyfully  testifying,  ‘Jesus  fully  and 
sweetly  saves  me  now.”* 

*G.  W.  Maltby — Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847, 
Janes;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  March  27,  1875.  Appointments: 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


John  A.  Young/  Joseph  Uncles,  Milo  Butler. 

“Rev.  John  A.  Young-  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Pa.,  June  18,  1815,  and  became  a subject  of  converting 
grace  and  power  in  Springfield,  Summit  County,  Ohio, 
Dec.  25,  1832.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  quarterly 
meeting  conference  of  the  Middlebury  Circuit  in  1842, 
and  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  ses- 
sion in  1843.  Mr-  Young  was  a tall,  stout,  athletic  man, 
with  a good  constitution  for  labor  of  any  kind ; was  also 
possessed  of  a large  degree  of  mental  power  and  religious 
zeal,  and  with  proper  culture  might  have  made  a suc- 
cessful Methodist  preacher.  For  what  cause  we  know 
not,  he  soon  retired  to  the  local  ranks,  where  he  has  tried 
to  make  himself  useful  in  that  work.”* — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  210- 
211.) 

Joseph  Uncles  was  born  in  Ann  Arundel  County,  Md., 
February  17,  1812.  His  father  dying  when  he  was  quite 
young  he  was  apprenticed  to  a shoemaker  near  Ellicott’s 
Mills.  He  purchased  one  year  or  more  of  his  time  in 
order  to  secure  an  education.  It  is  believed  that  he  was 
converted  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age  at  McKend- 
ree’s  Chapel,  Howard  County,  Md.  For  some  time 
thereafter  he  pursued  his  studies  and  taught  in  Eastern 
Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Meadville  in  1834  and  en- 
tered Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1838.  The  following  year  he  married  Miss  Agnes  Smith, 
of  Meadville,  who  became  a devoted  companion  and  ef- 
ficient helpmeet  in  all  his  labors  and  trials.  He  taught 
in  Madison  College  and  elsewhere  until  1843,  when  he 
was  admitted  to  the  itinerant  ministry  in  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  labored  until  1854,  when  he  was  prostrated 
by  disease  and  superannuated.  He  received  his  baptism 
of  suffering  and  entered  upon  a more  ripened  Christian 
experience.  After  two  years,  though  still  in  poor  health, 

1843,  Hubbard;  1844,  Parkman;  1845-’46,  Poland;  1847,  Middle- 
bury; 1848,  Chardon;  1849-’50,  Windham;  1851-’52,  Morgan;  1853, 
Windsor;  1854-’55,  Warren,  O.;  1856-’57,  Meadville;  1858-’59, 
Saegertown;  1860-’61,  Youngstown;  1862,  Painesville;  1863-’66, 
Jamestown  District;  1867-’70,  Meadville  District;  1871-73,  New 
Castle;  1874,  East  Cleveland. 

*J.  A.  Young — Licensed  to  preach,  1842;  admitted  on  trial,  1843; 
discontinued  at  his  own  request,  1845.  Appointments:  1843, 

Sheridan;  1844,  Napoli. 


. John  A.  Young , Joseph  Uncles , Milo  Butler.  133 


he  received  a charge  which  proved  to  be  his  last.  It  was 

at  Sharon,  Pa.,  where  he  closed  his  ministerial  labors. 
“At  the  session  of  the  conference  in  Meadville,  July, 
1858,  he  mingled  with  his  brethren  for  the  last  time.  We 
all  saw,  with  hearts  full  of  tenderest  sympathy,  that  our 
brother  had  finished  his  course.  For  only  a little  time 
was  he  to  be  superannuated ; before  the  next  annual  gath- 
ering of  the  toil-worn  leaders  of  our  Israel  he  should 
put  on  immortal  youth  and  mingle  in  the  throng  of  vic- 
tors crowned  at  Immanuel’s  feet.  Of  all  this  we  felt  as- 
sured, and  our  sympathies  were  not  wholly  painful. 
Meadville,  the  scene  of  his  youthful  toils  and  triumphs, 
and  of  his  maturer  discipline,  the  place  where  clustered 
his  holiest  memories  and  deepest  joys,  was  to  be  the  Oli- 
vet of  his  departure.  Returning,  after  a few  weeks  spent 
in  reunion  with  old  friends  in  places  not  far  distant,  he 
quietly  arranged  his  temporal  affairs  and  gave  himself 
up  patiently  to  suffer  and  wait  the  Master’s  bidding.  The 
days  of  waiting  were  few,  but  full  of  untold  interest,  of 
seasons  of  Christian  communion  never  to  be  forgotten. 
In  the  afternoon  of  November  12,  1858,  the  hours  had 
fully  come — over  the  dying  couch  heaven  bowed  itself  to 
earth  and  received  the  weary  itinerant  home.” 

Mr.  Gregg  says : “Mr.  Uncles  was  medium  in  height, 

but  rather  slender,  and  very  well  appearing.  He  pos- 
sessed good  mental  powers  and  preaching  abilities,  and 
continued  the  habit,  long  previously  formed,  of  close  ap- 
plication to  study.  He  soon  built  up  a reputation  for 
piety,  intelligence  and  ministerial  ability  and  usefulness, 
which,  modest  as  he  was,  introduced  him  to  a good  class 
of  appointments,  and  secured  for  him  the  high  esteem 
of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.”* 

The  General  Minutes  contain  a beautiful  tribute  to  the 
character  and  worth  of  Milo  Butler:  “Brother  Butler 

was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  as  a quiet,  refined 
Christian  gentleman.  As  a preacher  he  was  clear,  scrip- 

♦ Joseph  Uncles — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  elder,  1847, 
Janes;  deceased,  Meadville,  Pa.,  November  12,  1858.  Appoint- 
ments: 1843,  Clarksville;  1844-’45,  Randolph;  1846,  Forestville 

and  Villenovia;  1847,  Portland;  1848,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1849, 
Sheridan;  1850,  Silver  Creek;  1851-’52,  North  East;  1853,  Paines- 
ville;  1854-’55,  superannuated;  1856,  West  Middlesex;  1857,  Shar- 
on; 1858,  superannuated. 


J34 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tural  and  practical,  but  always  tender  and  impressive. 
It  was  evident  to  all  who  heard  him  that  he  preached 
Jesus  as  he  knew  Him,  and  because  he  knew  Him.  He 
loved  to  preach ; and  even  with  failing  strength  and  en- 
feebled body  he  loved  to  tell  the  story  of  a Savior’s  love. 
The  internal  life  shone  out  in  all  his  sermons;  there  was 
no  superfluity  of  words  or  gestures;  he  uttered  in  mild 
but  earnest  tones  things  beautiful  and  forcible,  and  suc- 
cess followed  in  conversions  and  revivals  during  all  his 
ministry.  In  his  home  life  the  affections  were  always 
bright  and  sweet,  combined  with  great  meekness  and 
simplicity.  He  maintained  in  his  spirit  the  freshness  of 
perpetual  youth,  and  was  full  of  a great  contentment 
which  was  like  the  dawn  of  the  coming  heaven.’’ — (Min- 
utes of  Conference , Vol.  XXVIII .,  1888 , p.  360.) 

Mr.  Butler  was  transferred  to  the  Illinois  Conference 
in  1851,  where  he  was  eleven  years  effective.  He  had 
labored  eight  years  in  the  Erie  Conference,  having  been 
received  on  trial  in  1843.  Lte  was  three  times  superan- 
nuated, bracing  himself  up  once  and  again  for  active 
service.  In  1869  he  retired  permanently,  moved  to  Shel- 
bina,  Mo.,  where  the  good  angel  called  for  him  Novem- 
ber 12,  1887.  He  was  born  in  Pompey,  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  8,  1808;  hence  he  had  just 
entered  his  eightieth  year.  His  license  to  preach  was 
dated  June  22,  1839,  eight  years  subsequent  to  his  con- 
version.* 

Leander  W.  Ely. 

Leander  W.  Ely  was  born  at  Middlefield,  Hampshire 
County,  Mass.,  April  7,  1815.  He  came  west  with  his 
parents  in  1817.  They  settled  in  Bainbridge,  Geauga 
County,  Ohio,  where  Leander  was  early  put  to  work  as- 
sisting in  clearing  and  cultivating  the  farm.  He  had 
“but  a small  margin  of  time  and  means  for  mental  im- 

*Milo  Butler — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1843;  full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1843,  Soule;  elder,  1845, 
Hamline;  transferred  to  Illinois  Conference,  1851;  deceased, 
Shelbina,  Mo.,  November  12,  1887.  Appointments:  1843,  New- 

burg;  1844-’45,  Middlebury;  1846-’47,  Chardon;  1848,  Warren,  O.; 
1849-’50,  Braceville;  1851,  Quincy,  111.;  1852-’53,  Columbus,  111.; 
1854,  Griggsville,  111.;  1855-’56,  Perry  Circuit,  111.;  1857,  Win- 
chester, 111.;  1858,  Urbana,  111.;  1859-’60,  superannuated;  1861-’62, 
Paxton,  111.;  1863-’67,  superannuated;  1868,  Beverly,  111.;  1869-’87, 
superannuated. 


Leander  W . Ely . 


135 


provement ; and  a peculiar  constitutional  diffidence,  which 
has  clung  to  him  through  life,  prevented  him  from  mak- 
ing a thorough  improvement  of  such  opportunities  as 
were  afforded  him.  Though  early  a subject  of  deep 
conviction  and  serious  thoughts,  with  faint  presentiments 
of  ministerial  duty  in  coming  life,  he  did  not  embrace 
religion  until  the  autumn  of  1836,  when  he  became  pow- 
erfully awakened  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  J.  K. 
Hallock,  and  was  soon  after  converted  and  united  with 
the  same  class  his  parents  had  joined  in  1822,  when  first 
formed.  Soon  after  this  commenced  a terrible  mental 
conflict  between  his  consciousness  of  duty  and  his  un- 
yielding timidity.  But  grace  and  the  voice  of  the  church 
came  to  the  rescue,  and  he  accepted  a license  to  preach, 
given  him  by  the  Twinsburg  quarterly  conference  in 
1840,  Rev.  John  Chandler,  presiding  elder.  He  was  em- 
ployed by  the  elder  one  or  two  years,  during  which  time 
and  indeed  for  several  years  after  he  was  received  into 
the  conference,  he  was  greatly  embarrassed  by  timidity. 
Not  daring  to  look  a congregation  in  the  face,  he  formed 
a habit  which  has  followed  him  through  life,  of  looking 
down  upon  the  floor  when  preaching.  He  was  tall  and 
slim,  with  large  features,  spoke  too  low  at  the  com- 
mencement and  too  high  at  the  close  of  his  sermons.  He 
possessed  a mind  of  more  than  ordinary  strength,  was 
well  read  in  theology,  a close  thinker,  and  cogent  reason- 
er.  If  a little  more  sociable  and  familiar  he  would  have 
been  much  more  popular  as  a preacher/’ — (Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  20J- 
208.) 

Mr.  Ely  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Loretta  N., 
daughter  of  Rev.  Ira  Eddy,  a preacher  of  pioneer  fame, 
June  24,  1847.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1843,  and  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization  in  1876.  He  was 
superannuated  in  1882,  but  continued  to  labor  as  his 
strength  would  permit  until  the  end,  which  came  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  May  8,  1887.  He  was  a good  man. 
His  life  was  one  of  great  fidelity,  and  his  end  peace.* 


*L.  W.  Ely — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial,  1843; 
full  connection,  1845;  deacon,  1845,  Hamline;  located,  1846;  re- 
admitted, 1850;  elder,  1851,  Morris;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Paines- 
ville,  O.,  May  8,  1887.  Appointments:  1843,  Middlebury;  1844, 


136 


History  of  Erie  Conference.  m 
Revivals. 


Edwin  Hull,  traveling  the  Oil  Creek  Circuit,  gives  his 
idea  of  a revival.  He  says:  “We  have  held  some  extra, 

meetings  at  different  places  in  this  charge  with  good  suc- 
cess. We  have  expelled  four  for  immorality;  laid  aside 
for  breach  of  rules,  six ; dropped  some  that  were  on  trial ; 
formed  four  new  classes;  received  thirty  into  full  mem- 
bership, and  eighty  have  joined  on  trial.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  February  28,  1844.) 

J.  M.  Plant  and  A.  G.  Miller,  writing  from  Franklin, 
Pa.,  say:  “We  have  the  happiness  to  announce  to  the 

friends  of  Zion  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  God  has 
visited  the  Hendersonville  Circuit  with  a gracious  revival 
of  His  work.  We  have  held  several  protracted  meetings, 
and  at  all  of  them  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  has  been 
with  us,  and  we  have  seen  signal  displays  of  His  power. 
Sinners  have  been  convicted,  mourners  have  been  com- 
forted, and  the  old  veterans  of  the  cross  have  been  great- 
ly refreshed.  One  hundred  and  fifty-five  persons  have 
joined  the  church  as  probationers.  A large  number  of 
them  promise  great  usefulness  to  the  church. 
Notwithstanding  the  hard  times,  we  expect  in  a few 
weeks  to  commence  building  a very  good  meeting  house 
40x50  feet,  in  the  neighborhood  of  John  Henderson’s. 
We  have  already  on  subscription  near  seven  hundred 
dollars,  and  we  expect  to  get  three  or  four  hundred  more. 
On  February  19  we  commenced  a protracted  meeting  in 
Hendersonville  in  a large,  commodious  and  well-fur- 
nished house,  which  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God 
on  the  second  day  of  July  last.  This  house  stands  as  a 
monument  of  the  enterprise  and  benevolence  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  place  and  surrounding  country. 

“God  has  been  with  us  at  this  meeting  in  great  power. 
The  altar  has  been  crowded  with  penitent  souls  almost 
every  evening  for  more  than  two  weeks.  Many  of  them 

Chagrin  Falls;  1845,  Chardon;  1850,  Geneva;  1851,  Edinburg; 
1852-’53,  Franklin,  O.;  1854-’55,  Twinsburg;  1856,  Newburg;  1857, 
Northampton;  1858-59,  Rootstown;  1860-’61,  Girard,  Pa.;  1862, 
West  Farmington;  1863-’64,  Gustavus;  1865,  New  Wilmington, 
(did  not  go  to  bis  appointment);  1866,  Bazetta;  1867,  Bazetta 
and  Johnson;  1868-’69,  Girard  and  Liberty;  1870,  supernumerary; 
1871,  Southampton;  1872,  Baconsburg;  1873,  supernumerary; 
1874-’76,  Twinsburg  and  Hudson;  1877-’78,  Mentor;  1879,  Madi- 
son; 1880,  Madison  and  Union ville;  1881-’86,  superannuated. 


Revivals. 


137 


have  had  a new  song  put  into  their  mouths,  even  praises 
to  God.  Thirty-seven  have  joined  the  church  as  proba- 
tioners, and  we  believe  more  will  when  opportunity  is 
given.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  22, 

1843-) 

There  is  good  news  from  Braceville  Circuit.  Lorenzo 
Rogers  and  Thomas  B.  Tait  write:  “Some  more  than 

five  hundred  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit  from  above. 
We  have  received  three  hundred  and  forty-one  into  the 
church  and  the  glorious  work  is  still  going  on.  Brother 
Robinson,  of  the  Warren  station,  has  labored  with  us  in 
his  usual  spirit  a long  time,  and  we  doubt  not  that  many 
in  the  day  of  eternity  will  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed 
from  this  field  of  labor.  Brother  Heaton,  a local  preacher 
of  this  circuit,  rendered  us  great  assistance  in  our  work. 
Our  extra  labors  commenced  on  the  last  evening  of  1842, 
at  the  center  of  Braceville.  We  continued  in  that  place 
four  weeks,  and  then  removed  to  Newton  Falls,  it  being 
the  time  of  our  second  quarterly  meeting.  Brother 
Kinsley,  our  presiding  elder,  was  with  us,  and  on  Satur- 
day dedicated  our  new  Methodist  house  to  the  worship 
of  God,  a neat  little  building  38x40.  From  this  place 
we  went  to  the  center  of  Windham  and  commenced  a 
protracted  meeting  which  terminated  gloriously.  We 
have  also  had  a meeting  at  the  center  of  Southington, 
and  at  McClintocksburg.  In  all  of  the  above  named 
places,  the  power  of  God  has  been  displayed  in  the  con- 
version of  many  precious  souls. 

“At  Windham  we  have  a society  of  ninety-one  mem- 
bers where  there  was  no  Methodist  society  until  the  past 
winter;  we  are  also  building  a meeting  house  in  this 
place ; we  have  raised  more  than  two  thousand  dollars 
on  subscription,  and  the  workers  are  at  it.  What  can- 
not the  Lord  do?  To  His  name  be  all  the  glory  for- 
ever.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  12 , 1843.) 

Samuel  Gregg  writes  from  Painesville,  Ohio,  under 
date  of  June  25,  1843  : “About  the  first  of  December 

last  a revival  commenced  in  Willoughby,  which  spread 
in  quick  succession  to  every  appointment  on  this  beauti- 
ful and  interesting  charge.  The  flame  continued  to 
brighten  and  spread  for  about  four  months,  penetrating 
to  the  most  hardened  hearts,  and  consuming:  the  most 
palpable  errors  that  can  poison  human  society. 


138 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


“At  Painesville  about  ninety  were  added  to  the  church. 
Mentor,  a stronghold  of  Campbellism,  was  powerfully 
shaken.  Our  society  and  strength  in  that  place  have 
nearly  doubled. 

“Even  Kirtland,  poor,  forsaken  Kirtland,  overrun  with 
Mormonism  like  Egypt  with  locusts,  was  not  forgotten. 
We  now  have  a society  of  about  forty  members  that 
worship  beneath  the  very  brow  of  iniquity.  And  sev- 
eral of  the  deluded  followers  of  Smith  and  Rigdon  have 
burst  their  chains  and  are  now  'clothed  and  in  their  right 
mind.’  ” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Adovcate , July  12,  1843.) 

At  the  session  of  the  conference  in  1843  the  following 
resolution,  signed  by  John  Bain  and  Hiram  Kinsley,  was 
adopted : “Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  con- 
ference instrumental  music  in  our  churches  is  incompat- 
ible with  our  discipline  on  the  subject  of  singing,  and  al- 
ways to  be  discountenanced.'’ — (Manuscript  Journal  of 
the  Eric  Conference , Vol.  I.,  1843,  P • T42-)  The 

churches  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  and  a 
few  others  had  introduced  instrumental  music.  In  1845 
the  conference  passed  the  following:  “Resolved,  That 

preachers  be  required  to  discourage  the  use  of  instru- 
mental music  in  the  performance  of  public  worship.” 

“The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  at 
an  early  day,  probably  prior  to  1840,  in  the  southern 
part  of  New  Vernon  township.  A great  revival  occurred 
in  a school  house  in  the  neighborhood  in  1843,  resulting 
in  securing  twentythree  members  to  the  congregation. 
In  1849,  at  the  suggestion  of  Robert  Beatty,  a 
meeting  house  was  erected,  he  assisting  in  the  work. 
The  first  members  of  this  congregation  embraced  James 
Boyd  and  wife,  Thomas  Boyd  and  wife,  George  Forbes 
and  wife,  Joseph  Boyd,  George  Burrows  and  wife,  and 
Mary  Forbes.  James  Boyd  was  the  first  class  leader.” — 
(History  of  Mercer  County , Brown , Runk  & Co.,  1888, 

P-  5&2') 

A house  of  worship  was  erected  at  Lordstown,  Ells- 
worth Circuit,  Ohio,  under  the  labors  of  Lewis  Clark  and 
R.  M.  Bear,  in  1843. 

The  Tracy  Methodist  class  is  in  the  southern  part  of 
Vernon  township.  Work  on  the  building  was  commenced 
in  1843.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  1846.  The  class 
had  been  organized  some  years  prior,  and  services  held  in 


Revivals. 


139 


the  house  of  John  Tracy  and  elsewhere.  Among  the 
leading  members  were  David  Tracy,  John  Tracy  and 
Joseph  Kycenceder. — (History  of  Crawford  County , 
Warner , Beers  & Co.,  1883,  p.  684.) 

The  modest  little  church  called  the  Skelton  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  built  in  1843  at  a cost  of  $600; 
and  the  same  year  a class  of  twenty-five  members  was 
•formed,  the  most  prominent  of  whom  were:  William 

Scott,  Jacob  Wood,  Jacob  Blystone  and  Christian  Bly- 
stone.  Services  were  held  for  about  fifteen  years,  when 
the  class  became  so  reduced  by  deaths  and  removals  that 
it  was  considered  wise  to  sell  the  building.  It  was 
bought  by  the  cemetery  association.  The  church  required 
the  reservation  that  the  privilege  to  worship  therein 
should  be  granted  to  all  religious  denominations.  Under 
the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Vance,  of  the  CambridgeCircuit,  the 
class  was  reorganized. — (History  of  Crawford  County, 
Warner,  Beers  & Co.,  1883,  p.  6j8.) 


MSB 


HARD  AT  WORK.  1844-1849. 

WHO  ARE  HOMER  H.  MOORE  AND 

RICHARD  A.  CARUTHERS? 

AND  WHO  IS  JOHN  PEATE? 

The  Ninth  Session. 


The  ninth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  commencing  July  23,  1844,  under  the 
presidency  of  Bishop  Beverly  Waugh.  Alfred  G.  Sturgis 
was  elected  secretary  and  William  F.  Wilson,  assistant 
secretary. 

The  session  of  the  General  Conference  of  1844  had 
been  a stormy  one.  Bishop  J.  O.  Andrew  was  suspended 
from  his  office  until  he  should  free  himself  from  the  en- 
tanglements of  slavery.  As  a result  the  southern  mem- 
bers had  made  it  known  that  they  and  the  constituency 
they  represented  might  consider  it  to  be  their  duty  to 
withdraw  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  ef- 
fect a separate  organization;  and,  in  such  case,  would 
claim  their  fair  share  of  the  property  invested  in  the  Book 
Concerns  of  New  York  and  Cincinnati.  The  General 
Conference  had  provided  a “plan”  for  the  division  of  the 
territory,  in  case  the  Methodists  of  the  south  should  sepa- 
rate from  us,  but  could  provide  no  legal  plan  for  the  di- 
vision of  the  property.  A resolution  was  introduced  in 
the  Erie  Conference  recommending  that  the  annual  con- 
ferences and  the  General  Conference,  by  the  constitutional 
method  should  so  change  the  restrictive  rule  as  to  au- 
thorize an  equitable  division  of  the  property  to  be  made. 
The  resolution  was  passed  by  a vote  of  86  to  26;  but  it 
failed  in  other  conferences.  G.  B.  Hawkins  resigned  the 
principalship  of  Juliet  Academy,  and  the  trustees  em- 


10 


142  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ployed  Martin  R.  Atkins  who  served  the  institution  sev- 
eral years. 

The  following  persons  were  received  on  trial : Hiram 

W.  Beers,  John  Wrigglesworth,  Samuel  W.  Foljambe, 
Thomas  H.  Cummings,  Josiah  Hildebrand,  and  James  B. 
Hammond. 

J.  K.  Hallock  and  Stephen  Hubbard  were  supernumer- 
aries. 

John  Chandler  was  transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference. 

Moses  Elkins,  J.  P.  Benn,  Theodore  Stowe,  and  J.  W. 
Clock  located. 

W.  B.  Lloyd,  James  Gillmore,  Thomas  Carr,  L.  D. 
Mix,  R.  A.  Ayl worth,  L.  D.  Prosser,  Goodwin  Stoddard, 
and  Caleb  Brown  were  the  superannuates. 

H.  J.  Moore  “was  deprived  of  his  ministerial  charac- 
ter"— having  left  his  work  without  consent.  His  name 
does  not  appear  in  the  “General  Minutes.”* 

♦Appointments  for  1844:  Ravenna  District,  Billings  O.  Plimp- 

ton, presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  B.  K.  Maltby;  Cleveland,  Samuel 
Gregg;  Akron,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Middlebury,  Aurora  Callender,  Milo 
Butler;  Painesville,  Albina  Hall,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Chagrin  Falls, 
D.  M.  Stearns,  L.  W.  Ely,  J.  K.  Hallock,  sup.;  Franklin,  W.  H. 
Hunter,  M.  H.  Bettes;  Newburg,  J.  E.  Aikin,  C.  P.  Henry;  Twins- 
burg,  Henry  Elliott,  Wareham  French,  Albert  Norton;  Chardon, 
Ira  Eddy,  Peter  Burroughs,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Dillon 
Prosser;  S.  C.  Thomas,  Agent  for  Allegheny  College.  Warren 
District,  John  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  J.  W.  Lowe; 
Braceville,  J.  J.  Steadman,  Stephen  Heard;  Nelson,  Allen  Fouts; 
Mesopotamia,  Joseph  Leslie,  W.  W.  Maltby;  Windsor,  J.  H. 
Whallon;  Parkman,  Ahab  Keller,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Freedom,  Loren- 
zo Rogers,  Alden  Walker,  Stephen  Hubbard,  sup.;  Edinburg, 
Lewis  Clark,  E.  B.  Lane;  Ellsworth,  Samuel  Leech,  Hiram  Kel- 
logg; Poland,  Thomas  Stubbs,  S.  C.  Frear;  Youngstown,  B.  S.  Hill; 
Hubbard,  P.  D.  Horton,  S.  W.  Foljambe;  Hartford,  Asahel  Reeves, 
A.  L.  Miller.  Meadville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder; 
Meadville,  A.  G.  Sturgis;  Conneautville,  J.  M.  Plant,  R.  M.  Bear: 
Saegertown,  John  Crum;  Rockville,  John  Graham,  Fortes  Morse; 
Williamsfield,  W.  F.  Wilson,  John  Scott;  Morgan,  Ira  Norris, 
T.  B.  Tait;  Geneva,  Moses  Hill,  David  Preston;  Ashtabula,  John 
Luccock,  Rufus  Parker;  Gustavus,  J.  O.  Rich,  John  Demming; 
Salem,  William  Patterson,  H.  D.  Cole,  John  Bain,  Agent  for  Alle- 
gheny College.  Erie  District,  Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding  elder; 
Erie,  Calvin  Kingsley;  McKean,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Spring- 
field,  Josiah  Flower,  D.  C.  Richey;  Wesleyville,  J.  O.  Wood,  J. 
W.  Wilson;  North  East,  J.  F.  Hill;  Quincy  and  Westfield,  John 
Prosser,  H.  W.  Beers;  Mayville,  Alvin  Burgess,  R.  J.  Edwards; 
Harmony,  T.  D.  Blinn,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Wattsburg,  R.  J.  Sibley, 
Daniel  Pritchard;  Columbus,  O.  P.  Brown;  A.  G.  Miller,  Agent 
for  Allegheny  College.  Jamestown  District,  Darius  Smith,  pre- 
siding elder;  Jamestown,  G.  W.  Clarke,  A.  M.  Reed;  Randolph, 


Several  Preachers. 


143 


Several  Preachers. 

Josiah  Hildebrand — we  cannot  tell  whether  his  name 
was  Isaiah  or  Josiah;  Gregg  has  Josiah  on  one  page,  and 
Isaiah  on  the  next;  Josiah  seems  to  have  the  advantage  af- 
ter he  transferred  to  the  Baltimore  Conference — came 
from  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  where  he  had  two  brothers, 
members  of  the  Baltimore  Conference.  He  was  a young 
man  of  excellent  character,  and  of  fairly  good  education 
and  pulpit  ability.  He  withdrew  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1849,  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Protestant  Methodist  Church,  but  was  re-admitted  to  the 
Baltimore  Conference  in  1852.  His  further  course  is 
traced  in  the  margin.* 

Hiram  W.  Beers  was  born  in  Wesleyville,  Erie  Co., 
Pa.,  and  was  there  converted  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1844.  He  located  in  1853,  and  af- 
terward withdrew  from  the  connection,  and  joined  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  served  various  parishes 
in  and  near  Chicago  as  rector. 

Joseph  Uncles,  one  to  be  supplied;  Napoli,  D.  W.  Vorse,  J.  A. 
Young;  Gerry,  W.  W.  Lake,  T.  H.  Cummings;  Ellington,  S.  A. 
Henderson;  Forestville,  Niram  Norton;  Villenovia,  W.  S.  Wor- 
rallo,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Sheridan,  Isaac  Scofield,  Alexander  Bar- 
ris;  Fredonia,  Thomas  Graham;  Portland,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Warren, 
J.  E.  Chapin;  Youngsville,  H.  S.  Hitchcock;  Kinzua,  Alva  Wilder. 
Franklin  District,  John  Robinson,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  H. 
N.  Stearns;  Cooperstown,  John  Abbott;  Oil  Creek,  Edwin  Hull, 
I.  H.  Tackitt;  Henderson,  William  Monks,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Clin- 
tonville,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  John  Van  Horn;  Shippenville,  I.  C.  T. 
McClelland,  Hiram  Luce;  Forest,  J.  W.  Davis,  John  Wriggles- 
worth;  Clarion,  J.  W.  Hill,  D.  H.  Jack;  Red  Bank,  Samuel 
Churchill,  J.  K.  Coxon;  Luthersburg,  Thomas  Benn,  Josiah  Hilde- 
brand; Mercer,  Israel  Mershon,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Greenville  and 
Clarksville,  J.  R.  Locke,  H.  S.  Winans;  New  Castle,  John  Mc- 
Lean, J.  E.  Bassett. 

* Josiah  Hildebrand — Admitted  on  trial,  1844;  full  connection, 
1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1848,  Hamline;  withdrew  from 
ministry  and  membership,  1849.  Afterwards  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  but  was  received  again  into 
the  Baltimore  Conference,  1852;  full  connection,  1854;  became  a 
member  of  East  Baltimore  Conference  at  its  organization,  1856; 
transferred  to  Baltimore  Conference,  1858;  located,  1860;  re- 
admitted, Missouri  and  Arkansas  Conference,  1865;  member  of 
Missouri  Conference  at  its  organization,  1868;  located,  1871.  Ap- 
pointments: 1844,  Luthersburg;  1845,  Clintonville  Mission; 

1846,  Harrisville;  1847,  Curllsville;  1848,  Rockville;  1852,  Karth- 
aus;  1853-’54,  Green  Bank;  1855,  Lewisburg  Circuit;  1856,  Hamp- 
stead Circuit  and  Gunpowder  Mission;  1857,  Hempstead;  1858, 
Allegheny;  1859,  Wardensville;  1865,  Memphis;  1866,  Athens; 
1867-’70,  supernumerary. 


144 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


It  would  be  interesting  to  follow  our  ministers  who 
left  us  to  labor  in  connection  with  other  religious  bodies, 
but  ouf  limits  will  not  permit.  Most  of  them  made  a 
noble  record,  and  exerted  a wholesome  influence,  infus- 
ing a new  spirit  and  effecting  a change  in  an  outgrown 
theology.  * 

James  B.  Hammond,  after  five  days  of  great  suffering, 
was  transferred  to  his  heavenly  home,  May  12,  1895.  He 
was  born  in  Cambridge,  New  York,  Oct.  5,  1819.  Con- 
verted in  his  youth,  while  attending  school  at  b arming- 
ton,  Ohio,  he  spent  two  years  in  teaching;  was  then  li- 
censed to  preach  and  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference. 
This  was  in  1844,  and  his  appointment  was  Villenovia, 
New  York.  He  fell  into  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at 
the  division.  He  was  thirty-five  years  effective ; was  su- 
pernumerary in  1874  and  1875,  and  superannuate  in  1876 
and  1877;  and  finally  superannuated  in  1883,  maintain- 
ing that  relation  until  the  close  of  his  life.  During  his 
honorable  retirement,  he  made  his  home  in  Saybrook  for 
a few  years,  and  then  with  his  family  , moved  to  Cleve- 
land where  he  lived  until  the  death  angel  called. f 

John  Wrigglesworth  was  born  in  Brandywine  Town- 
ship, Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  July  30,  1820.  He  joined  the 
church  as  a seeker  of  salvation  in  Curwensville,  August, 
1839;  in  1842  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  July,  1844.  He  was  or- 
dained deacon  by  Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris  in  1846,  and 

*H.  W.  Beers — Admitted  on  trial,  1844;  full  connection,  1846; 
deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1848,  Hamline;  located,  1853.  Ap- 
pointments: 1844,  Quincy;  1845-’46,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1847, 

Sheridan;  1848,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1849-’50,  North  East;  1851-’52, 
Westfield. 

tJ-  B.  Hammond — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
1844;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1848, 
Hamline;  became  a member  of  thfe  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  May  12,  1895.  Ap- 
pointments— 1844,  Villenovia;  1845,  Napoli;  1846-’47,  Kinzua; 
1848,  Wattsburg;  1849,  Hartford;  1850,  Williamsfield;  1851,  New 
Wilmington;  1852,  Waterford;  1853,  Youngsville;  1854,  Pleasant- 
ville;  1855,  Sinclairville;  1856,  Perrysburg;  1857-’58,  Mayfield; 
1859-’60,  Canfield  and  Berlin;  1861-’62,  Franklin  and  Hudson; 
1863-’64,  Charleston;  1865,  Huntsburg  and  Claridon;  1866-’67, 
Troy;  1868-’69,  Euclid;  1870,  Saybrook;  1871-72,  Grand  River; 
1873,  Deerfield;  1874-75,  supernumerary;  1876-77,  superannu- 
ated; 1878,  Montville;  1879-’80,  Mayfield;  1881,  Mentor;  1882, 
Mechanicsville;  1883-’94,  superannuated. 


Several  Preachers. 


145 


elder  by  Bishop  Leonidas  L.  Hamline  in  1848.  Residing 
in  Ohio  when  the  East  Ohio  Conference  was  organized, 
he  became  a member  of  that  body. 

In  1845  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Bell,  of  Curwensville,  who  survives  him  in  feeble  old  age. 

He  was  in  effective  service  twenty-one  years,  two  years 
supernumerary,  and  thirty-six  years  superannuated.  He 
purchased  a farm  near  Rock  Creek,  O.,  on  which  he  lived 
until  he  sold  it  in  January,  1903,  when  he  returned  to 
Curwensville,  to  spend  his  last  days  among  relatives  and 
friends  of  his  earlier  years.  He  died  of  the  grippe  and 
erysipelas,  March  25,  1903,  at  the  home  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Joseph  L.  Dale,  where  the  funeral  was  held  March 
27.  The  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  near  by, 
to  await  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 

During  his  superannuation  he  officiated  at  more  than 
four  hundred  funerals.  He  was  as  innocent  and  harm- 
less as  a child;  he  was  sweet-spirited  and  saintly,  always 
having  a kind  word  for  everybody.  He  had  a strong 
mind,  was  a clear  thinker,  ripe  scholar,  and  eminently 
gifted  in  prayer.  An  upright  walk  and  chaste  conversa- 
tion characterized  his  whole  life,  so  that  he  enjoyed  the 
friendship,  respect  and  love  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  always  loyal  and  helpful,  and  an  inspiration  to  his 
pastor.  His  testimony  at  a love  feast  a little  while  be- 
fore his  death  was,  “I  am  doing  the  evening  chores  of 
life,  waiting  for  the  Master’s  call.”* 

Thomas  H.  Cummings  was  born  in  Leesburg,  Ohio, 
July  15,  1823:  and  fell  asleep  July  22,  1853.  The  house 
of  his  parents  was,  from  his  first  recollection,  a home  for 
the  ministers  of  Christ,  and  his  earliest  attachments  were 
for  those  who  loved  the  Savior.  From  a child  he  knew 
and  loved  the  holy  scriptures.  The  faith  in  which  he  lived 
and  died  dwelt  not  only  in  his  parents  but  his  grand-par- 


*John  Wrigglesworth — Licensed  to  preach,  1842;  admitted  on 
trial,  1844;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder, 
1848,  Hamline;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference 
at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  March  25,  1903.  Appoint- 
ments: 1844,  Forest;  1845,  Harrisville;  1846,  Luthersburg  Mis- 

sion; 1847,  Red  Bank;  1848-’49,  Shippenville;  1850,  Clinton ville; 
1851,  Brady’s  Bend;  1852,  Pleasantville;  1853,  Columbus;  1854, 
May  ville  and  Sherman;  1855-’56,  Portland;  1857,  Silver  Creek; 
1858,  Leon;  1859-’60,  Evansburg;  1861-’62,  Rockville;  1863,  Bloom- 
field and  Bristol;  1864,  Morgan;  1865-’66,  superannuated;  1867- 
’68,  supernumerary;  1869,  Mentor;  1870-1903,  superannuated. 


146  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ents  also,  and  some  of  the  brightest  lights  which  have 
shone  in  our  Zion  in  the  region  of  his  nativity  were  of  his 
kindred. 

Mr.  Cummings  found  religion  at  a camp-meeting  near 
Leesburg  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  from 
the  day  of  his  conversion  gave  evidence  of  his  usefulness 
in  the  church  of  Christ.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the 
spring  of  1844  and  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Con- 
ference at  its  next  session.  He  traveled  for  two  years 
and  a few  months  when  his  health  failed  and  he  returned 
home  in  a prostrate  condition.  He  preached  occasionally 
as  health  and  circumstances  would  permit  until  he  was 
attacked  with  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs. 

Mr.  Cummings  was  a man  of  superior  information.  As 
a temperance-  lecturer,  he  excelled,  and  many  rescued  from 
intemperance  through  his  influence  were  able  to  walk  in 
the  ways  of  sobriety  and  virtue.  He  was  a Grand  worthy 
Patriarch  in  the  state  of  Ohio  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  was  worthy  of  his  office,  but  his  crowning  grace  was 
religion.  He  was  a Christian  and  an  able  advocate  of 
the  divine  inspiration  of  the  holy  scriptures  and  their 
competency  to  make  man  wise  unto  salvation  through 
faith  in  Christ. 

His  death  occurred  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  his  last  words 
being  “all  is  well.” 

The  Carrollton  Press  in  its  issue  following  his  death 
says : “In  action,  in  word,  in  character,  with  the  world, 

the  church  and  social  circles,  publicly  and  privately  he  was 
a good  and  just  man.  As  a professed  Christian  he  was 
devotional  and  faithful ; as  a temperance  advocate  he  was 
enthusiastic  and  persevering;  as  a citizen  patriotic  and 
freedom  loving ; and  in  the  social  circle  he  was  kind,  ami- 
able and  pleasing,  hence  he  was  loved  in  all  his  inter- 
course with  others  during  his  whole  life.”*  - 

Samuel  W.  Foljambe  was  a native  of  England,  and 
was  educated  and  converted  in  the  land  of  his  nativity. 
Coming  to  the  United  States,  he  resided  for  some  time  at 
Franklin,  Ohio — now  Kent — where  he  received  license  to 
preach  and  from  which  he  was  recommended  to  the  Erie 

*T.  H.  Cummings — Admitted  on  trial,  1844;  full  connection, 
1846;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  located,  1848;  deceased,  Cleveland, 
O.,  July  23,  1853.  Appointments:  1844,  Gerry;  1845,  Forest- 

ville  and  Villenovia;  1846,  Sheridan;  1847,  supernumerary. 


The  Sunville  Circuit. 


14  7 


I Conference.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  1844,  and  two 

years  later  discontinued  because  of  “a  little  indiscretion.” 
He  “afterwards  preached  for  the  Wesleyans  and  Bap- 
tists.”* 

The  Centre  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized 
October  6,  1844,  with  the  following  members : John  Ad- 

ams, leader,  John  W.  Walker,  Margaret  Walker,  Daniel 
Reading,  Margaret  Reading,  David  Reagle,  Samuel  Gil- 
dersleeve,  Daniel  Herring,  Robert  Herring,  Calvin  Ward, 
Emily  Ward,  Reuben  Ward,  David  Simcox,  Adaline 
Simcox,  Amanda  Hill,  Hiram  Kimball,  Eliza  Kimball, 
and  Eleanor  Simcox,  many  of  whom  had  previously  con- 
nected with  Sandy  Creek  Church.  Services  were  held  in 
the  Adams  School  House  until  1859,  when  a frame 

I church  was  built  and  dedicated  by  G.  B.  Hawkins. — 

(History  of  Venango  County , Brown , Rank  & Co.,  1890, 

PP-  738,  739-) 

The  Sunville  Circuit. 

The  Sunville  Circuit  was  formed  in  1855,  and  Benja- 
min Marsteller  appointed  pastor.  The  charge  has  under- 
gone several  changes  since  its  organization.  Troy  Centre 
was  placed  on  the  Townville  Circuit,  and  East  Troy  on 
the  Hydetown.  At  a later  date  the  circuit  comprised  Sun- 
ville, Fairview,  Wallaceville,  East  Randolph,  and  Chap- 
manville. 

The  Fairview — the  oldest — class  was  organized  in  1836. 
Reuben  Peck  and  Daniel  Richey  were  the  circuit  preachers. 
There  were  eight  members : Samuel  Alcorn,  class-leader, 
John  Alcorn,  Elizabeth  Alcorn,  Mary  Alcorn,  William  Al- 
corn, Andrew  Alcorn,  Eliza  M.  Alcorn,  and  Rebecca  Al- 
corn— the  only  case  of  a class  of  so  many  members  being  all 
of  the  same  name.  A church  building  was  erected  in  1845 
under  the  pastorate  of  H.  S.  Winans.  “The  growth  of 
this  society  has  been  somewhat  moderate,  but  steady. 
There  has  been  no  sweeping  revival  as  in  many  places, 
yet  under  the  labors  of  Jonathan  Benn,  a local  preacher, 
father  of  Rev.  Thomas  Benn,  there  was  quite  an  in- 
gathering in  1842;  and,  again,  in  1861,  S.  S.  Stuntz  had 
a very  successful  work.”  A camp  meeting  was  held  in 
1841,  about  half  a mile  from  the  site  of  the  church,  at 

*S.  W.  Foljambe — Admitted  on  trial,  1844;  discontinued,  1846. 
Appointments — 1844,  Hubbard;  1845,  Nelson. 


148  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

which  D.  H.  Jack,  later  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
was  converted. 

The  Sunville  class  was  formed  in  1844  by  John  Ab- 
bott with  the  following  members : Miles  McAlevy,  Eliza- 
beth McAlevy,  George  McAlevy,  Martha  McAlevy,  James 
Burns,  Mary  Burns,  Samuel  Foster,  Margaret  Foster, 
Elizabeth  Foster,  Samuel  Batten,  and  Mary  Batten. 
George  McAlevy  was  leader  and  steward.  The  first 
meeting  house  was  built  in  1850;  and  a second  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1869.  “The  parsonage  was  bought 
in  1854,  and  rebuilt  in  1874,  and  finished  in  1876.” 

Wallaceville  was  blessed  with  the  labors  of  John  Ab- 
bott who  organized  a class  in  1851.  The  first  members 
were : Thomas  Gieen,  S.  A.  Thomas,  Elizabeth  Thomas, 

Hezekiah  Thomas,  Elexina  Thomas,  A.  J.  Cowan,  Wil- 
liam H.  Cowan,  Robert  Grove,  William  Green,  Robert  P. 
Green,  Robert  Redman,  Margaret  Redman,  Obadiah 
Propst  and  wife,  Nathan  Brown,  Lydia  Brown,  and 
Jonathan  Bender.  At  a revival  held  by  N.  C.  Brown, 
in  1858,  twenty-nixie  converts  were  added  to  the  church. 
The  church  building  was  erected  in  1863,  G.  M.  Eber- 
man  pastor. 

The  East  Randolph  class  was  organized  by  Edwin  Hull 
in  1853,  and  was  then  a part  of  the  Cooperstown  Charge. 
The  following  were  original  members;  Mark  Bogardus, 
Sarah  Bogardus,  Nicholas  Bogardus,  Sidney  Loveless, 
Jane  Loveless,  Neal  McKay,  Lydia  McKay,  Daniel  House- 
knecht,  Elizabeth  Houseknecht,  and  Joseph  Armstrong, 
Sidney  Loveless,  the  first  class  leader,  afterward  became 
a minister  in  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  A house 
of  worship  was  dedicated  in  1867.  The  cost  was  about 
$1,400. 

The  Chapmanville  class  was  organized  by  Robert 
Beatty  in  1871  with  Hampson  Jennings,  Rebecca  Jen- 
nings, Mary  Fox,  Ann  Campbell,  Miller  Campbell,  Jon- 
athan Bender,  Mary  Bender,  Mary  Morse,  Joseph  M. 
McClelland,  and  Ketura  McClelland  as  original  members. 
A house  of  worship,  costing  about  $2,000,  was  dedicated 
in  1878  or  1879.  There  were  no  special  revivals  until 
1882  when  about  forty  souls  were  converted  or  re- 
claimed. 


Dr.  Thomas  Earl. 


149 


Our  Church  at  Bristolville. 

The  Bristolville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was-  or- 
ganized in  1818  by  Ira  Eddy.  When  the  circuit  was  or- 
ganized, shortly  after  this,  it  extended  from  Lake  Erie 
to  Warren,  and  required  six  weeks  to  make  the  round. 
Meetings  were  held  in  barns  and  school  houses.  An  old 
log  building,  which  stood  near  the  present  house,  bought 
in  about  1820,  was  used  as  a house  of  worship  until  1844. 
Under  the  administration  of  Joseph  Leslie  and  W.  W. 
Maltby  a new  church  was  erected  at  the  date  named. 
Following  this,  a widespread  revival  increased  the  mem- 
bership to  one  hundred  and  three.  Bristol  and  Mecca 
Circuit  was  formed  in  1856  and  Ira  Eddy  was  again  ap- 
pointed pastor.  One  of  the  greatest  revivals  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  church  was  experienced  in  1867,  under  the 
pastorate  of  William  Hayes.  He  notes  in  the  Church 
Record  the  reception  of  twenty-two  converts  in  a single 
day  and  adds,  ‘‘Glory  to  God!  Twenty-two  names  for 
Christ;  Lord  keep  them!”  In  1879  B.  E.  Edgell  was  ap- 
pointed pastor,  and  the  church  building  was  found  to  be 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  congregations.  Mr.  Edg- 
ed had  it  so  remodeled,  enlarged,  and  beautified  that  it 
became  practically  new.  The  cost  of  these  improvements 
was  about  $3,000.  A revival  followed,  adding  seventy- 
five  to  the  membership.  The  present  membership  is  325, 
the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  church.  Of  this  number 
more  than  100  have  been  added  during  the  pastorate  of 
Elmer  S.  Smith.  About  the  year  1840,  a building  was 
bought,  and  was  used  for  a parsonage  until  1883,  when 
under  the  pastorate  of  T.  W.  Lane  the  present  parsonage 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  nearly  $3,000. 

The  names  of  those  composing  the  first  class  organized 
in  Bristolville  were:  John  Norton  and  wife,  John  and 

Sarah  Hammond,  and  Magdalena  and  Margaret  Cline. 
First  class  leader  was  Lyman  Kibbee. 

Dr.  Thomas  Earl. 

“Dr.  Thomas  Earl  was  a native  of  New  Jersey,  of  re- 
spectable parentage,  and  was  liberally  educated  for  the 
medical  profession,  and  entered  upon  its  practice  with  fine 
success;  but  feeling  the  spirit  of  adventure  moving  him, 
like  many  others  he  moved  his  young  family  to  the  west 
in  1826,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Franklin,  (now  Kent,) 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


150 


Ohio,  when  the  country  was  quite  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled, and,  combining  an  extensive  medical  practice  with 
other  business  pursuits,  soon  became  a man  of  wealth  and 
influence. 


“But,  unfortunately,  the  doctor  had  early  in  life  im- 
bibed skeptical  views  of  Bible  truth  and  experimental  re- 
ligion, and  as  years  advanced  had  become  outspoken  on 
the  subject,  often  trying  to  puzzle  Christians  by  raising 
questions  and  pressing  arguments  too  difficult  for  them 
to  solve,  and  in  his  good-natured  way  making  light  of 
serious  things. 

“The  doctor's  wife  was  a noble  lady,  accustomed  to  at- 
tend church  when  she  could,  and  in  a gracious  revival  of 
religion  which  occurred  in  the  little  Methodist  Society  in 
that  place  in  the  fall  of  1839  was  soundly  converted  and 
joined  the  Methodist  society,  and  became  a very  zealous 
promoter  of  the  revival  then  in  progress,  and  intensely 
anxious  for  the  salvation  of  her  husband  and  children. 
Not  being  capable  of  grappling  with  the  doctor’s  infidel- 
ity, she  betook  herself  to  earnest  prayer  for  his  conver- 
sion. One  day,  being  alone  with  her  two  sons,  she 
thought  it  a good  time  to  interest  them  on  the  subject, 
and  in  her  conversation,  which  to  them  was  entirely  new, 
she  became  greatly  animated,  even  to  tears.  The  boys 
stood  and  looked  and  listened  with  amazement,  wonder- 
ing what  strange  thing  had  happened  to  their  mother; 
soon  the  mother  went  upon  her  knees  and  commenced 
praying  for  them  with  great  earnestness.  This  but  in- 
creased the  alarm  of  the  boys,  and  thinking  their  mother 
was  crazy,  they  caught  their  hats,  opened  the  door,  and 
ran.  In  the  rear  of  the  house  was  a beautiful  grove  in 
the  midst  of  which  stood  the  barn,  in  the  rear  of  which 
they  hid  themselves,  and  occasionally  one  of  them  would 
crawl  out  carefully  and  peep  around  the  corner  of  the 
barn  to  see  if  mother  was  coming,  or  if  the  crazy  woman 
was  doing  any  harm.  After  Mrs.  Earl  had  closed  her 
prayer,  it  cost  her  quite  an  effort  to  find  her  boys,  quiet 
their  fears,  and  get  them  back  to  the  house  again. 

“One  day  during  the  same  winter  Dr.  Earl  came  in 
about  the  usual  time  to  tea,  and  being  informed  by  his 
wife  that  supper  was  not  quite  ready,  he  stepped  into  the 
sitting  room  and  sat  down  near  a table  and  carelessly 
picked  up  a book  he  saw  lying  there  without  knowing 


The  Tenth  Session. 


what  it  was,  and  opened  it  for  the  purpose  of  amusing 
himself  by  reading  a few  minutes  while  waiting  for  tea, 
and  to  his  great  surprise,  he  found  himself  reading  the 
parable  of  the  prodigal  son  in  the  New  Testament.  Sud- 
denly his  mind  became  impressed  with  the  similarity  be- 
tween the  case  of  the  prodigal  and  his  own.  He  read  on 
to  the  close  of  the  parable,  by  which  time  his  heart  was 
completely  broken.  Just  then  his  wife  entered  the  room 
to  invite  him  to  supper,  and  finding  his  face  wet  with 
tears  inquired  at  once  the  cause  of  his  trouble.  He  told 
her  that  he  had  just  made  the  discovery  of  the  great  sin- 
fulness of  his  life.”  Forgetting  all  about  the  supper  they 
both  went  upon  their  knees  and  prayed  and  struggled  un- 
til God  in  mercy  came  to  their  relief,  and  they  both  arose 
full  of  joy  and  hope. 

“In  1844  the  doctor  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  very 
soon  became  a general  favorite  in  the  pulpit.  His  noble 
personal  appearance,  pleasant  countenance,  and  clear, 
forcible  delivery  made  him  a very  acceptable  preacher.1* 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol. 
II,  pp.  243-246.) 


The  Tenth  Session. 

The  tenth  annual  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was 
held  in  New  Castle,  Pa.,  Bishop  Leonidas  L.  Hamline 
presiding.  William  F.  Wilson  was  elected  secretary,  and 
Albina  Hall,  assistant  secretary.  The  session  was  opened 
July  23,  1845,  with  the  usual  religious  exercises  and  an 
appropriate  address  by  the  bishop.  Alfred  G.  Sturgis, 
who  had  served  as  secretary  six  years  with  great  accept- 
ability, was  compelled  to  retire  from  active  work  because 
of  declining  health;  and  was  superannuated.  “Christ 
had  honored  him  by  making  him  an  accomplished  gentle- 
man, scholar  and  Christian,  and  by  crowning  his  short 
but  brilliant  ministerial  career  with  great  success,  and  by 
embalming  him  in  the  memory  and  affections  of  thou- 
sands of  good  people.” 

The  conference  for  the  third  time  voted  unanimously 
for  the  restoration  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  original  rule  on  tem- 
perance. This  was  done  at  the  General  Conference  of 
1848. 

H.  S.  Hitchcock  and  J.  E.  Bassett,  located. 


152  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Aurora  Callender  and  S.  W.  Ingraham  were  supernu- 
meraries. 

W.  B.  Lloyd,  James  Gillmore,  Thomas  Carr,  L.  D. 
Mix,  R.  A.  Aylworth,  L.  D.  Prosser,  Goodwin  Stod- 
dard, Caleb  Brown,  Stephen  Heard,  A.  G.  Sturgis,  D. 
C.  Richey  and  J.  W.  Davis  were  the  superannuates. 

Martin  C.  Briggs,  Ira  Blackford,  Potter  Sullivan,  Ezra 
Jones,  William  F.  Day,  Samuel  N.  Forest,  John  N. 
Henry  and  Henry  M.  Chamberlain  were  admitted  on 
trial.* 

♦Appointments  for  1845:  Ravenna  District,  Timothy  Goodwin, 

presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  Samuel  Gregg;  Cleveland,  B.  K.  Malt- 
by;  Akron,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Middlebury,  Milo  Butler,  C.  P.  Henry; 
Painesville,  G.  B.  Hawkins,  Rufus  Parker;  Chagrin  Falls,  Peter 
Burroughs,  S.  N.  Forest;  Franklin,  M.  H.  Bettes;  Newburg,  Al- 
bina Hall,  D.  M.  Stearns;  Twinsburg,  J.  E.  Aikin,  Asahel  Reeves, 
J.  H.  Tagg;  Chardon,  Ira  Eddy,  Albert  Norton,  L.  W.  Ely;  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  Dillon  Prosser;  S.  C.  Thomas,  Agent  for  Allegheny 
College.  Warren  District,  John  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  War- 
ren, J.  W.  Lowe;  Braceville,  Lewis  Clark;  Windham,  J.  J.  Stead- 
man; Nelson,  E.  B.  Lane,  S.  W.  Foljambe;  Mesopotamia,  W.  W. 
Maltby,  Alden  Walker;  Windsor,  Allen  Fouts;  Parkman,  J.  L. 
Holmes,  Potter  Sullivan;  Freedom,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  P.  D.  Hor- 
ton; Edinburg,  Ahab  Keller,  Israel  Mershon;  Ellsworth,  S.  C. 
Frear,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Poland,  W.  H.  Hunter,  G.  W.  Maltby; 
Youngstown,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Hubbard,  Ira  Norris,  W.  F.  Day. 
Meadville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Meadville, 
Moses  Hill,  Aurora  Callender,  sup.;  Conneautville,  Fortes  Morse; 
Saegertown,  D.  H.  Jack;  Rockville,  John  Graham,  Ira  Blackford; 
Williamsfield,  John  Crum,  John  Scott;  Morgan,  Wareham  French, 
J.  M.  Plant,  John  Luccock;  Geneva,  Henry  Elliott,  H.  D.  Cole; 
Ashtabula,  Joseph  Leslie,  David  Preston;  Gustavus,  J.  R.  Locke, 
Hiram  Kellogg;  Hartford,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  A.  L.  Miller;  Salem, 
William  Patterson,  John  Demming.  John  Bain,  Agent  for  Alle- 
gheny College.  Erie  District,  John  Robinson,  presiding  elder; 
Erie,  Calvin  Kingsley;  McKean,  J.  H.  Whallon,  Isaac  Scofield; 
Springfield,  Josiah  Flower,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  W'esleyville,  J. 
O.  Rich,  T.  B.  Tait;  North  East,  J.  F.  Hill;  Quincy,  Alvin  Bur- 
gess; Westfield,  John  Prosser;  Mayville,  Thomas  Blinn,  A.  M. 
Reed;  Harmony,  Thomas  Graham,  R.  J.  Edwards;  Wattsburg, 
R.  J.  Sibley,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Columbus,  C.  R.  Chapman;  A.  G. 
Miller,  Agent  for  Allegheny  College.  Jamestown  District,  Dar- 
ius Smith,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  G.  W.  Clarke,  H.  W. 
Beers;  Randolph,  Joseph  Uncles,  J.  N.  Henry;  Napoli,  S.  A. 
Henderson,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Gerry,  D.  W.  Vorse,  Ezra  Jones; 
Ellington,  Samuel  Churchill;  Forestville  and  Villenovia,  W.  S. 
Worrallo,  T.  H.  Cummings;  Sheridan,  Samuel  Leech,  Alexander 
Barris;  Fredonia,  Niram  Norton;  Portland,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  War- 
ren, J.  E.  Chapin;  Youngsville,  O.  P.  Brown;  Kinzua,  Alva  Wil- 
der. Franklin  District,  Horatio  N.  Stearns,  presiding  elder; 
Franklin,  M.  C.  Briggs;  Cooperstown,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  Oil  Creek, 
H.  S.  Winans,  John  Abbott;  Henderson,  William  Monks,  Daniel 
Pritchard;  Clinton ville,  John  Van  Horn,  Josiah  Hildebrand; 
Shippenville,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  David  King;  Washington,  Ed- 


David  King.  153 

David  King. 

David  King  lived  a life  governed  by  the  rules  of  a 
strict  morality,  but  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age  be- 
gan to  think  seriously  upon  the  subject  of  personal  salva- 
tion. He  was  then  a clerk  in  a store  in  Wayne,  Ashta- 
bula County,  Ohio.  He  began  to  read  the  Bible  and  to 
pray  earnestly.  His  whole  soul  was  aroused.  He  sought 
the  advice  of  a local  preacher  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
while  describing  his  own  lost  condition  fell  prostrate  on 
the  floor.  Friends  were  called  in,  and  six  hours  of  in- 
cessant prayer  gave  him  no  relief.  He  was  about  to 
give  up  in  despair,  but  soon  after,  while  the  congrega- 
tion were  singing  at  a prayer  meeting,  light  broke  in 
upon  his  soul.  He  says:  “The  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon 

me,  and  instantly  I was  caught  up  in  a gale  of  glory, 
and  all  around  me  became  as  light  as  the  blaze  of  a 
candle;  a holy  fire  ran  all  through  me,  making  me  all 
light  in  the  Lord.  Oh,  what  a joy  I then  had  in  Christ! 
It  was  too  much  for  human  nature  to  stand  up  under, 
and  I fell  down  as  one  dead  at  the  feet  of  Him  who  had 
done  so  much  for  me.” 

Mr.  King  was  born  at  Kinsman,  Ohio,  August  22, 
1810,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Vernon,  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio,  January  31,  1875.  His  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  Obed  Crosby,  the  first  Methodist  preach- 
er in  North  Ohio.  He  supplied  Warren  Circuit  as  an  ex- 
horter  in  1835,  “or  possibly  a year  later.”  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  Ira  Eddy  in  1836,  and  accompanied 
Alfred  Brunson  to  his  Upper  Mississippi  Mission,  hav- 
ing been  admitted  to  the  Illinois  Conference  on  trial  the 
same  year.  In  1843  he  located  and  returned  home,  and 
two  years  later  was  re-admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference, 
in  which  he  continued  to  labor  until  broken  health  com- 
pelled him  to  retire.  Still  he  labored  on  as  his  strength 
would  permit.  “His  zeal  knew  no  languor.  His  benevo- 
lent activity  was  only  circumscribed  by  his  power  of  en- 
durance. The  generosity  of  his  nature  showed  itself  in 
acts  of  kindness,  in  words  of  love,  and  tender  sympa- 

win  Hull;  Clarion,  J.  W.  Hill,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Red  Bank,  R.  M. 
Bear,  Thomas  Benn;  Luthersburg,  J.  K.  Coxon,  H.  M.  Chamber- 
lain; Mercer,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Hendersonville,  G.  F.  Reeser,  John 
Wriggles  worth;  Greenville  and  Clarksville,  John  McLean,  J.  W. 
Clock,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  sup.;  New  Castle,  B.  S.  Hill,  Hiram  Luce. 


154 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


thies.  He  had  a heart  to  weep  with  the  sorrow-stricken, 
and  a hand  to  help  the  needy.  His  death  was  gloriously 
triumphant.  Not  a cloud  veiled  his  setting  sun!  Not  a 
doubt  shook  his  faith ! He  had  gained  the  summit ! He 
saw  the  mighty  sweeps  of  the  celestial  plains ! ‘Halle- 
lujah !’  burst  from  his  heart  and  lips  as  he  viewed  the 
promised  inheritance.  Then  turning  upon  his  malignant 
foe  he  took  up  the  song  of  the  conqueror,  ‘O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting?  O grave,  where  is  thy  victory?’  ” 

Mr.  King  says  of  his  early  experience:  “The  day 

after  my  conversion  found  me  in  this  house  where  I am 
now  writing,  pleading  with  my  father’s  family,  and 
others  to  be  reconciled  to  God,  and  after  spending  much 
of  the  night  in  prayer,  in  the  morning  found  favor  in 
the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  and  four  prayed  for  mercy.  The 
next  day  found  me  at  the  store,  sixteen  miles  from  here, 
and  the  next  day  or  so  found  me  out  with  notes  and  ac- 
counts to  collect  money,  but  I spent  the  whole  day  from 
house  to  house  pleading  with  the  people  to  come  to 
Christ  at  once.  Many  shed  tears,  and  called  on  the  name 
of  the  Lord.  That  night  when  I lay  down  on  my  couch 
I could  say,  ‘My  cup  runneth  over  with  blessing.’  A 
few  evenings  after  this  I went  to  a union  prayer  meeting 
in  a school  house,  and  such  was  my  desire  to  save  sin- 
ners that  I got  up  and  began  to  exhort  with  my  eyes 
shut,  and  the  power  of  God  came  down,  and  glory  shone 
around.  Fifteen  arose  for  prayers.  This  I think  ter- 
minated in  the  conversion  of  about  forty  souls.  By  this 
time  I did  not  feel  much  like  selling  goods,  and  con- 
cluded to  set  apart  six  months  to  read,  pray  and  go  to 
meeting,  and  could  do  so  by  posting  up  the  books,  as  no 
one  else  understood  them,  I being  all  alone  in  the  store. 

“One  day,  returning  from  a quarterly  meeting  at 
Clarksville,  Pa.,  I was  overtaken  by  the  Rev.  A.  Brun- 
son, riding  a beautiful  bay  horse,  dressed  in  the  primitive 
round-breasted  coat  style  of  a Methodist  preacher.  He 
soon  got  my  story,  and  said,  ‘You  should  spend  your  six 
months  at  Meadville.  I live  there.  You  can  be  at  meet- 
ing every  night  if  you  choose.’  He  told  me  all  about  the 
college.  The  idea  pleased  me,  and  so  it  did  my  father, 
for  he  had  often  wished  me  to  go  to  Jefferson  College 
at  Cannonsburg.  The  next  day  I was  at  Meadville, 
where  I first  saw  Dr.  Ruter,  H.  J.  Clark,  E.  J.  L.  Baker, 


Potter  Sullivan , Samuel  N.  Forest,  Ira  Blackford.  155 


J.  W.  Lowe  and  others.  I was  soon  at  camp  meeting  at 
Waterford,  when  I saw  and  felt  much  of  the  power  of 
God.  One  student  fell  as  one  dead,  and  remained  so  all 
night,  when  he  came  out  with  ‘glory,  glory,’  on  his 
tongue.  He  shouted  ‘glory,  glory,’  along  the  road  home, 
in  Bro.  Goodrich’s  big  Pennsylvania  wagon.  The  next 
was  on  the  Stoakley  farm,  near  Mercer.  While  Bro. 
Cornelius  Jones  was  exhorting  the  church  to  holiness, 
many  fell  to  the  earth.  One  Presbyterian  brother  fell, 
too,  off  the  end  of  a bench  and  was  carried  with  others 
to  a tent,  and  in  the  refining  process  cried  out,  ‘Lord, 
make  clean  work  this  time,’  and  so  it  was  this  time.  This 
is  no  hearsay  story.  The  next  at  Conneaut  Lake,  where 
I had  heavy  duties  to  perform,  but  got  in  return  ‘good 
measure,  pressed  down,  shaken  together,  and  running 
over'  of  gospel  blessing.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, Sept.  29,  1866.) 

Potter  Sullivan,  Samuel  N.  Forest,  Ira  Blackford. 

Potter  Sullivan  was  born  in  South  Kingston,  R.  I., 
October  31,  1793,  and  died  in  Geneva,  Ohio,  November 
I,  1862.  He  embraced  religion  at  Mina,  N.  Y.,  in  1826. 
He  was  baptized  and  received  into  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  by  David  Preston.  In  1832  he  moved  to 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1835. 
He  served  under  the  presiding  elder  in  1841-44,  and  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1845.  Dur- 
ing sixteen  years  he  did  effective  work,  and  was  superan- 
nuated in  1861.  Mr.  Gregg  says:  “His  undoubted 

piety,  ardent  zeal  and  constant  activity  in  his  work,  made 
him  a very  acceptable  and  useful  minister.”! 

♦David  King — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
Illinois  Conference,  1836;  full  connection,  1840;  deacon,  1840; 
elder,  1842;  became  a member  of  Rock  River  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1840;  located,  1843;  re-admitted  to  Erie  Confer- 
ence, 1845;  deceased,  Vernon,  O.,  January  31,  1875.  Appoint- 
ments: 1836,  Prairie  Du  Chien  Mission,  111.;  1837-’38,  Sioux 

Mission,  111.;  1839,  St.  Peters  Mission,  111.;  1840,  St.  Peters  and 
Sioux  Mission;  1841-’42,  Sioux  Mission,  111.;  1845,  Shippenville; 
1846,  Clinton ville;  1847,  Youngsville;  1848,  Leon;  1849,  Gerry; 
1850-’51,  Agent  Allegheny  College;  1852,  Hartford;  1853,  Agent 
Allegheny  College;  1854,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1855,  West  Farm- 
ington and  Bloomfield;  1856,  Edinburg;  1857-’59,  supernumerary; 
1860,  Southington;  1861,  Hubbard;  1862-’63,  superannuated;  1864- 
’69,  supernumerary;  1870-’74,  superannuated. 

t Potter  Sullivan— Licensed  to  preach,  1835;  admitted  on  trial, 
1845;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  no  record  as  to 


156  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Samuel  N.  Forest  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence on  trial  in  1845.  He  spent  fifteen  years  in  the  min- 
istry and  was  successively  a member  of  the  Erie,  Rock 
River  and  Minnesota  Conferences.  He  served  Roches- 
ter Charge  of  the  Minnesota  Conference  with  great  ac- 
ceptability for  eighteen  months,  was  a great  sufferer  for 
six  months,  and  died  April  5,  1859.  His  first  attack  was 
typhoid  fever,  followed  by  inflammatory  rheumatism, 
and  finally  an  abscess,  which  was  the  proximate  cause  of 
his  death.  Mr.  Forest  was  of  a strong,  muscular  frame, 
and  never  was  kept  from  his  work  a day  in  his  life  be- 
cause of  sickness  until  seized  upon  by  this  mortal  malady. 
“Disease  was  heavily  taxed  to  push  him  to  the  tomb. 
Our  brother  was  quite  successful  in  his  ministry,  and 
held  a good  position  among  his  brethren.  As  a man, 
large-hearted  and  energetic;  as  a Christian  minister,  la- 
borious and  faithful ; as  a preacher,  earnest,  original  and 
logical;  as  a husband  and  father,  kind,  affectionate  and 
confiding.  He  died  well,  leaving  a message  to  the  writer 
to  deliver  to  his  brethren  at  the  conference,  ‘that  he  died 
at  his  post?  When  asked  the  day  before  his  death  how 
he  felt,  in  view  of  the  change  that  awaited  him,  he  re- 
plied in  the  language  of  an  earthly  traveler:  ‘I  am 

packed  up  and  ready  to  go?  ”* — (Minutes  of  Confer- 
ences, Vol.  VII.,  1859,  p.  13 2.) 

“Rev.  Ira  Blackford  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1845,  and  spent  several  years  in  the  hard- 
est fields  of  toil  among  us,  being  well  fitted  for  that  kind 
of  work — large  in  stature,  robust  in  health,  and  full  of 
zeal.  His  preaching  abilities  were  good  for  that  kind  of 
work.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol  II.,  p.  266.)  He  was  transferred  to  the  Iowa 

his  ordination  as  elder;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  November  1,  1862. 
Appointments:  1845-’46,  Parkman;  1847-48,  Mesopotamia;  1849- 

’50,  Morgan;  1851-’52,  Geneva;  1853,  Montville;  1854-’55,  Me- 
chanicsville;  1856,  Mantua;  1857,  Mentor;  1858-’59,  Thompson; 
1860,  Perry;  1861-’62,  superannuated. 

*S.  N.  Forest — Admitted  on  trial,  1845;  full  connection,  1849; 
deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851,  Morris;  located,  1854;  re- 
admitted, Rock  River  Conference,  1855;  transferred  to  Minne- 
sota Conference,  1857;  deceased,  April  5,  1859.  Appointments: 
1845,  Chagrin  Falls;  1846,  Mayville;  1847,  Harmony;  1848-’49, 
Spring  Creek  Mission;  1850,  Wesleyville;  1851,  Springfield; 
1852-’53,  Clarksville;  1855,  Dover,  111.;  1856,  Picatonica,  111.;  1857, 
appointment  not  named  in  general  minutes;  1858,  Rochester, 
Minn. 


Martin  C.  Briggs. 


157 


Conference  in  1851,  and  later  became  a member  of  the 
Kansas  and  Nebraska  and  Kansas  Conferences  in  1856. 
In  1861  he  located.* 

Martin  C.  Briggs. 

We  take  the  following  from  Mr.  Gregg:  “Rev.  Mar- 
tin C.  Briggs  was  born  in  Rome,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y., 
January  7,  1823 ; embraced  religion  in  Concord,  Lake 
County,  Ohio,  in  December,  1842,  to  which  place  he  had 
previously  moved  with  his  parents,  and  there  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  soon  after  went  to 
reside  in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  where  he  was  licensed 
to  exhort,  and  then  to  preach,  in  June,  1844.  Returning 
to  his  former  home  in  Ohio,  he  was  recommended  to  the 
Erie  Annual  Conference,  when  he  was  admitted  on  trial 
in  1845.  Mr.  Briggs  was  a good-sized,  well  propor- 
tioned young  man,  with  a fair,  open,  pleasant  counte- 
nance, frank  and  easy  in  his  manners,  quite  sociable  and 
agreeable  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and  was  a very 
pleasant,  forcible  speaker,  well  calculated  to  please  the 
popular  taste  of  any  refined  and  intelligent  congregation. 
He  was  ambitious  to  excel,  and  studied  hard  for  that 
purpose.  Some  would  think  him  rather  abundant  in 
words  and  extravagant  in  figures,  while  the  majority  of 
hearers  were  delighted  with  these  peculiarities.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  promising  young  men  the 
conference  ever  contained.” 

Mr.  Briggs  located  in  1849  and  attended  the  Biblical 
Institute  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  “where  he  remained  two  or 
three  years,  studying  hard  and  preaching  extensively 
through  the  country,  delighting  and  instructing  listening 
multitudes  with  his  eloquent  and  powerful  ministrations. 
At  the  end  of  his  theological  course,  although  the  best 
pulpits  in  the  land  were  open  to  him,  he  was  attracted 
to  California,  not  by  the  glitter  of  gold,  but  by  the  de- 

*Ira  Blackford — Admitted  on  trial,  1845;  full  connection,  1847; 
deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849,  Wadgh;  transferred  to  Iowa 
Conference,  1851;  located,  1854;  re-admitted,  Kansas  and  Neb- 
raska Conference,  1856.  Appointments:  1845,  Rockville;  1846, 

Conneautville;  1847,  Forestville  and  Villenovia;  1848,  Kinzua; 
1849,  Leon;  1850,  Forestville  and  Ridgway  Mission;  1851,  Sa- 
bula  (Ia.)Mission;  1852,  Dew'itt  (la.)  Mission;  1853,  Hebron,  la.; 
1856,  Columbus  City,  Kas.;  1857,  Lawrence,  Kas.;  1858,  Osawa- 
tomie,  Kas.;  1859,  Topeka  and  Tecumseh,  Kas.;  1860,  Topeka; 
1861,  located. 


II 


158 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


mand  presented  by  that  vast  field  of  labor  for  ministers 
of  more  than  ordinary  courage  and  talent.  He  immedi- 
ately took  rank  with  the  best  talent  of  the  Golden  State, 
and  held  that  position  for  eighteen  years,  during  which 
time  he  wielded  a powerful  influence  in  giving  character 
to  the  new  state,  then  balancing  between  slavery  and 
freedom,  and  in  giving  success  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  in  that  land  and  in  reforming  the  manners  of 
the  people.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Con- 
ference,, Vol.  II.,  pp.  263,  357,  358.) 

Mr.  Briggs  was  re-admitted  to  the  California  Confer- 
ence in  1852,  transferred  to  the  Cincinnati  Conference 
in  1870,  transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Conference  in 
1872,  and  again  transferred  to  the  California  Confer- 
ence in  1875.  After  an  active  ministry  of  fifty-three 
years  he  passed  to  his  reward  in  Newark,  Cal.,  January 
14,  1902. 

In  1876  Moses  Hill,  who  knew  Mr.  Briggs  well,  made 
the  statement  in  public  that  he  was  the  most  eloquent 
preacher  to  whom  he  had  ever  listened.  His  memory  is 
fragrant  among  those  who  still  remain  to  whom  he 
ministered  in  his  youth. 

Near  Akron,  during  the  pastorate  of  M.  C.  Briggs, 
lived  Gen.  Simon  Perkins,  a wealthy  man  with  an  ad- 
mirable wife  and  family.  They  frequently  attended  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Briggs  says:  “The 

rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  was  a young  man  who,  I 
was  assured,  had  been  a charity  scholar,  and  of  course 
was  very  high  church.  He  had  a natural  desire  to  draw 
the  Perkins  family  to  his  service.  There  lived  near 
General  Perkins  a Mrs.  Bean  (or  Bien),  a widowed  lady 
of  culture  and  great  excellence,  with  an  admirably  trained 
family.  The  little  rector  appeared  to  rack  his  brain  for 
taking  arguments.  Finally  he  hit  upon  what  he  thought 
would  certainly  win.  Very  solemnly  he  said  to  Mrs.  Per- 
kins on  one  of  his  visits:  ‘There  are  providential  dif- 

ferences in  society  which  it  appears  right  to  recognize. 
The  proper  order  of  life  seems  to  require  it  of  us.  I have 
observed  with  not  a little  regret  that  you  permit  your 
children  to  associate  intimately  with  the  children  of  the 
poor  widow,  your  neighbor.’  Mrs.  Perkins  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Governor  Todd,  and  endowed  with  as  fine  a vein 
of  humor  as  I remember  to  have  met.  Withal  she  was  a 


Henry  M.  Chamberlain. 


159 


through  and  through  American.  Putting  on  the  soberest 
of  faces,  she  replied:  ‘The  fact  you  mention  has  given 

me  a great  deal  of  anxiety.  I wish  to  be  a good  mother, 
and  1o  train  my  children  well,  but  they  are  so  rude  com- 
pared with  Mrs.  Bean’s  children  that  I have  seriously 
feared  that  it  would  injure  her  charming  family  to  permit 
mine  to  spend  so  much  time  with  them.'  That  pastoral 
visit  was  edifying.”* — (M.  C.  Briggs  in  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  May  2,  1895.) 

Henry  M.  Chamberlain. 

“The  ancestors  of  Henry  M.  Chamberlain  were  from 
England  and  Scotland.  His  parents  were  reared  in  Con- 
necticut, and  were  devoted  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  He  was  the  youngest  of  a large  family  of 
children.  His  father  died  when  he  was  four  years  of 
age.  On  his  death  bed  he  called  his  family,  and  taking 
each  by  the  hand,  he  asked  them  to  meet  him  in  heaven. 
Brother  Chamberlain’s  mother  was  deeply  pious,  entirely 
consecrated,  and  devoted  herself  to  the  religious  culture 
of  her  family.  The  Sabbath  was  sacredly  observed,  and 
the  house  of  God  was  a place  of  delight  and  of  constant 
attendance. 

“His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools,  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  Soon  af- 
ter, he  entered  Troy  Conference  Seminary,  then  under 
the  principalship  of  Jesse  T.  Peck.  By  diligence  in  man- 
ual labor  and  by  teaching  school  from  time  to  time,  he  se- 

*M.  C.  Briggs — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
1845;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  located,  1849;  re-admitted  to  California  Conference, 
1852;  transferred  to  Cincinnati  Conference,  1870;  transferred  to 
Rock  River  Conference,  1872;  transferred  to  California  Confer- 
ence, 1875;  deceased,  Neward,  Cal.,  January  14,  1902.  Appoint- 
ments: 1845-’46,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1847,  Agent  Allegheny  College; 

1848,  Akron;  1849-’51,  student,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute;  1852, 
Sacramento,  Cal.;  1853-’54,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Powell  Street; 
1855,  Maysville;  1856,  Sacramento  District;  1857-’59,  San  Fran- 
cisco District;  1860-’61,  San  Francisco,  Powell  Street;  1862,  San- 
ta Clara,  Cal.;  1863-’65,  Sacramento,  Sixth  Street;  1866-’6I , San 
Francisco,  Powell  Street;  1869,  Agent  University  of  the  Picific; 
1870-71,  Cincinnati,  O.,  Trinity  Church;  1872-74,  Evanston,  111.; 
1875-76,  Sacramento,  Sixth  Street;  1878-’80,  San  Francisco,  How- 
ard Street;  1881-’83,  Alameda,  Cal.;  1884-’86,  Napa  City,  Cal.; 
1887-’88,  Santa  Clara,  Cal.;  1889,  Pacific  Grove,  Cal.;  1890-’93, 
Petaluma,  Cal.;  1894,  San  Jose  Mission,  Cal.;  1895-1901,  Field 
Secretary  California  State  Sabbath  School  Association. 


160  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

cured  a good  intellectual  training  for  his  life-work,  hav- 
ing made  considerable  advancement  in  classical  studies 

before  entering  the  ministry. 

“His  conversion  occurred  in  March,  1838,  when  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  in  Bristol,  Vermont.  On  his  re- 
turn from  a service  held  in  a school  house,  where  he  had 
requested  the  prayers  of  the  church,  he  wrote : ‘Praying 

at  the  time,  I caught  sight  of  a flash  as  from  heaven,  and 
immediately  I was  filled  with  rapture  and  praise,  and  cried 
out  “Hallelujah!”  although  I had  never  seen  nor  heard 
anvone  shout.  I knew  God  had  manifested  himself  to 
me.-  After  some  days  of  earnest  study  and  fervent  prayer, 
he  obtained  a clear  witness  of  the  spirit  that  he  was  con- 
verted, and  hence  a child  of  God. 

“He  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter  by  the  Rev.  John  T. 
Foster,  of  the  Troy  Conference.  Some  time  after,  he 
moved'  to  Twinsburg,  Ohio,  where  he  conducted  services 
on  the  Sabbath  in  school  houses  and  churches.  In  No- 
vember he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Twinsburg  Quar- 
terly Conference,  the  Rev.  B.  O.  Plimpton,  presiding 
elder.  Brother  Chamberlain  felt  his  call  to  the  ministry 
in  his  early  childhood  j he  had  not  a shadow  of  a doubt 
in  regard  to  it.  V hen  eighteen  years  of  age  he  could 
refrain  no  longer,  feeling,  ‘Woe  is  me,  if  I preach  not  the 
gospel !’  Being'  recommended  by  the  Twinsburg  Charge, 
he  entered  the  Erie  Conference  in  1845 

“After  his  superannuation,  he  resided  in  Meadville,  Pa., 
eight  years,  where  he  was  respected  and  honored  as  a 
Christian  minister. , During  the  last  five  years  of  his  life 
he  resided  with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  A.  C.  Nicholas,  in 
Youngstown,  Ohio.  He  was  regarded  here  with  high 
esteem,  and  occasionally  preached  in  the  pulpits  of  the 
city  with  the  old-time  unction,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
and  edification  of  the  people.  Our  departed  brother  was 
loyal  to  Christ,  and  ever  true  to  his  church.  While  a 
Methodist  in  theology,  in  experience  and  in  life,  he  was 
not  a bigot.  He  loved  all  who  loved  Christ.  He  hailed 
with  great  joy  the  tokens  of  progress,  though  he  was  un- 
able to  lead  in  the  van.  To  the  last,  he  kept  his  heart  and 
soul  in  sympathy  with  the  victories  of  the  cross  in  our 
own  and  in  other  lands.  He  rejoiced  at  the  good  tidings 
coming  from  afar. 

“Brother  Chamberlain  was  truly  a man  of  God.  He 


Henry  M.  Chamberlain . 


161 


was  a consecrated  minister.  He  was  ever  on  the  alert  to 
win  souls.  It  was  the  one  work  of  his  life  to  preach  the 
‘unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.’  He  was  a plain  preacher 
— in  the  true  Biblical  sense,  a scholarly  preacher.  Often 
a divine  unction  attended  the  word,  swaying  the  congre- 
gation as  a forest  bends  before  a mighty  wind.  During 
his  extended  work  of  forty  years,  of  sacrifice  and  toil 
incident  to  pioneer  life  in  the  ministry,  large  numbers 
were  brought  to  Christ  and  safely  garnered  in  the  church. 
He  was  earnest,  ‘in  season,  out  of  season,’  and  hence  an 
efficient  gospel  minister.  His  work  is  done;  and  yet, 
not  done;  for,  ‘he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh.’ 

“His  personal  experience  in  the  things  of  God  was 
unique,  was  peculiar.  He  had  no  doubts.  He  had  no 
fears.  He  was  ever  buoyant  in  hope.  His  spiritual  vis- 
ion was  clear.  He  walked  by  faith.  He  did  not  live, 
but  Christ  lived  in  him.  As  Enoch,  so  he  was  in  com- 
panionship with  God. 

“He  was  born  August  6,  1824;  he  was  ‘born  again’  in 
1838;  and  November  26,  1898,  he  passed  to  his  eternal 
home.  His  life  and  character  are  a rich  legacy  to  his 
surviving  kindred  and  to  the  church  of  God. 

“The  ministerial  association  of  Youngstown  passed  a 
highly  appreciative  paper  on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 
The  obsequies  were  held  in  Trinity  Church,  Youngstown, 
Drs.  John  Peate,  A.  J.  Merchant  and  S.  H.  Prather,  of 
the  Erie  Conference,  and  the  resident  pastors  of  the 
churches  of  Youngstown  participating  in  the  services,  and 
the  interment  was  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Cleveland.” 

Mr.  Chamberlain  writes  of  his  travels  on  his  first  cir- 
cuit: “We  were  in  the  saddle  almost  every  day,  fre- 

quently riding  twenty  and  sometimes  forty  miles  per 
day;  often  in  the  dense  woods,  following  cow  paths  and 
deer  paths  or  marked  trees  for  a guide,  sometimes  seeing 
a herd  of  deer  coming  as  near  as  the  range  of  pistol  shot. 
We  often  slept  in  the  log  cabin,  in  the  loft  where  we 
could  count  the  stars  through  the  logs,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing step  out  of  bed  into  the  snow,  sometimes  when  the 
thermometer  was  thirty  degrees  below  zero.” — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , July  1,  1886.) 

Fifty-one  years  after  the  experience,  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain  relates  the  ever-fresh  story:  “From  twelve  to  four- 

teen I lived  a careless  life.  I felt  I was  a great  sinner, 


1 6 2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


lost-  to  God  and  heaven,  often  resolving  to  turn  to  God, 
but  neglecting.  Finally,  greatly  alarmed  at  my  situation, 

I resolved  to  seek  God.  I was  now  some  fourteen  years 
old.  I went  to  a school  house  in  the  edge  of  Bristol,  Vt., 
where  I heard  S.  D.  Brown,  of  the  Troy  Conference, 
preach.  I went  forward  for  prayer,  and  on  my  way 
home  on  horseback,  as  I was  entering  a little  valley  be- 
tween two  hills  in  the  road,  lifting  up  my  heart,  strug- 
gling against  great  temptation  to  unbelief,  I cried -out, 
‘Get  behind  me,  Satan ! Lord,  I believe ; help  Thou  my 
unbelief.’  As  quick  as  a spark  from  the  smitten  steel 
a flash  of  light  passed  before  my  eyes.  I was  filled  with 
rapture  of  joy.  Although  I had  never  heard  any  one 
shout,  I praised  God  with  a glad  ‘hallelujah !’  making  the 
hills  and  valleys  resound  with  my  voice.”* — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , January  3,  1889.) 

William  F.  Day. 

William  F.  Day  was  born  in  West  Springfield,  Mass., 
November  11,  1821.  In  1827  the  family  moved  to  Kent, 
Portage  County,  Ohio.  His  father  died  in  1838,  and  at 
that  time  he  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  need  of  a 
religious  experience,  and  his  heart  was  prepared  to  re- 
ceive the  gospel.  In  1840,  under  the  labors  of  an  evan- 
gelist, Rev.  Mr.  Avery,  he  earnestly  sought  the  pearl  of 
great  price.  He  found  no  relief,  and  was  almost  ready 
to  give  up  in  despair.  A.  G.  Sturgis  and  William 
F.  Wilson  learned  of  his  condition,  and  accompanied 
him  to  his  boarding  place,  and  spent  with  him  a night  in 
prayer.  He  was  not  converted  that  night,  but  early  in 
the  morning  he  went  out  into  the  forest  to  pray  and 
while  pleading  there,  kneeling  by  a fallen  tree,  light 
broke  into  his  soul.  During  the  next  five  years  he  spent 

*H.  M.  Chamberlain — Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on 
trial,  1845;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder, 
1849  Waugh;  deceased,  Youngstown,  O.,  November  26,  1898. 
Appointments:  1845,  Luthersburg  Mission;  1846,  Curllsville; 

1847  Hendersonville;  1848,  Clintonville ; 1849,  Salem;  1850,  Con- 
neautville;  1851,  Espyville;  1852-’53,  Clarksville;  1854,  Wesley- 
ville-  1855*’56,  McKean;  1857-’58,  Jefferson;  1859,  Morgan;  1860- 
’61  Thompson;  1862-’63,  Montville;  1864-’65,  Troy;  1866,  Brace- 
ville;  1867-’68,  Edinburg;  1869,  Tallmadge;  1870,  West  Farming- 
ton'  1871-’72,  New  Wilmington;  1873,  Waterloo;  1874-76,  Rock- 
ville; 1877-78,  Albion;  1879-’80,  Wattsburg;  1881-’83,  Mill  Village; 
1884,’  Linesville ; 1885-’98,  superannuated. 


William  F.  Day. 


1 63 


the  winters  in  teaching,  and  two  summers  were  spent  at 
an  academy,  where  he  perfected  his  English  education 
and  laid  the  foundation  for  a thorough  knowledge  of  the 
Greek  and  Latin  languages.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1844,  an<4  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1845.  After  four  years  spent  in  circuit  work  he  filled 
acceptably  the  best  stations  in  the  conference.  His  work 
was  so  highly  appreciated  that  the  people  kept  him  as 
long  as  the  polity  of  the  church  would  permit;  and  he 
served  three  churches  a second  term.  He  was  the  means, 
in  the  hands  of  God,  for  the  conversion  of  about  three 
thousand  souls.  He  became  a good  classical  scholar. 
He  left  fifteen  hundred  written  sermons,  and  always  had 
several  on  hand  which  he  had  never  used.  Baldwin  Uni- 
versity conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity. In  i860,  after  serving  several  years  as  assistant 
secretary,  he  was  elected  secretary  of  his  conference 
and  held  this  office  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in 
Titusville,  Pa.,  October  23,  1882.  His  work  as  secre- 
tary was  characterized  by  its  great  accuracy.  He  was 
uniformly  courteous  and  affable,  and  always  solicitous 
for  the  good  reputation  and  character  of  his  brethren  in 
the  ministry.  He  was  companionable,  communicative, 
and  confiding.  He  was  a genuine  man.  A delegate  to 
the  General  Conferences  of  1868  and  1872,  twenty-three 
years  secretary  of  Erie  Conference — he  was  abundantly 
worthy  of  these  exceptional  honors. 

Germanicus,  writing  for  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, says : “They  who  knew  his  habits  of  study,  and 

the  laborious  diligence  with  which  he  never  failed  to 
make  his  preparations  for  the  pulpit,  the  amount  of  read- 
ing that  he  did  with  reference  to  it,  and  of  writing,  and 
the  time  given  to  meditation  and  prayer,  could  only  have 
been  amazed  at  the  abundance  of  work  of  every  kind 
which  he  still  found  leisure  to  perform  everywhere — 
along  the  street,  in  men’s  offices  and  places  of  business, 
at  the  bedsides  of  the  sick,  among  the  poor  and  af- 
flicted, and  in  the  regular  visitation  of  families  from 
house  to  house.  Not  many,  however,  knew,  or  even 
imagined,  how,  in  the  husbandry  of  his  time,  wherever 
he  might  be,  or  in  whatsoever  way  employed,  his  thoughts 
were  still  occupied  with  his  preaching,  and  how  eager 
his  outlook  was  for  materials  to  be  used  in  the  building 


164 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


of  his  sermons.  He  always  had  a sermon  on  hand,  at 
which,  except  when  he  was  asleep,  he  never  ceased  to 
work  until  he  felt  that  he  had  done,  for  the  present,  his 
very  best  with  it;  and  when  that  was  laid  aside,  another 
took  its  place.  We  should  be  very  much  surprised  to 
learn  that  there  was  not  found  lying  upon  his  study 
table  after  his  death  an  unfinished  sermon,  upon  which 
he  was  engaged  when  his  fatal  sickness  fell  upon  him. 
We  do  not  think  a Sunday  ever  passed,  up  to  the  very 
last  which  he  appeared  in  the  pulpit,  that  he  did  not  give 
his  people  at  least  one  entirely  new  discourse,  fresh  and 
glistening  as  a new  coin  from  the  mint.  He  often  used 
his  old  sermons,  but  never  without  a thorough  re-cast  of 
them,  and  so  much  re-writing  as  to  make  them  virtually 
new.  He  said  he  could  not  preach  an  old  sermon  until 
he  had  given  it  a new  heating  at  the  forge,  and  a new 
hammering  on  the  aiivil ; and  that  really  he  had  no  mo- 
tive to  use  the  old  sermons  at  all,  except  that  there  were 
always  some  that  had  in  them  the  best  thought  that  he 
felt  himself  capable  of,  and  that  were  worthy  of  a resur- 
rection. So  far  as  labor  was  concerned,  he  declared  that 
he  had  gained  nothing  by  using  them,  for  it  cost  him 
quite  as  much  to  put  them  in  preaching  order  as  to  make 
new  ones,  and  the  process  wanted  the  peculiar  charm 
which  he  never  failed  to  find  in  original  composition. 
He  left  fourteen  hundred  and  seventy-two  discourses 
fully  written  out.  This  number  is  probably  exclusive  of 
the  original  sermons  which  he  undoubtedly  destroyed, 
preserving  them  only  in  their  renovated  forms.  It  is 
more  than  likely  the  number  actually  composed  by  him, 
first  and  last,  did  not  fall  short  of  two  thousand.  This 
is  most  remarkable,  considering  the  brief  pastorate  of 
Methodist  preachers,  who,  in  passing  from  charge  to 
charge,  have  so  many  temptations  in  their  new  fields  to 
rely  on  former  labors.  We  doubt  if  there  could  be  found 
amongst  us  another  man  who,  in  the  same  number  of 
years,  has  produced  as  many  elaborately  studied  sermons, 
or  many  in  the  denominations  which  boast  of  permanent 
pastorates  who  have  surpassed  him.  We  have  some 
konwledge  of  men  in  other  denominations,  and  have 
never  known  one,  either  there  or  amongst  ourselves,  who 
trusted  so  little  on  the  results  of  previous  labor.  It  was 
nothing  less  than  a passion  with  him  to  work  in  what, 


William  F.  Day. 


for  himself,  was  new  ground,  driving  his  ploughshare 
where  he  had  never  urged  it  before.  It  was  a positive 
joy  to  his  soul,  and  he  never  wearied  of  it  or  had  enough ; 
and  this  we  can  say  of  the  impression  made  upon  us  by 
innumerable  conversations  and  letters,  in  which  he  always 
spoke  freely  of  his  occupations,  that  he  cared  literally 
nothing  for  any  assumable  excellence  of  a sermon  which 
did  not  promote  its  adaptability  to  serve  the  true  end  of 
preaching.  He  had  supreme  contempt  for  all  the  sopho- 
morical  ambitions  of  mere  style  and  oratorical  display. 
His  sermon  was  only  a net  to  catch  men  for  Christ;  and 
the  best  net,  of  whatever  material  it  was  made,  or  after 
whatever  fashion,  was  that  which  drew  to  land  the 
greatest  number  of  fishes,  and  allowed  the  fewest  to  es- 
cape.”*— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , December  7, 
1882,  p.  3.) 

E.  B.  Cummings  relates  the  following  incident  in  illus- 
tration of  a peculiar  type  of  what  he  calls  “stage  fright 

“If  memory  serves  me  correctly,  Rev.  W.  F.  Day  was 
our  pastor  in  Poland,  Ohio,  in  1857.  There  was  a camp 
meeting  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mercer,  Pa.,  and  it  was 
my  privilege  to  carry  Brother  Day  to  attend  it.  We  got 
there  Friday  evening  and  Brother  Day  was  put  up  to 
preach  at  11  A.  M.,  Saturday.  Now,  of  all  the  preachers 
I have  heard  regulary  W.  F.  Day  comes  the  nearest  to 
my  ideals  of  an  all  round  feeder  of  the  flock.  During  his 
two  years  in  Poland  I literally  sat  at  the  feet  of  this  Gam- 
aliel. He  was  an  omniverous  up-to-date  reader.  It  was 
his  habit  to  write  two  sermons  every  week  in  full.  These 
he  would  place  in  that  little  black  portfolio  and  this  he 
would  lay  in  the  seat  behind  him  in  the  pulpit  without 
opening,  and  then  in  quiet  conversational  tones  would 
always  give  his  people  something  new,  helpful  and  satis- 
fying. He  was  a popular  preacher,  but  sensitive,  unas- 
suming, and  non-combative.  His  Saturday  sermon  cap- 

*W.  F.  Day — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial,  1845; 
full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849,  Waugh; 
deceased,  Titusville,  Pa.,  October  23,  1882.  Appointments: 
1845,  Hubbard;  1846,  Ellsworth;  1847-48,  Newburg;  1849,  Mer- 
cer; 1850,  Clarion;  1851-’52,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1853-’54,  North  East; 
1855-’56,  Akron;  1857-’58,  Poland;  1859-’60,  Cleveland,  St.  Clair 
Street;  1861-’62,  Ravenna;  1863-’65,  Meadville;  1866-’67,  James- 
town, N.  Y.;  1868-’70,  Akron;  1871,  Ravenna;  1872-’73,  Warren, 
O.;  1874-’76,  Meadville,  First  Church;  1877-’79,  New  Castle,  First 
Church;  1880-’82,  Titusville. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 66 

tured  the  camp  and  it  was  soon  understood  that  Brother 
Day  was  booked  for  the  n o’clock  sermon  on  Sunday. 
My  person  acquaintance  with  Jonathan  Whitely  was  very 
limited.  I would  call  him  a typical  English  preacher  as 
they  have  appeared  in  American  pulpits.  He  was  of  at-  ' 
tractive  presence.  He  was  fervid,  fanciful  and  magnetic. 
The  elder  understood  the  occasion  and  the  man  when 
he  appointed  Jonathan  Whitely  to  preach  at  8 o’clock 
Sunday  morning.  There  were  about  twenty  preachers 
and  fully  five  hundred  veterans  in  camp.  The  sun  came 
up  clear  and  was  greeted  with  prayer  and  praise  from 
every  tent.  The  chariot  swung  low,  and  ‘heaven  came 
down  our  soul  to  greet,  while  glory  crowned  the  mercy 
seat.’  Boy  like  I crawled  from  the  preachers’  tent  to  the 
space  under  the  pulpit,  whence  I could  see  the  congrega- 
tion before  me,  and  the  preachers  above  me.  The  mili- 
tant hosts  were  ready  for  either  service  or  sacrifice.  And 
Jonathan  Whitely  was  ready.  His  text  was  Paul’s  tri- 
umphal death  song.  He  had  barely  opened  on  the  ‘good 
fight5  when  a venerable  man  leaning  against  a tree  gave 
a shout  of  ‘glory5  which  was  the  signal  for  an  almost 
constant  wave  of  emotional  response.  I was  there  at  the 
beginning,  but  not  at  the  ending  of  that  wonderful  scene. 
It  happened  in  this  way.  Not  more  than  fifteen  minutes 
had  passed  when  I felt  a tug  at  my  foot,  and  Brother  Day 
whispered,  ‘Ed,  where  is  the  horse?5  Without  compre- 
hending the  question,  I replied,  ‘Down  in  the  barn  just 
outside  the  grounds.5  And  I returned  to  the  most  aston- 
ishing exhibition  of  the  power  of  oratory  I had  up  to 
that  time  ever  witnessed.  The  preacher  had  not  more 
than  reached  the  ‘wherefore,5  when  I felt  a more  vigorous 
pull,  and  the  sharp  command,  ‘Ed,  come  out  here,  quick.5 
A few  steps  from  the  tent  my  horse  stood  nervously 
waiting.  Strangely,  not  an  eye  of  that  tumultuous  throng 
was  turned  our  way.  He  hurried  me  into  my  carriage, 
and  with,  ‘Now  drive  hard,5  we  were  off.  E"p  hill  and 
down  with  my  whip  in  his  hand,  he  would  urge  my  good 
horse,  until  about  noon  he  said:  ‘Turn  in  at  this  gate,  I 

know  these  people.5  He  frankly  told  them  his  story,  say- 
ing : ‘I  never  could  have  stood  on  my  feet  in  the  face  of 

that  audience/  After  a good  dinner  he  regained  his  com- 
posure, and  we  reached  home  Sunday  evening,  and  I 
never  heard  him  refer  to  the  strange  experience. 


Dayton  Methodism. 


1 67 


“Some  years  later  the  elder  told  me  the  aftermath. 
Whitely  held  the  swelling  congregation  in  frenzied  ex- 
citement up  to  the  close  of  the  great  service.  ‘Where  is 
Brother  Day?’  began  to  pass  among  the  preachers.  Oh, 
he  has  probably  gone  out  in  the  woods  for  meditation  and 
prayer,  and  the  elder  directed  some  brother  to  open  with 
singing.  Who  tried  to  preach  I do  not  remember.” 

Ezra  Jones  was  born  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
grew  up  to  manhood.  His  parents  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  educated  in  this  faith. 
When  converted,  he  united  with  this  church  and  entered 
upon  a course  of  study  preparatory  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  His  studies  led  him  to  a change  of  view  con- 
cerning certain  important  points  of  doctrine.  This  re- 
sulted in  his  transference  of  membership  to  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Jamestown  quarterly  conference,  and  admitted  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1845.  “Mr.  Jones  was 
moderate  in  size,  an  easy  and  pleasant  speaker,  a pious 
and  devoted  young  minister  of  more  than  ordinary  prom- 
ise, filling  acceptably  some  of  our  most  important  ap- 
pointments, until  a complication  of  painful  diseases  ren- 
dered it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from  the  itinerant 
ministry.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  II.,  p.  266.)  He  superannuated  in  1854, 
and  located  in  1866.  After  his  location  he  removed  to 
Lansing,  Mich.  Here  he  became  an  influential  public 
citizen  to  whom  was  committed  important  trusts — “dep- 
uty auditor  general,  assistant  assessor  of  internal  rev- 
enue, member  of  board  of  directors  of  reform  school, 
member  of  board  of  directors  of  city  schools.”  He  was 
an  esteemed  local  preacher  and  useful  Christian  until  his 
death  which  occurred  at  Lansing,  Mich.,  October  5, 
1899.* 

Dayton  Methodism. 

The  Cottage  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Dayton 
was  incorporated  October  31,  1845,  at  a meeting  over 

♦Ezra  Jones — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1845;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849, 
Waugh;  located,  1866;  deceased,  Lansing,  Mich.,  October  5,  1889. 
Appointments:  1845,  Gerry;  1846,  Cleveland;  1847-’48,  Mercer; 

1849,  Erie;  1850-’51,  Akron;  1852,  Greenville;  1853,  Ravenna; 
1854-’65,  superannuated. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 68 

which  Daniel  Prosser  and  John  H.  Blish  presided;  and 
Giles  Johnson,  William  Howlet  and  John  B.  Reed  were 
elected  trustees.  At  that  time  W.  S.  Worrallo  and  T.  H. 
Cummings  were  the  circuit  preachers — on  the  Forest- 
ville  and  Villenovia  Circuit — and  the  membership  num- 
bered about  sixty.  A church  edifice  was  erected  in  1846 
in  West  Dayton,  which  was  replaced  in  1872  by  a new 
structure  costing  about  $2,500.  A parsonage  for  the 
Dayton  Circuit  was  secured  in  West  Dayton  about  1859, 
valued  at  $1,500. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  a church  was  incorpo- 
rated March  8,  1848,  with  the  following  trustees:  Avery 
Park,  Nelson  Hillibert,  Norman  L.  Bacon,  Esek  B.  Nash, 
Aaron  P.  Knowles,  Jonathan  Price  and  Benjamin  J.  Al- 
len. No  church  was  built  and  the  society  wa:  allowed 
to  disorganize,  but  a Methodist  class  continued  to  hold 
meetings,  preaching  being  supplied  by  pastors  of  neigh- 
boring churches.  A meeting  of  this  class  was  held  April 
21,  1875,  in  the  school  house  at  Howard’s  Corners,  the 
pastor,  J.  H.  Whallon,  presiding.  The  East  Dayton 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  here  organized  with  B. 
J.  Allen,  O.  J.  Nash,  Ansel  A.  Nash,  Esek  K.  Park, 
Charles  W.  Hall,  L.  O.  Hall  and  A.  G.  Park  were  elected 
trustees.  The  same  year  a church  was  erected  at  How- 
ard’s Corners  at  a cost  of  $2,000,  and  in  January,  1876, 
it  was  dedicated  by  J.  T.  Edwards,  of  Chamberlain  In- 
stitute. 

In  Dayton  village,  a class  was  organized  in  1864  by 
W.  W.  Warner,  then  in  charge  of  the  circuit.  In  1870 
a comfortable  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a cost  of 
nearly  $3,000,  and  was  dedicated  by  Richard  A.  Caruth- 
ers,  presiding  elder  of  the  district. — ( History  of  Catta- 
raugus County , L.  H.  Everts , 1879,  pp.  234~235  ) 

Several  Classes  Formed. 

A Methodist  Society  was  organized  at  Townville  in 
1845,  among  the  original  members  being  J.  A.  Pond, 
Harvey  Hull  and  Gamaliel  Phillips.  Soon  afterwards 
Dr.  William  Nason,  Dr.  Luther  Pearse  and  Mr.  Lang- 
worthy united  with  the  society  and  became  permanent 
members.  Until  1849  the  meetings  were  held  in  the 
school  house,  when  a frame  church  was  erected  on  Mam 
street.  In  1877  a larger  and  handsomer  structure  was 


Several  Classes  Formed. 


169 


erected  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  which  cost 
about  $5,000. — (Bates,  Our  County  and  Its  People,  1899, 
p.  621.) 

Prior  to  1845  a Methodist  class  had  been  formed  at 
Garland,  Pa.,  the  leader  of  which  was  John  McCray. 
Among  other  early  members  the  following  may  be  men- 
tioned : John  McCray  and  wife,  Mrs.  Catherine  Mande- 
ville,  Samuel  Sanford  and  John  Mead  and  wife.  They 
worshiped  in  the  old  school  house  about  a mile  south  of 
Garland,  and  at  a later  date  in  the  new  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1853. 
— (History  of  Warren  County,  D.  Mason  & Co.,  1887, 
P-  576-) 

The  old  Washington  Circuit  was  organized  in  1845, 
and  included  Sheffield,  Balltown,  Marienville,  Tylers- 
burg,  Scotch  Hill,  Helen  Furnace,  Cooksburg,  Mile 
Stone,  Sigel,  Calvary  and  several  other  points.  The  first 
quarterly  conference,  of  which  we  can  find  a record,  was 
held  in  1854,  J.  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder;  George 
Moore,  circuit  preacher. 

Sherrett  Charge  has,  at  times  during  its  history,  in- 
cluded Sherrett,  Rimerton,  Wattersonville,  Phillipston, 
Stewardson  Furnace,  Gray’s  Eddy,  Mahoning  and  Dun- 
canville. The  society  at  Sherrett  was  organized  in  1845 
and  was  then  known  as  the  McClatchev  class  and  be- 
longed to  the  Brady  s Bend  Circuit.  Among  the  first 
members  were:  Michael  Frick,  class  leader;  Lucinda 

Frick,  Margaret  Frick,  Elizabeth  Yerty,  Sarah  Gambel, 
Sanil  Phillips,  Rachel  Phillips,  William  Leedom  and 
Sarah  Leedom.  The  first  meeting  house  was  built  about 
the  year  1854 — George  Henworthy,  David  Hays  and  A. 
N.  Chilcott,  trustees.  A revival  under  Thomas  Graham 
about  1858  added  forty  converts  to  the  church  member- 
ship. In  1876  J.  Boyd  Espy,  assisted  by  Prof.  E.  O. 
Excell,  had  a glorious  revival  in  the  old  McClatchey 
church.  The  next  year  a neat  and  substantial  church 
building  was  erected.  In  1879  the  society  was  taken 
from  Brady’s  Bend  and  a new  circuit  formed,  consisting 
of  Sherrett,  Rimerton  and  Gray's  Eddy.  A parsonage 
was  built  at  Sherrett  and  a church  at  Rimerton.  The 
latter  class  was  formed  in  1849 — Jacob  Rimer,  Peter 
Mobley,  Sanil  Crow  and  A.  N.  Chilcott  being  among 
the  original  members.  Stewardson  Furnace  class  be- 


170 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

longed  to  Putneyville  charge  until  1883,  when  it  was 
attached  to  Sherrett.  Phillipston  belonged  to  Rimers- 
burg  until  1883,  when  it  also  was  attached  to  Sheiiett. 

Wattersonville  church  stands  opposite  Red  Bank. 
Among  its  first  members  were  Squire  Carr,  William  Lee- 
dom  and  wife,  and  George  Steen. 

The  Conference  of  1846. 

The  conference  for  1846  met  on  the  twenty-ninth  of 
July  in  Akron,  Ohio,  Thomas  A.  Morris,  presiding  bish- 
op, William  F.  Wilson,  secretary,  Milo  Butler,  assistant 

secretary. 

Mr.  Gregg  says:  “From  this  time  forward  the  journ- 

als of  the  Erie  Conference  show  a very  great  improve- 
ment, both  in  penmanship,  in  arrangement,  and  in  the 
amount  of  materials  recorded.  Lp  to  this  time  scarcely 
a report  of  a committee,  adopted  by  the  conference,  or  a 
resolution,  in  the  form  in  which  it  passed  the  conference, 
was  placed  in  the  journal — they  were  bundled  up  and  lost 
— so  that  all  such  documents  found  in  these  pages,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  we  have,  at  much  trouble  and  expense, 
hunted  up  elsewhere." 

L.  W.  Ely  located  but  was  re-admitted  in  1850. 

J.  K.  Coxon  located  and  entered  upon  the  profession  of 

law. 

John  Luccock  located,  moved  west,  and  was  re-admit- 
ted in  the  Rock  River  Conference  in  1847. 

J.  F.  Hill  located  on  account  of  health,  went  west  and 
settled  on  a farm,  and  entered  the  army  during  the  Civil 

War  in  which  he  lost  his  life. 

R.  J.  Sibley  located,  settled  with  his  family  in  Erie, 
Pennsylvania,  engaged  in  business  but  did  not  meet  with 
success,  and  moved  west. 

Samuel  Leech  located,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Salem. 

Israel  Mershon  located,  and  after  a time  moved  west. 

John  O.  Wood  was  expelled. 

Lester  Janes  was  transferred  from  the  Ohio  to  the 
Texas  Conference  in  1843  to  preside  over  “Wesleyan 
College”  founded  by  Dr.  Martin  Ruter.  At  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  he 
returned  north,  and  in  the  spring  of  1846  was  employed 
to  fill  the  pulpit  at  Erie  made  vacant  by  the  resignation  of 
Calvin  Kingsley  to  resume  his  work  in  Allegheny  College. 


The  Conference  of  1846. 


171 

At  the  session  of  the  conference,  he  was  re-admitted,  but 
during  the  year  withdrew  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  united  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Janes  again  entered  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  its  ministry,  and,  after  successful  pastorates  in  sev- 
eral conferences,  closed  his  useful  career  in  the  Illinois 
Conference  in  1897. 

Ashbel  Parcell  came  to  us  from  the  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence in  the  second  year  of  his  probation,  and  served  El- 
lington one  year.  He  was  then  received  into  full  connec- 
tion and  ordained  deacon,  and  was  granted  a location  at 
his  own  request. 

The  action  of  this  conference  on  abolition,  culminating 
this  year  in  a complete  victory  for  the  abolitionists,  has 
been  presented  in  another  chapter. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial : Homer 

H.  Moore,  William  McCormick,  David  M.  Stever,  Wil- 
liam M.  Bear,  Thomas  W.  Browning,  Samuel  Hollen, 
and  John  R.  Lyon. 

Thomas  W.  Browning  had  been  a local  preacher  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  but  one  year  with  us,  when  he 
was  discontinued,  and  settled  in  Ravenna,  Ohio,  and  spent 
many  years  of  useful  service  in  the  local  ranks.* 

Appointments  for  1846:  Ravenna  District,  Timothy  Goodwin, 

presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  S.  C.  Thomas;  Cleveland,  W.  K.  Malt- 
by,  Ezra  Jones;  Akron,  Samuel  Gregg;  Middlebury,  J.  R.  Locke, 
T.  B.  Tait;  Painesville  and  Willoughby,  E.  J.  Kinney,  Ira  Eddy; 
Chagrin  Falls,  C.  R.  Chapman,  C.  P.  Henry;  Franklin,  D.  M. 
Stearns;  Newburg,  Albina  Hall,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Twinsburg,  Peter 
Burroughs;  Hudson,  Dillon  Prosser;  Chardon,  M.  H.  Bettes,  Milo 
Butler;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  supplied  by  Mr.  Hagar.  Warren  Dis- 
trict, John  C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  W.  H.  Hunter; 
Braceville,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Windham,  H.  H.  Moore;  Nelson,  E.  B. 
Lane,  P.  D.  Horton;  Mesopotamia,  J.  J.  Steadman,  Alden  Wal- 
ker, J.  W.  Clock,  supernumerary  employed  as  a supply;  Wind- 
sor, Allen  Fouts;  Parkman,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  Potter  Sullivan; 
Freedom,  Lewis  Clark;  Edinburg,  Ahab  Keller,  Thomas  Stubbs; 
Ellsworth,  S.  C.  Frear,  W.  F.  Day;  Poland,  Ira  Norris,  G.  W. 
Maltby;  Hubbard,  J.  L.  Holmes,  Albert  Norton.  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, Billings  O.  Plimpton,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Moses 
Hill;  Conneautville,  A.  L.  Miller,  Ira  Blackford;  Saegertown, 
John  Graham;  Rockville,  D.  H.  Jack;  Williamsfield,  Willliam 


♦Ashbel  Parcell — Admitted  on  trial,  Kentucky  Conference, 
1844;  upon  the  secession  of  that  conference  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference, 
1846;  full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  located  at  his 
own  request,  1847.  Appointment — 1846,  Ellington. 

T.  W.  Browning — Admitted  on  trial,  1846;  discontinued,  1847. 
Appointment — 1846,  Portland. 


172 


"■"IP""""" 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Patterson,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Morgan,  Wareham  French,  William 
McCormick;  Geneva,  G.  B.  Hawkins,  H.  D.  Cole;  Ashtabula, 
Joseph  Leslie,  Henry  Elliott;  Gustavus,  J.  M.  Plant;  Hartford, 
J.  E.  Aikin,  John  Demming;  Salem,  John  Crum,  Aurora  Callen- 
der. Allegheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  pro- 
fessors; John  Bain,  Hiram  Kinsley,  agents.  Erie  District,  John 
Robinson,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Lester  Janes;  McKean,  Josiah 
Flower,  John  Scott;  Springfield,  A.  G.  Miller,  Rufus  Parker; 
Wesley ville,  Alexander  Barris,  D.  M.  Stever;  North  East  and 
Quincy,  J.  H.  Whallon,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  Westfield,  T.  D.  Blinn; 
Mayville,  Alvin  Burgess,  S.  N.  Forest;  Harmony,  E.  J.  L.  Baker, 
Alva  Wilder;  Wattsburg,  Matthias  Himebaugh,  J.  W.  Wilson; 
Columbus,  Isaac  Scofield;  Mill  Creek,  John  Prosser.  Jamestown 
District,  Darius  Smith,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  H.  W. 
Beers,  R.  J.  Edwards;  Randolph,  J.  O.  Rich;  Cold  Springs,  S.  A. 
Henderson;  Napoli,  W.  S.  Worrallo,  J.  N.  Henry;  Gerry,  D.  W. 
Vorse  (the  quarterly  conference  minutes  give  also  the  name 
of  “H.  Martin”);  Ellington,  Ashbel  Parcell;  Forestville  and 
Villenovia,  Joseph  Uncles,  Samuel  Churchill;  Sheridan,  T.  H. 
Cummings;  Fredonia,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Portland,  T.  W.  Browning, 
Warren,  Niram  Norton;  Youngsville,  O.  P.  Brown;  Kinzua,  J. 
B Hammond.  Franklin  District,  Horatio  N.  Stearns,  presiding 
elder;  Franklin,  M.  C.  Briggs;  Cooperstown,  William  Monks; 
Oil  Creek,  John  Abbott;  Pleasantville,  John  Van  Horn;  Hender- 
sonville H.  S.  Winans,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Clinton  ville,  G.  F.  Reeser, 
David  King;  Shippenville,  R.  M.  Bear,  Daniel  Pritchard;  Wil- 
mington, Edwin  Hull;  Clarion,  J.  K.  Hallock,  Curllsville,  Thomas 
Benn,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Red  Bank,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland;  Luth- 
ersburg,  John  Wrigglesworth,  Samuel  Hollen;  Mercer,  W.  F. 
Wilson;  Harrisonville,  Josiah  Hildebrand,  W.  M.  Bear;  Green- 
ville and  Clarksville,  John  McLean,  Hiram  Luce;  New  Castle, 
B.  S.  Hill,  J.  W.  Hill. 

William  M.  Bear  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, Nov.  1,  1820,  and  moved  .with  his  parents  to 
Mount  Jackson,  Lawrence  County.  In  1838  a camp 
meeting  was  held  near  the  mouth  of  Big  Beaver  by 
Joshua  Monroe,  the  presiding  elder.  Here  young  Wil- 
liam was  soundly  converted.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1843  by  Hiram  Kinsley,  and  did  supply  work  for  tlnee 
years  when  he  joined  the  traveling  connection  in  the  Eiie 
Conference.  ‘‘Mr.  Bear  was  a tall,  stoutly-built  young 
man,  of  a modest,  unassuming  disposition,  with  fair 
preaching  talents  and  a well-balanced  mind,  which  he 
strove  to  cultivate.  He  possessed  an  even  temper,  sound 
judgment,  and  was  a very  acceptable  preacher.’  — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  V ol.  II,  p.  282.) 
After  twenty-six  years  of  effective  work,  Mr.  Bear  was 
transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference.  Here  he  was 
seven  years  effective  and  three  supernumerary;  and  was 
superannuated  in  1882.  He  was  a noble  man,  and  did 
hard  work  on  circuits — of  which  our  church  has  furnished 


John  R.  Lyon,  David  M.  Stever.  173 

so  vast  a number — where  the  salary  received  seemed  to  be 
in  inverse  ratio  to  the  work  required. 

He  died  at  Worthington,  Minnesota,  August  27,  1892.* 

William  McCormick  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, Dec.  5,  1817.  His  parents  were  earnest  Meth- 
odists, and  William  was  converted  on  the  Gustavus  Cir- 
cuit under  the  labors  of  Stephen  Hubbard  and  E.  J.  L. 
Baker  in  1835.  His  license  to  preach  bears  the  signature 
of  Hiram  Kinsley  and  is  dated  in  1844*  He  was  em- 
ployed as  a supply  on  Conneautville  Circuit  in  1845,  and 
in  1846  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
“He  possessed  talents  and  intelligence  that  were  respect- 
able, but  did  not  succeed  well  as  a pastor.  His  presiding 
elder  attributed  his  failure  to  spending  too  much  time  in 
his  study.  This  remark,  with  a slight  admonition  from 
the  bishop,  afflicted  him,  and,  his  health  being  poor,  he 
asked  to  be  located  at  the  end  of  his  fourth  year,  which 
was  granted.”  He  settled  in  Linesville,  Crawford  Co., 
Pa.r — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference, 
Vol  II,  pp.  284,  285.)  . 

John  R.  Lyon,  David  M.  Stever. 

John  R.  Lyon  was  born  in  Brighton,  Canada  West, 
Feb.  25,  1823;  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  March  15,  1885. 
He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  attributes 
his  early  conversion  to  the  godly  example,  earnest  prayers, 
and  faithful  instruction  of  his  pious  mother.  Soon  after 
his  conversion  he  felt  that  some  day  it  would  be  his  duty 
to  preach,  but  felt  a great  aversion  to  the  performance 

*W.  M.  Bear— Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on  trial 
1846;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  185l’, 
Morris;  transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference,  1872;  deceased’ 
Worthington,  Minn.,  August  27,  1892.  Appointments:  1843’ 

Henderson  (supply);  1846,  Harrisville;  1847-’48,  Greenville  and 
Clarksville;  1849-’50,  Franklin,  O.;  1851,  Middlebury;  1852,  Free- 
dom and  Charlestown;  1853-’54,  Edinburg;  1855-’56,  Parkman* 
1857-58,  West  Farmington;  1859-’60,  Windsor;  1861-’62,  Gustavus; 
1863,  Clarksville;  1864,  Edinboro;  1865-’67,  Wattsburg  and  Mina- 
1868-’69,  Panama;  1870-71,  Delanti;  1872,  Worthington,  Minn.; 
1873-75,  Bigelow;  1876,  Heron  Lake;  1877-79,  supernumerary; 
1880,  Rushmore;  1881,  Heron  Lake;  1882-’91,  superannuated. 

tWilliam  McCormick— Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on 
trial,  1846;  full  connection,  1848;  deacon,  1848,  Hamline;  discon- 
tinued at  his  own  request,  1850.  Appointments:  1845,  Con- 

neautville (supply);  1846,  Morgan;  1847,  Clinton ville;  1848,  Ship- 
pen  ville;  1849,  Freedom. 


12 


174 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


of  that  duty.  He  was  finally  induced  to  accept  a license 
to  exhort;  and  in  1845  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  as- 
sisted D.  H.  Jack  on  the  Saegertown  Circuit  until 
the  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  in  1846,  by  which  he 
was  received  on  trial. 

“Mr.  Lyon  was  a good-sized,  well-appearing  young 
man ; modest,  social,  and  of  good  report  among  men,  and 
as  a minister  and  pastor  has  stood  among  the  most  re- 
liable, successful,  and  useful  men,  steadily  advancing  in 
his  position  in  the  conference  and  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  brethren. — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  288.) 

Brother  Lyon  was  effective  thirty-six  years,  and  four 
years  presiding  elder  on  the  Clarion  and  Brookville  Dis- 
tricts. He  was  a member  of  the  General  Conference  of 
1876.  The  last  months  of  his  life  were  full  of  suffering, 
yet  without  a murmur  he  endured  all.  During  one  of  his 
attacks  of  severe  pain,  he  said  to  a brother  minister : “I 

am  on  the  border,  but  there  is  no  darkness  there.”  Af- 
ter singing  the  hymn,  “Jesus,  Lover  of  my  soul,”  he  said: 
“What  a refuge!  I say,  what  a refuge” — and  his  soul 
went  out  in  praise  to  God.* 

David  M.  Stever  was  born  in  Columbia  County,  New 
York,  May  26,  1819;  and  died  in  Butler,  Missouri,  May 
10,  1899.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  His  father  died  while  he  was  yet  young, 
and  his  religious  education  devolved  upon  his  mother. 
While  a student  in  Troy  Conference  Seminary,  he  was 
converted  at  a great  revival  in  1840;  the  same  evening 
gave  his  name  to  the  church,  and  received  from  Rev. 
Zebulon  Phillips  a verbal  license  to  exhort.  He  labored 
zealously  among  the  students,  and  was  made  happy  by  the 
conversion  of  about  one  hundred  of  their  number.  Fail- 
ing health  caused  him  to  leave  school,  and  he  went  to  re- 

*J.  R.  Lyon — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial,  1846; 
full  connection,  1848;  deacon,  1848,  Hamline;  elder,  1850,  Janes; 
deceased,  Sheridan,  N.  Y.,  March  15,  1885.  Appointments: 
1846,  Hendersonville;  1847-’48,  Mahoning;  1849-’50,  Curllsville; 
1851,  Mahoning;  1852,  Brookville;  1853-’54,  Clarion;  1855-’56, 
May ville ; 1857,  Fredonia;  1858,  Westfield;  1859-’60,  Forestville 
and  Sheridan;  1861-’62,  Villenovia;  1863-’65,  Panama;  1866, 
Franklin,  Pa.;  1867-’68,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1869-’70,  Newhurg;  1871, 
Sharon;  1872,  Clarion  District;  1873-’75;  Brookville  District; 
1876-’77,  Emlenton;  1878-’80,  Ripley;  1881,  Sheridan;  1882-’83, 
supernumerary;  1884,  superannuated. 


Samuel  Hollen,  Homer  H.  Moore. 


175 


side  in  Bangor,  Maine.  In  1845  he  came  to  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  following  year  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Wattsburg  Circuit, 
and  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
thirty  years  effective,  and  nine  years  presiding  elder  on  the 
Fredonia,  Warren,  and  Erie  Districts. 

“Mr.  Stever  was  quite  tall,  straight,  and  rather  firmly 
built ; quite  original  and  a little  eccentric  in  his  manners 
and  style  of  address,  especially  when  anything  embarras- 
sed him,  but  as  he  advanced  in  the  ministry  he  made  con- 
stant and  valuable  improvement.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  286.) 

During  the  years  of  his  retirement  he  lived  in  Oil  Gky, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Wichita,  Kansas.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Erie  for  interment. 

“As  a man  he  was  genial  and  companionable,  full  of 
wit  and  humor;  as  a neighbor,  none  could  be  more  de- 
lightful; in  his  own  home,  none  could  be  more  beloved. 
His  last  days  were  his  best.  His  last  hours  were  beauti- 
ful, triumphant.”  His  last  words  were:  “All  is  well; 

all  is  well.”* 


Samuel  Hollen,  Homer  H.  Moore. 

Concerning  his  early  religious  experience,  Samuel  Hol- 
len says : “I  was  a child  of  early  religious  instruction 

and  have  no  recollections  reaching  beyond  a consciousness 
of  sin  and  desire  to  be  saved.  At  times,  conviction  was 
deep  and  pungent,  and  when  but  a child  I formed  the 
habit  of  secret  prayer.  Among  my  earliest  recollections 
is  my  mother’s  closet,  where  she  used  to  take  me  and, 
with  her  hand  on  my  head,  pray  for  her  little  boy.  And 
very  many  times,  when  but  a child,  I received  answers  to 
prayer,  and,  as  I now  recognize  it,  sweet  communion  with 
God.”  But  in  his  youthful  days  he  wandered  from  duty, 

*D.  M.  Stever— Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on  trial, 
1846;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851  ’ 
Morris;  deceased,  Butler,  Mo.,  May  10,  1899.  Appointments:’ 
1846,  Wesleyville;  1847,  Conneautville;  1848,  Saegertown;  1849, 
Shippenville;  1850,  Hendersonville;  1851,  Clinton ville;  1852* 
Brady’s  Bend;  1853-’54,  Curllsville;  1855-’56,  Wattsburg;  1857, 
Randolph;  1858,  Sherman;  1859,  May  ville;  1860-’61,  Fredonia 
District;  1862,  Mayville;  1863,  Titusville;  1864,  Ashtabula;  1865, 
Agent  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute;  1866-’68,  Warren  Dis- 
trict; 1869-72,  Erie  District;  1873,  Jamestown,  six  months,  Erie, 
Tenth  Street,  six  months;  1874-75,  Sherman;  1876-’98,  super- 
annuated. 


■ 


176  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

virtue,  and  peace,  alternately  repenting  and  sinning,  until 
the  fourth  of  January,  1836,  in  the  old  Pine  Street 
Church,  on  the  Driftwood  branch  of  the  Sinnemahoning, 
belonging  to  the  Smethport  Mission,  he  was  wonderfully 
converted  to  God.  Brother  Hollen  was  born  in  Ly- 
coming County,  Pennsylvania,  July  4,  1815.  In  1828, 
with  his  parents,  he  moved  into  the  town  of  Shippen, 
McKean  Countv.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1839, 
and  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1846. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cordelia  White  in 
1840.  In  1868  he  moved  to  Iowa,  and  subsequently  to 
Republic  County,  Kansas,  where  he  died  of  pneumonia, 
Dec.  8,  1881.  ‘‘Brother  Hollen  was  a faithful,  humble, 
devoted  minister  and  pastor;  a man  conscientious,  even 
tempered;  a cheerful  and  happy-spirited  Christian.”  As 
he  came  to  the  borders  of  the  stream,  he  said : “The  joys 

of  this  day  are  worth  a whole  life  of  service!  ”* 

Homer  H.  Moore  was  born  in  Mantua,  Ohio,  March 
10,  1820,  and  received  his  name  from  a highly  esteemed 
deceased  cousin  of  his  father’s.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
till  he  was  twenty,  and,  in  the  autumn,  attended  a select 
school  at  Shalerville,  doing  “chores”  morning  and  even- 
ing for  his  board.  The  winter  following  he  taught  school 
in  the  same  place  at  $14  per  month.  In  1841  he  entered 
the  academy  at  Chagrin  Falls  where  he  remained  two 
years,  engaged  in  the  study  of  mathematics,  literature, 
Latin  and  Greek.  In  1843  he  went  to  Kentucky  where  he 
spent  two  years  in  teaching,  “wiping  out”  all  his  debts 
preparatory  to  entering  the  Erie  Conference.  He  entered 
conference  in  July,  1846,  and,  as  the  successor  of  the  truly 
great  John  J.  Steadman,  received  Windham  as  his  first 
charge.  On  February  22,  1850,  he  married  Miss  Philena 
Burnell  of  Charlotte,  New  York,  daughter  of  Judge  Joel 
Burnell.  Actuated  by  an  intense  desire  to  see  Kansas  a 

♦Samuel  Hollen — Licensed  to  preach,  1839;  admitted  on  trial, 
1846;  full  connection,  1848;  deacon,  1848,  Hamline;  located,  1850; 
re-admitted,  1852;  elder,  1854,  Scott;  deceased,  Republic  Co., 
Kas.,  December  8,  1881.  Appointments;  1846,  Luthersburg  Mis- 
sion; 1847,  Ridgway;  1848-’49,  Red  Bank;  1852,  Curllsville; 
1853,  Pleasantville ; 1854-’55,  Ashville;  1856,  Frewsburg;  1857-’58, 
Youngsville;  1859-’60,  Edinboro;  1861,  Jefferson;  1862-’63,  Evans- 
burg;  1864,  Rockville;  1865,  Harmonsburg;  1866,  Columbus; 
1867,  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington;  1868,  Sheffield;  1869,  super- 
annuated; 1870,  Jackson;  1871,  Richmond;  1872-’81,  superannu- 
ated. 


1 78 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

free  state,  in  1857  he  asked  to  have  his  membership  trans- 
ferred to  the  Kansas  Mission  Conference,  and  in  1861  en- 
tered the  army  as  chaplain  of  the  Third  Kansas  Volun- 
teers. In  1863  he  went,  by  request  of  the  Col.,  James 
Montgomery,  to  South  Carolina  to  aid  him  in  the  organ- 
ization of  colored  troops,  and  became  recruiting  officer, 
and  rejecting  the  appointment  as  lieutenant  colonel,  he  ac- 
cepted the  chaplaincy  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment  of 
Colored  V olunteers. 

In  1864  he  spent  some  time  with  Gov.  Marvin,  whilst 
canvassing  the  state  preparatory  to  reconstruction,  report- 
ing for  the  New  York  Tribune  his  speeches.  He  also 
traveled  through  a large  part  of  the  state  lecturing  to 
whites  and  blacks  on  the  dispensation  of  free  labor.  In 
1864  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  education  for 
Florida,  and  opened  schools  among  whites  and  blacks,  co- 
operating with  the  Freedmen’s  Bureau  and  various  North- 
ern Aid  Societies.  He  resigned  this  service  in  May, 
1865,  returned  north,  and  in  its  next  session,  received 
work  in  the  Erie  Conference. 

In  1869,  noticing  that  Chautauqua  lake  was  likely  to 
become  a summer  resort,  he  on  his  own  motion  and  at  Ms 
own  expense,  attended  a national  camp  meeting  at  Round 
Lake,  New  York,  to  study  the  situation  as  an  aid  to  the 
formation  of  a better  judgment  in  regard  to  the  propriety 
of  establishing  a permanent  national  camp  ground  at  the 
lake.  The  following  week  he  attended  a camp  meeting  at 
Dayton,  New  York,  and  explained  to  the  preachers  and 
principal  laymen  the  superior  facilities  the  lake  afforded 
for  a national  encampment.  A committee  was  appointed, 
the  lake  surveyed,  fifty  acres  of  land  purchased  for  $10,- 
000,  and  the  following  September  a little  camp-meeting 
was  held,  aided  by  Dr.  Palmer  and  his  celebrated  wife,  the 
evangelist.  Thereafter  camp  meetings  were  held  annu- 
ally, cottages  constantly  going  up  and  improvements  mov- 
ing forward  rapidlv  till  1876 — seven  years — when  the 
grounds  were  transferred  to  another  corporation — “The 
Chautauqua  Sunday  School  Assembly.” 

It  is  no  detraction  from  what  afterwards  occurred  un- 
der the  masterly  leadership  of  Lewis  Miller  and  Bishop 
John  H.  Vincent,  to  say  that  Homer  H.  Moore  took  the 
first  step  and  spent  the  first  money  to  found  the  little  city 
in  the  Chautauqua  woods  which,  having  passed  through 


Homer  H.  Moore. 


179 


various  modifying  forms,  has  become  a waymark  of  pro- 
gress throughout  the  Christian  world.  Mr.  Moore  was 
vice  president  of  the  camp-ground  association  and  a trus- 
tee of  the  assembly  for  more  than  twenty  years.  At 
different  times  he  has  occupied  the  Chautauqua  platform 
as  lecturer,  questions  of  speculative  philosophy  or  the- 
ology always  engaging  his  attention.  He  has  always  dis- 
dained to  present  to  an  audience  in  a lecture  matter  which 
every  intelligent  reader  could  find  better  stated  in  his  own 
library.  From  the  first  number,  for  some  eighteen  years, 
he  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  “Chautauqua  Herald.” 

Besides  many  contributions  to  church  papers  and  to 
different  magazines,  he  is  the  author  of  five  volumes. 
“Ida  Norton : Or  Life  at  Chautauqua,”  a story ; “Matter 
Life  and  Mind,”  “Sickness  as  a Profession,”  “The  An- 
atomy -of  Atheism,”  “The  Republic  to  Methodism,  Deb- 
tor,” and  has  about  ready  for  the  printer  “A  Study  of 
Mind  and  Man.” 

In  1887  Allegheny  College  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  doctor  of  divinity.  He  was  a member  of  the 
General  Conferences  of  1876  and  1888,  and  for  a term  of 
four  years  a member  of  the  Book  Committee,  a body  hav- 
ing general  conference  powers  over  the  literature  of  the 
church  between  one  general  conference  and  another.  In 
1892,  his  wife’s  health  failing,  he  asked  for  supernumer- 
ary relation.* 


The  following  resolution  was  adopted  at  the  session  of 
the  Erie  Conference,  and  is  instructive  as  read  in  the  light 
of  the  subsequent  history  of  the  Church : 

“Resolved,  That  we  affectionately  advise  our  brethren 
as  they  value  their  influence  and  usefulness  in  the  com- 


*H.  H.  Moore — Licensed  to  preach,  1841;  admitted  on  trial, 
1846;  full  connection,  1848;  deacon,  1846,  Morris;  elder,  1850, 
Janes;  transferred  to  Kansas  and  Nebraska  Conference,  1857; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1861.  Appointments:  1846, 

Windham;  1847,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1848,  Gerry;  1849,  Randolph; 
1850,  Ashville;  1851,  Wesleyville;  1852,  Mayville;  1853-’54,  War- 
ren, Pa.;  1855,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1856,  New  Wilmington;  1858, 
Wyandot  and  Quindaro,  Kas.;  1859-’60,  Lawrence,  Kas.;  1861, 
Chaplain  U.  S.  A.;  1862,  Frewsburg;  1863-’65,  Chaplain  U.  S.  A.; 
1866,  Pleasantville;  1867-’68,  Ellington;  1869-70,  Springfield; 
1871,  Parker’s  Landing;  1872,  Panama  and  Grant  Station;  1873, 
Sinclairville;  1874-75,  Salamanca;  1876,  Hamlet;  1877,  Silver 
Creek;  1878,  Girard;  1879-’80,  North  East;  1881-’82,  Wattsburg; 
1883-’85,  Chautauqua;  1886,  Pleasantville;  1887-’89,  St.  Peters- 
burg; 1890,  Emlenton;  1891-’99,  supernumerary;  1900-’07,  super- 
annuated; present  residence,  Chautauqua,  N.  Y. 


i8o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


munity  to  desist  from  any  participation  in  the  doings  of 
secret  societies  and  use  their  influence  in  a prudent  and 
kindly  manner  to  dissuade  others  from  the  same.”  The 
resolution  was  offered  by  G.  W.  Clarke,  and  M.  H.  Bettes. 

— (Manuscript  Journal  of  the  Erie  Conference , Vol.  I , 

1846,  p.  263.) 

The  Conference  Session  of  1847. 

Edmond  S.  Janes  was  the  presiding  bishop  at  the 
twelfth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  which  met  in 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  July  21,  1847.  W.  F.  Wilson 
was  made  secretary,  and  Milo  Butler  assistant  secretary. 

C.  P.  Henry,  Ashbel  Parcell,  and  Daniel  Pritchard  lo-  j 

cated. 

John  Tribby,  Samuel  B.  Sullivan,  William  Sampson, 

John  D.  Norton,  John  Whippo,  and  Charles  S.  Jennes 
were  admitted  on  trial. 

John  C.  Ayres,  John  J.  Steadman,  John  Bain,  Billings 
O.  Plimpton,  George  W.  Clarke,  and  Hiram  Kinsley  were 
elected  delegates  to  the  General  Conference ; and  Bryan 
S.  Hill,  and  Calvin  Kingsley,  reserve  delegates. 

A committee  on  Sunday  Schools — Samuel  Gregg,  J.  E. 

Chapin  and  Dillon  Prosser — presented  the  following  reso- 
lutions which  were  adopted : 

“Resolved,  That  we  will  hold  a Sabbath  School  An- 
niversary this  evening  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  this  place,  commencing  at  8 o'clock. 

“Resolved,  That  Bishop  Janes  and  Rev.  Dr.  Bond  are 
hereby  respectfully  invited  to  address  us  in  behalf  of  the 
Sunday  School  cause. 

“Resolved,  That  after  the  addresses  we  will  proceed 
to  organize  ourselves  into  a Sabbath  School  Society 
auxiliary  to  the  Sunday  School  Union  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  requiring  those  who  become  members 
to  pay  annually  fifty  cents  each  into  the  treasury  of  the 
society." 

The  meeting  was  held  according  to  appointment,  and 
G.  W.  Clarke  and  Samuel  Gregg  were  appointed  to  draw 
up  a constitution  for  the  Sunday  School  Society.  This 
was  subsequently  adopted.  It  was  amended  at  the  con- 
ference session  of  1853.  We  give  the  amended  constitu- 
tion in  this  connection : 

“Article  I. — The  title  of  this  association  shall  be  the 


- 


The  Conference  Session  of  1847.  181 

Erie  Conference  Sunday  School  Society,  auxiliary  to  the 
Sunday  School  Union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

“Article  II. — The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  Sunday  Schools  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  thus,  by  careful  religious  training  of 
those  who  may  be  brought  within  its  influence,  seek  to 
promote  the  glory  of  God  and  the  happiness  of  mankind. 

“Article  III. — T he  members  and  probationers  of  the 
Erie  Conference  shall  constitute  the  members  of  this  so- 
ciety. 

“Article  IV. — The  officers  of  this  society  shall  be  a 
president,  vice  president,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  as  many 
managers  as  there  are  conference  districts. 

“Article  V. — The  annual  meeting  shall  be  held  during 
the  session  of  the  conference,  when  officers  shall  be  elect- 
ed. 1 here  shall  also  be  held  an  anniversary  meeting  of 
the  society  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  managers  may 
appoint.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  managers  to  provide 
and  notify  speakers,  and  make  all  necessary  arrangements 
as  far  as  practicable  a year  in  advance. 

“Article  VI. — The  funds  of  this  society  shall  be  paid 
over  to  the  treasury  of  the  society. 

“Article  VII. — This  constitution  may  be  amended  at 
any  annual  meeting,  two  thirds  of  the  members  being 
present  and  voting  in  favor.” 

Appointments  for  1847:  Ravenna  District,  Timothy  Good- 

win, presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  S.  C.  Thomas;  Cleveland,  J.  W 
Lowe;  Cleveland  Mission,  B.  K.  Maltby;  Akron,  J.  R Locke- 
Middlebury,  T.  B.  Tait,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Painesville,  E.  J.  Kinney! 
Willoughby,  Ira  Eddy;  Chagrin  Falls,  Lorenzo  Rogers;  Frank- 
lin, D.  M.  Stearns;  Newburg,  Samuel  Gregg,  W.  F.  Day;  Twins- 
burg,  Albina  Hall;  Hudson,  Dillon  Prosser;  Chardon,  M.  H. 
Bettes,  Milo  Butler;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  A.  M.  Brown;  Asbury 
Seminary,  G.  B.  Hawkins,  principal.  Warren  District,  H.  N. 
Stearns,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  John  Bain;  Brace ville  E B 
Lane;  Windham,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Nelson,  J.  W.  Clock,  P.  D.  Horton; 
Mesopotamia,  J.  C.  Ayres,  Alden  Walker;  Freedom,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs; Charlestown,  Lewis  Clark;  Edinburg,  C.  R.  Chapman; 
J.  L.  Holmes;  Ellsworth,  Albert  Norton,  William  Sampson; 
Youngstown  and  Poland,  Ira  Norris,  John  Tribby;  Hubbard 
Ahab  Keller,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Hartford,  John  McLean,  Hiram 
Kellogg.  Meadville  District,  Billings  O.  Plimpton,  presiding  el- 
der; Meadville,  Thomas  Graham;  Conneautville,  A.  L.  Miller, 
D.  M.  Stever;  Saegertown,  John  Graham,  Moses  Hill;  Rockville! 
D.  H.  Jack;  Williamsfield,  William  Patterson,  J.  M.  Plant;  Gen- 
eva, Joseph  Leslie,  Wareham  French;  Ashtabula,  J.  J.  Stead- 
man, J.  E.  Aikin;  Gustavus,  Caleb  Brown,  Stephen  Heard;  Sa- 
lem, Aurora  Callender,  John  Crum;  Morgan,  H.  D.  Cole,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Greenville  and  Clarksville,  B.  S.  Hill,  W.  M.  Bear;  Alle- 


1 


182 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


gheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  professors;  M.  C. 
Briggs,  agent.  Erie  District,  John  Robinson,  presiding  elder; 
Erie,  Thomas  Stubbs;  McKean,  Josiah  Flower;  Springfield,  Hi- 
ram Kinsley,  John  Prosser;  Wesley ville,  L.  D.  Prosser;  North 
East,  Rufus  Parker;  Quincy,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Westfield,  A.  G.  Miller; 
Mayville,  J.  H.  Whallon,  S.  B.  Sullivan;  Harmony,  W.  B.  Lloyd, 
S.  N.  Forest;  Wattsburg,  Matthias  Himebaugh,  Alexander  Bar- 
ris;  Spring  Creek  Mission,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Columbus,  Isaac  Sco- 
field; Mill  Creek  Mission,  W.  S.  Worrallo;  Sunday  School  Agent, 
David  Preston.  Jamestown  District,  Darius  Smith,  presiding  el- 
der; Jamestown,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  H.  H.  Moore;  Randolph,  J.  O. 
Rich;  Cold  Spring  Mission,  S.  A.  Henderson;  Leon,  O.  P.  Brown; 
Gerry,  J.  N.  Henry,  C.  S.  Jennes;  Ellington,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  For- 
estville  and  Villenovia,  Alvin  Burgess,  Ira  Blackford;  Sheridan, 
H.  W.  Beers;  Fredonia,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Cortland,  Joseph  Uncles; 
Warren,  Niram  Norton;.  Youngsville,  D.  W.  Vorse,  David  King; 
Kinzua,  J.  B.  Hammond.  Franklin  District,  William  H.  Hunter, 
presiding  elder;  Franklin,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Cooperstown,  Hiram 
Luce;  Oil  Creek,  John  Van  Horn;  Pleasantville,  William  Monks; 
Hendersonville,  H.  S.  Winans,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Clintonville, 
G.  F.  Reeser,  William  McCormick;  Shippen ville,  J.  K.  Hallock, 
John  Whippo;  Washington,  Alva  Wilder;  Clarion,  R.  M.  Bear; 
Curllsville,  Josiah  Hildebrand;  Red  Bank,  John  Wrigglesworth, 
Edwin  Hull;  Tionesta  Mission,  John  Abbott;  Brookville,  I.  C.  T. 
McClelland;  Ridgway,  Samuel  Hollen;  Mercer,  Ezra  Jones; 
Harrisville,  Thomas  Benn;  New  Castle,  R.  J.  Edwards;  Ma- 
honing, J.  W.  Hill,  J.  R.  Lyon. 

Charles  S.  Jennes  died  at  El  Dorado  Springs,  Mo., 
March  9,  1904,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1847,  and  in 
1855  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  under 
charges.  He  moved  to  Iowa  County,  Iowa,  where  he 
spent  some  time  on  a farm.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Iowa  Conference  in  1859,  and  located  in  1862,  ad- 
mitted on  trial  again  in  1866,  in  1880  was  transferred  to 
the  South  Kansas  Conference  of  which  he  remained  a 
member  until  his  death.  He  enlisted  in  the  Eighty- 
seventh  Iowa  regiment — known  as  the  “Governor’s  Gray- 
beards,”  because  the  men  were  all  over  age — and  served 
as  first  lieutenant,  and  later  as  captain. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  died  in  the  first 
year  of  his  ministry,  and  there  is  a record  in  the  minutes 
of  the  Gerry  Quarterly  Conference,  March  11,  1848,  of 
the  appointment  of  a committee  to  purchase  a tomb-stone 
for  her  grave  in  the  Sinclairville  cemetery.  His  second 
wife  died  in  Pittsburg,  Kansas,  where  he  was  pastor  at 
the  time  of  the  building  of  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  that  place.  He  moved  to  El  Dorado  Springs 


John  W hippo,  John  D.  Norton.  183 

in  1900  where  he  lived  with  a daughter  until  his  death.* 
— ( Central  Christian  Advocate,  April  1 3,  1904.) 

John  Whippo,  John  D.  Norton. 

John  Whippo  was  born  in 'Centre  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Oct.  18,  1818.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  on  War- 
rior’s Mark  Circuit,  Baltimore  Conference,  in  January, 
1845,  and  soon  afterward  removed  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Erie  Conference,  and  was  employed  by  the  presiding 
elder,  H.  N.  Stearns,  to  travel  the  Shippenville  Circuit 
until  the  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  in  1847,  when  he 
was  admitted  on  trial.  ‘‘Mr.  Whippo’s  early  advantages 
were  extremely  limited,  but  by  subsequent  assiduous  ap- 
plication he  acquired  a large  amount  of  valuable  informa- 
tion, and  became  a very  holy  and  useful  minister,  and 
many  were  the  souls  converted  through  his  instrumental- 
ity. After  a few  years  spent  in  the  ministry  Mr.  Whippo 
became  severely  afflicted  with  a neuralgic  affection  in  his 
face,  and  while  submitting  to  a surgical  operation  for  its 
removal,  under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  he  died  al- 
most instantly.”  His  death  occurred  in  Hubbard,  Ohio, 
May  18,  1853 — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  312,  313.) 

He  was  kind,  courteous,  and  Christian-like  in  all  his 
conduct.  “An  honesty  and  oneness  of  purpose,  connected 
with  great  industry  and  zeal,  and  an  humble  dependence 
upon  divine  grace  and  power,  characterized  him  in  all  the 
duties  of  his  ministry.  He  was  emphatically  a plain  work- 
ing man ; and  was  not  so  anxious  to  know  what  would  grati- 
fy the  people,  as  what  was  right  in  the  sight  of  God ; and 
when,  in  his  judgment,  this  was  ascertained,  he  failed  not 

*C.  S.  Jennes — Admitted  on  trial,  1847;  full  connection,  1849; 
deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851,  Morris;  withdrew  from  min- 
istry and  membership  under  charges,  1855;  admitted  on  trial, 
Iowa  Conference,  1859;  located,  1862;  again  admitted  on  trial! 
1866;  deceased,  Eldorado  Springs  Mo.,  March  9,  1904.  Appoint- 
ments: 1847,  Gerry;  1848,  Ashville;  1849,  Wattsburg;  1850, 

Quincy;  1851,  Mayville;  1852,  supernumerary;  1853,  Mayville; 
1854,  left  without  appointment;  1859,  Millersburg;  1860,  West 
Liberty;  1861,  Grinnell";  1862,  located;  1866,  Marengo  Circuit; 
1867,  Sigourny;  1868-’69,  Brooklyn;  1870,  Centerville;  1871, 
Washington;  1872,  Wilton;  1873-74,  Sweetland  Center  and  Du- 
rant; 1875,  Victor;  1876-77,  Lone  Tree  and  Cedar  Valley;  1878- 
79,  Blue  Grass;  1880,  Pittsburg  and  Opolis;  1881-84,  supernu- 
merary; 1885-1903,  superannuated. 


- 


184  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

to  urge  the  practical  attention  in  a plain,  forcible,  fervent, 
and  frequently  very  powerful  manner.”* — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  V,  1853,  p.  248.) 

John  D.  Norton  was  born  at  Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Aug.  26,  1824.  While  John  was  quite  young,  the 
family  moved  to  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he 
received  the  best  literary  advantages  the  circumstances 
could  furnish.  “Our  young  friend  was  greatly  favored 
with  one  of  the  best  of  Christian  mothers,  to  whose  un- 
tiring efforts,  more  than  to  any  other  human  agency,  he 
was  indebted  for  his  early  convictions  of  duty,  and  happy 
conversion  to  God  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  age,  which 
occurred  in  the  township  of  Amity,  Erie  County,  Pa., 
in  1839.”  He  was  naturally  timid  and  only  the  clearest 
conviction  of  duty  induced  him  to  enter  the  ministry. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  B.  O.  Plimpton  in  1846,  and 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1847.  He 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization. 

“Mr.  Norton  was  tall  and  slim,  and  in  the  first  years  of 
his  ministry  had  delicate  health,  but  gradually  became 
more  fleshy  and  stout.  He  was  particular,  tidy,  and  gen- 
tlemanly in  appearance,  and  dignified  in  his  manners  both 
in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  except  in  social  circles  with  his 
friends,  where  dignity  had  to  yield  to  right  hearty  pleas- 
antry. His  sermons  were  usually  carefully  studied,  and 
delivered  with  a good  deal  of  energy  and  pathos.” — 
( Gregg , History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II, 
pp.  3 IO;  3 1 1.)  He  took  high  rank  among  his  brethren, 

serving  such  churches  as  Youngstown,  Ravenna,  Erie, 
Akron,  and  New  Castle.  The  delicate  health  of  Mrs. 
Norton  caused  him  to  retire  somewhat  early  from  the  ac- 
tive ministry.  He  was  made  supernumerary  in  1873,  and 
superannuated  in  1894.  He  moved  to  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  in  a pleasant  home;  but  he  was  in- 
duced to  take  charge  of  a small  mission  in  Cleveland,  and 
Grace  Church  stands  as  a beautiful  memorial  of  his  last 
labors.  “On  December  30,  1896,  about  noon,  he  re- 
turned to  his  home  from  an  errand  in  the  city,  talked  with 
• 

♦John  Whippo — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1847;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851, 
Morris;  deceased,  Hubbard,  O.,  May  18,  1853.  Appointments — 
1847,  Shippenville;  1848,  Tionesta  Mission;  1849,  Red  Bank; 
1850,  Mahoning;  1851,  Curllsville;  1852,  Hubbard. 


John  Wliippo,  John  D.  Norton.  185 

his  family,  ancl  then  seated  himself  to  read.  In  a few 
moments  his  head  fell  forward,  and  he  had  gone  to  his 
reward.  He  had  anticipated  such  a death  as  this,  and 
was  ready.’’* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXVII, 
i*97 > P • 44*-) 

William  Sampson,  superintendent  emeritus  of  the  Chil- 
dren’s Aid  Society,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  died  August  9, 
1905,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  He  was 
born  in  Wiltshire,  England,  Feb.  20,  1814,  and  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  in  1833.  He  en- 
tered the  Erie  Conference  in  1847,  and,  with  few  inter- 
ruptions, continued  in  the  effective  relation  from  that  time 
until  his  death,  a period  of  fifty-eight  years.  He  became 
a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization. 
During  his  ministry  he  served  a number  of  the  important 
charges,  and  did  very  acceptable  work.  At  the  end  of 
his  first  week  in  the  Waring  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  Children’s  Aid  Society,  which  position  he  filled  with 
great  devotion  and  efficiency  for  a period  of  twenty-five 
years.  This  is  the  work  that  distinguished  his  life. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Lois  Sullivan 
Sampson,  died  in  1890.  His  second  wife,  Kate  Bishop 
Sampson,  survives  him.  Both  were  eminent  in  their  use- 
fulness in  his  chosen  work.  More  than  three  thous- 
and children  were  successfully  cared  for  during  his  su- 
perintendency. 

William  Sampson  “was  of  striking  personal  appear- 
ance, his  countenance  giving  more  than  ordinarily  full  and 
correct  expression  of  his  character.  In  his  relations  with 
people,  he  was  genial,  considerate,  courteous,  while 
thoroughly  frank  and  unconventional.  His  religious 
characteristics  were  most  conspicuous.  He  was  entirely 

*J.  D.  Norton— Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on  trial, 
1847;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851, 
Morris;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  December  30,  1896. 
Appointments:  1847,  Morgan;  1848,  Ashtabula;  1849-’50,  Meso- 

potamia; 1851,  Windham;  1852,  Hudson;  1853-’54,  Greenville; 
1855,  Youngstown;  1856,  Cleveland,  Perry  Street;  1857-’58,  Ra- 
venna; 1859,  Erie;  1860-’61,  Akron;  1862-’63,  New  Castle;  1864, 
Painesville;  1865,  Chardon;  1866-’69,  Agent  American  Bible  So- 
ciety; 1870,  Cleveland,  Waring  Street;  1871,  Cleveland,  First 
Church  (second  preacher);  1872,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street  (second 
preacher);  1873-’93,  supernumerary;  1894-’96,  superannuated. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1 86 

consecrated  to  God  and  the  religious  life,  had  his  supreme 
interest  in  religious  things,  valued  things  by  a spiritual  „ 
standard,  took  great  delight  in  and  was  faithful  to  the 
means  of  grace,  made  the  Bible  and  religious  literature 
his  hourly  companion,  and  fulfilled  the  scriptural  injunc- 
tion to  ‘pray  without  ceasing.’  He  was  magnanimous 
and  generous  to  a remarkable  degree.  Few  men  have  en- 
joyed the  confidence  and  friendship  of  a larger  number  of 
all  classes  of  people.”  His  remains  rest  in  the  beautiful 
Riverside  cemetery,  Cleveland. — (Minutes  of  East  Ohio 
Conference , 1905.) 

Mr.  Sampson  was  transferred  to  the  Upper  Iowa  Con- 
ference in  i860  but  returned  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1867.  We  find  him  in  the  list  of  superannuates  in  1862 
and  1864;  and  in  1865  and  1866,  he  held  a supernumer- 
ary relation.* 

John  Tribby  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Ohio,  Sept.  14, 
1816  ; and  was  converted  in  1825,  at  a protracted  meeting 
held  in  his  native  place  by  the  presiding  elder,  William 
Swayze.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  Youngstown  and  Hubbard  Circuit, 
March  9,  1844.  In  1846  he  was  employed  by  B.  O. 
Plimpton,  presiding  elder,  to  travel  the  Gustavus  Circuit 
as  a supply,  and  in  1847  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  He  successfully  served  several  important 
charges,  and  was  presiding  elder  of  Akron  District  for 
four  years.  He  fell  into  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at 
the  division.  He  was  made  supernumerary  in  1883,  su- 
perannuated in  1884.  and  promoted  to  a place  in  the  City 
of  God,  Dec.  23,  1893.  “Never  self-seeking,  he  aimed 
only  to  glorify  Christ.  As  a theologian  he  was  profound ; 

♦William  Sampson — Admitted  o.n  trial,  1847;  full  connection, 
1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851,  Morris;  transferred  to 
Upper  Iowa  Conference,  1860;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference, 
1867;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  August  9,  1905.  Appointments: 
1847-’48,  Ellsworth;  1849,  Parkman;  1850-’51,  Kingsville;  1852-’53, 
Chardon;  1854-’55,  Windsor;  1856-’57,  Hartford  and  Brookfield; 
1858-’59,  Gustavus;  1860-’61,  Independence,  la.;  1862,  superannu- 
ated; 1863,  Waterloo,  la.;  1864,  superannuated;  1865-’66,  super- 
numerary; 1867-’68,  Tidioute;  1869,  Ridgway  and  Wilcox;  1870- 
’71,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1872-’73,  Hubbard;  1874,  Cleveland, 
Waring  Street;  1875-77,  Chaplain  Children’s  Aid  Society,  Cleve- 
land, O.;  1878-’97,  superintendent  Children’s  Aid  Society,  Cleve- 
land, O.;  1898-’99,  Superintendent  Children’s  Home,  Cleveland, 
O.;  1900-1904,  Superintendent  Emeritus,  Children’s  Home  and 
School,  Cleveland,  O. 


Samuel  B.  Sullivan. 


1 87 


as  a preacher,  chaste,  clear,  and  logical ; as  an  executive 
officer  he  was  kind  and  wise.  Everywhere  he  was  gentle 
and  meek,  yet  courageous  and  loyal  to  the  right  as  God 
gave  him  to  see  it.  In  his  daily  life  he  was  a Christian 
gentleman,  his  mere  presence  preaching  Christ  with  an  ir- 
resistible eloquence.  The  last  words  to  his  pastor  were : 
‘Everything  is  all  right,  more  than  right.’  ”*— (Minutes 
of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXV,  1894,  P • 422-) 

Samuel  B.  Sullivan. 

Samuel  B.  Sullivan  is  described  as  “a  tall,  straight, 
spare  young  man,  with  a mind  of  great  power  and  richly 
stored,  and  thoroughly  consecrated  to  his  work.  He  had 
a strong,  clear  voice,  which  he  used  unsparingly.  He 
possessed  a clear,  towering  imagination,  with  a ready  flow 
of  excellent  language.  Erie  Conference  has  seldom  con- 
tained a more  promising  young  minister,  or  one  more 
successful  in  bringing  souls  to  Christ.  But  his  zeal  was 
too  great  for  his  strength,  and  after  a few  years  of  inces- 
sant and  very  successful  toil  he  began  to  decline,  and  no 
inducement  on  the  part  of  his  numerous  anxious  friends 
could  slacken  his  efforts  until  death  caused  the  wheels  of 
life  to  stand  still. — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  312.) 

Mr.  Sullivan  was  born,  Jan.  21,  1825;  and  died  at  Sil- 
ver Creek,  New  \ ork,  April  9,  1853.  His  father  was  for 
many  years  a local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Samuel  had  the  advantage  of  Christian  teach- 
ing. He  was  made  savingly  acquainted  with  Jesus  when 
eleven  years  of  age,  in  Monroe,  Ohio,  under  the  ministry 
of  John  Chandler.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1846, 
and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1847. 

His  bereaved  companion  said  of  him:  “His  whole  heart 
was  in  the  great  work  to  which  he  was  called.  He  did 

♦John  Tribby— Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial 
1847;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851^ 
Morris;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Ravenna,  Ohio,  December  27,  1893. 
Appointments — 1846,  Gustavus  (supply);  1847,  Youngstown- 
1848-’49,  Charlestown;  1850-’51,  Hudson;  1852-’53,  Akron;  1854-’55, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  1856-’57/  Youngstown;  1858-’59,  Warren,  O.; 
1860-’61,  Painesville;  1862-’63  Poland;  1864-’66,  Ravenna;  1867- 
’68,  Geneva;  1869-’70,  Painesville;  1871-72,  North  East;  1873-76, 
Akron  District;  1877-79,  Kent;  1880,  Newton  Falls;  1881-’82, 
Windham;  1883,  supernumerary;  1884-’93,  superannuated. 


■MHH 


i88  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

not  regard  toil,  or  care,  or  trials,  so  he  might  but  win 
souls  to  Christ.”  In  his  diary  were  found  these  words: 
“It  was  God’s  truth,  as  proclaimed  by  his  servant,  that 
touched  my  young  heart ; and  from  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent, I have  endeavored  to  love  and  serve  him.”  His  pre- 
siding elder  says  of  his  last  work  on  Silver  Creek  Station : 
“Brother  Sullivan  was  more  efficient  and  powerful  in  his 
last  efforts  than  ever  before.  The  brilliancy  of  his 
thoughts  and  communications  seemed  quite  superhuman. 
He  fell  in  the  midst  of  a blaze  of  gospel  glory,  surrounded 
by  the  shouts  of  redeemed  sinners  brought  into  the  liberty 
of  the  gospel  through  his  instrumentality.”  He  said  to 
his  presiding  elder;  “I  wish  you  to  say  to  my  brethren 
of  the  Erie  Conference,  I have  preached  the  gospel  as 
well  as  I could.  My  attachment  to  my  brethren  and  work 
is  strong.  I would  love  to  meet  you  in  our  coming  ses- 
sion ; but  our  next  meeting  will  be  in  heaven.  I will  love 
to  meet  you  then.  I am  dying.  God  took  care  of  me  in 
life — he  will  take  care  of  me  in  death.”* 

Several  Revivals. 

Thomas  Benn  and  H.  M.  Chamberlain  meet  with  suc- 
cess on  the  Curllsville  circuit,  having  held  protracted 
meetings  at  Washington  Furnace,  Rose  Church,  Curlls- 
ville, the  Stone  School  House,  Freedom,  and  Myers 
School  House,  and  receiving  fifty-one  converts  into  the 
several  churches  or  classes. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo~ 
cate,  March  17,  1847.) 

Springfield  circuit  has  been  visited  with  gracious  out- 
pourings of  the  Holy  Spirit  at  all  its  appointments.  A. 
G.  Miller  and  R.  Parker  write : “At  a meeting  held  in 

the  village  of  Girard,  for  the  space  of  seventy-two  days, 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  joined  the  church  on  probation. 
At  Randall’s,  at  Thompson’s,  at  West  Springfield, 
at  the  State  Line,  at  Lockport,  and  on  some  other  parts 
of  the  circuit,  numbers  have  been  converted  and  joined, 
making  in  all  two  hundred  and  three  in  the  last  three 
months.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  14, 
1847.) 

*S.  B.  Sullivan — Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on  trial, 
1847;  full  connection,  1849;  deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1851, 
Morris;  deceased,  Silver  Creek,  N.  Y.,  April  9,  1853.  Appoint- 
ments— 1847,  Mayville;  1848,  Springfield;  1849,  Wesleyville;  1850, 
Youngsville;  1851-’52,  Silver  Creek. 


I ' 

JJ- 


The  Conference  of  1848.  189 

B.  O.  Plimpton  reports  from  Meadville  District : “Tfie 
following  places  have  been  watered  with  the  dew  of 
Heaven : Geneva,  say  one  hundred  conversions ; Har- 

persfield,  numbers  not  known ; Ashtabula,  some  conver- 
sions and  additions ; Gustavus,  a fine  revival  at  the  State 
Line  and  at  Wesley  Chapel,  say  fifty  conversions;  Hart- 
ford circuit,  a small  cloud  broke  upon  Fowler— a few- 
valuable  accessions  to  the  society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Salem  circuit  is  white  to  the  harvest— 
fifty  sheaves  already  gathered — two  of  our  old  reapers 
are  in  the  field  full  of  expectation  of  future  success. 
Meadville  is  doing  well — twenty-five  or  thirty  sound  con- 
versions having  a beloved  Moses  to  guide  them  in  their 
journey ings  towards  their  hopeful  Canaan.  Rockville 
ciicuit  is  not  a whit  behind  the  chief — at  one  appointment 
they  witnessed  the  conversion  of  a least  one  hundred 
souls. . Saegertown,  I believe,  is  rising — I am  told  they 
are  being  visited  with  some  refreshing.  Of  the  other  ap- 
pointments I can  only  say,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge 
they  are  in  a comfortable  stat e.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , April  21 , 184/.) 

Rockville  enjoys  a gracious  revival.  D.  H.  Jack  and 
C.  S.  Jennes  are  in  charge  of  the  circuit.  They  write : 
“We  held  our  second  quarterly  meeting  in  Rockville, 
which  we  have  just  closed,  after  protracting  it  thirty-two 
days.  0\  ei  one  hundred  souls,  who  were  in  the  worst  of 
slavery,  were  brought  by  faith  into  the  light  and  liberty  of 
God's  people — ninety  gave  us  their  names  on  probation.” 
— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  17,  1847.) 

The  Conference  of  1848. 

Ashtabula,  Ohio,  was  the  seat  of  the  Erie  Conference 
in  1848.  The  session  commenced  under  the  presidency  of 
Bishop  Leonidas  L.  Hamline,  July  26.  William  F.  Wil- 
son was  elected  secretary  and  Milo  Butler,  assistant. 

T.  H.  Cummings  retired  to  the  local  ranks. 

Richard  A.  Caruthers,  Roderick  Norton,  Thomas  Pea- 
cock, Dean  C.  Wright,  Thomas  G.  McCreary,  and  George 
Stocking  were  received  orn  trial. 

Appointments  for  1848:  Cleveland  District,  Timothy  Good- 

win, presiding  elder;  Cleveland,  J.  W.  Lowe,  B.  K.  Maltby;  New- 
burg  Ira  Eddy;  Chagrin  Falls,  Lorenzo  Rogers;  Willoughby,  S. 

C.  Thomas;  Painesville,  Dillon  Prosser;  Chardon,  D.  M.  Stearns* 


13 


190  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

G.  W.  Maltby;  Concord,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Geneva,  J.  E.  Aikin;  Ash- 
tabula and  Conneaut,  Thomas  Graham,  Wareham  French,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Harpersfield,  H.  D.  Cole;  Morgan,  Josiah  Flower;  As- 
bury  Seminary,  G.  B.  Hawkins,  principal.  Ravenna  District,  John 
C.  Ayres,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  John  Bain;  Franklin,  T.  B. 
Tait;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  A.  M.  Brown;  Akron,  M.  C.  Briggs;  Mid- 
dlebury,  Lewis  Clark;  Hudson,  Samuel  Gregg;  Twinsburg,  Albina 
Hall;  Cuyahoga  Mission,  W.  F.  Day;  Freedom,  Stephen  Heard; 
Edinburg,  C.  R.  Chapman,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Charlestown,  John 
Tribby;  Parkman,  Asahel  Reeves,  Alden  Walker,  J.  J.  Stead- 
man, supernumerary,  employed  as  a supply.  Warren  District, 
Horatio  N.  Stearns,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  Milo  Butler;  Braee- 
ville,  E.  B.  Lane;  Windham,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Nelson,  J.  W.  Clock; 
Mesopotamia,  Potter  Sullivan,  Peter  Burroughs;  Windsor,  S.  C. 
Frear;  Ellsworth,  J.  W.  Hill;  Youngstown  and  Poland,  J.  R. 
Locke,  Roderick  Norton;  Hubbard,  Ahab  Keller,  Hiram  Kellogg; 
Hartford,  John  McLean,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Gustavus,  William 
Patterson,  Albert  Norton;  Williamsfield,  Joseph  Leslie,  J.  M. 
Plant.  Meadville  District,  Billings  O.  Plimpton,  presiding  elder; 
Meadville,  M.  H.  Bettes;  Rockville,  Aurora  Callender,  Josiah 
Hildebrand;  Saegertown,  Moses  Hill,  D.  M.  Stever;  Conneaut- 
ville,  John  Graham,  A.  L.  Miller,  sup.;  Salem,  D.  H.  Jack, 
George  Stocking;  Greenville  and  Clarksville,  B.  S.  Hill,  W.  M. 
Bear;  Mahoning,  H.  S.  Winans,  J.  R.  Lyon;  New  Castle,  R.  J. 
Edwards;  Mercer,  Ezra  Jones;  Harrisville,  Thomas  Benn;  Coop- 
erstown,  Hiram  Luce;  Allegheny  College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin 
Kingsley,  professors.  Erie  District,  John  Robinson,  presiding 
elder;  Erie,  Thomas  Stubbs;  McKean  and  Girard,  Darius  Smith; 
Springfield,  Hiram  Kinsley,  S.  B.  Sullivan;  Wesley ville,  O.  P. 
Brown;  North  East,  Matthias  Himebaugh;  Quincy,  S.  A.  Hen- 
uerson;  Westfield,  A.  G.  Miller;  May  ville,  Rufus  Parker,  J.  W. 
Wilson;  Harmony,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Ash  ville,  C.  S.  Jennes;  Watts- 
burg,  Alexander  Barris,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Spring  Creek  Mission, 

S.  N.  Forest;  Columbus,  W.  B.  Lloyd;  Sabbath  School  Agent, 
David  Preston.  Jamestown  District,  William  H.  Hunter,  presid- 
ing elder;  Jamestown,  Joseph  Uncles,  Thomas  Peacock;  Ran- 
dolph and  Cold  Spring  Mission,  Alvin  Burgess;  Leon,  Isaac  Sco- 
field, David  King;  Gerry,  H.  H.  Moore,  John  Scott;  Ellington, 

T.  D.  Blinn;  Forestville  and  Villenovia,  J.  E.  Chapin,  J.  N. 
Henry;  Sheridan,  Niram  Norton,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  Fredonia,  H.  W. 
Beers;  Portland,  J.  O.  Rich;  Warren  and  Tionesta  Mission,  J.  K. 
Hallock;  Youngsville,  D.  M.  Vorse;  Kinzua,  Ira  Blackford. 
Franklin  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  W. 
F.  Wilson;  Hendersonville,  John  Abbott,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Clin- 
ton ville,  Edwin  Hall,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Oil  Creek  Mission, 
John  Van  Horn;  Pleasantville,  William  Monks;  Tionesta  Mis- 
sion, John  Whippo;  Washington,  Alva  Wilder;  Shippenville, 
John  Wrigglesworth,  William  McCormick;  Clarion,  R.  M.  Bear; 
Curllsville,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Red  Bank,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  Samuel 
Hollen;  Brookville  Mission,'  D.  C.  Wright;  Ridgway  Mission, 
R.  A.  Caruthers.* 


*George  Stocking  was  admitted  on  trial,  1848;  full  connection, 
1850;  deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder,  1852,  Simpson;  located,  1858. 
Appointments — 1848,  Salem;  1849,  Harrisville;  1850,  Clinton- 
ville;  1851,  New  Lebanon;  1852,  Wesleyville;  1853-’54,  McKean; 
1855-’57,  supernumerary. 

Thomas  Peacock  was  admitted  on  trial,  1848;  discontinued, 
1849.  Appointment — 1848,  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 


Thomas  G.  McCreary , Dean  C.  Wright.  igi 

Thomas  G.  McCreary,  Dean  C.  Wright,  Roderick 

Norton. 

Thomas  G.  McCreary  was  born  in  Fairview,  Erie  Co., 
Pa.,  June  19,  1808  ; and  was  “born  again”  at  Mill  Creek 
in  1828.  In  1830  he  moved  to  Beaver  County.  He  re- 
ceded his  license  to  preach  from  Simon  Elliott  in  1840, 
and  laboied  ele\en  years  in  the  local  ranks  as  exhorter 
and  local  preacher.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1848.  He  was  a good  preacher,  and  in 
exhortation  and  prayer  possessed  remarkable  power. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  ministry  of  Thomas  G.  Mc- 
Creary, he  often  doubted  his  call,  and  even  contemplated 
retiring  from  the  work.  The  following,  as  related  by  Mr. 
Gregg,  effected  a permanent  cure : “While  on  the  Hen- 

dersonville  circuit  he  was  called  out  to  visit  a sick  person, 
and  w hen  returning  home,  brooding  over  his  case  and  re- 
soh  ing  to  lesign  his  charge ‘and  retire,  as  he  was  passing 
up  a lane  there  came  on  a sudden  storm  of  wind.  Two 
ti  ees  stood  near  to  the  road,  one  seemed  dangerous,  and 
’u  hile  watching  it  closely  the  other  tree  came  crashing 
down  diagonally  across  the  road,  and  so  near  to  him  that, 
with  a spasmodic  jerk  of  the  bridle,  he  threw  his  horse 
upon  his  haunches  and  raised  one  hand  to  protect  his  head 
from  the  descending  trunk.  The  tree  fell  upon  the  very 
spot  the  horse  had  occupied,  tearing  ont  one  of  the  ani- 
mal s eyes,  filling  the  road  with  broken  branches,  but  leav- 
ing him  entirely  unharmed.  This  event  convinced  him 
that  God  had  a wTork  for  him  to  do,  and  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  he  has  tried  to  do  it.”—  (Gregg,  History  of  Meth- 
odism, Erie  Conference , Vol.  II,  p.  328.) 

Mr.  McCreary  was  a moderate-sized  and  modest  appear- 
ing man,  naturally  very  diffident,  especially  when  called 
upon  to  preach  before  his  brethren,  and  yet  would  face  a 
regiment  of  preachers  of  another  denomination  without 
trepidation  if  called  out  in  defense  of  his  church. 

He  is  every  inch  a man,  and  for  twenty-seven  years 
did  among  us  a man’s  work  in  a true  man’s  way,  with 
singleness  of  purpose  and  zeal  that  many  waters  could  not 
quench.” 

He  passed  from  earth  Sept.  26,  1874*  “He  spoke  not 
to  us  from  the  Jordan  on  whose  stormy  banks  he  stood, 
nor  left  for  sorrowing  friends  any  dying  testimony.  They 


192 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


needed  none;  the  record  of  a long  life  so  well  spent,  gave 
to  the  dark  cloud  a silver  lining.  Nor  had  we  a fear  for 
him  while  standing  tinder  its  shadow.”* 

“Dean  C.  Wright  was  for  many  years  a sailor  on  the 
high  seas,  of  the  rough,  wild  drinking  kind,  who  was  con- 
verted on  shipboard  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  globe. 
Returning  to  America,  he  abandoned  sailing  and  com- 
menced preaching;  came  within  the  bounds  of  the  Erie 
Conference  in  the  spring  of  1848,  and  was  admitted  on 
trial  at  its  next  session.  He  was  a large,  fleshy  man,  very 
impulsive,  could  cry  or  laugh  easily,  and  possessed  a large 
amount  of  ready,  useful  talent.  He  retained  some  of  his 
rough  sailor  habits  and  ways,  which  greatly  diminished 
his  usefulness.’’ — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  />.  329.)  He  was  located  in  1850, 
and  re-admitted  the  year  following  ; again  located  in  1863, 
and  re-admitted  by  the  Detroit  Conference  one  year  later; 
and  finally  located  in  i866.f 

The  work  of  Roderick  Norton  was  successful  in  all  the 
departments  of  church  activity.  “Everywhere  the  con- 
version of  souls  and  the  quickened  and  deepened  piety  of 
the  church  attested  the  genuineness  of  his  call  of  God, 
his  faithfulness  to  that  call,  and  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
his  labors.  But  special  opportunity  and  special  fitness 
for  the  opportunity  made  his  work  on  some  of  these 
charges  worthy  of  special  mention.”  His  work  as  presi- 
dent of  Upper  Iowa  University  was  crowned  with  success 

*T.  G.  McCreary — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial, 
1848;  full  connection,  1850;  deacon,  1845,  Hamlin;  elder,  1853, 
Baker;  deceased,  West  Middlesex,  Pa.,  September  26,  1874.  Ap- 
pointments— 1848,  Hendersonville;  1849-’50,  Pleasantville;  1851- 
’52,  Washington;  1853-’54,  New  Bethlehem;  1855,  Henderson- 
ville; 1856-’57,  Harrisville;  1858,  Mt.  Jackson;  1859-’60,  Hartford 
and  Brookfield;  1861-’62,  Clarksville;  1863,  Canfield;  1864,  Hub- 
bard; 1865,  supernumerary;  1866,  Eastbrook  and  Harlansburg; 
1867,  Eastbrook  and  Shenango;  1868,  supernumerary;  1869, 
Northfield;  1870-’71,  West  Dayton;  1872-’73,  Hamlet;  1874,  super- 
annuated. 

fD.  C.  Wright — Admitted  on  trial,  1848;  full  connection,  1850; 
deacon,  1850,  Morris;  located,  1850;  re-admitted,  1851;  elder, 

1853,  Baker;  located,  1863;  re-admitted,  Detroit  Conference, 
1864;  located,  1866.  Appointments — 1848-’49,  Brookville;  1851, 
Hubbard;  1852,  Sharon  and  Brookfield;  1853,  Dunkirk  Mission; 

1854,  Cleveland,  City  Mission;  1855,  Chagrin  Falls;  1856-’57, 
Cuyahoga  Falls;  1858,  Erie;  1859-’60,  Newburg;  1861,  Cleveland, 
Erie  Street;  1862,  Chaplain  U.  S.  A.;  1864,  Clifton,  Mich.;  1865. 
Tecumseh,  Mich. 


1 


Richard  A.  Caruthcrs. 


— the  financial  condition  improved,  the  number  of  stu- 
dents quadrupled,  and  the  institution  started  upon  a ca- 
reer of  usefulness  in  which  all  its  friends  rejoiced,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  conversions  in  the  church  at  Fay- 
ette: all  this  in  a single  year. — (Minutes  of  Conferences , 

V ol.  XX,  1884 , PP-  342>  343-) 

Mr.  Gregg  says;  “Mr.  Norton  is  a man  of  medium 
size,  and  has  a pleasant  manner  and  genial  spirit,  an  earn- 
est, chaste  style,  and  is  an  effective,  interesting  preacher, 
bold  and  fearless  in  controversy.” — (Gregg,  History  of 
Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  331.) 

Roderick  Norton  was  born  at  Southington,  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  20,  1819..  He  was  the  brother  of  Al- 
bert Norton,  and  was  blessed  with  pious  parents.  He 
was  converted  at  a prayer-meeting  when  eleven  years  of 
ap‘e.  He  immediately  became  active  in  the  service  of  his 

T\  T j 1 - - 


Master,  and  his  exhortations  were  blessed  to  the  salvation 
of  souls.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1844;  graduated 
at  Allegheny  College  in  1846;  was  two  years  Principal  of 
Cottage  Hill  Academy ; was  received  into  the  travelling 
connection  in  1848;  after  three  years  in  the  regular  work 
of  the  pastorate,  was  the  two  succeeding  years  Principal 
of  Asbury  Seminary;  and  was  transferred  to  the  Upper 
Iowa  Conference  in  i860.  He  fell  asleep  at  Nelson,  Ohio, 
Sept.  30,  1884.* 


Richard  A.  Caruthers. 

Richard  Alexander  Caruthers  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Pa.,  March  19,  i8i9.f.  Mr.  Gregg 
says;  “His  parents  were  of  Scott  and  Irish  descent,  and 
both  connected  with  ancestors  of  very  respectable  stand- 


* Roderick  Norton — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on 
trial,  1848;  full  connection,  1850;  deacon,  1848,  Hamline;  elder, 
1852,  Simpson;  transferred  to  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  1860;  de- 
ceased, Nelson,  O.,  September  30,  1884.  Appointments — 1848, 
Youngstown;  1849,  New  Wilmington;  1850,  Harrisville;*  1851-’52, 
Principal,  Asbury  Seminary;  1853-’54,  Mentor;  1855-’56,  Wil- 
loughby; 1857-58,  Chardon;  1859,  Perry;  1860-’61,  Clinton  City, 
la.;  1862-’63,  Marion,  la.;  1864-’65,  Cedar  Falls,  la.;  1866,  Mt. 
Vernon,  la.;  1867,  Manchester,  la.;  1868,  Agent,  American  and 
Foreign  Christian  Union;  1869-’70,  Osage,  la.;  1871-’72,  Fayette, 
la.;  1873-75,  Janesville,  la.;  1876-77,  Bellevue,  la.;  1878-79, 
Center  Grove,  la.;  1880-’81,  Quasqueton,  la.;  1882-’83,  supernu- 
merary; 1884,  superannuated. 

fThe  General  Minutes  says  he  was  born  in  Armstrong  County 
and  make  the  date  March  21. 


194  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

ing*  both  in  Church  and  State.  But  Richard,  like  most  of 
our  great  and  good  men,  commenced  life  under  rather 
unpromising  circumstances.  When  eleven  years  old  his 
parents,  with  a family  of  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom 
were  at  home,  moved  into  the  unbroken  forest  of  the 
northeastern  part  of  Armstrong  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  all  hands  had  to  battle  hard  for  a living.  He  was 
converted  when  seventeen  years  old  at  his  ‘father’s  fire- 
side’, and  felt  that  he  was  called  to  preach ; but  his  par- 
ents, who  were  Presbyterians  and  had  one  son  in  college 
for  the  ministry  already,  could  not  sustain  another ; conse- 
quently Richard  became  discouraged  and  backslid.  He 
left  home  with  the  positive  command  from  his  father  to 
‘attend  church  every  Sabbath  wherever  he  went,  of  any 
denomination  except  the  Roman  Catholic  and  Meth- 
odist, but  which  he  did  not  strictly  obey.  He  rambled 
about  the  countrv,  working  a while  in  one  place  and  then 
in  another,  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  went 
to  a wedding  party  one  night  in  Indiana  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  the  party  engaged  in  playing  and  dancing. 
There  were  two  young  ladies  present  who  could  not  be% 
induced  to  join  in  the  hilarities  of  the  occasion,  which 
greatly  surprised  Mr.  Caruthers,  who  turned  to  one  of  his 
comrades  and  inquired  of  him  if  he  knew  the  reason. 
‘O’,  said  he,  ‘they  are  Methodists !’  The  thought  of  their 
religious  integrity  in  contrast  with  his  own  unfaithfulness 
and  the  conduct  of  those  around  him,  who  were  most  of 
them  members  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Seceder  Churches, 
sank  deep  into  his  heart ; God  made  use  of  it  as  an  arrow 
to  his  soul.  He  said  to  himself,  ‘If  these  are  Methodists, 
with  the  help  of  God  I’ll  be  a Methodist  too.’  He  then 
deliberately  took  his  hat  and  left  the  house.  About  two 
weeks  from  that  time  he  went  to  Rev.  J.  Ray,  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Conference,  then  in  charge  of  that  circuit,  and  gave 
in  his  name  as  a seeker  of  salvation,  and  a probationer 
for  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ; and 
at  a ‘love-feast’  held  in  Elderton  he  was  powerfully  re- 
claimed from  his  backsliding.  In  about  two  months  after 
he  received  license  to  exhort,  and  in  May,  1846,  he  re- 
ceived license  to  preach  by  the  authority  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  Washington  Circuit,  H.  N.  Stearns, 
presiding  elder,  and  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1848.  Mr.  Caruthers  is  quite  tall  and  stout- 


''V' 


Richard  A.  Caruthers. 


built,  manifesting  in  his  features  and  general  appearance 
more  characteristics  of  the  Scotch  than  of  the  Irish;  and 
while  the  want  of  early  literary  advantages  has  greatly 
embarrassed  him,  his  unyielding  energy  in  overcoming 
difficulties,  and  close  and  constant  application  to  study, 
have  raised  him  to  the  first  rank  of  Methodist  preachers. 
Mr.  Caruthers  soon  became  a successful  revivalist,  gather- 
ing hundreds  into  the  church  each  year.  He  also  in  a few 
years  became  a noted  champion  in  defense  of  Methodist 
doctrine  and  discipline.  In  1851,  soon  after  arriving  upon 
the  Shippenville  circuit,  Rev.  Mr.  M’Michael,  a Presby- 
terian minister,  made  a very  rough  and  defiant  assault 
upon  the  Church  government,  doctrines  and  usages  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  Mr.  Caruthers 
replied  in  their  defense.  Mr.  M’Michael  then  preached  a 
series  of  sermons,  running  through  the  year,  to  each  of 
which  Mr.  Caruthers  replied,  gaining  signal  advantage  of 
his  opponent  in  the  estimation  of  the  public.  Mr. 
M’Michael,  thinking,  perhaps,  that  Mr.  Caruthers  might 
not  be  able  to  grapple  with  him  as  successfully  with  the 
pen  as  in  the  pulpit,  wrote  a pamphlet  against  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  Mr. 
Caruthers  replied  as  sharply  with  his  pen  as  he  had  done 
with  his  tongue  ; and  then,  supposing  that  the  time  had 
come  to  turn  the  tables  upon  his  opponent,  Mr.  Caruthers 
wrote  and  published  a pamphlet  attacking  the  doctrines 
of  the  Decrees  and  Foreknowledge  of  God,  as  held  by  the 
Presbyterians  in  their  Confession  of  Faith.  These  two 
pamphlets  were  scattered  like  leaves  in  autumn  all  over 
that  mountainous  region,  and  read  by  old  and  young,  and 
contributed  largely  toward  the  great  success  Methodism 
has  experienced  in  that  part  of  the  Erie  Conference  ever 
since  that  day.  In  1854  Mr.  Caruthers  was  sent  to  Wil- 
mington Circuit,  where  he  found  a ready  opponent  in 
Professor  M’Lean  of  ‘Westminster  College’,  with  whom 
he  discussed  the  doctrines  of  the  ‘necessary  final  perse- 
verance of  the  saints’,  each  preaching  a series  of  dis- 
courses on  the  subject,  and  then  Mr.  M’Lean  resorted  to 
the  pen,  and  wrote  and  published  a pamphlet,  to  which 
Mr.  Caruthers  replied  in  the  same  way.  That  community 
being  mostly  of  the  United  Presbyterian  faith,  Mr.  Car- 
uthers did  not  perceive  as  perceptible  a victory  as  before, 
yet  intelligent  men  of  that  faith  admitted  without  hesi- 


196 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


tancy  that  he  was  more  than  a match  for  his  opponent.” 
— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol. 
U,  pp.  224-227.)  He  gave  himself  with  all  earnestness 
and  all  diligence  to  the  thorough  study  of  the  Bible  and 
the  standards  of  Methodism,  and  developed  a strong 
Christian  character.  In  1848,  he  was  received  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  Ridgway  Mis- 
sion, and  industriously  tilled  this  hard  field.  During  sev- 
eral years  he  traveled  circuits  over  the  mountains  of 
Western  Pennsylvania.  His  Conference  reports  were  al- 
ways encouraging.  He  was  twelve  years  presiding  elder 
of  the  Clarion,  New  Castle,  and  Fredonia  Districts.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Kansas  Conference  in  1874.  He 
was  presiding  elder  of  the  Kirwin  District  in  1878-1881, 
and  was  abundant  in  labors.  He  was  four  times  elected 
a delegate  to  the  General  Conference.  In  1887  he  con- 
tracted a cold  which  developed  into  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs  and  cancer  of  the  stomach.  He  had  been  effective 
thirty-nine  years.  He  was  patient  during  his  long  illness, 
exclaiming  as  he  neared  the  end,  “I  am  almost  home.” 
“ Though  not  emotional  or  demonstrative  in  his  religious 
exercises,  he  had  a firm  faith  and  a well-grounded  hope 
of  eternal  life.  He  excelled  as  a preacher,  not  so  much 
in  elegance  of  language  or  flights  of  oratory  as  in  great 
truths  clothed  in  plain,  forceful  English.  He  was  a wise 
counsellor,  a firm  friend,  and  had  the  confidence  of  his 
brethren.”  He  died  at  B restow,  Osborne  Co.,  Kansas, 
May  27,  1889.* — ( Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXIII, 
1890,  p.  94.) 

R.  A.  Caruthers  describes  the  Ridgway  Mission  in 
1848:  ‘‘This  mission  is  situated  at  the  extreme  south- 

east point  of  the  conference,  or  rather  beyond  the  point; 
being,  as  far  as  membership  is  concerned,  almost  entirely 

*R.  A.  Caruthers — Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on 
trial,  1848;  full  connection,  1850;  deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder, 
1852  Simpson;  transferred  to  Kansas  Conference,  1874;  became 
a member  of  the  North  West  Kansas  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1882;  deceased,  Bristow,  Kas.,  May  27,  1889.  Appoint- 
ments— 1848,  Ridgway  Mission;  1849-’50,  Washington;  1851-’52, 
Shippenville;  1853,  Curllsville;  1854-’55,  New  Wilmington;  1856, 
Mercer,  1857-’58,  Clarksville;  1859,  Wattsburg;  1860-’63,  Clarion 
District;  1864-’67,  New  Castle  District;  1868,  Oil  City;  1869-’72, 
Fredonia  District;  1873,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1874,  Baldwin  City, 
Kas.;  1875,  North  Lawrence;  1876-’77,  Tecumseh;  1878-’81,  Kir- 
win District;  1882-’83,  Bristow;  1884-’85,  Osborne;  1886,  Agent 
Kansas  Wesleyan  University;  1887-’89,  superannuated. 


i97 


The  Revival  Spirit. 

within  the  bounds  of  the  Baltimore  Conference;  and  in  re- 
gard to  territory,  about  equally  divided  between  them. 
Bounded  on'  the  east  by  Sinnamahoning  mission,  Balti- 
more Conference — on  the  north  by  a natural  wilderness 
of  some  forty  miles  extent — on  the  west  by  a moral 
wilderness  of  considerable  extent;  the  inhabitants  being 
few  in  number,  and  deeply  impregnated  with  the  doctrine 
of  Universal  ism,  against  whom  the  dust  of  Brother  Benn’s 
feet  has  been  a witness  for  some  years — on  the  north  by  a 
land  not  inhabited  for  the  space  of  sixty  or  seventy  miles, 
except  by  wild  beasts,  and  perhaps  a few  settlers  along 
the  turnpike  that  passes  through  this  place,  who  are  so 
far  scattered  that  I doubt  whether  a Methodist  preacher 
could  find  more  than  one  at  a time.  . . . The  mis- 

sion itself  is  divided  into  two  parts,  by  Boom’s  mountain 
stretching  from  east  to  west,  some  eight  or  ten  miles 
in  breadth,  covered  by  nothing  but  burnt  timber,  briars, 
deer,  wolves  and  bears.  Living  at  the  very  edge  of  the 
barren  waste,  we  have  been  favored  with  a sight  of 
the  deer;  while  the  wolves  gave  us  an  intimation  of 
their  whereabouts  by  their  howling,  which,  to  our  unac- 
customed ears,  was  not  very  agreeable. 

Y\  hen  we  came  on  the  circuit  we  could  find  but  three 
classes ; one  of  which,  containing  five  members,  is  on  the 
Erie  Conference  side  of  the  mountain ; the  other  two,  con- 
taining some  sixteen  or  eighteen  members  each,  are  on 
the  waters  of  Sinnamahoning,  which  is  in  the  Baltimore 
Conference.  Other  classes  there  have  been,  but  they  are 
buried ; the  place,  however,  remains ; and  we,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  will  either  raise  them  to  life,  or  preach  their 
funeral  sermon.  . . . To  the  best  of  my  knowledge 

there  has  not  been  a conversion  on  this  mission  for  some 
years;  on  some  parts  of  it  never  ."—(Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  Dec.  5,  1848.) 

The  Revival  Spirit. 

B.  O.  Plimpton  reports  from  the  Meadville  District  sev- 
eral encouraging  revivals : 

“Saegertown  circuit  has  been  more  especially  favored 
of  the  Lord.  I think  some  seventy-five  were  "hopefully 
brought  to  the  knowdedge  of  sins  forgiven  between  the 
first  and  second  quarterly  meetings;  and  to  the  best  of  my 


198  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

knowledge,  the  work  is  progressing.  Brother  John  Gra- 
ham will  never  die  with  rust  on  his  soul.” 

“Meaaville  has  more  thunder  and  lightning  than  any 
other  portion  of  my  district.  Should  it  be  followed  by  a 
proportionate  rain,  it  will  have  such  a flooding  as  it  never 
experienced  before.  Infidelity  may  look  for  a succession 
of  avalanches  from  Zion’s  towering  heights.  Thomas 
Graham  is  Sinai’s  mouth  piece.” 

“On  Greenville  and  Clarksville  Circuits  the  glory  of 
God  has  shone  most  resplendently.  I imagine  that  few 
of  us  have  ever  witnessed  a more  powerful  revival  than 
the  one  at  Clarksville.” 

“Morgan  circuit  is  coming  up  gloriously.  Brothers  H. 
Cole  and  Bowers  are  pushing  the  battle  to  the  gates.  The 
most  successful  siege  has  been  held  at  Harpersfield,  after 
which  they  took  a running  fire  upon  the  enemy  in  Trum- 
bull.” 

“Tidings  are  most  favorable  from  Perry,  on  the  Geneva 
circuit.  Numbers  have  come  over  on  the  Lord’s  side,  and 
shouts  of  victory  are  proclaimed  at  every  touch  of  the 
coal  of  fire  to  the  telegraphic  conductor  to  the  penitent 
heart.” 

“Ashtabula,  the  seat  of  our  next  conference,  appears  to 
be  preparing  for  the  future.  You  know  we  have  stationed 
here  some  of  the  heaviest  ordnance  in  the  gift  of  the  Erie 
Conference;  and  I regret  to  say,  by  either  over-charging 
or  constant  use,  that  at  almost  every  report  it  gets  out  of 
repair.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  1, 
1848.) 

A new  church  was  dedicated  at  Jackson  on  the  Ells- 
worth circuit,  February  24,  1848.  A good  revival  was 
held  at  the  Ashburn  School  House,  and  nineteen  received 
on  probation,  the  working  having  been  “carried  on  most- 
ly, by  father  Kinnear  and  brother  Stogdill.”  The  “Cot- 
tage Hill  Academy”  at  Ellsworth  shared  largely  in  the  re- 
vival at  that  place. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
March  1,  1848:) 

Meeting  of  Erie  Conference  in  1849. 

The  Conference  for  1849  met  in  Fredonia,  New  York, 
July  11,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Beverly  Waugh; 
W.  F.  Wilson,  Secretary,  and  Milo  Butler,  Assistant. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial : Thomas 


199 


Meeting  of  Erie  Conference  in  1849. 

Guy,  William  A.  Matson,  George  L.  Little,  Ransom  L. 
Blackmar,  Benjamin  F.  Langdon,  Thomas  Radcliff,  Rob- 
ert S.  Moran,  John  Peate,  Samuel  Baird,  Samuel  Rey- 
nolds, James  Greer,  Oreb  D.  Parker,  Fauntly  Muse, 
Eliezer  C.  Latimer,  William  N.  Reno,  Elisha  T.  Wheeler' 
and  Parker  W.  Sherwood. 

B.  K.  Maltby,  S.  C.  Churchill,  Aurora  Callender,  and 
M.  C.  Briggs  located. 

Joseph  H.  Creighton  appears  as  a probationer  in  the  sec- 
ond year,  but  was  re-transferred  to  the  Ohio  Conference 
— having  had  no  appointment  in  this  Conference.* 

Appointments  for  1849:  Cleveland  District,  John  C.  Ayres, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Newburg,  Lewis 
Clark,  Ira  Eddy;  Chagrin  Falls,  S.  C.  Frear;  Willoughby,  J.  W. 
Lowe;  Painesville,  Dillon  Prosser,  Samuel  Reynolds;  Chardon 
H.  D.  Cole,  Alden  Walker;  Concord,  D.  M.  Stearns,  Thomas  Rad- 
cliff; Geneva,  Josiah  Flower,  Thomas  Guy;  Ashtabula,  E.  J. 
Kinney,  W.  W.  Maltby;  Conneaut,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Harpersfield, 
J.  E.  Aikin;  Morgan,  Potter  Sullivan;  Asbury  Seminary,  G.  B. 
Hawkins,  Principal.  Ravenna  District,  Horatio  N.  Stearns,  pre- 
siding elder;  Ravenna,  A.  M.  Brown;  Charlestown,  John  Tribby; 
Franklin,  W.  M.  Bear,  W.  A.  Matson;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Albina 
Hall;  Akron,  R J.  Edwards;  Middlebury,  Allen  Fouts,  James 
Greer;  Hudson,  Samuel  Gregg;  Twinsburg,  Lorenzo  Rogers: 
Freedom,  T.  B.  Tait,  William  McCormick;  Edinburg,  Stephen 
Heard,  J.  W.  Hill;  Parkman,  William  Sampson,  J.  J.  Steadman. 
Warren  District,  Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding  elder;  Warren, 
Hiram  Kinsley;  Brace ville,  Milo  Butler;  Windham,  G.  W.  Malt- 
by; Nelson,  Asahel  Reeves;  Mesopotamia,  J.  W.  Clock,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Windsor,  Henry  Elliott;  Ellsworth,  C.  R.  Chapman,  Hi- 
ram Kellogg;  Youngstown  and  Poland,  J.  R.  Locke,  J.  H.  Tagg; 

♦Fauntly  Muse  was  admitted  on  trial,  1849;  full  connection, 
1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  located  at  his  own  request,  1854. 
Appointments — 1849,  Ash  ville;  1850,  Leon;  1851-’52,  Tionesta; 
1853,  Pleasantville. 

Samuel  Baird  was  admitted  on  trial,  1849;  discontinued,  1850. 
Appointment — 1849,  Clintonville. 

G.  L.  Little  was  admitted  on  trial,  1849;  full  connection,  1851; 
deacon,  1851,  Morris;  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference, 
1851;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1853;  elder,  1853,  Baker; 
withdrawn,  1856.  He  died  in  the  west  after  several  years  of 
service  in  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Appoint- 
ments— 1849,  Greenville;  1850,  Painesville;  1851-’52,  Principal, 
Peoria  Wesleyan  Seminary;  1853,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1854-’55,  Cleve- 
land, St.  Clair  Street. 

R.  S.  Moran  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dists in  Ireland,  date  unknown;  admitted  on  trial,  1849;  full  con- 
nection, 1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  located,  1853.  After  lo- 
cating he  attended  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  where 
he  graduated.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South,  in  which  he  rose  to  eminence, 
for  many  years  serving  as  presiding  elder  of  important  districts. 
Appointments — 1849,  Mayville;  1850,  Conneautville;  1851,  Ran- 
dolph; 1852,  Warren,  Pa. 


200 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Hubbard,  J.  M.  Plant,  W.  N.  Reno;  Hartford,  Ahab  Keller, 

J.  B.  Hammond;  Gustavus,  Joseph  Leslie,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Williams- 
field,  Albert  Norton,  John  Demining.  Meadville  District,  Wil- 
liam Patterson,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  John  Bain;  Rock- 
ville, M.  H.  Bettes;  Waterford,  Hiram  Luce,  E.  T.  Wheeler; 
Saegertown,  William  Monks,  Thomas  Benn;  Conneautville,  John 
Graham,  B.  F.  Langdon;  Salem,  John  McLean,  H.  M.  Chamber- 
lain:  Greenville,  G.  L.  Little;  Clarksville  and  Sharon,  D.  H.  Jack, 
Stephen  Hubbard;  Mt.  Jackson,  H.  S.  Winans,  R.  M.  Bear;  Wil- 
mington, John  Crum,  Roderick  Norton;  New  Castle,  E.  B.  Lane; 
Mercer,  W.  F.  Day;  Harrisville,  George  Stocking;  Allegheny 
College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  Professors.  Erie  Dis- 
trict, Billings  O.  Plimpton,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Ezra  Jones; 
McKean  and  Girard,  Darius  Smith,  0.  P.  Brown,  D.  W.  Vorse 
sup.;  Springfield,  B.  S.  Hill,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Wesley  ville, 
Matthias  Himebaugh,  S.  B.  Sullivan;  North  East,  H.  W.  Beers; 
Quincy,  Wareham  French;  Westfield,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Mayville,  J. 

K.  Hallock,  R.  S.  Moran;  Harmony,  John  Robinson;  Wattsburg, 
C.  S.  Jennes,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Spring  Creek  Mission,  S.  N.  For- 
est, Alva  Wilder;  Columbus,  Alexander  Barris;  Sabbath  School 
Agent,  David  Preston.  Jamestown  District,  William  H.  Hunter, 
presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Niram  Norton;  Ash  ville,  Alvin 
Burgess,  Fauntly  Muse;  Randolph,  H.  H.  Moore;  Leon,  Isaac 
Scofield,  Ira  Blackford;  Gerry,  David  King,  John  Scott;  Elling- 
ton, John  Peate;  Forestville  and  Villenovia,  J.  E.  Chapin,  J.  N. 
Henry;  Sheridan,  Joseph  Uncles;  Perrysburg,  I.  H.  Tackitt;  Fre- 
donia,  S.  C.  Thomas;  Portland,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Warren,  J.  O.  Rich; 
Upper  Tionesta  and  Ridgway  Mission,  R.  L.  Blackmar;  Youngs- 
ville,  S.  A.  Henderson,  O.  D.  Parker;  Kinzua,  John  Van  Horn. 
Franklin  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  presiding  elder;  Franklin, 
Moses  Hill;  Hendersonville,  John  Abbott,  Peter  Burroughs; 
Clintonville,  Edwin  Hull,  Samuel  Baird;  Curllsville,  G.  F.  Reeser, 
J.  R.  Lvon;  Red  Bank,  Samuel  Hollen,  John  Whippo;  Brook- 
ville  Mission,  D.  C.  Wright;  Clarion,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Shippen ville, 
John  Wrigglesworth,  D.  M.  Stever;  Washington,  R.  A.  Caruthers; 
Pleasantville,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Cooperstown,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland. 

Morgan,  Ohio,  appears  among  the  names  of  charges  in 
1842.  In  the  fall  of  1821,  William  Latimer  moved  from 
the  state  of  Massachusetts  into  Ohio,  and  settled  on  Rock 
Creek  where  the  village  of  Morgan  was  founded.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
soon  invited  Alfred  Brunson  and  Henry  Knapp,  of  the 
Grand  River  Circuit,  to  preach  in  his  log-cabin.  A class 
was  formed  consisting  of  William  Latimer — leader — and 
wife,  Hugh  Monteith  and  wife,  Hiram  Latimer,  and  Lor- 
in  Latimer — six  persons.  It  was  not  long  before  there 
was  a gracious  revival,  and  William  Latimer,  Jr.,  Zalmun 
Sperry,  John  Chandler,  and  Elijah  Field  were  added  to 
the  class.  The  last  two  became  eminent  preachers  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Thomas  Guy,  E.  C.  Latimer. 

Thomas  Guy  was  born  in  Tandrayer,  Armagh  County, 


/ 


7 homas  Guy , E.  C.  Latimer.  201 

Ireland  March  n,  1813.  He  was  trained  from  child- 
hood in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  his  par- 
ents gave  him  the  advantage  of  the  best  common  schools 
J n 1X33  he  was  deeply  convicted  of  sin,  and  began  to  seek 
God  with  his  whole  heart.  In  April,  1834,  he  was  glor- 
iously converted,  and  received  such  a blessed  assurance 
of  pardon  that  he  could  not  doubt  his  acceptance  with 
God.  He  identified  himself  with  the  Primitive  Methodist 
Connection  to  which  his  parents  belonged,  and  was  soon 
appointed  class-leader.  He  began  his  career  as  an  itiner- 
ant preacher  in  1836,  and  continued  until  he  came  to 
America  m i 843,  accompanying  Bishop  Soule  on  his  re- 
turn  from  England.  He  attended  the  convention  in  Utica, 
Lew  York,  where  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  in 
America  was  organized  and  joined  this  new  denomina- 
ion.  He  filled  some  of  the  best  appointments  in  that 
body  until  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 

,49-  Mr-  Guy  was  of  more  than  ordinary  height,  and 
otherwise  well-proportioned;  a man  of  a good  deal  of 
dignity  in  his  appearance.  He  sought  to  become  Amer- 
icanized in  his  manners  and  tastes,  and  succeeded  well  for 
he  rose  steadily  in  popularity  with  our  people,  and’ has 
filled  acceptably  many  of  our  best  appointments.  His 
preaching  is  not  of  the  showy,  but  the  substantial  kind 
accompanied  with  a good  degree  of  earnest  zeal,  and  at- 
tendecl  by  much  of  the  divine  Spirit  .’’—(Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  355, 

Mr.  Guy  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ence by  the  division  of  territory.  His  work  in  the  active 

?1e«,StryixnVTred  fort-v-five  years.  He  superannuated  in 
ttf:  '' attending  the  Conference  in  Painesville, 

a disease  which  had  been  preying  on  him  for  years  sud- 
denly prostrated  him,  and  necessitated  a dangerous  sur- 
gical  operation.  That  retired  him  to  the  superannuated 
list  where  he  remained  till  death.  He  was  a good  man. 
full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost;  a plain,  sound,  earnest 
practical  preacher,  and  powerful  in  prayer.  He  had  manv 
seals  to  his  ministry.  His  end  was  that  of  the  righteous’ 

Vnl  Tvrr  moaoClear  sty-”*— (Minutes  of  Conferences, 

I ol.  XX  J /,  1884,  p.  324.)  1 

. Guy  United  with  the  Irish  Conference  icqc.  j 

Conferenc'e^  1849-*Ufun  °f  ^CatiiUed' on  trial™ 

uonreience,  1849,  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris; 


202 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Eliezer  Curtis  Latimer  was  born  in  Windsor  township, 

Connecticut,  Jan.  io,  1810.  In  1835  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Rome,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  con- 
verted to  God  in  1843.  “So  definite  and  vivid  was  his 
conversion,  that  ever  afterward  he  could  give  the  time 
and  point  out  the  pew  where  God,  for  Christ’s  sake,  for-  L 

gave  his  sins.’'  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1848,  and 
one  year  later  entered  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial,  falling 
into  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  He  died 
at  Chardon,  Ohio,  Sept.  28,  1883. 

Mr.  Latimer  was  a devoted  and  faithful  minister  and 
pastor,  a pure  and  single-hearted  man  of  God.  “When 
first  attacked  with  the  sickness  which  ended  his  earthly 
life,  he  was  possessed  by  a strong  conviction  that  his  end 
was  near.  Toward  the  close  paralysis  destroyed  the 
power  of  speech,  but  while  it  lasted  his  testimony  was 
clear  to  a personal  acceptance  with  God.”* 

William  A.  Matson,  Oreb  D.  Parker. 

William  A.  Matson  was  born  in  Ellsworth,  Mahoning 
Co.,  Ohio,  August  16,  1827.  His  mother,  a descendant 
of  the  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Mayflower  fame,  and  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  died  when  he  was 

elder,  1853,  Baker;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Jefferson,  O.,  December 
18,  1884.  Appointments — 1836-’37,  Lisbon,  Ireland;  1838,  Charle- 
mont,  Ireland;  1839-’40,  Queen’s  County  Mission,  Ireland;  1841, 
did  not  have  an  appointment;  1842-’43,  Wesleyan  Church,  Pitts- 
burg; 1844,  Leesburg;  1845-’46,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1847,  President, 

Wesleyan  Conference;  1848  (M.  E.  Church),  supply  at  Geneva; 

1849,  Geneva;  1850-’51,  Chardon;  1852,  Willoughby;  1853-’54, 

Youngstown;  1855,  Mercer;  1856-’57,  New  Castle;  1858-’59,  Chag- 
rin Falls;  1860-’61,  East  Cleveland;  1862-’63,  Ashtabula;  1864-’65, 

Willoughby;  1866-’68,  North  East;  1869-’70,  Mayville;  1871-’73, 

Girard  and  Liberty;  1874,  Niles;  1875-’76,  Canfield;  1877-’79,  Jef- 
ferson; 1880-’81,  Andover  and  Cherry  Valley;  1882-’84,  superan- 
nuated. \ 

*E.  C.  Latimer — Licensed  to  preach,  1848;  admitted  on  trial, 

1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1853, 

Baker;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Chardon,  O.,  September  28,  1883. 

Appointments — 1849,  Conneaut;  1850-’51,  Newburg;  1852,  Chag- 
rin Falls;  1853,  West  Farmington;  1854-’55,  Chardon;  1856-’57, 

Geneva;  1858-’59,  Mentor;  1860,  Kingsville;  1861,  Agent,  Wil- 
loughby Collegiate  Institute;  1862,  Chardon;  1863,  Willoughby; 

1864-’65,  Mayfield;  1866-’67,  supernumerary;  1868,  Mayfield;  1869- 
’70,  Bainbridge;  1871-’72,  Twinsburg;  1873,  supernumerary;  1874- 
’75,  Grand  River;  1876  Huntsburg  and  Claridon;  1877-’82,  super- 
annuated. 


William  A.  Matson , Oreb  D.  Parker. 


203 


eight  years  old,  but  had  left  deep  and  lasting  impressions 
on  the  tender  mind  of  her  little  son,  though  the  loss  of 
her  guiding  hand  was  a great  misfortune.  - His  father, 
who  was  of  Scotch  descent,  died  when  William  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age.  He  was  naturally  of  a skeptical 
mind,  but  the  influence  of  the  Sunday  'School  kept  him 
fi  0111  fatal  errors  and  sinful  habits.  In  the  spring  of 
1843,  at  a revival  held  by  Lewis  Clark  and  R.  M.  Bear, 
he  was  awakened  to  a sense  of  his  need  of  salvation,  and, 
after  earnest  seeking,  found  the  Savior  to  the  great  joy 
of  his  heart.  In  1848  he  was  licensed  to  exhort,  and  em- 
ployed by  J.  C.  Ayres  to  fill  a vacancy  on  the  Freedom 
Circuit.  At  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Ellsworth  Quarterly  Conference,  and  in 
1849  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
“He  was  small  in  stature,  and  very  timid  and  self-dis- 
trusting, which  greatly  embarrassed  his  ministry,  and 
rendered  it  less  efficient  than  it  otherwise  wrould  have 
been.  (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , 
Vol.  II,  pp.  343,  344.)  He  was  supernumerary  in  1855, 
and  superannuated  in  1860-1884;  he  was  then  made  ef- 
fective and  transferred  to  the  North  West  Kansas  Con- 
ference— from  the  East  Ohio  Conference  of  which  he  had 
become  a member  at  its  organization— and  did  effective 
service  in  this  new  field  eight  years,  superannuating  in 
1893.* 

We  have  little  information  concerning  the  early  life  of 
Oreb  D.  Parker.  He  received  religious  instruction  from 
pious  parents,  and  embraced  religion  while  yet  young. 
He  w as  licensed  to  preach  about  1849?  3.nd  received  into 
the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1849.  In  1851  he  was 
located  on  account  of  feeble  health.  ‘‘He  remained  in  a 
local  relation  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  his  health 
w as  so  far  restored,  that  he  desired  to  enter  again  into 
the  effective  work.  Accordingly  he  was  re-admitted,  and 


i«3^AnMatSOn"rLice?J to  preach>  1848 ; admitted  on  trial, 
1849,  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder  1853 
Baker;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  ’ at  its 
?of?niZ^tlon’  1876 ; transferred  to  Northwest  Kansas  Conference 
1885  Present  residence,  Concordia,  Kas.  Appointments— 1849’ 

Frankhn,  O.;  1850,  Kingsville;  1851,  Morgan;  1852-’53,  Concord;’ 
1854,  supernumerary;  1855,  East  Cleveland  Mission;  1856,  Char- 
dop;  1857,  Montville;  1858,  Perry;  1859,  McKean;  1860-’84,  sup- 
erannuated; 1885,  Seapo,  Kas.;  1886,  Scottsville,  Kas.;  1887-’88 

?oCnaon?n^KaS-;  1889-’90’  Rice>  Kas.;  1891-’92,  Solomon  City,  Kas.;’ 
1893-1907,  superannuated. 


I-I 


204 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


appointed  to  the  Riceville  Circuit.  In  1855  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Columbus  Circuit.  Here  his  health  failed 
again,  and  he  was  compelled  to  discontinue  his  labors  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year.  At  the  ensuing  Conference 
he  was  granted  a superannuated  relation.  Being  advised 
by  his  physician  so  to  do,  he  went  to  California  in  quest 
of  health,  but  became  worse  on  his  journey  thither,  and 
died  shortly  after  his  arrival  there.  Although  we  have 
no  specific  information  relative  to  the  state  of  mind  in 
which  our  brother  closed  his  earthly  career,  we  entertain 
no  doubt  but  his  end  was  peaceful.  He  was  a man  of 
kind  and  genial  spirit — a faithful,*  devoted,  and  esteemed 
minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus.”  He  died  in  San  Francisco, 
California,  Dec.  25,  1856.* 

John  Peate. 

“Who  has  not  heard  of  John’ Peate?  Bricklayer, 
preacher,  traveller,  scientist!  Coming  from  a land  of 
rich  peculiarities,  of  strong  convictions,  of  tremendous 
personalities,  John  Peate  inherits  all  the  varied  qualities 
of  emotion,  wit,  humor  and  genius  that  characterise  an 
Irishman,  and  yet  his  father  was  of  English  descent. 
Born  May  6th,  1820,  in  the  town  of  Drumskelt,  parish 
of  Ahbog,  county  of  Monaghon  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 
When  John  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  his  father, 
Thomas  Peate,  brought  his  wife  and  family,  of  whom  he 
was  the  oldest,  to  America,  landing  in  Quebec,  July,  1827. 
They  remained  in  theDominion  until  the  following  spring, 
at  which  time  they  removed  to  Vergence,  Vt.  At  the  end 
of  the  year  they  moved  to  Wilsborough,  Vt.  Here  he 
spent  some  of  the  happiest  years  of  his  life.  In  the  fall 
of  1832  they  moved  to  Kingston,  Canada,  living  there 
for  three  years,  after  which  they  moved  to  Oswego,  N.  Y. 
and  in  1836  moved  again,  coming  to  Buffalo.  Here  be- 
gan his  life  of  usefulness. 

‘‘His  father,  being  by  trade  a mason,  he  accepted  the 
same  profession  and  worked  at  it  to  the  time  of  his  en- 
tering into  the  ministry.  To  his  mother,  however,  be- 

*0.  D.  Parker — Licensed  to  preach,  1848;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  located  on 
account  of  ill  health,  1851;  re-admitted,  1854;  deceased,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  December  25,  1856.  Appointments — 1849,  Youngs- 
ville;  1850,  Kinzua;  1854-’55,  Columbus;  1856,  superannuated. 


204 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


appointed  to  the  Riceville  Circuit.  In  1855  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Columbus  Circuit.  Here  his  health  failed 
again,  and  he  was  compelled  to  discontinue  his  labors  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year.  At  the  ensuing  Conference 
he  was  granted  a superannuated  relation.  Being  advised 
by  his  physician  so  to  do,  he  went  to  California  in  quest 
of  health,  but  became  worse  on  his  journey  thither,  and 
died  shortly  after  his  arrival  there.  Although  we  have 
no  specific  information  relative  to  the  state  of  mind  in 
which  our  brother  closed  his  earthly  career,  we  entertain 
no  doubt  but  his  end  was  peaceful.  He  was  a man  of 
kind  and  genial  spirit — a faithful,- devoted,  and  esteemed 
minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus.”  He  died  in  San  Francisco, 
California,  Dec.  25,  1856.* 

John  Peate. 

“Who  has  not  heard  of  John  Peate?  Bricklayer, 
preacher,  traveller,  scientist!  Coming  from  a land  of 
rich  peculiarities,  of  strong  convictions,  of  tremendous 
personalities,  John  Peate  inherits  all  the  varied  qualities 
of  emotion,  wit,  humor  and  genius  that  characterise  an 
Irishman,  and  yet  his  father  was  of  English  descent. 
Born  May  6th,  1820,  in  the  town  of  Drumskelt,  parish 
of  Ahbog,  county  of  Monaghon  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 
When  John  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  his  father, 
Thomas  Peate,  brought  his  wife  and  family,  of  whom  he 
was  the  oldest,  to  America,  landing  in  Quebec,  July,  1827. 
They  remained  in  the  Dominion  until  the  following  spring, 
at  which  time  they  removed  to  Vergence,  Vt.  At  the  end 
of  the  year  they  moved  to  Wilsborough,  Vt.  Here  he 
spent  some  of  the  happiest  years  of  his  life.  In  the  fall 
of  1832  they  moved  to  Kingston,  Canada,  living  there 
for  three  years,  after  which  they  moved  to  Oswego,  N.  Y. 
and  in  1836  moved  again,  coming  to  Buffalo.  Here  be- 
gan his  life  of  usefulness. 

“His  father,  being  by  trade  a mason,  he  accepted  the 
same  profession  and  worked  at  it  to  the  time  of  his  en- 
tering into  the  ministry.  To  his  mother,  however,  be- 

*0.  D.  Parker — Licensed  to  preach,  1848;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  located  on 
account  of  ill  health,  1851;  re-admitted,  1854;  deceased,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  December  25,  1856.  Appointments — 1849,  Youngs- 
ville;  1850,  Kinzua;  1854-’55,  Columbus;  1856,  superannuated. 


2 06  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

longs  the  credit  of  guidance  and  direction  at  this  period 
of  his  life.  Her  memory  has  grown  more  precious  to 
him  all  through  his  eventful  life. 

“In  her  girlhood,  Mother  Peate  had  come  into  a rich 
experience  under  the  godly  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Gideon 
Ousley,  a man  singularly  gifted  in  prayer  and  preaching, 
a very  Barnabas  in  carrying  the  gospel  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  Ireland.  Under  his  soul-stirring  ministry 
she  was  brought  to  know  the  full  favor  of  God,  by  which 
she  carried,  all  through  her  life,  the  sweetness  of  com- 
munion with  her  loving  Savior.  Her  radiant  life  made 
a deep  impression  on  John,  and  in  a revival  which  took 
place  in  Buffalo  in  1840,  the  boy  accepted  his  mother’s 
faith  and  his  mother’s  church,  which  was  the  Methodist, 
though  his  father  adhered  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church. 

“His  own  conversion  was  of  that  marked  character 
which  fired  his  soul  with  a zeal,  that  the  Church  well  un- 
derstood and  fostered,  encouraging  him  to  the  exercise  of 
those  talents  which  eventually  led  him  to  offer  himself 
for  the  ministry.  Opportunities  came  to  him,  which  de- 
cided his  course,  and  he  entered  Oberlin  College  with  a 
view  to  better  qualify  himself  for  the  work  before  him. 

“By  the  death  of  his  father,  August  15th,  1844,  he  was 
called  home  to  take  charge  of  affairs.  Through  this  event 
his  plans  were  changed  and  he  returned  without  com- 
pleting his  college  course. 

“Four  years  later  he  married  a gifted  young  lady,  ami- 
able, refined,  cultured  and  pious.  They  opened  up  life 
with  a joy  of  purpose  that  was  a tower  of  strength  to  the 
young  man.  Having  removed  to  Warren,  Pa.,  he  stead- 
ily grew  in  excellence  so  that  the  Church  deemed  it  wise 
to  license  him  to  preach.  At  the  Conference  of  1849  he 
was  admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference,  of  which  he  has 
been  a distinguished  member  ever  since,  receiving  from 
the  hands  of  his  brethren  every  position  of  honor  at  their 
disposal,  representing  them  in  General  Conference,  acting 
for  many  years  as  presiding  elder,  as  also  while  in  the 
pastorate  occupying  the  best  of  pulpits  in  the  Conference. 

“Gifted  with  large  perception  and  a keen  observer  of 
human  nature ; possessed  of  a vivid  imagination ; quick  in 
his  appreciative  faculties,  he  could  portray  and  make  real 
anything  he  ever  saw,  describing  with  a masterly  mind 


John  Peate. 


20  7 


any  subject  that  came  under  his  observation.  This  qual- 
ity served  him  well  in  his  pulpit  preparation.  Glowing 
with  creative  thought,  his  imagination  gave  expansion  to 
his  feeling,  swelling  in  emotion  until  his  audience  were 
swept  beneath  his  mighty  power.  His  pulpit  ability  was 
of  the  highest  order;  his  genial  countenance  giving  force 
and  charm  won  its  way  to  the  heart  of  his  hearers.  A 
rigid  interpreter  of  truth,  he  dealt  sledge-hammer  blows 
against  shams  and  intrigues,  but  behind  the  rough  ex- 
terior of  sternness  and  abhorrence  of  sin,  there  was  a 
majestic  tenderness  pathetic  to  behold.  Great  tears  of 
sympathy  would  gush  from  his  eyes,  as  his  awakened  soul 
grasped  the  conflict  between  evil  and  goodness.  His  im- 
passioned nature  took  in  at  a glance  the  consequence  of 
sin,  and  his  anxiety  for  souls  to  be  freed  from  its  yoke, 
took  on  that  yearning  solicitude  which  placed  him,  as  be- 
longing to  the  days  of  the  prophets.  Especially  was  this 
the  case  in  his  early  ministry.  In  1857,  while  stationed 
on  the  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  charge,  his  labors  were  won- 
derfully blessed  of  God.  Here  a great  revival  took  place 
in  which  some  500  people  came  under  conviction.  Peo- 
ple in  every  walk  of  life,  came  under  the  direct  influence 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  great  fear  came  upon  all.  John 
Peate  was  prepared  for  it.  Men  sunk  in  vice  and  sin,  al- 
most beyond  redemption,  trembled  beneath  the  power  of 
his  preaching,  while  his  all-absorbing  passion  for  souls 
is  yet  referred  to  as  indicative  of  the  earnestness  of  the 
young  preacher. 

“The  opening  up  of  his  mind  to  Bible  truth  begat  a 
thirst  to  see  the  land  where  all  the  marvelous  events  of 
sacred  love  transpired.  He  became  a traveller.  At  that 
time  facilities  were  not  so  opportune  as  now,  and  a jour- 
ney to  the  far  East  was  almost  an  unheard-of  event.  To 
Egypt,  Syria  and  the  Holy  Land  however  he  was  bent 
on  going  and  his  determined  will  made  him  conquer.  Here 
he  came  into  personal  touch  with  customs  and  places 
which  fired  his  ambition  with  a greater  regard  for  New 
Testament  truths.  Nor  was  this  the  only  advantage  of 
travel.  By  contact  with  nature,  other  truths  opened  up 
to  him,  and  his  quickened  intellect  aspired  to  other  reve- 
lations of  God.  Astronomy  presented  a rich  field  for  his 
research,  and  to  this  he  came  with  a sublimity  of  faith 
that  took  him  more  and  more  God-ward.  This  research 


208 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


called  for  fine  mechanical  skill,  but  nothing  daunted  he 
applied  himself  to  the  work,  with  a courage  born  of  suc- 
cess. His  fertile  brain  produced  the  helps  needed  and 
the  starry  heavens  soon  became  as  familiar  to  him  as  the 
word  of  God  in  the  preparation  of  his  pulpit  work.  En- 
tranced by  the  wonders  above,  for  years  astronomical 
science  has  become  so  interesting  as  to  almost  eclipse  his 
other  work.  His  genius  in  this  line  has  placed  the  preach- 
er on  the  highest  elevation  of  applied  science,  and  given 
him  a world-wide  recognition  as  a maker  of  telescope  re- 
flectors. In  this  relation  he  maintains  an  unique  position, 
while  his  loyalty  to  God  and  his  Church  stands  unim- 
paired. 

“In  1887,  Allegheny  College,  Pa.,  recognizing  the 
growing  influence  of  the  man  conferred  on  him  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  D.D.,  and  at  the  last  term,  Harriman 
University,  Tenn.,  presented  him  with  the  degree  of 
LL.D.  Both  are  expressions  of  value  and  are  evidence 
of  intellectual  merit.'’* — (Edward  Appleyard,  Communi- 
cation to  the  Author.) 

The  author  had  occasion  to  consult  Mr.  Peate  on  some 
matter  of  conference  history,  and  in  the  communication 
replying  to  his  inquiries  were  the  following  characteristic 
passages : 

“You  have  entered  upon  a hard,  thankless,  and  I may 
say  profitless  enterprise,  to  be  classed  with  some  of  the 
polar  expeditions,  not  that  preachers  are  icebergs,  but  the 
average  preacher  has  good  sense  enough  to  know  that 
earthly  oblivion  is  his  inevitable  fate  and  cares  little  when 
it  comes.  More  than  ninety-five  per  cent  of  all  those  who 
join  our  ranks  as  travelling  preachers  are  very  common- 
place men,  with  a very  imperfect  education,  with  but  few 
books  and  no  real  love  for  study  or  investigation  and  in 

♦John  Peate — Licensed  to  preach,  1848;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;-  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1853, 
Baker;  deceased,  Greenville,  Pa.,  March  23,  1903.  Appoint- 
ments— 1849,  Ellington;  1850,  Ashville;  1851-’52,  Portland;  1853, 
Fredonia;  1854-’55,  Forestville;  1856-’57,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1858, 
Cleveland,  St.  Clair  Street;  1859,  supernumerary;  1860-’61,  Erie, 
First  Church;  1862’63,  Akron;  1864-’65,  Warren,  O.;  1866-’67, 

Youngstown;  1868,  Meadville,  First  Church;  1869-’71,  Franklin; 
1872-’74,  Youngstown;  1875-’78,  Meadville  District;  1879-’82, 
Franklin  District;  1883,  Greenville;  1884-’86,  Jamestown;  1887- 
89,  Erie  District;  1890-’92,  New  Castle  District;  1893,  Greenville 
(second  preacher);  1894-’98,  supernumerary;  1899-1902,  superan- 
nuated. 


John  Peate. 


2 09 


four  or  five  years  reach  and  pass  the  zenith  of  acceptabil- 
ity. What  can  an  average  writer  do  with  all  these  com- 
mon-place men  except  to  string  them  up  in  a most  com- 
mon-place way — ‘A.  B.  born — converted — joined  Confer- 
ence— died.’ — and  this  sort  of  tomh-stone  record  is  for 
the  most  part  the  work  you  have  before  you.  Well,  there 
are  ‘sermons  in  stones.’ 


“When  I joined  the  Conference  in  1849,  we  had  on  our 
liit  143  names  in  all;  only  two  of  them  had  received  a 
college  education,  and  we  had  not  one  D.D.  in  the  num- 
ber. I do  not  think  we  suffered  in  influence  on  that  ac- 
count, or  that  in  our  effective  men  we  suffered  in  com- 
parison with  other  denominations.  At  the  time  of  my 
advent  in  the  Conference,  the  long  continued  and  success- 
ful pulpit  assaults  on  Calvinism  were  subsiding  to  a large 
extent,  except  in  the  case  of  some  old  warriors  who  had 
got  into  the  habit  so  much  that  on  nearly  every  occasion 
they  had  a chance  to  preach,  ‘they  shouldered  the  crutch 
to  show  how  fields  were  won.’  I think  that  at  the  date 
mentioned  every  man  in  the  Conference  believed  that  the 
book  of  Genesis  gave  a scientific  statement  of  the  creation. 
The  doctrine  of  an  endless  hell  for  the  wicked  was  con- 
stantly preached.  Not  a few  held  to  the  doctrine  of  tire 
and  brimstone , and  often  preached  with  great  vehemence 
after  the  Henry  B.  Bascom  style,  thus:  ‘Listen  to  the 

noise  and  shaking  of  the  primaeval  elements,  the  stormy 
commotion  of  the  hoary  deep,  the  thunder  shaft  trembling 
in  mid  heaven,  the  eternal  wheels  of  nature  standing  still 
or  rolling  back  at  the  suspension  of  her  laws,  the  watch- 
fires  of  the  skies  extinguished,  the  beacon  lights  of  etern- 
ity gone  out,  while  darkness  grows  more  dark  and  dread- 
ful amid  the  rustling  of  angel  wings  and  sights  and  sounds 
never  heard  or  seen  before’ — as  in  his  sermon  on  the  final 
judgment.  We  seldom  hear  a sermon  on  hell  or  the  final 
judgment  at  the  present  day.  We  are  living  in  the  drift- 
period  of  our  church  and  in  some  things  it  is  well,  and 
in  some  not  so  well.  Our  protracted  meetings  are  not 
so  commanding  as  they  were  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago. 
Preaching  is  not  so  forceful  and  earnest,  and  conversions 
are  not  so  clear  and  full  of  demonstration.  Changes  have 
come  to  our  common  Methodism,  and  must  come  in  the 
future,  for  change  is  the  only  thing  that  never  changes. 

“I  have  been  acquainted  with  about  600  Methodist  min- 


210 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


isters,  most  of  whom  have  passed  away.  Most  of  them 
were  honest  and  brave  men  of  medium  talent  but  who  by 
their  flaming  zeal  in  the  Master’s  cause  brought  our 
church  out  of  obscurity  and  nothing  into  popular  pre-emi- 
nence in  the  past  century.  They  died  poor  in  this  world’s 
wealth  but  rich  in  faith  and  manly  character. 

“Fifty  years  ago  there  was  not  one  man  in  the  Confer- 
ence who  wore  a beard,  long  or  short.  Myself,  Dr.  W. 
F.  Day,  and  Rev.  Hammond  were  the  first  and  we  had 
to  endure  many  offhand,  cheap  lectures  for  what  some 
called  ‘black-legs’  custom  of  letting  hair  grow  on  our  faces 
and  on  one  occasion — it  was  at  the  Conference  in  Erie  in 
i860 — one  devout  brother,  in  opening  the  Conference 
prayed  for  the  ‘brethren  who  were  adopting  Jewish  cus- 
toms’. But  in  a few  years,  the  preachers  became  the  most 
bearded  men  in  all  the  land.” 

Many  anecdotes  are  in  circulation  concerning  Brother 
Peate.  One  or  two  samples  must  suffice  this  history: 

In  the  early  years  of  his  ministry  he  was  called  to  con- 
duct a funeral  service  at  a home  some  miles  in  the  coun- 
try. Having  received  no  information  concerning  the  de- 
ceased, he  inquired  of  the  deeply  afflicted  widow,  and  was 
pleased  to  hear  a good  word  which  he  elaborated  into  a 
very  fair  eulogy  of  the  dead.  The  little  “God’s  acre”  was 
but  a short  distance  from  the  house  and  Mr.  Peate  led 
the  procession  on  foot.  On  the  way,  a very  friendly  look- 
ing Irishman  approached  and  accosted  him  thus;  “Your 
riverence,  would  you  object  to  my  walking  with  you?” 
“Certainly  not,”  said  Mr.  Peate,  “I  would  be  glad  of  your 
company.”  “Well,  your  riverence,”  said  his  companion, 
“they  just  imposed  on  you  there  at  the  house.  That  was 
the  meanest  man  in  the  whole  neighborhood.  I have 
known  him  for  seventeen  years,  and  he  had  not  a friend 
in. the  whole  community.  They  just  imposed  on  you,  sir.” 
“Then  I saw,”  said  Mr.  Peate,  in  his  characteristic  way, 
in  relating  the  story,  “that  I had  been  lying  about  the  man 
all  the  time.” 

There  is  one  incident  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Peate  which  has 
become  a classic.  It  is  known  and  repeated  beyond  the 
bounds  of  Methodism,  and  has  served  to  enliven  many  a 
social  gathering.  It  has  been  related  in  several  forms, 
not  infrequently  with  many  additions  and  embellishments, 
not  perhaps  exceeding  poetic  license.  The  most  generally 


John  Peate.  211 

followed  version  is  this.  While  Mr.  Peate  was  serving 
his  first  pastorate  at  Jamestown,  he  was  eminently  popu- 
lar. And  this  popularity  was  well  earned,  for  he  attracted 
great  congregations,  had  glorious  and  widely  extended  re- 
vivals, and  mightily  built  up  the  Church.  But  if  he  was 
popular  and  beloved  at  Jamestown,  he  suffered  in  propor- 
tion at  his  very  next  appointment,  St.  Clair  street,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  Here,  he  failed  to  win  the  hearts  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  year  was  one  of  toil  and  sacrifice  and  seeming 
failure.  Remembering  his  triumphs  at  Jamestown,  where 
he  may  have  been  unduly  exalted — he  was  a young  man — 
it  is  not  unnatural  that  he  should  have  referred,  perhaps 
more  often  than  he  was  aware,  to  the  scene  of  his  former 
victories,  the  success  of  his  work,  and  the  way  they  did 
things  on  his  former  charge.  This  is  always  unwise,  and 
on  that  occasion,  as  might  have  been  expected,  resulted  in 
still  greater  uneasiness  and  opposition.  One  evening  at 
the  prayer  meeting,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  Mr. 
Peate  made  reference  to  his  favorite  theme — the  manner 
in  which  he  was  received  at  Jamestown — his  successful 
work  there,  and  the  beautiful  character  and  Christian  lives 
of  the  people — and  having  completed  his  address,  gave  an 
opportunity  for  Christian  testimony.  Among  others, 
there  spoke  an  old  woman  who  was  a veritable  saint  of 
God.  Her  Christian  experience  was  somewhat  like  this: 
“Brothers  and  sisters,  I have  been  traveling  the  way  to 
heaven  for  many  years.  Through  good  and  evil  report,  I 
have  never  lost  my  hope.  Sometimes,  the  sky  has  been 
clear  and  sometimes  dark.  I am  sometimes  discouraged. 
I have  had  my  share  of  trials.  I feel  my  utter  unworthi- 
ness. ” And  now,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  in  broken 
sentences,  she  continued : “I  shall  be  unspeakably  happy 

— if  I — reach — the  heavenly — land — but — if  I fail — in 
this — I do  hope — that  the  good  Lord — will — at  least — 
let  me  get — as  far  as — Jamestown !”  It  is  but  just  to  say 
that  Mr.  Peate,  while  not  denying  the  substance  of  this 
story  assured  the  author  that  the  incident  occurred  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society  while  the  remark  was 
made  by  a sharp  maiden  lady.  The  medicine  was  good ; 
it  was  doubtless  needed ; Dr.  Peate  took  it,  and  was  cured. 

James  Greer,  W.  N.  Reno,  Samuel  Reynolds. 

“When  a good  man  leaves  this  life  for  the  heavenly,  his 


1 : , !*?  ' 

212  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

richest  bequest  is  the  good  name  he  bore,  and  how  he 
came  by  it.  How  fondly  friends  cherish,  and  even 
strangers  share  their  interest  in  such  a legacy!  The 
genuine  wealth  of  this  world  is  enhanced  by  every  such 
life,  making  all  of  us  the  richer  for  its  benefactions. 
Many,  very  many  witnesses  arise  to  thus  claim  their  share 
in  the  inheritance  left  by  the  late  James  Greer.  Tell  us 
not  so  much  of  the  perishable  goods  and  chattels  a man 
has  accumulated,  as  how  much  of  happiness  he  has  strewn 
along  life's  pathway  for  others  to  enjoy  as  they  pass. 
The  value  of  fifty  years  so  passed  is  not  to  be  expressed  in 
gold.” 

James  Greer  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  Dec.  16, 
1823 ; united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  his 
fourteenth  year;  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in 
1849;  and  was  called  to  his  reward,  June  18,  1874.  He 
occupied  circuits  and  stations  eleven  years,  was  principal 
of  Western  Reserve  Seminary  eight  years,  and  presiding 
elder  five  years.  He  married  Miss  Cornelia  Tubbs,  pre- 
ceptress of  the  Seminary  in  1854.  This  estimable  wife 
died  in  November,  1857,  leaving  a daughter,  only  a month 
old  to  the  father’s  care.  In  i860,  Mr.  Greer  married  Miss 
Olive  S.  Jerome,  a graduate  of  the  Seminary.  Brother 
Greer  was  a hard  worker.  His  discourses  were  clear  and 
forcible,  his  exhortations  to  holy  living  and  appeals  to 
sinners  were  earnest,  and  his  conversation  chaste.  He 
was  faithful  as  a pastor  in  visiting  and  administering  to 
the  poor,  the  aged,  and  the  sick.  As  an  educator  he  was 
wholly  devoted  to  his  work.  He  taught,  lectured,  preach- 
ed, and  organized  and  led  institutes — indeed,  overtaxed 
his  physical  powers  so  as  to  induce  that  insidious  disease 
which  so  early  crippled  his  energies,  and  so  manifestly 
shortened  his  life.  For  several  years  he  had  been  subject 
to  occasional  hemorrhages  of  the  throat,  and  a tendency 
to  disease  of  the  lungs.  An  attack  of  hemorrhage  a few 
days  before  his  death  was  pronounced  “fatal.”  His  de- 
voted wife  writes ; “He  lay  so  quiet  and  easy  through 
the  day,  (June  18),  I almost  began  to  hope  he  was  better, 
but  about  four  o’clock,  p.  m.,  I saw  signs  of  death  so 
plainly  that  the  children  were  called.  As  he  saw  them 
gathering  around  he  suspected  the  cause.  He  beckoned 
us  close;  then  said  slowly  and  distinctly,  Tt  is  the  Lord, 
we  will  not  be  afraid.’  After  a little  he  said,  ‘Can  they 


Janies  Greer , W . N.  Reno,  Samuel  Reynolds.  213 

not  sing  Rock  of  Ages?’  We  sang  the  best  we  could; 
when  through,  he  said  ‘Amen.’  His  breath  came  shorter 
and  at  longer  intervals,  until  the  last.  Thank  the  Lord ; 
it  was  so  peaceful,  it  was  like  his  life.”* 

William  Newtor^  Reno  was  born  in  Sharon,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  26,  1819;  and  entered  into  rest  at  Brocton, 
New  York,  Sept.  24,  1896.  He  graduated  at  the  Cleve- 
land Medical  College,  and  for  some  years  practiced  medi- 
cine in  his  native  place.  His  mother  had  died  in  his  in- 
fancy, and  his  father,  an  excellent  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  gave  William  careful  Christian  training.  But 
while  yet  a young  man  he  revolted  from  some  of  the  dog- 
mas of  that  faith.  He  was  led  into  pronounced  skepti- 
cism, doubting  the  truth  of  revelation,  the  future  life,  and 
even  the  existence  of  God.  Gregg  relates  the  story  of  his 
spiritual  struggles : “But  such  was  the  state  of  unrest  his 

mind  was  in  he  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  careful  investi- 
gation of  the  rational  evidences  of  Christianity  as  a 'divine 
system  of  religion.’  This  examination  resulted  in  a ‘firm 
belief  that  the  Bible  had  God  for  its  author,’  and  with  this 
belief  he  resolved  to  ‘enter  earnestly  upon  a Christian  life,’ 
and  gave  his  name  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as 
a ‘seeker  of  salvation  and  probationer  for  church  member- 
ship.’ But  ‘hope  did  not  burst  upon  his  spiritual  vision 
with  overwhelming  effulgence.  The  transition,  however, 
though  gradual,  like  the  spreading  beams  of  morning,  was 
decidedly  marked  and  satisfactory’ ; it  was  a transition 
from  darkness  to  light,  from  bondage  to  liberty,  from  an- 
xiety and  perturbation  of  soul  to  calm  trust  and  sweet 
. peace  in  believing.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  349-350.)  From  the  time 
of  his  conversion,  he  felt  his  divine  call  to  preach  the 
gospel.  Bryan  S.  Hill  called  him  forth  into  the  ministry. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1849. 
In  1853  he  located  and  took  a course  of  study  at  Wesleyan 
University,  and  was  re-admitted  in  1858.  Mr.  Gregg 
says;  “Dr.  Reno  was  a small,  sprightly,  pleasant  man, 

♦James  Greer — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1853, 
Baker;  deceased,  Akron,  O.,  June  18,  1874.  Appointments — 
1849,  Middlebury;  1850-’51,  Youngstown;  1852-’60,  Principal, 
Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1861-’62,  Mercer;  1863,  Painesville; 
1864-’65,  New  Castle;  1866-’68,  Cleveland  District;  1869-’72,  Ra- 
venna District;  1873,  Akron,  Second  Church. 


214 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  made  a very  correct,  tasteful,  instructive  preacher.” 
He  continued  in  the  active  work  twenty-one  years.  From 
1876  he  was  supernumerary  or  superannuated.  He  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, and  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1882.  After  his  retirement,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  Spartansburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  ever  man- 
ifested a most  lively  interest  in  the  various  departments  of 
Church  work. 

Brother  Reno  was  a thoughtful,  undemonstrative,  quiet 
Christian,  yet  he  was  pure-hearted  and  spiritual-minded, 
a man  good  and  true,  reliable,  equable.* 

Samuel  Reynolds  was  born  at  Little  Mountain,  Lake 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  18,  1822.  He  was  converted  in  a revival 
in  that  neighborhood  in  the  spring  of  1843,  an(l  was  re" 
ceived  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  by  S.  Gregg 
then  traveling  the  Painesville  Circuit.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1848  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1849.  In  1856  he  located  and  moved  west 
where  he  was  re-admitted  by  the  Iowa  Conference,  and  in 
1866  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference.  He 
withdrew  under  charges  in  1885.  He  died  at  Little 
Mountain,  Ohio,  April  8,  1904. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hurd, 
at  Southington,  Ohio,  in  1851. 

Mr.  Gregg  says ; “Mr.  Reynolds  was  a tall,  slim  man, 
of  respectable  though  not  superior  abilities  for  preach- 
ing. ”t — ( Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Eric  Conference , 
Vol  II,  p.  348.) 

*W.  N.  Reno — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1853, 
Baker;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1882;  de- 
ceased, Brocton,  N.  Y.,  September  24,  1896.  Appointments — 
1849-’50,  Hubbard;  1851,  Poland;  1852,  Windham;  1853,  located; 
1858,  re-admitted;  1858-’59,  President,  Poland  Female  College; 
1860-’61,  New  Wilmington;  1862-’63,  Silver  Creek;  1864-65, 
Kingsville;  1866-’67,  Girard;  1868,  supernumerary;  1869,  Dun- 
kirk; 1870-’71,  Randolph;  1872-73,  Frewsburg;  1874-75,  Chardon; 
1876-’81,  superannuated;  1882-’93,  supernumerary;  1894-’96,  super- 
annuated. 

tSamuel  Reynolds — Admitted  on  trial,  1849;  full  connection, 
1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1853,  Baker;  located,  1856; 
re-admitted,  Iowa  Conference,  1856;  transferred  to  Wisconsin 
Conference,  1866;  withdrew  under  charges,  1885;  deceased,  Lit- 
tle Mountain,  O.,  April  8,  1904.  Appointments — 1849,  Paines- 
ville; 1850,  Concord;  1851,  Geneva;  1852,  Newburg;  1853,  Chag- 


Parker  W . Sherwood , Thomas  R.  Rad  cliff . 215 


Parker  W.  Sherwood,  Thomas  R.  Radcliff. 

Parker  W.  Sherwood  prepared  for  the  ministry  under 
circumstances  of  almost  unsurmountable  difficulties.  He 
was  born  in  Tompkins  County,  New  York,  April  30, 
1814.  About  two  years  later  his  father  with  his  family 
moved  to  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  Parker  was 
brought  up  amid  privations  and  hardships  of  the  severest 
kind.  He  says ; “I  remember  distinctly  of  learning  the 
alphabet  from  a leaf  torn  from  one  of  Webster’s  elemen- 
tary spelling-books,  while  my  older  brothers  were  at 
school  three  miles  distant;  and  when  I could  call  the  let- 
ters by  name  at  sight,  I used  to  take  the  Bible  and  spell 
the  words  by  calling  the  names  of  the  letters,  and  then 
asking  mother  to  pronounce  for  me.  In  this  way  I learned 
to  read,  and  could  read  well  before  I ever  went  to  school.” 
The  Bible  became  ever  afterward  a very  precious  book  to 
Mr.  Sherwood.  He  may  well  say!  “I  thank  God  for  the 
Bible,  for  by  its  help  I learned  to  read  and  was  taught  to 
‘know  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  hath  sent’.  O how 
my  heart  was  moved,  as  I read  for  the  first  time  the  his- 
tory of  the  sufferings  and  death  on  the  cross  for  sinners! 
Here  I received  my  first  religious  impressions,  and  form- 
ed my  first  resolution  to  forsake  sin.”  He  was  converted 
at  a protracted  meeting  held  in  Cambridge,  Crawford  Co., 
Pa.,  June  10,  1834.  He  returned  home,  and  began  family 
worship.  After  the  labors  of  the  day,  it  was  his  custom 
to  retire  to  a grove  to  read,  pray,  and  meditate  in  the 
evening  twilight.  It  was  during  one  of  these  hours  of 
private  meditation  and  communion  with  God  that  he  felt 
his  call  to  the  ministry.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1847,  and  admitted  to  the  itinerancy  in  1849,  joining  the 
Erie  Conference  on  trial.  “Finding  it  impossible  to  be- 
come learned,  he  has  sought  to  become  good,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  uniting  a mature  Christian  experience  with  an 
extensive  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Bible,  upon  which  he 
draws  largely  in  his  public  ministrations,  and  sometimes 
with  great  power.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  354,  555. ) 

rin  Falls;  1854,  Concord;  1855,  Chardon;  1856-’57,  Burlington, 
Ebenezer  Church;  1858-’71,  Agent,  American  Bible  Society;  1872- 
’75,  District  Superintendent,  American  Bible  Society;  1876,  North 
Prairie  and  East  Troy,  Wis.;  1877-’79,  Wauwatosa,  Wis.;  1880, 
Sharon,  Wis.;  1881,  Shopiere,  Wis.;  1882,  Oconto,  Wis.;  1883, 
supernumerary;  1884,  name  not  on  minutes. 


2l6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Mr.  Sherwood  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference at  the  division.  He  was  twenty-nine  years  effect- 
ive, in  the  meantime  superannuating  for  two  years.  His 
final  superannuation  was  in  1880.  He  spent  the  remnant 
of  his  life  at  Ray’s  Corners,  Ohio.  The  weary  pilgrim 
reached  home  Sept.  5,  1896.* 

Thomas  R.  Radcliff  was  born  in  Kirk  Andreas,  Isle  of 
Man,  March  7,  1808.  f He  was  converted  when  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  united  with  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church  on  the  Ramsey  Circuit.  In  1836  he 
was  licensed  to  preach,  emigrated  to  America  in  1848  and  • 
was  employed  part  of  the  year  by  Elder  Goodwin  on  the 
Concord  Circuit.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1849,  and  remained  a member  until  the 
formation  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference.  “Mr.  Radcliff 
was  a man  of  about  middling  size,  possessed  a fine  imag- 
ination and  rich  flow  of  words  in  the  pulpit,  and  could 
preach  fine,  tasty,  well-arranged  sermons  that  pleased  his 
auditory.” — ( Gregg , History  of  Methodism , Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  II,  p.  346.)  “His  preaching  showed  that  his 
sermons  were  well  studied,  and  had  the  gleam  that  could 
be  produced  only  by  a brilliant  mind.”  % He  was  superan- 
nuated in  1876,  and  in  his  last  days  his  intellect  became 
clouded ; he  passed  to  the  land  of  clear  vision  where  we 
shall  all  see  face  to  face — November  6,  i888.§ — (Min- 
utes of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXII,  1889,  p.  3/0.) 

*P.  W.  Sherwood— Licensed  to  preach,  1847;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder,  1854, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Ray’s  Corner,  O.,  September  5, 
1896.  Appointments — 1849-’50,  Wattsburg;  1851,  New  Wilming- 
ton; 1852,  Hendersonville;  1853-’54,  Washington;  1855,  Punxsu- 
tawney;  1856-’57,  Luthersburg;  1858,  Shippenville;  1859-’60,  Rock- 
ville; 1861-’62,  Saegertown;  1863,  New  Lebanon;  1864,  Cochran- 
ton;  1865-’66,  superannuated;  1867-’68,  McKean;  1869,  Riceville; 
1870-’71,  Wayne;  1872-’73,  Gustavus;  1874-’75,  Edinburg  and  At- 
water; 1876-’77,  Nelson  and  Southington;  1878,  Lenox;  1879, 
Montville  and  Hampden;  1880-’95,  superannuated. 

tGregg  says  April  16,  1813.  “History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference,” Vol.  II.,  p.  345. 

§Thomas  Radcliff — Licensed  to  preach,  1836;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1854, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Claridon,  O.,  November  6,  1888.  Ap- 
pointments— 1849,  Concord;  1850,  Chagrin  Falls;  1851,  Kings- 
ville; 1852,  Chardon;  1853,  Montville;  1854,  Newburg;  1855,  Gen- 
eva; 1856-’57,  Windham  and  Nelson;  1858-’59,  Edinburg;  1860-’61, 
Charlestown;  1862-’63,  Mt.  Jackson;  1864,  Southington  and  Nel- 


Benjamin  F.  Langdon,  Elisha  T.  Wheeler.  217 

Benjamin  F.  Langdon,  Elisha  T.  Wheeler. 

Benjamin  F.  Langdon  passed  away  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  February,  1852,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  age. 
He  had  been  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1849.  He  was  an  indefatigable  laborer,  and  everywhere 
acceptable,  useful,  and  greatly  beloved.  “An  ardent  tem- 
perament, and  absorbing  interest  in  his  subject,  affected 
his  manner  of  speaking ; and  his  efforts  in  the  pulpit  were 
often  beyond  his  physical  strength,  and  doubtless  hastened 
his  early  descent  to  the  grave.” 

The  history  of  our  conference  has  furnished  many  mar- 
tyrs to  the  cause  of  religion.  The  demands  made  upon 
physical  strength  are  too  great  for  any  except  the  most 
robust  constitutions.  This  explains  the  large  number 
who  have  located  after  but  a few  years  of  service. 

The  “General  Minutes”  contain  the  following  apprecia- 
tive memoir  of  Benjamin  F.  Langdon,  one  of  the  choice 
young  men  of  the  Conference : “This  excellent  and  de- 

voted brother,  whose  loss  we  mourn,  fell  near  the  com- 
mencement of  his  ministerial  career.  Having  traveled  a 
few  months  as  a supply,  he  was  received  on  probation,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year  was  ordained  deacon, 
and  sent  to  Salem  Circuit  with  Brother  Joseph  Leslie.” 

Few  men  have  accomplished  so  much  in  a career  so 
brief. 

“A  notice  furnished  by  his  colleague  states,  that  in  com- 
pany with  the  presiding  elder,  brother  Patterson,  and  sev- 
eral local  preachers,  he  had  the  mournful  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing at  the  parsonage  with  our  afflicted  brother  and  sister 
Langdon,  to  partake  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Sup- 
per. It  was  a solemn,  glorious  time,  and  our  afflicted 
brother  and  sister  were  greatly  blessed — enabled  to  re- 
joice, even  in  view  of  their  anticipated  trying  hour  of 
separation — in  the  strong  assurance  that  Jesus  ‘doeth  all 
things  well.’  As  we  supported  his  feeble  tottering  frame 
while  he  kneeled  at  the  Lord’s  table,  he  said,  ‘Fear  not  for 
me,  all  is  well;  I am  happy — bless  the  Lord,  O my  soul.’ 
About  the  time  of  his  exit,  though  suffering  severely,  he 
exclaimed,  ‘Pain  is  nothing — I am  borne  above  it.  O, 
the  bliss  of  dying ! I never  before  realized  so  clearly  the 

son;  1865,  supernumerary;  1866,  Huntsburg  and  Clartdon;  1867, 
Charlestown;  1868-’69,  Warrensville;  1870,  Hudson;  1871-’75, 
supernumerary;  1876-’88,  superannuated. 


2l8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


I 


necessity,  the  importance  of  the  life,  the  death,  the  merit 
of  the  Savior,  as  I do  now.  But  O,  he  is  mine!’  In  this 
happy  frame  he  passed  away  on  the  18th  of  February, 
1852,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  age.”* — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  V,  1852,  p.  88.) 


Elisha  T.  Wheeler  was  born  in  Athens,  Crawford  Co., 
Pa.,  June  25th,  1820.  His  parents  were  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  the  thirteenth 
year  of  his  age,  while  listening  to  an  address  by  his 
teacher  at  the  close  of  a term  of  school,  he  was  awakened 
to  the  need  of  salvation;  and  several  weeks  later,  at  a 
two  days’  meeting  held  in  a barn  by  Abner  Jackson  and 
Samuel  Gregg,  he  experienced  pardon  and  peace.  Hav- 
ing fallen  into  a partially  backslidden  state,  he  renewed 
his  covenant  at  a camp-meeting  held  near  Blooming  Val- 
ley, Crawford  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  Rockville  Circuit  in  1847,  la- 
bored  the  following  winter  as  a supply  on  the  Saegertown 
circuit  and  in  1848  on  the  Conneautville  Circuit,  and  in 
1849  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial.  He 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. 

“Mr.  Wheeler  was  tall  and  slim,  a very  modest,  unas- 
suming, and  inoffensive  Christian  man ; and  in  the  pulpit, 
if  not  embarrassed,  there  was  more  of  him  than  his  out- 
side appearance  would  lead  many  to  expect,  and  his  can- 
did, upright  deportment  gave  his  hearers  the  utmost  con- 
fidence in  his  ministrations.  Putting  all  his  good  quali- 
ties together,  he  was  an  excellent  Methodist  minister.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II, 
p . 353.)  His  work  was  blessed  with  some  remarkable  re- 
vivals. He  died  of  pneumonia,  near  Anthony,  Kansas, 
March  5th,  1902.  His  last  moments,  though  filled  with 
intense  suffering,  were  cheerful  and  peaceful. f 


*B.  F.  Langdon — Admitted  on  trial,  1849;  full  connection,  1851; 
deacon,  1851,  Morris;  deceased,  South  Salem,  Pa.,  February  18, 
1852.  Appointments — 1849,  Conneautville;  1850,  Cussewago; 
1851,  Salem. 

|E.  T.  Wheeler — Licensed  to  preach,  1847;  admitted  on  trial, 
1849;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1870, 
Clark;  became  a member  of  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1876;  deceased,  near  Anthony,  Kas.,  March  5,  1902.  Ap- 
pointments— 1849,  Waterford  and  Cussewago  Mission;  1850,  ' 
Cooperstown;  1851,  Shippenville;  1852,  Luthersburg;  1853-’57, 


i 


219 


Drops  of  Mercy. 

Drops  of  Mercy. 

W.  F.  Day,  writing  from  the  Newburg  Circuit,  says: 
“God  who  at  sundry  times  and  divers  places  hath  appeared 
unto  others,  hath  in  these  last  days  visited  this  portion  of 
his  heritage,  and  hath  taken  away  our  reproach  from 
among  men.  Between  one  hundred  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  have  been  converted  on  this  circuit  within  the 
last  two  months — most  of  whom  have  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Bedford,  East  Cleveland,  and 
Warrensville  have  mutually  shared  in  the  revival.  Christ- 
ians of  different  denominations  have  lent  us  their  efficient 
aid  and  sympathies.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
May  2,  1849.) 

Painesville  is  reported  by  Dillon  Prosser : “God  is  still 

carrying  on  his  work  on  this  charge.  Twenty  have  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Richmond,  and 
forty-seven  at  Fairport.  These  villages  are  near  this  and 
are  now  on  this  charge.  The  glorious  work  of  God  is 
still  going  on.  Two  hundred  and  sixteen  have  united 
with  the  church  on  this  charge  within  a short  time,  and 
we  think  two  hundred  and  forty  have  experienced  religion 
without  about  four  months.  Many  of  the  boat  captains 
and  mates  have  obtained  a good  hope  through  faith,  and 
many  of  the  sailors  have  been  converted.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  March  21,  1849.) 

G.  F.  Reeser  writes  of  the  work  on  Curllsville  circuit : 
“The  societies  at  Curllsville,  Cherry  Run,  Freedom,  Madi- 
son Furnace,  and  Rimersburg  have  shared  most  largely 
in  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  About  seventy 
persons  profess  to  have  been  translated  from  the  thral- 
dom of  sin  and  Satan  into  the  marvellous  light  and  liberty 
of  the  sons  of  God ; and  between  seventy  and  eighty  have 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  there 
are  many  more  on  the  circuit  who  at  the  present  time  are 
awakened  to  a sense  of  their  need  of  Jesus  and  his  salva- 
tion ; and  the  prospect  of  a more  general  diffusion  of  the 
revival  spirit  is  brightening  every  day.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  Feb.  7,  1849.) 

B.  O.  Plimpton  reports  the  work  on  his  district.  We 
present  a few  items  from  his  report: 


supernumerary;  1858,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1859,  New  Lebanon;  1860, 
supernumerary;  1861-1902,  superannuated. 


220  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

“New  Castle  station  is  in  a healthy  condition,  under  the 
continued  watchcare  of  the  indefatigable  Reuben  J.  Ed- 
wards.” 

‘‘Our  quarterly  meeting  was  protracted  at  King’s 
Chapel,  and  some  sixteen  persons  professed  faith  in  Christ 
to  justification  of  life  during  the  week.” 

“Mercer  station  is  nearly  motionless,  with  a most  ex- 
cellent preacher  constantly  willing  to  move  the  ma- 
chinery.” 

“Harrisville  has  been  a prey  to  ‘vultures’  for  several 
years.  Perhaps  no  circuit  within  the  limits  of  the  district 
has  suffered  more  than  this  by  disaffected  ‘croakers’ ; but 
we  think  a better  day  is  dawning.” 

“Greenville  is  ripening  to  the  harvest — good  preachers 

and  good  people,  good  meetings  and  good  prospects.” 

“Conneautville  is  greatly  favored  of  the  Lord.” 

“Cooperstown  is  pensive  and  passive,  and  I judge  will 
do  no  harm.” 

“Meadville  is  looking  up,  smiling  as  you  would  smile  at 
the  brightening  sun,  after  a weary  night.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  Feb.  y,  1849.) 

From  the  Willoughby  circuit  we  have  good  news.  S. 
C.  Thomas  writes : “We  have  been  favored  with  a gra- 

cious outpouring  of  the  Divine  Spirit  on  this  charge.  In 
this  village  about  eighty-five  have  been  converted;  at 
Mentor  Plains,  fifteen;  and  at  the  Ridge,  about  forty; 
making  in  all  about  one  hundred  and  forty  within  the  last 
eight  weeks.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Jan.  3, 
1849.) 

Edwin  Hull  writes  from  Clintonville  under  date  of  De- 
cember 24,  1848:  “Simsbury,  a new  appointment,  has 

received  a gracious  shower.  We  commenced  a meeting 
there  one  week  ago  last  Friday  night,  which  continued 
until  Wednesday  night.  The  brethren  and  sisters  of  the 
North  Washington  class  came  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty ; and  the  Lord  laid  to  his  mighty  hand, 
and  there  was  a shaking  among  the  dry  bones.  It  was 
the  first  meeting  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  the  place.  Some 
of  the  converts  shouted  aloud  the  praise  of  God,  and  deep 
solemnity  pervaded  the  crowded  assembly.”  There  were 
revivals  also  on  other  parts  of  the  charge. — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  January  j,  1849.) 


IV 


A FIVE  YEARS*  TRIP  AMONG  CHURCHES 
AND  PREACHERS— 1850-1854. 


Fifteenth  Session  of  Erie  Conference. 

The  fifteenth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held 
in  Painesville,  Ohio,  July  io,  1850,  Bishop  Edmund  S. 
Janes  presiding,  W.  F.  Wilson,  Sscretary. 

There  were  received  on  trial : Russell  H.  Hurlburt, 

David  E.  Day,  John  H.  Vance,  Benjamin  D.  Himebaugh, 
Valorus  Lake,  Samuel  K.  Paden,  Henry  M.  Loud,  and 
John  J.  McArthur. 

Ignatius  H.  Tackitt,  John  Van  Horn,  Dean  C.  Wright, 
and  Samuel  Hollen  located. 

Thomas  Graham  withdrew  from  the  connection. 

Matthias  Himebaugh  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin 
Conference  and  appointed  to  the  Sheboygan  Mission. 

David  Preston,  David  W.  Vorse,  and  Billings  O. 
Plimpton  were  supernumeraries. 

There  were  nineteen  superannuates.* 

Appointments  for  1850:  Cleveland  District,  John  C.  Ayres, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  Thomas  Stubbs; 

*B.  D.  Himebaugh  was  admitted  on  trial,  1850;  discontinued, 
1853;  re-admitted,  Rock  River  Conference,  1857;  full  connection, 
1859;  deacon,  1859,  Ames;  1860,  located;  elder,  1861;  1871,  re- 
admitted; located,  1872.  Appointments — 1850  Randolph;  1851, 
Gerry;  1852,  Youngsville;  1857,  High  Prairie,  111.;  1858,  Paw- 
paw, 111.;  1859,  Wyanet,  111.;  1871,  Asbury,  111. 

H.  M.  Loud  was  admitted  on  trial,  1850;  full  connection,  1852; 
deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  located,  1853,  and  during  the  succeeding 
four  years  was  a student  at  the  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H., 
where  he  graduated,  1857;  re-admitted,  New  England  Conference, 
1857;  located,  1868.  Appointments — 1850-’51,  Hartford;  1852,  Brace- 
ville;  1857,  Watertown,  Mass.;  1858-’59,  Lowell,  Mass.,  St.  Paul’s; 
1860-’61  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  1862,  Leominster,  Mass.;  1863-’64, 
Medford,  Mass..;  1865-’67,  supernumerary. 

J.  J.  McArthur  was  admitted  on  trial,  1850;  discontinued  at 
his  own  request,  1852.  Appointments — 1850,  Brookville;  1851, 
Mahoning. 


15 


222 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Erie  Street,  Dillon  Prosser;  Newburg,  Alden  Walker,  E.  C.  Lati- 
mer; Chagrin  Falls,  W.  W.  Maltby,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Willough- 
by, J.  W.  Lowe;  Painesville,  G.  S.  Little;  Chardon,  S.  C.  Frear, 
Thomas  Guy;  Concord,  Ira  Eddy,  Samuel  Reynolds;  Geneva, 
Josiah  Flower,  L.  W.  Ely;  Ashtabula,  Darius  Smith;  Kingsville, 
William  Sampson,  W.  A.  Matson;  Morgan,  Potter  Sullivan,  Val- 
orus  Lake,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Asbury  Seminary,  to  be  supplied. 
Ravenna  District,  Horatio  N.  Stearns,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna, 

A.  M.  Brown;  Franklin,  W.  M.  Bear;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Albina 
Hall;  Akron,  Ezra  Jones;  Middlebury,  Allen  Fouts;  Charles- 
town, J.  H.  Tagg;  Hudson,  John  Tribby;  Twinsburg,  Lorenzo 
Rogers;  Freedom,  T.  B.  Tait;  Edinburg,  Stephen  Heard,  J.  W. 
Hill;  Parkman,  H.  D.  Cole,  Hiram  Kellogg.  Warren  District, 
Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  Hiram  Kinsley; 
Braceville,  Milo  Butler;  Windham,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Nelson,  C.  R. 
Chapman;  Southington,  J.  M.  Plant;  Mesopotamia,  J.  W.  Clock, 
J.  D.  Norton;  Windsor,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Ellsworth,  Henry  Elliott; 
Youngstown,  Janies  Greer;  Poland,  J.  J.  Steadman;  Hubbard, 
Asahel  Reeves,  W.  N.  Reno;  Hartford,  R.  M.  Bear,  H.  M.  Loud; 

B.  0.  Plimpton,  sup.;  Gustavus,  Joseph  Leslie,  J.  L.  Holmes; 
Williamsfield,  H.  S.  Winans,  J.  B.  Hammond.  Meadville  District, 
William  Patterson,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  John  Bain;  Rock- 
ville, O.  P.  Brown;  Waterford,  John  Demming;  Cassewago,  B. 
F.  Langton;  Saegertown,  Hiram  Luce,  S.  K.  Paden;  Conneaut- 
ville,  William  Monks,  H.  M.  Chamberlain,  R.  S.  Moran;  Salem, 
John  McLean,  Thomas  Benn;  Clarksville,  D.  H.  Jack,  J.  H. 
Vance;  Greenville,  J.  R.  Locke;  Mt.  Jackson,  John  Graham; 
Wilmington,  John  Crum,  Stephen  Hubbard;  New  Castle,  E.  B. 
Lane;  Mercer,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Harrisville,  Roderick  Norton;  Al- 
legheny College,  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  Professors; 
David  King,  Agent.  Franklin  District,  William  F.  Wilson,  pre- 
siding elder;  Franklin,  Moses  Hill;  Hendersonville,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs, D.  M.  Stever;  Clintonville,  John  Wriggles  worth,  George 
Stocking;  Curllsville,  Ahab  Keller,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Mahoning,  John 
Whippo;  Brookville,  G.  F.  Reeser,  J.  J.  McArthur;  Clarion,  W. 
F.  Day;  Shippenville,  Edwin  Hull;  Washington,  R.  A.  Caruthers; 
Pleasantville,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Cooperstown,  John  Abbott,  E.  T. 
Wheeler.  Jamestown  District,  William  H.  Hunter  presiding  el- 
der; Jamestown,  Niram  Norton;  Ashville,  H.  H.  Moore,  John 
Peate;  Randolph,  J.  E.  Chapin,  B.  D.  Himebaugh;  Leon,  John 
Scott,  Fauntly  Muse;  Gerry,  J.  N.  Henry,  R.  L.  Blackmar;  Elling- 
ton, Alvin  Burgess;  Forestville  and  Villenovia,  J.  O.  Rich,  S.  A. 
Henderson;  Silver  Creek,  Joseph  Uncles;  Perrysburg,  Isaac  Sco- 
field; Fredonia,  S.  C.  Thomas;  Portland,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Warren, 
R.  J.  Edwards;  Youngsville,  S.  B.  Sullivan,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Kinzua,  O.  D.  Parker;  Tionesta  and  Ridgway  Mission,  Ira  Black- 
ford. Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  Samuel 
Gregg;  McKean  and  Girard,  B.  S.  Hill,  Albert  Norton,  D.  W. 
Vorse,  sup.;  Springfield,  M.  H.  Bettes,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Wesley- 
ville,  S.  N.  Forest,  D.  E.  Day;  North  East,  H.  W.  Beers;  Quincy, 

C.  S.  Jennes;  Westfield,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Harmony,  John  Robinson; 
Wattsburg,  J.  K.  Hallock,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Spring  Creek,  I.  C.T! 
McClelland;  Columbus,  Alexander  Barris;  Mayville,  Wareham 
French;  Sunday  School  Union,  David  Preston,  (supply)  Agent. 

David  E.  Day  was  born  in  West  Springfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  the  brother  of  W.  F.  Day, 
late  of  our  Conference,  and  was  educated  in  Franklin, 


*1 


’I 


i 


R.  H . Hurlburt , Samuel  K.  Paden. 


22  3 


Ohio.  He  was  converted  by  the  influence  of  the  family 
altar  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Sperry,  in  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  in 
1847,  and  licensed  to  preach  at  Conneautville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  William  Patterson,  in  1849.  He  was  received 
on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1850.  Mr.  Day  was  a 
good  preacher,  and  during  the  six  years  of  his  ministry 
had  three  hundred  conversions.  In  1856  he  was  granted 
a location  at  his  own  request  and  settled  at  Girard,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1889.  he  surrendered  his  parchments,  and 
withdrew  from  the  church.* 

R.  H.  Hurlburt,  Samuel  K.  Padex. 

Russell  Higley  Hurlburt  was  born  in  Winchester, 
Litchfield  Co.,  Mass.,  April  21,  1826;  and  died  in  Marion. 
Linn  Co.,  Ia.,  April  14,  1883.  In  1842  the  family 
movel  to  Hartsgrove  Centre.  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
the  next  year  Mr.  Hurlburt  was  happily  converted  to  God. 
In  1849  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter  and  soon  after 
employed  as  a supply  on  the  Chagrin  Falls  Circuit,  with 
S.  C.  Frear  as  preacher  in  charge.  The  same  fall  he  was 
licensed  to  preach.  In  1850  he  joined  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence as  a probationer. 

Mr.  Hurlburt,  speaking  of  his  call  to  the  ministry,  says ; 
‘“When  first  converted,  the  duty  of  calling  sinners  to  re- 
pentance was  urged  upon  me  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 
But  such  was  my  sense  of  insufficiency  for  this  work  that 
for  four  years  my  convictions  were  kept  entirely  to  my- 
self. From  my  earliest  remembrance  I had  an  impedi- 
ment in  my  speech,  which  caused  me  great  mortification 
and  embarrassment.  This  was  the  main  cause  of  my  hesi- 
tancy. How  the  Lord  could  call  me.  with  such  a stam- 
mering tongue,  when  so  many  “Aarons’  were  in  the 
church,  was  an  unexplained  mystery  ; yet  the  cross  was 
ever  before  me  with  its  leaden  weight.  At  last  I listened 
to  the  voice  of  God  and  call  of  the  church,  and  took  up  my 
cross,  and  found  its  weight  wonderfully  diminished.  My 
tongue  was  loosened,  and  my  impediment  has  never 
troubled  me  much  since.” 

*D.  E.  Day — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial,  1850; 
full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder  1854,  Scott; 
located,  1856;  deceased,  near  Girard.  Pa.,  January  5,  1906.  Ap- 
pointments— 1850,  Wesleyville;  1851,  Quincy;  1852,  Edinboro 
Mission;  1853,  McKean;  1854,  Venango;  1855,  Sinclairville. 


I 


224 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


He  filled  with  great  acceptability  a number  of  promi- 
nent appointments.  He  was  presiding  elder  eight  years, 
traveling  the  Clarion  and  New  Castle  districts.  He  was 
four  times  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference, 
and  was  considered  a wise  adviser  thoroughly  devoted  to 
the  best  interests  of  the  church.  In  1861  he  was  appoint- 
ed chaplain  in  the  United  States  Army.  He  was  made 
supernumerary  in  1857,  and  again  in  1876-1877;  and  su- 
perannuated from  1878  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. In  1874  Mount  Union  College  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  graduated 
from  the  Homeopathic  Medical  College  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  in  1876,  and  from  that  time  devoted  himself  to  the 
practice  of  medicine,  still  preaching  as  opportunity  of- 
fered. Mr.  Hurlburt  was  “one  of  God’s  noblemen,  whom 
to  know  was  to  love.  As  a husband,  affectionate  and  de- 
voted ; as  a father,  tender  and  loving ; as  a preacher,  earn- 
est and  zealous  for  the  salvation  of  souls  and  the  glory  of 
God,  and  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ — a man 
greatly  beloved  by  preachers  and  people.  He  made  a good 
record  and  has  entered  into  rest.”* 

Samuel  K.  Paden,  a superannuated  member  of  the  Erie 
Conference,  died  of  paralysis,  at  the  home  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  J.  C.  Riblet,  in  New  Castle,  Pa.,  November  25, 
1897.  He  was  born  at  Conneaut,  O.,  February  27,  1817. 
In  early  life  he  was  converted  and  joined  the  Church.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Amanda  Miller,  who  died 
twenty  or  more  years  ago.  His  second  marriage  was  with 
Miss  Nannie  J.  Heck,  who  preceded  him  to  the  better 
country  about  five  years.  Brother  Paden  was  received 
into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1850.  Twenty-six  of  his 
forty-seven  years  in  the  itinerant  ranks  were  in  the  ef- 
fective relation,  the  remainder  in  the  supernumerary  and 
superannuated  relations. 

*R.  H.  Hurlburt — Licensed  to  preach  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1850;  full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder,  1854, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1876;  deceased,  Marion,  la.,  April  24,  1883.  Appoint- 
ments— 1849,  Chagrin  Falls  (supply);  1850,  Morgan;  1851-’52, 
Geneva,  O.;  1853,  Parkman;  1854-’55,  Ashtabula;  1856,  Mentor; 
1857,  supernumerary;  1858-’59,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street;  1860, 
Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1861,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1862-’63, 
Youngstown;  1864-’67,  Clarion  District;  1868-’71,  New  Castle 
District;  1872-’73,  Willoughby;  1874-75,  Wickliffe;  1876-77,  sup- 
ernumerary; 1878-’82  superannuated. 


Valorus  Lake , John  H.  Vance.  225 

He  was  original  in  his  method  of  expressing  the  truth, 
and  sometimes  misunderstood.  He  had  opinions  of 
his  own  on  most  subjects  and  was  ready  to  defend  them; 
woe  to  the  man  who  fell  under  his  sarcasm.  He  loved  the 
church  of  his  choice,  and  stood  ready  to  defend  her  doc- 
trines and  usages  as  he  understood  them.  Just  before  the 
late  session  of  the  Conference  he  was  stricken  down  and 
confined  to  the  house.  From  that  time  he  gradually  grew 
worse  until  the  end  came.  He  expressed  no  regrets,  said 
it  was  all  right  and  trusting  in  the  willingness  and  ability 
of  Christ  to  save  him,  he  quietly  passed  away  and  has- 
tened to  join  in  a Thanksgiving  anthem  before  the  throne 
of  God.  His  body  sleeps  at  King’s  Chapel,  in  the  family 
burying  ground,  where  it  waits  the  resurrection  of  the 
just.* 

Valorus  Lake,  John  H.  Vance. 

Valorus  Lake  left  this  world  the  rich  legacy  of  a good 
name.  Friends  cherish  such  a legacy  above  all  others. 
“The  genuine  wealth  of  this  world  is  enhanced  by  every 
such  life,  making  all  of  us  richer  for  its  benefactions.  Tell 
us  not  so  much  of  the  perishable  wealth  a man  has  ac- 
cumulated, as  how  much  of  happiness  he  has  strewn 
along  life’s  pathway  for  others  to  enjoy  as  they  pass.  The 
value  of  eighty  years  so  passed  is  not  to  be  expressed  in 
gold.”  Valorus  Lake  was  born  in  Plainfield,  New  York, 
July  22,  1804;  and  died  in  Wayne,  Ohio,  May  9,  1884. 
He  was  converted  in  his  thirteenth  year,  and  united  with 
the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church,  but  soon  after  changed  his 
church  relation  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia 
Holdridge,  March  29,  1829.  She  preceded  him  by  only 
about  two  weeks  to  the  better  land.  He  was  a member  of 

*S.  K.  Paden — Licensed  to  preach,  1843;  admitted  on  trial, 
1850;  full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder,  1854, 
Scott;  deceased,  New  Castle,  Pa.,  November  25,  1897.  Appoint- 
ments—18  50-’ 51,  Saegertown;  1852-’53,  Rockville;  1854-55,  Hub- 
bard; 1856,  Mt.  Jackson;  1857,  New  Wilmington;  1858,  East  New 
Castle  and  Portersville;  1859,  Moravia;  1860,  Shenango;  1861, 
North  Washington  and  Clinton ville;  1862,  Hendersonville;  1863- 
’66,  superannuated;  1867-79,  supernumerary;  1880,  Greenwood; 
1881,  Meadville  Circuit;  1882-’83,  Petersburg;  1884,  New  Leb- 
anon; 1885-’86,  Clarksville;  1887-’89,  Centerville,  Butler  Co.;  1890- 
*91,  Sheakley ville ; 1892,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1893-’97,  superannu- 
ated. 


226 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  New  York  Legislature  in  1845-46.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1847,  and  joined  the  itinerant  conquering 
army  in  1850,  being  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference. 
While  a local  preacher,  he  supplied  the  Quincy  Charge 
two  years,  and  the  Morgan  Circuit  one  year.  He  super- 
annuated in  1870.* 

John  H.  Vance  was  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1828.  He  says  of  his  early  life;  “My  parents 
were  orthodox  Presbyterians,  and  my  religious  training  in 
the  home  was  strictly  in  harmony  with  the  views  and 
usages  of  that  church.  The  whole  family  were  subjected 
to  a weekly  examination  on  the  ten  commandments,  longer 
and  shorter  Catechism,  and  also  a kind  of  review  of  Bible 
history  and  doctrines,  embracing  creation,  man’s  original 
state,  his  fall,  doctrines  of  redemption  according  to  the 
standards  of  the  church.  I remember  that  these  exam- 
inations stirred  up  some  lively  discussions  which  my 
father  as  chairman  said  it  was  not  good  for  young  people 
to  engage  in,  since  secret  things  belonged  to  the  Lord, 
and,  so  saying,  quashed  the  debate.  In  later  life  I have 
often  been  thankful  for  these  examinations,  for  they  laid 
the  foundation  for  better  things.”  His  early  education 
was  secured  in  the  old  time  “subscription  school.”  He 
afterward  entered  the  Public  School  of  New  Brighton, 
Pennsylvania ; when  the  family  moved  to  Rochester,  Penn- 
sylvania, he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  what  was  called 
“an  academic  school.”  He  was  converted  in  a meeting 
held  three  miles  south  of  New  Castle,  January  10th,  1847. 
The  meeting  was  conducted  by  John  C.  Ault  and  John 
McComb,  local  preachers.  Mr.  Vance  says;  “Before  I 
was  converted  I supposed  I was  a Presbyterian;  after- 
wards I knew  I was  a Methodist.”  He  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  actively  engaged  in 
Christian  work — filling  the  offices  of  class-leader  and 
steward.  He  refused  an  exhorter’s  license,  feeling  him- 

♦Valorus  Lake — Licensed  to  preach,  1847;  admitted  on  trial, 
1850;  full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder,  1854, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Wayne,  O.,  May  9,  1884.  Appoint- 
ments— 1847,  Quincy  (supply) ; 1849  Morgan  (supply) ; 1850, 
Morgan;  1851,  Chagrin  Falls;  1852-’53,  Twinsburg;  1854-’55,  Tall- 
madge;  1856-’57,  Franklin,  O.;  1858,  Northampton;  1859-’60, 

Windham;  1861-’62,  Canfield;  1863-’64,  Williamsfield;  1865,  Kel- 
loggsville;  1866-’67,  Windham;  1868,  Charlestown;  1869,  Nelson; 
1870-’83  superannuated. 


Valorus  Lake , John  H.  Vance. 


227 


self  wholly  unfit  for  such  office  until  Hiram  Miller,  af- 
terwards a member  of  the  Pittsburg  and  East  Ohio  Con- 
ferences, told  him  that  he  feared  he  would  lose  his  re- 
ligious enjoyment  and  possibly  his  soul  if  he  continued 
this  rebellion  against  the  call  of  God  through  the  church. 
He  then  consented,  replying ; “I  have  always  tried  to  do 
the  work  assigned  me  by  the  church  and  will  continue  so 
to  do,  the  Lord  being  my  helper.”  The  next  Sabbath 
morning,  Rev.  J.  K.  Miller  handed  him  a license  to  exhort. 
A few  months  later,  he  removed  to  New  Castle  where  he 
often  filled  the  pulpit  for  Reuben  Edwards,  the  first  sta- 
tioned pastor  in  that  place.  The  following  year  he  held 
his  membership  in  New  Wilmington,  where  he  received 
his  license  to  preach — 1850. 

Mr.  Vance  now  entered  upon  a course  of  study,  secur- 
ing the  best  tutors,  and  was  making  commendable  pro- 
gress, when  he  was  persuaded,  against  his  own  judgment, 
to  enter  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  once.  John 
Crum,  William  Patterson  and  John  R.  Lyon  secured  his 
consent,  and  he  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence the  same  year.  Of  this  he  says;  “This  was  their 
mistake,  but  my  misfortune.  That  is,  their  mistake  has 
made  my  life-work  hard,  and  to  succeed  as  well  as  I have 
has  required  much  severer  application  than  it  would  if  I 
had  had  a college  training.”  His  first  circuit  consisted  of 
thirty  appointments.  It  was  the  old  Clarksville  circuit 
which  included  all  the  country  west  of  Mercer  to  the  state 
line  and  from  Middlesex  to  Greenville,  including  James- 
town. 

We  will  let  Mr.  Vance  speak  of  his  second  charge. 
“My  next  appointment,”  he  says,  “was  Liberty  and  Niles 
where  I first  met  William  McKinley,  a boy  eight  or  nine 
years  old.  Twice  since  that  time  I have  been  pastor  of 
the  McKinley  family,  an  excellent  but  not  remarkable 
family.  Their  home  was  my  stopping  place  when  at  Niles. 
I did  not  see  anything  in  William  to  justify  even  a guess 
that  he  would  ever  become  so  great  a man  as  he  after- 
wards proved  himself  to  be. 

“Soon  after  I reached  the  charge,  a revival  broke  out 
at  the  family  altar  of  J.  M.  Silliman  when  two  of  the  girls 
cried  out  for  mercy  and  continued  to  cry  until  God  heard 
and  saved  them.  Meetings  commenced  in  the  church  that 
night  and  continued  until  fifty  persons  were  saved,  three 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


of  whom  became  ministers — Robert  Stranahan,  now  liv- 
ing in  Vienna,  Ohio,  John  Foreman,  somewhere  in  the 
west,  and  Henry  Mansell,  now  in  India.” 

A few  years  later,  Mr.  Vance  found  himself  on  the 
North  Washington  Charge.  Speaking  of  his  work,  he 
says;  “My  reception  was  not  very  pleasant  or  inspiring, 
as  I was  told,  upon  my  arrival  on  the  charge,  that  I would 
not  be  received.  They  had  asked  for  Brother  Crum,  and 
said  the  elder  had  promised  to  send  him,  but  Brother 
Moses  Hill  said  he  promised  only  conditionally  and  if  he 
could  not  send  Crum  he  would  send  the  next  best  man 
available.  When  I was  informed  I would  not  be  received, 
I replied ; ' 'All  right,  brethren.  This  is  not  my  affair. 
I did  not  make  the  mistake,  if  there  is  one.  I will  just 
turn  my  horse  homeward.’  They  said,  ‘This  is  Saturday. 
You  better  stay  over  Sabbath  with  us.’  I replied,  ‘I  am 
offered  a position  in  the  law  office  of  Stewart  & Snyder 
at  much  larger  salary  than  you  will  be  willing  to  allow 
me.’  But  they  insisted  and  I stayed  and  preached.  At 
the  close  of  the  service,  the  official  brethren  came  and 
asked  my  pardon,  begged  me  to  remain  with  them,  and  so 
the  work  went  on.”  This  was  a great  year  for  Brother 
Vance,  and  two  hundred  converts  crowned  his  labors. 

Mr.  Vance  was  effective  forty-eight  years.  He  was 
promoted  to  the  superannuate  relation  in  1898.* — (Com- 
munication to  the  author.) 

The  Organization  of  Classes. 

The  class  at  Mount  Zion  appointment  was  formed  in 
1837  by  Stephen  Heard,  pastor  of  Red  Bank  Circuit,  and 
Elijah  Coleman,  a local  preacher,  and  consisted  of  John 
Coleman,  James  Gaghagen,  Martha  Gaghagen,  his  wife, 
Maria  Gaghagen,  his  daughter,  Edward  Timblin  and 

*J.  H.  Vance — Licensed  to  preach,  1850;  admitted  on  trial, 
1850;  full  connection,  1852;  deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder,  1854, 
Scott.  Appointments — 1850,  Clarksville;  1851,  Liberty;  1852, 
Nelson;  l853-’54,  Hendersonville;  1855-’56,  North  Washington; 
1857-58,  Delaware  Grove;  1859-’60,  Waterford;  1861-’62  Fairview; 
1863,  Claridon;  1864,  Vienna;  1865,  Bazetta  and  Johnson;  1866- 
’67,  Girard  and  Liberty;  1868-’69,  Hubbard;  1870-71,  Reno;  1872- 
’74,  Wheatland;  1875-76,  Albion;  1877,  Rockville;  1878-79,  Cam- 
bridge; 1880,  Mill  Village;  1881-’82,  New  Wilmington;  1883 
Sheakleyville;  1884-’85,  Springfield;  1886-’90,  Wattsburg;  1891-’93, 
Marionville;  1894-’95,  Big  Run;  1896-’97,  Ashville;  1898-1907, 
superannuated. 


The  Organisation  of  Classes. 


229 


wife,  and  probably  several  others.  John  Coleman,  son  of 
Elijah,  was  the  first  class-leader.  Services  were  held  at 
the  house  of  Janies  Gaghagen  until  the  erection  of  the 
church  in  1843.  This  was  succeeded  by  the  present  edi- 
fice in  1875.  i^5°j  Zion  church  became  a part  of  the 

Mahoning  charge.  It  was  transferred  to  the  Punxsu- 
tawney  Circuit  about  1852;  to  the  Perrysville  Circuit 
about  1861 ; and  has  belonged  to  the  Ringgold  Circuit 
since  the  pastorate  of  S.  P.  Douglas  1881-2. — (Communi- 
cation to  the  author  by  T.  B.  Adams  who  zvas  class  leader 
from  1877  t°  1902.) 

The  Salem  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  its  origin 
in  a class  organized  by  Richard  A.  Caruthers  between 
1845  and  I^50  at  the  Lee  School  House  near  the  pike  a 
mile  from  Oil  City.  Mrs.  James  Lee,  Mrs.  Harriet  Lake, 
Jane  Long,  Mary  Long,  and  James  Shaffer — leader — 
with  three  or  four  others  constituted  the  first  class.  John 
Crum  and  James  Shields  are  thought  to  have  been  the 
first  preachers  after  the  place  of  worship  was  removed  to 
Salem.  Mr.  Shields  formed  the  first  class  in  Salem  at 
the  house  of  Charles  Lake.  It  may  have  been  during  the 
transition  period  that  Frederick  Vernon  served  this  class. 
E.  H.  Yingling  is  said  to  have  held  the  first  protracted 
meeting.  Years  before  this,  however,  John  Abbott  had 
preached  at  the  house  of  Ephraim  Rose  on  the  hill  above 
Horse  Creek.  For  some  time  the  old  log  church  was  oc- 
cupied jointly  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Af- 
ter the  latter  denomination  had  erected  a new  edifice,  the 
old  church  was  used  exclusively  by  the  Methodists  until 
they  built  a frame  church  of  their  own.  This  was  in  1866; 
the  parsonage  was  erected  in  1882.  The  cost  of  the  church 
was  $1,600. — (History  of  Venango  County , Published  by 
J.  A.  Caldwell,  1879,  fap.  56*5,  §86;  History  of  Venango 
County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1890,  pp.  672,  677.)  The 
present  church  was  built  in  1897,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Thomas  Pollard. 

The  first  Methodist  class  in  Salina  was  organized  by 
Rev.  Doolittle  in  the  house  of  Till  (?)  Hitchcock  near 
Hall’s  Run  about  1845  or  I^5°-  The  members  were  most- 
ly of  the  Hitchcock  family,  and  Isaac  and  John  Steffee. 
The  class  met  at  the  Allison  School  House.  The  present 
church  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  Abraham  Bash- 
line in  1885. 


230 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


John  McLean,  of  the  Salem  Circuit,  after  mentioning 
the  conversion  of  “some  eighty  or  ninety  souls,”  says; 
“We  are  spread  over  a section  of  country  through  which 
other  would-be  revivalists  run  to  and  fro,  assuming  the 
distinctive  doctrines  of  Methodism  and  adopting  our 
measures,  &c.,  and  singing  the  charming  song  of  'union, 
union  ; and  almost  threaten  us  with  the  ‘curse  of  Meroz’ 
if  we  decline  to  engage  in  their  meetings  with  them.  Thus 
a few  of  our  members,  whose  prayer  and  faith  are  avail- 
able in  behalf  of  the  penitent,  join  in  and  help  till  the 
special  effort  is  over,  and  a few  are  converted.  Then  the 
song  of  ‘union’  ceases;  and  these  busy-bodies  who  have 
a ‘party’  interest  to  build  up,  beset  the  penitent  inquirer 
and  young  convert  with  all  manner  of  misrepresentations, 
and  false  accusations  of  Methodism  and  Methodist  min- 
isters, and  give  them  no  rest  till  they  are  induced  to  fol- 
low them  down  into  ‘Jordan,  even  though  her  banks  be 
frozen  fast  with  ice’ ; and  then  they  triumph  over  their 
success.  Mr.  Editor,  I am  fond  of  ‘Evangelical  Alliance’ ; 
but  such  ‘union’  as  the  above  deserves  the  execration  of 
every  sensible  and  good  man.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, Feb.  19,  1850.) 

J.  R.  Locke  and  J.  H.  Tagg  were  in  charge  of  the 
Youngstown  and  Poland  charges  in  1849-50.  Their  re- 
port is  interesting : “We  have  recently  closed  a most  in- 

teresting meeting  at  Lowell.  Those  who  are  acquainted 
with  this  village  are  aware  that  formerly  we  had  a large 
society  there.  But  during  its  prevalence,  Millefism  took 
a strong  hold  of  the  community,  and  time,  which  proves 
all  such  things,  had  scarcely  exposed  this  fallacy,  when,  as 
would  be  perfectly  natural  in  the  sliding  scale,  Garrison- 
ianism  and  infidelity  met  with  a warm  reception.  Under 
these  influences,  our  society  sickened  and  died,  and  was 
buried  amidst  the  triumphs  of  its  enemies;  and  for  a long 
time  the  ground  was  given  up  to  the  enemy. 

“But  we  rejoice  to  say  that  the  scale  is  now  turned.  The 
moral  darkness  which  hung  as  a spell  over  this  place,  is 
being  rolled  away,  and  ‘true  light  shineth’,  and  we  can 
say  of  numbers  during  our  meeting  that  ‘they  looked  unto 
him  and  were  lightened ; and  their  faces  were  not  asham- 
ed.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  January  10,  1850.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  West  Sunbury  was 
organized  by  Edwin  Hull,  in  charge  of  the  Clintonville 


The  Organization  of  Classes. 


231 


Circuit,  in  the  winter  of  1848-9.  He  held  a series  of 
meetings  in  the  school  house,  and  formed  a class  consist- 
ing of  nine  members  as  follows;  William  M.  Graham, 
John  M.  Brackney  and  wife,  Jerusha  Brackney,  Andrew 
McPherrin  and  his  sister,  Isaac  Mann,  John  Dunlap,  and 
Susannah  Humphrey.  Mr.  Graham  was  the  first  leader. 
The  first  house  of  worship  was  commenced  in  1850,  and 
completed  a year  or  two  later.  Thomas  C.  Thompson 
donated  the  site,  and  also  contributed  towards  the  build- 
ine.  The  cost  was  about  $800.  Its  dimensions  were 
twenty-eight  by  forty  feet.  A second  building  was  erect- 
ed in  1868  at  a cost  of  $2,200,  when  the  former  was  sold 
for  school  purposes. — (History  of  Butler  County,  R.  C. 
Brown  & Co.,  1895,  P • 57$ - ) 

Barton  Chapel  is  located  four  and  a half  miles  east  of 
Ringgold  and  a mile  east  of  Sprankle’s  Mills.  The  first 
preaching  in  the  vicinity  was  in  the  school  house  near  the 
site  of  the  present  church  between  1845  and  1850.  The 
first  class  consisted  of  William  Smith — who  was  leader — , 
Margaret  Smith,  John  Keller,  William  J.  Hanna,  Mar- 
garet Hanna,  Oliver  Croasman,  Rachel  Croasman,  Mary 
Lingenfelter,  George  Yeager,  Lannie  Yeager,  Adaline 
Burkett,  Agnes  Hawthorne,  and  perhaps  a few  others. 
In  about  1851  a church  was  erected  called  “Wesley 
Chapel.”  In  1886,  during  the  pastorate  of  W.  J.  Barton, 
a subscription  was  taken  and  lumber  procured  for  a new 
church,  but  the  lumber  burned  and  the  society  became  dis- 
couraged. Mr.  Barton  by  untiring  effort  succeeded  in  se- 
curing lumber  by  donation,  and  the  new  church  was  com- 
pleted, and  the  name  changed  to  “Barton  Chapel.” 

The  first  class  of  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  May,  1847.  I-  C.  T.  McClelland  was  the 
first  pastor.  The  class  numbered  seven  members : John 

Dixon  and  wife,  Philip  Hetrick  and  wife,  Jacob  McFad- 
den  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Black.  These  were  among  the 
first  pioneers  when  this  part  of  the  country  was  a wilder- 
ness. “The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Boyle  in 
the  little  house  in  Polk  township  where  Mr.  Dixon  still 
— 1901 — lives.”  When  a log  school  house  was  built  in 
1850,  services  were  transferred  from  the  homes  of  the 
people  to  the  more  commodious  structure.  “Rev.  Wright 
of  Brookville  preached  several  times  in  the  school  house 
during  the  year  1850,  and  Rev.  F.  W.  Smith  followed  him 


232  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

as  pastor  of  the  pioneer  congregation.  The  first  quar- 
terly meeting  in  connection  with  this  society  was  held  by 
Josiali  Flower,  December  13,  1857,  at  the  home  of  Philip 
Hetrick,  the  first  class  leader.  A church  was  erected  on 
the  farm  of  Jacob  McFadden  in  1863.  The  old  church 
was  repaired,  and  served  as  a house  of  worship  until  the 
erection  of  the  present  edifice  at  a cost  of  $4,000.  It  stands 
on  the  old  lot  “about  half  way  between  the  village  of 
Munderf  and  Schoffner’s  Corners.”  It  was  dedicated  by 
R.  C.  Smith,  presiding  elder  of  the  Clarion  District,  No- 
vember 3,  1901. — (George  R.  Adam  in  The  Record , 
Brockzvayville,  Pa.,  Nov.  8,  ipoi.) 

John  Dixon  mentioned  above,  whose  father,  John  Dix- 
on, Sr.,  taught  the  first  school  in  Jefferson  county,  was 
still  living,  at  the  ripe  age  of  94  years,  and  was  present  to 
enjoy  the  dedicatory  sendees.  He  had  been  a Methodist 
for  seventy-three  years.  “In  1828  he  and  four  others 
founded  a ‘Methodist  Class’  in  an  old  log  barn,  then 
owned  by  David  Butler,  on  the  North  Fork  at  the  head 
of.  what  was  formerly  Litclrs,  now  Cook’s  Dam.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Brookville.  Of  this  class  of  five  he  is  the  only  one  liv- 
ing. John  Dixon,  Jr.,  has  been  a faithful,  devoted  Meth- 
odist for  over  seventy-two  years.  Born,  reared,  and  hav- 
ing always  lived  in  the  county,  he  has  witnessed  all  ouf 
pioneer  struggles  and  witnessed  and  enjoyed  all  our  bless- 
ings and  prosperity.  Marvellous  the  changes.” — (Dr. 
W.  J.  McKnight  in  the  Punxsutawney  Spirit,  August  22, 
ipoo.) 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  origin  of  the  revival 
on  Mayville  circuit  in  1850,  as  related  by  the  pastor,  Rob- 
ert S.  Moran : “On  the  evening  of  last  New  Year’s  day, 

a young  man  came  to  the  writer  informing  him  that  he 
felt  deeply  convinced  of  sin,  and,  in  order  to  seek  the 
counsel  and  prayers  of  Christians,  he  declined  attending  a 
party  to  which  he  had  been  invited  that  evening.  We  had 
a season  of  prayer,  after  which  we  appointed  a meeting 
for  the  following  Wednesday  evening.  By  this  time  he 
had  experienced  religion,  and  many  more  were  serious. 
We  continued  the  meetings  every  evening  till  Sabbath, 
when,  at  a general  class-meeting  in  the  morning,  a halo 
of  divine  glory  seemed  to  accompany  us ; and  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  thirty-seven  designated  themselves  as 


Erie  Conference  in  1851.  233 

seekers  of  religion  at  the  mourner’s  bench.  The  meeting 
continued,  the  influence  spread,  the  interest  increased,  and 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  was  still  rising  with  increasing 
splendor,  till  from  his  meridian  glory  his  heavenly  in- 
fluences were  diffused  copiously  among  us.  For  two  or 
three  weeks  in  succession,  there  were  from  forty  to  fifty 
forward  every  evening  anxiously  seeking  the  salvation  of 
their  souls,  and  every  evening  furnished  us  with  new  wit- 
nesses for  Jesus.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
March  27,  1850.) 

Erie  Conference  in  1851. 

The  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  for  1851  was  held 
in  Warren,  Ohio,  commencing  July  9,  Bishop  Thomas  A. 
Morris  presiding,  Niram  Norton,  Secretary.  Milo  But- 
ler was  transferred  to  the  Illinois  Conference;  S.  C. 
Thomas,  to  the  Wisconsin;  George  L.  Little,  to  the  Rock 
River ; and  Ira  Blackford,  to  the  Iowa. 

O.  D.  Parker,  J.  W.  Clock,  and  S.  A.  Henderson  lo- 
cated. 

David  Preston,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  and  D.  M.  Stearns 
were  supernumeraries. 

There  were  sixteen  superannuates. 

There  were  received  on  trial:  Abraham  H.  Bowers, 

John  Akers,  Ezra  Wade,  James  B.  Graves,  William  P. 
Bignell,  David  Mizener,  William  R.  Johnson,  Madison 
Wood,  J.  S.  Lytle,  H.  P.  Henderson,  John  T.  Boyle, 
John  G.  Thompson,  Abram  S.  Dobbs,  and  George  W. 
Chesbro.* 

Appointments  for  1851:  Cleveland  District,  John  C.  Ayres 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland— St.  Clair  Street,  John  Bain;  City 
Mission,  Dillon  Prosser;  Erie  Street,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Newburg, 
Alden  Walker  E.  C.  Latimer;  Chagrin  Falls,  W.  W.  Maltby’, 
Valorus  Lake;  Willoughby,  Lewis  Clark;  Painesville,  Niram  Nor- 
ton; Mentor,  O.  P.  Brown;  Chardon,  S.  C.  Frear,  Thomas  Guy; 
Concord,  Ira  Eddy,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Geneva,  Potter  Sullivan,  R. 
H.  Hurlburt;  Ashtabula,  Darius  Smith;  Kingsville,  William 
Sampson,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Morgan,  G.  W.  Maltby,  Samuel  Rey- 
nolds, W.  A.  Matson;  Asbury  Seminary,  Roderick  Norton.  Ra- 
venna District,  Horatio  N.  Stearns,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna, 
Thomas  Stubbs;  Franklin,  Stephen  Heard;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Lo- 

*J.  B.  Graves  was  admitted  on  trial,  1851;  discontinued,  1854. 
Appointments — 1851,  Gustavus;  1852  Saegertown;  1853,  Spring 
field. 

Madison  Wood  was  admitted  on  trial,  1851;  full  connection, 
1854;  deacon,  1854,  Scott;  located,  1855.  Appointments — 1851, 
Clarksville;  1852,  Pleasantville;  1853-’54,  Kinzua  and  Tionesta. 


234 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


renzo  Rogers;  Akron,  Ezra  Jones;  Middlebury,  W.  M.  Bear,  D. 
M.  Stearns,  sup.;  Charlestown,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Hudson,  John 
Tribby;  Twinsburg,  Allen  Fouts;  Freedom,  H.  D.  Cole;  Edin- 
burg, L.  W.  Ely,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Parkman,  T.  B.  Tait,  J.  W.  Hill. 
Warren  District,  Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  G. 

B.  Hawkins;  Braceville  J.  M.  Plant;  Windham,  J.  D.  Norton; 
Nelson,  to  be  supplied;  Southington,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Mesopotamia, 
Asahel  Reeves;  West  Farmington,  A.  M.  Brown;  Windsor,  C.  R. 
Chapman;  Ellsworth,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  Ezra  Wade;  Youngstown, 
James  Greer;  Poland,  J.  J.  Steadman,  W.  N.  Reno;  Hubbard,  D. 

C.  Wright;  Liberty,  J.  H.  Vance;  Hartford,  John  Crum,  H.  M. 
Loud,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  sup.;  Gustavus,  H.  S.  Winans,  J.  B. 
Graves;  Williamsfield,  R.  M.  Bear;  Espyville,  D.  H.  Jack,  H.  M. 
Chamberlain.  Meadville  District,  William  Patterson,  presiding 
elder;  Meadville,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Rockville,  John  McLean;  Water- 
ford, John  Demming,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Edinboro  Mission,  L.  D. 
Prosser;  Saegertown,  Hiram  Luce,  S.  K.  Paden;  Conneautville, 
William  Monks,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Evansburg  I.  T.  C.  Mc- 
Clelland, T.  B.  Benn;  Salem,  Joseph  Leslie,  B.  F.  Langdon; 
Greenville,  Albina  Hall;  Clarksville,  Josiah  Flower,  Madison 
Wood;  Mt.  Jackson,  John  Graham;  Wilmington,  J.  B.  Hammond, 
Parker  Sherwood;  New  Castle,  Hiram  Kinsley;  Mercer,  J.  R. 
Locke;  Harrisville,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Allegheny  College,  G W. 
Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  Professors;  David  King^  Agent.  Frank- 
lin District,  W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  W.  F.  Day; 
Hendersonville,  Edwin  Hull,  J.  G.  Thompson;  Clinton ville,  D.  M. 
Stever,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Brady’s  Bend,  John  Wriggles  worth;  Curlls- 
ville,  Ahab  Keller,  John  Whippo;  Mahoning,  J.  R.  Lyon,  J.  J. 
McArthur;  Luthersburg  Mission,  Alva  Wilder;  Brookville,  G.  F. 
Reeser;  Clarion  E.  B.  Lane;  Shippen ville,  R.  A.  Caruthers,  E.  T. 
Wheeler;  Washington,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Pleasantville,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs, J.  T.  Boyle;  Cooperstown,  John  Abbott,  A.  S.  Dobbs; 
New  Lebanon,  George  Stocking.  Jamestown  District,  William 
H.  Hunter,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  John  Robinson;  Ash  ville, 
J.  N.  Henry;  Randolph,  J.  E.  Chapin,  R.  S.  Moran;  Leon,  R.  L. 
Blackmar;  Gerry,  T.  D.  Blinn,  B.  D.  Himebaugh;  Ellington,  Alvin 
Burgess;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  J.  O.  Rich;  Villenovia,  to  be 
supplied;  Silver  Creek,  S.  B.  Sullivan;  Perrysburg,  Isaac  Sco- 
field; Fredonia  and  Dunkirk  Mission,  J.  W.  Lowe,  G.  W.  Chesbro; 
Portland,  John  Peate;  Warren,  R.  J.  Edwards;  Youngsville,  Al- 
bert Norton;  Wrightsville,  John  Scott;  Kinzua,  to  be  supplied; 
Tionesta  Mission,  Fauntly  Muse.  Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  Samuel  Gregg;  McKean,  B.  S.  Hill;  Girard, 

D.  W.  Vorse;  Springfield,  M.  H.  Bettes,  S.  N.  Forest,  John  Akers; 
Wesley  ville,  H.  H.  Moore;  North  East,  Joseph  Uncles;  Quincy, 
Alexander  Barris,  D.  E.  Day;  Westfield,  H.  W.  Beers;  May  ville, 
C.  S.  Jennes,  H.  P.  Henderson;  Harmony,  Moses  Hill;  Watts- 
burg,  J.  K.  Hallock,  David  Mizener;  Riceville,  W.  R.  Johnson; 
Columbus,  Wareham  French,  David  Preston,  sup.,  Sunday  School 
Agent. 


David  Mizener,,  George  W.  Chesbro. 


David  Mizener  was  born  in  Buffalo  Valley,  Union  Co., 
Pa.,  Dec.  12,  1810.  He  was  converted  and  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Philadelphia  in  January, 
1835,  and  in  the  following  spring  returned  to  his  native 


1 


David  Mizencr,  George  IV.  Chesbro. 


235 


county,  and  soon  afterward  to  Mifflinburg,  where  he  was 
appointed  class-leader  and  held  this  office  twelve  years. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1840  by  George  Hildt,  pre- 
siding elder  of  Northumberland  District.  In  1851  he 
moved  to  Big  Bend  in  Mercer  County.  He  was  called 
to  fill  the  place  of  D.  H.  Jack  on  the  Clarksville  Circuit 
left  vacant  because  of  the  illness  of  the  pastor.  At  the 
subsequent  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  he  was  admitted 
on  trial,  and  for  thirty-two  years  did  effective  work  with 
but  two  years  interruption — in  1882  and  1883  when  he 
was  supernumerary.  He  was  superannuated  in  1885.  He 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. Grep*g  says;  “Mr.  Mizener  was  rather  tall, 
slim,  and  spare,  was  quite  late  in  life  to  become  a success- 
ful itinerant;  but,  fortunately,  he  was  a good  English 
scholar,  had  spent  much  of  his  time  in  teaching,  had  a 
long  and  varied  religious  experience,  was  well-read  in 
Christian  theology,  had  been  a long  and  ardent  laborer 
in  the  Church,  and  had  a good  foundation  to  build  upon, 
and  with  all  these  advantages,  and  especially  the  help  of 
the  Lord,  which  he  certainly  has  received,  he  has  been  a 
very  useful  minister  of  the  Lord  JesusX  —(Gregg,  His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  391, 
392.)  “Brother  Mizener  was  a faithful  student,  and  a 
clear,  vigorous,  and  instructive  preacher.  He  understood 
Methodist  law  and  was  a strict  disciplinarian.  He  was  ex- 
act and  careful  in  all  the  details  of  his  work.  He  was  a 
good  pastor  and  always  in  earnest  in  seeking  the  salva- 
tion of  men,  and  was  truly  a man  of  faith  and  prayer.” 
He  died  at  Williamsport,  Pa.,  Aug.  26,  1886.* — (Min- 
utes of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXI,  1886,  p.  350.) 

George  W.  Chesbro  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
Nov.  27,  1821 ; and  died  in  Sheridan,  New  York,  Sept. 

♦David  Mizener — Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization  1876;  deceased,  Williamsport,  Pa.,  August  6,  1886. 
Appointments — 1851,  Wattsburg;'l852,  Columbus;  1853,  Water- 
ford; 1854-’55,  Wesleyville;  1856,  Albion;  1857-’58,  McKean;  1859- 
’60,  Quincy;  1861-’62,  Youngsville;  1863,  Sugar  Grove;  1864, 
Sugar  Grove  and  Pine  Grove;  1865,  Delanti;  1866-’67,  Silver 
Creek;  1868-’69,  Conneaut;  1870-71,  Mentor;  1872-73,  Perry; 
1874,  Mayfield;  1875-76  Thompson  and  Concord;  1877,  Saybrook; 
1878,  Grand  River;  1879-’80,  Nottingham;  1881,  Montville  and 
Hampden;  1882-’83,  supernumerary;  1884,  Concord;  1885,  super- 
annuated. 


236  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

28,  1901.  He  was  the  son  of  devout  Christian  parents, 
Isaac  and  Phrania  Chesbro.  In  1842,  Brother  Chesbro 
came  to  Forestville,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business.  He  was  converted  in  Ran- 
dolph under  the  labors  of  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  licensed  to  preach 
in  1847,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1851.  In  1853  he  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Reynolds,  who 
after  some  ten  years  died,  leaving  one  son,  John,  who  be- 
came a minister  in  the  Free  Methodist  Church.  In  1866 
he  married  Miss  Jane  E.  Boyce,  of  Willoughby,  Ohio,  a 
most  estimable  lady. 

Rev.  Dr.  W.  P.  Bignell,  in  his  Memoir  of  Brother  Ches- 
bro, says ; “But  few  men  came  into  the  ministry  of  our 
church  at  the  date  of  his  admission  better  prepared  edu- 
cationally, both  classical  and  theological,  than  he,  he  hav- 
ing graduated  at  Brown  University  and  Concord  Biblical 
Institute ; yet  there  was  no  evidence  of  a desire  to  display 
his  attainments,  but  a very  ardent  one  to  glorify  the  cross 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  consequently  his  sermons,  while  per- 
fect in  construction,  faultless  in  language,  and  choice  in 
thought,  were  intensely  practical.  He  believed  in  the 
higher  Christian  life,  preached  it,  and  lived  it,  and  sought 
to  bring  the  church  up  to  this  high  standard. 

Brother  Chesbro  was  an  exceedingly  close  preacher,  press- 
ing the  truth  home  upon  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his 
hearers.  He  cared  nothing  for  the  fine  platitudes,  but  in 
direct  and  earnest  argument  and  appeal  he  tried  to  con- 
vince men  to  be  reconciled  to  God.” 

Mr.  Gregg  says ; “From  a long,  and  at  times,  intimate 
acquaintance  with  him,  we  regard  him  as  among  the  most 
conscientious,  honest,  and  generous-hearted  men  we  have 
ever  been  associated  with  in  the  ministry.” — ( Gregg , His- 
tory of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II , pp.  394, 
395.)  His  religion  seemed,  in  some  sense,  to  transfigure 
him  before  an  audience ; and  to  meet  him,  in  the  years  of 
his  retirement,  at  the  conference,  brought  a distinct  bless- 
ing. 

He  \yas  thirty-six  years  effective,  and  fifteen  supernu- 
merary or  superannuated.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1876.* 

*G.  W.  Chesbro — Licensed  to  preach,  1847;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  deceased,  Sheridan,  N.  Y.  September  28,  1901.  Appoint- 


237 


John  Akers,  William  P.  Bignell. 

John  Akers,  William  P.  Bignell. 

John  Akers  was  born  in  Sutton,  Yorkshire,  England, 
July  i,  1822.  From  his  earliest  recollection  he  was  the 
subject  of  religious  impressions.  When  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  made  the  supreme  decision,  obtained  an  evidence 
of  his  acceptance  as  a child  of  God,  and  united  with  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  In  1844  his  name  appears 
on  the  plan  of  the  Ripon  Circuit  as  a local  preacher.  In 
1850  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  came  to 
Ravenna,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  The  next  year  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  traveling  connection  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
Mr.  Gregg  says;  “Mr.  Akers  was  only  medium  in  height, 
but  in  other  respects  more  than  a medium-sized  man,  with 
an  English  appearance  and  style  of  speech,  and  yet  a man 
of  much  intelligence  and  zeal,  and  a very  good  and  useful 
preacher.” 

Brother  Akers  was  a man  of  integrity,  piety,  and  in- 
dustry, modest  and  unassuming,  systematic  and  exact; 
and  in  his'work  was  greatly  blessed.  About  three  months 
previous  to  his  death,  he  records  in  his  journal;  “Fifty- 
one  years  ago  to-day  I obtained  a clear  witness  of  my  ac- 
ceptance* with  God,  and  now  I feel  his  spirit  witnessing 
with  mine  that  I am  his  child.  His  Spirit  answers  to  the 
blood,  and  tells  me  I am  born  of  God.  Before  many  years 
have  elapsed,  I hope  to  see  the  King  in  his  beauty,  and  the 
land  which  is  now  afar  off.  During  the  fifty-one  years  of 
my  Christian  pilgrimage,  my  Heavenly  Master  has  won- 
derfully led  me,  and  in  every  instance  where  I have  been 
obedient  to  his  call,  I have  been  perfectly  secure,  and 
learned  that  the  ways  of  wisdom  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 
and  all  his  paths  are  paths  of  peace.  I am  fully  persuaded, 
if  I am  a willing  and  obedient  child  of  the  Lord,  I shall 
eventually  eat  the  good  of  the  land.  I have  filled  a great 
many  appointments,  either  as  a local  preacher  or  as  a 
traveling  minister.  I have  had  some  precious  times  in 
trying  to  preach  Jesus  to  my  fellow  creatures.  Happy,  if 

ments — 1851,  Fredonia  and  Dunkirk  Mission;  1852,  Ashville; 
1853,  Randolph;  1854,  Fredonia;  1855,  Greenville;  1856-’57,  Frank- 
lin, Pa.;  1858,  Braceville;  1859-’60,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1861-’62, 
Willoughby;  1863-’64,  Mercer;  1865-’66,  Hudson;  1867-’68,  New- 
burg;  1869-70,  Madison;  1871  Chagrin  Falls;  1872-74,  Water- 
ford; 1875-76,  Ellington;  1877-78,  Hamlet;  1879-’80,  Sheridan; 
1881-’82,  Harrisville;  1883-’84,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1885,  superannu- 
ated; 1886-’92,  supernumerary;  1893-1901,  superannuated. 


1 

* 


16 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


r 


238’ 

with  my  latest  breath,  I may  but  gasp  his  name,  and  cry 
in  death,  ‘Behold!  behold!  the  Lamb!’  ” During  his  last 
sickness  his  sufferings  were,  at  times,  severe ; but  he  was 
able  to  say;  “I  always  believed  his  word;  when  convert- 
ed, I experienced  its  truth.  I have  preached  it,  and  had 
many  wonderful  blessings  in  preaching,  but  never  knew 
the  length  and  breadth,  height  and  depth  and  fulness  of 
God's  promises  till  now,  and  here  upon  this  sick-bed."* 

“The  passing  of  Brother  William  P.  Bignell  from 
the  ranks  cf  the  living  seems  like  the  removal  of  a feature 
from  the  landscape.  For  half  a century  he  occupied  a 
conspicuous  place  in  Erie  Conference.  His  face,  his 
figure,  his  voice  were  known  and  noted.  His  face  car- 
ried sunshine  and  kindliness;  his  compact  figure  indicated 
endurance;  his  voice  in  animated  passages  of  prayer  or 
sermon,  suggested  some  of  the  rapt  visions  of  John  the 
Revelator.  Verily,  the  task  of  properly  portraying  such 
a man  to  those  who  knew  and  loved  him  is  not  an  easy 
one.” 

Mr.  Bignell  was  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza  Bignell,  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  born  June  5,  1826. 
From  infancy  he  attended  the  Sunday  School  of  St. 
George  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Upon  his  conver- 
sion, which  occurred  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  church  of  his  childhood.  He  was  educat- 
ed in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  from  the  High 
School  of  which  he  graduated.  In  1850  he  came  to  New 
Castle,  and  at  once  identified  himself  with  the  active  re- 
ligious life  of  his  new  home.  He  was  soon  licensed  to 
exhort  by  E.  B.  Lane,  his  pastor ; and  five  weeks  later  the 
quarterly  conference,  William  Patterson  presiding,  gave 
him  local  preacher’s  license.  The  first  of  a long  list  of 
victories  of  the  cross  won  through  his  instrumentality  en- 
couraged and  cheered  him  at  the  very  threshold  of  his  en- 

*John  Akers — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  1855 
Morris;  deceased,  Corydon,  Pa.,  September  6,  1887.  Appoint- 
ments— 1851-’52,  Springfield;  1853,  Concord;  1854,  Chardon;  1855- 
’56,  Leon;  1857-58,  Little  Valley;  1859,  Delanti;  1860,  Villenovia; 
1861-’62,  Quincy;  1863-’64  Clymer;  1865,  supernumerary;  1866, 
Harmonsburg;  1867,  superannuated;  1868-’69,  Little  Valley  and 
Salamanca;  1870,  Sinclairville;  1871-’72,  Green;  1873-’74,  Wesley- 
ville;  1875-’76,  Greenfield  and  Mina;  1877-’78,  Summit  and  Sin- 
dens;  1879-’80,  McKean;  1881-’82,  Asbury;  1883-’84,  Kinzua; 
1885-’86,  Onoville.  . 


John  Akers,  William  P.  Bignell. 


239 


trance  upon  evangelistic  activity.  He  was  preaching  about 
three  miles  from  New  Castle — in  a school  house — when  a 
refreshing  revival  “broke  out”,  a class  was  formed,  and  a 
brick  church  erected  which  was  called,  at  a later  date  the 
“Savannah  Appointment”.  Soon  after  receiving  his  li- 
cense, he  was  sent  to  assist  Roderick  Norton  on  the  Har- 
risville  circuit.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1851. 

Speaking  of  him  when  he  entered  the  Conference,  Mr. 
Gregg  says : “Mr.  Bignell  was  a well-appearing  young 

man,  of  medium  size  and  good  address,  and  having  a good 
foundation  to  start  upon;  and,  by  close  application  to 
study  advanced  rapidly  until  he  became  one  of  the  best 
pulpit  orators,  and  has  sustained  himself  reputably  in  some 
of  our  best  stations,  and  he  often  preaches  with  a great 
deal  of  spiritual  power.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Method- 
ism, Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  p.  389.) 

Mr.  Bignell  remained  effective  without  interruption  un- 
til he  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five.  For  nine  years  he 
traveled  circuits,  for  twenty-seven  years  he  served  sta- 
tions : fourteen  years  he  spent  in  the  presiding  eldership, 
serving  Meadville,  Franklin,  and  Jamestown  Districts  for 
a full  term  each.  He  represented  his  conference  in  the 
General  Conferences  of  1876  and  1892.  Such  were  his 
literary  acquirements  and  efficiency  in  his  profession  that 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  received  from 
Allegheny  College  was  recognized  by  all  who  knew  him 
as  most  worthily  bestowed. 

During  the  fifty  years  of  his  effective  relation,  he  at- 
tended every  session  of  his  conference,  and  answered  the 
first  roll  call  except  on  two  occasions  when  delays  of 
trains  prevented  his  reaching  the  seat  of  the  conference  in 
time. 

Mr.  Bignell  was  thrice  married,  and  thrice  bereaved  of 
his  loved  companion.  The  two  former  of  these  each  left 
to  his  care  an  infant.  The  child  of  his  first  wife,  a cher- 
ished daughter,  beautiful  in  character,  was  taken  from 
him  by  death,  in  her  early  womanhood.  Then,  during 
the  years  of  his  superannuation,  his  aged  wife  faded  away, 
and  God  took  her.  Then  the  shadows  closed  around  him, 
and  the  light  of  day  became  dim,  for  the  outer  eye  was 
failing ; but  the  eye  of  faith  was  bright,  and  the  vision  of 
the  soul  was  clear.  Returning  from  the  funeral  of  Rev. 


N 


240 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


W.  H.  Mossman,  his  intimate  associate  in  labor,  he  was 
seized  with  acute  suffering,  but  struggled  on  for  three 
weeks  with  much  wandering  of  the  mind.  The  day  be- 
fore his  departure,  in  a lucid  interval  he  said;  “Whether 
I live  or  die,  it  is  all  right.”  The  end  came  March  22, 
1905.  The  conference  has  been  lonesome  since  Brother 
Bignell  left.* 

“Samantha  Bignell,  wife  of  the  Rev.  W.  P.  Bignell,  of 
the  Erie  Conference,  was  born  near  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  in 
1826,  and  passed  from  earth  to  the  better  land,  from  her 
home  in  Greenville,  Pa.,  February  26,  1904.  There  are 
those  who  fall  so  naturally  into  God’s  hands  that  they 
seem  all  unconscious ; they  are  beautiful,  and  know  it  not; 
heroic,  and  would  be  startled  to  be  so  called ; divine,  and 
are  as  innocent  of  the  fact  as  a child  of  its  sweet  simplicity. 
She  just  went  about  doing  the  beautiful  things  of  God. 
She  was  the  incarnation  of  practical  Christianity;  not  in 
contemplations  did  she  dwell,  but  in  deeds.  She  knew 
that  everybody  lived  weary,  sad,  burdened,  and  that  all 
needed  the  Christ;  and  her  hand,  which  never  tired, 
pressed  the  cup  of  cold  water  to  thousands  of  parched  lips. 
When  she  herself  was  shut  in  needing  to  be  ministered  un- 
to, still  her  hands  found  strength  to  write,  and  her  love 
sent  sweet  messages  to  the  lonely,  the  poor  and  the  dis- 
couraged. Many  and  many  a heart  found  her  messages 
as  the  dew  of  the  morning.  Doubts  and  despondency  did 
not  flourish  where  she  was;  gloom  was  a cloud  which 
never  rose  above  her  horizon.  She  could  open  her  house 
and  heart  to  an  old  and  helpless  lady,  and  make  her  last 
days  a paradise.  No  daughter  ever  ministered  more  lov- 
ingly and  tenderly  to  her  own  mother. 

“There  is  an  event  in  her  life  which  is  national  in  its 
character.  When  the  conflict  between  the  North  and  the 
South  broke  out,  she  volunteered  her  services  to  the  Chris- 

*W.  P.  Bignell — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853  Baker;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  deceased,  Greenville,  Pa.,  March  22,  1905.  Appointments 
— 1851,  Waterford;  1852,  Conneautville;  1853,  Kingsville;  1854- 
’55,  Westfield;  1856-’57,  Forestville  and  Sheridan;  1858-’59,  Silver 
Creek;  1860,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1861-’62,  Cleveland,  St.  Clair 
Street;  1863-’64  North  East;  1865-’67,  Greenville;  1868-’70,  Titus- 
ville; 1871-’74,  Meadville  District;  1875-’78,  Franklin  District; 
1879-’80,  Mercer;  1881-’83,  Sharon;  1884-’85,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.; 
1886,  Warren;  1887-’92,  Jamestown  District;  1893,  Jamestown, 
First  Church  (nominal);  1894-’98,  Sheridan;  1899-1904,  superan- 
nuated. 


John  Akers,  William  P.  Bignell. 


241 


tian  Commission.  Her  commission  was  signed  by  Dorothy 
Dix.  She  was  on  more  than  one  bloody  field,  especially 
Shiloh  and  Vicksburg.  She  knew  the  cannon’s  roar  and 
the  sharp  roll  of  musketry.  While  the  battle  raged  she 
ministered  to  the  wounded  and  dying.  She  knew  per- 
sonally General  Grant,  and  was  with  his  army  at  the  front. 
She  was  located  at  the  hospitals  at  Corinth,  Columbus 
and  Nashville.  At  the  close  of  the  war  she  was  the  first 
matron  of  the  Soldiers’  Home  in  St.  Louis,  the  first  in  the 
United  States.  Had  she  not  been  of  splendid  healthy, 
vigorous  physical  organization  and  resolute  will,  she 
would  have  gone  down  under  the  tremendous  physical  and 
mental  strain.  Ever  collected,  clear-minded,  warm-heart- 
ed, she  knew  the  thing  to  do  in  sudden  emergencies.  She 
was  not  ice  to  poor  fellows  groaning  and  dying,  nor  yet 
did  her  tenderness  run  away  with  her  good  sense.  Hun- 
dreds of  soldiers  passed  through  her  hands.  Some  she 
helped  into  the  victory  over  death ; some  she  sent  back 
to  be  more  loyal  to  the  flag ; and  some  to  resume  an  earn- 
est citizenship. 

“Her  influence  over  soldiers  was  peculiarly  strong  and 
helpful.  Her  words  were  sunshine  and  hope.  Two 
young  fellows,  convalescing,  had  become  despondent, 
looking  gloomily  on  the  future.  She  aroused  them  to 
seek  good  literature,  and  quickened  them  to  think  there 
was  a noble  future.  When  the  Grand  Army  met  in  Buf- 
falo, one  of  those  men  came  from  Massachusetts ; his  ways 
had  been  blessed,  wealth  had  come,  and  he  sought  Mrs. 
Bignell  and  her  husband  to  invite  them  to  visit  him  on  the 
shores  of  the  ocean,  and  to  tell  her  that  he  owed  all  in 
life  to  her  faithfulness.  When  the  true  history  of  the 
war  shall  be  written  the  name  of  such  a woman  must  be 
placed  among  those  who  did  most  for  their  country’s 
honor. 

“Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  she  returned  to 
Greenville,  and  there  became  the  wife  of  Doctor  Bignell. 
True  wife,  loving  companion,  genial  friend,  model  pas- 
tor’s wife,  and  noble  dispenser  of  the  mind  which  was  in 
Christ ! To  follow  her  on  separate  charges  is  not  neces- 
sary. When  her  husband  had  gloriously  completed  a half 
century  in  the  service  of  the  Master,  they  settled  among 
their  old  friends  in  Greenville.  Her  days  of  toil  were  well 


242  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

nigh  over,  yet  she  busied  her  hands  in  ministry  till  death 
stilled  them. 

“She  received  many  honors,  being  made  chaplain  of 
the  Association  of  Army  Nurses  of  the  Civil  War;  for 
some  time  was  vice-president  of  the  Erie  Conference  W. 
H.  M.  Society;  and  Dickey  Post  G.  A.  R.  looked  upon  her 
as  their  crown.  When  with  trailing  colors  the  old  sol- 
diers marched  into  the  church  and  sat  as  mourners,  they 
all  felt  the  one  they  honored  most  had  preceded  them 
within  the  veil.  On  her  casket  rested  lovingly  the  Stars 
and  Stripes.’’ 

Ezra  Wade,  John  Thomas  Boyle. 

Ezra  Wade  was  born  in  Bristolville,  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  April  23,  1823 ; and  died  in  Geneva,  Ohio,  April  26, 
1891.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1849,  and  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  travelling  connection  in  1851.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  D.  E.  Davis  July  15,  1845. 
He  was  supernumerary  in  1857,  1873,  1874,  1876,  1877; 
and  permanently  superannuated  in  1878.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  * 

Mr.  Gregg  says  of  him  when  he  entered  the  conference: 

“Mr.  Wade  was  rather  tall  and  well-proportioned  in 
size,  a modest,  quiet  man  in  the  conference,  never  placing 
himself  prominently  before  his  brethren,  as  if  anxious  for 
notoriety  or  position,  hence  his  real  worth  was  not  gen- 
erally known  by  his  brethren;  but  was,  nevertheless,  a 
very  fair  preacher,  and  an  excellent  Christian  man.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II, 

PP-J$7>  388J 

“He  was  always  true  to  his  church  and  ministerial  cove- 
nants, enjoyed  and  availed  himself  of  the  public  means  of 
grace  whenever  practicable,  was  an  eager  and  interested 
listener  to  the  preaching  of  the  word,  and  an  inspiration 
to  the  preacher.  During  the  last  few  months  of  his  earth- 
ly sojourn  he  seemed  to  be  ripening  for  heaven  and 
home.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXIII,  1891,  p. 
398 .) 

♦Ezra  Wade — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial,  1851; 
full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853  Baker;  elder,  1855,  Morris; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1876;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  April  26,  1891.  Appointments — 
1851,  Ellsworth;  1852-’53,  Hartford;  1854-’55,  Southington;  1856, 
Mechanicsville;  1857,  supernumerary;  1858-’59,  Mecca;  1860, 


1 


Ezra  Wade , John  Thomas  Boyle.  243 

John  Thomas  Boyle  was  the  son  of  Christian  parents 
and  grew  up  to  manhood  under  wholesome  religious  in- 
fluence. He  was  dedicated  to  God  in  baptism  in  his  in- 
fancy and  lived  in  an  atmosphere  of  spiritual  sweetness. 
He  formally  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  the  age  of  nineteen.  He  taught  in  the  public  schools 
of  Clarion  County,  Pennsylvania,  for  some  years,  and 
was  then  employed  in  the  Beaver  Furnace  as  bookkeeper. 
Believing  that  he  was  called  of  God  to  the  holy  ministry, 
he  began  to  hold  meetings  for  prayer  and  testimom  and 
was  greatly  blessed  in  this  work.  He  was  licensed  to  ex- 
hort in  1848,  and  to  preach  in  1849.  He  spent  one  year 
in  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  and  then  entered 
Allegheny  College  but  did  not  complete  the  course.  In 
1851  he  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  army  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  was  transferred  to  the  Missouri  and  Ar- 
kansas Conference  in  1865,  and  later  became  a member  of 
the  Missouri  Conference.  Failing  health  admonished  him 
that  he  must  rest,  and,  after  one  year  in  the  supernumer- 
ary relation,  he  was  superannuated  in  1884.  He  was 
honored  with  important  trusts  which  he  discharged  with 
fidelity.  In  1864,  he  went  out  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  and  was  for  several  months  on 
duty  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  1880  he  represent- 
ed his  conference  in  the  General  Conference.  He  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Trenton,  Missouri,  in  1881,  and  the 
following  year  was  appointed  postmaster  and  filled  the 
position  with  eminent  satisfaction  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Boyle  had  been  in  failing  health  for  a number  of 
years.  He  was  a constant  sufferer  from  dyspepsia,  and 
afflicted  with  bronchitis,  which  involved  his  lungs ; and  af- 
ter a severe  hemorrhage,  he  gradually  went  dowti  with 
a slow  consumntion.  He  was  patient  and  cheerful  to  the 
last.  He  said  to  a friend  some  days  before  his  dissolu- 
tion: “I  have  been  successful,  as  men  count  success,  in 

my  ministry,  having  served  the  church  as  faithfully  as  I 
knew.  Many  souls  have  been  converted  and  added  to  the 
church.  In  all  this  I rejoice ; but  I cannot  trust  in  this. 

Williamsfield;  1861,  Niles  and  Liberty;  1862,  Girard  and  Liberty; 
1863  Rockville;  1864-’66,  Grand  River;  1867,  Aurora;  1868, 
Southington  and  Wilson’s  Chapel;  1869,  Mesopotamia;  1870-’71, 
Kinsman  and  State  Line;  1872,  Jackson;  1873-’74,  supernumer- 
ary; 1875,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol  (second  preacher);  1876-’77, 
supernumerary;  1878-’90,  superannuated. 


244 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Nothing  avails  me  now  but  the  blood  shed  for  me.  1 am 
on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  the  solid  rock.  I am  ready  at  any 
time.”  One  who  knew  him  well  says ; “Our  brother  had 
a happy  combination  of  natural  and  acquired  abilities  that 
made  him  a highly  prized  companion  in  all  the  relations 
of  life.  He  was  patient,  but  decisive;  gentle,  but  firm  of 
purpose;  tender  and  sympathetic,  but  with  courage  un- 
daunted amid  all  perils.  His  exalted  purity  and  unflinch- 
ing integrity  were  joined  with  the  rare  possession  of  com- 
mon sense.,, — (Minutes  of  Conferences , V ol.  XXV , 1894, 

p ■ 1 07-) 

John  Thomas  Boyle  was  born  in  Phillipsburg,  Center 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  1,  1825.  The  following  year  the  family 
moved  to  Clarion  County.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Laughlin,  January  1,  1850.  He  died 
in  Trenton,  Missouri,  June  30,  1893.* 

William  R.  Johnson,  John  S.  Lytle. 

William  R.  Johnson  was  born  in  Pettigoe,  Fermanagh 
County,  Ireland,  June  5,  1797;  and  died  at  Hubbard, 
Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  April  4,  1887.  “He  was  a man  of 
sterling  integrity,  pure  in  motive,  and  of  clear  and  posi- 
tive convictions.  He  began  preaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  and  thus  continued  to  honor  his  Master  in  his 
native  land  till  1840,  when  he  came  to  this  country,  where 
he  was  soon  after — 1851 — admitted  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, doing  most  efficient  service  for  thirteen  years.  For 
a number  of  years  preceding  his  death  he  had  been  on  the 
honored  list  of  superannuates,  retaining  this  position  with 
singular  dignity  and  respect.  With  well  preserved  facul- 
ties, an  unyielding  confidence  in  God,  a pure  love  for  the 
Church,  he  met  his  last  foe.  During  the  last  weeks  of 
watching  and  waiting,  the  promises  of  the  Bible  afforded 

*J.  T.  Boyle — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial,  1851; 
full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  1855,  Morris; 
transferred  to  Missouri  and  Arkansas  Conference,  1865;  became 
a member  of  the  Missouri  Conference  at  its  separation  from 
Missouri  and  Arkansas  Conference,  1868;  deceased  Trenton, 
Mo.,  June  30,  1893.  Appointments — 1851,  Pleasantville;  1852, 
New  Bethlehem;  1853-’54,  Brookville;  1855-’56,  Clarion;  1857-’58, 
New  Wilmington;  1859,  Poland;  1860-’61,  Mt.  Jackson;  1862-’64, 
Niles;  1865,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  1866-’67,  Savannah,  Mo.;  1868-’71, 
St.  Joseph  District;  1872-’73,  Maryville,  Mo.;  1874,  Macon,  Mo.; 
1875,  Princeton  District;  1876-’78,  Trenton  District;  1879,  Kirks- 
ville,  Mo.;  1880,  St.  Joseph  Circuit;  1881-’82,  Edinburg,  Mo.; 
1883,  supernumerary;  1884*’92,  superannuated. 


William  R.  Johnson , John  S.  Lytle.  . 245 

him  an  increasing  delight,  and  hymn  after  hymn,  many  of 
them  very  old,  was  repeated,  interspersed  with  shouts  of 
victory  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  He  is  not ; God 
has  taken  him  to  join  the  company  of  kindred  spirits.”* 
— (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XX J,  1887 , p.  348.) 

John  S.  Lytle  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  6,  1820.  He  died  in  Parker  City,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1879.  Fie  was  converted  in  his  twenty-third  year, 
under  the  preaching  of  G.  F.  Reeser  and  John  Abbott,  of 
the  Shippenville  Circuit  and  entered  the  ministry  at  thirty. 
Though  his  preliminary  education  was  very  limited,  yet 
his  industry  and  native  talents  were  such  that  he  rapidly 
rose  from  the  humbler  appointments  to  the  most  import- 
ant, and  such  was  his  success  in  his  work,  that  the  people 
became  greatly  attached  to  him.  Better  than  this,  sinners 
were  awakened  under  his  preaching,  and  souls  were  born 
into  the  Kingdom.  He  was  blessed  with  excellent  health, 
so  that  for  twenty-nine  years  he  regularly  pursued  the 
work  of  the  Conference,  including  one  year  during  which 
he  labored  as  a supply.  Mr.  Gregg  says — and  he  speaks 
of  the  first  entrance  of  Brother  Lytle  upon  his  chosen  pro- 
fession— “Mr.  Lytle  was  a moderate-sized  young  man, 
quick  and  energetic  in  his  movements,  warm  and  ardent 
in  his  religious  exercises.  His  sermons  were  full  of  points 
and  striking  illustrations,  delivered  with  a warmth  of  feel- 
ing and  eloquent  flow  of  language  that  rendered  him  quite 
interesting,  and  often  made  sinners  tremble,  and.  withal, 
was  an  excellent  exhorter,  a very  useful  talent  for  a young 
minister.” — (Gregg,  JJistory  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  II,  p.  390.) 

Mr.  Lytle  served  as  chaplain  in  the  Fiftieth  Regiment  of 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers  in  the  great  Civil  War,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  both  as  a soldier  and  a faithful  Chris- 
tian minister. 

He  was  a man  of  a sunny  disposition.  Always  jovial 
and  light  of  heart,  he  had  a magnetism  about  him  that 

*W.  R.  Johnson — Licensed  to  preach,  1817;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization  1876;  deceased,  Hubbard,  O.,  April  4,  1887.  Ap- 
pointments— 1851,  Riceville;  1852-’53,  Wesleyville;  1854-’55, 
Saegertown;  1856,  Jefferson;  1857,  Gustavus;  1858,  Henderson- 
ville; 1859,  Pine  Grove;  1860,  Washington  and  Clintonville; 
1861-’86,  superannuated. 


246 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


seemed  to  draw  people  to  him  as  by  an  invisible  power. 
He  was  fond  of  children  and  they  were  always  his  friends. 
Hence  it  is  not  wonderful  that  we  find  his  love  for  his 
own  family  so  strong  that  when  the  destroyer  had  pros- 
trated him,  he  should  find  it  the  most  difficult  thing  for 
him  to  give  them  up. 

His  malady  came  on  quite  stealthily,  so  that  he  did  not 
suspect  its  serious  nature.  It  began  with  a very  slight 
sensation  of  fullness  in  the  throat;  then  it  increased  so 
that  it  amounted  to  a positive  annoyance  in  speaking.  Fi- 
nally it  so  troubled  him  that  he  gave  up  extemporaneous 
speaking,  and  took  the  more  deliberate  one  of  reading  his 
sermons.  His  ministry  closed  with  the  last  Sabbath  in 
July,  when  he  preached  and  took  his  Missionary  Collec- 
tion. Thus  a prominent  characteristic  of  his  life  was  il- 
lustrated by  this  last  official  act,  namely,  his  faithfulness 
to  his  work.  He  believed  in  keeping  our  rules  rather 
than  mending  them. 

He  now  grew  rapidly  worse,  so  that  he  was  soon  un- 
able to  make  any  physical  exertion.  He  went  to  Chau- 
tauqua Lake  in  hope  of  benefit  from  change,  but  all  in 
vain.  Yet  he  rejoiced  in  being  there  because  it  gave  him 
such  good  opportunity  to  see  his  brethren  and  old  friends. 
He  returned  home  but  to  take  his  bed.  He  survived  his 
return  but  two  weeks.  The  closing  scene  shall  be  told  in 
the  language  of  his  daughter:  “For  two  days  his  suffer- 

ings were  very  great,  and  his  mind  wandered,  but  toward 
the  close  he  knew  and  recognized  us  all.  He  was  cons- 
cious that  death  was  near,  but  said,  Tt  is  all  right,  there 
is  but  one  way  to  glory.’  A few  hours  before  his  death 
he  talked  about  the  Conference,  and  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  and  his  work  in  the  Church.  It  was  hard  for 
him  to  give  up  his  work  and  his  family.  After  talking 
some  time  about  the  Church  and  matters  pertaining  there- 
to, he  pronounced  these  words  very  distinctly,  ‘And  now 
may  the  peace  of  God,  which  maketh  rich  and  addeth  no 
sorrow,  be  and  remain  with  you  and  the  Church  of  God, 
now  and  forever.  Amen.’  He  said  no  more  about  the 
Church,  but  talked  to  the  family.  One  remark  fastened 
itself  upon  our  minds.  It  was  this,  ‘Do  not  find  fault  with 
the  Church.  No  matter  what  individual  members  may 
say  or  do,  remember  that  they  alone  are  not  the  Church.’ 


I 


H.  P.  Henderson. 


247 


About  an  hour  before  he  ceased  to  breathe,  he  fell  into  a 
sleep,  and  so  passed  away.”* 

H.  P.  Henderson. 

H.  P.  Henderson  was  born  in  Pamela,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Sept.  26,  1824.  His  father,  Joseph  P.  Henderson, 
was  a native  of  Vermont,  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
died  in  Newaygo  County,  Michigan,  at  the  age  of  over 
ninety  years.  His  mother,  Laura  Cole,  was  .a  native  of 
Jefferson  County,  New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1831,  the 
family  moved  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  built  a log  cabin,  and 
experienced  all  the  privations  incident  to  a .pioneer  life. 
There  were  no  schools  in  the  neighborhood,  and  no  oppor- 
tunity to  acquire  an  education.  In  1835,  they  moved  into 
the  township  of  Brooklyn,  South  of  Cleveland,  and  in 
1836  the  subject  of  our  sketch  attended  school  for  about 
two  months — the  first  time  in  his  life,  and  the  only  school- 
ing until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age. 

He  received  no  religious  instruction  at  home.  His 
father  was  strongly  inclined  to  skepticism,  opposed  to  re- 
ligion, and  would  not  permit  his  children  to  attend  re- 
ligious meetings.  He  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he 
attended  the  first  religious  service.  Later  in  life,  how- 
ever, his  father  became  a Christian. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  Mr.  Henderson  left  home 
empty  handed,  but  with  good  health  and  “plenty  of  am- 
bition, and  not  afraid  to  work,  he  had  no  fears  for  the 
future.”  He  worked  his  way  back  to  his  native  place  in 
New  York  where  he  remained  three  years,  finding  a tem- 
porary home  with  a Christian  family  to  whom  he  ever 
acknowledged  himself  greatly  indebted  for  his  first  abid- 
ing religious  impressions.  He  was  converted  in  1843  at  a 
revival  meeting  held  in  the  school  house,  and  immediately 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Brother  Henderson  says ; “Not  long  after  ‘my  con- 
version, I felt  a strong  impression  that  I ought  to  become 
a preacher;  but  when  I considered  how  little  I was  quali- 

*J.  S.  Lytle— Licensed  to  preach,  1850;  admitted  on  trial,  1851; 
full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  1855,  Morris; 
deceased  Parker  City,  Pa.,  September  9,  1879.  Appointments — 
1851,  Clintonville;  1852-’53,  Harrisville;  1854-55,  Williamsfield; 
1856-’57,  Panama;  1858-’59,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1860-’61,  Warren, 
Pa.;  1862,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1863-’65,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street; 
1866-’67,  Corry;  1868,  Youngstown;  1869-’70,  Oil  City;  1871, 
Greenville;  1872-’75  New  Castle  District;  1876-’78,  Parker  City. 


248 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


fied  for  such  a great  work,  I thought  it  must  be  a delusion 
and  tried  in  vain  to  shake  it  off.  The  impression  fol- 
lowed me,  and  I knew  not  what  to  do.  Finally  I was  ad- 
vised bv  some  of  the  brethren,  to  whom  I had  gone  for 
counsel,  to  go  to  some  good  school  and  prepare  myself 
for  the  work  to  which  God  had  evidently  called  me.  Af- 
ter mature  deliberation  I concluded  that  I could  do  no  bet- 
ter than  follow  their  advice.  In  the  fall  of  1844,  I re- 
turned to  Ohio  and  became  a student  in  the  ‘Brooklyn 
Academy’  located  a little  south  of  Cleveland.  The  Rev. 
Moses  Merrill,  one  of  the  best  men  I ever  knew,  was  at 
the  head  of  the  institution.  I remained  in  that  school 
sixteen  months,  supporting  mvself.  Working  out  of 
school  hours,  I made  the  best  use  of  my  time  and  oppor- 
tunities I could,  studied  hard,  and  was  told  that  I made 
good  progress.  At  the  end  of  sixteen  months  I went  be- 
fore the  board  of  examiners  for  Cuyahoga  County,  who, 
after  a thorough  examination,  pronounced  me  qualified  to 
teach  a district  school  and  gave  me  a certificate  to  that 
effect.  I then  taught  school  three  winters  in  succession, 
and  in  the  meantime  devoted  as  much  time  to  the  study 
of  theology  as  I could  spare  from  my  other  duties. 

“November  18th,  1845,  I married  Miss  Mary  Dewey, 
the  only  child  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dewey  of  Brooklyn,  Ohio. 
My  father-in-law  was  a local  elder  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  was  a great  help  to  me  in  my  work  of 
preparation  for  the  ministry.  My  wife  being  an  only  child, 
her  parents  desired  us  to  make  our  home  with  them.  In 
1848,  the  Doctor  gave  up  his  practice  as  a physician,  and 
we  moved  to  their  farm  in  the  township  of  Orange,  ten 
miles  east  of  Cleveland.  That  brought  us  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Erie  Conference. 

“May  26th,  1849, 1 was  licensed  to  preach  by  vote  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Newburg  Circuit.  Rev.  Ira 
Eddy  was  preacher  in  charge ; Rev.  William  F.  Day  was 
junior  preacher;  and  Dr.  Timothy  Goodwin,  presiding 
elder.” — (Letter  to  the  Author , dated  Albion , Michigan, 
Nov.  5, 1903.) 

On  February  22,  1850,  he  started  for  the  Harpersfield 
Circuit,  to  fill  out  the  balance  of  the  Conference  year  in 
the  place  of  J.  E.  Aikin,  who  was  obliged  to  retire  from 
the  work  on  account  of  declining  health.  J.  C.  Ayres  was 
the  presiding  elder.  The  next  conference  year,  he  sup- 


H.  P.  Henderson. 


249 


plied  Shippenville  Circuit,  under  W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding 
elder,  and  Edwin  Hull,  preacher  in  charge.  The  circuit 
then  had  sixteen  appointments.  Six  protracted  meetings 
were  held  resulting  in  three  hundred  conversions.  The 
last  protracted  meeting  was  one  of  peculiar  interest.  It 
was  held  in  Richland  township  where  there  was  a little 
class  of  eight  members.  The  Evangelicals  or  “Albrights” 
had  a comfortable  meeting-house,  but  at  that  time  no 
preachers,  and  Mr.  Henderson  was  offered  the  church  in 
which  to  hold  service.  A series  of  meetings  was  begun 
on  the  last  of  February,  1851,  and  continued  fourteen 
days,  resulting  in  one  hundred  and  twelve  conversions. 
Mr.  Henderson  says;  “At  one  of  the  evening  meetings, 
the  power  of  God  to  convict,  convert,  and  save,  was  mani- 
fested in  a remarkable  manner.  As  we  were  singing  the 
closing  hymn,  suddenly  there  was  a great  commotion  in 
the  house,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  persons  fell  flat  on 
the  floor.  Some  rushed  out  of  the  church  in  great  alarm, 
while  others  came  to  the  altar  in  deep  penitence,  and  ten 
or-  twelve  sinners  were  converted  that  night.  A meeting 
was  appointed  for  ten  o’clock  next  morning.  Before  the 
hour  arrived  the  house  was  filled  with  people.  The  feel- 
ing in  the  congregation  was  so  intense  that  the  preaching 
service  was  dispensed  with,  and  after  a few  words  of 
exhortation,  the  invitation  was  given,  and  in  less  than  five 
minutes  thirty  earnest  seekers  were  at  the  altar,  and  in  a 
short  time  twenty-two  out  of  the  thirty  were  soundly 
converted.  Nearly  all  were  heads  of  families,  and  two 
of  the  number  were  over  seventy-five  years  of  age.  So 
our  little  class  of  eight  grew  to  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
and  not  long  after  a new  church  was  built.  I passed 
through  the  place  fifteen  years  later,  and  was  told  that 
seventy  per  cent  of  the  converts  at  that  meeting  were  hold- 
ing out  faithful.” — (Letter  to  the  Author.) 

Brother  Henderson  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1851.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Kentucky 
Conference  in  1865,  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1866,  and 
to  the  Michigan  Conference  in  1868.  He  was  presiding 
elder  of  the  Big  Rapids  District  in  i873-’76.  He  was  super- 
numerary in  1882,  and  again  in  1886-1892;  and  superan- 
nuated in  1893.  Writing,  in  his  eightieth  year,  from  his 
comfortable  home  in  Albion,  Michigan,  he  says;  “Now 
in  my  eightieth  year,  my  health  is  poor,  but  manage  to 


250 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


get  to  church  twice  nearly  every  Sunday.  Am  often 
called  to  attend  funerals;  and  assist  as  much  as  I can  in 
the  work  of  the  Church.”* 

James  G.  Thompson,  Abram  S.  Dobbs. 

John  G.  Thompson  was  born  in  Center  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, August  31,  1822,  and  died  at  Morland,  Kansas, 
August  21,  1905.  He  was  converted  in  1840  at  a camp- 
meeting  held  near  Georgeville,  Indiana  County,  and  unit- 
ed with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Kittanning  Circuit.  Mr.  Gregg  relates; 
“He  was  licensed  to  exhort  on  the  17th  of  June,  1842, 
and  entered  upon  the  work  at  once  and  with  energy,  but 
for  four  years  stubbornly  resisted  the  growing  impression 
upon  his  mind  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel, 
until  his  trouble  of  mind  became  so  great  as  to  be  no 
longer  endurable.  One  day,  while  alone  in  the  woods 
meditating,  praying,  and  weeping  over  this  subject,  he  re- 
solved in  the  strength  of  God  he  would  do  the  best  he 
could,  and  immediately  made  his  feelings  known  to  Rev. 
William  Lynch,  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit,  who 
immediately  took  measures  to  secure  him  license  to 
preach,  which  was  granted  by  the  Quarterly  Conference, 
Sept.  7,  1846.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie 
Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  396,  397.) 

He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1851,  and  did  effective  service  thirty  years.  He  was  su- 
pernumerary in  1873,  and  again  in  1877,  and  superan- 
nuated in  1885*)'  He  located  in  1857,  but  was  readmitted 
the  next  year.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Missouri  and 
Arkansas  Conference  in  1866. 

*H.  P.  Henderson — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  transferred  to  Kentucky  Conference,  1865;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1866;  transferred  to  Michigan  Conference, 
1868.  Appointments — 1851,  Mayville;  1852-’53,  Morgan;  1854, 
Exchangeville;  1855,  Mt.  Jackson;  1856,  Chagrin  Falls;  1857 
Newburg;  1858-’59,  Cleveland,  City  Mission;  1860,  Twinsburg; 
1861-’62,  Braceville;  1863-’64,  Franklin,  O.;  1865,  Lexington,  Ky.; 
1866-’67,  Curllsville;  1868-’69,  Allegan,  Mich.;  1870,  Pawpaw, 
Mich.;  1871-’72,  Jonesville  Mich.;  1873-’76,  Big  Rapids  District; 
1877-’78,  Galesburg,  Mich.;  1879-’80,  Cedar  Springs,  Mich.;  1881, 
Plainwell,  Mich.;  1882,  supernumerary,  supplied  Plainwell;  1883- 
’84,  Litchfield,  Mich.;  1885,  Springport,  Mich.;  1886-’92,  supernu- 
merary; 1893-1907,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Albion, 
Mich. 


fHis  memoir  says  1887 ; probably  a mistake. 


i 


■ 


James  G.  Thompson f Abram  S.  Dobbs.  251 


“He  was  a man  of  upright  life,  gentle  and  kind;  a 
zealous  Christian,  a good  preacher  and  a faithful  pastor. 
To  know  his  life  is  to  know  how  he  died.  We  have  in 
his  life  a more  eloquent  testimony  than  words  can  give. 
He  was  a great  sufferer  for  the  last  few  months,  but  was 
not  thought  to  be  in  immediate  danger  until  a very  short 
time  before  his  death.”* — (W.  J.  M.  in  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate , Sept.  28,  1905.) 

Abram  Smith  Dobbs  was  born  in  Butler,  Pa.,  Sept.  17, 
1828.  His  parents  were  devoted  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  Abram  enjoyed  a genuine 
religious  experience  in  early  childhood.  At  nine  years  of 
age  he  united  with  the  church,  but  remained  a member 
only  a short  time.  He  joined  the  church  again  in  1850, 
and  was  soon  licensed  to  preach.  He  was  received  on  trial 
in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1851.  In  1853  he  located  that 
he  might  more  thoroughly  prepare  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  He  graduated  from  Allegheny  College,  and 
the  Boston  School  of  Theology.  In  1857  he  was  re-ad- 
mitted to  the  traveling  connection  in  the  New  England 
Conference.  Because  of  failing  health  he  was  made 
supernumerary  in  i860,  and  located  in  1862.  He  was 
re-admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1864;  transferred 
to  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in  1880;  re-transferred 
in  1883 ; and  three  years  later  expelled  from  the  ministry 
and  membership  of  the  church.  The  Judicial  Conference 
so  far  modified  the  penalty  as  to  restore  him  to  church 
membership,  and  he  was  again  licensed  to  preach.  He 
was  a man  of  no  ordinary  mind,  and  a good  preacher. 
He  traveled  extensively  in  Palestine  and  Egypt.  He  la- 
bored earnestly  for  the  equipment  and  endowment  of 
Chamberlain  Institute,  of  which  he  was  for  some  time 


*J.  G.  Thompson — Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1851,  Morris;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  located,  1857;  re-admitted,  1858;  transferred  to  Missouri 
and  Arkansas  Conference,  1866;  deceased,  Morland,  Kas.,  August 
21,  1905.  Appointments — 1851  Hendersonville;  1852,  Clinton- 
ville;  1853,  North  Hope;  1854-’55,  Curllsville;  1856,  Shippenville; 
1858,  Vernon;  1859-’60,  Clarksville;  1861-’62,  Harrisville;  1863, 
Greenwood;  1864-’65,  Mt.  Jackson;  1867-’68,  Hamilton  and  Kings- 
ton, Mo.;  1869-’70,  Chillicothe  District;  1871,  Empire,  Mo.;  1872, 
Fillmore,  Mo.;  1873  supernumerary;  1874,  Memphis,  Mo.;  1875, 
Memphis  Circuit,  Mo.;  1876,  Unionville,  Mo.;  1877,  supernumer- 
ary; 1878-80,  Bethany,  Mo.;  1881,  Winston,  Mo.;  1882,  Kingston, 
Mo.;  1883-’84,  Barnard,  Mo.;  1885-1904,  superannuated. 


25 2 History  of  Eric  Conference. 

principal.  After  Ins  separation  from  the  active  itinerant 
ranks,  he  preached  and  lectured  in  the  west.  He  closed 
his  earthly  career  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  August  24* 
1902.* 


Abraham  H.  Bowers. 

Abraham  H.  Bowers  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, Feb.  13,  1825.  His  father  dying  when  he  was  about 
six  years  of  age,  he  was  left  to  the  care  of  a pious  mother 
who  was  a member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 
Abraham  was  converted  March  24,  1842,  and  in  1845  li- 
censed to  preach.  He  came  to  America  in  the  spring  ot 
1849,  and  settled  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  but  soon  after 
removed  to  Cleveland,  O.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1851,  and  was  effective  nearly  thirty- 
six  years.  April  8,  1852,  he  married  Ann  J.  Climo,  of 
Cleveland,  who  cheerfully  and  devotedly  shared  with  him 
the  labors  and  joys  of  the  life  and  work  of  an  itineiant. 
He  was  serving  his  third  year  on  the  Wesleyville  charge, 
when  he  at  once  ceased  to  work  and  live,  Dec.  3,  1891. 
Brother  Bowers  was  a gospel  preacher,  and  believed  in  a 
present  and  full  salvation.  “His  language  was  chaste, 
his  manner  and  style  enthusiastic,  and  the  gospel  was  to 
him  an  unfailing  fountain  of  joy.  His  home  was  a happy 
one  for  there  was  constant  sunshine.  No  matter  what 
clouds  were  without,  his  home  was  a restful  sanctuary. 
His  last  utterances  were : 

*A.  S.  Dobbs — Licensed  to  preach,  1850;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  not  able 
to  ascertain;  located,  1853;  re-admitted,  New  England  Confer- 
ence, 1857;  located,  1862;  re-admitted,  Erie  Conference,  1864; 
suspended,  1879,  the  Judicial  Conference  to  which  he  appealed 
reversing  the  action  of  the  Conference;  transferred  to  South 
Carolina  Conference,  1880;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1883; 
expelled  1886,  the  Judicial  Conference  to  which  he  appealed 
lifting  so  much  of  the  penalty  of  expulsion  as  to  leave  him  a 
member  of  the  Church  without  ministerial  authority;  deceased, 
Mt.  Pleasant,  la.,  August  24,  1902.  Appointments— 1851,  Coop- 
erstown;  1852  New  Wilmington;  1857-58,  Princeton,  Mass.;  1859, 
Webster,  Mass.;  1860,  name  not  on  minutes;  1861,  superannu- 
ated; 1864,  Randolph;  1865,  East  Randolph;  1866,  Randolph; 
1867,  Principal,  Chamberlain  Institute;  1868-’69,  Erie,  First 
Church;  1870,  New  Castle;  1871-’73,  Newburg;  1874-’75,  Corry; 
1876,  North  East;  1877,  Girard;  1878,  Meadville  State  Street; 
1880-’82,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  Centenary  Church;  1883,  Perrysburg; 
1884,  supernumerary;  1885,  case  referred  to  presiding  elder  of 
Erie  District  for  investigation. 


Oil  City  Methodism. 


253 


‘Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul. 

Let  me  to  Thy  bosom  fly,’ 

And  in  a few  moments  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.”* 


Oil  City  Methodism. 

In  1851  Rev.  A.  S.  Dobbs  had  an  appointment  at 
Brown  School  House,  six  or  seven  miles  northwest  of  the 
mouth  of  Oil  Creek.  A Mrs.  Holliday  and  her  daughter 
Cassandra  who  lived  on  the  bluff  above  the  river  bank 
rode  to  meeting  on  the  same  horse.  At  their  invitation 
Mr.  Dobbs  preached  at  their  house.  While  visiting  at 
the  Hollidays  he  crossed  the  river  to  the  South  side  and 
preached  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  at  that  place.  His 
audience  consisted  of  three  women,  two  little  girls  and 
one  boy;  and  his  text  was  Eccl.  xi,  2,  “Give  a portion  to 
seven,  and  also  to  eight.”  This  sermon  was  preached  in 
“buckwheat  threshing  time.”  This,  however,  was  not  the 
first  sermon  preached  in  Oil  City.  Rev.  Samuel  Gregg 
says  in  his  history,  speaking  of  the  beginnings  of  his  own 
ministry;  “He  preached  one  day  where  Oil  City  now 
stands  to  one  man  and  forty  women,  all  the  other  men  in 
the  place  being  at  work  in  an  iron  furnace.” — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  296.) 

In  about  i860  Mr.  Dobbs,  then  a local  preacher,  and 
not  under  appointment,  preached  several  times  in  Oil 
City,  gathered  together  a few  scattered  members  and  or- 
ganized a class  which  was  adopted  by  Rev.  Jonathan 
Whitely,  at  that  time  pastor  at  Franklin.  About  the  same 
time  he  preached  what  may  have  been  the  first  sermon  in 
Petroleum  Centre,  in  the  kitchen  of  the  house  of  G.  W. 
McClintock.  He  organized  also  a class  at  the  “Blood 
Farm,”  John  Blood,  class-leader,  and  another  at  the  “Tarr 
Farm,”  preaching  in  the  office  of  Heman  Jones.  He 

*A.  H.  Bowers — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1851;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853  Baker;  elder,  1855, 
Morris;  deceased,  Wesleyville,  Pa.,  December  3,  1891.  Appoint- 
ments— 1851,  Concord;  1852,  Kingsville;  1853,  Edinboro;  1854, 
Cambridge;  1855,  Cambridge  and  La  Boeuff  Mission;  1856,  Rock- 
ville; 1857,  Saegertown;  1858,  Espyville;  1859-’60,  Salem;  1861- 
62,  Delaware  Grove;  1863  superannuated;  1864-’65,  Rockland; 
1866-’68,  Riceville;  1869,  supernumerary;  1870,  Vienna  and 
Brookfield,  but  excused  from  going  to  his  appointment;  1871, 
Youngsville;  1872,  Fagundus  City;  1873-75,  supernumerary;  1876- 
’77,  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington;  1878-’79,  Dayton;  1880-’81,  Ash- 
ville  and  Busti;  1882,  Perrysburg;  1883-’85,  Greenfield  and  Mina; 
1886-’87,  Asbury;  1888,  Chautauqua;  1889-’91,  Wesleyville. 


17 


Oil  City  Methodism.  255 

preached  in  James  H.  Davis’  house  at  the  “McElhaney 
Farm”  where  a class  and  Sunday  school  were  organized. 

“In  the  matter  of  church  organization  and  buildings 
Oil  City  people  can  indulge  in  a feeling  of  just  pride. 
The  progress  has  been  most  gratifying  and  creditable  to 
us  as  a community.  The  first  building  the  writer  recol- 
lects was  a frame  structure,  lined  with  cotton  cloth  instead 
of  plaster,  that  was  once  used  as  a banking  office  by  C. 

V.  Culver.  This  had  been  removed  from  Main  St.  to 
the  flats,  to  about  where  the  National  Transit  shops  are. 
This  was  early  in  1862.  Only  occasional  services  were 
held,  there  being  no  stated  pastors  or  permanent  church 
organizations  here  then.  Boards  set  on  trestles  served  as 
seats.  These  were  well  saturated  with  the  oil  from  the 
rubber  coats  of  the  male  worshipers.  When  they  could 
be  had,  newspapers  were  provided  for  the  ladies  in  at- 
tendance to  preserve  their  dresses.  The  congregations 
were  large  and  earnest,  and  the  collections  always  very 
liberal. 

“Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  among  the 
first  to  commence  work  here,  and  their  ministrations  date 
back  to  the  time  of  the  old  Oil  Creek  furnace  in  1831. 
In  1848  this  was  known  as  the  Oil  Creek  Mission  under 
Rev.  Mr.  Van  Horn  (E.  J.  L.  Baker,  P.  E.)  and  the  first 
class  was  organized  with  James  Halyday  as  leader.  It 
was  made  a station  in  1862,  under  Rev.  Milton  Smith,  (J. 

W.  Lowe,  P.  E. ) and  a church  erected  on  the  block  facing 

Centre,  Sycamore  and  Spring  streets,  costing  $3,000. 
The  church  bell  was  swung  in  an  oil  derrick  in  the  rear  of 
the  building.  This  derrick  was  popularly  known  as  the 
‘Holy  Derrick.'  The  church  was  dedicated  in  1863. 
Idle  first  official  board  consisted  of:  L.  M.  Gordon,  C. 

F.  Hasson,  W.  D.  Riddle,  H.  C.  Sheriff,  J.  W.  Blaisdell, 
J.  L.  Mechlin,  Joseph  Hooton,  F.  Coast,  J.  Camp,  Wil- 
liam Kramer,  Robert  Alcorn,  J.  Catnpbell  and  Isaac  B. 
Jacobs,  whose  corporate  name  was  ‘Official  Board  of 
Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.’  This  building 
was  in  the  ‘burned  district’  of  1866,  and  in  1867  the  de- 
serted Presbyterian  church  of  Pithole  was  secured  and 
removed  to  the  Spring-Svcamore-Centre  street  location 
It  was  succeeded  by  the  present  Trinity  church  erected  in 
1876  by  Messrs.  D.  L.  Trax,  Wesley  Chambers,  E.  M. 
Hukill,  E.  C.  Bradley,  and  John  S.  Rich,  the  building 


Oil  City  Methodism. 


255 

preached  in  James  H.  Davis’  house  at  the  “McElhaney 
Farm"  where  a class  and  Sunday  school  were  organized. 

“In  the  matter  of  church  organization  and  buildings 
Oil  City  people  can  indulge  in  a feeling  of  just  pride. 
The  progress  has  been  most  gratifying  and  creditable  to 
us  as  a community.  The  first  building  the  writer  recol- 
lects was  a frame  structure,  lined  with  cotton  cloth  instead 
of  plaster,  that  was  once  used  as  a banking  office  by  C. 
V.  Culver.  This  had  been  removed  from  Main  St.  to 
the  flats,  to  about  where  the  National  Transit  shops  are. 
This  was  early  in  1862.  Only  occasional  services  were 
held,  there  being  no  stated  pastors  or  permanent  church 
organizations  here  then.  Boards  set  on  trestles  served  as 
seats.  1 hese  were  well  saturated  with  the  oil  from  the 
rubber  coats  of  the  male  worshipers.  When  they  could 
be  had,  newspapers  were  provided  for  the  ladies  in  at- 
tendance to  preserve  their  dresses.  The  congregations 
were  large  and  earnest,  and  the  collections  always  very 
liberal. 

“Irinity  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  among  the 
first  to  commence  work  here,  and  their  ministrations  date 
back  to  the  time  of  the  old  Oil  Creek  furnace  in  1831. 
In  1848  this  was  known  as  the  Oil  Creek  Mission  under 
Rev.  Mr.  Van  Horn  (E.  J.  L.  Baker,  P.  E. ) and  the  first 
class  was  organized  with  James  Halyday  as  leader.  It 
was  made  a station  in  1862,  under  Rev.  Milton  Smith,  ( J. 
V . Lowe,  P.  E.)  and  a church  erected  on  the  block  facing 
Centre,  Sycamore  and  Spring  streets,  costing  $3,000. 
The  church  bell  was  swung  in  an  oil  derrick  in  the  rear  of 
the  building.  This  derrick  was  popularly  known  as  the 
‘Holy  Derrick.  1 he  church  was  dedicated  in  1863. 
The  first  official  board  consisted  of : L.  M.  Gordon,  C. 

F.  Hasson,  W.  D.  Riddle,  H.  C.  Sheriff,  J.  W.  Blaisdell, 
J.  L.  Mechlin,  Joseph  Hooton,  F.  Coast,  J.  Camp,  Wil- 
liam Kramer,  Robert  Alcorn,  J.  CaTnpbell  and  Isaac  B. 
Jacobs,  whose  corporate  name  was  ‘Official  Board  of 
Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.’  This  building 
was  in  the  ‘burned  district'  of  1866,  and  in  1867  the  de- 
serted Presbyterian  church  of  Pithole  was  secured  and 
removed  to  the  Spring-Svcamore-Centre  street  location 
It  was  succeeded  by  the  present  Trinity  church  erected  in 
1876  by  Messrs.  D.  L.  Trax,  Wesley  Chambers,  E.  M. 
Hukill,  E.  C.  Bradley,  and  John  S.  Rich,  the  building 


Progress  of  the  Work. 


257 


committee,  after  plans  by  Jacob  Snyder,  of  Akron,  O.,  at 
a cost  of  $45,000.  The  building  was  dedicated  June  17, 
1877  by  Bishop  R.  D.  Foster.” — (Souvenir  of  The  Oil 
City  Derrick  illustrating  the  City  of  Oil  City , Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  year  1896,  p.  7.) 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  held  its  first  regular 
services  in  1863,  when  Revs.  John  McCombs  and  J.  M. 
Groves  preached  in  the  old  school  house  on  the  hill,  above 
what  was  then  known  as  Venango  City,  a mission  point  on 
President  Circuit.  These  two  gentlemen  conducted  a suc- 
cessful revival  during  the  years  mentioned,  and  were  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  J.  W.  Weldon  in  1864,  who  made  his 
headquarters  here  and  preached  in  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers. In  1865  the  church  was  organized  by  the  new  pas- 
tors, N.  C.  Brown  and  L.  G.  Merrill.  Two  classes  were 
formed,  with  D.  W.  Amy  and  L.  Milliken  as  leaders.  A 
union  of  these  classes  with  the  Oil  City  church  was  ef- 
fected in  1868,  with  Rev.  J.  Whitely  as  pastor,  and  ser- 
vices were  conducted  in  the  Smith  & Allison  hall.  The 
union  was  not  satisfactory  and  they  were  again  united  to 
the  old  circuit  which,  at  the  Erie  Conference  of  1867, 
was  first  known  as  Venango  City  charge,  and  placed  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  Revs.  R.  F.  Keeler  and  J.  P.  Hicks. 
In  1868,  Venango  City  and  Reno  were  made  a separate 
charge  with  R.  F.  Keeler  as  pastor.  The  first  church 
building  on  East  Third  street  was  commenced  in  1869 
under  R.  D.  Waltz  as  pastor;  and  was  dedicated  by  Dr. 
I.  C.  Pershing  in  1870.  The  cost  was  about  $4,500.  It 
was  not  freed  from  debt  until  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M. 
Miller  thirteen  years  later.  The  new  church  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Central  Avenue  and  First  street  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  B.  I.  Ives,  D.D.,  in  1895.  It  cost  $50,740.  The 
building  committee  were  A.  P.  Dale,  George  Steffee, 
Major  J.  B.  Maitland,  F.  S.  Richards,  S.  L.  Cribbs  and 
H.  H.  Fair.” — ( Souvenir  of  The  Oil  City  Derrick  illus- 
trating the  City  of  Oil  City,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year 
1896,  pages  8,  9.) 

Progress  of  the  Work. 

The  religious  interest  found  in  that  part  of  the  Erie 
Conference  which  lies  within  the  state  of  New  York  is 
well  expressed  by  “A.  B.”  who  writes  in  1851. 

“In  this  part  of  our  conference,  embracing  all  of  Chau- 


Progress  of  the  Work. 


committee,  after  plans  by  Jacob  Snyder,  of  Akron,  O.,  at 
a cost  of  $45,000.  The  building  was  dedicated  June  17, 
1877  by  Bishop  R.  D.  Foster.” — (Souvenir  of  The  Oil 
City  Derrick  illustrating  the  City  of  Oil  City , Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  year  1896,  p.  7.) 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  held  its  first  regular 
services  in  1863,  when  Revs.  John  McCombs  and  J.  M. 
Groves  preached  in  the  old  school  house  on  the  hill,  above 
what  was  then  known  as  Venango  City,  a mission  point  on 
President  Circuit.  These  two  gentlemen  conducted  a suc- 
cessful revival  during  the  years  mentioned,  and  were  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  J.  W.  Weldon  in  1864,  who  made  his 
headquarters  here  and  preached  in  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers. In  1865  the  church  was  organized  by  the  new  pas- 
tors, N.  C.  Brown  and  L.  G.  Merrill.  Two  classes  were 
formed,  with  D.  W.  Amy  and  L.  Milliken  as  leaders.  A 
union  of  these  classes  with  the  Oil  City  church  was  ef- 
fected in  1868,  with  Rev.  J.  Whitely  as  pastor,  and  ser- 
vices were  conducted  in  the  Smith  & Allison  hall.  The 
union  was  not  satisfactory  and  they  were  again  united  to 
the  old  circuit  which,  at  the  Erie  Conference  of  1867, 
was  first  known  as  Venango  City  charge,  and  placed  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  Revs.  R.  F.  Keeler  and  J.  P.  Hicks. 
In  1868,  Venango  City  and  Reno  were  made  a separate 
charge  with  R.  F.  Keeler  as  pastor.  The  first  church 
building  on  East  Third  street  was  commenced  in  1869 
under  R.  D.  Waltz  as  pastor;  and  was  dedicated  by  Dr. 
I.  C.  Pershing  in  1870.  The  cost  was  about  $4,500.  It 
was  not  freed  from  debt  until  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M. 
Miller  thirteen  years  later.  The  new  church  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Central  Avenue  and  First  street  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  B.  I.  Ives.  D.D.,  in  1895.  It  cost  $50,740.  The 
building  committee  were  A.  P.  Dale,  George  Steffee, 
Major  J.  B.  Maitland,  F.  S.  Richards,  S.  L.  Cribbs  and 
H.  H.  Fair.” — ( Souvenir  of  The  Oil  City  Derrick  illus- 
trating the  City  of  Oil  City,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year 
1896,  pages  8,  9.) 


Progress  of  the  Work. 

The  religious  interest  found  in  that  part  of  the  Erie 
Conference  which  lies  within  the  state  of  New  York  is 
well  expressed  by  “A.  B.”  who  writes  in  1851. 

“In  this  part  of  our  conference,  embracing  all  of  Chau- 


258 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tauqua  and  some  portion  of  Cattaraugus  county,  we  have 
some  excellent  stations  and  circuits.  We  do  not  say  bet- 
ter than  can  be  found  in  other  parts,  but  good  enough  for 
any  one  who  is  willing  to  do  his  duty  in  the  Lord’s  vine- 
yard. And  they  are  growing  better  every  year.  One  re- 
spect in  which  they  are  better  than  formerly  is  that  the 
people  are  waking  up  to  the  importance  of  church  build- 
ing. Within  two  or  three  years  there  have  been  erected 
— and  in  process  of  erection — plain,  comfortable  houses 
for  the  worship  of  God,  in  the  following  places:  one  in 
Sherman,  three  in  Chautauqua,  two  in  Harmony,  one  in 
Busti,  two  in  the  town  of  Charlotte,  and  one  in  East  Ran- 
dolph. Our  house  at  the  centre  of  Charlotte  was  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  the  Divine  Being  on  the  sixth  instant. 
It  is  hot  a large  house  nor  a costly  one;  not  what  some 
would  call  a grand  house,  but  a good,  substantial,  snug 
house — one  in  which  it  is  hoped  God  will  dwell  and  hear 
the  prayers  of  his  people,  pour  out  his  Holy  Spirit,  and 
powerfully  revive  his  work. 

“The  two  houses  in  Charlotte  owe  their  existence  to  the 
indomitable  energy  and  untiring  perseverence  of  Rev.  R. 
L.  Blackmar.  He  is  a man  of  great  tact  with  a subscrip- 
tion paper.  By  his  indefatigable  labors  he  succeeded  in 
getting  these  two  houses  under  way.  One  is  now  ready 
for  the  reception  of  its  worshipers  and  the  proclamation 
of  God’s  holy  truth.  The  other  will  be  dedicated  in  a 
few  weeks.  Glorious  achievement!  to  succeed  in  rearing 
up  beautiful  temples  for  the  worship  of  God.  More  glor- 
ious than  the  achievements  of  the  man  that  makes  a great 
noise  and  stir  in  the  community,  and  leaves  the  way  all 
blockaded  to  his  successors.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, Dec.  5,  1851.) 

John  Abbott  writes : “Not  long  since,  we  held  a pro- 

tracted meeting  at  Wallaceville,  where  there  was  not  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  living  at  the 
time  the  meeting  commenced.  Now  we  have  a large  and 
flourishing  class.  Forty-one  were  received  on  probation 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting.  The  brethren  are  striving  to 
build  a meeting  house  in  the  place,  and  we  hope  they  will 
succeed.  The  place  belongs  to  Mr.  Wallace,  of  Pitts- 
burg, and  we  hope  he  will  think  of  us  in  his  liberality, 
and  help  to  finish  the  house.  We  are  now  holding  a pro- 
tracted meeting  in  the  Kean  School  House,  and  there  is  a 


Progress  of  the  W ork. 


259 


shaking  among  the  dry  bones.  From  fifteen  to  twenty 
were  forward  for  prayers  last  night ; a number  have  ex- 
perienced religion;  and  our  prayer  is  that  the  Lord  will 
bless  the  whole  community.  This,  too,  is  a new  place, 
but  we  think  hereafter  will  be  occupied.  We  have  re- 
ceived two  hundred  and  twenty-five  on  probation  since 
conference.  To  God  be  all  the  glory!”  Wallaceville 
was  on  the  Cooperstown  Circuit.  E.  T.  Wheeler  was 
second  preacher,  and  an  efficient  assistant. — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  May  13,  1831.) 

“The  new  church  edifice  recently  erected  by  the  friends 
in  Monroe,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God,  on  Friday,  the  fifteenth  ultimo.  It  is  a plain  but 
neat  house,  thirty-three  by  forty,  and  is  nearly  free  from 
debt.  The  society  in  Monroe  have  long  suffered  much  in- 
convenience for  the  want  of  a suitable  place  to  worship, 
but  now  they  have  one  fully  adequate  to  their  wants.” — * 
(William  A.  Matson  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
Jan.  14,  1831.) 

Rev.  C.  Cooke,  D.D.,  who  had  part  in  the  dedicatory 
services  of  our  new  church  in  Brookville,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1851,  says;  “Of  the  Methodist  Church  I may  speak 
freely.  It  is  happily  located,  as  near  as  may  be  at  the 
centre  of  the  town — is  constructed  of  wood  on  a stone 
basement.  The  basement  has  a spacious  Sabbath  School 
room,  which,  as  soon  as  seated,  will  be  occupied,  I trust; 
and  two  beautiful  class-rooms,  all  nearly  ready  for  occu- 
pancy. The  house  is  forty-two  by  fifty-two  feet — sixteen 
feet  from  floor  to  ceiling — and  well  finished.  It  is  sur- 
mounted by  a cupalo  about  sixteen  feet  above  the  room, 
and  on  that  a square  pyramidal  spire  rises  some  twenty- 
six  feet  more,  pointing  beautifully  to  the  source  whence 
Methodism  has  received  its  unction  and  success,  and  in- 
dicating the  dependence  of  those  who  have  contributed  to 
its  erection  upon  the  great  architect  to  build  up  the  cause 
of  Christianity  in  their  flourishing  borough.  The  ladies 
have  placed  a beautiful  Bible  in  the  pulpit ; and  the  taste 
of  Judge  Heath  will  never  be  forgotten  while  the  beauti- 
ful chandeliers  and  pulpit  lamps  shed  prismatic,  light  on 
the  congregation.  It  would  seem  that  all  who  have  aided 
in  building  this  house  for  the  Lord  have  done  well  their 
part — the  architect,  contributors,  and  all.  Fifteen  months 
ago,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there  consisted  of 


26o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


about  twenty  or  twenty-five  members,  and  now  can 
boast  of  about  thrice  that  number.  The  most  liberal, 
when  Brother  Reeser  proposed  to  build,  though  anxious 
it  should  be  done,  thought  it  was  impracticable.  Faith, 
prayer,  patience,  and  perseverence  have  triumphed.  The 
lot  and  buildings  cost  about  $2,500,  one  thousand  of 
which  remained  unsubscribed ; and  of  course  unpaid,  up 
to  the  time  of  dedication.  The  pledges  and  cash  contri- 
buted on  that  occasion  amounted  to  the  handsome  sum  of 
$660,  leaving  a balance  of  only  $340  due.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  Nov.  4,  1851 .) 

Mount  Hope  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  at  New 
Vernon,  and  is  the  product  of  a revival  held  near  New 
Lebanon,  in  1851.  The  class — consisting  of  twenty  mem- 
bers— was  organized,  at  the  house  of  George  Marsteller, 
under  the  leadership  of  John  Abbott  and  Elisha  T. 
Wheeler.  Elisha  Moon  was  the  first  class  leader.  In 
1854  a house  of  worship  was  erected  on  land  donated  by 
Joseph  and  Daniel  Holloway. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  New  Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania,  was  organized  by  John  Abbott,  February 
10,  1851,  with  the  following  members;  James  Muse, 
Hannah  Muse,  A.  Voorhees  and  wife,  H.  C.  Jewel,  Eli 
Cole  and  wife,  E.  C.  Voorhees,  Emaline  Voorhees,  John 
Smith  and  wife,  A.  Smith,  Mrs.  E.  Moore,  and  Pelina 
Cole.  The  appointment  at  first  belonged  to  the  Coopers- 
town  Circuit,  and  was  afterwards  changed  to  that  of  New 
Lebanon.  The  first  building,  a frame  structure,  40x45, 
was  dedicated,  May  21,  1852.  The  cost  was  $809.87. 
This  was  removed  to  the  present  site  in  1875,  and  re“ 
paired  at  a cost  of  $1,000. — (History  of  Mercer  County, 
Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  482.) 

In  1851,  a camp-meeting  of  great  power  was  held  at 
North  Washington.  B.  F.  Delo,  who  reached  the  ground 
on  Friday  says ; “The  tide  of  spiritual  inflow  was  rising 
higher,  higher  yet,  with  each  succeeding  service,  and 
sinners  were  coming  home  by  the  score.  On  Sunday 
morning  at  nine  o’clock,  the  Rev.  Williams,  then  stationed 
at  Butler  preached.  He  did  not  believe  in  camp-meetings 
and  was  opposed  to  shouting,  it  was  said.  He  had  never 
been  to  such  a meeting.  Against  his  protest,  the  Butler 
tent  brethren  took  him  along.  His  sermon  was  a con- 
trast— the  joys  and  trials  of  the  sinner  and  the  joys  and 


Conference  Session  in  1852. 


261 


trials  of  the  Christian,  with  the  final  destruction  of  the 
wicked  and  triumph  of  the  righteous.  When  he  came 
to  the  final  triumph  of  the  righteous  his  spiritual  vision 
became  so  enlarged  that  he,  like  Saul  of  old,  lost  himself 
in  the  triumphant  throng  and  joined  the  Hallelujah 
chorus.  The  wave  struck  the  preachers  on  the  platform 
and  in  the  preachers’  tents,  swept  over  the  congregation 
to  the  watchers  at  the  tent  doors.  For  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  everybody  seemed  to  be  shouting.  Above  the 
noise  of  the  multitude  the  ‘Hallelujah,’  with  voice  like  a 
lion,  of  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Wilson,  the  presiding  elder,  came 
as  the  discharge  of  minute  guns.  I could  only  think  of 
John’s  description — ‘as  the  noise  of  many  waters.’  The 
neighborhood  was  principally  composed  of  United  Pres- 
byterians, and  yet  the  people  were  so  entranced  that  dea- 
cons and  elders  came  and  begged  the  preachers  to  con- 
tinue the  meeting  through  another  week.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  August  2,  1900.) 

Conference  Session  in  1852. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  session  in  Jamestown,  New 
York,  July  14,  1852,  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  presiding, 
Niram  Norton,  sercetary. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial;  Ben- 
jamin Excell,  William  Beavins,  Aaron  D.  Morton,  James 
B.  Orwig,  Robert  Beatty,  Samuel  N.  Warner,  George  W. 
Sisson,  Noble  W.  Jones,  Simon  S.  Burton,  George  W. 
Staples,  Alexander  R.  Hammond,  Chester  T.  Kingsbury. 

Lorenzo  D.  Mix,  Alden  Walker,  and  W.  W.  Maltby 
located.  ‘ 

Benjamin  F.  Langdon,  Goodwin  Stoddard,  John  J. 
Steadman,  and  Reuben  J.  Edwards  were  announced  as 
having  died  during  the  year.* 

Appointments  for  1852:  Cleveland  District  John  C.  Ayres, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Erie 

*G.  W.  Sisson  was  admitted  on  trial,  1852;  discontinued,  1854. 
Appointments — 1852  Leon;  1853,  Frewsburg. 

William  Beavins  was  admitted  on  trial,  1852;  discontinued, 
1853.  Appointment — 1852,  Youngstown. 

A.  R.  Hammond  was  admitted  on  trial,  1852;  full  connection, 
1854;  deacon,  1854,  Scott;  suspended  for  one  year,  1858;  elder, 
1863,  Simpson;  withdrew  under  charges,  1866.  Appointments — 
1852,  Mayville;  1853,  Ellington;  1854  Silver  Creek;  1855-’56, 
Youngsville;  1857,  supernumerary ; 1859,  Springfield;  1860,  Roots- 
town  and  Randolph;  1861,  Edinburg  and  Atwater;  1862-’63,  Ells- 
worth; 1864,  supernumerary;  1865,  Jackson. 


26  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Street  Mission,  Timothy  Goodwin;  Perry  Street,  H.  N.  Stearns; 
City  Mission;  Dillon  Prosser;  Newburg,  Allen  Fouts,  Samuel 
Reynolds;  Chagrin  Falls,  E.  C.  Latimer,  Benjamin  Excell;  Wil- 
loughby, Thomas  Guy;  Painesville,  Niram  Norton;  Mentor,  H.  D. 
Cole;  Chardon,  William  Samson,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Concord,  W. 
A.  Matson,  one  to  be  supplied;  Geneva,  Potter  Sullivan,  R.  H. 
Hurlburt;  Ashtabula  S.  C.  Frear;  Mechanicsville,  T.  B.  Tait; 
Roderick  Norton,  Principal  of  Asbury  Seminary — member  of 
Chagrin  Falls  Quarterly  Conference.  Erie  District,  Edwin  J.  L. 
Baker,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Erie  City  Mission,  to 
be  supplied;  McKean,  A.  D.  Morton,  G.  W.  Staples,  D.  W.  Vorse, 
sup.;  Girard,  R.  M.  Bear;  Springfield,  John  McLean,  John 
Akers;  Wesley ville,  George  Stocking,  W.  R.  Johnson;  North 
East,  Joseph  Uncles;  Kingsville,  O.  P.  Brown,  A.  H.  Bowers; 
Morgan  G.  W.  Maltby,  H.  P.  Henderson;  Waterford,  J.  B.  Ham- 
mond, one  to  be  supplied;  Edinboro,  D.  E.  Day;  Conneautville, 
J.  K.  Hallock,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Saegertown,  Josiah  Flower,  J.  B. 
Graves;  Rockville,  S.  K.  Paden;  David  Preston,  sup.,  Sunday 
School  Agent — member  of  the  Springfield  Quarterly  Conference. 
Ravenna  District,  William  H.  Hunter,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna, 
Thomas  Stubbs;  Franklin,  L.  W.  Ely;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Lorenzo 
Rogers;  Tallmadge,  J.  H.  Tagg,  D.  M.  Stearns,  sup.;  Akron, 
John  Tribby;  Charlestown  and  Freedom  W.  M.  Bear;  Mantua, 
J.  W.  Hill;  Hudson,  J.  D.  Norton;  Twinsburg,  Valorus  Lake; 
Edinburg,  S.  W.  Ingraham,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Parkman,  Lewis 
Clark,  Ira  Eddy;  Ellsworth,  Stephen  Heard,  one  to  be  supplied. 
Warren  District,  John  Bain,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  Darius 
Smith;  Braceville,  H.  M.  Loud;  Windham,  W.  N.  Reno;  Nelson, 
J.  H.  Vance;  Southington,  J.  L.  Holmes;  Mesopotamia  and  West 
Farmington,  A.  M.  Brown;  Bloomfield  Asahel  Reeves;  Windsor, 
C.  R.  Chapman;  Youngstown,  William  Beavins;  Liberty,  B.  O. 
Plimpton;  Gustavus,  H.  S.  Winans,  J.  M.  Plant;  Hubbard,  John 
Whippo;  Sharon  and  Brookfield,  D.  C.  Wright;  Williamsfield, 
Wareham  French,  one  to  be  supplied;  Hartford,  David  King,  Ezra 
Wade;  Poland,  M.  H.  Bettes,  one  to  be  supplied.  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, William  Patterson,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  E.  J.  Kin- 
ney; Evansburg  I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  one  to  be  supplied;  Espy- 
ville,  D.  H.  Jack,  Hiram  Luce;  Salem,  Joseph  Leslie,  J.  B.  Orwig; 
Greenville,  Ezra  Jones;  Clarksville,  S.  N.  Forest,  H.  M.  Cham- 
berlain; Harrisville,  J.  W.  Wilson,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Wilmington,  John 
Graham,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  New  Castle,  Hiram  Kinsley;  Mt.  Jackson, 
William  Monks;  Mercer,  J.  R.  Locke;  Clinton  ville,  J.  G.  'Thomp- 
son,  one  to  be  supplied;  G.  W.  Clarke,  Calvin  Kingsley,  Profes- 
sors in  Allegheny  College — members  of  Meadville  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. Franklin  District,  Moses  Hill,  presiding  elder;  Frank- 
lin, W.  F.  Day;  Hendersonville,  Ahab  Keller,  P.  W.  Sherwood; 
Brady’s  Bend  Mission,  D.  M.  Stever;  Curllsville,  John  Crum, 
Samuel  Hollen;  New  Bethlehem,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Punxsutawney,  G. 
F.  Reeser;  Luthersburg  Mission,  E.  T.  Wheeler;  Brookville,  J. 
R.  Lyon,  one  to  be  supplied;.  Clarion,  E.  B.  Lane;  Washington, 
T.  G.  McCreary;  Shippen ville,  R.  A.  Caruthers,  Thomas  Benn; 
New  Lebanon,  Robert  Beatty;  Cooperstown,  Edwin  Hull,  one 
to  be  supplied.  Jamestown  District,  James  H.  Whallon,  presid- 
ing elder;  Jamestown,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Ashville,  T.  D.  Blinn,  G.  W. 
Chesbro;  Randolph,  Alvin  Burgess,  N.  W.  Jones;  Harmony, 
Samuel  Gregg;  Columbus,  David  Mizener,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Wattsburg,  B.  S.  Hill,  S.  N.  Warner;  Riceville,  John  Abbott,  one 
to  be  supplied;  Pleasantville,  John  Wrigglesworth,  Madison 
Wood;  Youngs  ville,  J.  N.  Henry,  B.  D.  Himebaugh;  Warren,  R. 


Warner , Staples , Orzvig. 


263 


S.  Moran;  Tionesta  Mission,  Fauntly  Muse;  Kinzua,  S.  S.  Burton. 
Fredonia  District,  William  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia 
and  Dunkirk  Mission,  Albina  Hall,  one  to  be  supplied;  Portland, 
John  Peate;  Westfield,  H.  W.  Beers;  Quincy,  Alexander  Barris; 
Mayville  and  Sherman,  H.  H.  Moore,  A.  R.  Hammond,  C.  S. 
Jennes,  sup.;  Gerry,  Peter  Burroughs,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Ellington,  J.  O.  Rich;  Leon,  Albert  Norton,  G.  W.  Sisson;  Perrys- 
burg,  R.  L.  Blackmar;  Villenovia,  Isaac  Scofield,  John-  Scott; 
Forestville  and  Sheridan,  John  Robinson;  Silver  Creek,  S.  B. 
Sullivan. 

Warner,  Staples,  Or  wig. 

Samuel  N.  Warner  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  New  • 
York,  Feb.  23,  1820;  and  died  in  Savannah,  Missouri, 
June  14,  1895.  In  early  manhood  he  settled  within  the 
boundaries  of  Oil  Creek  Circuit,  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Levancia  Kelly  in  1844:  she  died  in  1851.  He 
was  converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen;  after  a time,  lost  his 
religious  enjoyment  ; but  was  reclaimed,  when,  from  doc- 
trinal reasons,  he  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — leaving  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  which  he 
had  been  a member.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1851, 
and,  from  the  grave  of  his  wife,  went  as  a supply  on  the 
Brookville  Circuit.  He  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Johnson 
in  1853.  In  1865  he  located  and  moved  to  Bowling 
Green,  Missouri,  where  he  became  an  assistant  to  the  pas- 
tor. He  also  supplied  Clarksville  for  a time,  and  in  1868 
was  admitted  to  the  Missouri  Conference  in  which  he  did 
heroic  service.  In  1890  he  was  superannuated,  and  main- 
tained this  relation  until  his  death. 

‘'Possessed  of  great  physical  strength  he  had  an  equally 
vigorous  mind,  and  both  were  directed  by  a hopeful  and 
determined  spirit.  He  was  a builder  in  Zion,  and  his 
monuments  in  the  form  of  self-supporting  churches  are 
seen  in  all  parts  of  our  (the  Missouri)  Conference.  His 
sermons  were  analytical  in  style,  clear  and  forceful.  He 
was  mighty  in  prayer.  A studious  man  to  the  last,  his 
latest  sermons  were  his  best.  Sick  but  a few  days,  his 
last  hours  were  full  of  triumph.  Just  before  he  passed 
away  his  son  asked,  ‘How  is  it  now,  father  ?’  Raising  his 
hands  he  said  in  ecstasy,  ‘It  is  grand,  it  is  grand ; no  other 
word  can  express  it.’  Then  with  eyes  resting  on  his  wife 
their  light  gradually  faded  out  and  he  was  not.”* — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol.  XXVI,  1896,  p.  108.) 

*S.  N.  Warner — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Scott;  elder,  1856 


264 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


George  W.  Staples  was  born  in  Auburn,  New  York, 
Dec.  11,  1825;  and  died  in  Corry,  Pennsylvania,  Nov*  15, 
1889.  His  parents  were  deeply  pious  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  father,  S.  Staples,  was 
a local  preacher  for  half  a century.  George  was  con- 
verted at  the  family  altar  at  seven  years  of  age.  His  li- 
cense to  preach  bears  the  date  of  January  11,  1851,  and 
the  signature  of  E.  J.  L.  Baker.  The  same  year  he  la- 
bored as  a supply  on  the  old  Columbus  Circuit,  Alex- 
• ander  Barris  being  preacher  in  charge.  He  joined  the 
itinerant  host  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1852,  was  discon- 
tinued in  1859,  and  again  entered  the  ranks  in  i860.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  M.  Colegrove,  the  daughter 
of  G.  A.  Colegrove,  a local  minister  at  Edmeston,  New 
York.  “His  constitution  was  frail,  his  health  delicate  al- 
ways; his  eyes  especially  troubled  him  from  his  early 
ministry,  so  that  he  had  to  use  the  best  magnifying  glasses 
to  read  the  clearest  type.  Yet  he  pursued  his  conference 
studies  and  his  studies  for  the  pulpit  with  success,  and 
occupied  no  mean  position  among  his  brethren  as  an  in- 
telligent minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus.”  He  was  faithful 
and  successful  in  his  holy  calling;  a good  man,  full  of 
faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  was  kind  and  benevolent, 
and  “went  about  doing  good.”  Among  his  last  utterances 
were  these:  “It  is  all  right,  there  is  not  a cloud  on  my 

mind.”  “I  am  full  of  joy,  but  I can’t  tell  it.”* 

Ames;  located,  1865;  re-admitted,  Missouri  and  Arkansas  Con- 
ference, 1868;  deceased,  Savannah,  Mo.,  June  14,  1895.  Appoint- 
ments— 1851,  Brookville,  Pa.  (supply) ; 1852,  Wattsburg;  1853, 
Ashville;  1854,  Youngsville;  1855-’56,  Villenovia;  1857-’58,  Perrys- 
burg;  1859,  Ashville;  1860,  Columbus;  1861,  Pine  Grove;  1862-’63, 
Leon;  1864,  Ellington,  1865,  Bowling  Green,  Mo.,  (pastor’s  as- 
sistant); 1867,  Clarksville,  Mo.,  (supply);  1868,  New  London, 
Mo.;  1869-’70,  Truxton  Mo.;  1871-’74,  Princeton  District;  1875, 
Edinburg,  Mo.;  1876-’77,  supernumerary;  1878,  superannuated; 
1879,  Ridgely,  Mo.;  1880-’81,  King  City,  Mo.;  1882-’83,  Skidmore, 
Mo.;  1884-’85,  Burlington  Junction,  Mo.;  1886-’87,  Hopkins,  Mo.; 
1888-’89,  Savannah,  Mo.;  1890-’95,  superannuated. 

*G.  W.  Staples — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  discontinued,  1855;  admitted  on  trial,  1860;  full  connect- 
tion,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864,  Morris;  deceased, 
Corry,  Pa.,  November  15,  1889.  Appointments — 1851,  Columbus 
(supply);  1852  McKean;  1853,  Waterford;  1854,  seems  to  have 
had  no  appointment;  1855,  discontinued;  1860,  Hudson;  1861-’62, 
Union;  1863,  Wells  Corners;  1864-’65,  Columbus  and  North 
Corry;  1866-’68,  Rouseville;  1869,  Randolph;  1870,  Forestville, 
1871-’73,  Kingsville;  1874-’75,  Asbury  and  Wayne;  1876-’77,  Fair- 
view;  1878-’80,  Asbury;  1881-’83,  McKean;  1884-’85,  Green;  1886- 
’87,  North  Corry;  1888-’89  superannuated. 


A.  D.  Morton , Robert  Beatty. 


James  B.  Orwig  was  born  in  Center  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, near  Bellefonte,  Sept.  4,  1823,  and  was  converted 
on  the  Hendersonville  Circuit  under  the  labors  of  J.  M. 
Plant.  He  began  to  feel  a strong  conviction  that  he 
ought  to  give  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  was 
licensed  as  a local  preacher  in  1851.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1852.* — (Gregg,  History 
of  Methodism , Erie  Conference , Vol.  II,  p.  418.) 

A.  D.  Morton,  Robert  Beatty. 

“Aaron  Delos  Morton  was  born  at  Westfield,  Ohio, 
Aug.  13,  1823,  and  died  at  Canton,  June  6,  1905,  having 
attained  the  greatest  age  of  any  of  a long  line  of  Mortons 
from  whom  he  descended.  He  was  the  son  of  Benjamin 
Pascal  .Morton,  whose  father,  Aaron  Morton  was  the 
eldest  son  of  John  Morton,  Judge,  Congressman,  and 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  When  Mr. 
Morton  was  a child,  his  father  kept  a hotel  at  Johnstown, 
Pennsylvania,  and  at  an  early  age  he  contracted  dyspep- 
sia, from  which  he  suffered  all  his  life,  a life  that  was  a 
constant  struggle  against  ill  health  and  a feeble  body.  He 
walked  many  miles  daily  which  was  almost  essential  to  his 
existence.  At  an  early  age  he  had  to  sell  liquor  behind  the 
bar,  but  when  he  was  eight  years  old,  he  went  to  his  father 
and  said  ; ‘Father,  I will  never  sell  another  drop  of  liq- 
uor or  go  behind  the  bar.'  His  father  looking  at  him 
said,  ‘I  believe  you  mean  it,’  to  which  he  replied  ‘I  do.’ 
His  father  replied,  ‘Well,  you  need  not.’  From  that  time 
he  was  a consistent  enemy  of  liquor.  Shortly  after  this 
he  united  with  the  Methodist  Church,  to  which  his  mother 
belonged,  though  the  Mortons  had  all  been  Quakers.  At 

*J.  B.  Orwig — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Scott;  elder,  1856, 
Ames;  transferred  to  Kansas  Conference,  1865;  withdrew  under 
charges,  1882;  admitted  on  trial,  Northwest  Kansas  Conference, 
1886;  located,  1888;  re-admitted,  Arkansas  Conference,  1889; 
name  disappears  from  the  General  Minutes  1890.  Appointments 
— 1852,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1853,  North  Hope;  1854-’55,  Espy- 
ville;  1856,  Edinboro  and  Venango;  1857-’58,  Venango;  1859,  Sae- 
gertown;  1860-’61,  Sheakleyville;  1862-’63,  New  Wilmington; 
1864,  Sunville;  1865,  appointment  not  given;  1866-’67,  Auburn 
and  Burlingame,  Kas.;  1868,  Baldwin  City,  Kas.;  1869-’71  Paoli, 
Kas.;  1872-73,  Oswego,  Kas.;  1874-76,  North  Topeka,  Kas.;  1877- 
78,  Ellsworth,  Kas.;  1879,  Osborne  City,  Kas.;  1880,  Osborne  City 
and  Bristow,  Kas.;  1881,  Marion,  Kas.;  1886  Golden  Belt,  Kas.; 
1889,  Heber,  Ark. 


266 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


the  age  of  thirteen,  he  was  left  to  shift  for  himself  for  a 
living  and  an  education,  his  father  having  been  accident- 
ally killed.  At  fifteen  and  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  was 
driving  a four  horse  team  and  hauling  great  stones  to 
build  locks  on  the  Erie  and  Pittsburg  Canal. 

‘‘His  education  was  obtained  from  the  common  schools 
and  at  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio.  After  he 
commenced  to  preach,  he  continued  his  studies  and  per- 
fected his  knowledge  of  Greek,  Latin  and  Hebrew.  Later, 
he  also  read  the  bible  in  German  and  French.  Just  be- 
fore the  trouble  with  Spain,  he  took  up  Spanish,  and  read 
a large  portion  of  the  bible  in  that  language.  This  was 
his  last  study.  It  was  a constant  saying  with  him,  ‘I  find 
new  meaning  and  new  beauties  in  the  bible  in  each  of 
these  languages.'  He  wrote  much  for  the  church  papers, 
also  some  very  creditable  poetry  and  many  of  his  sermons 
were  published.  In  early  life  he  held  many  revivals  and 
brought  many  into  church  membership.  At  all  union 
meetings  where  religious  sentiment  was  cold  or  wavering, 
undecided  or  doubtful,  he  was  called  upon  for  prayer,  as 
he  was  considered  to  be  unusually  powerful  and  gifted  in 
appealing  and  persuasive  prayer,  and  I cannot  help  but 
think,  if  he  has  a mission  in  Heaven  it  will  be  to  pray  and 
intercede  for  sinners.” — ( Communication  from  his  son , 
John  T.  Morton , of  Cleveland,  Ohio.) 

Mr.  Morton  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848.  John 
Sherman,  who  was  his  examiner,  invited  him  to  enter  his 
own  law  office,  and  there  he  entered  upon  his  chosen  pro- 
fession under  the  most  favorable  auspices.  Soon  he  recog- 
nized his  call  to  the  holy  ministry,  emphasized  by  the 
persuasion  of  his  friends,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1849.  The  same  year  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Zylphia  L.  Leech,  of  Clarksville,  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1852. 
While  laboring  on  the  Morgan  and  Poland  appointments, 
he  was  intimately  connected  with  the  “Underground  Rail- 
road” for  the  transportation  and  care  of  fugitive  slaves. 
At  Poland  he  baptized  by  immersion  and  received  into 
the  church  William  McKinley,  afterward  President  of  the 
Lffiited  States. 

Mr.  Morton  was  a pronounced  patriot.  He  stumped 
Western  New  York  with  Ex-Governor  Patterson  in 
1862-3,  raising  recruits  for  the  army.  In  1863-4  he  held 


A.  D.  Morton,  Robert  Beatty.  267 

a commission  under  the  Christian  Commission  with  the 
army  at  the  front,  and  in  1864  was  appointed  chaplain  of 
the  105th  O.  V.  I.  and  served  until  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  From  1865  to  1869 
he  had  charge  of  the  Freedmen’s  Bureau  work  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  During  his  pastorate  at  Girard,  the  beauti- 
ful church  was  erected.  He  was  presiding 
elder  of  the  Akron  District  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference 
in  1877-1880.  After  an  effective  relationship  of  twenty- 
nine  years,  he  was  made  supernumerary,  and  in  1895  su- 
perannuated.* 

Robert  Beatty  was  born  near  Cooperstown,  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  16,  1816.  He  was  converted  at  the  age 
of  twenty  at  a camp-meeting  held  near  the  Meadville 
Turnpike  about  five  miles  north  of  Franklin;  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Haslet' in  1838;  licensed  to 
preach  by  William  H.  Hunter  in  1848,  and  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1852;  did  effective  work  in 
the  ministry  for  twenty-one  years ; and  was  supernumer- 
ary or  superannuated  from  1874  to  the  time  of  his  death 
which  occurred  at  his  home  near  the  place  of  his  birth, 
May  26,  1888.  During  his  ministry,  according  to  the 
record  kept  by  himself,  he  received  nine  hundred  and 
eighty  persons  on  probation  and  baptized  four  hundred 
and  nmety-two.  He  organized  the  New  Vernon  society 
111  T^53  built  a church;  in  1856  he  organized  a class 
at  Mahoning,  and  at  Texas,  four  miles-  south  of  New 
Bethlehem;  while  on  the  Curllsville  Circuit  he  organized 
classes  at. Catfish  Furnace,  Sandy  Hollow,  and  McCul- 
lough’s hurnace,  and  built  a church  at  Orr’s  Furnace;  in 
i860  he  organized  societies  at  Emlenton,  and  Foxburg 
and  built  a small  chapel  at  the  latter  place;  in  1864  he 
organized  societies  at  Petroleum  Centre  and  the  Story 
Farm;  and  in  1870  he  organized  a society  at  Chapman- 

*A.  D.  Morton — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admttted  on  trial 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Scott;  elder,  1856’ 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  18 <6,  deceased,  Canton,  O.  June  6,  1905.  Appoint- 
ments— 1852,  McKean;  1853,  Kingsville;  1854,  Morgan;  1855-’56, 
Poland;  1857-’58,  Mercer;  1859,  Painesville;  1860,  Warren  0.*’ 
1861-’62,  Westfield;  1863,  Mayville;  1864,  Chaplain  U.  S.’  A.; 
1865-’68,  Agent,  Freedmen’s  Aid  Society;  1869-71,  Girard,  Pa.; 
1872-73,  Ashtabula;  1874,  Cleveland,  Newburg;  1875-76,  Cleve- 
land, South  Park;  1877-’80,  Akron  Distrct;  1881-’94,  supernumer- 
ary; 1895-1904,  superannuated. 


268 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


ville.  tie  closed  his  active  ministry  where  he  began — at 
New  Lebanon.  The  following  entries  are  found:  1862 

— “Had  several  discussions  this  year  as  to  whether  the 
Bible  servitude  supported  American  slavery.”  1864 — 
“The  people  all  wild  in  speculation”;  1867 — “ I his  a ter- 
rible year  for  church  trials,  eleven  in  one  place  lasting  live 
days  and  nights.”  “Brother  Beatty  was  regarded,  by 
those  who  knew  him  well,  as  an  able  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel. Though  not  a brilliant  preacher,  he  was  scholarly, 
lie  was  clear,  he  was  persuasive,  he  was  pathetic,  and 
sometimes  he  was  well  nigh  overpowering.”  Mr.  Gregg 
says  that  he  was  “a  little  eccentric,  and  quite  original  in 
his  way  of  presenting  things;  but  generally  gave  evidence 
of  close  thinking  and  careful  investigation.”* — (Gregg, 
History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vcl.  II,  p.  419 .) 

Noble  William  Jones. 

Noble  William  Jones  was  born  in  the  town  of  Char- 
lotte, Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  March  23,  1827.  When  a 
child,  his  parents  moved  to  Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. 
Y.  When  he  was  seven  years  old,  they  removed  into  the 
Cattaraugus  lumber  woods  opposite  what  is  now  Ver- 
sailles, and  four  years  later  to  Warren,  Pennsylvania. 
Here  he  attended  the  district  school  and  old  Warren 
Academy.  His  parents  were  not  religious,  but  his  mother 
sent  her  children  to  Sunday  School.  He  says;  “I  owe 
all  that  I am  to  mother  and  the  church.”  The  following 
is  his  account  of  his  conversion  and  call  to  the  ministry ; 
“When  nearly  eighteen  years  old,  in  the  latter  part  of 
February,  1845,  tinder  the  labors  of  J.  E.  Chapin  in  the 
second  year  of  his  pastorate  of  the  church  of  Warren, 
Pa.,  I was  fully  persuaded  to  consecrate  my  all  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lord,  who  then  blessed  me  with  a clear,  prec- 
ious consciousness  of  being  saved  from  all  sin,  accom- 
panied with  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  I was  a 
child  of  his, — though  not  suddenly,  but  gradually,  like  the 

♦Robert  Beatty — Licensed  to  preach  1848;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Simpson;  elder,  1856, 
Ames;  deceased,  Cooperstown,  Pa.,  May  26,  1888.  Appointments 
— 1852-’53,  New  Lebanon;  1854,  Brady’s  Bend;  1855-’56,  New 
Bethlehem;  1857-’58,  Curllsville;  1859-’60,  Shippen ville;  1861-’62, 
Hendersonville;  1863-’64  Petroleum  Centre;  1865-’66,  Pine  Grove; 
1867,  Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove;  1868,  Eastbrook  and  Shenan- 
go;  1869-’71,  Sunville;  1872-’73,  New  Lebanon;  1874-’82,  super- 
numerary; 1883-’87,  superannuated. 


C.  T.  Kingsbury. 


269 


! dawning  of  the  morning  or  like  the  rising  sun; — and  on 

the  second  of  March  following,  I gave  my  name  to  the 
church,  and  must  say  here,  to  the  praise  of  divine  grace, 
the  evil  one  has  never  tempted  me  so  much  as  once  to  re- 
nounce the  religion  of  the  Bible  or  to  leave  the  church. 
The  call  to  the  ministry  was  given  at  the  same  time  of  the 
Spirit’s  witness  of  my  acceptance  with  God.  Thinking 
the  church  ought  to  hear  the  call  as  well,  I said  nothing  to 
any  one  until  the  church  put  her  hands  upon  me  and 
pushed  me  out  into  the  work.  This  was  about  six  years 

I after  my  conversion.  By  a vote  of  the  class  on  Harmon 

Hill,  Portland  Charge,  T.  D.  Blinn  gave  me  license  to  ex- 
hort, March,  1851.  In  August  following,  William  H. 
Hunter,  presiding  elder,  prevailed  upon  me  to  assist  J. 
N.  Henry  on  the  Ashville  Circuit.  After  three  weeks,  at 
the  first  Quarterly  Conference  held  at  the  State  Road  or 
Mahan  appointment,  in  September,  1851,  I was  licensed 
to  preach,  and  labored  on  the  charge  for  the  balance  of 
the  year.  In  1852  I was  admitted  on  probation  in  the 
Erie  Conference/’ 

Brother  Jones  was  an  earnest,  conscientious  minister 
of  the  gospel.  He  believed  the  doctrines  of  the  church 
and  preached  them.  He  was  effective  twenty-nine  years. 
The  last  summons  came  to  him  suddenly,  but  found  him 
ready.  He  was  at  the  railroad  station  purchasing  tickets 
for  his  granddaughters  who  had  been  visiting  him  and 
were  about  to  return  home,  when  he  fell  to  the  floor  and 
died  without  a struggle  or  a groan.  It  was  in  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  Nov.  26,  1898.* 

C.  T.  Kingsbury. 

“In  the  early  dawn  of  Sunday  morning,  February  22, 
1903,  from  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Arthur 
Wright,  in  Alliance,  O.,  the  Rev.  Chester  Taylor  Kings- 

*N.  W.  Jones — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Simpson;  elder,  1856, 
Ames;  deceased,  Conneaut,  O.  November  26,  1898.  Appoint- 
ments— 1852,  Randolph;  1853,  Wattsburg;  1854,  Ashville;  1855, 
Frewsburg;  1856,  Kinzua  and  Tionesta;  1857-’58,  Titusville;  1859- 
’60,  superannuated;  1861,  Tionesta;  1862,  Pleasantville;  1863-’64, 
Wesley ville;  1865-’66,  McKean;  1867,  Millville;  1868-’69,  Kelloggs- 
ville;  1870-’71  Lockport;  1872-’73,  Asbury  and  Wayne;  1874-’76, 
Perrysburg;  1877,  Ashville  and  Busti;  1878-79,  Clymer;  1880, 
Wesley  ville;  1881-’82,  Lockport;  1883-’92,  supernumerary;  1893- 
’98,  superannuated. 


18 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


270 

bury,  a venerable  member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference, 
who  had  reached  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and 
had  been  for  forty-eight  years  a preacher  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  passed  triumphantly  to  his  reward  in  heaven. 

“He  was  born  January  25,  1821,  at  Doane’s  Corners, 
in  the  present  limits  of  the  City  of  Cleveland,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  native  of  that  city.  He 
was  descended  from  Judge  James  Kingsbury,  of  New 
Hampshire,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Western 
Reserve.  His  early  life  was  strenuous.  Being  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  at  nine  years  of  age,  he  worked 
for  his  board  while  attending  public  school.  He  had  his 
college  training  in  Alfred  College,  in  New  York. 

He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and,  recogniz- 
ing his  call  to  the  ministry,  spent  eight  years  in  study  and 
teaching.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church  in  1845  J and  the  next  year  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Muskingum  Conference.  In  1851  he  with- 
drew from  this  communion ; and  the  next  year  he  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Erie  Conference,  his  orders  being  recog- 
nized. He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
nce  at  its  organization.  In  1886  he  took  a supernumer- 
ary relation,  and  made  his  home  near  Mount  Union  Col- 
lege. For  eight  years  he  served  a number  of  charges  as 
a supply.  He  was  superannuated  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two. 

He  was  a stalwart  Christian,  positive  in  his  convictions, 
loving  righteousness  and  hating  iniquity,  yet  without 
harshness  or  censoriousness,  he  always  spoke  the  truth 
in  love.”  “As  a preacher  he  was  manly  and  persuasive. 
He  loved  to  preach,  and  even  after  he  was  no  longer  able 
physically  to  bear  the  strain,  would  accept  invitations  to 
preach  which  his  friends  would  not  permit  him  to  fulfill. 
In  his  pastoral  work  he  was  aided  by  the  fact  that  lie  was 
naturally  of  a cheerful,  kindly  and  sympathetic  dispo- 
sition, and  with  advancing  years  the  Christlike  spirit  so 
possessed  him  that  his  life  was  full  of  sweetness  and  life. 
During  the  years  of  his  superannuation  he  was  so  good 
and  faithful,  so  sweet-spirited  and  patient,  as  to  become  a 
source  of  encouragement  and  inspiration  to  the  pastors  of 
the  Union  Avenue  Church,  the  young  people  of  the  Col- 
lege, and  the  whole  community.  . . . His  last 

hours  were  peaceful.  Having  suffered  the  shock  of  two 


Benjamin  Excell , S.  S.  Burton. 


271 


strokes  of  paralysis,  surrounded  by  his  loved  ones  and  in 
the  glorious  hope  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  he 
quietly  fell  asleep,  and  was  with  Jesus.* — ( G.  L.  Davis 
in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , March  26,  1903.) 

Judge  James  Kingsbury  was  born  in  Norwich,  Con- 
necticut, Dec.  29,  1767.  The  family  soon  moved  to  Al- 
stead,  New  Hampshire.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  New- 
burg,  Ohio,  Dec.  12,  1847,  being  nearly  eighty  years  of 
age.  “Of  the  judge  it  may  be  said  with  propriety,  that 
he  was  the  patriarch  of  the  land — among  the  last  of  the 
brave  pioneers  on  the  lake  shore.  He  possessed  a noble 
heart — a heart  that  overflowed  with  kindness  like  the 
gush  of  a fountain.  His  generosities  were  never  stinted 
in  a good  cause,  nor  his  charities  bestowed  ostentatiously 
to  be  blazoned  abroad  among  men.  He  regarded  all  man- 
kind as  his  brethren  and  kindred,  belonging  to  the  same 
common  household.” — (Cleveland  Plain  Dealer,  Dec.  13, 
184 7,  quoted  in  Whittlesey's  Early  History  of  Cleveland, 
1867,  p.  272.) 

Benjamin  Excell,  S.  S.  Burton. 

Benjamin  Excell  was  born  in  London,  England,  Oc- 
tober, 1820,  and  died  at  Willoughby,  Ohio,  April  1,  1904. 
November  10,  1841,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ellen  Phelps,  with  whom  he  lived  a most  happy  wedded 
life  for  more  than  sixty-two  years.  He  was  a member 
of  the  church  for  seventy-five  years,  and  a minister  of  the 
gospel  for  fifty-two  years.  He  united  with  the  Wesleyan  . 
Church  in  London  when  nine  years  of  age,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  seventy- 

*C.  T.  Kingsbury — Licensed  to  preach,  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  1845;  admitted  on  trial,  Muskingum  Conference,  Metho- 
dist Protestant  Church,  1846;  in  the  same  Conference  and 
Church  received  into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder;  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  1851,  and  was  received  into  the 
Erie  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1852,  his  orders  be- 
ing recognized;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at 
its  organization;  deceased,  Alliance,  O.,  February  22,  1903.  Ap- 
pointments— 1846-’47,  Pisgah,  O.;  1848,  Wayne,  O.;  1849-’50,  War- 
rensville,  O.;  1851,  Youngstown,  O.;  1852-’53,  Nelson;  1854  Hud- 
son; 1855-’56,  Edinburg;  1857-’58,  Charlestown  and  Freedom; 
1859-’60,  Franklin,  O.;  1861-’62,  Twinsburg;  1863-’64,  Bedford; 
1865-’66,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1867-’68,  Chardon;  1869-70,  Chagrin 
Falls;  187173,  West  Farmington;  1874-76,  Girard  and  Liberty; 
1877-78  Gustavus;  1879-’80,  Hubbard;  1881-’82,  Cortland;  1883-’85, 
Niles;  1886-’90,  supernumerary;  1891-1902,  superannuated. 


272 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

three  years.  He  united  with  the  Erie  Conference  in  1852, 
and  was  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  from  its 
organization  in  1876.  He  was  on  the  effective  list  thiity 
seven  years,  was  presiding  elder  three  years,  and  was 
classed  as  supernumerary  or  superannuated  for  fifteen 
years,  during  which  time  he  resided  in  Willoughby.  His 
last  charge  was  Madison. 

Brother  Excell  was  a builder  of  churches.  The  large 
stone  church  at  Meadville,  the  old  Euclid  Avenue  church 
and  Scoville  Avenue  church  were  all  built  under  his  pas- 
toral direction  and  inspiration.  It  was  also  largely 
through  his  influence  and  efforts  that  the  Willoughby  Col- 
lege building  was  erected.  It  is  apparent  from  these  facts 
that  he  was  a man  of  unusual  energy.  With  him  it  could 
be  truly  said,  not  many  moments  “lingered  unemployed  or 
unimproved.”  If  measured  by  the  length  of  his  days  of 
usefulness,  the  service  he  rendered  to  his  family,  his 
church,  his  fellow  men  and  his  God,  certainly  he  lived  a 
successful  life.  He  had  a body  that  was  at  no  time  ro- 
bust, but  which  was  supported  by  a remarkable  vitality. 
His  mind  was  clear  and  vigorous  to  the  last.  His  facility 
of  expression  in  public  discourse  was  above  the  average  of 
public  speakers.  He  had  a heart  which  was  always  warm 
with  sympathy  for  those  who  were  in  trouble.  It  was  a 
matter  of  great  satisfaction  to  him  that  no  little  child 
feared  to  run  into  his  arms.  During  the  years  of  his  su- 
perannuation he  was  an  effective  helper  to  the  pastor  of 
. the  local  church,  always  present  at  the  public  services, 
and  frequently  occupying  the  pulpit  in  the  pastor’s  ab- 
sence. He  was  loved  and  honored  by  his  brothers  in  the 
ministry,  and  especially  by  the  members  of  his  Confer- 
ence. 

He  was  confined  to  his  room  during  the  most  of  the 
past  winter,  and  his  friends  could  see  that  the  end  was 
near.  For  a number  of  days  before  the  final  decease  he 
suffered  intensely,  but  he  “endured  as  seeing  him  that  is 
invisible,”  and  in  the  short  intervals  between  these  times 
of  suffering  he  gave  his  friends  many  assurances  that 
God’s  grace  was  sufficient,  and  that  he  would  “soon  be  at 
home.”* 


* Benjamin  Excell — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Simpson;  elder,  1856, 
Ames;  became  a member  <?f  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 


Benjamin  Excell , S.  S.  Burton.  273 

Simon  S.  Burton  was  born  in  Portland,  New  York, 
Jan.  15,  1827.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1851 ; and 
the  following  year,  he  graduated  from  Allegheny  College, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  traveling  connection  in  Erie  Con- 
ference. A few  days  after  his  admission  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  G.  Weeks.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Minnesota  Conference  in  1881,  and  re-trans- 
ferred in  1886.  He  was  effective  thirty-nine  years.  He 
was  called  to  his  heavenly  home  from  Warren,  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  26,  1900.  On  his  last  charge,  West  Mid- 
dlesex, he  had  one  of  the  most  gracious  revivals  of  his 
ministry,  more  than  one  hundred  souls  being  converted  at 
one  meeting. 

“As  a man  he  was  always  interested  in  whatever  looked 
to  the  welfare  of  his  fellowmen  and  opposed  whatever 
would  be  hurtful.  He  had  deep  convictions  of  right,  and 
always  stood  nobly  by  them ; but  at  the  same  time  he  had  a 
broad  charity  which  accorded  to  every  other  man  the  right 
of  judgment  and  free  speech.  As  a preacher  he  was  a 
clear,  forcible  exponent  of  the  word;  a gospel  preacher, 
sometimes  exhibiting  remarkable  power,  and  always  re- 
liable and  safe,  seeking  to  make  men  better.  As  a pastor 
he  was  diligent  in  looking  after  all  the  interests  committed 
to  his  care.  The  young  of  his  charge  always  received 
special  care,  and  they  always  loved  him,  and  readily  fol- 
lowed his  leadership.”* 

organization,  1876;  deceased,  Willoughby,  O.,  April  1,  1904.  Ap- 
pointments—1851,  Windham  (supply);  1852  Chagrin  Falls;  1853- 
’54,  Parkman;  1855-'56,  Hudson;  1857-’58,  Willoughby;  1859-’60, 
Agent,  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute;  1861-’62,  Warren,  O.; 
1863-’65,  Warren  District;  1866-77,  Meadville;  1868,  Painesville; 
1869-’71,  East  Cleveland;  1872-’73,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue 
and  Kingsley  Chapel;  1874  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1875-’76, 
Chagrin  Falls;  1877-79,  Cleveland,  South  Park;  1880-’82,  Perry; 
1883,  Carrolton;  1884-’85,  Saybrook;  1886-’88,  Madison;  1889-’93, 
supernumerary;  1894-1903,  superannuated. 

*S.  S.  Burton — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854,  Simpson;  elder,  1856 
Ames;  located,  1857;  re-admitted,  1858,  transferred  to  Minne- 
sota Conference,  1881;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1886;  de- 
ceased, Warren,  Pa.,  March  26,  1900.  Appointments — 1852,  Kin- 
zua;  1853,  Leon;  1854-’55  Pine  Grove;  1856,  Ashville;  1858, 
Sugar  Grove;  1859,  Columbus;  1860-’61,  West  Freedom;  1862-’63, 
McKean;  1864,  Albion;  1865,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1866,  Hartford 
and  Orangeville;  1867-’68,  Ellery;  1869,  Paradise;  1870-71,  Tio- 
nesta;  1872,  Sheffield;  1873,  Sheffield  and  Kane;  1874,  Youngs- 
ville  and  Garland;  1875-77,  Columbus  and  North  Corry;  1878-’80 
Cattaraugus;  1881,  Wells,  Minn.;  1882,  Glencoe,  Minn.;  1883, 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Edwin  Hull,  writing  from  Wallaceville,  under  date  of 
Dec.  21,  1852,  says;  "At  the  mouth  of  Oil  Creek  we  ' 
have  held  a meeting  nearly  two  weeks.  Some  six  or 
eight  found  peace,  and  others  were  seeking  when  the 
meeting  closed.  I formed  a class  of  sixteen — four  of 
whom  had  been  members  in  other  places  too  remote  for 
them  to  attend  regularly.  My  colleague,  brother  James  . 
Shields,  commenced  the  above  meeting,  and  was  assisted 
on  the  first  Sabbath  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Benn.” — ( Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , Jan.  4,  1853.) 

The  Methodist  society  at  Hayfield  or  Little’s  Corners 
was  organized  in  1852' by  J.  K.  Hallock.  There  were 
nine  original  members,  among  whom  the  most  prominent 
were;  Elijah  Amidon,  Mrs.  Margaret  Reynolds,  John 
Morehouse,  Abraham  De  Forest,  and  Sylvester  Mann.  % 
A frame  meeting  house  was  erected  in  1853  at  a cost  of 
$1,700.  The  society  was  attached  to  Conneautville  Cir- 
cuit, but  afterward  became  a part  of  Harmonsburg  Cir- 
cuit.— (History  of  Crawford  County,  Warner,  Beers  & 
Co.,  1885 , pp.  563,  564.) 

Session  of  the  Erie  Conference  Held  in  1853. 

In  1853  the  Erie  Conference  met  in  Franklin,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  13,  Bishop  Osmond  C.  Baker,  presiding,  and 
Niram  Norton,  Secretary. 

Abram  S.  Dobbs,  William  N.  Reno,  Hiram  W.  Beers, 
Henry  M.  Loud,  Alva  Wilder,  Robert  S.  Moran,  and 
James  M.  Plant  located. 

John  Demming  was  expelled. 

John  Whippo,  Samuel  B.  Sullivan,  and  Goodwin  Stod- 
dard had  died  during  the  year. 

Goodwin  Stoddard  was  born  in  Watertown,  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight. 
He  had  been  received  from  the  Oneida  Conference  by 
transfer  in  1842.  He  served  Sheridan,  and  Parkman,  and 
then — in  1844 — superannuated.  He  died  in  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1852,  “tri- 
umphing gloriously  in  the  faith  of  Christ.” 

There  were  admitted  on  trial:  Isaac  O.  Fisher,  Jona- 

than Whitely,  Jared  Howe,  Edwin  A.  Johnson,  James 


supernumerary;  1884,  Medford,  Minn.;  1885-’90,  supernumerary; 
1891-’92,  Wampum;  1893-’95,  Salem,  New  Castle  District;  1896-’98, 
West  Middlesex;  1899,  superannuated. 


Session  of  Conference  Held  in  1853  27^ 

Shields,  Nelson  C.  Brown,  Robert  Gray,  Ralph  R.  Rob- 
erts, Joseph  W.  Weldon,  Friend  W.  Smith,  David  C. 
Osborne,  Philo  P.  Pinney,  James  Gilfillan,  Benjamin 
Marsteller.* 

Appointments  for  1853:  Cleveland  District,  William  H.  Hun- 

ter, presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  G.  B.  Hawkins; 
City  Mission,  Lewis  Clark,  Erie  Street,  H.  N.  Stearns,  Perry 
Street,  H.  D.  Cole;  Newburg,  Allen  Fouts,  Robert  Gray,  Lo- 
renzo Rogers,  sup.;  Chagrin  Falls,  William  Patterson,  Samuel 
Reynolds;  Willoughby,  J.  R.  Locke;  Painesville,  Joseph  Uncles; 
Mentor,  Roderick  Norton;  Chardon,  William  Sampson;  Mont- 
ville,  Potter  Sullivan,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Concord,  W.  A.  Mat- 
son,  John  Akers;  Geneva,  T.  B.  Tait,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  sup.,  one 
to  be  supplied;  Ashtabula,  S.  C.  Frear;  Mechanicsville,  Hiram 
Kellogg;  Asbury  Seminary,  Chagrin  Falls,  to  be  supplied.  Ra- 
venna District,  Albina  Hall,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  Ezra 
Jones;  Franklin,  L.  W.  Ely;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Thomas  Stubbs; 
Tallmadge,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Akron,  John  Tribby;  Mantua,  J.  W. 
Hill;  Hudson,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Twinsburg,  Valorus  Lake;  Edin- 
burgh, W.  M.  Bear,  one  to  be  supplied;  Parkman,  R.  H.  Hurl- 
burt,  Benjamin  Excell;  Ellsworth,  Stephen  Heard,  P.  P.  Pinney; 
Windham  and  Nelson,  H.  S.  Winans,  one  to  be  supplied.  War- 
ren District,  John  Bain,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  Darius  Smith; 
Braceville,  A.  M.  Brown;  Southington,  to  be  supplied;  West 
Farmington,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Bloomfield  and  Mesopotamia,  C. 

*R.  R.  Roberts — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  discontinued,  1856; 
re-admitted,  1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson; 
elder,  1861,  Morris;  suspended  for  one  year,  1871;  expelled  from 
ministry  and  membership,  1873.  Appointments — 1853-’54,  Leon; 
1855,  Kinzua  and  Tionesta  Mission;  1857,  Sinclairville;  1858,  De- 
lanti;  1859,  Leon;  1860-’61,  Wesleyville;  1862-’64,  Tionesta;  1865- 
’68,  supernumerary;  1869,  Wesleyville;  1870,  supernumerary; 
1872,  without  appointment. 

Jonathan  Whitely — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection, 
1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  located, 
1869.  After  locating  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the 
practice  of  the  homeopathic  school  of  medicine  at  Oil  City,  Pa.; 
deceased,  Oil  City,  Pa.,  May  12,  1891.  Appointments — 1853,  Sin- 
clairville; 1854-’55,  Quincy;  1856-’57,  Conneautville;  1858-’59,  Steu- 
ben; 1860,  Greenville;  1861-’62,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1863,  Cleveland, 
St.  Clair  Street;  1864-’66,  Oil  City;  1867-’68,  Union  City. 

Benjamin  Marsteller — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  discontinued  at 
his  own  request,  1854;  re-admitted,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1852,  Simpson;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  expelled  from 
ministry  and  membership,  1875.  Appointments — 1853,  Rockville; 
1855,  Sunville;  1856-’57,  Wesleyville;  1858,  Hendersonville;  1859, 
Curllsville;  1860,  Punxsutawney ; 1861,  Washington;  1862,  Green- 
wood; 1863-’64,  Pine  Grove;  1865-’68,  supernumerary;  1869,  Clar- 
ington;  1870-’71,  President;  1872,  Hickory;  1873-’74,  supernumer- 
ary. 

I.  O.  Fisher — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection,  1855; 
deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857,  Scott;  expelled,  1866;  died  at 
Hendricksville,  Ind.,  October  6,  1880.  Appointments — 1853,  Mor- 
gan; 1854-’55,  Albion;  1856-’57,  Girard,  Pa.;  1858,  Springfield; 
1859-’60,  North  East;  1861,  Forestville  and  Sheridan;  1862-’64, 
Fredonia  District;  1865,  Ashtabula. 


276 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


R.  Chapman,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Windsor,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Youngs- 
town and  Liberty,  Thomas  Guy,  one  to  be  supplied;  Gustavus, 
Asahel  Reeves,  N.  C.  Brown;  Hubbard,  J.  W.  Weldon;  Sharon 
and  Brookfield,  W.  C.  Henderson;  Williamsfield,  D.  H.  Jack, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Hartford,  one  to  be  supplied,  Ezra  Wade; 
Poland,  M.  H.  Bettes;  James  Greer,  Principal  of  Farmington 
Normal  School,  and  member  of  the  West  Farmington  Quarterly 
Conference;  J.  C.  Ayres,  Agent  of  the  Farmington  Normal 
School,  and  member  of  the  West  Farmington  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  presiding  elder;  Erie, 
Hiram  Kinsley;  Erie  City  Mission,  to  be  supplied;  McKean, 
George  Stocking,  D.  E.  Day,  D.  W.  Vorce,  sup.;  Girard,  R.  M. 
Bear;  Springfield,  John  McLean,  J.  B.  Graves;  Wesley ville,  W. 
R.  Johnson,  one  to  be  supplied;  North  East,  W.  F.  Day;  Kings- 
ville, A.  D.  Merton,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Morgan,  H.  P.  Henderson, 
I.  0.  Fisher;  Waterford,  David  Mizener,  G.  W.  Staples;  Edin- 
boro,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Conneautville  J.  K.  Hallock,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Saegertown,  Josiah  Flower,  one  to  be  supplied;  Rock- 
ville, S.  K.  Paden,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  D.  Preston,  sup.,  Sun- 
day School  Agent,  and  member  of  the  Kingsville  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. Meadville  District,  E.  J.  Kinney,  presiding  elder;  Mead- 
ville,  Niram  Norton;  Evansburg,  John  Abbott,  A.  L.  Miller; 
Espyville,  Hiram  Luce,  Wareham  French;  Salem,  J.  W.  Wilson, 
I.  C.  T.  McClelland;  Greenville,  J.  D.  Norton;  Clarksville,  S.  N. 
Forest,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Harrisville,  J.  S.  Lytle,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Wilmington,  John  Graham,  one  to  be  supplied;  New 
Castle,  Joseph  Leslie;  Mt.  Jackson,  William  Monks;  Mercer, 
Dillon  Prosser;  North  Hope,  J.  G.  Thompson,  J.  B.  Orwig; 
George  W.  Clarke  and  Calvin  Kingsley,  Professors  in  Allegheny 
College,  and  members  of  Meadville  Quarterly  Conference;  David 
King,  Agent  for  Allegheny  College,  and  E.  B.  Lane,  Agent  for 
Poland  Female  College,  members  of  Meadville  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. Franklin  District,  Moses  Hill,  presiding  elder;  Frank- 
lin, G.  S.  Little;  Hendersonville,  Ahab  Keller,  J.  H.  Vance; 
Brady’s  Bend,  Jared  Howe;  Curllsville,  R A.  Caruthers,  D.  M. 
Stever;  New  Bethlehem  and  Troy,  T.  G.  McCreary,  F.  W.  Smith; 
Punxsutawney,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Luthersburg,  to  be  supplied; 
Brookville,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Corsica,  James  Gilfillan;  Clarion,  J.  R. 
Lyon;  Washington,  P.  W.  Sherwood,  James  Shields;  Shippen- 
ville,  John  Crum,  one  to  be  supplied;  New  Lebanon,  Robert 
Beatty,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  sup.;  Cooperstown,  Edwin  Hull,  one  to 
be  supplied.  Jamestown  District,  James  H.  Whallon,  presiding 
elder;  Jamestown,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Buffalo  and  Jamestown  Swed- 
ish Mission,  to  be  supplied;  Ash  ville,  T.  D.  Blinn,  S.  N.  War- 
ner; Frewsburg,  G.  W.  Sisson;  Randolph,  G.  W.  Chesbro,  D.  C. 
Osborne;  Pine  Grove,  to  be  supplied;  Panama,  Samuel  Gregg; 
Columbus,  John  Wriggles  worth;  Wattsburg,  B.  S.  Hill,  N.  W. 
Jones;  Riceville,  J.  N.  Henry,  one  to  be  supplied;  Pleasantville, 
Samuel  Hollen,  Fauntly  Muse;  Youngsville,  J.  B.  Hammond; 
Warren,  H.  H.  Moore;  Kinzua  and  Tionesta,  Madison  Wood. 
Fredonia  District,  W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  John 
Peate;  Dunkirk,  D.  C.  Wright;  Portland,  Alvin  Burgess;  West- 
field,  J.  O.  Rich;  Quincy,  Isaac  Scofield;  May  ville,  C.  S.  Jennes; 
Sherman,  Alexander  Barris;  Sinclairsville,  O.  P.  Brown;  Jonathan 
Whitely;  Ellington,  A.  R.  Hammond;  Leon,  S.  S.  Burton,  R.  R.  Rob- 
erts; Perrysburg,  to  be  supplied;  Villenovia,  Peter  Burroughs,  one 
to  be  supplied;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  Albert  Norton;  Silver 
Creek,  John  Robinson. 


277 


Edwin  A.  Johnson , N.  C.  Broivn. 

Edwin  A.  Johnson,  N.  C.  Brown. 

Edwin  A.  Johnson  was  born  at  Gowanda,  New  York, 
Oct.  30,  1829;  and  died,  after  a brief  illness,  at  his  home 
in  Allegheny  City,  June  30,  1885.  When  but  eleven 
years  of  age  he  united  with  the  church.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1849,  and  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference 
as  a probationer  in  1853.  His  biographer  says ; “Modest 
and  unassuming,  though  ready  for  any  work  assigned 
him,  and  doing  it  with  his  might,  he  grew  rapidly  in  favor 
with  God  and  man.  Having  a clear,  active,  well-balanced 
mind  that  had  been  trained  to  habits  of  study  and  close  at- 
tention, the  course  of  studies  prescribed  was  thoroughly 
mastered.  In  the  pulpit  his  manner  was  graceful,  his 
language  the  purest  of  English,  and  his  well-prepared 
sermons,  always  clear  and  forcible,  were  often  brilliant, 
and  showed  the  impress  of  a 'workman  that  needeth  not  to 
be  ashamed.’  As  a pastor  he  was  in  closest  sympathy 
with  his  flock,  and  greatly  beloved.  It  is  not  wonderful 
that  his  services  were  in  demand,  or  that  when  still  a 
young  man  he  filled  with  great  acceptability  and  useful- 
ness some  of  the  most  important  appointments  of  the  Con- 
ference. 

"In  1868,  he  was  elected  assistant  editor  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  and  served  with  ability  four 
years  in  that  capacity,  Dr.  Nesbit  being  editor-in-chief. 

"During  all  his  successful  pastorates  he  had  been  a suf- 
ferer from  asthma,  frequently  unable  to  lie  down  at  night, 
and  often,  after  great  distress,  finding  relief  only  when 
the  time  came  for  the  public  service,  but  seldom  having 
any  trouble  when  speaking.  When  he  assumed  his  edi- 
torial duties  in  Pittsburg,  through  some  peculiar  influence 
of  the  atmosphere  of  the  place,  that  had  been  dreaded  as 
probably  unfavorable,  he  was  quite  relieved  from  asthma, 
and  enjoyed  excellent  health.  If  out  of  that  atmosphere 
forty-eight  hours,  the  old  trouble  would  return;  while  in 
it  he  seemed  safe. 

"When  the  term  of  his  office  expired  he  sought  a trans- 
fer to  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and  hoped  for  pastoral 
work  in  the  city.  After  a short  trial,  not  finding  the  way 
open  for  him  to  continue  in  the  work  he  loved  so  well 
without  leaving  the  city,  it  became  necessary  to  discon- 
tinue his  effective  relation  to  that  conference,  and,  at  the 
cordial  invitation,  of  his  Erie  brethren,  he  was  transferred 

■ 


!l 


278 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


back  to  his  old  conference,  and  made  a supernumerary. 
From  this  time  his  residence  was  fixed  in  Allegheny  City, 
and  his  time  devoted  mostly  to  literary  pursuits.  He  was 
a man  of  culture,  a chaste  and  beautiful  writer.  His 
valuable  books,  adapted  to  interest  and  profit  young  read- 
ers, have  met  with  favor,  and  through  them,  he,  being 
dead,  yet  speaks  to  more  than  he  could  address  while  liv- 
ing. 

“As  a man  and  Christian  minister  our  dear  brother  was 
a model  of  excellence  to  be  admired  and  imitated;  one 
whose  life  was  not  marred  by  faults  and  inconsistencies, 
and  in  whose  spirit  there  was  no  guile;  scrupulously  hon- 
est and  sincere  as  he  was  affable,  those  who  knew  him 
best  delighted  in  his  society,  and  always  found  it  not  only 
pleasant  but  elevating. 

“A  well-founded,  rational,  but,  in  its  exercise,  simple, 
almost  unquestioning  faith  in  Christ,  gave  him  a life-long 
peace  and  happiness  that  the  world  knows  not  of.  And 
though  his  last  brief  sickness  soon  so  impaired  conscious- 
ness that  no  death-bed  testimony  could  be  given,  he  left 
the  sorrowing  friends,  who  survive  him,  what  is  far  bet- 
ter, the  testimony  of  a pure,  manly,  Christian  life;  and 
they  need  ask  no  other  evidence  that  for  him  ‘to  die  was 
gain.’  ”* 

Nelson  Clark  Brown  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1853, 
and  the  same  year  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. In  1874  he  superannuated  on  account  of  failing 
health  and  moved  to  Jefferson,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  un- 
til his  death  which  occurred  Dec.  17,  1905,  lacking  but 
one  day  of  being  eighty  years  and  six  months  of  age.  Mr. 
Brown,  during  the  long  period  of  his  retirement  from  the 
effective  ranks  proved  himself  a great  help  to  the  local 
church  and  a devoted  friend  to  the  preachers.  He  was  a 
good  and  faithful  man. 

*E.  A.  Johnson — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1853,  Baker;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1872;  transferred  to 
Erie  Conference,  1874;  deceased,  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  June  30, 
1885;  buried  at  Forestville,  N.  Y.  Appointments — 1853,  Hudson; 
1854,  Dunkirk;  1855,  Sharon;  1856-’57,  Westfield;  1858-’59,  Mead- 
ville;  1860-’61,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1862,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street; 
1863,  Warren,  O.;  1864,  Akron;  1865-’67,  Erie,  First  Church; 
1868,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  (3  months);  1868-’72,  assistant  editor, 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  1873,  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  Simp- 
son Church;  1874-’84,  supernumerary. 


.Shields,  Weldon,  Smith. 


279 


He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Wall- 
ing, July  2,  1849.* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Feb. 
1,  1906.) 

James  Shields.  Joseph  W.  Weldon,  Friend  W. 

Smith. 

James  Shields  passed  away  at  Mentor,  Ohio,  Sept.  9, 
1884.  He  was  born  in  Center  County,  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  month  of  June,  1825.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  upon  an  active  Christian  life. . He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder  of  Franklin  Dis- 
trict, in  1851,  and  entered  the  itinerancy  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1853.  He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  at  its  organization.  In  1882  while  traveling 
the  Montville  and  Hampden  circuit  his  health  failed,  and 
the  following  year  he  superannuated.  He  moved  to  Men- 
tor, hoping  to  regain  his  accustomed  health  and  strength, 
but  in  this  was  disappointed,  suffering  great  pain  until  re- 
lieved by  death. 

Mr.  Shields  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Helen 
Sibbald,  at  Tionesta,  Pennsylvania,  June  18,  1862.  Dur- 
ing the  great  Civil  War  he  showed  himself  pre-eminently 
a patriot,  throwing  his  whole  soul  into  the  cause.  In 
1867  he  took  a supernumerary  relation  that  he  might  visit 
Ireland  and  attend  to  some  pecuniary  interests.  Upon 
his  return  he  again  entered  the  ranks  of  the  conquering 
itinerant  army  and  ever  stood  in  the  forefront  of  the  ad- 
vancing hosts.  He  was  a fearless  defender  of  the  doc- 
trines and  polity  of  the  church.  He  loved  controversy, 
and  this  seemed  to  have  been  to  him  a means  of  especial 
grace.  “A  man  of  positive  convictions,  warm  attach- 
ments, true  and  tried  friendship,  his  affections  for  his 
friends  were  deep  and  unchangeable.  His  natural  abilities 
were  of  a superior  order,  but  his  early  advantages,  being 

*N.  C.  Brown — Licensed  to  preach,  1853,  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Jefferson,  O.,  December  17,  1905. 
Appointments — 1853,  Gustavus;  1854,  Pierpont  and  Denmark 
Mission;  1855,  Liberty;  1856,  Cambridge  and  La  Boeuff  Mission; 
1857,  Steuben;  1858-’59,  Sunville;  1860,  Cochranton,  1861-’62, 
New  Lebanon;  1863-’64,  Harmonsburg;  1865,  President;  1866-’67, 
Windsor  and  Hartsgrove;  1868,  Williamsfield;  1869-’70,  Rich- 
mond; 1871,  Braceville;  1872,  Braceville,  (excused  from  serv- 
ing); 1873,  appointment  not  given;  1874-1905,  superannuated. 


28o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


very  limited,  prevented  him  from  taking  the  position 
among  his  brethren  to  which  culture  would  have  entitled 
him.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XX,  1884,  pp. 
324, 325.) 

Joseph  W.  Weldon  was  born  in  Little  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Jan.  12,  1811;  and  died  in  Sligo,  Pennsylvania, 
July  12,  1888.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  con- 
verted at  a prayer-meeting  held  at  Punxsutawney.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  M.  A.  Bisskett. 

Brother  Weldon  was  licensed  to  preach  by  W.  F.  Wil- 
son, presiding  elder,  in  1850;  and  admitted  to  the  itiner- 
ancy in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1853,  and  served  the 
church  faithfully  twelve  consecutive  years.  In  1865,  he 
was  granted  a location  at  his  own  request.  He  used  his 
office  and  gifts  as  a local  preacher  until  1885  when  he  was 
appointed  as  a supply  on  Clarington  Circuit.  In  1886  he 
was  appointed,  as  a supply,  to  the  Sligo,  and  labored  on 
until  ill  health  compelled  him  to  cease.  He  spent  weeks 
of  intense  sufferings;  and  rapidly  ripened  for  the  king- 
dom. He  was  patient,  trusting  in  God,  and  sustained  by 
the  Divine  Comforter. 

Says  one  who  knew  him  well;  “His  convictions  of 
righteousness  and  truth  were  strong,  and  he  possessed  the 
courage  to  assert  them  as  he  believed  duty  required. f 

Friend  W.  Smith  was  born  in  Schoharie  County,  New 
York,  April  3,  1831 ; and  was  called  home,  at  Rockland, 

*James  Shields — Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Mentor,  O.,  Sept.  9,  1884.  Appoint- 
ments— 1853,  Washington;  1854,  Shippenville;  1855,  New  Bethle- 
hem; 1856,  Portersville;  1857-’58,  Punxsutawney;  1859,  East  New 
Castle;  1860,  Orangeville;  1861-’62,  Washington;  1863-’64,  Ship- 
penville; 1865,  Evansburg;  1866,  Townville;  1867-’68,  supernu- 
merary; 1869-’70,  Pithole  and  Tarr  Farm;  1871,  Hamlet;  1872-’73, 
Perrysburg;  1874,  Cortland;  1875-’76,  Jackson  and  Ohltown; 
1877-78,  Mayfield;  1879,  Mentor;  1880,  Huntsburg  and  Burton; 
1881,  Grand  River;  1882,  Montville  and  Hampden;  1883,  super- 
annuated. 

tJ.  W.  Weldon — Licensed  to  preach,  1850;  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  located  at  his  own  request,  1865;  deceased,  Sligo,  Pa.,  July 
12,  1888.  Appointments — 1853,  Hubbard;  1854,  Orangeville; 

1855;  Exchangeville;  1856,  Delaware  Grove;  1857,  Henderson- 
ville; 1858-’59,  Troy,  Pa.;  1860,  Warsaw;  1861/62,  Luthersburg; 
1863,  Putneyville;  1864,  President;  1885,  Clarington  (supply); 
188£-’87,  Sligo  (supply). 


■to 


P.  P.  Pinney,  David  C.  Osborne. 


281 

Venango  County,  Pa.,  Dec.  14,  1882.  He  was  converted 
in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age,  on  the  Hendersonville 
circuit  under  the  labors  of  John  Abbott.  He  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and,  feeling  it  his  duty 
to  preach  the  gospel,  entered  Allegheny  College;  but  his 
overmastering  zeal  forced  him  into  the  work  before  the 
completion  of  his  collegiate  studies.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1852  by  Moses  Hill,  by  whom  he  was  appointed, 
as  a supply,  to  the  Washington  charge,  which  he  served 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference,  on 
trial,  in  1853;  and  remained  effective  eight  years.  Dur- 
ing a protracted  meeting  held  at  Kinzua,  he  contracted  a 
severe  cold,  and  was  forced  from  the  active  service.  He 
was  married  to  Caroline  Matilda  Armstrong,  July  27, 
1854,  who  with  true  Christian  heroism  shared  his  toil  and 
suffering  and  smoothed  his  pathway  to  the  tomb.  In 
1861  he  located  and  settled  in  Rockland  where  he  was 
abundant  in  Christian  labors  so  long  as  strength  would 
permit.  “Just  a few  moments  befoie  he  died  he  went  out 
of  the  house,  and  being  gone  a little  longer  than  usual, 
his  wife  followed  him  and  found  him  sitting  in  the  door 
of  the  summer  kitchen,  unable  to  speak.  Two  of  his 
brothers-in-law,  being  present,  helped  him  into  the  house, 
where,  supported  by  one  of  them  in  a sitting  posture,  in 
less  than  five  minutes  he  was  asleep  in  Jesus.”* — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , Jan.  11,  1883.) 

P.  P.  Pinney,  David  C.  Osborne. 

Philo  P.  Pinney  was  born  in  Millbrook,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  Sept.  6,  1831.  His  parents  removed  to  Claridon, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a farm,  when  Philo  was 
thirteen  years  of  age.  He  was  led  to  the  Savior  and 
united  with  the  church  at  the  age  of  fifteen  under  the  la- 
bors of  M.  H.  Bettes  and  Milo  Butler  who  then  travelled 
the  old  Chardon  Circuit.  As  to  his  call  to  the  ministry  he 
says ; “The  earliest  impressions  I recall  were  that  I was 
to  engage  in  .this  work,  growing  out  of  the  fact  I presume 
that  I was  named  after  a Methodist  minister,  Philo  Ferris, 

*F.  W.  Smith — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection,  1855; 
deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857,  Scott;  located,  1861;  deceased, 
Rockland,  Pa.,  December  14,  1882.  Appointments — 1852,  Wash- 
ington (supply);  1853,  Troy;  1854,  Warsaw;  1855,  Corsica;  1856, 
Riceville;  1857,  Pleasantville;  1858,  Little  Valley;  1859-’60,  Kin- 
zua. 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

under  whose  labors  my  parents  were  converted  and  who 
used  to  say  playfully  to  them  that  I was  to  be  a Methodist 
minister.  This  saying  being  repeated  to  me  as  soon  as  I 
could  understand  fixed  in  my  mind  the  impression  so  deep 
that,  when  I was  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  I was  very  sick 
with  scarlet  fever  and  it  was  thought  I must  die;  but  I 
distinctly  remember  that  I had  no  fears  whatever  because 
I believed  I must  live  and  become  a Methodist  preacher. 
These  childish  impressions  were  very  much  deepened  at 
my  conversion.  Feeling  that  I was  wholly  unprepared 
for  such  a work,  I entered  Allegheny  College  and  gradu- 
ated in  1853.” — (Communication  to  the  author.) 

Brother  Pinney  was  united  in  marriage  with  Cynthia 
A.  Knapp  the  same  year.  She  has  been  of  great  assist- 
ance to  him  in  all  his  work ; and  he  acknowledges  himself 
indebted  to  her  for  a large  measure  of  his  success  in  the 
ministry.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on 
trial  in  1853,  and  after  fifty  years  of  uninterrupted  labor 
writes;  “I  have  had  such  uniform  good  health  that  in 
the  fifty  years  I have  been  kept  from  the  pulpit  but  five 
Sabbaths  because  of  sickness.”  His  work  has  been  uni- 
formly good,  building  up  the  churches  which  he  served 
and  leaving  them  in  a healthy  condition.  He  was  four 
years  presiding  elder  of  the  Clarion  District,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  General  Conference  of  1884.* 

David  C.  Osborne  was  born  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co., 
N.  Y.  Aug.  3,  1830.  When  six  years  of  age  the  family 
moved  to  Sherman.  David  attended  the  common  schools 
of  the  place,  and  in  his  higher  studies  was  assisted  by  his 
cousin,  D.  O.  Keeler,  a junior  year  student  of  Yale  Col- 
lege. He  was  given  a teacher's  certificate  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  and  taught  three  years.  He  studied  vocal  and  in- 
strumental music  under  Mason,  Webb,  Woodbury,  Hast- 
ings, Wallace,  and  Benjamin,  and  read  law  in  the  office  of 

*P.  P.  Pinney — Licensed  to  preach,  1852;  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857, 
Scott.  Appointments — 1853,  Ellsworth;  1854,  Edinburg;  1855, 
Charlestown;  1856,  Charlestown  and  Freedom;  1857,  Hudson; 
1858-’59,  West  Farmington;  1860,  Gustavus;  1861,  West  Middle- 
sex; 1862-’63,  Sharon;  1864-’65,  Warren,  Pa.;  1866,  Agent,  Penn- 
sylvania Bible  Society;  1867-’68,  Willoughby;  1869,  Geneva;  1870- 
’71,  Fagundus  City;  1872-74,  Rouseville;  1875-’76,  Erie,  Simpson 
Church;  1877-79,  Edenburg,  Clarion  Co.;  1880-’83,  Clarion  Dis- 
trict; 1884-’86,  Union  City;  1887-’88,  Oil  City,  Grace  Church; 
1889-’92,  Conneautville;  1893-’97,  Westfield;  1898-1903,  Brocton. 


P.  P.  Pinney , David  C.  Osborne. 


283 


Hon.  Abner  Lewis  at  Panama  two  and  a half  years,  earn- 
ing his  way  by  teaching  music.  He  was  converted  New 
Year’s  Eve  18^0  at  Sherman  and  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  being  the  first  converted  in  a 
precious  revival  which  greatly  strengthened  the  churches 
of  the  town.  Nearly  all  the  scholars  of  his — the  Sher- 
man Village — school  shared  in  this  blessed  work  of  grace. 
He  was  licensed  to  exhort  by  Moses  Hill  in  1852,  licensed 
to  preach,  recommended  to  be  received  on  trial,  and  ad- 
mitted into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1853.  He  remained 
effective  forty-nine  years,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  su- 
perannuate relation.  He  was  ten  years  a presiding  elder, 
and  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1896. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Arvilla  M.  Hill,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  B.  S.  and  Mary  S.  Hill,  in  October  1856.  Mrs. 
Osborne  has  proved  herself  a real  helpmeet  in  all  their 
fields  of  labor  and  has  made  the  parsonage  a happy  place 
for  the  young  and  a place  of  sympathy  and  love  for  those 
in  trouble  and  sorrow  as  well  as  a place  for  inaugurating 
and  carrying  forward  many  kinds  of  church  work. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
Mr.  Osborne  by  Scio  College  in  1873.  Upon  his  super- 
annuation in  1902,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Kalama- 
zoo, Michigan,  where  he  still  — 1907 — resides.  Many  re- 
vivals attended  his  ministry,  notably  at  Warren,  Frank- 
lin, New  Castle,  and  Erie,  in  Pennsylvania;  and  at  Akron, 
Erie  Street,  Cleveland,  and  Youngstown  in  Ohio.  He 
has  been  very  successful  in  paying  many  church  debts  and 
carrying  to  a successful  issue  important  building  enter- 
prises. 

Brother  Osborne  writes ; “I  have  had  a happy  life.  I 
think  of  so  many  precious  friends  I have  met  both  in  the 
ministry  and  the  membership  of  our  church  and  of  the 
other  churches. While  never  strong  my  health  held  out  so 
that  in  the  forty-nine  years  of  my  ministry  I only  lost 
seven  Sundays  by  illness.  How  good  the  Lord  has  been 
to  me  and  mine  !”* 


*D.  C.  Osborne — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857, 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876.  Appointments — 1853,  Randolph;  1854,  Watts- 
burg;  1855-’56,  Dunkirk;  1857,  Warren,  Pa.;  1858-’59,  Franklin, 
Pa.;  1860-’61,  New  Castle;  1862-’64,  Erie,  First  Church;  1865-’67, 
Akron;  1868-’70,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street;  1871-’72,  Titusville; 


284  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

James  Gilfillan,  Jared  Howe. 

Methodism  owes  to  Scotland  many  of  her  most  devoted 
and  efficient  preachers.  James  Gilfillan  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Cumbernathan,  Scotland,  April  10,  1812.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1828,  was  married  in  1833, 
and  resided  in  Schuylkill  County,  Pennsylvania  until 
1838,  when  he  removed  to  Nova  Scotia  where  he  re- 
mained one  year,  and  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and 
resided  in  Clarion  county,  where  he  began  a Christian  life. 
His  conversion  was  thorough  and  led  to  an  entire  change 
in  the  purpose  of  his  life,  “subduing  and  controlling  all 
the  powers  and  passions  of  both  soul  and  body,  and  to  the 
consecration  of  his  time  and  talents  to  God  and  His 
church.”  He  was  “a  gem  of  the  finest  order  only  need- 
ing the  skilful  efforts  of  the  Christian  lapidary  to  make  it 
shine  for  the  glory  of  God  in  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1853* 
and  finished  his  course  in  Vienna,  Ohio,  Jan.  4,  1864. 
“As  a Christian,  he  was  decided  and  devoted ; as  a minis- 
ter, laborious,  faithful  and  successful — being  made  the 
honored  and  happy  instrument  in  the  conversion  of  many 
precious  souls,  who  will  be  the  crown  of  his  rejoicing  in 
the  great  day.  As  a preacher,  he  was  original,  bold,  vig- 
orous, clear  and  convincing — his  matter  being  full  of  in- 
terest, alike  entertaining  to  old  and  young,  and  suited  al- 
ternately to  saint  and  sinner.  Like  Daniel,  he  was  a man 
'greatly  beloved.’  He  was  vigorously  performing  his 
duties  as  a Methodist  minister,  and  had  just  commenced 
a protracted  meeting  which  promised  success,  when  he 
was  taken  sick  and  went  home  to  die.  His  last  sickness 
was  short,  his  end  peaceful,  and  his  rest  glorious.”* 

Jared  Howe  was  an  earnest,  faithful  preacher  of  the 
Gospel;  and  was  successful  in  winning  souls  for  Christ. 
He  was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pennsylvania, 
Oct.  15,  1812.  He  embraced  religion  and  joined  the 

1873-’76,  Cleveland  District;  1877-’78,  Steubenville,  Kramer;  1879- 
’80,  Massilon;  1881-’83,  Canton,  First  Church;  1884-’86,  Youngs- 
town, First  Church;  1887-’89,  Painesville;  1890-’92,  Conneaut; 
1893-’98,  Barnesville  District. 

♦James  Gilfillan — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection,  1855; 
deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1857,  Scott;  deceased,  Vienna,  O., 
January  4,  1864.  Appointments — 1853,  Corsica;  1854-’55,  Pleas- 
antville;  1856,  Pine  Grove;  1857-’58,  Ashville;  1859,  Wesleyville; 
1860-’61,  McKean;  1862,  Green  and  Mecca;  1863,  Vienna. 


Robert  Gray.  Classes  Organized.  285 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1831.  After  serving  the 
church  for  a number  of  years  as  a local  preacher,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1853,  and  la- 
bored with  acceptability  ten  years.  He  was  supernumer- 
ary in  1857-1858;  and  owing  to  failing  health,  was  again 
made  supernumerary  in  1865.  Shortly  after,  he  moved  to 
the  West,  hoping  that  a change  of  climate  would  prove 
favorable,  but  a wise  providence  ordered  otherwise.  Af- 
ter a severe  and  lingering  illness,  he  died  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Iowa,  Dec.  15,  1870.* 

Robert  Gray. 

Robert  Gray  was  born  in  Hull,  England,  Aug.  3,  1808. 
He  joined  the  Methodists  in  1824,  and  began  to  preach 
when  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Abbey,  in  1827,  who  preceded  him  a few  months  to 
the  better  land.  In  1829  he  came  to  America,  became  a 
member  of  the  Erie  Conference  in  1853,  and  superan- 
nuated in  1873.  At  the  division,  his  lot  fell  in  the  East 
Ohio  Conference.  “During  his  twenty  years  in  the  reg- 
ular work  he  was  noted  for  his  zeal  and  success  in  preach- 
ing, building  and  repairing  parsonages  and  churches,  and 
for  his  attention  to  all  the  work  of  a Methodist  minister.” 
The  evidence  of  his  faithfulness  abides  on  the  charges 
which  he  served.  He  died  in  Austinburg,  Sunday  morn- 
ing, June  26,  1887.7- — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol. 
XXI,  1887,  p.  349.) 

Classes  Organized. 

Daniel  Groves,  father  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Groves,  settled  at 
what  is  now  Grove  Summit  in  1841.  He  brought  a 

♦Jared  Howe — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection,  1855; 
deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1853,  Baker;  deceased,  Mt.  Pleasant, 
la.,  December  15,  1870.  Appointments — 1853,  Brady’s  Bend; 

1854,  Clintonville;  1855,  Shippenville;  1856,  Punxsutawney ; 1857- 
’58,  supernumerary;  1859,  New  Bethlehem;  1860,  State  Road; 
1861,  President;  1862,  Shippenville;  1863,  Corsica;  1864,  Hender- 
sonville; 1865-’69,  supernumerary;  1870,  superannuated. 

t Robert  Gray — Admitted  on  trial,  1853;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder,  1857,  Scott;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Austin- 
burg, O.,  June  26,  1887.  Appointments — 1853,  Newburg;  1854, 
Parkman;  1855,  Salem;  1856-’57,  Cochranton;  1858,  New  Town; 
1859  Shippenville;  1860-’61,  Frewsburg;  1862,  Steuben;  1863, 
Townville;  1864-’65,  New  Lebanon;  1866-’67,  Espyville;  1868, 
Grand  River;  1869-’70,  Thompson;  1871,  Warrensville;  1872, 
Rome  Mission;  1873-’86,  superannuated. 


19 


286 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

church  certificate  from  Delaware  County,  and  he  and  his 
wife  joined  the  class  at  Luthersburg  thirty  miles  distant. 
This  was  the  nearest  Methodist  society.  It  was  then  a 
* part  of  Meadville  District.  John  Bain  was  presiding  el- 
der, and  Elijah  Coleman  preacher  in  charge.  In  1853, 
Mr.  Groves  attended  a quarterly  meeting  at  Franklin — 
the  name  of  the  district  was  now  Franklin — and  requested 
the  presiding  elder,  Moses  Hill,  to  send  a preacher  to 
Grove  Summit.  G.  F.  Reeser  was  sent,  and  held  a suc- 
cessful revival  meeting  and  organized  a class.  The  fol- 
lowing were  among  the  first  members;  Andrew  Scott 
and  wife,  Michael  Grogan  and  wife,  Daniel  Groves  and 
wife,  and  John  Groves  and  wife.  The  appointment  was 
connected  with  Brockwayville  Circuit.  Afterwards,  when 
Beech  Tree  Circuit  was  organized,  Beech  Tree,  Grove 
Summit,  and  Coal  Glen  were  united.  In  1896  Lane’s 
Mills  was  taken  from  Falls  Creek  and  attached  to  Beech 
Tree.  The  Grove  Summit  church  was  dedicated  in  1856 
by  Josiah  Flower,  the  first  presiding  elder  of  Clarion  Dis- 
trict. 

Corsica  Circuit  was  formed  from  what  was  formerly 
called  Curllsville  Circuit  in  1853.  It:  consists  of  five  ap- 
pointments; Corsica,  Strattonville,  Asbury,  Fair  Haven, 
and  Greenville.  The  society  at  Corsica  was  formed  at  an 
early  date.  It  is  thought  that  John  Monks  and  wife  were 
among  the  first  members.  The  class  met  in  the  school 
house  until  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  in  1870. 

The  Strattonville  class  is  said  to  have  been  formed 
previously  to  that  at  Corsica.  The  following  members 
constituted  the  class;  Jane  Young,  Nancy  Young,  Philip 
Clover,  Fanny  Clover,  James  Clover,  Gamaliel  Clover, 
Kate  Borland,  James  Crooks  and  wife,  John  Tubbs  and 
wife,  and  Mrs.  McMasters.  At  first  meetings  were  held 
in  private  houses.  A house  of  worship  was  erected  in 
1824,  and  a more  commodious  structure  in  1848.  There 
was  a great  revival  during  the  pastorate  of  W.  F.  Wilson 
in  1849  and  1850. 

The  Asbury  class  was  organized  in  the  Carney  School 
House  in  1839.  Elijah  Coleman,  a local  preacher,  and 
Reuben  Peck  were  the  preachers.  Elias  Gearhart,  Mary 
Gearhart,  James  Fox,  Ann  Fox,  John  Fisher,  Barbara 
Fisher,  Kate  Gearhart,  and  Ann  Butler  constituted  the 


Classes  Organized. 


class,  Elias  Gearhart  was  the  leader.  The  church  was 
built  in  1859. 

The  Fair  Haven  class  was  organized  by  Thomas  Benn 
in  1876.  The  first  members  were;  Samuel  Spangler,  C.  J. 
Spangler,  J.  S.  Jones,  Peter  Jones,  Polly  Jones,  George 
Sherman,  and  Elizabeth  Sherman.  The  class  met  for  two 
years  in  the  Maple  Grove  School  House.  The  church  was 
dedicated  September  18th,  1878. 

The  Greenville  class  was  organized  at  quite  an  early 
date,  and  met  for  some  time  in  private  houses  and  in  the 
school  house.  The  church  was  erected  in  1873  or  1874. 

The  Clarion  District  Camp-Meeting  was  held  for  many 
years  within  the  bounds  of  Corsica  Circuit.  This  was 
afterwards  organized  as  a Chautauqua  Assembly.  It  was 
abandoned  several  years  ago. 

In  1853  Edwin  Hull  followed  John  Abbott  on  the 
Cooperstown  Circuit.  At  that  time,  according  to  Mr. 
Hull,  there  were  three  members — Mrs.  Sarah  Lee,  Mrs. 
Almira  Haliday,  and  Miss  Cassandra  Haliday — at  what  is 
now  Oil  City,  belonging  to  a class  in  Oakland  township, 
and  walking  a distance  of  six  miles  to  attend  class  and 
prayer-meeting.  Soon  after  conference,  Rev.  Moses  Hill 
employed  James  Shields  to  assist  Brother  Hull  on  the  cir- 
cuit. A meeting  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  held  in  a 
school  house  near  the  site  of  the  church,  resulted  in  twelve 
conversions ; and  a class,  with  William  Alcorn  as  leader,* 
was  organized.  The  class  consisted  of  Sarah  Lee,  Almira 
Haliday,  Cassandra  Halidav.  Hiram  B.  Gordon,  Mary  A. 
Gordon,  Serena  Gordon,  Robert  Alcorn,  Esther  Nevins, 
William  Mack,  Sarah  Mack,  and  a few  others. — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  June  29,  1867. ) 

“In  1853,  Shippenville  Circuit  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing appointments:  Shippenville,  Edenburg,  Arm- 

strong’s, Jefferson,  Salem,  Richmond,  Rockland,  Pine 
Run,  Pine  Hill,  Cranberry,  and  Stover’s.  The  next  year 
Cross  Roads  was  added.  In  1854  Coon’s  School  House 
and  Beaver  were  added.  The  next  year  Mt.  Pleasant  was 
taken  on.  In  1856,  Monroeville  and  Big  Bend  were  ad- 
ded, and  Lake’s  and  Grove’s  appeared  at  the  end  of  the 
year.  In  1857,  Clapp’s  was  added.  In  1858  appoint- 
ments were  made  at  Nickleville  and  Freedom.  In  1861  Em- 
lenton  and  Foxburg  appeared  on  the  list.” — (M.  E.  Hess 
in  the  District  Methodist,  1891,  Vol.  IV,  No.  9.) 


288 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Roderick  Norton  writes  from  Mentor  of  the  good  work 
on  his  charge : “The  Lord  in  mercy  has  blessed  this 

charge  with  a gracious  revival  of  his  work.  Since  our 
second  quarterly  meeting  held  Dec.  17  and  18,  in 1 Kirt- 
land,  about  sixty  persons  have  professed  faith  in  Christ, 
fifty  of  whom  have  united  with  the  church  on  probation. 

( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  14,  1834.) 

The  Methodist  class  was  organized  at  Ringgold  by 
George  F.  Reeser  in  1853,  and  became  a part  of  the 
Punxsutawney  circuit.  The  original  members  were , P. 
H.  Shannon,  Lavina  Shannon,  John  R.  Campbell,  Cath- 
arine Campbell,  A.  P.  Heichold,  R.  A.  Heichold,  Isaac 
Hawthorne,  Agnes  Hawthorne,  George  Startzell,  Char 
lotta  Startzell,  Henry  Freas,  Susan  Freas  and  Simon 
Hyllard,  George  Startzell  and  A.  P.  Heichold  were  the 
first  class-leaders.  Services  were  held  in  the  Union  Church 
which  was  at  that  time  unfinished.  There  was  a gracious 
revival  the  next  year  and  a large  increase  in  membership. 
In  1861  the  following  appointments  were  detached  from 
the  circuit  and  organized  as  the  Perrysville  Circuit:  Ring- 
gold,  Loop,  Steward’s,  Zion,  Perrysville,  Wesley  Chapel, 
Shannon’s,  and  Geistown.  The  last  appointment  was 
dropped  in  1862  or  1863-  In  1880  by  reason  of  the  par- 
sonage being  located  in  Ringgold  the  name  of  the  charge 
was  changed  to  “Ringgold.”  In  1887  the  following  ap- 
pointments were  added  to  the  circuit ; \\  alston  Mines, 

Adrian  Mines,  and  Horatio,  but  in  1889  a new  circuit  was 
formed  comprising  Walston,  Adrian,  Horatio,  and  Hope- 
well.  This  was  the  “Hopewell  Circuit.”  The  Shannon, 
Steward,  and  Loop  appointments  were  dropped  some 
years  ago,  and  but  little  of  their  history  remains — (Com- 
munication to  the  author  by  W.  W.  Perry.) 

The  Session  of  1854. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  annual  session  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  July  12,  1854,  Bishop  Levi  Scott  presiding. 
Niram  Norton  was  elected  secretary. 

Oreb  D.  Parker  and  Ignatius  H.  Tackitt  were  re-ad- 
mitted. 

lohn  C.  Ayres  was  transferred  to  the  Iowa  Conference. 

Fauntly  Muse,  W.  B.  Lloyd,  S.  N.  Forest,  and  J.  N. 
Henry  located. 


The  Session  of  1854.  289 

J.  W.  Davis,  J.  E.  Aikin,  Timothy  Goodwin,  and  D, 
H.  Jack  had  died  during  the  year. 

A very  large  class  were  received  on  trial : Charles  W, 

Reeves,  Nicholas  G.  Luke,  Stephen  L.  Mead,  Thomas  P, 
Warner,  Samuel  Wilkinson,  Frederick  Vernon,  Samuel 
L.  Wilkinson,  Robert  W.  Crane,  Isaiah  Lane,  Stephen  S. 
Stuntz,  Samuel  A.  Milroy,  Charles  Irons,  Orville  L. 
Mead,  Harris  F.  Tucker,  William  Lund,  John  McComb, 
Orlif  Hamren,  Edward  M.  Nowlen,  William  Hayes,  Lo- 
renzo D.  Brooks,  George  W.  Moore,  and  Jephtha  Marsh. 

Orlif  Hamren  died  of  cholera  soon  after  returning 
from  Conference.* 

♦Jephtha  Marsh— Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  transferred  to  Nebraska 
Conference,  1876.  Appointments— 1854-’55,  Allegheny  Valley 
Mission;  1856-’57,  Sunville;  1858,  Cochranton;  1859-’60,  Sheffield; 
1861-’62,  Sugar  Grove;  1863-’64,  Ashville;  1865-’66,  Sherman;  1867, 
Hamlet;  1868,  Hamlet  and  Cherry  Creek;  1869-70,  Perrysburg; 
1871-75,  supernumerary;  1876,  Central  City,  Neb.;  1877,  Gibbon, 
Neb.;  1878-’80,  Clarksville,  Neb.;  1880,  supernumerary;  1881, 
West  Nebraska  Mission;  1882,  supernumerary;  1883,  Lincoln  Cir- 
cuit, Neb.;  1884-’85,  Lincoln,  South;  1886,  Lincoln  Circuit,  Neb.; 
1887,  Waverly,  Neb.;  1888-’98,  superannuated. 

Charles  Irons — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  discontinued  at  his 
own  request,  1855.  Appointment — 1854,  Riceville. 

William  Lund — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  located,  1857,  and  joined  the  Canada  Wesley- 
an Conference.  Appointments — 1854,  Clarksville;  1855,  Cleve- 
land, City  Mission;  1856,  Mayfield. 

S.  L.  Mead — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial,  1854; 
full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  located,  1856.  Has 
since  devoted  his  attention  to  agriculture  near  Forestville,  N. 
Y.,  and  has  done  useful  service  in  the  local  ranks.  Appointment 
— 1854-’55,  Randolph. 

H.  F.  Tucker — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  discontinued  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  1856.  Appointments — 1854,  Windham;  1855, 
Windham  and  Nelson. 

William  Hayes — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  transferred  to  Des 
Moines  Conference,  1871;  located,  1879.  Appointments — 1854, 
Edinboro;  1855,  Wesley ville;  1856,  Denmark  and  Pierpont  Mis- 
sion; 1857,  Albion;  1858,  Columbus;  1859,  Titusville;  1860,  Rice- 
ville; 1861,  Pleasantville;  1862-’63,  Hubbard;  1864-’65,  Girard 
and  Liberty;  1866’67,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol;  1868,  North  Wash- 
ington; 1869-70,  Callensburg;  1871-72,  Bedford,  la.;  1873,  Lines- 
ville,  la.;  1874,  Alerton,  la.;  1875,  Mount  Ayr,  la.;  1876-77,  super- 
numerary; 1878,  superannuated. 

N.  G.  Luke — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  located,  1869;  re-ad- 
mitted, Nevada  Conference,  1875;  became  a member  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Conference  when  Nevada  Conference  changed  into  a 
Mission,  1884.  Withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership,  1885. 
Appointments — 1854,  Punxsutawney;  1855,  Troy;  1856,  Sharon; 


290 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Appointments  for  1854:  Cleveland  District,  William  H.  Hun- 

ter, presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  G.  L.  Little; 
Erie  Street,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Perry  Street,  Samuel  Gregg;  City 
Mission,  D.  C.  Wright;  Newburg,  T.  B.  Tait,  Thomas  Radcliff; 
Chagrin  Falls,  William  Patterson,  Allen  Fouts;  Willoughby,  S. 
C.  Frear;  Painesville,  J.  O.  Rich;  Mentor,  Roderick  Norton; 
Chardon,  E.  C.  Latimer,  John  Akers;  Concord,  Samuel  Reynolds, 
W.  A.  Matson,  sup.;  Geneva,  Lewis  Clark,  Samuel  Wilkinson,  B. 

O.  Plimpton,  sup.;  Ashtabula,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Mechanicsville, 
Potter  Sullivan;  Asbury  Seminary,  to  be  supplied;  Dillon  Pros- 
ser, Chaplain  to  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society,  member  of 
St.  Clair  Street  Quarterly  Conference.  Ravenna  District,  Albina 
Hall,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  J.  R.  Locke;  Franklin,  William 
Monks;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  John  Tribby;  Tallmadge,  Valorus  Lake; 
Akron,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Mantua,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Hudson,  C.  T. 
Kingsbury;  Twinsburg,  L.  W.  Ely;  Edinburg,  W.  M.  Bear,  P. 

P.  Pinney;  Parkman,  Benjamin  Excell,  Robert  Gray;  Ellsworth, 
J.  H.  Tagg,  Ira  Eddy;  Windham  H F.  Tucker;  Nelson,  H.  S. 
Winans;  Charlestown,  S.  W.  Ingraham.  Warren  District,  John 
Bain,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Brace ville,  A.  M. 
Brown;  Southington,  Ezra  Wade;  West  Farmington  and  Bloom- 
field, M.  H.  Bettes,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Windsor,  Willliam  Samp- 
son; Morgan,  A.  D.  Morton,  R.  W.  Crane;  Youngstown  and  Lib- 
erty, Thomas  Guy,  one  to  be  supplied;  Gustavus,  J.  W.  Hill, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Hubbard,  S.  K.  Paden;  Sharon,  C.  W.  Reeves; 
Hartford  and  Brookfield,  John  Graham;  Williamsfield,  J.  S.  Lytle; 
Pierpont  and  Denmark,  N.  C.  Brown;  Orangeville,  J.  W.  Weldon; 
Poland,  H.  D.  Cole;  James  Greer,  Principal  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve Seminary  at  Farmington,  member  of  West  Farmington  and 
Bloomfield  Quarterly  Conference.  Erie  District,  Joseph  Leslie, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  J.  E.  Chapin;  McKean,  George  Stocking, 
one  to  be  supplied,  D.  W.  Vorse,  sup.;  Girard,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Spring- 
field,  R.  M.  Bear;  Albion,  I.  O.  Fisher,  one  to  be  supplied;  Wes- 
leyville,  David  Mizener,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  North  East,  W.  F. 
Day;  Kingsville,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Conneaut,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Water- 
ford, John  McLean,  one  to  be  supplied;  Edinboro,  William 
Hayes;  Conneautville,  W.  C.  Henderson,  G.  W.  Staples;  Rock- 
ville, C.  R.  Chapman;  Venango,  D.  E.  Day;  Cambridge  and  Rock- 
dale, A.  H.  Bowers;  David  Preston,  sup.,  Sunday  School  Agent, 
member  of  the  Conneaut  Quarterly  Conference.  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, E.  J.  Kinney,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Niram  Norton; 
Evansburg,  John  Abbott,  Frederick  Vernon;  Espy  ville,  Wareham 
French,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Saegertown,  Isaiah  Lane,  W.  R.  John- 
son; Salem,  J.  W.  Wilson,  David  King;  Exchangeville,  H.  P. 
Henderson;  Greenville,  J.  D.  Norton;  West  Salem,  John  Mc- 
Comb;  Clarksville,  Hiram  Luce,  William  Lund;  Harrisville,  Isaac 
Scofield;  Wilmington,  R.  A.  Caruthers,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  New 
Castle,  H.  N.  Stearns,  Stephen  Heard;  Mercer,  Darius  Smith; 

1857-’58,  Clarion;  1859,  Punxsutawney ; 1860-’61,  New  Bethlehem; 
1862-’63,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1864-’65,  Poland;  1866-’67,  Titusville; 
1868,  May  ville;  1875-’77,  Truckee,  Cal.;  1878,  appointment  not 
given  in  General  Minutes;  1879-’80,  Quincy,  Nev.;  1881-’83,  North- 
ern District;  1884,  Virginia  and  Gold  Hill,  Nev. 

Lorenzo  D.  Brooks — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection, 
1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson.  Appointments— 
1854,  Villenovia;  1855,  Leon;  1856,  Columbus  and  Spring  Creek; 
1857,  Spartansburg  and  Spring  Creek;  1858,  Columbus;  1859, 
Frewsburg;  1860,  located. 


Orville  Lockwood  Mead. 


291 


Calvin  Kingsley,  Professor  in  Allegheny  College,  member  of  the 
Meadville  Quarterly  Conference;  B.  S.  Hill,  Agent  for  the  Tract 
Society,  member  of  the  Meadville  Quarterly  Conference.  Frank- 
lin District,  Moses  Hill,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  G.  W.  Clarke; 
Hendersonville,  J.  H.  Vance,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  North  Washington, 

I.  C.  T.  McClelland;  Clintonville,  Jared  Howe;  Brady’s  Bend, 
Robert  Beatty;  Curllsville,  D.  M.  Stever,  J.  G .Thompson;  New 
Bethlehem,  T.  G.  McCreary,  one  to  be  supplied;  Punxsutawney, 
Edwin  Hull,  N.  G.  Luke;  Luthersburg,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Brookville, 

J.  T.  Boyle;  Warsaw,  F.  W.  Smith;  Corsica,  S.  A.  Milroy;  Clar- 
ion, J.  R.  Lyon;  Washington,  P.  W.  Sherwood,  one  to  be  sup- 
plied; Shippenville,  John  Crum,  James  Shields;  New  Lebanon, 
G.  W.  Moore,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  sup.;  Cooperstown,  Ahab  Keller, 
one  to  be  supplied.  Jamestown  District,  J.  H.  Whallon,  presid- 
ing elder;  Jamestown,  E.  B.  Lane;  Buffalo  and  Jamestown  Swed- 
ish Mission,  Orlif  Hamren;  Ashville,  Samuel  Hollen,  N.  W. 
Jones;  Frewsburg,  E.  M.  Nowlin;  Randolph,  T.  D.  Blinn,  S.  L. 
Mead;  Pine  Grove,  S.  S.  Burton;  Allegheny  Valley,  Jephthah 
Marsh;  Panama,  Hiram  Kinsley;  Columbus,  O.  D.  Parker,  Alex- 
ander Barris,  sup.;  Wattsburg,  Josiah  Flower,  D.  C.  Osborne; 
Riceville,  Charles  Irons;  Pleasantville,  J.  B.  Hammond,  James 
Gilfillan;  Youngsville,  S.  N.  Warner;  Warren,  H.  H.  Moore; 
Kinzua  and  Tionesta  Mission,  Madison  Wood.  Fredonia  Dis- 
trict, William  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  G.  W.  Ches- 
bro;  Dunkirk,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Portland,  Alvin  Burgess;  West- 
field,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Quincy,  Jonathan  Whitely;  Mayville  and 
Sherman,  John  Wriggles  worth;  Sinclairville,  O.  P.  Brown,  T.  P. 
Warner;  Ellington,  O.  L.  Mead;  Leon,  R.  R.  Roberts,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Perrysburg,  Albert  Norton;  Villenovia,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs, L.  D.  Brooks;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  John  Peate; 
Silver  Creek,  A.  R.  Hammond. 

Orville  Lockwood  Mead. 

Orville  Lockwood  Mead  was  called  suddenly  to  his  re- 
ward, Feb.  18,  1902.  There  was  no  illness.  After  the 
midday  meal,  he  retired  to  his  room,  as  was  his  custom, 
and  reclined  on  his  bed.  His  little  granddaughter  came 
into  the  room,  and  inquired,  “Grandpapa,  are  you 
asleep  ?”  He  raised  himself  up  and  kissed  her,  lay  down, 
closed  his  eyes,  and  “was  not,  for  God  took  him.”  It  was 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  T.  M.  Infield,  Hartford, 
Ohio. 

Brother  Mead  was  born  in  Oxford,  Chenango  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Nov.  23,  1821.  He  was  of  English  and  Scotch  blood. 
In  his  fifteenth  year,  he  was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to 
learn  the  baker’s  trade,  and  served  until  he  was  of  age. 
In  1840  he  was  converted  in  the  Baptist  Church,  but  back- 
slid. He  was  reclaimed  in  1845,  under  the  preaching  of 
Rev.  William  Bixby.  In  an  autobiographical  sketch,  he 
says ; “My  wife,  a young  man  in  my  employ,  a girl  work- 
ing for  my  family,  and  four  boys  in  my  class  in  the  Sun- 
day School  were  converted  and  joined  the  church  at  the 


292 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


same  time.  One  of  these  boys  is  the  Rev.  Albert  Wyatt, 
a member  of  the  New  York  Conference.  His  father  Rev. 
William  Wyatt  appointed  me  class-leader.  The  Rev.  Z. 
Paddock,  D.  D.,  gave  me  license  to  exhort  in  1852.  The 
following  spring  I moved  to  Dunkirk,  New  York,  finding 
there  a small  band  of  Methodists  holding  meetings  in  an 
old  School  House.  We  occupied  the  upper  room,  and 
the  Universalists  the  lower  room.  The  latter  appointed 
a meeting  at  the  same  time  of  our  service.  An  old  man 
by  the  name  of  Fink  and  a Methodist  by  the  name  of 
Willson  caught  the  bell  rope  at  the  same  time.  Fink  below 
and  Willson  above.  Fink  pulled  down,  and  Willson  pulled 
up.  The  latter  having  the  advantage  and  withal  being  the 
stronger,  pulled  the  old  man  up  to  the  ceiling  and  he  soon 
dropped.  The  Methodist  rang  the  bell,  and  a lively  ser- 
vice followed ; but  the  Universalists  quit  the  field,  declar- 
ing that  if  there  was  no  hell  there  ought  to  be  one  for  the 
Methodists.  The  following  year,  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Wright 
was  our  pastor  and  built  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Dunkirk.  In  February,  1854,  I was  made  a 
local  preacher,  and  in  the  July  following  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.” 

Brother  Mead  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
!j  ference  at  its  organization;  but  the  same  year  was  trans- 

ferred to  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  effective  forty- 
four  consecutive  years.  He  was  four  years  presiding  el- 
der of  Clarion  District.  He  was  a member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1872. 

He  was  a man  of  strong  convictions  which  he  main- 
tained with  courage.  “During  the  civil  war  he  threw  him- 
self with  all  his  energy  into  the  arena  in  defense  of  the 
federal  government.  To  him  the  conflict  of  the  nation 
was  for  God  and  humanity,  and  the  blood  and  sacrifice  of 
life  were  the  just  penalty  for  human  bondage.  These 
principles  he  maintained  at  some  risk  to  his  person — his 
life  being  threatened.  At  the  presidential  election  of 
1864,  he  cast  his  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  surrounded 
by  a cordon  of  twenty-four  Union  men  of  Union  City, 
Pennsylvania,  with  drawn  revolvers.  With  all  this  there 
was  that  other  side  of  warm-hearted  and  noble  friendship. 
The  grasp  of  his  hand  thrilled  the  recipient  with  a glow 
of  heavenly  fellowship  not  to  be  forgotten.” 

Brother  Mead  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 


Stephen  S.  Stuntz,  John  McComb. 


293 


Julia  E.  Judson,  two  of  whose  children  survive — Mrs.  A. 
W.  Smiley,  of  Foxburg,  Pa.,  and  the  Rev.  C.  O.  Mead, 
of  the  Erie  Conference.  His  second  wife  was  Malinda 
Clarke,  who  survives,  with  two  daughters — Mrs.  H.  G. 
De  Forest,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  Mrs.  T.  M.  Infield  at 
whose  home  he  died.  Brother  Mead’s  home  was  ever  the 
paradise  of  the  affections.  He  was  most  happy  in  all  his 
relations.  He  took  a cheerful  view  of  life,  and  was  hope- 
ful of  the  future  of  the  church.  He  could  adapt  himself 
to  all  classes  and  peoples.  The  fragrance  of  his  memory 
abides.* 

Stephen  S.  Stuntz,  John  McComb. 

After  fifteen  years  of  effective  service,  Stephen  S. 
Stuntz  was  made  a supernumerary  in  1869.  He  went  to 
Jamestown,  New  York,  to  reside  among  his  friends,  but  in 
the  middle  of  the  following  April  was  prostrated  with  a 
complication  of  diseases.  Dropsy  caused  his  death  on 
the  Holy  Sabbath,  Oct.  30,  1870.  He  was  sustained  by 
an  unshaken  faith  in  God  during  all  his  illness,  and  was 
fully  resigned  to  the  divine  will.  His  heart  beat  for  the 
Master’s  work,  but  he  gave  up  all  and  triumphed  in  the 
cross  of  Christ.  He  ripened  rapidly  for  the  Kingdom, 
and  had  large  experience  in  the  deep  things  of  God.  A 
short  time  before  his  death,  he  exclaimed : “’Tis  glorious! 
I have  overcome  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.”  Mr. 
Stuntz  was  born  in  Albion,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  March  26,  1828. 
In  his  thirteenth  year  he  attended  a camp-meeting  held  in 
Girard  township,  and  was  there  converted.  In  1850,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach ; he  graduated  from  Allegheny  Col- 
lege in  1854,  and  was  soon  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Mary  H.,  widow  of  Rev.  B.  F.  Langdon,  a former  mem- 
ber of  the  Erie  Conference.  The  same  year  he  was  ad- 

*0.  L.  Mead — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial 
1854;  full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858, 
Janes;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  ’ at  its 
organization,  1876;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1876;  de- 
ceased, Hartford,  O.,  February  18,  1902.  Appointments — 1854-’55, 
Ellington;  1856-’57,  Quincy;  1858-’59,  Randolph;  1860-’61,  May- 
ville;  1862-’63,  Warren,  Pa.;  1864-’66,  Union  City;  1867,  Oil  City; 
1868-’71,  Clarion  District;  1872-’74,  Franklin;  1875,  Poland;  1876- 
’77,  Sharon;  1878,  New  Castle,  Second  Church;  1879-’80,  New 
Castle,  Pearson  Street;  1881-’82,  Dunkirk;  1883,  Meadville,  Sec- 
ond Church;  1884-’86,  Mercer;  1887-’91,  Sandy  Lake;  1892-’96, 
Clark’s  Mills;  1897,  Sheakleyville;  1898’1901,  superannuated. 


U 


294  History  of  Erie  Conference . 

mitted  on  trial.  He  was  Principal  of  Carrier  Seminary 
in  1868.  He  was  devoted  to  his  work,  and  did  that  work 
well.* 

John  McComb  was  born  in  what  is  now  Mahoning 
township,  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  June  15,  1814.  His  par- 
ents were  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  John  was  inured  to 
labor  on  a farm  in  the  early  history  of  the  country,  and 
enjoyed  few  educational  advantages.  He  was  taught  the 
Holy  Scriptures  and  the  principles  of  religion  with  the 
characteristic  fidelity  of  members  of  the  Seceder  Church, 
and  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  The  same 
year  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Wallace.  Mr.  McComb 
says ; “One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  to  be  overcome  as 
the  condition  of  my  acceptance  with  God  was  my  unwill- 
ingness to  preach  the  gospel.  As  soon  as  I could  say, 
‘Send  me!’  the  Lord  came  to  me  on  my  way  home  from 
meeting,  and  blessed  me.”  After  filling  the  offices  of  class- 
leader  and  Sunday  School  Superintendent  for  several 
years  with  great  acceptability,  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1851,  William  Patterson  signing  the  license.  He  had 
held  an  exhorter’s  license  given  by  Thomas  Stubbs  for  ten 
years.  He  supplied  Harrisville,  Rockville,  and  Wesley- 
ville  Circuits — under  J.  W.  Wilson,  S.  K.  Paden,  and 
William  R.  Johnston,  in  charge.  On  the  Rockland  Charge 
there  were  about  three  hundred  conversions.  In  1854  he 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  On  the 
Hendersonville  Circuit — A.  L.  Miller  in  charge — he  says, 
“The  Lord  was  with  us  in  power  in  the  conversion  of 
many  souls” ; and  on  the  North  Washington  Circuit — S. 
S.  Nye  junior  preacher — in  1857  and  1858,  “These  two 
years,  we  received  into  the  church  about  four  hundred. 
To  God  be  the  glory !”  There  were  also  glorious  revivals 
on  other  charges. 

His  health  failing.  Brother  McComb  retired  from  the 
active  work.  To  test  the  benefit  which  might  result  from 
a change  of  climate,  he  went  to  Iowa  and  assisted  several 

*S.  S.  Stuntz — Licensed  to  preach,  1850;  admitted  on  trial, 
1854;  full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858, 
Janes;  deceased,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  October  30,  1870.  Appoint- 
ments— 1854,  Hendersonville;  1855,  Cochranton;  1856,  Conneaut- 
ville;  1857,  Bainbridge  and  Solon;  1858,  Bainbridge;  1859,  De- 
lanti;  1860-’61,  Sunville;  1862-’63,  Sheakleyville;  1864-’65,  Espy- 
ville;  1866-’67,  Cleveland,  City  Mission;  1868,  Clarion;  1869-’70, 
supernumerary. 


Charles  Wesley  Reeves , Frederick  Vernon.  295 

pastors  in  revival  work.  His  health  continuing  infirm  he 
returned  and  settled  at  Plaingrove  on  a farm.  Here  he 
continued  active  in  the  work  of  the  church  until  the  close 
of  his  life,. which  occurred  Sept.  29,  1897.* 

Charles  Wesley  Reeves,  Frederick  Vernon. 

Charles  Wesley  Reeves  entered  into  rest  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  May  7,  1905.  In  the  early  part  of  the  century  his 
parents  moved  from  New  York  state  into  Geauga  County, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Reeves  was  born  at  Huntsburg,  in  1832,  and 
was  educated  at  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  West  Farm- 
ington. He  is  said  to  have  read  the  Bible  through  five 
times  before  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  This  love  of  the 
Word  was  characteristic  of  him  throughout  his  whole  life. 
During  its  last  two  years  he  read  the  Spanish  New  Testa- 
ment three  times.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1854*^"  He  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization. 
He  was  supernumerary  1869-76  and  1879-96.  He  was 
superannuated  in  1897,  and  retained  that  relation  until 
his  death.  He  served  as  a lieutenant  in  the  61st  Regt. 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  “For  three  years  before  his 
death  he  was  an  invalid,  wholly  unable  to  do  any  work 
foi  the  cause  he  loved  so  well,  and  in  the  advancement  of 
v hich  he  was  so  deeply  interested.  In  all  his  sufferings 
during  these  years  there  was  no  voice  of  complaint.  He 
rejoiced  in  the  sustaining  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 

was  kept  peaceful  and  joyous  in  the  midst  of  great  bodily 
distress  and  suffering.” 

Mr.  Reeves  was  a thoughtful,  clear,  and  forcible 
preacher,  and  exemplified  in  his  life  the  doc- 
trines which  he  preached.  His  character  was  the 
triumph  of  the  grace  of  God  over  all  sin ; his  death  a 

*John  McComb — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1854,  Simpson;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  deceased,  Plain- 
grove,  Pa.,  September  29,  1897.  Appointments — 1854,  West 

Salem;  1855,  Ellsworth;  1856,  Hendersonville;  1857-’58,,  North 
Washington  and  Clintonville;  1859,  Hendersonville;  1860,  Mo- 
ravia; 1861,  Shippenville;  1862-’63,  President;  1864-’65,  Wash- 
ington; 1866,  without  appointment;  1867-’75,  supernumerary- 
1876-’97,  superannuated. 

tHis  Memoir  says  1852.  This  is  probably  the  date  of  his  li- 
cense to  preach. 


296 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


glorious  victory  gained  through  a living  faith.* — (T.  IV. 
Lane  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Nov.  9,  1905.) 

Frederick  Vernon  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, Oct.  26,  1818.  He  was  converted  in  1852,  and 
was  licensed  to  preach  and  admitted  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence on  trial  in  1854.  He  closed  his  labors  and  entered 
into  rest  December  11,  1869.  '‘Brother  Vernon  being  an 
unmarried  man,  could  move  with  little  difficulty,  and  his 
appointments  seem  to  have  been  made  without  reference  to 
personal  convenience,  but  decided  wholly  by  the  neces- 
sities of  the  work.  He  did  that  work  well.  Though 
neither  brilliant  nor  profound,  he  was  useful,  and  many 
will  call  him  blessed.  His  end  was  peace.”f 

Edward  M.  Nowlen,  George  W.  Moore. 

Edward  M.  Nowlen  was  an  amiable  Christian  gentle- 
man, a fast  friend  and  an  able  minister.  He  possessed  a 
meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  sought  not  the  praise  of  men. 
During  his  ministry  he  was  in  labors  abundant,  going  far 
beyond  his  physical  strength ; but  his  ardent  zeal  for  the 
church  and  love  of  souls  impelled  him  to  the  very  front  of 
the  battle-line  in  the  conflict  of  right  against  wrong.  His 
last  charge  was  Braceville,  Ohio.  At  the  urgent  solicita- 
tion of  his  friends,  he  paid  a visit  to  his  aged  father,  in  the 
hope  that  the  change  might  improve  his  health.  He  re- 
turned from  his  visit,  however,  no  longer  able  to  continue 

*C.  W.  Reeves — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  located,  1862;  re-admitted, 
1863;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  May  7,  1905.  Appoint- 
ments— 1854,  Sharon;  1855,  Cleveland,  Ladies’  Home  Mission; 
1856,  Gustavus;  1857,  Orangeville;  1858,  Windham;  1859-’60, 
Jackson;  1861,  Vienna;  1863,  Mogadore;  1864,  Agent,  American 
Bible  Society;  1865,  Gustavus;  1866,  Hubbard  and  Brookfield; 
1867,  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca;  1868,  Pine  Grove  and  Farm- 
ington; 1869-76,  supernumerary;  1877-78,  Girard  and  Liberty, 
second  preacher;  1879-’96,  supernumerary;  1897-1904,  superannu- 
ated. 

tFrederick  Vernon — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on 
trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder, 
1858,  Janes;  deceased,  Cherry  Creek,  N.  Y.,  December  11,  1869. 
Appointments — 1854,  Evansburg;  1855,  Harrisville;  1856,  Mc- 
Kean; 1857,  Pine  Grove;  1858,  State  Road;  1859,  Punxsutawney ; 
1860,  Luthersburg;  1861,  Southington;  1862,  Windsor;  1863,  Gir- 
ard and  Liberty;  1864,  Mogadore;  1865,  Solon;  1866,  President; 
1867-’68,  Ridgway;  1869,  Cherry  Creek. 


ft 


Edward  M.  Nowlen,  George  W.  Moore.  297 

his  work.  In  a few  weeks,  disease  had  completed  its 
fearful  task,  and  our  brother  was  removed  from  pain  to 
entei  into  test.  It  was  March  6,  1873*  Mr.  Nowlen  was 
born  in  Mentor,  Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  1,  1826.  He  was 
blessed  with  Christian  training-  from  pious  parents,  and 
gave  his  heart  to  God,  and  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  when  eleven  years  of  age.  He  early 
ielt  that  he  was  called  to  the  ministry,  and  made  prepara- 
tion foi  the  holy  calling.  He  studied  for  some  time  in 
Concoi  d Biblical  Institute.  In  1854  he  was  received  on 
trial  m the  Erie  Conference,  and  did  faithful  work  until 
God  took  him.* 

George  W.  Moore  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, Oct.  28,  1828.  His  parents  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  that  church  he  received 
his  hist  religious  training.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
his  father’s  farm,  working  in  the  summer  and  attending 
the  district  school  in  the  winter.  His  mother  died  when 
he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and  soon  after  he  was  com- 
pelled to  earn  his  own  living.  He  says  of  this  period; 
‘I  went  out  into  the  world  to  do  for  myself.  To  me  it 
was  an  impressive  hour  when  I left  my  father’s  house 
never  again  to  look  upon  it  as  my  home.  I well  remem- 
ber that  when  a short  distance  from  the  house,  I kneeled 
down  and  asked  God  to  be  my  guide  through  life.”  Thus 
he  prepared  himself  to  fight  life’s  battles  alone,  and  vet 
not  alone  God  was  with  the  lad.  It  was  not  until  his 
twentieth  year  that  he  consecrated  his  life  to  God.  “Early 
one  morning,  before  rising  from  my  bed,  I felt  deeply  con- 
victed on  account  of  my  sins,  and  strongly  impressed  that 
I should  at  once  surrender  myself  to  God.  From  that  time 
I began  to  read  the  Bible  and  pray  as  I had  never  prayed 
before.  Shortly  after  this  a protracted  meeting  was  held 
m the  town  of  Clarksville  where  I then  lived.  During 
that  meeting  I presented  myself  as  a seeker  of  religion. 

. liacl  a ^onS  struggle  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  some- 
times  almost  in  despair.  But  finally  victory  came.  It 

d2nMifrAn~'Adutted  0n  tria1’  1854 ' ful1  connection,  1856; 

March  e 1873^  18f8’  Janes;  deceased’  Braceville,  O., 

March  b,  1873.  Appointments— 1854,  Frewsburg;  1855  Sugar 

m an" 6 1 8 6 1^  62  S A Iw  1857'’58’  Sinclairville;  1859-’60,  Sher- 

man, 1861-  62,  Albion;  1863,  superannuated;  1864,  McKean;  1865- 

69,  superannuated;  1870-71,  Burton;  1872,  Braceville. 


298 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  when  all  alone  in  my  room  where  I had  so  often  knelt 
in  my  sadness  that  I was  enabled  to  take  Christ  as  my 
Savior  and  to  rejoice  in  his  loveT 

He  then  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  . 
and  soon  after  this  was  so  impressed  with  the  thought 
that  God  wanted  him  to  preach  that  he  could  not  dismiss 
the  subject,  and,  though  resisting  for  several  years,  was 
compelled  at  last  to  yield.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  and 
admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1854.  He 
was  effective  thirty-two  years ; was  made  supernumerary 
in  1886;  and  superannuated  in  1893.  He  passed  to  his 
rest,  at  his  home  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota. 

He  was  a very  good  preacher,  a successful  pastor, 
and  a builder  for  God — kind  in  word,  gentle  in  manner, 
and  instrumental  in  gathering  many  souls  for  the  King- 
dom.* 

Robert  W.  Crane. 

Robert  W.  Crane  was  born  in  District  of  Three  Rivers, 
Canada,  March  24,  1816,  and  was  brought  to  Green, 
Ohio,  by  his  parents  when  four  years  old.  He  was  con- 
verted in  1837  and  soon  received  license  to  preach,  and 
for  sixteen  years  filled  the  office  of  local  preacher.  In 
1854  he  was  received  into  Erie  Conference,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  from  its  organiz- 
ation. He  was  married  Nov.  10,  1836,  to  Submit  Rice, 
who  passed  away  in  her  forty-sixth  year.  In  1862  he 
married  Amelia  Borden.  He  was  effective  twenty-one 
years.  He  continued  to  preach  in  his  supernumerary  and 
superannuated  relations  until  a short  time  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  Oct.  18,  1900. 

During  sixty  years  of  his  life  his  services  were  in  de- 
mand, and  in  preaching  the  Gospel  was  his  supreme  de- 
light. He  was  a faithful,  earnest  preacher,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  bringing  many  souls  to  Christ.  He  loved 

♦George  Moore — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial, 
1854;  full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858, 
Janes;  deceased,  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  1900.  Appointments — 1854, 
New  Bethlehem;  1855,  Curllsville;  1856-’57,  Warsaw;  1858-’59, 
Washington;  1860-’61,  Troy  and  Corsica;  1862-’63,  Brockway- 
ville;  1864,  North  Washington  and  Clintonville;  1865-’67,  Brady’s 
Bend;  1868-’70,  Poland;  1871,  Ellington;  1872,  Petroleum  Centre; 
1873-’75,  Emlenton;  1876-’77,  Sandy  Lake;  1878-’80,  New  Wilming- 
ton; 1881-’82,  Ripley;  1883-’84,  Silver  Creek;  1885,  Panama,  1886- 
’92,  supernumerary;  1893-1900,  superannuated. 


T.  P.  Warner.  299 

the  doctrines  and  polity  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  liberally  supported  all  her  benevolences. 
Robert  W.  Crane  was  a strong-  character.  He  was  strong 
in  body  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  sturdy  physical  la^ 
bor  of  the  pioneer  days.  His  mental  powers  were  above 
tie  a\ eiage.  He  was  a good  thinker,  knew  what  his 
age  demanded,  and  gave  it.  He  was  a man  of  quick  per- 
ception and  keen  discernment.  He  served  his  day  and 
generation  well.  He  was  careful  and  methodical,  insist- 
ing upon  the  importance  of  being  right  in  small  matters. 
He  was  a good  speaker,  sincere  in  his  devotions,  and  firm 
in  his  stand  in  behalf  of  religion.  He  excelled  in  his  so- 
cial qualities.  He  inherited  a natural  tendency  to  wit  and 
humor  which  rendered  him  a very  enjoyable  companion. 
Ine  children  and  young  people  loved  him  for  he  was  al- 
ways young  in  his  feelings.  He  had  profound  convic- 
tions of  the  truth  of  the  gospel  which  he  preached.  He 
was  a patriot  of  the  best  type.  He  responded  to  President 
Lincoln  s first  call  for  volunteers  and  recruited  a company 
in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  which  was  mustered  into  ser- 

pfCQaS  V-  L’  of  which  he  was  captain. 

Physically  disabled,  he  was  obliged  to  return  home  before 

t le  close  of  the  war.  Robert  Crane  possessed  high  ideals  of 
hte,  and  in  him  were  combined  the  qualities  of  a noble 
uistian  manhood.  He  refused  any  compensation  from 
the  government  or  any  portion  of  the  Conference  fund  as 
long  as  he  was  able  to  support  himself  by  labor.  He  never 
tell  out  of  the  ranks  so  long  as  he  could  march ; and  at  the 
close  of  a faithful  stewardship  it  was  said  of  him  “It  is 
enough ; come  up  higher.”  His,end  was  peace.* 

T.  P.  Warner. 

T.  P.  Warner  was  born  in  Union  Village,  Somer- 

*R.  W.  Crane— Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection  18*7. 

of  t^East  bSoTnnf1  e,der'  !859'  Simvsm'  became  a Siemb^ 

?8r5e5nSBUrg'  q,’  O«oberrT8?ei900  Ap%Tn\ments-mi  Morgan- 
1855,  Braceville;  1856,  Williamsfield  • 18^7  ’ lvtorfan» 

1865*  ^F  Hatrtu?rd;  ?,860'’61’  Morgan;  ’ 1862-’64,  Fredon^!? 

1865  ForeBtville  and  Sheridan;  1866-’68,  supernumerary-  'iSfiQ 

nT£T£e  ch\7r0geLml“7C4ebUrS;  W1*  C1™  did 

1877,  NeVLymeaaned  R^me;  Rock^Cree^ 

fuZVnuTed  PreaCber;  188°’  C0lebr0°^  and  '^“e;  188M900 


300 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


set  Co.,  N.  J.,  Oct.  17,  1825.  His  parents  were  members 
of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  in  Ireland.  Brother 
Warner  says ; “I  can  not  remember  the  time  when  I did 
not  fear  God  and  pray  to  him ; but  as  I grew  in  years,  I 
became  more  and  more  conscious  of  the  need  of  pardon 
and  heart  renewal.  For  this  I sought  with  much  earnest- 
ness on  a sick  bed  when  about  thirteen  years  old ; and  in 
prospect  of  death  I found  salvation,  and  the  knowledge  of 
it.  Unable  to  attend  church  for  some  months,  I did  not 
unite  with  the  people  of  God  and  in  consequence — as  I 
think — lost  much  of  my  confidence  and  comfort.  Three 
years  later,  at  a camp-meeting,  held  between  Pine  Grove 
and  Sugar  Grove  in  Warren  County,  Pa.,  I kneeled  at  the 
mourners’  bench,  and  the  Lord  restored  to  me  the  joy  of 
his  salvation.  I had  a wonderful  experience  of  the  sweet, 
subduing  presence  of  God.  I then  united  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  in  that  fellowship  have  walked 
even  until  now.  I can  not  remember  when  I did  not  feel 
that  I ought  to  preach  the  gospel ; and  I have  never  doubt- 
ed my  call.” — (Communication  to  the  author.) 

When  six  years  of  age,  he  moved  with  his  father’s  fam- 
ily to  Hudson  Paint  Works  in  Columbia  County,  New 
York,  where  he  attended  school  for  a few  months,  and 
then  worked  in  the  Paint  Works  until  eleven  years  of  age. 
The  family  then  moved  to  Sugar  Grove,  and  he  attended 
the  common  school  at  Lottsville.  He  determined  to  pur- 
sue a full  course  of  study,  but  was  compelled  to  work  his 
way.  He  worked  in  a saw-mill ; and,  with  the  little  sum 
of  money  thus  earned,  entered  Allegheny  College  where 
he  remained  three  full  years.  Desiring  to  acquire  some 
knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  language  and  the  college  at 
that  time  not  affording  the  opportunity,  he  pursued  this 
study  at  the  “Unitarian  Free  School.”  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  the  early  summer  of  1852,  and  assisted  Peter 
Burroughs  on  the  Gerry  Circuit.  They  had  good  revivals 
at  the  several  appointments.  The  next  year  he  supplied 
work  on  the  Mayville  appointment.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1854,  and,  after  thirty- 
seven  years  of  effective  service,  was  granted  a superan- 
nuate relation  in  1891.  During  his  ministry,  he  has  been 
blessed  with  many  gracious  revivals,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  those  at  Irving  on  Silver  Creek  charge,  at 
Brookfield  on  Sharon  and  Brookfield  charge,  at  North 


Samuel  L.  Wilkinson  and  Samuel  Wilkinson.  301 

Clymer,  at  Bristolville,  at  Bloomfield,  at  Vernon  on  Hart- 
foi  d charge,  and  at  Harts  town  on  Espyville  charge. ^ 

Samuel  L.  Wilkinson  and  Samuel  Wilkinson. 

Samuel  L.  Wilkinson  was  born  at  Franklin  Grove, 
Shropshire,  England,  May  22,  1817;  and  died  in  Hunts- 
burg,  Ohio,  Sept.  8,  1899.  He  was  converted  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  and  united  with  the  New  Connection  Meth- 
odist Church;  but  subsequently  joined  the  Wesleyan 
Church  In  1846  he  came  to  New  York,  and  united  with 
the  old  John  Street  Church.  The  next  year  he  moved  to 
Cleveland.  In  1854  he  graduated  from  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
He  served  the  church  in  effective  relation  twenty-six 
years.  He  is  remembered  on  all  his  charges  as  a faithful 
man  of  Cod ; a true,  earnest,  devoted  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ  who  preached  not  only  from  the  pulpit  but  by  his 
daily  life.  He  was  dignified  and  gentlemanly  in  his  bear- 
mg,  and  possessed  true  manliness  and  nobility  of  char- 
acter  His  were  those  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and 
eart  which  if  they  shone  not  so  brilliantly,  yet  they  made 

blessed*”6  £ ! .T'T  ^i  his  memory  Precious  and 
• is  last  sickness,  long  and  severe,  was  borne 

with  patience  and  resignation  and  ended  in  a peaceful  and 
triumphant  death. f 

P-  Warner-Licensed  to  preach,  1852;  admitted  on  trial 
1854;  full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames  elder  858 
Janes.  Appointments— 1852,  Gerry  fsurmivi  ■ ’ 1?°8’ 

n<«);  1854,  Sinclair™?;  ^'^Silver^CrS' 

1856,  Randolph;  1857,  Frewsburg;  1858-’59  Clymer-  I8fi0  n«r’ 

vine,  1864-  65,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol;  1866,  Kingsville-  1867-’fi8 

g “U7g2;  Ener'v^'lf’  St8te  Str6et;  187"  ^Lgo 
^ity,  18/1  72,  Ellery,  1873,  Panama  and  Grant  Station-  1874 

Sree\maU78!44DMa,?iF-,1,876'  DaytoH  1877’  Garland  and Spring 
9 1878  79,  Mill  VillagB,  1880-,82,  EspyvillB*  iqqq  'W'Qtfc? 

burg;  1884,  Albion;  1885,  Fagundus;  1886-’87,  Townville-  1888 

iSQi^QA7bUrg;  1889,  Elgin  and  North  Corry;  1890,  Lockport-’ 
1891-1907,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Glenvill’e,  O. 

1856 : ka^nlkii8S^n‘7Admitt^  °n  >tria1’  1854 ; ful1  connection, 
185b,  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  deceased  Hunts- 

burg  O.,  September  8,  1899.  Appointments — 1854  New  Wil 

mington;  1855,  Espyville;  1856,  Salem;  1857,  Mt.  Jackson-  1858 

Edmboro;  1859,  Union;  1860-’61,  Wesley ville*  1862-’63  Grand 

Rfver;  1864-’65,  Mantua;  1866-’67/  Montville;  lk8  Sprink  l869 

Bend”5  1874  ’ mmeSt?WD'  1871'  Willliamsfield;  1872,  Bradys’ 
Bend,  1873,  Clarmgton;  1874,  supernumerary;  1875-’76  Pre<si- 

1879’  Tr°y;  1880’  1881- 


20 


302 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Samuel  Wilkinson  was  born  in  West  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, Oct.  15,  1807;  and  died  in  Madison,  Ohio,  Jan. 
11,  1897.  He  was  of  Quaker  parentage,  and  by  instinct 
and  education  religious.  He  was  thoroughly  converted 
at  the  third  meeting  he  ever  attended,  and  never  doubted 
his  acceptance.  While  his  early  advantages  for  culture 
were  limited,  he  was  a man  of  power.  “He  was  a clear 
thinker,  keen  in  analysis  and  forcible  in  expression,  and 
when  moved  by  the  inspiration  of  a great  theme  he  was 
truly  eloquent.’5  He  did  supply  work  for  three  years. 
In  1854  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference, 
and  in  1869  took  the  superannuated  relation.  He  became 
a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiz- 
ation. “During  his  last  illness  his  spiritual  vision  was 
unimpaired.”* 


Samuel  A.  Milroy,  Isaiah  Lane. 

Samuel  A.  Milroy  was  born  June  12,  1830,  experienced 
religion,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  under  the  labors  of  Edwin 
Hull  and  H.  P.  Henderson,  on  the  Shippenville  circuit. 
In  1853,  he  supplied  Shippenville  circuit,  John  Crum, 
preacher-in-charge,  and  the  next  year  was  received  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  called  home,  Au- 
gust 14,  1863. 

“Brother  Milroy  was  a good,  sound,  experimental  and 
practical  preacher,  and  was  instrumental  in  the  awaken- 
ing and  conversion  of  many  souls.  He  was  a warm  friend, 
and  one  of  that  class  of  men  that  would  say  of  you  in  your 
absence  nothing  that  he  would  not  say  in  your  presence. 
He  suffered  much  during  his  sickness,  but  endured  it  with 
great  patience ; and  when  told  that  he  was  near  the  Jordan 
of  death,  he  replied  that  he  knew  it,  and  was  prepared  for 
it.55* — (Josiah  Flower  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, Dec.  12,  1863.) 

♦Samuel  Wilkinson — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection, 
1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Madison,  Ohio,  January  11,  1897.  Appointments — 1854,  Geneva; 
1855-’56,  Bainbridge;  1857,  Geneva;  1858,  Montville;  1859-’60, 
Jefferson;  1861,  Grand  River;  1862-’63,  Albion;  1864,  Greene; 
1865-’66,  Bainbridge;  1867,  Thompson;  1868,  Morgan;  1869-’96, 
superannuated. 

*S.  A.  Milroy — Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes;  deceased,  Wayne,  O.,  Aug. 


Drops  of  Mercy. 


303 


Isaiah  Lane  was  born  in  Madison  County,  New  York, 
Jan.  12,  1810.  He  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  youth  in 
Chautauqua  County.  When  he  had  married,  he  moved  to 
Meadville,  Crawford  County.  He  was  converted  in  1838, 
and  some  years  later  licensed  to  preach.  He  was  enlisted 
in  the  itinerant  ranks  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1854,  and 
superannuated  in  1861.  He  died  in  Meadville  Jan.  13, 
1863.  “By  all  who  knew  him  he  was  highly  esteemed  and 
ardently  loved.  Any  deficiencies  in  early  education  were 
largely  compensated  by  the  native  strength  of  his  char- 
acter, and  the  earnest  devotion  and  sanctified  warmth  of 
his  heart  and  life.  Brief  was  the  noble  itinerant’s  toil — 
great  is  his  reward.”* 

Drops  of  Mercy. 


Charles  Irons  and  Jephtha  Marsh  write  from  Pine 
Grove  Circuit : “The  Lord  has  favored  our  new  circuit 

with  some  manifestations  of  his  saving  power,  at  a place 
called  Lebanon ; at  another  called  Redhouse,  he  has  great- 
ly revived  his  work,  and  over  sixty  have  united  with  the 
church  on  probation,  the  most  of  whom  bid  fair  for  the 
Kingdom.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Feb.  7 
1854-) . 

William  Monks  writes  from  Mt.  Jackson  Circuit : “God 
is  visiting  this  small  charge  with  convicting  power  and 
converting  grace.  The  work  commenced  at  our  secono 
quarterly  meeting,  and  is  still  spreading.  Some  fifty  have 
professed  religion.  Forty-three  have  united  with  us,  and 
others  are  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  unite.” — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  Feb.  7,  1854.) 

James  Shields,  who  travels  the  Washington  Circuit 
writes:  “The  Lord  in  his  goodness  is  still  pouring  out 

of  his  Spirit  on  this  charge.  Truly,  this  has  been  a year 
of  spiritual  power  in  this  wilderness.  About  one  hundred 
have  joined  on  probation  this  conference  year  on  this  cir- 
cuit.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Feb.  21,  1854.) 


14,  1863.  Appointments— 1854,  Corsica;  1855,  Washington;  1856 
Troy,  Pa.;  1857-’58,  New  Bethlehem;  1859,  North  Washington  - 
1860,  Pine  Grove;  1861,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1862-’63,  Williamsfield. 


*Isaiah  Lane— Admitted  on  trial,  1854;  full  connection,  1856; 
deacon,  1849,  Waugh;  elder,  1855,  Morris;  deceased,  Meadville, 
Pa.,  January  13,  1863.  Appointments — 1854,  Saegertown;  1855- 
’56,  Evansburg;  1857-’58,  Rockville  and  Cambridge;  1859,  Con- 
neautville;  1860,  Saegertown;  1861-’62,  superannuated. 


3°4 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

A good  report  conies  from  McKean  Circuit:  “Since 

conference  about  eighty  have  professed  conversion,  and 
about  sixty-five  have  joined  on  probation.  The  appoint- 
ments most  highly  favored  are  the  Wiswell  or  Little 
Creek,  the  Centre,  and  the  Asbury  Chapel.” — -George 
Stocking  and  D.  E.  Day,  the  preachers. — (Pittsburg 

Christian  Advocate,  March  J,  1854.) 

Evansburg  Circuit  enjoyed  a gracious  revival  in  1854. 
A.  L.  Miller  reported  one  hundred  and  seventy  converted. 
-—(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  May  23,  1834.) 

Methodism  in  East  Brady. 

The  last  day  in  the  nineteenth  century  was  appropri- 
ately observed  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  East 
Brady.  During  the  various  services,  a historical  sketch 
of  the  church  was  read  by  Andrew  W.  Bell,  from  which 
we  take  the  following : 

“The  history  of  Methodism,  in  this  immediate  vicinity, 
covers  two-thirds,  if  not  three-fourths  of  the  century. 
Mrs.  Tohn  M.  Cunningham  (whose  father,  Matthias  Sed- 
wick,  settled  in  the  neighborhood)  remembers  that  a lo- 
cal preacher  named  William  Horton  held  services  as  early 
as  1832.  She  also  calls  to  mind  that  James  Gillmore,  the 
regularly  ordained  M.  E.  preacher  stationed  at  Butler, 
preached  at  intervals.  Somewhere  about  1840,  a regulai 
preaching  appointment  was  established  and  attached  to 
what  was  known  as  ‘Clintonville  Mission,’  which  arrange- 
ment continued  ten  or  eleven  years.  The  first  regular 
minister  appointed  was  Samuel  Leech  in  1841,  according 
to  the  old  conference  records,  upon  which  I must  depend. 
In  1845,  after  the  opening  of  the  Brady’s  Bend  Iron 
Works,  the  writer  first  came  to  Brady’s  Bend.  According 
to  the  records  I find  that  Israel  Mershon  had  the  pastorate 
in  1842,  A.  L.  Miller  in  1843,  and  John  Van  Horn  in 
1844,  Isaiah  Hildebrand  in  1845,  and  G.  F.  Reeser  in 
1846-7. 

“Up  to  this  time  no  house  dedicated  to  divine  worship 
had  appeared,  and  all  services  were  held  in  the  school 
house,  on  what  was  known  as  Raymond  Hill,  above  the 
blast  furnace.  The  increasing  population  made  it  no 
longer  possible  to  accommodate  the  congregation  in  such 
quarters,  and  during  the  term  of  Rev.  Reeser  it  was  de- 
cided to  build  the  first  church,  in  the  town  of  Brady’s  Bend. 


Methodism  in  East  Brady.  305 

The  site  selected  was  near  where  the  old  abandoned  In- 
dependent Congregational  building  now  stands.  Joseph 
London  was  the  builder,  and  two  of  the  trustees,  as  I re- 
member, were  Peter  Henry  and  John  Robinson.” 

Various  preachers  were  appointed  to  the  work,  and  in 
1851  the  Brady’s  Bend  Circuit  was  formed.  It  was  dur- 
ing  the  pastorate  of  Robert  Beatty  that  a new  church  was 
erected  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  railroad.  It  was  dedi- 
cated by  Moses  Hill,  presiding  elder,  in  1854.  Two  or 
three  years  later  the  “works”  shut  down. 

“It  was  while  the  men  were  largely  unemployed  that 
the  work  of  Rev.  fhos.  Graham,  the  next  pastor,  opened 
m 1858.  He  was  a typical  Methodist  preacher  of  his  day, 
and  was  noted  for  his  power  in  the  pulpit  and  debate,' 
ready  to  meet  all  comers  on  the  doctrines  of  his  church. 
These  he  thundered  from  the  pulpit  with  tremendous  ve- 
hemence, in  vivid  language.  One  of  his  favorite  themes 
was  hell,  and  a hot  one  at  that.  It  was  not  long  before  a 
powerful  revival  began,  and  soon  the  whole  region  for 
miles  around  was  in  a state  of  religious  ferment,  which 
deepened  into  a condition  of  spiritual  awakening,  the  like 
of  which  had  never  before  appeared  in  this  vicinity.  Be- 
tween two  and  three  hundred  conversions  was  the  result 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  joined  the  church  at 
Brady  s Bend.  1 hese  days  were  indelibly  impressed  upon 
my  memory,  and  from  this  time  dates  my  own  member- 
ship in  the  church.” 

Revival  fire  blazed  again’ ’ under  the  ministry  of 
George  Moore.  J.  J.  Excell,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Moore  in 
1867,  raised  the  church  to  “the  high  water  mark  in  all 
lines  of  efficiency,  and  received  the  largest  salary  ever 
paid  any  preacher  in  that  vicinity.”  In  1869  East 'Brady 
had  become  “quite  a town,”  and  was  attached  to  the  Rim- 
ersburg  circuit.  The  preaching  was  in  the  carpenter’s 
shop  of  Arthur  Steel,  on  First  Street.  Still  later  sendees 
were  held  in  the  old  Cunningham  school  house,  a store 
room  on  Water  street,  and  in  the  Opera  House.  Soon 
after  the  Iron  Works  collapsed  and  Brady’s  Bend  went 
down  while  East  Brady  became  a thriving  village.  A lot 
was  purchased  and  the  foundation  laid  for  a new  church 
in  East  Brady  in  1875.  The  next  year  J.  Boyd  Espy  was 
• appointed  to  the  charge. 

This  again  was  a wonderful  year  of  awakening 


3°6 


History  of 


Erie  Conference. 


Worship  was  regularly  held  in  an  unused  stoie  building 
on  Brady  street,  since  burned.  At  his  special  meetings 
that  year  Brother  Espy  succeeded  in  arousing  unusual  in- 
terest among  the  young  people,  being  fortunate  in  secur- 
ing the  co-operation  of  E.  O.  Excell,  who  had  his  home 
here  then,  and  whose  extraordinary  gifts  as  a gospel  sing- 
er first  were  made  manifest  in  this  meeting.  The  store 
room  was  crowded  night  after  night  to  hear  the  songs  and 
the  gospel  message,  and  hundreds  were  converted,  and  the 
whole  spirit  of  the  town  changed.”  The  new  church  edi- 
fice was  erected  at  a cost  of  about  $5,000.  dhe  churc 
was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Tohn  P.  Newman,  D.D.,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1877.  The  first  board  of  trustees  consisted  of  An- 
drew' Shual,  John  A.  Sedwick,  James  Irwin,  James  Stan- 
ley and  Joseph  C.  Ritson.  In  1879  die  name  of  the  cir- 
cuit was  changed  to  East  Brady,  and  Brady’s  Bend  was 
made  an  “out  appointment” ; and  at  the  same  time  Sher- 
rett  and  Rimerton  were  formed  into  another  circuit. 
There  was  another  great  revival  during  the  pastorate  of 
J.  C.  McDonald,  1884-6,  and  “The  fifth  great  revival  in 
the  history  of  this  church  was  during  the  pastorate  of  C. 
C.  Rumberger,  in  1893,  the  second  year  of  his  wrork,  and 
was  no  less  remarkable  than  its  predecessors.  Nearly  two 
hundred  were  converted  and  added  to  the  several 
churches,  other  churches  having  by  this  time  vigorous  rep- 
resentation in  the  town.  The  entire  section  was  stirred 
to  its  foundation.  In  the  same  pastorate  the  church  build- 
ing was  repaired  and  enlarged  at  considerable  expense.” 

“Matthias  Sedwick,  who  kept  the  preachers  at  his  house 
during  the  early  thirties,  in  later  years  built  the  brick 
building  where  die  present  Methodist  preacher  lives,  and 
which  is  now  the  parsonage,  owned  by  the  church.” 

New  Bethlehem  Methodism. 

The  first  Methodist  preaching  in  New  Bethlehem  dates 
back  to  the  time  when  services  were  held  in  the  house  of 
P.  H.  Hoffman,  who  was  the  first  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  for  many  years  entertained 
weary  itinerants  at  his  home.  The  house  is  still  standing 
and  after  being  remodeled  several  times  is  now  occupied 
by  D.  A.  Wiant,  the  jeweler  (1902).  This  work  was 
then  part  of  a mission  and  included  the  territory  now  oc- 
cupied by  eight  or  ten  pastoral  charges  and  was  travelled 


New  Bethlehem  Methodism. 


30  7 


by  two  or  three  preachers.  Meeting's  were  held  at 
“Father”  Hoffman’s  and  at  Smith’s  School  House,  one 
half  mile  distant,  until  1848,  when  the  first  school  house 
was  built  in  town  to  which  religious  services  were  trans- 
ferred. The  Baptists  came  soon  after  the  Methodists  and 
the  two  churches  united  in  revival  meetings.  This  oc- 
casioned much  controversy  on  disputed  points  of  doctrine, 
and  not  a little  jealousy  helped  on  the  spirit  of  rivalry. 
Public  debates  were  held,  and  were  continued  for  weeks 
at  a time.  Among  the  defenders  of  Methodism  were 
Rev.  George  F.  Reeser  and  Rev.  Ahab  Keller.  The  in- 
terest widened  and  spread.  A memorable  debate  was  held 
at  Strattonville  on  baptism  and  lasted  several  days.  The 
Baptists  built  a church  in  New  Bethlehem  in  1852.  The 
Methodists  asked  for  the  use  of  this  church  in  which  to 
hold  a quarterly  meeting,  and  permission  was  granted; 
but  while  “Johnnie  Boils”,  the  pastor,  was  making  it 
ready,  a messenger  came  from  the  Baptist  people  to  an- 
nounce that  the  church  could  be  used  by  the  Methodists 
only  on  condition  “that  they  sprinkle  no  babies  in  it.”  As 
the  result  of  this  refusal,  the  school  house  was  made  ready 
and  the  quarterly  meeting  was  held  therein.  We  are  not 
informed  whether  any  babies  were  “sprinkled”  on  the  oc- 
casion or  not.  The  Methodists  now  determined  to  build 
a house  of  worship  which  was  dedicated  in  1854  by  Rev. 
Moses  Hill,  the  presiding  elder. 

1 he  date  1853  has  usually  been  given;  but  “Father 
Hines”  had  an  old  class  book  in  which  we  find  this  rec- 
ord, “New  Bethlehem  Church  dedicated  Feb.  19th,  1854. 
Sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Moses  Hill,  P.  E.,  of  Franklin 
District,  Erie  Conference.  Text,  Isaiah  the  6th  chap, 
from  1 st  to  8th  verses  inclusive,  after  which  there  was 
$444  raised  to  pay  for  the  house,  $160  paid  down.  Thom- 
as McCreary,  preacher  in  charge,  Smith,  Jr.  Preacher.” 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  first  class : Philip 

Hoffman,  class  leader  ;* Joseph  Hines,  Abby  Ann  Hines, 
Catherine  McCreary,  Joseph  Apple,  Jacob  Statzer,  Polly 
Statzer,  Catherine  Cribbs,  George  Alabaster,  Albert  Hoy, 
Nancy  Seyler,  Mary  Baumgartner. 

The  members  were  poor  and  made  many  sacrifices.  It 
is  interesting  to  look  over  the  old  subscription  list.  There 
is  one  entry  as  follows : “Joseph  Seyler,  Dr.,  to  subscrip- 

tion $1.00  Cr.  May  1853,  By  1 Pine  Log,  $1.00.”  The 


}o8  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

building  committee  was  Joseph  Hines,  Perry  Webster 
and  Henry  Girts.  The  two  last  named  moved  west,  and 
an  anxious  creditor  levied  on  Mr.  Hines  oxen  and  un- 
hitched them  from  the  plow,  driving  them  away  in  tri- 
umph while  their  owner  was  absent  in  Pittsburg.  Upon 
his  return,  he  was  informed  of  what  had  taken  place, 
when  he  quaintly  replied;  ‘‘Well,  he  didn’t  levy  on  the 
wife  and  children,  did  he?”  Thus,  under  many  difficul- 
ties, the  church  was  built,  and  occupied  as  the  place  of 
worship  for  Methodists  until  1896  when  the  present  beau- 
tiful edifice  was  completed  and  dedicated.  The  new 
church  enterprise  was  inaugurated  under  the  pastorate  of 
O.  H.  Nickle;  continued  under  that  of  W.  S.  Gearhart; 
and  completed  under  that  of  F.  M.  Small.  It  was  dedi- 
cated by  Bishop  W.  F.  Mallalieu.  A new  parsonage  was 
built  in  1898.  Hon.  Martin  Williams  pushed  the  work 
forward  with  untiring  energy,  but  scarcely  was  the  house 
completed  when  the  Master  called  him  home.  In  1901, 
this  church  had  so  increased  in  membership  and  financial 
strength  that  New  Bethlehem  was  made  a station. 

When  the  first  church  was  dedicated  at  New  Bethlehem, 
Friend  W.  Smith  gave  a favorable  report  of  the  work : 
“We  rejoice  in  being  permitted  to  state  that  this  charge 
has  been  blessed  with  some  ‘seasons  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.’  Our  third  quarterly  meeting 
was  held  in  New  Bethlehem  at  which  time  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  dedicated  in  that  place.  Our  be- 
loved presiding  elder  was  present,  and  magnified  his  office. 
The  meeting  was  protracted  more  than  two  weeks.  About 
thirty  professed  peace  in  believing,  and  twenty-seven  unit- 
ed with  the  church.  Since  conference,  a little  rising  one 
hundred  have  been  converted,  and  over  ninety  have  joined 
with  us  on  probation.1' — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , 
April  25,  1854.) 

A class  was  formed  at  Maple  Furnace  in  1854;  and 
meetings  were  held  in  an  old  log  house.  The  following 
were  among  the  members : J.  G.  Kepler  and  wife,  Catha- 
rine Kepler,  Lizzie  Kepler,  J.  R.  Fowler  and  wife,  Wil- 
liam Fleming  and  wife,  M.  S.  Adams  and  wife,  and  Sarah 
McGill  and  daughter.  The  Maple  Furnace  Church  was 
built  in  1861-2,  R.  B.  Boyd  being  the  preacher  in  charge. 
Hie  church  was  moved  to  Eldorado  in  1896. 

A new  church  was  dedicated  at  Windsor  corners,  De- 


New  Bethlehem  Methodism . 


309 


1 

f 

! 


cember  2,  1854.  John  Bain  assisted  in  the  dedicatory 
services,  Calvin  Kingsley  preaching  the  sermon.  The 
house  cost  $2,200 ; two  hundred  dollars  of  the  deficiency 
of  $360  was  raised  at  the  dedication.  William  Sampson, 
the  pastor  writes : “Rev.  G.  W.  Maltby,  my  predecessor, 

was  present,  giving  a pleasant  influence  and  effect,  as  he 
had  been  successful  in  getting  up  a good  subscription  and 

laboring  with  his  own  hands,  quarrying,  hewing,  &c.” 

( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Jan.  16,  1855.) 

The  Fairview  church  is  located  about 'three-fourths  of  a 
mile  south  of  Perrysville— Hamilton  P.  O.— and  the  so- 
ciety is  the  outgrowth  of  a class  formed  at  the  residence 
of  Asa  Croasmun  some  distance  southwest  of  Perrysville. 
1 he  original  members  were:  Asa  Croasmun,  leader,  and 

vife,  Harry  Coon  and  wife,  James  Mutersbaugh  and 
wife,  William  Drummond  and  wife,  William  Gaul  and 
wife,  and  perhaps  a few  others.  In  1854  a church  was 
erected  which  was  greatly  improved  in  1885-6.  The  ap- 
pointment belonged  at  first  to  the  Punxsutawnev  Circuit, 
then  to  the  Perrysville  and  Ringgold  successivelv. 


V. 


A STORM  THREATENS,  BUT  THE 
WORK  EXTENDS. 


1855-1859. 


The  Erie  Conference  held  its  session  in  1855  in  New 
Castle,  commencing  July  n.  Thomas  A.  Morris  was  the 
Presiding  Bishop;  and  Niram  Norton,  the  secretary. 

Daniel  Richey  and  H.  S.  Winans  were  announced  as 
deceased. 

C.  S.  Jennes  withdrew’  from  the  ministry  and  member- 
ship under  charges. 

Madison  Wood  located. 

W.  H.  Hunter,  S.  C.  Frear,  and  Ahab  Keller  were 
transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Conference. 

J.  R.  Locke  was  transferred  to  the  Illinois  Conference. 

< O-  Brown  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference. 

The  following  brethren  w’ere  admitted  on  trial : Cyril 

Wdson,  J.  H.  McCarty,  Calvin  R.  Pattee,  Lorenzo  D. 
Vv  llliams,  Joshua  B.  Grover,  George  M.  Eberman,  Elliott 
H.  \ ingling,  James  F.  Perry,  John  M.  Greene,  Benjamin 
Marsteller,  James  K.  Mendenhall,  William  R.  Gehr, 

E.  H.  Danforth,  Almanson  C.  Tibbetts,  James  Bred- 
berg,  and  James  F.  Brown.* 


H McCarty— Licensed  to  preach,  1851;  admitted  on  trial 
fU*n  co?nectJon,  1857;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1859 
Baker,  transferred  to  New  Hampshire  Conference,  1859-  trans- 
ferred to  Providence  Conference,  1863;  transferred  to  Detroit 
Conference,  1866;  transferred  to  Louisiana  Conference,  1876- 
transferred  to  Central  New  York  Conference,  1879.  Appoint- 
jnents  1855,  Newburg;  1856-’57,  Twinsburg;  1858,  Hudson;  1859- 

irm  ^SS->  Ha™rhiU  Street;  1861-’62,  Concord,  N.  H.; 

1863-  65  Providence,  R.  I.,  Mathewson  Street;  1866,  Detroit 
Mich.,  Central  Church;  1867-’69,  East  Saginaw,  Mich.;  1870-72’ 
Adrian,  Mich  ; 1873-75,  Jackson,  Mich.;  1876-78,  New  Orleans,’ 
La.,  Ames  Church;  1879-’80,  Syracuse,  First  Church;  1881-’82 
^0ras‘  .Church ; 1884-’86,  Penn  Yan;  1887-'89,  Clifton 

Springs,  1890-98,  supernumerary. 


312 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


* 


Appointments  for  1855. 

Appointments  for  1855:  Cleveland  District,  E.  J.  Kinney, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  G.  L.  Little;  Erie 
Street,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Perry  Street,  Samuel  Gregg;  East  Cleve- 
land Mission,  W.  A.  Matson;  City  Mission,  William  Lund;  Ladies’ 
Home  Mission,  C.  W.  Reeves,  member  of  St.  Clair  Street  Quar- 
terly Conference;  Newburg,  William  Patterson,  J.  H.  McCarty; 
Chagrin  Falls,  D.  C.  Wright,  George  Stocking,  sup.;  Bainbridge, 
Samuel  Wilkinson;  Mayfield,  Albert  Norton;  Willoughy,  Roderick 
Norton;  Painesville,  J.  O.  Rich;  Mentor,  Allen  Fouts;  Chardon, 
E.  C.  Latimer,  Samuel  Reynolds;  Concord,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Gen- 
eva, Lewis  Clark,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Ashtabula,  R.  H.  Hurlburt; 
Mechanicsville,  Potter  Sullivan;  Asbury  Seminary,  to  be  sup- 
plied; Dillon  Prosser,  Chaplain  to  Seamen’s  Bethel,  Cleveland, 
member  of  St.  Clair  Street  Quarterly  Conference;  B.  O.  Plimp- 
ton, Agent  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  member  of  the 
Geneva  Quarterly  Conference.  Ravenna  District,  Albina  Hall, 
presiding  elder;  Franklin,  William  Monks;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  John 
Tribby;  Northampton ' Mission,  T.  B.  Tait;  Tallmadge,  Valorus 
Lake;  Akron,  W.  F.  Day;  Mantua,  Ira  Eddy;  Hudson,  Benjamin 
Excell;  Twinsburg,  L.  W.  Ely;  Edinburg,  C.  T.  Kingsbury,  Cyril 
Wilson;  Parkman,  W.  M.  Bear,  S.  W.  Ingraham;  Ellsworth,  J.  H. 
Tagg,  John  McComb;  Windham  and  Nelson,  H.  F.  Tucker;  Po- 
land, A.  D.  Morton;  Charlestown,  P.  P.  Pinney.  Warren  District, 
John  Bain,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Braceville, 
R.  W.  Crane;  Southington,  Ezra  Wade;  West  Farmington  and 
Bloomfield,  Stephen  Heard,  David  King;  Windsor,  William  Samp- 
son; Youngstown,  J.  D.  Norton;  Liberty,  N.  C.  Brown;  Gustavus, 
J.  W.  Hill,  J.  B.  Grover;  Hubbard,  S.  K.  Paden;  Hartford  and 
Brookfield,  John  Graham;  Williamsfield,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Orangeville, 
one  to  be  supplied,  J.  F.  Brown;  Espyville,  J.  B.  Orwig,  S.  L. 
Wilkinson;  James  Greer,  Principal  of  Western  Reserve  Semin- 
ary; A.  M.  Brown,  Agent,  both  members  of  the  Farmington  and 
Bloomfield  Quarterly  Conference.  Erie  District,  Joseph  Leslie, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  J.  E.  Chapin;  McKean,  H.  M.  Chamber- 
lain,  C.  R.  Pattee,  D.  W.  Vorse,  sup.;  Girard,  J.  W.  Wilson; 
Springfield,  H.  D.  Cole;  Albion,  I.  O.  Fisher,  John  Prosser;  Wes- 
ley ville,  David  Mizener,  William  Hayes;  North  East,  J.  W. 
Lowe;  Kingsville,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Conneaut,  J.  K.  Hallock,  David 
Preston,  sup.;  Waterford,  John  McLean;  Edinboro  and  Venan- 
go, W.  C.  Henderson;  Morgan,  Alvin  Burgess;  Denmark  and 
Pierpont  Mission,  Stephen  Hubbard,  one  to  be  supplied.  Mead- 
ville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder,  Meadville,  G.  B. 
Hawkins;  Saegertown,  W.  R.  Johnson;  Steuben,  John  Abbott; 


James  Bredberg — Admitted  on  trial  as  an  elder  from  the  Na- 
tional Church  of  Sweden,  1855;  full  connection,  1857;  transferred 
to  Rock  River  Conference,  1859.  Appointments — 1855-’58,  James- 
town and  Sugar  Grove  Swede  Mission. 

E.  H.  Danforth — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  discontinued,  1856; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott.  Appointment — 1855,  Wattsburg. 

J.  M.  Greene — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  located,  1862;  re- 
admitted, 1864,;  withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership,  1868. 
He  has  since  been  in  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  churches.  Appointments — 1855,  Punxsutawney; 

1856-’57,  Shippenville;  1858,  Harrisville;  1859-’60,  West  Middle- 
sex; 1861,  Chaplain  U.  S.  A.;  1864,  Agent,  American  Bible  So- 
ciety; 1865-’66,  Painesville;  1867,  Ravenna. 


Calvin  Pattee. 


Cochranton,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Sunville,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  Frank- 
i1*  ?*  Moore;  Pleasantville,  James  Gilfillan,  one  to  be  sup- 
plied; New  Lebanon,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  E.  T.  Wheeler  sun 
Exchangeville,  J.  W.  Weldon;  Salem,  Wareham  French,  Robert 
Gray;  Evansburg,  Isaiah  Lane;  Conneautville,  R.  M.  Bear,  James 
Gillmore;  Rockville,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Cambridge  and  Le  Boeuff 
Mission,  A H.  Bowers,  one  to  be  supplied;  L.  D.  Williams,  Pro- 
fessor in  Allegheny  College,  and  helper  on  Meadville  Station; 

SalT.nKmFley’  Professor  in  Allegheny  college,  member  of 
Meadville  Quarterly  Conference.  New  Castle  District,  Moses 
Hdl  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Mt.  Jackson, 
H.  P.  Henderson,  one  to  be  supplied;  Wilmington,  R.  A.  Caruth- 
Portersville  Mission,  to  be  supplied;  Harrisville,  Isaac  Sco- 
field, Frederick  Vernon;  North  Washington,  J.  H.  Vance;  Clin- 
tonville,  F.  W.  Smith;  Hendersonville,  T.  G.  McCreary  A L 
Miller;  Greenville,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  West  Salem  Mission,’  Hiram 
Luce;  Clarksville,  M.  H.  Bettes,  one  to  be  supplied;  Sharon, 
E.  A.  Johnson;  Mercer,  Thomas  Guy.  Clarion  District,  Josiah 
Flower,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Corsica,  Edwin 
Hull;  Brookville,  John  Crum;  Luthersburg,  G.  F.  Reeser;  War- 
saw Mission,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Punxsutawney,  P.  W.  Sherwood 
J.  M.  Greene; Troy,  N.  G.  Luke;  New  Bethlehem,  Robert  Beatty;’ 
Brady’s  Bend,  James  Shields;  Curllsville,  J.  G.  Thompson,  G. 
W.  Moore;  Shippenville,  Jared  Howe,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Washing- 
ton, S.  A.  Milroy,  J.  F.  Perry.  Jamestown  District,  J.  H.  Whal- 
lon,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  E.  B.  Lane;  Jamestown  and 
Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission,  James  Bredberg;  Ashville,  Samuel 
Hollen;  Sugar  Grove,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Frewsburg,  N.  W.  Jones; 
Pine  Grove,  S.  S.  Burton;  Randolph,  T.  D.  Blinn,  S.  L.  Mead; 
Allegheny  Valley  Mission,  W.  R.  Gehr;  Kinzua  and  Tionesta 
Mission,  R.  R.  Roberts;  Panama,  B.  S.  Hill;  Columbus,  O.  D. 
Parker;  Wattsburg,  D.  M.  Stever,  E.  H.  Danforth;  Riceville,Jephtha 
Marsh,  George  Eberman;  Spring  Creek  Mission,  Alexander  Bar- 
ris;  Youngsville,  A.  R.  Hammond;  Warren,  A.  C.  Tibbetts.  Fredonia 
District,  William  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  Niram 
Norton;  Dunkirk  Mission,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Portland,  John  Wrig- 
glesworth ; Westfield,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Quincy,  Jonathan  Whitely; 
Mayville,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Sherman,  Peter  Burroughs;  Sinclairville, 
J.  B.  Hammond,  D.  E.  Day;  Ellington,  O.  L.  Mead;  Leon,  John 
Akers,  L.  D.  Brooks;  Perrysburg,  John  Robinson;  Villenovia,  S. 
N.  Warner;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  John  Peate;  Silver  Creek, 
T.  P.  Warner. 


Calvin  R.  Pattee. 


The  origin  of  the  name  Pattee  is  of  historic  interest. 
Tt  was  originally  given  to  a badge  of  office  in  Norman 
Pleraldry,  which  consisted  of  a cross,  much  like  a Maltese 
cross,  and  signified  a paw  or  foot,  doubtless  because  of  its 
shape.  The  Pattees  came  to  this  country  and  settled  near 
Goffstown,  New  Hampshire  where  Calvin  Pattee  was 
born.  Hulda  MacOmber  wtis  of  Scotch  descent,  but  born 
in  Grand  Isle,  Vermont.  She  was  a member  of  the 
Friends  Society  but  lost  her  membership  by  marrying  out 


I 


314  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

of  the  Church.  Calvin  Pattee  and  Hulda  MacOmber 
Pattee  were  the  parents  of  Calvin  R.  Pattee,  who  was  born 
in  Longuil,  County  of  Prescott,  Upper  Canada,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1826.  He  spent  his  childhood  in  the  township  of 
Alfred  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Canadian  wilderness. 
Schools  were  few,  of  low  grade,  and  taught  by  incompe- 
tent teachers  and  his  home  was  far  from  the  school  house. 
He  learned  to  read,  write,  and  cypher,  sitting  in  the  cor- 
ner of  the  barn,  with  an  old  frameless  slate,  one  corner 
broken  off  for  a pencil,  and  covered  with  “sums”  his 
father  gave  him  while  threshing  his  grain  with  a flail. 
At  eleven  years  of  age,  he  tramped  through  the  almost 
unbroken  forest  to  a school,  five  miles  distant.  Not  until 
twelve  years  of  age  had  he  ever  seen  a church  or  heard  of 
a Sunday  School.  When  Calvin  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
his  father  died  two  hundred  miles  from  home,  and  he  has 
never  seen 'his  grave.  The  family  then  removed  to  Grand 
Isle,  Vermont,  where  they  tilled  a small  farm.  Calvin  had 
little  opportunity  to  acquire  an  education.  His  most 
profitable  schooling,  like  that  of  Peter  Cartwright,  was 
secured  in  “Brush  College  and  Swamp  University.”  Mr. 
Pattee  was  a diligent  student,  a keen  observer,  and  a ready 
learner,  and  has  secured  an  enviable  position  among  the 
educated  and  refined.  He  dates  his  conversion  in 
early  boyhood;  but  a more  satisfactory  experience  came 
to  him  about  1842.  At  that  time  the  whole  family  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Very  early  in 
life,  he  felt  a deep  and  growing  conviction  that  God  want- 
ed him  to  become  a preacher,  and  did  not  find  rest  of  heart 
until  he  yielded  to  the  divine  call.  He  was  licensed  as  a 
local  preacher  in  1845.  Some  year§  later,  the  family 
moved  into  Northern  Ohio.  Having  a taste  for  business 
he  went  east  and  found  himself  at  Franklin  Falls,  New 
York,  a new  and  growing  lumber  village  among  the  Adi- 
rondacks.  Some  years  previously,  he  had  been  urged  to 
undertake  a mission  to  this  wild  region,  but  had  refused. 
One  night,  a Mr.  Maxfield,  a godly  man,  came  to  his 
room  and  with  a voice  which  betokened  much  feeling  as- 
sured him  that  he  had  a stiong  impression  that  he  had 
been  called  to  preach  and  was  trying  to  run  away  from 
duty.  He  listened  to  this  announcement  and  to  the  godly 
councils  and  admonitions  of  Mr.  Maxfield  with  surprise 
and  deep  emotion.  The  next  morning,  climbing  the 


^.4 


Calvin  R.  Pattee. 


mountain  and  kneeling  on  a floor  of  rock,  he  promised 
prompt  obedience.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  18^2 
and  employed  as  a supply  on  the  circuit  in  the  mountains 
Mr.  -Pattee  says  of  this  chapter  in  his  experience:  “1 

scaled  the  cliffs,  crossed  the  mountains,  waded  the 
streams,  traversed  the  forests  without  even  a marked  tree 
to  guide  my  course.  My  outfit  consisted  of  my  bible  and 
hymn-book,  a hatchet,  a strong  jack-knife,  a few  provis- 
ions, some  matches,  a hook  and  line  and  a compass.  I 
could  cook  my  bacon,  or  a trout  from  some  mountain 
stream,  spitted  on  a forked  stick,  and  eat  it  with  my  bread 
on  the  sap-side  of  a piece  of  birch  bark  with  an  unalloyed 
relish.  If  night  overtook  me,  I had  only  to  make  a fire 
and  to  he  down  to  sleep  soundly  on  a bed  of  balsam 
spruce,  or  hemlock  branches,  after  making  the  forest  echo 
with  prayer  and  song.” 

We  cannot  follow  Mr.  Pattee  in  his  experiences  on  this 
wilderness  charge,  but  will  let  him  relate,  in  his  own 
words  a conversation  with  John  Brown  of  Harper’s 
Ferry  fame.  Mr.  Pattee  says : “I  became  quite  inti- 

mately acquainted  with  that  remarkable  man  during  my 
stay  m North  Elba  where  he  was  engaged  at  the  time  in 
the  settlement  of  certain  colored  people  to  whom  Garrett 
pmith  had  donated  land  for  that  purpose.  I regarded 
him  as  a sincere  Christian  man.  He  was  very  reticent  ex- 
cept on  his  chosen  theme— the  abolition  of  American 
Slavery.  Of  this  he  never  wearied,  though  he  did  some- 
times weary  me.  On  one  such  occasion  I said,  ‘All  this 
talk  does  not  seem  to  be  accomplishing  anything.  Is  it 
not  time  to  act  as  well  as  talk?’  ‘What  can  we  do?’  he 
asked  I said,  ‘Let  us  arm  ourselves  and  go  down  there 
and  show  them  that  we  mean  business.’  ‘We  would  not 
get  far  and  they  would  kill  us.’  he  said.  ‘Very  likely  ’ 

I replied;  ‘but  we  could  make  a good  fight  while  it  lasted 
and  at  least  make  a beginning,  and  who  can  tell  to  what  it 
might  lead  ? He  remained  in  thoughtful  silence  for  some 
minutes  and  then  said  solemnly,  ‘This  will  never  be  done 
\\  ithout  blood.  Some  one  must  yet  be  sacrificed  upon 
that  altar  and  it  might  as  well  be  I as  any  one  ’ This 
ended  the  conversation  and  I think  this  was 'my  last  inter- 
view with  him.  I did  not  think  so  much  of  it  then  as 

rofotnin' L6'  D'd  thlS  ,bit  °f  thoughtless  badinage  take 
root  in  his  overwrought  mind  and  bring  forth  fruit  in 


^i6  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Kansas  and  at  Harper’s  Ferry?  or  did  I only  strike  a 
chord  already  strung  to  such  a tension  that  it  could  not 
but  vibrate?”  We  might  mention  that  the  Thompson 
boys  who  were  converted  and  brought  into  the  Church 
under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Pattee,  were  with  John  Brown 
at  Harper’s  Ferry  and  shared  his  fate. 

Mr.  Pattee  now  came  within  the  bounds  of  Erie  Con- 
ference and  after  supplying  Geneva,  O.,  and  Waterford, 
Pa.,  each  one  year,  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1855.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Harriett  E.  McLean,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  McLean, 
July  3,  1856. 

LTpon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Pattee  was 
one  of  the  first  to  enlist,  but  was  rejected  at  that  time  be- 
cause of  physical  disability.  He  again  enlisted  a little 
later  and  was  elected  chaplain  of  Col.  Opdike’s  regiment 
but  was  not  able  to  enter  the  field.  In  1870,  at  a certain 
camp  meeting,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Pattee,  it  was  decided  to 
secure  for  camp  meeting  and  Sunday  School  purposes  the 
grounds  by  Chautauqua  Lake  where  the  mother  Chautau- 
qua now  stands. 

Mr.  Pattee  enjoyed  several  successful  pastorates  in  the 
Erie  Conference  with  gracious  revivals  and  improvements 
in  Church  property.  He  was  active  in  our  educational 
interests  as  has  been  his  record  wherever  the  providence 
of  God  has  called  him.  He  was  transferred  to  Wisconsin 
Conference  in  1870;  and  later  we  find  him  on  the  Pacific 
Coast — meantime  having  spent  some  years  in  the  work  in 
Kansas — still  pushing  forward  with  his  accustomed 
energy  important  interests  committed  to  his  charge. 

The  degree  of  “Doctor  of  Divinity”  was  conferred  on 
Mr.  Pattee  by  Baker  University  in  1887.  He  is  now  en- 
joying the  quiet  of  a superannuated  relation  in  his  own 
home  in  Los  Angeles,  California.  He  says : “And  now, 

after  fifty-five  years  in  the  ministry,  I am  still  actively  en- 
gaged in  church  work  of  all  kinds.  I feel  and  take  an 
active  interest  in  what  is  going  on  around  me  and  in  the 
world  abroad,  and  am  keeping  up  with  the  procession  as 
the  Church  moves  onward  to  its  great  and  final  victory.”* 

*C.  R.  Pattee — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  transferred  to  Wis- 
consin Conference,  1870;  transferred  to  South  Kansas  Confer- 
ence, 1880.  Appointments — 1855,  McKean;  1856,  Windsor;  1857- 
’58,  Middlesex;  1859-’60,  Harrisville;  1861-’62,  Bloomfield  and 


A.  C.  7 ibbcits,  J.  F.  Perry. 


A.  C.  Tibbetts,  J.  F.  Perry. 


As  Almanson  C.  Tibbetts,  “a  beloved  brother  and  faith- 
ful minister  of  Jesus  Christ,”  was  nearing-  the  sunset  of 
life,  he  said  to  a friend;  “My  sun  is  getting  low  in  the 
U est,  but  the  western  slopes  are  light.”  He  was  born  in 
Moncton,  Vermont,  Nov.  10,  1824;  and  died  in  Geneva, 
Ohio,  heb.  19,  1884.  He  was  a rare  man  and  a beautiful 
character,  practical,  judicious,  and  wise  in  his  administra- 
te™ ’ anr^  P^in,  clear,  and  forcible  in  his  preaching. 

I here  was  no  affectation  about  him,  no  display  of  intel- 
lectual superiority,  no  attempt  to  excite  attention  or  to 
gam  applause  by  eccentricity  of  any  kind.  His  sermons 
paitook  of  his  own  sweet  spirit.  There  was  no  invective, 
no  controversy,  no  impetuosity,  about  him.  He  could  not 
use  the  weapons  of  hostility,  but  in  all  his  ministrations, 
the  olive  branch  of  peace  was  a magic  wand.”  Mr.  Tib- 
betts lost  his  father,  when  but  seven  years  of  age,  and 
from  that  time  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  he  lived 
with  an  uncle  who  was  a Universalist.  He  savs : “I 

embraced  and  fully  believed  the  doctrines  of  Universal- 
ism,  but  in  1843  1 entered  upon  a careful  studv  of  the  New 
Testament  to  fit  myself  to  defend  these  doctrines  from  a 
scriptural  standpoint.  I then  made  the  disco verv — to  me 
all-important  that  the  Bible  contained  no  unconditional 
promises,  that  salvation  was  offered  to  all  only  condition- 
aHy  and  that  I must  comply  with  these  conditions  if  I 
would  be  saved.  Immediately  I publicly  renounced  mv 
former  behet,  embraced  the  Christian  faith,  gave  mv  heart 
to  the  Savior,  and  was  truly  converted.  This  was  in 
} 44-  ~C  anuscript  Autobiography.)  He  was  united 
m marriage  .with  Miss  Eliza  A.  Derry  at  Niagara  Falls, 
New  ^_ork,  in  1846.  Air.  Tibbetts  w*as  licensed  to  preach 

iT  ' •?’  haIIon  in  i854,  and  sent  as  a supply  to  the 
Iviceville  Charge.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence as^  probationer  in  1855.  His  name  appears  in  the 


^1rve0Semina'rw,  1^67S\\^ai  m*n^P°n  ’ 1 Agent>  Weste™  Re- 

oemmarj  , 1867,  Warren,  Pa.;  1868-  69  We^rfiAiH- 

Beloit,  Wis.;  1872,  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  Cotton  Street ^1878  *hi’ 

^a^s'  Wis.;  1874-’75,  Berlin,  Wis.';  1876  Men'asha  Wis  • 

boidi  Kas  H°m3 ’85Wwill1878h79’  °T°’  Wis-V  1880--82,’  Hum- 
Kas,’  f88S7/  Conferenw"r>Sundav’ 

r^d0eIncaendLoTsrAngel°eCJ 18m9°6’  P-sent 


21 


3 18  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

supernumerary  list  in  1867-1872,  and  again  in  1880.  He 
was  superannuated  in  1881,  still  laboring  on  as  strength 
would  permit  unto  the  end.  He  had  very  extensive  re- 
vivals in  Mayville,  Portland,  Geneva,  and  Wesleyville; 
and  did  acceptable  work  on  all  his  appointments.* 

After  forty-eight  years  of  effective  work  in  the  min- 
istry in  the  Erie  Conference  and  nearly  three  years  of  re- 
tirement in  the  superannuate  relation,  James  Finney  Perry 
passed  to  his  reward,  January  9,  1906.  With  his  wife 
and  daughter  he  had  made  his  home  with  his  youngest 
son  in  Salisbury,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  born  near 
the  mouth  of  Spence  Creek,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 
23,  1830.  His  parents  were  devout  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  clearly  converted  at  a 
watchmeeting  held  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Punxsutawney  in  1852  under  the  ministry  of  John  Whip- 
po.  In  1854  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  J.  R.  Lyon, 
and  labored  a portion  of  the  year  as  a supply  on  the 
Cooperstown  charge  under  Ahab  Keller.  The  following 
year  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth 
Hunter,  of  Tionesta,  Pennsylvania,  Sept.  2,  1856. 

Mr.  Perry  was  a diligent  student  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  well  read  in  Christian  doctrines.  He  was  a plain  and 
powerful  preacher.  His  musical  voice  was  an  important 
item  in  the  equipment  of  talents  which  made  his  ministry 
so  effective.  He  enjoyed  many  great  revivals  in  his 
various  fields  of  labor.  During  his  ministry  he  received 
over  twenty-five  hundred  on  probation.  “His  beautiful 
Christian  character  shone  best  in  the  sacred  home  circle. 
His  influence  there  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  all  his  children 
are  active  workers  in  the  church.  All  who  knew  him 
would  bear  testimony  to  his  nobility  of  character — gentle, 
patient,  loving,  lovable,  loyal,  earnest,  devoted  to  and  in 

*A.  C.  Tibbetts — Licensed  to  preach,  1855;  admitted  on  trial, 
1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859, 
Simpson;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  February  19,  1884.  Appoint- 
ments— 1854,  Riceville  (supply);  1855,  Warren,  Pa.;  1856,  Fre- 
donia;  1857-’58,  Mayville;  1859-’60,  Dunkirk;  1861-’62,  Portland; 
1863,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1864,  Geneva  and  Saybrook;  1865- 
’66,  Geneva;  1867-’72,  supernumerary;  1873,  Fairview;  1874,  May- 
ville; 1875-76,  Portland;  1877-79,  Wesleyville;  1880,  supernu- 
merary; 1881-’83,  superannuated. 


. 


Grover , Yingling,  Brown,  Wilson. 


319 


love  with  his  work,  an  example  to  us  all.”* — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , March  22,  1906.) 

Grover,  Yingling,  Brown,  Wilson. 

Joshua  B.  Grover  was  born  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula  Co., 
Ohio,  Dec.  11,  1827.  When  two  years  of  age,  the  family 
removed  to  Hartsgrove,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  built  a cabin  in  the  woods  and  began  to  establish  a 
new  home,  but  four  years  later  sold  their  land  and  pushed 
out  again  into  the  woods.  Here  Joshua  grew  up  to  man- 
hood working  hard  under  many  discouragements.  He  was 
converted  in  1845  in  a Free  Will  Baptist  Church,  but  cast 
his  lot  with  the  Methodist.  Almost  immediately  he  felt 
called  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  says : “I  would  have  been 
one  of  the  happiest  mortals  living  if  I had  been  free  to  fit 
myself  for  that  work.”  But  he  considered  it  his  duty  to 
help  his  father  at  home.  He  entered  Kingsville  Academy 
in  1849  ancl  remained  three  summers,  teaching  winters 
and  working  during  vacations  at  anything  he  could  get 
to  do.  He  entered  Allegheny  College  in  1852,  but  his 
money  was  soon  exhausted  and  the  next  year  he  went  to 
New  Orleans  and  taught  in  the  city  schools.  He  then  re- 
turned to  College  and  graduated  in  1855. 

Mr.  Grover  married  Miss  Rachel  N.  Varner  June  26, 
1855,  and  the  same  year  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  and  appointed  to  Gustavus  Circuit.  He  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, located  in  1880,  and  was  employed  as  a supply 
on  the  Kidder  charge,  Missouri,  in  1881.  After  serving 
this  work  one  year,  he  was  re-admitted  into  the  Missouri 
Conference.  He  was  superannuated  in  1886,  and  settled 
in  his  pleasant  home  in  Cameron,  Mo.,  where  he  died, 
June  21,  1907.1 

*J.  F.  Perry — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial, 
1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859, 
Simpson;  deceased,  January  9,  1906.  Appointments— 1854, 

Cooperstown  (supply);  1855-’56,  Washington;  1857-’58,  Corsica; 
1859,  State  Road;  1860-’61,  Shippenville;  1862-’63,  Curllsville; 
1864-’65,  Clarksville;  1866,  New  Wilmington;  1867-’68,  Evans- 
burg;  1869-70,  Rockville;  1871-73,  Sheakleyville;  1874-75,  Saeg- 
ertown;  1876-77,  Townville;  1878-79,  Cochranton;  1880,  Salem, 
Mercer  Co.;  1881-’83,  Rockville;  1884-’86,  Springboro;  1887-’88, 
Spartansburg;  1889-’90,  Mill  Village;  1891-’94,  Conneaut  Lake; 
1895,  Linesville;  1896,  Dayton;  1897-’98,  Frewsburg;  1899-1900, 
Sugar  Grove;  1901-’02,  Nansen;  1903,  superannuated. 

tJ.  B.  Grover — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 


320 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

After  years  of  suffering*,  but  only  a week  of  acute  ill- 
ness, Elliott  H.  Yingling  entered  into  rest  at  his  home  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  Feb.  6,  1905.  He  was  born  in  Arm- 
strong County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1828.  He  was  converted 
at  Cherry  Run  camp-meeting  in  1845,  educated  at  “Brush 
College,”  and  licensed  to  preach  and  received  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1855.  His  first  appointment  was 
to  the  Shippenville  Circuit  which  consisted  of  fourteen 
preaching  places  and  required  eighty-five  miles  of  travel. 
He  served  sixteen  appointments  during  his  active  minis- 
try, and  his  pastorates  were  almost  continual  revivals. 
He  was  granted  a supernumerary  relation  in  1887,  and 
was  superannuated  in  1892. 

Mr.  Yingling  was  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret 
Troutman,  of  West  Freedom,  Pennsylvania,  in  1847.  She 
died  in  1854,  and  in  i860  he  married  Mary  Sigler,  of 
Lewiston. 

He  was  transferred  to  the  East  Ohio  Conference  in 
1877.* 

Tames  F.  Brown  was  born  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Oct.  25,  1819.  In  1821,  the  family  moved  to  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky.  The  father  dying,  the  mother  with  her 
three  sons  moved  to  Portage  County,  Ohio,  in  1833,  and 
purchased  a farm.  James  with  his  younger  brother  re- 
mained on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age 

deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  located,  1880; 
re-admitted,  Missouri  Conference,  1882.  Appointments — 1855, 
Gustavus;  1856,  Hubbard;  1857,  Williamsfield;  1858,  Orange- 
ville; 1859,  West  Farmington;  1860-’61,  Burton;  1862,  Jackson; 
1863-’64,  Braceville;  1865-’66,  Deerfield;  1867,  Twinsburg;  1868, 
Mt.  Jackson;  1869,  Lowell;  1870,  Montville;  1871,  Cherry  Valley; 
1872-73,  Kelloggsville;  1874-76,  Orwell  and  Colebrook;  1877-78, 
Troy;  1879,  Huntsburg  and  Burton;  1881,  Kidder,  Mo.  (under 
presiding  elder);  1882-’83,  Osborn,  Mo.;  1884,  Jamesport,  Mo.; 
1885,  Bethany,  Mo.;  1886-1906,  superannuated;  deceased,  Cameron, 
Mo.,  June  21,  1907. 

*E.  H.  Yingling — Licensed  to  preach,  1855;  admitted  on  trial, 
1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859, 
Simpson;' transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference,  1877;  deceased, 
Cleveland,  O.,  February  6,  1905.  Appointments — 1855,  Shippen- 
ville; 1856-’57,  Brady’s  Bend;  1858-’59,  Brookville;  1860-’61,  Silver 
Creek;  1862-’64,  Dunkirk,  1865-’66,  Fredonia;  1867,  Mayville; 
1868-70,  Warren,  O.;  1871-72,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street;  1873-74, 
Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1875-76,  Girard,  Pa.;  1877-79,  Ashtabula; 
1880-’81,  Steubenville,  Hamline;  1882-’84,  Cleveland,  South  Park; 
1885,  Cleveland,  Superior  Street;  1886,  Windham;  1887-’91,  super- 
numerary; 1892-’1904,  superannuated. 


\ 


Grover , Yingling , Brown,  Wilson. 


321 


— clearing  land,  raising  crops,  working  hard.  He  at- 
tended the  common  school  and  academy,  taught  school 
several  terms,  studied  medicine,  and  graduated  at  the 
Medical  College  in  1844.  He  was  married,  the  same 
year,  to  Miss  Eunice  M.  Fairbanks,  a descendant  of  Jon- 
athan Fairbanks,  who  settled  near  Boston,  Massachusetts 
in  1636.  He  was  converted  at  a camp-meeting  in  1843, 
and  soon  afterwards  licensed  to  preach.  After  practicing 
medicine  twelve  years,  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1855.  His  labors  were  heroic  and  labor- 
ious, and  he  was  blessed  with  fruitful  revivals.  Like 
Luke  the  beloved  physician  he  was  greatly  beloved  by  his 
people,  and  honored  and  trusted  by  the  churches. 

He  was  appointed  to  Windham,  Ohio,  in  1863,  from 
which  he  entered  the  army  as  a surgeon  and  remained  in 
that  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  put  in 
charge  of  a hospital  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  which  held 
many  thousand  confederate  prisoners.  He  then  took 
charge  of  the  Pest  Hospital — replying  to  General  Rich- 
ardson who  requested  this  service;  “I  will  do  anything 
or  go  anywhere  to  serve  my  country.”  Two  hundred  and 
fifty  patients  filled  the  building,  and  in  eight  months  he 
treated  fourteen  hundred  cases  of  smallpox  with  the  loss 
by  death  of  but  four  per  cent.  In  addition  to  this  he  ex- 
amined the  recruits  who  came  to  camp,  sometimes  one 
hundred  and  fifty  in  a day.  His  wife  and  two  daughters 
were  also  nurses  in  the  general  hospital,  and  did  a most 
noble  work. 


At  the  close  of  the  war,  with  broken  health,  he  practiced 
medicine  in  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio.  In  1868,  he  returned 
to  his  much  loved  work,  and  continued  until  his  superan- 
nuation in  1873.  In  this  later  season  of  effective  labor, 
he  was  greatly  blessed — forming  classes,  organizing  so- 
cieties, conducting  camp-meetings,  building  churches,  pay- 
ing off  debts,  gathering  children  into  Sunday  Schools, 
holding  revival  services,  and  abundant  in  all  good  works. 
In  his  retirement,  his  brethren  speak  of  his  noble  record 
and  kindly  spirit,  and  honor  this  faithful  servant  of  the 
veteran  band  whose  face  was  towards  life’s  sunset.  He  en- 
tered into  rest,  March  30,  1903.* 


*J.  F.  Brown — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  became  a member 
of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased. 


B 


. 


322 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Cyril  Wilson  was  born  in  Shalersville,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  Dec.  29,  1826  ; and  died  in  New  Bethlehem,  Clarion 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  9,  1881.  He  joined  the  Erie  Conference 
on  trial  in  1855,  and  remained  an  active  member  until 
death  transferred  him  to  join  his  brethren  who  had  gone 
on  before.  He  was  a skillful  workman  and  loved  his 
work.  He  was  a brave  soldier  of  the  cross,  and  never 
more  happy  than  when  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle.  He 
preached  often  on  the  great  doctrinal  themes  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  was  always  master  of  his  subject.  He  loved  the 
work  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  appreciated  its  import- 
ance. He  fell  at  his  post,  going  up  to  meet  his  God  with 
glad  shouts  of  “Hallelujah  !”  upon  his  lips.  He  died  as 
the  good  man  dies.* 

James  K.  Mendenhall',  George  M.  Eberman. 

James  K.  Mendenhall  was  born  in  Bald  Eagle  Valley, 
Centre  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  15,  1824.  In  the  spring  of  1825, 
his  father  removed  with  his  family  into  Jefferson  County, 
and  settled  upon  a tract  of  land  in  the  wilderness,  and 
lived  in  the  open  air,  sleeping  in  a covered  wagon,  until, 
with  the  help  of  his  neighbors  from  ten  miles  around,  he 
had  built  a little  log  cabin.  In  this  cabin  his  early  years 
were  spent.  At  first  there  were  no  schools  of  any  kind 
within  reach.  While  yet  a lad  he  helped  clear  and  civilize 
the  land.  A school  house  having  been  built  near  his 
home,  a Presbyterian  minister  was  employed  to  teach,  and 
from  him  James  received  his  first  lessons.  He  was  then 
about  seven  years  of  age.  He  desired  to  obtain  a more 
liberal  education  than  the  district  school  afforded,  but  his 
father  becoming  an  invalid,  he  was  compelled  to  work  to 

Cleveland,  O.,  March  30,  1903.  Appointments — 1855,  Orange- 
ville; 1856,  Southington;  1857,  Parkman;  1858-’59,  Ellsworth; 
1860-’61,  Northampton;  1862,  Edinburg;  1863,  Windham;  1864-’66, 
superannuated;  1867,  supernumerary;  1868,  Mantua;  1869-70, 
Charleston;  1871,  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove;  1872,  Lowell;  2873- 
1902,  superannuated. 

♦Cyril  Wilson — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  deceased,  New  Beth- 
lehem, Pa.,  May  9,  1881.  Appointments — 1855,  Edinburg;  1856- 
*57,  Ellsworth;  1858-’59,  Troy,  O.;  1860,  Bedford  and  Warrens- 
ville;  1861,  Mayfield;  1862-’63,  Tallmadge;  1864,  Middlesex;  1865- 
’66,  Hendersonville;  1867,  Clintonville;  1868,'  supernumerary; 
1869-70,  Williamsfield;  1871,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1872-73,  Troy,  Pa.; 
1874-’75,  Clarion;  1876-78,  Punxsutawney ; 1879,  DuBois;  1880, 
New  Bethlehem. 


James  K.  Mendenhall , George  M.  Eberman.  323 

support  the  family.  But  the  gate  of  knowledge  was  not 
closed.  He  borrowed  every  book  that  came  in  his  way, 
and  studied  by  the  light  of  pine  knots  burning  in  the  open 
fire-place  in  the  cabin.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
began  to  teach — his  first  term  of  three  months  bringing 
him  eleven  dollars  per  month.  Thus  for  three  years  he 
taught  school  in  the  winter,  and  worked  on  the  farm  in 
summer.  In  1851,  George  F.  Reeser  built  the  first  church 
in  that  part  of  the  country — in  Brookville,  the  county  seat 
— and  at  the  dedication  of  that  church,  Brother  Menden- 
hall and  his  wife  were  converted,  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1852,  he  was  licensed 
to  exhort  by  Rev.  J.  R.  Lyon,  and  he  exercised  his  gifts 
in  the  school  houses  of  the  vicinity.  In  1853  he  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  the  quarterly  conference,  and  two 
years  later  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  appointed  to  the  Warsaw  Mission.  He  was  ef- 
fective forty-three  consecutive  years ; and  promoted  to  the 
•superannuated  relation  in  1898.  Under  date  of  August 
11,  1903,  he  writes;  “I  am  now  waiting  for  the  call  of 
my  Redeemer,  and  expecting  to  see  him  in  his  beauty 
when  my  work  is  done  here  on  earth.”* 

William  R.  Gehr  was  received  into  the  Erie  Conference 
on  probation  in  1855,  and  appointed  to  the  Allegheny  Mis- 
sion; returned  to  the  same  field  in  1856.  A part  of  the 
second  year  he  was  confined  by  sickness.  In  1857  he  was 
appointed  to  Leon;  in  1858  to  Mina;  in  1859  to  Wesley- 
ville.  Most  of  this  year  he  was  unable  to  preach.  In 
i860  he  was  superannuated,  and  so  continued  till  death. 
His  health  was  feeble  when  received  into  the  Conference. 
He  was  a good  man.f 

*J.  K.  Mendenhall — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859, 
Simpson.  Appointments — 1855,  Warsaw  Mission;  1856,  Curlls- 
ville;  1857,  Troy,  Pa.;  1858-’59,  Luthersburg;  1860,  Pleasantville; 
1861,  Riceville;  1862,  Kinzua;  1863-’64,  Warrensville;  1865-’66, 
Greene;  1867,  Lockport;  1868,  Greenfield  and  Mina;  1869-’70, 
North  Washington;  1871-72,  Pulaski;  1873-75,  Charleston,  Pa.; 
1876-78,  supernumerary;  1879-’81,  Edenburg,  Lawrence  Co.;  1882- 
’83,  New  Lebanon;  1884,  Mt.  Jackson;  1885,  Mahoningtown; 
1886-’88,  Linesville;  1889-’91,  Cooperstown ; 1892-’93,  Hydetown; 
1894,  Polk;  1895-’97,  New  Richmond;  1898-1907,  superannuated. 

fW.  R.  Gehr — Admitted  on  trial,  1855;  full  connection,  1857; 
deacon,  1857,  Scott;  elder,  1859,  Simpson;  deceased,  1861.  Ap- 
pointments— 1855-’56,  Allegheny  Valley;  1857,  Leon;  1858,  Mina; 
1859,  Wesleyville;  1860,  superannuated. 


324 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


George  M.  Eberman  was  born  in  Columbia,  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  25,  1817.  The  family  moved  to  Mercer 
County  in  1826;  and  in  1842,  he  was  happily  converted, 
and  served  the  church  as  class  leader  until  urged  to  as- 
sume weightier  responsibilities.  He  did  not  doubt  that 
lie  was  divinely  called  to  preach  the  gospel,  but  he  had  a 
deep  sense  of  personal  insufficiency.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1853,  and  admitted  to  the  traveling  connection 
in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1855.  “His  social  qualities  and 
habits  were  excellent.  Cheerful  without  levity,  cordial  and 
sincere  in  his  friendship,  a man  without  guile,  it  was  plain 
that  he  affected  nothing  and  had  nothing  to  conceal.  The 
beauty  and  transparency  of  his* life  and  character  readily 
won  the  confidence  of  all,  and  gave  force  to  his  words  of 
entreaty  and  persuasion.  If  not  a great  preacher  as  some 
men  count  greatness,  he  was  eminently  an  evangelist,  who 
knew  much  of  the  gospel  himself,  and  made  the  way  of 
salvation  by  faith  very  plain  to  others.  He  was  strong 
in  faith.  He  was  seldom  before  Conference  as  a speaker, 
but  often  called  to  lead  in  the  devotions.  During  all  the 
years  of  his  active  ministry,  Brother  Eberman  was  abund- 
ant in  labors,  and  ranked  among  our  most  useful  men. 
Loving  his  work  and  very  diligent  in  it,  God  honored  his 
willing  servant  by  making  him  the  instrument  in  turning 
many  to  righteousness,  and  the  churches  he  served  were 
greatly  edified  by  his  ministry.”  He  was  a supernumer- 
ary in  1866,  and  again  in  1872-1883;  he  superannuated 
in  1884.  During  most  of  this  time  he  lived  in  Center- 
ville, Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  passed  away,  May  7, 
1885.  Throughout  the  whole  period  of  his  retirement  he 
labored,  as  his  strength  would  permit,  in  the  Lord’s  vine- 
yard. The  people  loved  him  and  highly  appreciated  his 
services.  Brother  Eberman  was  thrice  married,  and  ever 
happy  in  his  home  life.* 

Showers  of  Blessings. 

S.  A.  Milroy  was  kept  busy  on  the  Washington  circuit 

*G.  M.  Eberman — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857,  Scott;  * elder,  1859, 
Simpson;  deceased,  Centerville,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  May  7,  1885. 
Appointments — 1855,  Riceville;  1856,  Columbus  and  Spring 
Creek;  1857,  Columbus;  1858,  Delanti;  1859,  Espyville;  1860-’61, 
Steuben;  1862-’63,  Sunville;  1864-’65,  Saegertown;  1866,  super- 
numerary; 1867-’68,  Rockville;  1869,  Evansburg;  1870-71,  Rice- 
ville; 1872-’83,  supernumerary;  1884,  superannuated. 


L* -J 


Showers  of  Blessings. 


325 


in  1855.  He  writes:  “The  Lord  is  with  us  on  this 

charge.  We  commenced  our  first  protracted  meeting  at 
Henry’s  School  House ; the  Lord  was  present  to  bless  the 
people,  and  a goodly  number  were  added  to  the  church. 
We  next  proceeded  to  Calvary,  and  the  Lord  was  there 
aiso,  to  kill  and  to  make  alive.  We  then  went  to  High- 
land; here  we  had  a glorious  meeting.  Our  next  meet- 
ing was  our  second  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Newtown. 
We  closed  our  fifth  protracted  meeting  at  Leech’s,  on  the 
28th  of  December.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was  six- 
teen or  seventeen  converted,  and  nine  join  the  church. 
We  are  now  engaged  in  our  sixth  protracted  meeting  at 
Cherrington;  we  commenced  it  on  the  day  before  New 
Years ; we  have  a good  prospect  for  a revival  here ; a cloud 
of  mercy  seems  to  be  hanging  over  us.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , Feb.  5,  1856.) 

J.  G.  Thompson,  the  preacher-in-charge,  writes  under 
date  of  January  8,  1855 ; “There  have  been  a number  of 
revivals  on  Curllsville  circuit  during  the  fall  and  winter, 
so  far,  and  the  devil  has  been  greatly  troubled.  He  has 
‘made  a full,  determined  stand’  to  keep  the  people  from 
getting  religion,  but  he  has  proved  himself  a blind  leader 
— he  lied  about  our  camp-meeting ; he  originated  and  cir- 
culated a report  that  there  was  no  water  for  the  camp; 
that  it  was  given  up,  &c.,  which  kept  some  away;  and  yet 
we  had  a glorious  camp  meeting.  We  may  mention 
Cherry  Run,  Black  Fox,  Callensburg,  and  especially  Ri- 
mersburg,  as  sharing  largely  in  the  blessed  spirit  of  re- 
vival, and  the  work  is  still  going  on." — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  Jan.  16,  1855.) 

S.  A.  Milroy  reports  a good  work  on  the  Corsica  cir- 
cuit : “The  good  Lord  has  favored  us  with  a revival  of 

religion.  It  commenced  about  three  months  ago.  Pro- 
tracted efforts  have  been  made  use  of  at  several  appoint- 
ments for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  The 
appointments  now  specially  favored  with  revival  influence 
are  Kahles,  Kanady,  and  Roseville.  The  membership 
have  been  refreshed  and  made  to  rejoice,  while  backsliders 
have  been  reclaimed ; and  sinners  brought  into  the  fold  of 
Christ.  Somewhere  between  ninety  and  one  hundred  have 
been  converted,  and  eighty-five  of  them  have  given  us 
their  names  as  probationers.’’ — (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, March  6 , 18  55.) 


326 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


il 


From  C.  R.  Chapman  glad  news  comes  from  the  Rock- 
ville circuit:  “It  may  be  interesting  to  some  of  the 

friends  of  Zion  at  least,  to  hear  that  our  new  chnrch  in 
Richmond — an  afternoon  appointment  connected  with 
this  place,  constituting  Rockville  charge — has  been 
finished,  and  dedicated  to  the  Lord  of  glory,  and  that  He 
to  whom  the  offering  was  made,  came  to  His  temple,  and 
declared  it  to  be  His,  by  the  resurrection  of  dead  souls  to 
newness  of  life.  The  dedicatory  services  were  held  on 
the  22d  of  February.  The  sermon  for  the  occasion  was 
preached  by  Dr.  Kingsley.  . . . Rev.  John  McLean 

preached  an  interesting  discourse  in  the  evening.  The 
meetings  were  continued  from  evening  to  evening,  be- 
tween three  and  four  weeks,  during  which  the  power  and 
glory  of  the  holy  one  of  Israel  was  revealed  in  our  midst, 
and  about  forty  souls  professed  to  be  redeemed  by  the 
blood  of  Christ.  The  convictions  were  deep,  and  the  con- 
versions generally  clear  and  satisfactory/' — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  April  io,  1855.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Albion,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  dedicated  November  24,  1855.  It  was  a beau- 
tiful and  convenient  structure,  alike  creditable  to  the  heads 
and  hearts  of  the  good  people  of  that  place.  The  house 
was  built  with  reference  to  “family  sittings,”  though  not 
a “pewed  church.”  “After  the  society,  which  is  small 
and  not  wealthy,  had  taxed  itself  to  what  appeared  to  be 
above  the  limit  of  its  ability,  there  was  still  a debt  of 
$1,000  unpaid  on  the  day  of  dedication.  A statement  of 
this  indebtedness  was  made  at  the  close  of  the  service,  and 
the  congregation  commenced  giving,  and  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  all  kept  on  giving,  until  the  whole  debt  was  wiped 
out.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Dec.  11,  1855.) 

A Methodist  society  was  organized  in  Jamestown,  Pa., 
in  1855.  Among  the  early  members  may  be  named : John 
Fidler,  Thomas  Sherbondy,  D.  G.  Clark,  J.  W. 
Clark,  Jonathan  Hoover,  David  Hoover,  John  Koonce 
and  wife,  William  F.  Johnson,  Elias  Bates,  James  Frame, 
and  Irvin  West.  Services  were  held  in  the  borough  school 
house  until  1859  when  a frame  meeting  house  was  erected 
at  a cost  of  $1,800.  In  1865  a parsonage  was  built  cost- 
ing $1,000. — (History  of  Mercer  County,  Brown,  Runk 
& Co.,  1888,  p.  499.)' 


m 


Our  Conference  Session  in  1856.  327 

Our  Conference  Session  in  1856. 

Our  conference  met  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  July  9,  1856,  Bishop  Edmund  R.  Ames  presiding.  Ni- 
ram  Norton  was  chosen  secretary,  and  William  F.  Day 
and  George  W.  Chesbro  Assistant  Secretaries.  Eighty- 
eight  out  of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  brethren  ans- 
wered to  their  names. 

Committees  were  appointed  on  Education,  Slavery, 
Tract  Cause,  Sunday  Schools,  Temperance,  Bible  Cause, 
Memoirs,  Missionary  Cause,  and  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate. 

Ira  Norris,  Justus  O.  Rich,  David  E.  Day,  E.  J.  Kin- 
ney and  Samuel  Reynolds  were  located. 

Darius  Smith,  Thomas  Benn  and  Joseph  Chicles  were 
made  effective.  Obed  D.  Parker  was  superannuated. 
David  Preston  had  been  called  to  his  reward.  George 
L.  Little  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership. 

Ezra  S.  Gillette,  Major  Colegrove,  Russell  M.  War- 
ren, E.  A.  Anderson,  Joseph  Allen,  and  Nathan  M.  Shu- 
rick  were  admitted  on  trial.* 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  passed  and 
ordered  published  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate : 

“Whereas,  The  practice  of  dancing  prevails  in  some 
parts  of  our  work,  and 

“Whereas,  Many  of  the  so-called  social  parties  of  the 
day  practice  such  diversions  as  cannot  be  used  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 

“Whereas,  Some  of  our  members  attend  'shows,’ 
thereby  giving  countenance  to  mountebanks — therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  our  members  be  advised  that  such 
practices  are  contrary  to  the  General  Rules,  and  that  such 
as  persist  in  them  will  be  dealt  with  as  the  Discipline  di- 
rects, for  unchristian  or  imprudent  conduct,  as  the  case 
may  require.”  Signed  by  E.  J.  L.  Baker. 

G.  B.  Hawkins. 

Two  recommendations  of  the  General  Conference — to 
so  alter  the  Discipline  as  to  authorize  the  appointment  of 
Missionary  Bishops,  and  to  change  the  ratio  of  represen- 
tation in  the  General  Conference  from  one  in  thirty  to  one 
in  forty-five  received  conference  concurrence. 

A committee  consisting  of  Hiram  Kinsley,  John  Bain, 
G.  W.  Clarke,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  Niram  Norton,  G.  B.  Haw- 


History  of  Uric  Conference. 


kins,  and  Moses  Hill  was  appointed  to  whom  was  referred 
the  action  of  the  Trustees  of  Allegheny  College  affecting 
the  salaries  of  the  professors.  The  committee  reported 
the  following  which  was  adopted  by  a vote  of  83  to  18: 
“Whereas,  The  Trustees  of  Allegheny  College  have 
raised  the  salaries  of  the  Professors  of  said  College  with- 
out the  knowledge  or  consent  of  this  Conference,  there- 
fore 

“Resolved,  That  the  Centenary  Fund  Society  of  the 
Erie  Annual  Conference  he,  and  the  same  is  hereby  in- 
structed not  to  pay  any  amount  on  the  salaries  of  said 
Professors  above  what  those  salaries  were  before  thus 
raised  bv  the  Trustees.”* 

Appointments  for  1856:  Cleveland  District,  John  Bain,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  Moses  Hill;  Erie 
Street.  J.  E.  Chapin;  Perry  Street,  J.  D.  Norton;  City  Mission, 
Thomas  Stubbs;  Newburg,  L.  W.  Ely,  Albert  Norton;  Chagrin 
Falls,  H.  P.  Henderson,  George  Stocking,  sup.;  Bainbridge, 
Samuel  Wilkinson;  Mayfield,  William  Lund;  Willoughby,  Rod- 
erick Norton;  Painesville,  Samuel  Gregg;  Mentor,  R.  H.  Hurl- 
burt;  Chardon.  Hiram  Kellogg,  W.  A.  Matson;  Concord,  Allen 
Fouts;  Geneva,  Darius  Smith,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Ashtabula,  William 
Patterson;  Mechanicsville,  Ezra  Wade;  Asbury  Seminary,  to  be 
supplied;  Cleveland,  Seamen’s  Bethel,  Dillon  Prosser;  American 
Colonization  Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Agent.  Ravenna  District, 
Albina  Hall,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Franklin, 
Valorus  Lake;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  D.  C.  Wright;  Northampton,  T. 
B.  Tait;  Tallmadge,  William  Monks;  Akron,  W.  F.  Day;  Mantua, 
Potter  Sullivan;  Hudson,  Benjamin  Excell;  Twinsburg,  J.  H. 
McCarty;  Edinburg,  C.  T.  Kingsbury,  David  King;  Parkman, 
W.  M.  Bear,  S.  W.  Ingraham;  Ellsworth,  one  to  be  supplied, 
Cyril  Wilson;  Windham  and  Nelson,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Poland, 
A.  D.  Morton;  Charlestown  and  Freedom,  P.  P.  Pinney.  Warren 
District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  E.  J.  L,  Baker; 
Braceville,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Southington,  J.  F.  Brown;  West  Farm- 
ington, Lewis  Clark,  one  to  be  supplied;  Bloomfield,  H.  N. 
Stearns;  Windsor,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Youngstown,  John  Tribby; 
Liberty,  Stephen  Heard;  Bristol  and  Mecca,  Ira  Eddy;  Gustavus, 
J.  K.  Hallock,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Hubbard,  J.  B.  Grover;  Hartford 
and  Brookfield,  William  Sampson;  Williamsfield,  R.  W.  Crane; 
Orangeville,  J.  W.  Hill,  N.  M.  Shurick.  Erie  District,  Joseph  Leslie, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  W.  F.  Wilson;  McKean,  H.  M.  Chamberlain, 

*E.  A.  Anderson — Admitted  on  trial,  1856;  full  connection, 
1858;  deacon,  1858,  Simpson;  elder,  1860,  Janes;  withdrew  under 
charges,  1862.  Appointments — 1856,  Wattsburg;  1857-’58,  Pine 
Grove;  1859-’60,  Sugar  Grove;  1861,  Little  Valley. 

*N.  M.  Shurick — Admitted  on  trial,  1856;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  .1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  transferred  to  Ken- 
tucky Conference,  1864;  transferred  to  Cincinnati  Conference, 
1866;  located,  1867.  Appointments — 1856,  Orangeville;  1857, 
Windsor;  1858,  Willoughby;  1859,  Montville;  1860,  Sinclairviile; 
1861,  Delanti;  1862-’63,  Shenango;  1865,  Covington,  Ky.,  Main 
Street;  1866,  Cincinnati,  O.,  Pearl  Street. 


Our  Conference  Session  in  1856. 


329 


Frederick  Vernon,  D.  W.  Vorse,  sup.;  Girard,  I.  O.  Fisher; 
Springfield,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Albion,  David  Mizener,  E.  S.  Gillette; 
Wesley ville,  John  McLean,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  North  East, 
J.  W.  Lowe;  Kingsville,  A.  M.  Brown;  Conneaut,  John  Prosser; 
Waterford,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Edinboro  and  Venango,  J.  B.  Orwig; 
Morgan,  Alvin  Burgess;  Denmark  and  Pierpont,  Stephen  Hub- 
bard, William  Hayes;  Jefferson,  W.  R.  Johnson.  Mead  ville  Dis- 
trict, Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  G.  W.  Maltby; 
Saegertown,  John  Abbott,  W.  C.  Henderson;  Cochranton,  Robert 
Gray;  Sunville,  Jephtha  Marsh,  one  to  be  supplied;  Franklin, 

G.  W.  Chesbro;  Greenville,  John  Graham;  New  Lebanon,  I.  C. 
T.  McClelland,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  sup.;  Salem,  Wareham  French, 
S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Evansburg,  Isaiah  Lane;  Conneautville,  Jona- 
than Whitely,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Rockville,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Cambridge, 
and  Le  Boeuff,  N.  C.  Brown,  one  to  be  supplied;  Espyville,  Isaac 
Scofield,  one  to  be  supplied;  Allegheny  College,  L.  D.  Williams, 
professor;  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Calvin  Kingsley,  editor. 
New  Castle  District,  Gaylord  B.  Hawkins,  presiding  elder;  New 
Castle,  Thomas  Guy;  Mt.  Jackson,  S.  K.  Paden;  Wilmington, 

H.  H.  Moore;  Portersfield,  James  Shields;  Harrisville,  T.  G. 
McCreary;  North  Washington,  J.  H.  Vance;  Hendersonville,  A. 

L.  Miller,  John  McComb;  Clintonville,  Hiram  Luce;  Clarksville, 

M.  H.  Bettes;  Sharon,  N.  G.  Lake;  Mercer,  R.  A.  Caruthers; 
Delaware  Grove,  J.  W.  Weldon;  Middlesex,  Joseph  Uncles. 
Clarion  District,  Josiah  Flower,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  J.  T. 
Boyle;  Corsica,  Thomas  Benn;  Brookville,  to  be  supplied;  Luth- 
ersburg,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Warsaw,  G.  W.  Moore;  Punxsutaw- 
ney,  Jared  Howe,  one  to  be  supplied;  Troy,  S.  A.  Milroy;  New 
Bethlehem,  Robert  Beatty;  Brady’s  Bend,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Curils- 
ville,  John  Crum,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Shippenville,  J.  G.  Thomp- 
son, J.  M.  Greene;  Washington,  G.  F.  Reeser,  J.  F.  Perry.  James- 
town District,  Bryan  S.  Hill,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  John 
Peate;  Ash  ville,  S.  S.  Burton;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove 
Swedish  Mission,  James  Bredberg;  Sugar  Grove,  Major  Cole- 
grove;  Frewsburg,  Samuel  Hollen;  Pine  Grove,  James  Gilfillan ; 
Randolph,  John  Robinson,  T.  P.  Warner;  Allegheny  Valley,  W. 
R.  Gehr;  Kinzua  and  Tionesta,  N.  W.  Jones;  Panama.  J.  S.  Lytle; 
Columbus  and  Spring  Creek,  G.  M.  Eberman,  L.  D.  Brooks; 
Wattsburg,  D.  M.  Stever,  E.  A.  Anderson;  Riceville,  Alexander 
Barris,  F.  W.  Smith;  Youngsville,  A.  R.  Hammond;  Warren,  E. 
B.  Lane;  Pleasantville,  Edwin  Hull,  James  Gillmore.  Fredonia 
District,  James  H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  A.  H. 
Tibbetts;  Dunkirk,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Portland,  John  Wriggles- 
worth;  Westfield,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Quincy,  O.  L.  Mead;  Mayvifie, 
J.  R.  Lyon;  Sherman,  Peter  Burroughs;  Sinclairville,  R.  M.  Bear, 
R.  M.  Warren;  Ellington,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Leon,  John  Akers,  Joseph 
Allen;  Perrysburg,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Villenovia,  S.  N.  Warner; 
Forestville  and  Sheridan,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Silver  Creek,  E.  M. 
Nowlen. 

Ezra  S.  Gillette  was  born  in  Saybrook.  Ohio.  Jan.  2, 
1826  ; and  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ohio,  Nov.  17,  1897. 
He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  Kingsville  Academy  and  Allegheny  College,  and 
joined  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1856.  falling  into 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  For  nineteen 


330 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


years  he  received  his  appointments  in  the  regular  pastoral 
work,  and  then  for  twenty-three  years  was  agent 
of  the  American  Bible  Society  in  Ohio.  His  pulpit  min- 
istrations were  characterized  with  divine  unction  and 
power,  and  revivals  attended  his  ministry.  “His  de- 
parture was  unexpected,  but,  like  Elijah,  he  stepped  into 
God’s  chariot,  and  went  up  to  heaven,  welcomed  by 
hundreds  who  had  been  saved  through  his  ministry.”* 

“Major  Colegrove  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  result- 
ing from  an  apoplectic  shock,  Friday  morning,  Jan.  27, 
1893,  and  remained  in  an  unconscious  state  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  8 :20  o’clock  the  same  evening. 
Though  in  poor  health  for  some  years,  he  had  felt  un- 
usually well  the  day  before,  and  had  walked  twice  down 
into  the  business  part  of  the  city  and  back  the  day  of  his 
death. 

“He  was  born  in  Edmeston,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  15,  1818,  and 
lived  among  those  rock-ribbed  and  perpendicular  hills  un- 
til the  year  1834,  when  his  father,  Isaac  Colegrove,  Sr., 
removed  with  his  family  to  Pennsylvania.  * Such  was  his 
early  ambition  to  become  useful  in  the  world  that  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  received  a certificate  as  teacher,  be- 
ginning the  profession  in  New  York;  he  also  taught  a 
number  of  years  near  the  home  of  his  young  manhood. 
Many  have  referred  to  him  as  their  faithful  and  beloved 
teacher  and  a thorough  Christian  gentleman.  While  yet 
a young  man,  he  earnestly  sought  and  obtained  an  evi- 
dence of  acceptance  with  God ; and  such  were  his  convic- 
tions and  such  the  recognition  of  his  ability  by  the  church 
of  which  he  was  a member,  that  he  was  soon  licensed  as 
an  exhorter,  and  afterwards  as  a local  preacher.  Soon 
after  he  was  employed  by  Presiding  Elder  Whallon  as  a 
supply  on  the  Mayville  and  Sherman  charge.  In  1856  he 
was  received  as  a probationer  in  the  Erie  Conference, 

*E.  S.  Gillette — Admitted  on  trial,  1856;  full  connection,  1858; 
deacon,  1858,  Simpson;  elder,  1860,  Janes;  transferred  to  Minne- 
sota Conference,  1868;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1869;  be- 
came a member  of  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1876;  deceased,  Bowling  Green,  O.,  November  17,  1897.  Appoint- 
ments— 1856,  Albion;  1857-’58,  Conneaut;  1859-’60,  Mercer;  1861- 
’62,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1863,  Ravenna;  1864-’66,  Cleveland,  St. 
Clair  Street;  1867,  Painesville;  1868,  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  1869-’70, 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1871,  Youngstown;  1872-73,  Cleveland,  Broad- 
way; 1874,  Cleveland,  Waring  Street;  1875-’97,  District  Agent, 
American  Bible  Society. 


Russell  Madison  Warren,  Joseph  Allen.  331 

where,  until  health  failed,  he  was  faithful  to  his  work.” 
His  health  seems  never  to  have  been  the  best,  and,  as  his 
appointments  show,  he  held,  much  of  the  time,  a super- 
numerary or  superannuated  relation.  He  was  a good  man, 
and  useful  in  all  his  relations  with  the  church.* 

Russell  Madison  Warren,  Joseph  Allen. 

The  Warrens  came  from  Massachusetts,  and  the  Rus- 
sells  from  Connecticut.  Both  families  were  distinctively 
Methodistic.  Russell  Madison  Warren  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Lewiston,  County  of  Niagara,  state  of  New  York, 
on  the  Old  Ridge  Road,  six  miles  from  the  village  of 
Lewiston,  July  1,  1833.  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
but  six  weeks  old,  and  after  that  sad  event,  he  lived  among 
relatives.  From  the  age  of  five  years  until  twenty  he 
lived  in  Niagara  Falls.  The  first  religious  service  of 
which  he  retained  a remembrance  was  a quarterly  meet- 
ing held  in  a large  barn. 

His  mother  on  her  dying  bed  had  requested  her  mother 
that  he  might  be  so  taught  that  he  would  meet  her  in 
heaven.  His  conversion,  as  we  have  him  relate  it,  is  in- 
teresting. “God  in  great  mercy  impressed  these  thoughts 
upon  my  careless  heart,  and  I am  sure  this  impression 
helped  me  to  come  to  him.  Our  club  of  young  men 
usually  attended  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Sabbath 
evenings — we  left  our  cards  long  enough  for  that.  On 
one  memorable  Sabbath  evening,  four  of  us  attended 
church.  I was  at  the  time  about  twenty  years  of  age. 

It  was  quarterly  meeting  and  the  presiding  elder  was  to 
preach.  It  was  the  old  church  on  Falls  street.  The  pul- 
pit was  between  the  two  front  doors.  We  filled  a seat 
about  three  seats  from  the  front.  I was  seated  next  to 
the  aisle.  I remember  nothing  about  the  sermon,  and 
am  sure  I was  not  impressed.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon, 
the  pastor,  R.  L.  Waite,  a kind  fatherly  man  with  white 

*Major  Colegrove — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial, 
1856;  full  connection,  1858;  deacon,  1858,  Simpson;  elder,  1864,  * 
Morris;  deceased,  Corry,  Pa.,  January  27,  1893.  Appointments — 
1855,  Mayville  and  Sherman  (supply);  1856,  Sugar  Grove;  1857, 
Pleasantville ; 1858,  Mina;  1859,  supernumerary;  1860,  Watts- 
burg;  1861,  Pleasant  Valley;  1862,  Rootstown;  1863-’64,  super- 
annuated; 1865-’67,  Garland;  1868,  supernumerary;  1869,  Shef- 
field; 1870,  Kane  Mission;  1871,  Asbury;  1872-’73,  superannuated; 
1874,  Freehold  and  Grant  Station;  1875,  Grant  and  Wrightsville; 
1876-’84,  supernumerary;  1884-’92,  superannuated. 


23 2 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

hair  arose  and  said  they  would  have  a prayei  meeting  at 
the  altar,  and  urged  the  members  of  the  church  to  come 
forward.  A hymn  was  sung  and  the  altar  and  the  front  . 
seat  were  filled.  Then  in  a very  mild  voice  the  pastor 
asked,  Ts  there  one  or  more  persons  who  will  seek  God 
to-night?  If  there  be  any,  let  them  rise  to  their  feet.’ 

I remember  I thought  ‘That  means  me.’  I did  not  have 
the  fervor  of  penitent  feeling.  I only  thought  I ought  to 
go.’  I arose  and  stood  perfectly  calm  for  a few  minutes 
while  the  good  pastor  exhorted  others.  He  then  said; 
‘Will  that  young  man  come  forward  and  bow  with  us  at 
the  altar?’  Without  hesitancy  I went  to  the  altar  and 
kneeled,  and  then,  like  a tempest,  a sense  of  sin  and  danger 
of  eternal  damnation  filled  my  soul  and  I cried  aloud  for 
mercy.  I felt  I was  lost  forever,  and  then  commenced  a 
struggle  that  continued  until  Wednesday  evening.  On 
that  evening  I was  kneeling  nearly  exhausted,  for  I had 
continued  to  crv  to  God  for  mercy,  almost  night  and  day, 
when  some  one  asked  me,  ‘Do  you  believe  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners?’  I answered  ‘Yes.’  ‘Do 
you  believe  he  will  save  you?’  I again  answered  \es, 
‘Do  you  believe  Jesus  will  save  you  now?’  This  question 
was  asked  with  great  earnestness.  I seemed  to  have  re- 
ceived a shock.  I looked  up  and  tried  to  say  Now  then 
in  a moment  of  time  I was  filled  with  light.  I found  my- 
self upon  my  feet,  telling  the  glad  story  of  a soul  in  its 
earliest  love.’  I have  never  been  able  to  tell  it  all.  lhus 
I was  happily  saved.  I am  glad  I was  saved  saved  at 
an  altar  of  prayer — that  I knew  I was  saved.  I am  very 
happy  to-day.  * These  are  tears  of  joy  that  fill  my  eyes.” 

Mr.  Warren  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Amelia  Nichols,  daughter  of  Rev.  David  Nichols,  of  the 
Genesee  Conference,  Aug.  15,  1855.  Mrs.  Warren  was 
a lady  of  fine  Christian  character,  possessed  of  many  vir- 
tues, and  proved  of  great  help  to  her  husband  during  his 
long  and  useful  ministry. 

Brother  Warren  resisted  his  call  to  the  ministry  for 
some  time,  but  finally  yielded  under  the  counsel  of  A.  C. 
Tibbetts,  then  pastor  at  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  from 
whom  he  received  license  to  exhort.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Warren  quarterly  conference  in  1856,  J. 
H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder,  signing  the  license.  He 
preached  his  first  sermon  at  the  Scott  School  House,  four 


Russell  Madison  Warren,  Joseph  Allen.  333 


miles  below  Warren,  the  same  year.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  session  held  later  in  the 
year,  and  received  his  first  appointment  as  junior  preacher 
on  the  Sinclairville  circuit,  R.  M.  Bear  in  charge.* 

Joseph  Allen  finished  his  earthly  course  at  Wattsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  March  15,  1889.  In  his  active  ministry  he 
had  been  very  successful  in  winning  souls  during  his 
twelve  effective  years,  frequently  enjoying  extensive  re- 
vivals. He  worked  cheerfully  and  faithfully  with  no 
selfish  ambitions — he  was  only  ambitious  to  make  full 
proof  of  his  ministry.  In  his  superannuated  relation,  he 
visited  the  sick,  comforted  the  sorrowing,  and  encouraged 
the  despondent,  indeed  helping  all  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
ability.  He  was  a favorite  among  the  people,  when  death 
visited  their  homes,  and  on  funeral  occasions.  B.  S.  Hill 
stated  that  he  believed  Joseph  Allen  had  preached  more 
funeral  sermons  than  any  other  country  preacher  in  Erie 
County.  The  last  sermon  he  tried  to  preach  was  at  the 
funeral  of  an  old  friend,  but  he  was  unable  to  finish  it. 
He  had  a great  heart  of  love  and  sympathy  which  always 
overflowed. 

Brother  Allen  was  born  in  Harpersfield,  Delaware  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April  5,  1813.  He  was  converted  in  1832;  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Esther  L.  Butler  March  12,  1834;  licensed 
to  exhort  in  1838 ; licensed  to  preach  in  1845 ; received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1856;  made  supernumerary 
in  i867-’68,  and  again  in  i870-’83;  and  superannuated 
in  1 884.J 

*R.  M.  Warren — Licensed  to  preach,  1856;  admitted  on  trial, 
1856;  full  connection,  1858;  deacon,  1858,  Simpson;  elder,  1860, 
Janes.  Appointments — 1856,  Sinclairville;  1857-’58,  Dunkirk; 

1859-’60,  Westfield;  1861-’62,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1863-’65, 
Newburg;  1866-’67,  Warren,  O.;  1868-70,  Ravenna;  1871-72, 

Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1873-75,  Erie  District;  1876-78,  Warren,  Pa.; 
1879-’81,  Greenville;  1882-’84,  New  Castle,  First  Church;  1885-’86, 
Oil  City,  Grace  Church;  1887-’89,  Corry;  1890-’92,  Sharon;  1893, 
Grove  City;  1894-’95,  Brookville;  1896,  supernumerary;  1897,  sup- 
erannuated; 1898,  Ellington  and  Kennedy;  1899-1900,  superan- 
nuated; 1901,  Springboro;  1902-’07,  superannuated. 

t Joseph  Allen — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1856;  full  connection,  1858;  deacon,  unknown;  elder,  1856, 
Ames;  deceased,  Wattsburg,  Pa.,  March  15,  1889.  Appointments 
— 1856-’57,  Leon;  1858-’59,  Ellington;  1860-’61,  Perrysburg;  1862- 
63,  Ellery;  1864,  Riceville;  1865,  Wattsburg  and  Mina;  1866, 
Waterford  and  Millville;  1867-’68,  supernumerary;  1869,  Green- 
field and  Mina;  1870-’83,  supernumerary;  1884-’88,  superannuated. 

22 


334 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Report  on  Irish  Deputation. 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of 
the  Irish  deputation,  report  as  follows: 

“From  the  information  received  from  the  Irish  dele- 
gate, Rev.  Robinson  Scott,  and  from  other  reliable 
sources,  it  is  evident  that  God  has  opened  a great  and 
effectual  door  for  the  evangelization  of  Irish  Roman 
Catholics,  and  that  the  Wesleyan  Methodists  have  a 
special  call  to  that  work. 

“Our  brethren  of  the  Irish  Conference,  feeling  the  re- 
sponsibility of  their  position,  have  entered  upon  this  work 
with  their  characteristic  zeal  and  energy,  and  have  al- 
ready succeeded  in  raising  in  Ireland  itself  the  sum  of 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  endowment  of  a 
literary  institution  of  a high  grade  for  the  education  of 
her  youth,  and  for  the  enlargement  of  her  missionary 
operations  among  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  destitute 
portions  of  Protestant  districts. 

“For  the  complete  success  of  this  enterprise,  and  to 
place  it  upon  a permanent  basis  of  future  prosperity,  they 
need  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
to  be  invested  as  capital,  the  proceeds  of  which  shall  be 
used  for  the  education  of  youth,  and  the  support  of  de- 
voted missionaries.  It  is  contemplated  to  raise  at  least 
$100,000  of  this  sum  in  the  United  States. 

“All  the  annual  conferences  which  have  had  this  sub-  • 
ject  before  them,  approved  the  project,  and  the  General 
Conference  has  given  it  its  hearty  sanction. 

“The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  thus  providential- 
ly called  upon  to  forward  the  cause  of  Protestantism  in 
Ireland  by  this  means,  and  as  the  appointment  of  special 
agents  would  be  both  expensive  and  complicated,  it  will 
be  necessary  for  the  preachers  to  make  collections  in  their 
several  charges.  If  this  were  done  by  all,  the  work 
would  soon  be  accomplished;  therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  we  most  cordially  approve  of  the 
creation  of  a permanent  fund  to  aid  the  Irish  Wesleyan 
Conference  in  the  evangelization  of  Ireland — and  that  we 
pledge  ourselves  to  use  our  best  exertions  to  raise  money 
for  this  purpose  among  the  people  of  our  respective 
charges. 

“Resolved,  That  these  contributions  be  taken  up  be- 


A Church  Edifice  in  Washington , D.  C.  335 

tween  the  first  of  September  and  the  first  of  December, 
prox. 

“Resolved,  That  the  preacher  in  charge  of  Meadville 
Station  be  authorized  agent  to  receive  the  money  and 
forward  it  to  Rev.  Robinson  Scott.” 

A Church  Edifice  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

“The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  building 
of  a suitable  church  edifice  in  the  city  of  Washington 
for  the  accommodation  of  our  members  who  are  there, 
or  may  be  visiting  the  metropolis  of  our  country;  and 
also  for  the  convenience  of  such  other  persons  as  may  be 
there  on  business  transactions,  or  to  further  scientific,  lit- 
erary, political,  social  or  religious  objects,  who  may  wish 
to  attend  divine  worship,  would  beg  to  report,  that  in  the 
opinion  of  your  committee,  a people,  who  to-day,  com- 
prise over  five  millions  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  United 
States  as  members  and  adherents,  should  build  in  the 
city  of  Washington  an  edifice  whose  capacity,  strength 
and  style  would  in  some  measure  be  commensurate  with 
our  denominational  character.  And,  whereas,  forty  thou- 
sand dollars  more  than  the  funds  on  hand,  are  wanted  to 
complete  the  object  proposed 

“And,  whereas,  the  connectional  character  of  the  Met- 
ropolitan Church  is  to  be  such  that  our  bishops  are  di- 
rected by  the  General  Conference  to  transfer  pastors  suc- 
cessively from  all  parts  of  our  work  to  fill  its  pulpit. 

“First,  Resolved,  therefore,  that  a collection  be  taken 
up  in  all  our  charges  for  the  above  purpose. 

“Second,  Resolved,  That  the  above  collections  be  taken 
up  between  the  first  of  January  and  March  next;  the 
same  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  presiding  elders, 
who  shall  forward  the  amount  to  the  trustees  or  agents 
of  said  church.  All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted.” 

A revival  spirit  prevailed  over  Poland  Circuit  in  1856, 
A.  D.  Morton,  pastor.  The  camp  meeting  was  a suc- 
cess, and  many  gave  their  hearts  to  God.  The  village  of 
Lowell  was  the  scene  of  the  second  revival.  Boardman 
fell  into  line,  and  Poland  itself  was  not  behind.  One 
hundred  and  eighteen  were  received  into  the  church  on 
probation. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , June  17 , 
1856.) 

“Cottage  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  (Mercer  Co.) 
‘IUH  ‘S  9i|4  Aq  g£gi  ui  aaqo^ajd  jbdo{  b sb 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


336 

was  organized  in  1856  by  Dillon  Prosser,  in  what  was 
known  as  ‘Cape  Horn  School  House.’  The  original 
members  were:  George  Jones  and  wife,  John  Webb  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Dorothy  Peate,  Mary  Black,  Rev.  Robert  Boyd 
and  John  Dight  and  wife.  The  following  summer  a 
small  church  edifice  was  constructed,  costing  about  $300. 
It  was  subsequently  sold  to  John  Wilson  for  a dwelling, 
and  on  the  same  site,  two  miles  west  of  Jackson  Centre, 
on  the  Franklin  and  Mercer  road,  in  1870,  a fine  frame 
building  was  erected,  costing  $2,000.  Rev.  McGill  was 
probably  the  first  regular  pastor.” — (History  of  Mercer 
County,  Brown,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  544-) 

Our  Twenty-First  Session. 

The  Erie  Conference  commenced  its  twenty-first  an- 
nual session  at  Ravenna,  O.,  July  15,  1857,  Bishop  Levi 
Scott  presiding;  Lorenzo  D.  Williams,  Secretary,  and 
John  D.  Norton  and  G.  W.  Chesbro,  Assistant  Secre- 
taries. 

A.  R.  Hammond,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  Jared  Howe,  David 
King  and  Ezra  Wade  were  granted  a supernumerary 
relation. 

John  Prosser,  James  Gillmore,  Thomas  Benn,  R.  L. 
Blackmar,  William  Patterson  and  S.  W.  Ingraham  were 
superannuated. 

L.  D.  Prosser  was  made  effective. 

William  Lund,  Hiram  Kellogg,  J.  G.  Thompson,  S.  S. 
Burton  and  W.  C.  Henderson,  located. 

Thomas  Carr,  O.  P.  Brown  and  O.  D.  Parker  were 
announced  as  deceased. 

These  were  admitted  on  trial:  Benjamin  Clay  War- 

ner, Tames  Kaldoo  Shaffer,  Gabriel  Dunmire,  Robert  B. 
Boyd,  Leonard  E.  Beardsley,  John  Cook  Scofield, 
Zaccheus  W.  Shadduck,  William  D.  Archbold,  S.  S.  Nye, 
Thomas  Graham,  Ralph  R.  Roberts,  William  Brainaid, 
J.  C.  Sullivan,  Adam  Height,  Samuel  Coon,  Andrew  J. 
Merchant  and  George  H.  Brown.* 

♦Adam  Height — Licensed  to  preach  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder  in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859,  his  orders  being  recognized;  located 
at  his  own  request,  1861.  Afterwards  withdrew  and  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Appointments— 
1857,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1858,  Pleasantville ; 1859,  Wattsburg; 
I860’,  Washington. 

S.  S.  Nye— Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859;  dea- 


Our  Twenty-First  Session. 


337 


Appointments  for  1857:  Cleveland  District,  John  Bain,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  Moses  Hill;  Erie 
Street,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Perry  Street,  J.  W.  Lowe;  City  Mission, 
to  be  supplied;  Newburg,  H.  P.  Henderson,  L.  E.  Beardsley; 
Chagrin  Falls,  to  be  supplied;  Bainbridge,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Chester, 
William  Brainard;  Mayfield,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Willoughby,  Ben- 
jamin Excell;  Painesville,  Thomas  Stubbs,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  sup.; 
Mentor,  Potter  Sullivan;  Chardon,  Roderick  Norton;  Montville, 
Alvin  Burgess,  W.  A.  Matson;  Thompson,  Allen  Fouts;  Geneva, 
Darius  Smith,  E.  C.  Latimer,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Ashtabula,  H. 
D.  Cole;  Cleveland,  Seamen’s  Bethel,  Dillon  Prosser;  American 
Colonization  Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton;  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate, Calvin  Kingsley,  editor.  Ravenna  District,  Samuel  Gregg, 
presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  J.  D.  Norton;  Franklin,  Valorus  Lake; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  D.  C.  Wright;  Northampton,  L.  W.  Ely;  Tall- 
madge,  William  Monks;  Akron,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Mantua,  B.  C. 
Warner;  Hudson,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Twinsburg,  J.  H.  McCarty;  Edin- 
burg, M.  H.  Bettes,  Ira  Eddy;  Parkman,  Albert  Norton,  J.  F. 
Brown;  Ellsworth,  T.  B.  Tait,  Cyril  Wilson;  Windham  and  Nel- 
son, Thomas  Radcliff;  Charlestown  and  Freedom,  C.  T.  Kings- 
bury. Warren.  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Warren, 


con,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  located,  1866;  after- 
wards withdrew  from  the  Church  and  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  Disciple  Church,  serving  pastorates  of  that  body  in  the  State 
of  Illinois.  Appointments — 1857-’58,  North  Washington  and 

Clintonville;  1859-’60,  Delaware  Grove;  1861,  Hartford  and 
Orangeville;  1862,  Northampton;  1863,  Jackson;  1864,  Windham; 
1865,  supernumerary. 

W.  D.  Archbold — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1863,  Simpson;  located,  1865; 
present  residence,  Denver,  Col.  Appointments — 1857-’58,  profes- 
sor, Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1859-’60,  Sharon;  1861-’63,  prin- 
cipal, Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1864,  superannuated. 

William  Brainard — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  discontinued,  1860. 
Appointments — 1857,  Chester;  1858,  Franklin,  O.;  1859,  North- 
ampton. 

Samuel  Coon — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  located,  1870;  deceased,  Rimersburg,  Pa.,  June  17,  1898. 
Appointments — 1857,  Washington;  1858-’59,  Curllsville;  1860, 
Luthersburg;  1861-’62,  Warsaw;  1863,  Washington;  1864,  Put- 
ney ville;  1865-’66,  Shippen ville;  1867,  Putneyville;  1868,  Curlls- 
ville; 1869,  President. 

J.  C.  Sullivan — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  became  a member 
of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  expelled 
from  ministry  and  membership,  1882;  admitted  on  trial,  St. 
John’s  River  Conference,  1891;  full  connection,  1893;  deacon, 
1893,  Foster;  elder,  1895,  Fowler.  Appointments — 1857,  Espy- 
ville ; 1858,  Salem;  1859-’60,  New  Lebanon;  1861-’62,  Cochranton; 
1863-’65,  Conneautville;  1866-’68,  Youngsville;  1869-’70,  East  Ran- 
dolph; 1871-’72,  Portland;  1873-’74,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street;  1875- 
’76,  Geneva;  1877-’78,  Barnesville;  1879-’81,  Salem;  1891-’92, 
Orange  City,  Fla.;  1893-’94,  Georgiana,  Fla.;  1895,  New  Smyrna, 
Fla.;  1896,  St.  Petersburg  and  Port  Tampa,  Fla.;  1897,  St.  Peters- 
burg, Fla.;  1898,  St.  Petersburg,  Tampa  and  Port  Tampa  City, 
Fla.;  1899-1901,  Winter  Park,  Fla. 


336 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  organized  in  1856  by  Dillon  Prosser,  in  what  was 
known  as  ‘Cape  Horn  School  House.’  The  original 
members  were:  George  Jones  and  wife,  John  Webb  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Dorothy  Peate,  Mary  Black,  Rev.  Robert  Boyd 
and  John  Dight  and  wife.  The  following  summer  a 
small  church  edifice  was  constructed,  costing  about  $300. 
It  was  subsequently  sold  to  John  Wilson  for  a dwelling, 
and  on  the  same  site,  two  miles  west  of  Jackson  Centre, 
on  the  Franklin  and  Mercer  road,  in  1870,  a fine  frame 
building  was  erected,  costing  $2,000.  Rev.  McGill  was 
probably  the  first  regular  pastor.” — (History  of  Mercer 
County , Brown , Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  544') 

Our  Twenty-First  Session. 

The  Erie  Conference  commenced  its  twenty-first  an- 
nual session  at  Ravenna,  O.,  July  15,  1857,  Bishop  Levi 
Scott  presiding;  Lorenzo  D.  Williams,  Secretary,  and 
John  D.  Norton  and  G.  W.  Chesbro,  Assistant  Secre- 
taries. 

A.  R.  Hammond,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  Jared  Howe,  David 
King  and  Ezra  Wade  were  granted  a supernumerary 
relation. 

John  Prosser,  James  Gillmore,  Thomas  Benn,  R.  L. 
Blackmar,  William  Patterson  and  S.  W.  Ingraham  were 
superannuated. 

L.  D.  Prosser  was  made  effective. 

William  Lund,  Hiram  Kellogg,  J.  G.  Thompson,  S.  S. 
Burton  and  W.  C.  Henderson,  located. 

Thomas  Carr,  O.  P.  Brown  and  O.  D.  Parker  were 
announced  as  deceased. 

These  were  admitted  on  trial:  Benjamin  Clay  War- 

ner, James  Kaldoo  Shaffer,  Gabriel  Dunmire,  Robert  B. 
Boyd,  Leonard  E.  Beardsley,  John  Cook  Scofield, 
Zaccheus  W.  Shadduck,  William  D.  Archbold,  S.  S.  Nye, 
Thomas  Graham,  Ralph  R.  Roberts,  William  Brainard, 
J.  C.  Sullivan,  Adam  Height,  Samuel  Coon,  Andrew  J. 
Merchant  and  George  H.  Brown.* 

*Adam  Height— Licensed  to  preach  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder  in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859,  his  orders  being  recognized;  located 
at  his  own  request,  1861.  Afterwards  withdrew  and  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Appointments 
1857,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1858,  Pleasantville;  1859,  Wattsburg; 
I860!  Washington. 

s s Nye— Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859;  dea- 


Our  Twenty-First  Session. 


337 


Appointments  for  1857:  Cleveland  District,  John  Bain,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  Moses  Hill;  Erie 
Street,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Perry  Street,  J.  W.  Lowe;  City  Mission, 
to  be  supplied;  Newburg,  H.  P.  Henderson,  L.  E.  Beardsley; 
Chagrin  Falls,  to  be  supplied;  Bainb ridge,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Chester, 
William  Brainard;  Mayfield,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Willoughby,  Ben- 
jamin Excell;  Painesville,  Thomas  Stubbs,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  sup.; 
Mentor,  Potter  Sullivan;  Chardon,  Roderick  Norton;  Montville, 
Alvin  Burgess,  W.  A.  Matson;  Thompson,  Allen  Fouts;  Geneva, 
Darius  Smith,  E.  C.  Latimer,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Ashtabula,  H. 
D.  Cole;  Cleveland,  Seamen’s  Bethel,  Dillon  Prosser;  American 
Colonization  Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton;  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate, Calvin  Kingsley,  editor.  Ravenna  District,  Samuel  Gregg, 
presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  J.  D.  Norton;  Franklin,  Valorus  Lake; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  D.  C.  Wright;  Northampton,  L.  W.  Ely;  Tall- 
madge,  William  Monks;  Akron,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Mantua,  B.  C. 
Warner;  Hudson,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Twinsburg,  J.  H.  McCarty;  Edin- 
burg, M.  H.  Bettes,  Ira  Eddy;  Parkman,  Albert  Norton,  J.  F. 
Brown;  Ellsworth,  T.  B.  Tait,  Cyril  Wilson;  Windham  and  Nel- 
son, Thomas  Radcliff;  Charlestown  and  Freedom,  C.  T.  Kings- 
bury. Warren.  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Warren. 


the  Disciple  Church,  serving  pastorates  of  that  body  in  the  State 
of  Illinois.  Appointments — 1857-’58,  North  Washington  and 

Clinton  ville;  1859-’60,  Delaware  Grove;  1861,  Hartford  and 
Orangeville;  1862,  Northampton;  1863,  Jackson;  1864,  Windham; 
1865,  supernumerary. 

W.  D.  Archbold — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1863,  Simpson;  located,  1865; 
present  residence,  Denver,  Col.  Appointments — 1857-’58,  profes- 
sor, Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1859-’60,  Sharon;  1861-’63,  prin- 
cipal, Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1864,  superannuated. 

William  Brainard — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  discontinued,  1860. 
Appointments — 1857,  Chester;  1858,  Franklin,  O.;  1859,  North- 
ampton. 

Samuel  Coon — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  located,  1870;  deceased,  Rimersburg,  Pa.,  June  17,  1898. 
Appointments — 1857,  Washington;  1858-’59,  Curllsville;  1860, 
Luthersburg;  1861-’62,  Warsaw;  1863,  Washington;  1864,  Put- 
ney ville;  1865-’66,  Shippenville;  1867,  Putney  ville;  1868,  Curlls- 
ville; 1869,  President. 

J.  C.  Sullivan— Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  became  a member 
of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  expelled 
from  ministry  and  membership,  1882;  admitted  on  trial,  St. 
John’s  River  Conference,  1891;  full  connection,  1893;  deacon, 
1893,  Foster;  elder,  1895,  Fowler.  Appointments — 1857,  Espy- 
ville;  1858,  Salem;  1859-’60,  New  Lebanon;  1861-’62,  Cochran  ton; 
1863-’65,  Conneautville;  1866-’68,  Youngsville;  1869-’70,  East  Ran- 
dolph; 1871-’72,  Portland;  1873-’74,  Cleveland,  Erie  Street;  1875- 
’76,  Geneva;  1877-’78,  Barnesville;  1879-’81,  Salem;  1891-’92, 
Orange  City,  Fla.;  1893-’94,  Georgiana,  Fla.;  1895,  New  Smyrna, 
Fla.;  1896,  St.  Petersburg  and  Port  Tampa,  Fla.;  1897,  St.  Peters- 
burg, Fla.;  1898,  St.  Petersburg,  Tampa  and  Port  Tampa  City, 
Fla.;  1899-1901,  Winter  Park,  Fla. 


338 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Braceville,  J.  H.  Tagg;  West  Farmington,  W.  M. 
Bear,  R.  W.  Crane,  Ezra  Wade,  sup.;  Bloomfield,  H.  N.  Stearns; 
Windsor,  Wareham  French,  N.  M.  Shurick;  Youngstown,  John 
Tribby;  Liberty,  Stephen  Heard;  Vienna  and  Bristol,  J.  W.  Hill, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Gustavus,  J.  K.  Hallock,  W.  R.  Johnson; 
Hubbard,  G.  H.  Brown;  Hartford  and  Brookfield,  William  Samp- 
son; Williamsfield,  J.  B.  Grover;  Orangeville,  C.  W.  Reeves, 
David  King,  sup.;  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  James  Greer, 
principal;  W.  D.  Archbold,  teacher  of  languages.  Erie  District, 
Joseph  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  W.  F.  Wilson;  McKean, 
David  Mizener,  L.  D.  Prosser,  D.  W.  Vorse,  sup.;  Girard,  I.  O. 
Fisher;  Springfield,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Albion,  C.  R.  Chapman,  Wil- 
liam Hayes;  Wesleyville,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  North  East,  Al- 
bina Hall;  Kingsville,  A.  M.  Brown;  Conneaut,  E.  S.  Gillette; 
Waterford,  John  Crum;  Edinboro  and  Venango,  I.  C.  T.  Mc- 
Clelland; Morgan,  John  McLean;  Denmark  and  Pierpont,  Hiram 
Luce,  one  to  be  supplied;  Jefferson,  H.  M.  Chamberlain.  Mead- 
ville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  G.  W. 
Maltby;  Saegertown,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Steuben,  N C.  Brown; 
Cochranton,  Robert  Gray;  Sunville,  Jephtha  Marsh,  Z.  W.  Shad- 
duck;  Franklin,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Greenville,  John  Graham;  New 
Lebanon,  A.  L.  Miller,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  sup.;  Salem,  John  Abbott, 
Adam  Height;  Evansburg,  J.  B.  Orwig;  ConneautviUe,  Jonathan 
Whitely,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Rockville  and  Cambridge,  Isaiah  Lane; 
Espyville,  Isaac  Scofield,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Allegheny  College,  L. 

D.  Williams,  professor.  New  Castle  District,  Gaylord  B.  Haw- 
kins, presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  Thomas  Guy;  Mt.  Jackson, 
S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Wilmington,  J.  T.  Boyle,  S.  K.  Paden;  Porters- 
ville,  Robert  Boyd;  Harrisville,  T.  G.  McCreary;  North  Wash- 
ington and  Clintonville,  John  McComb,  S.  S.  Nye;  Henderson- 
ville, J.  W.  Weldon,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Clarksville,  R.  A.  Caruth- 
ers;  Sharon,  Joseph  Uncles;  Mercer,  A.  D.  Morton;  Delaware 
Grove,  J.  H.  Vance;  Middlesex,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Poland,  W.  F.  Day. 
Clarion  District,  Josiah  Flower,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  N.  G. 
Luke;  Corsica,  J.  F.  Perry;  Brookville,  Thomas  Graham;  Luth- 
ersburg,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Warsaw,  G.  W.  Moore;  Punxsutaw- 
ney,  James  Shields,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Troy,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  New 
Bethlehem,  S.  A.  Milroy;  Brady’s  Bend,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Curlls- 
ville,  Robert  Beatty,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Shippenville,  J.  M.  Greene; 
Washington,  G.  F.  Reeser,  Samuel  Coon;  Pine  Grove,  Frederick 
Vernon.  Jamestown  District,  B.  S.  Hill,  presiding  elder;  James- 
town, John  Peate;  Ashville,  James  Gilfillan;  Jamestown  and 
Sugar  Grove  Swede  Mission,  James  Bredberg;  Sugar  Grove,  Alex- 
ander Barris;  Frewsburg,  T.  P.  Warner;  Pine  Grove,  E.  A.  An- 
derson; Randolph,  D.  M.  Stever;  Little  Valley;  John  Akers; 
Kinzua  and  Tionesta,  Edwin  Hull;  Panama,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Colum- 
bus, G.  M.  Eberman;  Wattsburg,  E.  B.  Lane,  J.  C.  Scofield; 
Spartansburg  and  Spring  Creek,  L.  D.  Brooks;  Youngsville, 
Samuel  Hollen;  Warren,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Pleasantville,  Major 
Colegrove,  F.  W.  Smith;  Titusville,  N.  W.  Jones.  Fredonia 
District,  J.  H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  J.  R.  Lyon; 
Dunkirk,  R.  M.  Warren;  Portland,  Peter  Burroughs;  Westfield, 

E.  A.  Johnson;  Quincy,  O.  L.  Mead;  Mayville,  A.  C.  Tibbetts; 
Sherman,  John  Robinson;  Sinclairville,  E.  M.  Nowlen,  R.  R. 
Roberts;  Ellington,  T.  D.  Blinn,  A.  R.  Hammond,  sup.;  Leon, 
Joseph  Allen,  W.  R.  Gehr;  Perrysburg,  S.  N.  Warner;  Villenovia, 
R.  M.  Bear;  Forestville,  W.  P.-  Bignell;  Silver  Creek,  John 
Wriggles  worth. 


John  Cook  Scofield. 


339 


( 


H 


JOH 


n Cook  Scofield. 


John  Cook  Scofield,  who  closed  his  earthly  career  at 
Rochester,  Pa.,  September  9,  1902,  was  born  in  Tomp- 
kins county,  New  York,  August  26,  1828.  In  early  life 
he  removed  to  Chautauqua  county.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia with  the  early  gold  seekers,  crossing  the  Isthmus, 
and  meeting  with  many  thrilling  experiences.  He  re- 
turned in  the  early  fifties.  His  active  Christian  life  be- 
gan at  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  when  he  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1856,  and  the  following  year  received  on  trial 
in  the  Erie  Conference.  Cheerful  and  affable,  and  with 
good  pulpit  abilities,  he  always  won  his  way  to  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  He  gave  to  the  church  forty-three 
years  of  unbroken  effective  ministerial  work.  He  was 
twelve  years  presiding  elder,  serving  the  Erie  and  New 
Castle  Districts.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1896. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Louisa  Hartwell  in 
1848,  the  union  proving  a most  happy  one.  Two  daugh- 
ters were  born,  who  both  lived  to  be  married,  and  each 
left  a child;  and  these  grandchildren  are  now  the  only 
representatives  of  Brother  Scofield’s  family — Guy  Shug- 
art,  M.  D.,  of  Rochester,  Pa.,  and  Miss  Adelaide  Foltz, 
of  New  Castle. 

His  wife  was  taken  from  him  in  the  early  part  of 
1896,  since  which  his  life  has  been  a lonely  one.  He 
was  superannuated  in  1901,  having  been  one  year  super- 
numerary. On  the  last  day  of  1900  he  suffered  a slight 
stroke  of  paralysis,  but  so  far  rallied  as  to  be  able  to 
speak  at  the  “watch  meeting”  that  night.  A few  days 
later  he  sent  for  Dr.  R.  S.  Borland,  and  said  to  him : “I 
have  been  hit;  and  must  do  what  I have  long  intended 
to  do,”  and  then  made  over  to  the  Erie  Conference,  for 
the  benefit  of  its  claimants,  the  title  to  a farm  in  Chau- 
tauqua county.  A second  shock  came  a few  days  later; 
the  third  shock  was  delayed  until  September  7,  1902, 
from  which  he  did  not  recover  consciousness,  but  passed 
away  two  days  later.  “The  homeless  one  has  gone 
home.”* 


i 


*J.  C.  Scofield — Licensed  to  preach,  1856;  admitted  on  trial. 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  deceased,  Rochester,  Pa.,  September  9,  1902.  Appoint- 


340 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Andrew  Jackson  Merchant. 

“Andrew  Jackson  Merchant  was  born  at  Napoli,  N. 
Y.,  December  23,  1831,  of  devout  Methodist  parents, 
whose  house  was  the  home  of  the  itinerant  minister  for 
nearly  half  a century.  Four  sons  became  Methodist  preach- 
ers and  two  daughters  became  the  wives  of  Methodist 
preachers.  Andrew  was  the  fourth  child  and  was  inured 
to  hard  work  on  the  farm  with  his  father  and  brothers. 
At  an  early  age  he  became  a school  teacher,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three,  having  himself  earned  the  means, 
he  entered  Allegheny  College  and  graduated  in  1857  with 
the  Latin  honor.  On  June  29th  of  the  same  year  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  C.  Peck,  of  Sin- 
clairville,  N.  Y.,  of  which  union  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren. Two  of  these  died  in  infancy.  The  other  five  all 
graduated  from  Allegheny  College. 

“Brother  Merchant  was  a good  man,  pure  in  heart, 
gentle,  kind,  affectionate.  His  nature  was  like  a morn- 
ing in  June.  He  was  congenial  with  people  of  all  ages 
and  conditions  in  life.  He  enjoyed  banqueting  with  the 
rich  and  the  brilliant,  and  delighted  to  sit  among  the 
children  and  hold  sweet  converse  with  their  lowly  mother 
in  her  cabin  home.  The  young,  the  middle-aged,  and 
the  aged,  the  scholar  and  the  bare-foot  boy  found  him 
delightful  company. 

“He  was  not  only  suaviter  in  mo  do,  but  also  for  titer 
in  re.  A man  of  strong  convictions,  he  loved  the  right 
and  hated  the  wrong.  With  heavy  shot  he  pounded  in- 
temperance, social  impurity,  and  every  other  foe  of  the 
individual,  of  society,  of  the  nation.  In  his  attitude  to 
the  great  reforms  of  the  day  he  did  not  ask,  ‘Will  it 
pay?'  but,  Ts  it  right?1  and  feeling  assured  that  he  was 
in  the  right,  there  he  would  stand  like  a Daniel  and  en- 
dure hardness  as  a good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.” 

Brother  Merchant  was  a good  preacher,  and  expounded 
and  defended  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  our  holy  re- 
ligion. He  could  say  with  St.  Paul,  “This  one  thing  I do.” 

ments — 1857-’58,  Wattsburg;  1859-’60,  Pine  Grove;  1861-’62,  Titus- 
ville; 1863-’65,  Brookville;  1866-’67,  New  Castle;  1868-’70,  Corry; 
1871-’73,  Westfield;  1874,  Oil  City;  1875-’77,  Greenville;  1878-’80, 
Union  City;  1881-’82,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1883-’86,  Erie  Dis- 
trict; 1887-’88,  New  Castle,  Epworth  Church;  1889-’90,  West  Mid- 
dlesex; 1891,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1892-’93,  Erie  District;  1894-’99, 
New  Castle  District;  1900,  supernumerary;  1901,  superannuated. 


Andrew  Jackson  Merchant. 


34i 


In  the  last  year  of  his  ministry  and  of  his  life,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight,  he  spent  ninety  consecutive  days  and  nights 
in  revival  work,  and  received  more  than  a hundred  per- 
sons into  the  full  membership  of  his  church.  In  the 
same  time  he  raised  by  solicitation  one  thousand  dollars 
and  redeemed  the  parsonage  property  from  a burden- 
some debt.  He  was  for  many  years  actively  connected 
with  many  conference  societies.  He  had  a genius  for 
details,  and  studied  accuracy  in  his  work.  He  was  a 
good  financier,  and  no  benevolent  cause  suffered  in  his 
hands.  Few  equalled,  and  none  excelled  him,  in  pastoral 
work — visiting  from  house  to  house.  He  remembered 
people  and  was  interested  in  their  domestic,  social,  po- 
litical and  religious  life.  He  re-wrote  church  records 
and  hunted  up  the  forgotten  and  neglected. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1857.  The  same  year 
he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  and  was 
effective  forty-two  years.  In  1885  the  DePauw  Univer- 
sity conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1896. 
He  served  the  Meadville  District  four  years,  and  was 
always  sent  to  prominent  appointments.  Early  in  Sep- 
tember he  preached  his  last  sermon  from  the  text : “What- 
soever thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might.” 
Three  weeks  later  he  attended  the  session  of  the  confer- 
ence and  received  his  appointment,  but  his  work  was 
done.  He  anticipated  his  approaching  death,  and  gave 
directions  concerning  his  funeral.  On  November  19, 
1899,  after  having  expressed  his  love  for  his  brethren, 
his  faith  in  the  gospel,  and  having  bade  his  family  an 
affectionate  good-by,  he  peacefully  fell  asleep.  The  re- 
mains were  conveyed  to  Greenville,  Pa.,  for  interment. 
There  he  sleeps  beside  the  dust  of  his  kindred.* 

*A.  J.  Merchant — Licensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  deceased,  Meadville,  Pa.,  November  19,  1899.  Appoint- 
ments— 1857-’58,  Conneautville;  1859-’60,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1861, 
Espyville;  1862-’64,  Greenville;  1865,  North  East;  1866-’67,  Cleve- 
land, Erie  Street;  1868,  Tionesta;  1869-71,  Union  City;  1872-74, 
Warren,  Pa.;  1875-76,  Tidioute;  1877-79,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1880- 
82,  Corry;  1883-’86,  Meadville  District;  1887-’89,  Franklin;  1890- 
’92,  Grove  City;  1893-’94,  Sharon;  1895,  Punxsutawney ; 1896-’97, 
Parker’s  Landing;;  1898,  Meadville,  State  Street. 


342  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

George  H.  Brown,  Benjamin  Clary  Warner. 

George  H.  Brown  was  born  in  Armstrong  county,  Pa., 
November  27,  1803,  and  died  in  Poland,  O.,  June  14, 
1890.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  his  religious  training  was  in  this  faith.  His  conver- 
sion, at  the  age  of  nine  years,  was  clear  and  decisive.  A 
Methodist  boy  loaned  him  a Discipline  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  this  he  read  secretly,  concealing 
it  in  a corn  field  when  not  in  use.  Though  not  a mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  he  worked  in  that  church 
faithfully  for  twenty-one  years,  when  he  married  a 
Quaker  Methodist  lady,  and  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  lived,  toiled,  rejoiced  and 
triumphed.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Joshua  Mon- 
roe in  1844,  and  held  this  relation  thirteen  years,  during 
the  last  of  which  he  labored  as  a supply  on  the  Ellsworth 
Charge.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on 
trial  in  1857.  In  1876  he  took  a superannuate  relation. 

“Brother  Brown  was  a model  husband  and  father — 
kind  and  affectionate,  devoted  and  indulgent  to  all.  The 
law  of  love  was  the  law  of  his  home.  As  a neighbor 
he  was  universally  esteemed  for  the  many  excellencies  of 
his  character.  Transparent  as  the  light,  guileless,  sin- 
cere, genuine,  he  was  honored  and  trusted  by  all  who 
knew  him.  As  a Christian  he  was  known  as  a man 
who  had  a deep  experience  in  the  things  of  God ; modest 
and  unassuming,  yet  he  was  prominently  spiritually- 
minded.  He  will  be  remembered  as  a man  highly  gifted 
in  prayer ; he  had  power  with  God,  and  power  with 
man.”  His  preaching  was  powerfully  impressive,  but 
not  boisterous.  Large  success  crowned  his  ministry.  His 
last  illness  was  accompanied  with  extreme  pain  and  an- 
guish, yet  he  could  say,  “There  is  nothing  alarming 
about  death ; it  is  a sweet  going  away  to  a sweet  rest.” 
“All  is  well;  all  is  well!”  These  were  his  last  words.* 

Benjamin  Clary  Warner  was  born  in  Maryland,  No- 


*G.  H.  Brown — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  deceased,  Poland,  O.,  June  14,  1890.  Appointments — 
1856,  Ellsworth  (supply);  1857-’58,  Hubhard;  1859-’60,  Vienna; 
1861,  Green  and  Mecca ; 1862-’63,  Windsor;  1864,  Canfield  and 
Ellsworth;  1865-’67,  Salem;  1868-’70,  Espyville;  1871,  Cochran- 
ton;  1872-’73,  Saegertown;  1874,  Harmonsburg;  1875,  Wampum; 
1876-’89,  superannuated. 


- - 


Shaffer,  Dunmire , Boyd. 


343 


vember  21,  1817,  and  died  at  Geneva,  O.,  June  25,  1902. 
In  1828  he  came  with  his  father’s  family  to  Ohio,  and 
lived  on  a farm  near  Canton.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Emily  Christy,  of  Akron,  December  24,  1846.  His  wife 
died  in  Hudson  in  1867.  He  was  afterwards  twice  mar- 
ried— to  Minerva  Ward,  of  Chagrin  Falls,  in  1869,  who 
lived  but  a short  time;  and  to  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Silvernale, 
in  1872.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1845,  and  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1857.  He  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. In  1891  he  retired  from  the  active  ministry 
and  made  his  home  in  Geneva.  “As  long  as  his  health 
permitted  he  found  his  place  in  the  services  of  the  church, 
an  encouragement  to  the  people  and  an  inspiration  to 
the  pastor.  Death  came  suddenly,  but  not  unexpectedly. 
For  more  than  a year  he  had  been  quite  feeble.  Although 
about  the  house  and  sometimes  upon  the  street  and  in 
the  church,  his  friends  knew  that  his  departure  was 
near.”  His  end  was  peace.* — (Minutes  of  the  East  Ohio 
Conference,  1902,  pp.  70-71.) 


Shaffer,  Dunmire,  Boyd. 


James  Kaldoo  Shaffer  received  a serious  injury  in 
1884.  “As  he  slowly  recovered  strength  he  began  a pro- 
tracted meeting,  while  he  could  not  walk  without  crutches 
or  stand  during  preaching.  This  meeting  was  wonder- 
fully blessed  of  God.  He  told  his  wife,  as  health  slowly 
returned,  that  he  asked  the  Lord  if  it  should  be  His  will 
to  spare  him  for  ten  years  more  of  service.  That  was 
the  time  granted.  On  Saturday  evening,  October  27, 
1894,  he  retired  in  his  usual  health,  planning  to  preach 
the  next  day.  On  the  morning  of  Sunday  they  found 
him  at  rest,  with  a sweet  smile  on  his  face,  as  though  in 


*B.  C.  Warner — Licensed  to  preach,  1845;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1850,  Janes;  elder,  1854; 
Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  June  25,  1902.  Appoint- 
ments— 1856,  Mantua  (supply);  1857,  Mantua;  1858-’59,  Deerfield; 
1860-’61,  Ellsworth;  1862,  Charlestown;  1863-’64,  Solon;  1865-’66, 
Warrensville;  1867,  Hudson;  1868,  supernumerary;  1869,  Bed- 
ford; 1870,  Huntsburg;  1871-’73,  Thompson  and  Concord;  1874- 
’75,  Troy;  1876-’77,  Burghill  and  Orangeville;  1878-’80,  Williams- 
field  and  Wayne*  1881-’83,  Orwell;  1884-’85,  North  Geneva;  1886, 
Geneva,  Second  Church;  1887-’90,  Rock  Creek;  1891-’95,  super- 
numerary; 1896-1901,  superannuated. 


344 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


some  pleasant  dream  he  had  been  called  home.” — (Min- 
utes of  Conferences , Vol.  XXII 1,  1895,  P • 421-) 

Mr.  Shaffer  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pa.,  January 
22,  1835.  His  mother  was  a devoted  Christian,  and  to 
her  consistent  life  was  largely  due  his  conversion  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  When  about  twenty  he  began  to  preach, 
serving  for  three  years  different  charges  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  Pennsylvania,  the  famous  “Wild  Cat”  regiment. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  but  was  not 
discharged  until  the  expiration  of  his  three  years’  ser- 
vice. He  had  been  admitted  on  trial  in  1857;  had  lo- 
cated in  i860;  was  re-admitted  in  1865,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization. 
He  was  thirty-three  years  effective.* 

Gabriel  Dunmire  was  born  near  McVeytown,  Mifflin 
county,  Pa.,  March  21,  1832;  converted  in  1850;  admit- 
ted to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1857,  and  died  at 
Cortland,  O.,  May  20,  1885.  “Having  early  consecrated 
himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  cheerfully  accept- 
ed his  appointments,  and  resolutely  went  forward  in  the 
performance  of  the  duties  involved.  His  energy  relaxed 
not,  his  zeal  knew  no  languor  till  the  task  was  done. 
Some  two  or  three  years  ago  Brother  Dunmire  purchased 
a lot  in  the  village  of  Cortland,  O.,  upon  which  he  erected 
a dwelling,  mainly  with  his  own  hands,  which  he  ex- 
pected would  furnish  a retreat  for  his  family  in  case  he 
should  become  disabled  for  work.  In  this  he  was  by  no 
means  premature.  Scarcely  had  the  earthly  house  been 
completed  when  the  house  not  made  with  hands  was 
gained.  Brother  Dunmire  appeared  as  a man  of  noble 
physical  proportions  and  vigorous  health;  but  an  enemy 
was  silently  sapping  the  foundation  of  his  strength,  and 
brought  the  structure  of  his  manly  frame  in  ruin  to  the 

*J.  K.  Shaffer — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection,  1859; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  located,  1860;  re-admitted,  1865;  elder, 
1867,  Janes;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference, 
1876;  deceased,  Richmond  Center,  O.,  Oct.  27, 1894.  Appointments 
— 1857,  Punxsutawney;  1858,  Luthersburg;  1859,  Washington; 
1865,  Tionesta;  1866,  Kinzua;  1867,  Riceville;  1868-’69,  Deerfield; 
1870,  Braceville;  1871-’73,  Troy;  1874,  Montville  and  Hamp- 
den; 1875-’76,  Mayfield;  1877-’78,  Thompson  and  Concord;  1879- 
’80,  Grand  River;  1881,  Madison  and  North  Geneva;  1882-’84, 
Stafford;  1885,  Sandy ville;  1886,  Highlandtown;  1887-’88,  Geneva, 
Second  Church;  1889-’91,  Mantua;  1892,  North  Benton;  1893-’94, 
Richmond  Center. 


Shaffer,  Dunmire,  Boyd. 


345 


dust.  He  died  of  fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart.  He 
entered  upon  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  while  thus 
employed  in  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Lucretia  Drum,  with  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  in  1854. 


“He  was  a man  of  most  kindly  nature.  His  heart 
seemed  to  be  bubbling  over  continually  with  the  sweetest 
sympathies.  In  the  very  tones  of  his  voice  there  was  a 
gentleness  which  attracted  attention.  Faith,  hope,  love, 
zeal  and  patience  furnished  him  with  weapons  to  en- 
counter the  foes  of  his  calling,  and  gave  him  the  final 
victory.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  June  11, 
1885.) 

Robert  B.  Boyd  was  born  in  Cool  Springs,  Mercer  Co., 
Pa.,  September  11,  1830,  and  finished  his  labors  in  Brook- 
ville,  Pa.,  March  30,  1876,  having  spent  seventeen  years 
of  faithful  work  in  the  itinerancy.  He  was  converted  at 
Mercer  under  the  labors  of  G.  B.  Hawkins  in  1850. 
“Among  his  earliest  recollections  'were  those  of  his 
mother’s  prayers  and  his  earnest  desire  to  become  a min- 
ister of  the  gospel.”  His  license  to  preach  was  signed 
by  Hiram  Kinsley  in  1856,  and  the  following  year  he 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  died 
“with  the  harness  on,”  thus  passing  from  labor  to  re- 
ward. His  message  to  his  brethren  was : “All  is  well. 
I am  a sinner  saved  by  grace.”  He  was  a good  man, 
and  a faithful  and  successful  worker  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord.f 


♦Gabriel  Dunmire — Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection, 
1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  de- 
ceased, Cortland,,  O.,  May  20,  1885.  Appointments — 1857,Curlls- 
ville;  1858-’59  Warsaw,  1860-’61,  Brady’s  Bend;  1862-’63,  Troy  and 
Corsica;  1864-’65,  Putneyville;  1866-’67,  Panama;  1868-’69,  Con- 
neautville;  1870,  Wheatland;  1871-’72,  Poland;  1873,  Niles;  1874- 
’76,  Saybrook;  1877-’78,  Greensburg;  1879,  Vienna  and  Brook- 
field; 1880,  Vienna  and  Fowler;  1881-’82,  Burg  Hill;  1883,  Sandy- 
ville;  1884,  Jackson. 

tR.  B.  Boyd — Licensed  to  preach,  1856;  admitted  on  trial,  1857; 
full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris; 
deceased,  Brookville,  Pa.,  March  30,  1876.  Appointments — 1857, 
Portersville;  1858,  Pine  Grove;  1859-’60,  Hendersonville;  1861-’62, 
North  Washington  and  Clinton ville;  1863-’64,  Harrisville  and 
Centerville;  1865-’67,  Rimersburg;  1868-’70,  Rockland;  1871-’72, 
South  Oil  City;  1873-’75,  Brookville. 


f IF 


346  ' History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Leonard  E.  Beardsley,  Zaccheus  W.  Shadduck. 

Leonard  E.  Beardsley  was  born  at  Clinton,  Oneida  Co., 

N.  Y.,  February  13,  1815,  and  died  at  Richmond  Centre, 

O. ,  June  14,  1889.  He  was  converted  at  eighteen  years 
of  age.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy 
Conner  in  1839.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1856,  and 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1857. 
Mrs.  Beardsley  died  in  i860,  and  Mr.  Beardsley  at  a 
later  date  married  Miss  Mary  Smith.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization 
in  1876,  and  superannuated  in  1882.  “As  a thinker  he 
was  clear  and  abreast  of  the  times.  As  a preacher  he 
was  earnest,  systematic  and  logical,  frequently  eloquent 
and  powerful.  He  was  perfectly  at  home  in  all  the  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion.  He  was  a lov- 
ing father,  a faithful  husband,  a generous  friend,  a true 
Christian.  Death  had  no  terrors  for  him.  He  overcame 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.”* 

Zaccheus  W.  Shadduck  was  born  in  Wesley ville,  Erie 
county,  Pa.,  February  17,  1831.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, in  an  early  day,  moved  from  Connecticut  to  Erie 
county,  Pa.,  and. settled  at  Colt’s  Station.  “His  father 
purchased  the  land  and  laid  out  the  village  of  Wesley- 
ville.  He  gave  the  lots  for  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  parsonage  in  Wesleyville,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  liberal  contributors  toward  the  construction  of  both. 
He  and  his  wife  were  prominent  and  efficient  members 
of  the  original  class  organized  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Knapp 
in  1826.  They  were  Methodists  of  the  primitive  type, 
responding  freely  when  the  word  of  God  was  preached 
with  fervor,  and  ‘shouting  when  they  were  filled  with 
the  spirit.’  Brother  Shadduck  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
early  age  of  three  years  by  the  death  of  both  his  parents. 
He  was  reared  in  the  house  of  his  uncle.  He  had  no 
special  religious  instruction  in  childhood,  except  what 

*L.  E.  Beardsley— Admitted  on  trial,  1857;  full  connection, 
1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876; 
deceased,  Richmond  Center,  O.,  June  14,  1889.  Appointments — 
1857-’58,  Newburg;  1859-’60,  Richmond;  1861,  McKean  and  Edin- 
boro;  1862,  Wesleyville;  1863-’64,  Wattsburg  and  Mina;  1865, 
Quincy;  1866-’68,  Leon;  1869-70,  Hamlet;  1871-72,  Greenfield; 
1873,  New  Castle  Circuit;  1874-75,  Richmond;  1876-78,  Pleasant 
Valley  and  Mogadore;  1879-’80,  Thompson;  1881,  Troy  and  Park- 
man;  1882-’88,  superannuated. 


Revivals. 


347 

he  received  at  the  services  of  the  church  and  at  the  Sun- 
day school,,  both  of  which  he  regularly  attended.” 

He  graduated  from  Allegheny  -College  in  1857.  He 
had  been  a diligent  and  conscientious  student,  and  his 
scholarship  was  far  above  the  average.  He  says  that 
from  a mere  lad,  again  and  again  he  had  wept  over  his 
sins,  yet  he  never  had  marred  his  early  life  with  the 
gross  sins  and  vices  too  common  with  boys  and  young 
men.  His  conversion,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  was  dis- 
tinct, powerful  and  joyous.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1857,  and  the  same  year  admitted  to  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial.  His  record  as  a minister  of  Jesus 
Christ  was  a worthy  one.  His  death  occurred  in  the 
thirty-first  year  of  his  active  ministry — at  Reno,  Pa., 
January  27,  1888.* 


Revivals. 

There  were  some  notable  camp  meetings  in  1857  and 
1858.  J.  H.  Whallon  reports  one  held  near  Ellington 
village.  It  was  ‘ a glorious  triumph  and  a complete  refu- 
tation of  the  inutility  of  such  meetings  for  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  cause  of  Christ.  At  the  commencement,  what 
appeared  to  be  insuperable  difficulties,  threatened  defeat, 
. but  God  wrought  mightily  for  us.  A goodly  number  of 
preachers  came  in  the  spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  preached 
with  unusual  power  and  directness  for  the  conversion  of 
sinners;  every  service  added  a fresh  victory  to  the  past. 
The  closing  scene  was  quite  indescribable — replete  with 
•joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  Over  thirty  came 
forward  on  the  last  morning  as  witnesses  of  God’s  con- 
verting power.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Sep- 
tember 29,  1857.) 

John  S.  Lytle  reports  upon  the  camp  meeting  held  on 
the  Panama  Circuit : “The  meeting  commenced  on  Mon- 
day evening,  September  7th,  and  closed  Monday  morn- 

*Z.  W.  Shadduck — Licensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on  trial, 
1857;  full  connection,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1861, 
Morris;  deceased,  Reno,  Pa.,  January  27,  1888.  Appointments — 
1857,  Sunville;  1858,  New  Wilmington;  1859,  Waterford;  1860, 
Albion;  1861,  Moravia;  1862,  Greenwood;  1863,  Pleasantville; 
1864,  Sugar  Grove  and  Pine  Grove;  1865,  Pine  Grove;  1866,  Ville- 
novia;  1867-’68,  West  Dayton;  1869-70,  Leon;  1871-72,  Wesley- 
ville;  1873-75,  Green;  1876,  Eureka;  1877-79,  Greenfield;  1880-’81, 
Grant  and  Wrightsville;  1882,  Plumer;  1883-’84,  Rouseville;  1885- 
’86,  Reno;  1887,  Fagundus,  served  one  Sunday;  was  then  re- 
leased on  account  of  failing  health. 


348 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ing,  the  14th  inst.  The  meeting,  all  declare,  was  a 
good  one;  some  of  the  old  brethren  and  sisters  say  it 
was  like  those  in  days  of  old.  God  help  us  to  stay  by 
the  old  landmarks!  Most  of  the  preachers  of  the  James- 
town District,  with  our  excellent  presiding  elder,  were 
on  hand  to  do  battle  for  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Brothers 
Whallon,  Blinn  and  Warner,  of  the  Fredonia  District, 
and  Brother  N.  C.  Brown,  from  the  Meadville  District, 
came  over  and  helped  us.  The  word  preached  was 
blessed  of  God  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of 
scores  of  precious  souls.  The  very  best  of  order  pre- 
vailed during  the  meeting.  The  good  work  of  holiness- 
spread  through  the  church  in  a glorious  manner,  and  we 
are  looking  for  a great  and,  glorious  revival  on  old  Pana- 
ma this  year.  I do  not  know  how  many  professed  the 
blessing  of  perfect  love,  nor  how  many  were  converted; 
fifty  persons  gave  us  their  names  for  membership,  and 
blessed  be  God,  I believe  they  all  were  soundly  con- 
verted.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , September  29, 

1857-) 

Although  our  church  at  Brookville  had  been  consumed 
by  fire,  the  year  of  1856-7,  under  the  ministry  of  Thomas 
Graham,  was  one  of  great  spiritual  awakening.  Mr. 
Graham  writes:  “We  have  just  concluded  a meeting  of 

five  weeks,  which  was  held  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
which,  with  great  Christian  kindness,  has  been  extended 
to  us  for  our  accommodation  during  this,  our  period  of 
destitution.  The  religious  excitement  became  very  great ; 
the  brethren  say,  greater  than  has  ever  heretofore  been 
known  in  Brookville.  Multitudes  were  disposed  to  flock 
to  the  altar,  soliciting  the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God. 
Certainly  as  many  as  eighty  have  been  professedly  con- 
verted to  God,  and  fifty-five  have  given  their  names  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  probationers;  and 
we  confidently  expect  the  addition  of  numbers  more.  I 
never  saw  a society  more  harmoniously  engaged,  nor  • 
throughout  in  a more  healthy  state.  The  brethren  them- 
selves say  they  never  were  in  as  good  a condition  as  now.” 

— ( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  February  17,  1857.) 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  October,  1857,  a protracted 
meeting  was  commenced  in  Slater’s  school  house,  situ- 
ated on  the  “District  Line  Road,”  in  Lake  township, 
Mercer  county,  Pa.  John  Abbott,  of  the  Salem  Circuit, 


The  Conference  of  1858.  349 

was  in  charge.  The  meeting  was  held  three  weeks  with- 
out a “break,”  but  Mr.  Abbott  was  full  of  faith,  visited 
from  house  to  house,  and  was  urgent  in  his  appeals,  until 
sinners  began  to  flock  to  the  Savior.  There  were  thirty- 
two  seekers,  and  twenty-two  united  with  the  church  on 
probation,  and  a new  class,  with  a competent  leader,  was 
organized. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , November 

*7>  rt57-) 

From  Brady’s  Bend  Circuit,  E.  H.  Yingling  writes  un- 
der date  of  February  20,  1857:  “We  held  our  first  pro- 

tracted meeting  at  Philipsburg,  where  we  had  a time  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  Sinners  were 
converted,  the  backsliders  in  heart  were  reclaimed,  and 
the  Church  more  fully  established  in  the  great  truths 
of  our  holy  religion.  We  have  just  closed  a meeting  at 
\\  atter son’s  Ferry,  a place  long  noted  for  its  wicked- 
ness, which  fact  is  known  to  some  of  our  brethren  in 
the  ministry.  As  there  was  no  religious  society  at  the 
place,  we  commenced  the  meeting  under  very  discourag- 
ing circumstances,  while  surrounded  by  scarcely  any  but 
the  gay  and  the  ungodly.  But  clouds  of  mercy  began  to 
gather  over  us,  penitents  came  forward  to  the  altar  of 
prayer,  and  soon  the  shouts  of  new-born  souls  went  up 
to  heaven.  The  aged,  the  middle-aged,  and  the  youth 
were  converted  to  God.  Satan’s  dark  dominion  trembled 
while  sinners  were  collecting  under  the  banner  of  Christ. 
Twenty  gave  their  names  to  the  Church,  and  we  trust 
their  hearts  to  the  Savior,  on  the  occasion.  Since  con- 
ference we  have  received  thirty-eight  in  all,  on  proba- 
tion. We  have  formed  two  new  societies  within  the 
bounds  of  this  circuit,  the  members  of  which  are  nearly 
all  newly  converted  persons.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, March  j,  1857.) 

The  Conference  of  1858^ 

In  1858  the  Erie  Conference  met  in  Meadville,  Pa., 
July  14.  This  was  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Ed- 
. mund  S.  Janes.  It  was  the  twenty-second  annual  ses- 
sion. Lorenzo  D.  Williams  was  elected  Secretary. 

George  Stocking  was  located  at  his  own  request. 

R.  H.  Hurlburt,  Ezra  Wade,  Lewis  Clark,  John  Pros- 
ser,  James  Gillmore  and  Elisha  T.  Wheeler  were  made 
effective. 

23 


350 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

There  were  seventeen  superannuates.  Joseph  Uncles 
was  superannuated  this  year. 

Alexander  Barris  was  made  supernumerary.  Other 
supernumeraries  were : D.  W.  Worse,  David  King,  Jared 

Howe  and  H.  D.  Cole. 

Hiram  Kellogg,  S.  S.  Burton  and  J.  G.  Thompson 
were  re-admitted. 

These  were  admitted  on  trial : Ezra  R.  Knapp,  W il- 
liam  H.  Wilson,  John  Elliott,  William  H.  Mossman, 
Ebenezer  Bennett,  Darius  S.  Steadman,  Robert  W.  Scott 
and  Russell  F.  Keeler. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Church  Usages  stands 
at  the  head  of  a long  series  in  the  interest  of  the  more 
conscientious  observance  of  church  rules.  This  report, 
and  several  of  its  successors,  deserves  a prominent  place 
in  our  history.  They  mark  an  increasing  tendency  to 
slackness,  against  which  the  conference  strongly  pro- 
tested. 

“Your  Committee  on  the  Usages  of  the  Church  would 
respectively  submit  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions as  their  report: 

“Whereas,  The  usages  of  the  church  are  intimately 
connected  with  her  doctrines  and  discipline  in  giving  her 
denominational  distinction  and  unity,  and  rendering  her 
successful,  under  God,  in  her  peculiar  and  glorious  work 
of  ‘spreading  scriptural  holiness  over  the  land and 

“Whereas,  In  our  opinion,  were  her  usages,  these  time- 
honored  and  heaven-sanctioned  landmarks,  abandoned, 
her  symmetry  would  be  destroyed,  her  mission  as  a 
church  ended,  and  the  requiem  of  her  departed  glory 
sung;  therefore, 

“First — Resolved,  That  we  love  the  usages  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  will  cordially  and  faith- 
fully labor  to  preserve  them  unimpaired; 

“Second — Resolved,  That  in  their  observance,  a uni- 
formity among  the  laity  and  ministry,  is  very  desirable. 

“Third — Resolved,  That  we  will  read  our  General 
Rules  quarterly  in  each  society,  and  annually  in  every 
congregation — observe  the  appointed  fasts — the  examin- 
ation of  class  leaders  and  the  disciplinary  rule  in  receiv- 
ing and  dismissing  members  of  our  Church. 

“Fourth — Resolved,  That  the  custom  of  talking  in  the 
congregation,  before  or  after  divine  service,  is  an  im- 


The  Conference  of  1858. 


propriety  not  to  be  tolerated;  and  we  are  happy  to  be- 
lieve that  this  practice  but  little  prevails  among  us. 

“Fifth — Resolved,  That  rather  than  re-baptize  persons, 
we  should  kindly  labor  to  remove  their  erroneous  views 
on  the  mode,  subject  or  design  of  Christian  baptism;  as 
auxiliary  to  this  purpose,  would  recommend  a wide  cir- 
culation of  our  able  publication  on  this  subject,  believing 
that  persons  properly  enlightened  • will  not  desire  re- 
baptism. 

“Sixth — Resolved,  That  we  most  affectionately  and 
conscientiously  advise  our  stewards  to  procure  the  pure 
juice  of  the  grape  to  be  invariably  used  in  the  ‘adminis- 
tration of  the  Lord’s  Supper.’ 

“Seventh — Resolved,  That  we  earnestly  recommend 
our  members  to  observe  the  proper,  and,  as  we  think, 
the  scriptural  posture  of  kneeling  in  time  of  prayer. 

“Eighth — Resolved,  That  the  appointing  power  of  the 
Church  should  remain  unembarrassed,  by  either  the  min- 
istry or  membership. 

“Ninth — Resolved,  That  whatever  else  is  according  to 
‘sound  doctrine’  in  the  usages  of  the  church,  we  will  ob- 
serve, believing  it  is  better  for  us  to  keep  our  rules  than 
to  mend  them.”* 


Appointments  for  1858:  Cleveland  District,  Moses  Hill,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  street,  John  Peate;  Erie  Street, 
R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Scoville  Avenue,  J.  W.  Lowe;  City  Mission,  H. 
P.  Henderson;  East  Cleveland  and  Euclid,  Lewis  Clark;  New- 


*John  Elliott — Admitted  on  trial,  1858;  full  connection,  1861, 
deacon,  1861,  Morris;  located,  1861.  Appointments — 1858,  Wes- 
ley ville;  1859,  Richmond;  1860,  Pleasantville. 

D.  M.  Rodgers — Admitted  on  trial,  New  York  Conference,  1838; 
transferred  to  Maine  Conference,  1838;  full  connection,  1840; 
deacon,  1840;  elder,  1842;  transferred  to  Providence  Conference, 
1841;  located,  1845;  re-admitted,  New  Hampshire  Conference, 
1846;  transferred  to  Black  River  Conference,  1850;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1858;  transferred  to  Providence  Conference, 
1872;  deceased,  1884.  At  the  time  of  his  death  a member  of 
the  New  England  Southern  Conference.’  Appointments — 1838, 
Kennebunk  Port,  Me.;  1839-’40,  Saco  and  Biddeford,  Me.;  1841- 
’42,  South  Yarmouth,  Mass.;  1843,  Nantucket,  Fair  Street;  1844, 
Greenwick;  1846-’47,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  1848,  Rochester  and 
Milton,  N.  H.;  1849,  Nashville,  N.  H.;  1850-’51,  Sackett’s  Harbor, 
N.  Y.;  1852,  Turin,  N.  Y.;  1853,  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.;  1854-’55, 
Theresa,  N.  Y.;  1856,  Camden,  N.  Y.;  1857,  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.; 
1858-’59,  Fredonia;  1860,  Franklin,  Pa.;  1861,  Greenville;  1862, 
Conneautville;  1863-’64,  Edinburg;  1865,  Franklin,  O.;  1866-’67, 
Jefferson;  1868,  Niles;  1869,  Mantua;  1870-’71,  supernumerary; 
1873,  Portsmouth,  R.  I.;  1874-75,  Marshfield,  Mass.;  1876-78,  Po- 
cassett,  Mass.;  1879-’80,  Cochesett,  Mass.;  1881,  Marion,  Mass.; 
1882-’83,  superannuated. 


352 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


burg,  Hiram  Kellogg,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Bainbridge  and  Solon, 
S.  S.  Stuntz;  Chagrin  Falls,  Thomas  Guy;  Mayfield,  J.  B.  Ham- 
mond; Chester  Mission,  to  be  supplied;  Mantua,  Albert  Norton; 
Troy,  Cyril  Wilson;  Burton,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Willoughby, 
Benjamin  Excell,  N.  M.  Shurick;  Calvin  Kingsley,  editor  of  the 
Western  Christian  Advocate,  member  of  the  St.  Clair  Street 
Quarterly  Conference;  Dillon  Prosser,  Chaplain  of  the  Western 
Seamen’s  Friend  Society,  member  of  the  St.  Clair  Street  Quar- 
terly Conference.  Painesville  District,  John  Bain,  presiding  el- 
der; Painesville,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Mentor,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Char- 
don,  Roderick  Norton;  Montville,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Thompson, 
Potter  Sullivan;  Perry,  W.  A.  Matson;  Geneva  and  Saybrook, 
E.  J.  Kinney,  H.  D.  Cole,  sup.;  Ashtabula,  A.  M.  Brown;  Jeffer- 
son, H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Morgan,  John  McLean;  Grand  River, 
E.  R.  Knapp;  Kingsville,  John  Graham;  Pierpont  and  Denmark, 
Hiram  Luce;  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Agent  of  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society,  member  of  Perry  Quarterly  Conference.  Ravenna 
District,  Samuel  Gregg,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  J.  D.  Norton; 
Akron,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Tallmadge,  Stephen  Heard;  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Franklin,  W.  Brainard;  Northampton, 
Valorus  Lake;  Hudson,  J.  H.  McCarty;  Twinsburg,  William 
Monks;  Charlestown,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Windham,  C.  W.  Reeves; 
Rootstown,  L.  W.  Ely;  Edinburg,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Deerfield, 
B.  C.  Warner;  Jackson,  Ira  Eddy;  Ellsworth,  J.  F.  Brown;  Can- 
field,  T.  B.  Tait;  Braceville  and  Newton  Falls,  G.  W.  Chesbro. 
Warren  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  John 
Tribby;  West  Farmington,  W.  M.  Bear,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Bloomfield 
and  Bristol,  Darius  Smith;;  Youngstown,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Niles 
and  Liberty,  J.  W.  Hill;  Vienna,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Gustavus,  Wil- 
liam Sampson;  Hubbard  and  Lowell,  G.  H.  Brown;  Hartford 
and  Brookfield,  R.  W.  Crane;  Williamsfield,  Isaac  Scofield;  Green 
and  Mecca,  Ezra  Wade;  Orangeville,  J.  B.  Grover,  D.  King,  sup.; 
Windsor,  Wareham  French,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Sharon,  R.  M.  Bear; 
Western  Reserve  Seminary,  James  Greer,  principal;  W.  D.  Arch- 
bold, professor,  members  of  West  Farmington  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence. Erie  District,  Josiah  Flower,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  D.  C. 
Wright;  Wesley ville,  M.  H.  Bettes,  John  Elliott;  North  East, 
Albina  Hall;  Quincy,  to  be  supplied;  Mina,  Major  Colegrove; 
Waterford,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Edinboro,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  McKean, 
David  Mizener,  John  Prosser;  Girard,  Alvin  Burgess;.  Springfield, 
I.  O.  Fisher;  Albion,  C.  R.  Chapman,  L.  D.  Prosser;  Conneaut, 
E.  S.  Gillette.  Meadville  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  el- 
der; Meadville,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Saegertown,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Steu- 
ben, Jonathan  Whitely;  Cochranton,  Jephtha  Marsh;  Sunville, 
N.  C.  Brown;  Franklin,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Greenville,  J.  H.  Tagg; 
New  Lebanon,  A.  L.  Miller;  Salem,  John  Abbott,  J.  C.  Sullivan; 
Evansburg,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Vernon,  J.  G.  Thompson;  Conneautville, 
Allen  Fouts,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Rockville,  Isaiah  Lane,  W.  H.  Moss- 
man;  Jamestown,  E.  T.  Wheeler.  New  Castle  District,  Gaylord 
B.  Hawkins,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  W.  F.  Wilson;  East 
New  Castle  and  Portersville,  S.  K.  Paden,  Ebenezer  Bennett; 
Mt.  Jackson,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Wilmington,  J.  T.  Boyle,  Z.  W. 
Shadduck;  Harrisville,  J.  M.  Greene;  Pine  Grove,  Robert  Boyd; 
North  Washington  and  Clintonville,  John  McComb,  S.  S.  Nye; 
Hendersonville,  Benjamin  Marsteller,  W.  R.  Johnson;  Clarksville, 
R.  A.  Caruthers;  Mercer,  A.  D.  Morton;  Delaware  Grove,  J.  H. 
Vance;  Middlesex,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Poland,  W.  F.  Day;  Poland 
College,  W.  N.  Reno,  principal,  member  of  Poland  Quarterly 
Conference.  Clarion  District,  J.  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder; 


Darius  S.  Steadman: 


353 


Clarion,  N.  G.  Luke;  Brookville,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Curllsville, 
Robert  Beatty,  Samuel  Coon,  Jared  Howe,  sup.;  Shippenville, 
P.  W.  Sherwood,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Brady’s  Bend,  Thomas  Gra- 
ham; State  Road,  Frederick  Vernon;  Washington,  G.  W.  Moore; 
New  Town,  Robert  Gray;  Corsica,  J.  F.  Perry;  Troy,  J.  W, 
Weldon;  Punxsutawney,  James  Shields,  I.  C.  T.  McClelland; 
Warsaw,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Luthersburg,  J.  K.  Mendenhall,  J. 
K.  Shaffer;  New  Bethlehem,  S.  A.  Milroy.  Jamestown  District, 
Bryan  S.  Hill,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Ashville, 
James  Gilfillan;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swede  Mission, 
James  Bredberg;  Sugar  Grove,  S.  S.  Burton,  Alexander  Barris, 
sup.;  Frewsburg,  James  Gillmore;  Pine  Grove,  E.  A.  Anderson; 
Randolph,  O.  L.  Mead;  Little  Valley,  F.  W.  Smith,  John  Akers; 
Kinzua  and  Tionesta,  Edwin  Hull;  Panama,  Joseph  Leslie; 
Clymer,  T.  P.  Warner;  Columbus,  L.  D.  Brooks,  William  Hayes; 
Wattsburg,  E.  B.  Lane,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Youngsville,  Samuel  Hol- 
len;  Warren,  John  Robinson;  Pleasantville,  G.  F.  Reeser,  Adam 
Height;  Titusville,  N.  W.  Jones.  Fredonia  District,  James  H. 
Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Dunkirk,  R. 
M.  Warren;  Portland,  Peter  Burroughs;  Westfield,  J.  R.  Lyon; 
Mayville,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Sherman,  D.  M.  Stever;  Delanti,  G.  M. 
Eberman;  Sinclairville,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Ellington,  Joseph  Allen; 
Leon,  John  Wriggles  worth,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Perrysburg,  S.  N. 
Warner;  Villenovia,  John  Crum;  Forestville,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Silver 
Creek,  W.  P.  Bignell. 

Darius  S.  Steadman  was  born  in  Columbus,  Pa.,  May 
i,  1831,  and  died  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  Dr.  G. 
D.  Thomas,  at  Chicora,  Pa.,  February  28,  1907.  When 
he  was  three  years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Wayne, 
Erie  county.  For  many  years  his  father  was  a local 
preacher,  and  in  this  office  rendered  acceptable  service. 
He  was  born  in  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  in  1799,  and  was 
named  William  Champlaine,  after  his  grandfather  on  his 
mother’s  side,  a Revolutionary  soldier.  The  family 
seems  to  have  been  divided  in  allegiance;  Charles  Stead- 
man, born  in  Philadelphia  in  1753,  held  to  the  crown, 
and  was  the  historian  of  the  war  from  the  British  stand- 
point. He  surrendered  with  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown. 

The  early  educational  advantages  enjoyed  by  Mr. 
Steadman  were  quite  limited,  as  his  father’s  farm  de- 
manded his  labor.  The  home  furnished  a few  good 
books,  which  he  read  with  diligence  and  appreciation. 
Among  these  he  remembered  ever  after  his  delight  in 
reading  word  for  word  “Benson’s  Complete  Commentary 
on  the  Holy  Scriptures,”  in  six  quarto  volumes. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  he  attended  a select  school,  taught 
for  a time,  and  then  matriculated  at  Allegheny  College, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  studied  law  in 
the  offices  of  H.  L.  Richmond,  Esq.,  of  Meadville,  Pa., 
and  Abner  Lewis,  Esq.,  of  Panama,  N.  Y. 


354 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


He  was  reared  in  a religious  home;  the  fires  of  devo- 
tion were  ever  burning  on  the  family  altar;  and  yet  he 
lived  as  if  there  were  no  God  and  no  need  of  prayer. 
He  believed  the  Bible  to  be  God’s  inspired  Word,  and 
yet  lived  as  if  in  no  way  related  to  that  fact.  When  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age  he  attended  a select  school  in 
an  infidel  community.  The  students  organized  a school 
lyceum.  The  following  resolution  was  adopted  for  de- 
bate two  weeks  later : ‘‘Resolved,  That  the  book  called 

the  Holy  Bible  is  false  and  groundless.”  The  teacher  re- 
quested Mr.  Steadman  to  take  the  negative,  which  he  did, 
and  conscientiously  prepared  himself  for  the  debate.  It 
proved  the  most  valuable  two  weeks’  study  of  his  life. 
The  debate  was  held,  and  Mr.  Steadman  had  prepared  the 
way  in  his  own  heart  for  the  coming  of  the  King.  He 
had  not  attended  church  for  several  months.  His  su- 
preme desire  was  to  acquire  an  education,  and  he  felt 
that  he  had  -no  time  to  attend  church.  Soon  after  this 
debate,  on  a Sunday  evening,  as  he  was  passing  the 
church,  he  was  arrested  by  the  richness  of  the  voice  of 
the  speaker,  and  entered,  taking  his  seat  in  the  gallery. 
He  did  not  hear  the  text,  but  the  preacher  was  describing 
the  ingratitude  of  the  sinner.  It  seemed  that  every  word 
was  for  him,  and  he  “came  to  himself.  At  the  close  of 
the  sermon  he  went  to  the  parsonage,  where  the  preacher, 
E.  J.  L.  Baker,  the  presiding  elder,  was  being  entertained 
by  the  pastor  of  the  church,  Wareham  French.  He  was 
kindly  received,  questioned,  prayed  with,  and  instructed 
in  the  way.  A meeting  was  appointed  for  the  next  even- 
ing, which  he  promised  to  attend.  He  did  attend  and 
surrendered  unconditionally,  and  “God  said,  Let  there 
be  light,  and  there  was  light.”  The  change  was  wonder- 
ful, and  he  soon  became  a member  of  the  church. 

In  1854  Mr.  Steadman  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Fisk,  who  was  eminently  qualified  by  many 
virtues  and  graces  to  become  a model  wife  for  a preacher 
of  the  gospel.  Her  ancestors  were  from  New  England, 
and  were  of  the  same  family  as  Dr.  W ilbur  Fisk. 

Mr.  Steadman  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry 
with  wise,  conscientious  deliberation.  He  was  licensed 
as  a local  preacher  in-  1858  by  Bryan  S.  Hill, 
and  served  as  a supply  on  Shippenville  Circuit.  The  next 


Darius  S.  Steadman. 


355 


J 


i 


% 


year  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference, 
and  returned  to  the  same  charge. 

In  i86r  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth 
Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  called  the  “Wild 
Cats,”  and  was  commissioned  as  chaplain.  He  gave 
himself  to  the  work  with  great  energy.  Never  more 
loyal  or  brave  soldier  donned  the  blue  or  listened  to 
drum-beat  or  bugle  call  than  Darius  S.  Steadman.  He 
was  a model  chaplain;  the  Civil  War  produced  none  more 
popular.  He  was  made  of  heroic  stuff,  and  was  never 
surer  that  he  was  doing  God’s  work  than  when  cheering 
fellow  soldiers  on  to  victory,  he  himself  in  the  very  fore- 
front. He  won  the  admiration  of  officers  high  in  rank, 
who  felt  honored  when  Chaplain  Steadman  preached  at 
headquarters.  He  was  tender  in  his  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  spared  not  himself  if  he  could  but  help 
some  brother.  During  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  he 
performed  prodigious  labors,  without  rest,  day  and  night, 
until  his  strong  frame  broke  under  the  strain,  and  ty- 
phoid fever  brought  him  very  close  to  the  grave.  He 
was  compelled  to  return  home  to  save  his  life,  and  was 
so  weakened  by  disease  and  exposure  that,  influenced  by 
the  urgent  advice  of  friends,  he  was  made  to  recognize 
the  necessity  of  resigning  his  commission.  This  exper- 
ience accounts  for  his  earlier  year  of  superannuation  and 
other  years  of  non-effective  relation.  He  was  in  the  ac- 
tive work  thirty-three  years. 

Our  brother  was  a very  manly  man.  Nobility  sat  upon 
his  brow.  The  Divine  Artist  chiseled  out  his  face  with 
so  strong  and  yet  so  delicate  a stroke  that  it  told  of  a 
great  heart  and  a great  soul  within.  His  head  would 
have  furnished  a model  fit  for  an  artist’s  studio.  His 
whole  body  was  in  keeping  with  the  dome.  Surely  God 
expected  something — much,  of  a man  for  whom  he  had 
made  such  a tabernacle. 

Brother  Steadman  did  not  often  speak  in  Conference, 
but  when  he  did  the  Conference  listened.  He  expressed 
himself  clearly,  incisively,  tersely,  and  he  always  had 
something  which  needed  to  be  said.  Few  in  the  Confer- 
ence have  exerted  a greater  influence.  He  was  keenlv 
alive  to  all  questions  connected  with  its  work,  and  was  a 
man  whose  advice  was  sought. 

There  are  several  other  professions  in  which  he  would 


i 


356 


x History  of  Erie  Conference. 


have  been  successful,  had  not  God  called  him  to  the  min- 
istry. He  had  made  a study  of  law,  and  had  a legal  cast 
of  mind.  He  knew  men,  and  knew  how  to  approach  and 
influence  them.  In  political  life  he  would  have  been  a 
leader,  and  would  have  forged  to  the  front.  He  was  a 
good  conversationalist,  both  entertaining  and  instructive. 
He  was  a diligent  student  of  character.  In  sociability 
he  specially  excelled;  he  could  adapt  himself  to  any  so- 
ciety, and  appear  quite  at  home  without  any  feeling  of 
awkwardness  or  embarrassment.  He  had  a keen  sense 
of  humor,  which  often  served  him  in  good  stead.  It 
gave  spicery  to  his  conversation.  He  was  always  full 
of  good  cheer,  and  lived  in  the  sunshine. 

He  did  honest,  faithful,  enduring  service.  His  ser- 
mons had  a fair  share  of  meat,  with  few  bones  and  no 
rubbish.  They  were  addressed  to  the  intelligence,  but 
also  appealed  to  the  heart.  He  did  not  propose  a larger 
plan  than  he  could  fill  out.  He  accomplished  what  he  at- 
tempted. He  was  wise,  judicious,  careful,  painstaking, 
sincere,  tender,  sympathetic. 

His  home  was  his  paradise.  His  family — next  to  the 
Savior;  or,  shall  we  say,  in  or  through  the  Savior — 
were  all  in  all  to  him.  He  loved  them  better  than  life. 
He  was  faithful  to  his  friends.  He  would  not  betray 
them,  or  give  just  cause  to  doubt  his  friendship.  With 
some  few  he  exchanged  hearts.  He  was  true  to  his  pas- 
tor, and  faithful  to  the  interests  of  the  local  church.  His 
pastor  was  heard  to  say  that  he  felt  the  loss  of  Brother 
Steadman  more  keenly  than  that  of  any  other  friend,  for 
he  had  been  to  him  like  a father.* 

In  1857  Mr.  Steadman  served  as  a supply  on  the  Ship- 
penville  Circuit.  He  had  had  some  doubts  as  to  his  call 
to  the  ministry,  and  when  he  started  for  this  first  ap- 
pointment his  gloomy  days  were  not  passed.  His  father 
loaned  him  a horse  and  buggy,  and  he  turned  his  face  to- 

*D.  S.  Steadman — Licensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on  trial, 
1858;  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1863, 
Simpson;  deceased,  Chicora,  Pa.,  February  28,  1907.  Appoint- 
ments— 1858,  Shippenville;  1859,  Clarion;  1860-’61,  Brookville; 
1862  superannuated;  1863-’64,  Forestville  and  Sheridan;  1865, 
Plumer  and  Pithole;  1866,  Pithole;  1867-’68,  Fredonia;  1869-72, 
supernumerary;  1873,  Dunkirk;  1874,  supernumerary;  1875-77, 
Wattsburg;  1878-’80,  Townville;  1881-’82,  Saegertown;  1883-’85, 
Millerstown;  1886-’89,  Tidioute;  1890-’91,  Espyville;  1892-’93, 
Knox;  1894-’96,  Beech  Tree;  1897-1906,  superannuated. 


Darius  S.  Steadman . 


357 


wards  Shippenville,  a hundred  miles  away,  filled  with 
gloomy  and  foreboding  thoughts.  He  says : ‘‘I  did  not 

pass  myself  as  a minister.  In  fact,  my  appearance  was 
against  me.  I wore  a full  beard,  which  at  that  time  was 

the  reverse  of  ministerial.  The  ‘pike,’  as  the  road  was 

called  from  Franklin  to  Clarion,  was  very  rough  and 

rocky,  and  in  one  of  the  worst  places  was  a toll  gate. 

Collecting  toll  there  seemed  to  me  a species  of  highway 
robbery.  So  I said  to  the  little  girl  who  opened  the  gate : 
‘Do  you  take  toll  of  all  persons?’  She  answered,  “From 
all  except  preachers.’  I said,  T am  a preacher.’  Then 
a woman  came  to  the  open  door  of  the  house,  and  said 
sarcastically:  ‘You  a preacher ! You  look  like  a preach- 
er! You  hand  over  ten  cents  and  go  along  about  your 
business!’  I paid  and  drove  on.  Now  I don’t  think  I 
had  even  smiled  for  the  past  week,  but  now  I laughed ; 
I made  the  woods  ring  with  my  laughter.  That  good, 
hearty  laugh  did  me  more  good  than  all  the  tears  I had 
shed,  or  all  the  groans  I had  uttered.” 

Darius  S.  Steadman  was  appointed  to  Pithole  in  1865. 
This  was  at  that  time  a city  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  was  in  the  very  center  of  oil 
excitement  in  the  oil  regions.  Some  great  flowing  wells 
had  been  struck,  there  was  a great  rush  of  people  to 
this  new  field.  The  great  army  had  just  been  disbanded 
and  much  money  of  the  discharged  officers  and  soldiers 
came  to  Pithole.  Money  was  plenty  and  the  depraved 
of  both  sexes  were  attracted  to  the  place.  Mr.  Steadman 
gives  an  account  of  first  meeting.  “I  arrived  on  the 
grounds  Sunday  afternoon  and,  like  Nehemiah  of  old, 
walked  around  alone  to  see  what  was  going  on.  I found 
that  generally  business  of  every  kind  was  in  full  blast. 
There  were  a great  many  idlers,  who  were  not  keeping 
the  Sabbath,  but  pursuing  their  usual  avocations.  I 
came  to  one  place  where  work  was  stopped  on  a large 
building  in  process  of  construction.  A good-looking  man 
was  sitting  on  a stump  reading.  I introduced  myself 
and  told  him  my  business.  I showed  him  the  list  of  Con- 
ference appointments  and  my  ordination  parchments;  he 
called  his  men  up  and  introduced  them ; they  gave  me  a 
hearty  welcome.  I then  called  for  singers ; they  were 
here  in  his  gang  of  workmen.  Boards  were  soon  ar- 
ranged for  seats  sufficient  to  accommodate  three  hun- 


358 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


BT 


dred  persons,  and  a dry  goods  box  for  pulpit.  So  we 
were  ready  for  the  first  religious  service  in  Pithole. 
At  a signal  the  impromptu  choir  sang,  and  sang  with 
a will.  Some  possessed  rich,  trained  voices,  and  their 
hearts  were  interested.  Immediately  the  congregation  be- 
gan to  assemble,  the  seats  were  all  filled  and  the  peo- 
ple still  came  from  every  direction,  until  a large  mul- 
titude had  come  together.  I was  then  introduced  and 
received  with  three  cheers.  I was  vouched  for  by  the 
boss  and  preached  to  a very  interesting  and  apparently 
interested  congregation.  At  the  close  of  the  service  the 
boss  arose  and  said  that  he  would  be  very  sorry  to  have 
anything  occur  that  might  detract  from  the  interest  of 
this  first  service.  The  preacher  who  had  addressed  them 
had  come  as  their  pastor,  and  a collection  would  be  taken 
for  his  benefit.  They  passed  their  hats  and  received  about 
seventy-five  dollars. 

“That  night  I stayed  at  a hotel;  could  not  sleep;  too 
much  noise;  paid  five  dollars.  The  next  day  I went 
around  to  get  acquainted ; everybody  seemed  to  know 
me,  and  I was  no  longer  a stranger.  A carpenter  showed 
me  his  bed  room — a pile  of  nice  dry  shavings  in  a corner 
of  his  shop,  and  some  blankets.  I soon  made  arrange- 
ments for  another  corner  of  the  shop,  where  I piled  up 
shavings  and  spread  my  blanket.  Thereafter,  as  long  as 
I needed  it,  this  was  my  bed  room,  and  here  I enjoyed 
solid  comfort.” 

Mr.  Steadman  inaugurated  a new  church  enterprise 
and  made  the  canvass  so  successfully  that  the  basement 
was  ready  for  occupancy  as  a parsonage  January  I,  1866. 
He  moved  his  family  into  the  new  quarters,  and  in  Febru- 
ary the  people  visited  the  parsonage  and  left  a donation 
of  fourteen  hundred  dollars.  The  church  was  dedicated 
that  summer  by  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Steadman’s  father  rode  over  from 
Petroleum  Centre,  with  a number  of  Pithole  gentlemen, 
on  horseback.  He  asked  them  if  they  knew  a preacher 
there  by  the  name  of  Steadman.  “O,  yes,”  they  replied. 
“We  know  him  well.”  And  they  all,  except  one,  ex- 
pressed their  opinion  of  him  very  freely.  This  one  rode 
on  in  silence,  when  one  of  the  company  called  out: 
“What’s  the  matter  with  you?  What  are  you  grumping 
about?”  “Well,”  he  replied,  “that  preacher  ought  to  be 


Darius  S.  Steadman. 


359 


appointed  to  (naming  a very  bad  place).  That 

is  the  only  place  I ever  heard  of  that  is  worse  than  Pit- 
hole,  and  maybe  he  could  do  some  good  there,  too.” 

Mr.  Steadman  retained  his  military  cast  of  mind,  as  is 
evidenced  by  the  following  anecdotes  which  have  been 
fully  authenticated.  When  he  was  appointed  -to  Pithole 
there  was  neither  church  nor  school.  There  were  no 
school  funds,  no  place  where  a school  could  be  conducted, 
and  no  sentiment  favorable  to  education.  Money  was 
God,  and  oil  was  everything.  In  vain  did  this  preacher 
of  righteousness  appeal  to  patriotism,  religion,  justice- 
or  sentiment.  But  the  iron  will  of  one  man  was  to  win 
a victory  over  the  cupidity  of  the  whole  population.  One 
afternoon  Mr.  Steadman,  note  book  in  hand,  took  a little 
walk  through  the  town.  The  next  day  he  made  a visit 
to  Franklin,  the  county  seat,  and  made  information 
against  more  than  sixty  men  for  selling  liquor  without 
license.  These  were  all  cited  to  appear  at  the  next  term 
of  court,  and  there  each  plead  guilty  and  paid  his  fine. 
With  the  money  thus  obtained  this  fighting  parson  re- 
turned to  Pithole  and  tried  to  start  a school.  But  now 
the  objection  was  raised  that  there  was  no  building  suit- 
able for  the  purpose  of  conducting  a school.  Then  the 
true  disinterestedness  of  the  man  and  his  family  showed 
itself.  The  house  which  was  used  for  a parsonage  was 
large  and  roomy — one  of  the  best  in  the  place.  Mrs. 
Steadman,  with  the  family,  moved  to  Forestville,  N.  Y., 
leaving  Mr.  Steadman  to  start  school  in  the  house  thus 
vacated.  When  the  funds  so  obtained  were  exhausted, 
Mr.  Steadman  made  another  tour  of  observation  and  an- 
other trip  to  Franklin,  with  the  same  result,  and  in  this 
way  the  “little  red  school  house”  was  sustained  for  a 
full  year. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Ben  Hogan,  at  one  time 
aspirant  for  the  honor  of  being  the  world’s  champion 
prizefighter,  was  in  the  height  of  his  fame  and  glory. 
His  hotel  was  the  biggest  and  the  worst  in  Pithole.  By 
means  of  a cunningly  devised  advertisement  in  one  of 
the  Buffalo  papers,  he  had  enticed  a young  girl  from  her 
home  in  central  New  York  with  the  hope  of  securing  a 
permanent  position  in  a private  family.  Since  her  ar- 
rival in  Pithole  she  had  been  held  in  actual  slavery, 
locked  in  a room  on  the  upper  floor  of  the  house,  denied 


* 

360 

History  of  Erie  Conference. 

food  except  in  very  limited  quantities,  and  threatened 
with  death  by  starvation  unless  she  would  yield  herself 
for  the  unholy  purpose  for  which  she  was  brought.  But 
the  girl  was  true  and  chose  death.  Some  way  she  man- 
aged to  get  a note  written  and  placed  in  an  envelope 
directed  to  her  mother.  It  was  a slender  chance,  for  the 
probability  was  that  the  envelope,  found  with  no  stamp, 
near  the  hotel,  would  be  brought  to  the  proprietor.  But 
Providence  must  have  guided  any  wind  that  blew  that 
day,  for  in  some  way  the  letter  reached  its  destination.  Im- 
mediately upon  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  the  mother,  dis- 
tracted with  grief  and  fear,  hastened  to  Pithole,  but  was 
rudely  repulsed  by  Hogan.  Entreaties,  tears,  prayers — 
all  were  of  no  avail.  She  was  not  permitted  to  see  her 
daughter,  send  word  to  her,  or  even  know  her  condition. 
At  length  she  called  upon  the  Methodist  minister,  and 
falling  at  his  feet  with  her  arms  about  his  knees,  sobbed 
out  her  story.  She  was  comforted  as  best  the  gentle 
heart  of  the  minister  and  his  wife  could  do,  and  left 
with  the  latter  while  Mr.  Steadman  went  down  town  and 
found  three  friends.  Together  the  four  went  to  the  hotel. 
Each  was  an  ex-army  officer,  and  each  had  a brace  of 
army  pistols  in  his  pockets.  The  proprietor  was  inclined 
to  treat  them  as  he  had  done  the  mother,  but  a glance 
into  the  barrels  of  eight  loaded  revolvers,  held  within 
less  than  a foot  of  his  face,  and  especially  the  glint  of 
the  eyes  of  the  leader,  which  were  more  cold  than  steel, 
caused  him  to  think  differently.  The  four  followed  the 
proprietor  upstairs  to  the  room  where  the  girl  was  held 
a prisoner,  and  then  the  march  to  the  parsonage  began. 
Mr.  Steadman  was  compelled  to  support  the  almost  faint- 
ing girl,  as  he,  with  her  on  his  arm,  led  the  procession, 
followed  by  his  three  friends.  The  little  company  at- 
tracted no  little  attention  as  it  passed  through  the  main 
streets  of  the  town,  and  two  persons  have  asserted  to  the 
writer  that  the  scene  when  mother  and  daughter  met  was 
the  most  affecting  they  had  ever  witnessed.  Hogan  af- 
terwards professed  conversion  and  entered  the  evangel- 
istic field. 

Robert  W.  Scott. 


Robert  W.  Scott  was  born  near  Prospect,  Butler  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  September  18,  1834.  His  parents  were  mem- 


Robert  W . Scott. 


361 

bers  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  Robert 
received  the  usual  catechetical  instruction  of  that  faith, 
and  found  the  knowledge  thus  acquired  of  great  value 
in  his  ministry.  He  was  converted  at  a meeting  held  by 
E.  J.  Kinney  in  a school  house  on  French  creek, 
about  two  miles  above  Meadville.  He  attended  Alle- 
gheny College  and  Witherspoon  Institute,  and  engaged 
in  teaching  for  a few  years.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1858. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  A.  Seaver. 
He  was  effective  thirty-two  years,  and  four  years  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Erie  District.  He  was  supernumerary 
in  1889  and  again  in  1892,  and  superannuated  in  1893, 
when  he  moved  to  Kansas  and  made  his  home  in  Junc- 
tion City. 

Brother  Scott  left  a good  record  of  work  accomplished 
in  Erie  Conference.  During  his  pastorate  at  Westfield 
he  raised  $8,000  to  pay  off  an  embarrassing  mortgage 
on  the  church ; at  Portland  he  paid  a debt  of  $600  of 
long  standing,  and  at  Millerstown,  one  of  $2,000.  He 
repaired  the  church  at  Ripley  at  the  cost  of  $1,200;  and 
at  Sheridan,  at  the  cost  of  $800.  He  secured  from  Hon. 
Benjamin  Chamberlain  $1,000  for  permanent  investment 
for  the  support  of  superannuates — the  first  personal  gift 
for  this  cause.  He  was  the  first  person  who  suggested 
to  Judge  Chamberlain  the  acquisition  of  the  old  Randolph 
Academy  for  Methodism. 

When  R.  W.  Scott  went  to  his  first  appointment  as 
junior  preacher  on  the  old  Washington  Circuit,  G.  M. 
Moore  in  charge,  and  the  Quarterly  Conference  was  con- 
sidering the  matter  of  salary,  he  remarked : “I  would 

like  to  have  a room  where  I can  study  and  keep  my  be- 
longings.” One  of  the  brethren  replied:  “We  expect 

you  to  preach  and  not  waste  your  time  on  study.”  But 
the  year  was  one  of  great  spiritual  prosperity,  two  hun- 
dred probationers  being  received  into  the  church.  A camp 
meeting  was  held,  and  was  accompanied  with  wonder- 
ful converting  power.  On  Sunday  morning  Brother 
Scott  was  “put  up  to  preach.”  At  the  close  of  the  ser- 
mon the  people  crowded  down  to  the  altar  and  filled 
the  whole  space  within  the  railing — and  fell  prostrate. 
Some  shouted,  others  cried  for  mercy,  brothers  of  the 
same  family  who  had  not  spoken  for  years,  embraced 


362 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  wept  out  their  joy.  A stranger  to  the  congregation, 
but  known  to  the  preacher,  whom  he  had  pledged  him- 
self to  “thrash,”  came  from  a lumber  camp  with  his  wife 
— who  was  a Christian — and  two  children,  was  among 
the  prostrate,  “bellowing  like  a bull  in  a net.”  He  sought 
out  Mr.  Scott,  asked  his  pardon,  and  was  powerfully 
converted.  A bevy  of  girls,  who  the  preceding  Sunday 
had  held  a mock  “camp  meeting"  on  the  ground — their 
leader  they  called  the  “presiding  elder” — were  all  con- 
verted. It  was  a glorious  time,  not  yet  wholly  forgotten 
in  that  neighborhood. 

Brother  Scott  says : “My  second  charge,  Luthersburg, 
extended  from  Big  Run  to  Brockwayville.  The  year 
was  not  as  satisfactory  as  the  first.  It  was  a different 
kind  of  charge.  Being  on  the  mountains,  it  was  cold 
and  bleak  at  times.  In  going  from  Luthersburg  to 
Beech  Woods  we  had  to  cross  the  Big  Sandy  creek. 
Because  of  its  low  banks  it  would  sometimes  overflow. 
In  the  early  spring  I was  compelled,  by  reason  of  what 
I considered  urgent  business,  to  make  the  trip.  Upon 
reaching  the  creek  I found  the  country  for  two  or  more 
hundred  yards  back  from  the  stream  overflowed  and 
covered  with  ice  an  inch  or  more  in  thickness.  I tried 
to  force  my  horse  off  from  the  bridge  into  the  water,  but 
I did  not  succeed.  Just  then  some  lumber  men  coming 
along  pushed  him  and  his  rider  into  the  swollen  stream. 
We  started  to  break  the  ice,  but  after  accomplishing  half 
the  distance  my  horse  balked  and  threw  me  off,  saddle 
bags  and  all.  I took  the  rump  strap  in  one  hand  and  the 
saddle  bags  in  the  other  and  struck  our  for  the  shore, 
the  horse  following  in  my  wake.  Reaching  the  shore 
I went  to  the  nearest  house,  my  clothes  frozen  stiff  to 
my  arm  pits.  I put  my  horse  in  the  stable  and  gave  him 
such  care  as  he  needed.  Entering  the  house  I found  two 
little  children  sitting  in  the  ashes  beside  a few  dying 
embers,  crying  with  the  cold.  The  mother  was  so  near- 
sighted that  she  could  find  nothing  to  burn  unless  it  was 
placed  within  reach  of  her  hand ; and  the  supply  of  cut 
wood  was  exhausted.  I took  the  ax  and  mounted  a 
log  two  feet  thick  and  cut  and  split  wood,  meantime  fir- 
ing up  twice.  Having  warmed  myself  and  rested,  I con- 
tinued my  journey. 

“The  occasion  of  my  taking  this  journey  was  that  I 


Russell  F.  Keeler. 


363 

was  accused  of  stealing  whisky,  and  was  to  be  tried  at 
the  next  session  of  the  court  at  Brookville.  I had  been 
holding  a meeting  at  Paradise,  and  some  roughs  came 
to  the  meeting  intoxicated.  One  evening,  before  enter- 
ing the  church,  I made  an  investigation  among  the  pine 
stumps  and  found  some  whisky,  which  I promptly  ‘con- 
fiscated.’ But  before  my  accusers  were  through  with  the 
trial  they  compromised  with  me,  agreeing  that  if  I would 
drop  the  matter  they  would  thereafter  let  Methodist 
preachers  alone — and  they  kept  their  word.”* — (Auto- 
biographical Sketch.) 

Russell  F.  Keeler. 

Russell  F.  Keeler  was  born  in  Elk  Creek  township, 
Erie  county,  Pa.,  March  22,  1833.  His  parents  had 
moved  from  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  They  again  moved 
to  North  East,  and  later  to  Erie,  where  Russell  attended 
the  district  school  and  a select  high  school.  His  prepara- 
tion for  college  was  made  at  the  old  Erie  Academy,  from 
which  he  entered  the  junior  class  of  Allegheny  College 
in  1851.  He  graduated  in  the  classical  course  in  1853. 
He  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Thomas  Stubbs 
in  1849,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Erie,  the  place  of  his  conversion.  He  served  as  class 
leader  from  1857  until  he  began  his  ministry.  The  Dun- 
kirk Quarterly  Conference  licensed  him  to  preach  and 
recommended  him  to  be  received  on  trial  in  18^8,  and 
the  same  year  he.  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the 
Erie  Conference.  His  first  appointment  was  as  “second 
preacher”  on  Leon  Circuit.  This  circuit  embraced  six 
townships  in  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y.,  and  had  twelve 
preaching  places.  He  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization.  In  the  forty-eighth 
year  of  his  ministry,  still  active,  he  writes — 1905 : “I 

have  preached  nearly  7,500  sermons,  married  428 

*R.  W.  Scott— Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial, 
1858;  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1862^ 
Ames.  Appointments— 1858,  Washington;  1859,  Luthersburg;’ 
1860,  East  New  Castle  and  Croton;  1861,  Dunkirk;  1862-’63,  Ran- 
dolph; 1864-’65,  Silver  Creek;  1866,  Little  Valley;  1867,  Colum- 
bus; 1868-’69,  Warren,  Pa.;  1870-71,  Panama;  1872-73,  Mayville; 
1874,  Portland;  1875-76,  Millerstown;  1877-78,  Westfield;  1879- 
’82,  Erie  District;  1883-’85,  Ripley;  1886-’88,  Sheridan;  1889,  sup- 
ernumerary; 1890-’91,  Asbury;  1892,  supernumerary;  1893-1907, 
superannuated;  present  residence,  Junction  City,  Kas. 


364  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

couples,  received  into  the  church  nearly  1,800  members, 
and  attended  about  700  funerals.” 

Mr.  Keeler,  after  studying  the  subject  of  “Christian 
Baptism”  nearly  thirty  years,  has  published,  as  the  result 
of  his  studies,  a work  of  444  pages,  which  many  critics 
have  pronounced  “the  best  book  on  that  subject  yet  pub- 
lished.”* 

Ebenezer  Bennett,  Ezra  R.  Knapp. 

Concerning  Ebenezer  Bennett,  the  writer  of  his  me- 
moir says:  “The  good  man  whose  name  heads  this 

brief  sketch  was  born  February  12,  1818,  at  New  Lisbon, 
O.,  and  died  February  1,  1877,  at  New  Castle,  Pa.  Or- 
phaned at  five  years,  he  early  learned  the  stern  realities 
of  life  by  actual  experience.  At  his  native  place,  when 
fifteen  years  old,  he  sought  and  found  refuge  in  the 
bosom  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  In  1838  he  came  to  New 
Castle,  where  he  gave  to  the  church  twelve  years  of  faith- 
ful service  as  a class  leader.  In  1857  New  Castle  Quar- 
terly Conference  gave  him  license  to  preach,  and  two 
years  latery  recommended  him  to  the  Erie  Conference 
for  admission  on  trial  in  the  traveling  connection,  and 
he  was  appointed  junior  preacher  on  the  New  Wilming- 
ton charge.  For  thirteen  consecutive  years  immediately 
following  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  His  earnest  and  faithful  labors  during  these 
years  of  toil  were  attended  with  no  indifferent  success. 
The  houses  of  worship  erected  at  his  suggestion  and  un- 
der his  supervision,  and  the  valuable  members  added 
through  his  efforts  to  the  charges  he  served,  fully  attest 
his  usefulness.  Immediately  following  these  thirteen 
years  of  active  service  came  five  years  of  Conference 

*R.  F.  Keeler — Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial, 
1858;  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1862, 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876.  Appointments — 1858-’59,  Leon;  1860-’61, 

Union;  1862,  Clymer;  1863-’64,  Fairview;  1865-’66,  Clarion;  1867- 
’68,  Venango  City;  1869,  Tionesta;  1870,  Rootstown;  1871-’72, 
Erie,  City  Mission;  1873-’75,  Conneaut;  1876-’77,  Chardon;  1878, 
Perry;  1879-’80,  Chagrin  Falls;  1881-’82,  Geneva;  1883-’84,  Bridge- 
port; 1885-’87,  Bellaire;  1888-’89,  Mt.  Union;  1890,  Niles;  1891- 
’92,  Hubbard;  1893,  North  Bloomfield;  1894,  Rock  Creek;  1897- 
*98,  Charlestown;  1899-1903,  Norwich;  1904,  Middlefield. 

tBrother  Bennett  was  received  on  trial  in  1858,  and  appointed 
to  East  New  Castle  and  Portersfield. 


Ebenezer  Bennett,  Ezra  R.  Knapp. 


365 


superannuation  and  broken  health.  During  the  last  four 
months  of  his  sickness  he  was  confined  to  the  house,  and 
for  the  four  weeks  kept  his  bed.  He  was  never  known 
to  murmur,  though  often  a great  sufferer.  To  those  who 
visited  him  in  his  last  illness,  he  gave  repeated  assurance 
of  his  consciousness  of  the  presence  and  power  of  the 
Savior.  The  funeral  services  took  place  from  the  church 
from  which  he  went  out  with  license  to  preach,  and  in 
which  he  and  his  family  worshiped  after  his  return  from 
more  active  ministerial  service.  Brother  Bennett’s  power 
for  good  lay  chiefly  in  his  transparent  Christian  charac- 
ter. He  was  not  a great  preacher,  but  he  was  a good 
and*  useful  man.”* 

Ezra  R.  Knapp  was  born  in  Harpersfield,  Delaware 
county,  N.  Y.,  September  14,  1820,  and  died  in  Clarion, 
Pa.,  Sunday  morning,  June  17,  1900.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Minerva  C.  Starkey,  January  13, 
1841.  His  parents  were  of  English  and  Scotch  lineage. 

Mr.  Knapp  says : “My  parents  were  seceders  from 

the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church.  They  were  rigid  Cal- 
vinists in  doctrine  and  strict  in  the  observance  of  their 
church  rules.  Among  my  earliest  recollections  were  re- 
ligious meetings  held  at  our  house  every  Sabbath,  con- 
ducted by  my  father  as  an  elder  or  leader  in  the  church. 
When  I was  six  years  of  age  our  family  moved  to  Dan- 
bury, Conn.,  and  there  I had  six  years  in  the  district 
school  for  a commencement  of  my  education.  When  I 
was  about  eight  years  old,  the  Lord  heard  my  prayers 
when  I was  away  in  the  secret  place  in  the  field  and 
gave  me  an  evidence  so  clear  and  satisfactory  that  I have 
never  doubted  the  divine  manifestation  that  I received 
at  that  time;  and  I also  had  a very  strong  conviction 
that  it  was  my  duty  to  preach,  and  I frequently  did, 
whenever  I could  get  the  children  together.  According 
to  my  father’s  custom  of  standing  to  pray,  I stood  and 
repeated  the  Lord’s  prayer,  and  then  preached  to  my 
associates.” 


*Ebenezer  Bennett — Licensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on 
trial,  1858;  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder, 
1862,  Ames;  deceased,  New  Castle,  Pa.,  February  1,  1877.  Ap- 
pointments— 1858,  East  New  Castle  and  Portersville;  1859,  New 
Wilmington;  1860-’61,  Hendersonville;  1862,  North  Washington 
and  Clinton ville ; 1863,  North  Washington;  1864-’66,  Greenwood; 
1867,  Lowell  and  Edenburg;  1868,  Lowell;  1869-70,  Harlansburg; 
1871-72,  Clintonville;  1873-76,  supernumerary. 

24 


366  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

In  his  twelfth  year  his  family  moved  to  Geauga  county, 
O.  With  new  associates  he  lost  his  religious  experience 
and  became  an  advocate  of  Universalism.  He  was  con- 
verted at  a meeting  held  in  Huntsburg  by  Revs.  H.  N. 
Stearns  and  G.  W.  Maltby.  Mr.  Knapp  says:  “About 

six  weeks  after  I was  converted  I was  leading  a prayer 
meeting  at  the  house  of  Or  in  Clark,  and  God  powerfully 
blessed  me.  All  my  convictions  of  duty  returned,  and  I 
yielded  and  henceforth  gave  my  life  to  the  ministry. 

In  1853  at  a quarterly  meeting  held  at  Hampden,  O., 
by  William  Hunter,  presiding  elder,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach.  He  went  to  Allegheny  College,  but  in  about  a 
year,  having  lost  his  oldest  son,  distracted  with  grief, 
returned  to  his  old  home,  thinking  to  spend  his  life  as  a 
local  preacher.  He  was  persuaded  by  John  Bain  to  take 
charge  of  “a  little  patch,”  and  in  1858  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 

His  first  appointment  was  Grand  River  Circuit,  where 
the  Lord  greatly  blessed  his  labors  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  added  to  the  Church.  In  1862  and  1863  he 
was  sent  to  Thompson  and  built  one  new  church.  He 
then  went  to  Madison  and  Perry.  At  the  former  place 
we  had  never  had  an  organized  society;  here  he  built  a 
church,  bought  a parsonage,  and  left  them  out  of  debt 
and  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  members.  The  member- 
ship on  the  whole  charge  was  more  than  doubled.  He 
was  four  years  agent  of  Carrier  Seminary.  In  i872-’74 
he  labored  on  the  Shippenville  Circuit,'  and  organized  a 
class  of  one  hundred  members  at  Turkey  City.  Mr. 
Knapp  explains:  “Shippenville  being  taken  off  the  last 

two  years,  it  was  called  Salem  Circuit.” 

After  his  retirement  Brother  Knapp  made  his  home 
in  Clarion,  Pa.  For  some  time  preceding  his  death  he 
was  almost  helpless.  Often  his  mind  wandered,  and  he 
was  in  the  work  again  amid  old  scenes  and  associations 
but  his  constant  testimony  was:  “Jesus  is  all  in  all,  and 
I am  trusting  wholly  in  Him.”  He  had  been  effective 
thirty-two  years.* 

*E.  R.  Knapp — Licensed  to  preach,  1854;  admitted  on  trial, 
1858*  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1862, 
Ames;  deceased,  Clarion,  Pa.,  June  17,  1900.  Appointments 
1858  Grand  River;  1859,  Chardon;  1860-’61,  Mentor;  1862-’63, 
Thompson;  1864-’65,  Madison  and  Perry;  1866,  Tallmadge;  1867- 
’70,  Agent,  Carrier  Seminary;  1871,  Hubbard;  1872-’73,  Shippen- 


William  H.  Wilson , William  H.  Mossman.  367 


William  H.  Wilson,  William  H.  Mossman. 

William  H.  Wilson  had  just  closed  four  years  of  faith- 
ful service  on  the  Canton  District,  rendered  his  report  to 
Conference,  and  finished  his  work  in  the  cabinet,  when 
he  was  taken  sick.  He  lay  for  the  last  few  days  of  his 
illness  at  the  home  of  Jacob  Miller,  where  he  peacefully 
fell  asleep,  September  30,  1886.  Mr.  Wilson  was  born 
in  Warren,  Trumbull  county,  O.,  May  8,  1835.  He  was 
“born  again”  in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  gave  immediate 
evidence  of  fervent  devotion  to  God  and  the  Church. 
After  he  was  licensed  to  preach  he  supplied  various  ap- 
pointments while  he  was  pursuing  his  studies  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  He  was  received  into  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  probation  in  1858,  and  received  his  first  ap- 
pointment to  Windsor,  O.  He  was  twenty-eight  years 
effective.  He  was  modest  and  humble,  yet  genial  in 
spirit  and  enthusiastic  in  work.  His  dying  request  was : 
“Tell  the  brethren  not  to  say  much  about  me,  but  more 
about  Jesus.”  Glory  surrounded  his  death  bed.  When 
he  supposed  death  had  touched  him  he  said : “If  this  is 
dying  it  is  the  most  delightful  thing  on  earth.”  Again 
he  cried:  “Tell  all  the  brethren,  especially  those  with 

whom  I have  been  associated,  that  God  is  wonderfully 
with  me,”  and  he  was  not,  for  God  took  him.* — ( Minutes 
of  Conference , Vol.  XXL , 1887,  P • 349 •) 

William  Hirdman  Mossman,  son  of  Robert  Gillis  and 
Margaret  Mossman,  was  born  in  Greenville,  Mercer 
county,  Pa.,  December  4,  1828.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents came  from  County  Down,  Ireland,  before  the 
American  Revolution.  His  parents  were  Presbyterians 
by  faith,  but  William  was  converted  in  an  old-time 

ville;  1874,  Salem,  Clarion  Co.;  1875,  Rimersburg;  1876-77, 
Washington;  1878,  President;  1879-’80,  Cranberry;  1881,  New 
Bethlehem;  1882-’84,  Brockway  ville;  1885-’86,  Callensburg;  1887, 
Waterloo;  1888,  Corsica;  1889,  Greenville,  Clarion  Co.;  1890-’99, 
superannuated. 

*W.  H.  Wilson — Admitted  on  trial,  1858;  full  connection,  1860; 
deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1862,  Ames;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased. 
Canton,  O.,  September  30,  1886.  Appointments — 1858.  Windsor; 
1859,  Tallmadge;  1860,  Atwater;  1861,  Windham;  1862,  Cleve- 
land, Scoville  Avenue;  1863-’64,  Chardon;  1865,  Mentor;  1866-’67, 
Conneaut;  1868-’69,  Cattaraugus;  1870-71,  Silver  Creek;  1872-73, 
Sherman;  1874,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1875-76,  Akron,  Second 
Church;  1877-78,  Charlestown  and  Freedom;  1879,  Twinsburg; 
1880-’81,  West  Farmington;  1882-’85,  Canton  District. 


368 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Methodist  revival  in  1849,  under  the  preaching  of  G.  L. 
Little,  then  preacher-in-charge  at  Greenville.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1857,  and  was  admitted  into  the 
traveling  connection  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1858.  After  an  active  ministry  of  thirty-three  years  he 
was  made  supernumerary  and  two  years  later  superannu- 
ated and  continued  in  that  relation  until  his  promotion 
to  the  Church  Triumphant,  February  28,  1905.  He  had 
resided  in  his  native  town  since  his  retirement  from  the 
active  work. 

Mr.  Mossman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Du- 
mars,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dumars,  an  early  settler  of 
Mercer  county,  of  French-Irish  extraction,  in  1854. 

Brother  Mossman  was  never  robust  physically,  and 
enjoyed  few  educational  advantages,  yet  he  worked  hard, 
studied  diligently,  and  was  successful  in  his  work.  His 
sermons  were  evangelistic,  and  he  held  many  notable 
revival  meetings,  in  which  multitudes  were  saved.  He 
was  greatly  beloved  by  his  ministerial  brethren.  He  was 
conscious  to  the  last,  and  strong  in  faith,  rejoicing  in 
hope.* 


The  Glory  of  God  Revealed! 


A remarkable  condition  is  revealed  in  an  account  of 
the  Jamestown  District  Preachers’  Association.  D.  C. 
Osborne  writes : 

“Our  second  district  preachers’  meeting  was  postponed 
until  February  23  in  consequence  of  the  great  and  gra- 
cious outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  our  midst. 
And  when  the  23d  came  round  the  work  had  continued 
so  generally  that  but  four  of  the  preachers  could  be  in 
attendance.  We  four  met  at  Panama,  a place  noted  for 
its  eenial,  warm-hearted  Methodists,  and  there  we  found 
showers  of  grace  descending.  Brother  Lytle  had  found 
a place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  was  leading  the 

*W.  H.  Mossman — Liicensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on  trial, 
1858;  full  connection,  1860;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1862, 
Ames;  deceased,  Greenville,  Pa.,  February  28,  1905.  Appoint- 
ments— 1858,  Rockville;  1859-’60,  Conneautville;  1861-’62,  Lines- 
ville;  1863-’64,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1865,  Rouseville;  1866-’68, 
Middlesex;  1869-’70,  Sharon;  1871-’72,  Tidioute;  1873,  Corry;  1874- 
’75,  Union  City;  1876,  Sharpsville  and  New  Virginia;  1877-’79, 
Conneautville;  1880-’81,  Clarion;  1882,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1883-’85, 
Sandy  Lake;  1886-’88,  West  Middlesex;  1889-’90,  Sharpsville; 
1891-’92,  supernumerary;  1893-1904,  superannuated. 


- 


The  Glory  of  God  Revealed.  369 

church  to  higher  and  holier  ground,  and  sinners  to  the 
Lamb  of  God.  We  bowed  at  the  altar  with  nearly  forty 
seekers  and  poured  out  our  prayers  with  them  to  Him 
who  hears  the  sinner’s  cry;  and  Jesus  came  and  healed 
some  souls  from  all  their  sins.  We  saw  at  the  altar  all 
ages  and  classes,  from  the  gray-haired  sire  to  the  Sun- 
day school  scholar.  And  the  work  goes  grandly  on; 
every  circuit  and  station  in  the  district  has  felt  more  or 
less  of  the  'gift  of  power’  and  'tongue  of  fire.’  May  we 
be  successful  shepherds  and  feed  the  lambs  aright.  After 
preparing  the  work  for  our  future  meeting-  we  adjourned 
to  go  home,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  work  for  still 
greater  enlargement  to  the  borders  of  the  Church.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  23,  1858.) 

During  the  conference  years  of  1857  and  1858  re- 
vival fire  spread  all  over  the  conference,  and  shouts  of 
victory  were  heard  on  every  side.  We  cannot  find  space 
to  adequately  report  the  many  great  revivals  resulting 
in  the  conversion  of  many  thousands. 

J.  H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder  of  Fredonia  District, 
writes : "The  Lord  is  reviving  his  work  gloriously  on 

this  district.  The  Church  is  revived  and  encouraged, 
and  is  looking  for  large  blessings  in  the  exercise  of  faith- 
ful and  fervent  praver.  Convicting,  converting  and  sanc- 
tifying power  is  felt  in  many  hearts,  and  many  are  seek- 
ing the  Lord.  Glory  to  God!  ...  At  Delanti,  a 
village  where  we  commenced  preaching  this  year — and 
no  societv  previous — there  has  been  nearly  one  hundred 
conversions.  . . . The  good  work  commenced 

at  our  camp  meeting,  and  has  been  advancing  with  in- 
creasing power  and  glory.  Hallelujah!” 

E.  B.  Lane  writes  from  Wattsburg:  "We  are  in  the 

midst  of  a glorious  revival  in  Wattsburg.  Many  are 
flocking  to  the  standard  of  the  cross.  Over  one  hundred 
and  fifty  have  been  converted  since  conference.  Thanks 
be  to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.” 

Messrs.  Greene  and  Steadman  send  word  from  the 
Shippenville  Circuit : "The  Lord  is  still  with  us  on 

this  circuit.  Since  our  last  notice  appeared  we  have 
passed  through  two  glorious  revivals — one  at  Richland 
and  the  other  in  the  village  of  Shippenville.  Brother 
Thomas  Graham,  of  Brookville,  was  with  us  at  the  last 


370 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


named  place  for  nearly  two  weeks,  preaching  with  his 
usual  efficiency.  Thus  far  God  has  blessed  us  with  a 
revival  of  religion  wherever  we  have  made  an  effort. 
To  His  name  be  all  the  glory  (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate , January  26 , 1858.) 

B.  S.  Hill,  presiding  elder  of  Jamestown  District,  says: 
“I  rejoice  to  say  that  between  seven  and  eight  hundred 
souls  have  been  converted  on  the  Jamestown  District 
since  our  last  conference,  and  now  the  work  seems  to  be 
reaching  more  widely,  and  to  be  moving  more  strongly 
and  rapidly,  than  at  any  previous  time.  — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , February  2 , 1858.) 

Samuel  Gregg,  presiding  elder  of  Ravenna  District, 
reports : “A  glorious  revival  of  religion  is  in  progress 

in  various  parts  of  Ravenna  District.  Akron,  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  Twinsburg,  Franklin  and  Ravenna  have  shared 
most  extensively  in  this  gracious  work;  while  other 
places  have  been  favored  to  a limited  extent,  and  in 
some  of  them  I have  no  doubt  a rich  harvest  will  yet  be 
gathered.  Our  churches  are  crowded,  hundreds  have 
been  converted,  and  prospects  are  daily  brightening.” 

A Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  paper  says : “The  revival  com- 

menced, and  has  thus  far  been  the  most  powerful  in  the 
M.  E.  Church,  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  John  Peate. 
Two  hundred  have  gone  forward  for  prayers  in  that 
church.  One  hundred  and  six  have  united  in  church 
fellowship  with  them.  The  Congregationalists  and  Pres- 
byterians carry  on  the  work  together;  about  fifty  have 
been  forward  for  prayers  in  those  meetings.  The  Bap- 
tist Church  has  received  fifteen  by  baptism.  The  meet- 
ings still  continue  in  all  the  churches.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , February  23 , 1838.) 

Moses  Hill  reports  St.  Clair  Street,  Cleveland:  “The 

revival  still  continues  in  this  station.  Almost  every  even- 
ins:  since  last  November  we  have  had  souls  converted  in 
our  meetings.  Over  one  hundred  have  already  joined 
the  Church — perhaps  one  hundred,  at  least,  have  been 
converted.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , March  16, 
1858.) 

Societies  and  Churches. 

The  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Victory  dates  from  1858.  Frederick  Vernon  was  the 


Societies  and  Churches. 


371 


first  preacher,  and  services  were  held  for  several  years 
in  school  houses.  The  following  were  members  of  the 
first  class:  Simon  Nicklin,  leader;  Jacob  Wilt,  Joseph 

K.  Dale,  James  McCutcheon,  Samuel  Hughes,  J.  P.  Mor- 
rison, Charles  Ridgway,  and  their  wives,  and  Mary 
Hughes.  The  church  was  completed  in  1870,  and  when 
Professor  L.  G.  Marvin,  of  Allegheny  College,  who  had 
been  engaged  to  dedicate  it,  was  told  that  there  was  no 
debt,  he  replied : “I  thank  God  I have  been  asked  to 

dedicate  one  church  without  asking  for  money.” 

Meadow  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — now  Hill  City 
— was  organized  by  Mr.  Vernon  in  1866.  The  follow- 
ing were  among  the  pioneer  members : James  Kinney, 

Sophia  Hill,  Jane  Thompson,  Mrs.  Caldren,  John  Hoy 
and  wife,  P.  Shannon  and  wife,  and  Samuel  Houser,  who 
was  the  first  class  leader.  Another  account  says  John  C. 
McKenzie  was  the  first  class  leader,  and  that  there  were 
about  forty  members.  The  Hoy  school  house  was  used 
as  a place  of  worship  until,  under  the  labors  of  D.  C. 
Plannette,  the  present  church  was  erected  in  1874,  at  a 
cost  of  about  $1,500. 

The  East  Salem  class  met  for  a number  of  years  in 
the  school  house  at  the  coal  bank.  John  Stover  was  the 
first  leader. 

The  Methodist  Society  at  Mina  was  organized  in 
1858.  O.  L.  Mead  was  the  first  pastor.  Among  the 
first  members  were  the  following : Alexander  D.  Hold- 

ridge  and  wife,  William  Baker,  Betsie  Baker,  Charity 
Chase,  Daniel  Declow  and  wife,  Lucy  Holdridge,  Melissa 
Holdridge,  Jane  Tryon,  Lucinda  Relf,  Thomas  Coveny, 
Daniel  Fritz  and  wife,  and  a few  others.  1 he  contract 
for  building  was  let  to  A.  D.  Holdridge,  April  10,  1870, 
for  $1,980;  June  1 the  stake  was  driven  for  the  corner; 
June  4 the  cornerstone  for  the  wall  was  laid;  June  20 
“laid  sills;”  August  17,  “raised  steeple."  The  total  cost, 
including  furnishings,  was  about  $2,500. 

The  church  at  West  Mina  was  organized  in  1858.  C. 
R.  Chapman  was  the  first  pastor.  A church  edifice  was 
erected  in  1859.  The  following  were  among  the  first 
members:  John  Skellie,  Alexander  Skellie,  Uriel  Fen- 

ton, Azan  Fenton,  Henry  J.  Moore  and  James  F.  Moore. 

Finley  Lake  appointment  was  taken  from  Greenfield 
Charge  and  united  to  Mina  to  form  Finley  Lake  Charge, 


372  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

in  1901.  Henry  Smallenberger  was  the  first  regular 
pastor.  The  first  class  was  formed  in  1866.  The  first 
trustees  were  D.  H.  Parsons,  George  Dill,  L.  V.  Bab- 
cock, R.  T.  Holdridge  and  William  Baker.  They  were 
elected  and  the  society  incorporated  in  1876.  A lot  was 
purchased  for  a church  in  1893,  and  the  church  was  dedi- 
cated by  R.  N.  Stubbs,  presiding  elder  of  Erie  District, 
February  24,  1901.  M.  V.  Stone  was  serving  as  a sup- 
ply. The  cost  was  $3,300. 

The  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Annandale  begins  with  the  year  1858,  when  a class  of 
eight  or  ten  persons  was  organized  by  John  McComb — 
in  charge  of  the  Clintonville  Circuit,  assisted  by  S.  S. 
Nye.  The  early  meetings  were  held  in  the  upper  part 
of  Thomas  F.  Christley’s  dwelling  house,  in  a room 
seated  with  slab  benches.  In  1859  a series  of  meetings 
were  held  in  a grove,  and  many  were  added  to  the  orig- 
inal members.  Soon  after  this  revival  the  Methodists 
built  a church  of  unhewn  logs.  The  walls  of  this  primi- 
tive structure  were  six  logs  in  height,  and  the  darkness 
within  was  only  partially  dispelled  by  two  windows  of 
four  lights  each  in  the  rear  gable.  The  pulpit  and 
seats  were  in  harmony  with  their  surroundings.  After 
four  years  the  building  was  burned  by  an  incendiary. 
At  the  next  quarterly  conference  held  in  Clintonville  it 
was  proposed  that  the  members  of  this  class  should  give 
up  their  organization  and  connect  themselves  with  the 
most  convenient  classes  within  their  reach.  This  they 
refused  to  do,  and  continued  to  hold  meetings  in  a 
school  house  which,  “located  in  an  almost  inaccessible 
place  in  the  forest,’’  was  distant  about  one  mile  from 
the  church  which  had  been  destroyed — which,  also,  had 
been  located  in  the  woods.  Finally  a new  church  was 
erected  in  1873,  whose  cost  was  about  $2,000. 

The  following  appeal  for  help  for  the  Punxsutawnev 
Church  was  made  by  Josiah  Flower  in  January,  1858: 

HELP ! HELP ! HELP ! 

“To  the  Members  of  Erie  Conference: 

“Dear  Brethren — I am  driven  to  the  necessity  of 
asking  you  to  help  me  a little  in  the  present  pressure. 
At  the  last  court,  held  in  Brookville,  Jefferson  county, 
our  house  of  worship  in  Punxsutawney  was  sold  at 


Twenty-Third  Session. 


373 


1» 


Sheriff’s  sale,  and  bid  off  by  John  K.  Coxon,  who  is 
the  lawyer  that  had  the  collection  of  the  debt  that  was 
against  the  house.  The  property  is  worth  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  it  was  bid  off  at  a little  over  three  hundred — 
not  enough  to  cover  the  debt  that  was  against  the  house. 
Learning  the  facts  in  the  case,  I went  to  work  and  got 
the  sale  set  aside,  and  it  was  again  put  up  for  sale  the 
same  week,  and  it  was  finally  struck  off  to  me  at  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  the  money  must  be  forthcoming 
before  February  court;  and  the  brethren  at  Punxsutaw- 
ney  have  gone  to  the  extent  of  their  means,  and  what  is 
done  must  be  done  speedily,  and  what  I want  is  that 
each  member  and  each  probationer  for  membership  in 
the  Erie  Conference  would  send  me  one  dollar,  and 
go  to  some  one  or  two  members  on  your  charges  who 
you  know  will  give  you  one  dollar  each,  and  forward  it 
by  mail  to  Rev.  Janies  Shields,  Punxsutawney,  Jefferson 
county,  Pa.,  or  to  myself  at  Strattonville,  Clarion  county. 
Come  at  once,  brethren,  to  the  rescue,  and  help  us  to 
save  that  property  for  the  Church.  Any  member  of  the 
Church  who  may  see  this  notice,  and  will  respond  to  the 
call  by  sending  us  a dollar,  will  do  us  a great  favor. 

“Josiah  Flower. 

“Strattonville,  Jan.  5.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cateJanuary  19,  1858.) 

Twenty-Third  Session. 

The  Erie  Conference  held  its  twenty-third  session  at 
Brookville,  Jefferson  .county,  Pa.,  commencing  July  13, 
1859,  Matthew  Simpson,  Presiding  Bishop;  Lorenzo  D. 
Williams,  Secretary.  Carlos  R.  Martin  was  recommend- 
ed by  the  Concord  Quarterly  Conference,  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference,  for  admission  on  trial.  A note  from 
Bishop  Osmond  C.  Baker  accompanied  the  recommenda- 
tion, stating  that  Mr.  Martin  had  been  selected  as  a 
missionary  to  China.  He  was  admitted  and,  under  the 
missionary  rule,  elected  to  deacon’s  and  elder’s  orders. 

The  following  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference:  Calvin  Kingsley,  Moses  Hill,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley, Edwin  J.  L.  Baker,  James  E.  Chapin,  George  W. 
Clarke  and  John  Bain;  and  Joseph  Leslie  and  Horatio 
N.  Stearns  were  elected  reserves. 

“H.  Kinsley  was  requested  to  deliver  a lecture  at  the 


374 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


next  session  of  our  Conference,  embodying  the  history 
of  this  Conference.”  We  do  not  learn  that  this  lecture 
was  ever  delivered. 

I.  C.  T.  McClelland,  located.  The  death  of  Joseph 
Uncles  is  recorded. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial:  Mil- 

ton  Black,  John  M.  DeWoody,  John  W.  Aikin,  William 
A.  P.  Eberhart,  Warner  Bush,  Westwood  W.  Case, 
Francis  Caughey,  Charles  W.  Bear,  Michael  Williams, 
David  Eason,  W.  W.  Warner,  Washington  Hollister, 
Courson  M.  Heard,  Obecl  G.  McEntire  and  Carlos  R. 
Martin.* 

J.  H.  McCarty  was  transferred  to  the  New  Hampshire, 
Carlos  R.  Martin  to  the  Troy,  and  James  Bredberg  to 
the  Rock  River  Conference. 

The  following  is  among  the  resolutions  passed : 

“Resolved,  That  the  use  of  tobacco  is  filthy  and  of- 
fensive. and  we,  therefore,  earnestly  beg  all  our  minis- 
ters and  members  to  use  none,  especially  in  the  church.” 

This  is  certainly  expressed  with  caution. 

Action  was  also  taken  against  any  division  of  the 
conference,  and  the  delegates  were  instructed  to  oppose 
any  division  or  alteration  in  its  boundaries. 

The  following  resolution  from  the  Oregon  Conference 
was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Church  Usages,  which 
reported  favorably  and  the  Conference,  by  the  adoption 
of  the  report,  concurred : 

“Resolved,  That  this  Conference  request  the  General 
Conference  at  its  next  session  to  provide  in  the  discipline 
for  lay  representation  in  the  General  and  Annual  Con- 
ferences, on  all  the  financial,  educational  and  benevolent 
matters  usually  receiving  Conference  action,  and  also 
provide  that  the  laity  shall  never  have  a vote  in  the  An- 
nual or  General  Conference  which  shall  either  modify  or 
abrogate  the  itinerancy.” 

*J.  M.  DeWoody — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  discontinued  on 
account  of  ill  health,  1861;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  afterwards 
withdrew;  became  a local  preacher  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion; died  in  Franklin,  Pa.  Appointments — 1859,  Rockville,  sec- 
ond preacher;  1860,  Sunville,  second  preacher. 

Warner  Bush — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  full  connection,  1861; 
deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863,  Simpson;  located,  1876.  Ap- 
pointments— 1859,  Columbus;  1860,  Riceville;  1861,  Kinzua;  1862, 
Sheffield;  1863,  Pleasant  Valley;  1864-’65,  Ellery;  1866,  Pine 
Grove;  1867-’75,  supernumerary. 


Twenty-Third  Session. 


375 


. Appointments  for  1859:  Cleveland  District,  Moses  Hill,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  W.  F.  Day;  Erie  Street, 
R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Scoville  Avenue,  Francis  Caughey;  City  Mission, 
H.  P.  Henderson;  East  Cleveland  and  Euclid,  Lewis  Clark;  New- 
burg,  D.  C.  Wright;  Bedford  and  Warrensville,  Hiram  Kellogg; 
Bainbridge  and  Chester,  Michael  Williams;  Chagrin  Falls, 
Thomas  Guy;  Mayfield,  E.  B.  Lane;  Mantua,  Albert  Norton; 
Troy,  Cyril  Wilson;  Burton,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Willoughby,  Dar- 
ius Smith;  Calvin  Kingsley,  editor  of  the  Western  Christian 
Advocate,  member  of  St.  Clair  Street  Quarterly  Conference; 
Dillon  Prosser,  Chaplain  of  the  Western  Seamen’s  Friend  So- 
ciety, member  of  St.  Clair  Street  Quarterly  Conference;  Benja- 
min Excell,  Agent  of  Willoughby  University,  member  of  Wil- 
loughby Quarterly  Conference.  Painesville  District,  John  Bain, 
presiding  elder;  Painesville,  A.  D.  Morton;  Mentor,  E.  C.  Lati- 
mer; Chardon,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Montville,  N.  M.  Shurick,  J.  W. 
Aikin;  Thompson,  Potter  Sullivan;  Perry,  Roderick  Norton;  Gen- 
eva and  Saybrook,  E.  J.  Kinney;  Ashtabula,  A.  M.  Brown;  Jeffer- 
son, Samuel  Wilkinson;  Morgan,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Grand 


Milton  Black — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  full  connection,  1861; 
deacon,  1861,  Morris;  located,  1861.  Appointments — 1859,  Wind- 
sor; 1860,  Waterford. 

Francis  Caughey — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  deacon,  1859,  Simp- 
son; discontinued,  1860.  Appointments — 1858,  Quincy  (supply); 
1859,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue. 

W.  A.  P.  Eberhart — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  full  connection, 
1861;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1866,  Clark;  located,  1861. 
Appointments — 1859,  Troy  and  Corsica;  1860,  Richmond. 

W.  W.  Case — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial,  1859; 
full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863,  Simpson; 
transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1864;  transferred  to  Cin- 
cinnati Conference,  1875;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference, 
1878;  transferred  to  Detroit  Conference,  1885;  transferred  to 
California  Conference,  1887.  Appointments — 1859-’60,  Ellington; 
1861,  Leon;  1862-’63,  Little  Valley;  1864-’66,  Edgerton,  Wis.; 
1867-’69,  Beloit,  Wis.;  1870-72,  Milwaukee,  Asburv;  1873-74,  Fond 
du  Lac,  Division  Street;  1875-77,  Cincinnati,  O.,  Mount  Auburn; 
1878-’80,  Akron,  O.,  First  Church;  1881-’84,  Cleveland  District; 
1885-’86,  Adrian,  Mich.;  1887-’91,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Central 
Church;  1892-’96,  San  Francisco,  Howard  Street;  1897-1902,  San 
Francisco  District. 

C.  M.  Heard — Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial,  1859; 
full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863,  Simpson; 
transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference,  1872;  transferred  to  Wis- 
consin Conference,  1881;  transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference, 
1885;  became  a member  of  the  Minnesota  Northern  Conference 
at  its  organization,  1894. 

Appointments — 1859,  Curllsville;  1860,  Troy  and  Corsica;  1861- 
’62,  Punxsutawmey;  1863,  Brady’s  Bend;  1864-'65,  Youngsville; 
1866,  Forestville  and  Sheridan;  1867,  Forestville;  1868-’69,  Pet- 
roleum Centre;  1870,  Ridgway  and  Wilcox;  1871,  Pleasantville; 
1872-74,  Lake  City,  Minn.;  1875,  Anoka,  Minn.;  1876-78,  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.,  Hennepin  Avenue;  1879-’80,  Winnebago  City,  Minn.; 
1881-’82,  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  Algona  Street;  1883,  Neenah,  Wis.; 
1884,  Kenosha,  Wis.;  1885-’88,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Trinity  Church; 
1888-’91,  Minneapolis,  Taylor  Street;  1892-’94,  Monticello,  Minn.; 
1895-’96,  Minneapolis,  Bloomington  Avenue;  1897-1901,  editor, 
Conference  Examiner. 


376 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


River,  H.  D.  Cole;  Kingsville,  John  Graham,  Hiram  Luce,  sup.; 
Richmond,  L.  E.  Beardsley,  John  Elliott;  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Agent 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  member  of  Perry  Quar- 
terly Conference.  Ravenna  District,  Samuel  Gregg,  presiding 
elder;  Ravenna,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Akron,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Tall- 
madge,  Stephen  Heard,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  G.  W. 
Chesbro;  Franklin,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Northampton,  W.  Brainerd; 
Hudson,  to  be  supplied;  Twinsburg,  Willliam  Monks;  Charles- 
town, T.  B.  Tait;  Windham,  Valorus  Lake;  Garrettsville  and 
Nelson,  Washington  Hollister;  Rootstown  and  Randolph,  L.  W. 
Ely;  Edinburg,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Deerfield,  B.  C.  Warner;  Jack- 
son,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Ellsworth,  J.  F.  Brown;  Canfield,  J.  B. 
Hammond;  Braceville  and  Newton  Falls,  J.  K.  Hallock.  War- 
ren District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  John 
Tribby;  West  Farmington,  P.  P.  Pinney,  J.  B.  Grover;  Bloom- 
field and  Bristol,  John  McLean;  Youngstown,  H.  N.  Stearns; 
Niles  and  Liberty,  J.  W.  Hill;  Vienna,  G.  H.  Brown;  Gustavus, 
William  Sampson;  Hubbard,  Ira  Eddy;  Hartford  and  Brookfield, 
R.  W.  Crane;  Williamsfield,  Wareham  French;  Green  and  Mecca, 
Ezra  Wade;  Orangeville,  David  King;  Windsor,  W.  M.  Bear, 
Milton  Black;  Sharon,  W.  D.  Archbold;  Western  Reserve  Sem- 
inary, James  Greer,  Principal,  member  of  West  Farmington  Quar- 
terly Conference.  Erie  District,  Josiah  Flower,  pre- 
siding elder;  Erie,  G.  W.  Clarke,  J.  D.  Nor- 

ton; Wesley ville,  James  Gilfillan,  W.  R.  Gehr;  North  East,  I.  O. 
Fisher;  Quincy,  David  Mizener;  Mina,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Water- 
ford, J.  H.  Vance,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Edinboro,  Samuel  Hollen; 
McKean,  J.  W.  Wilson,  W.  A.  Matson,  D.  Vorse,  sup.;  Girard, 
Alvin  Burgess;  Springfield,  A.  R.  Hammond;  Albion,  Albina  Hall, 
L.  D.  Prosser;  Conneaut,  Allen  Fouts;  Union,  S.  L.  Wilkinson. 
Meadville  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  E. 
A.  Johnson;  Saegertown,  G.  W.  Maltby,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Steuben, 
Jonathan  Whitely;  Cochranton,  John  Abbott;  Sunville,  N.  C. 
Brown;  Franklin,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Greenville,  J.  H.  Tagg;  New 
Lebanon,  J.  C.  Sullivan,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  sup.;  Salem,  Isaac  Sco- 
field, A.  H.  Bowers;  Evansburg,  John  Wrigglesworth ; Conneaut- 
ville,  Isaiah  Lane,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Rockville,  P.  W.  Sherwood, 
J.  M.  DeWoody;  Espy  ville,  A.  L.  Miller,  G.  M.  Eberman;  James- 
town, A.  J.  Merchant;  L.  D.  Williams,  Professor  in  Allegheny 
College,  member  of  Meadville  Quarterly  Conference.  New  Castle 
District,  Gaylord  B.  Hawkins,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  W. 
F.  Wilson;  East  New  Castle  and  Croton,  James  Shields;  Mt. 
Jackson,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Wilmington,  R.  M.  Bear,  Ebenezer 
Bennett;  Harrisville,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Pine  Grove,  W.  R.  Johnson; 
North  Washington  and  Clintonville,  S.  A.  Milroy,  C.  W.  Bear; 
Hendersonville,  John  McComb,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Clarksville,  J.  G. 
Thompson;  Mercer,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Delaware  Grove,  S.  S.  Nye, 
Middlesex,  J.  M.  Greene;  Poland,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Moravia,  S.  K. 
Paden;  Poland  College,  W.  N.  Reno,  Principal,  member  of  the 
Poland  Quarterly  Conference.  Clarion  District,  James  E.  Chapin, 
presiding  elder;  Clarion,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Brookville,  E.  H.  Ying- 
ling;  Curllsville,  Benjamin  Marsteller,  Samuel  Coon,  C.  M. 
Heard;  Shippenville,  Robert  Beatty,  Robert  Gray;  Brady’s  Bend, 
Thomas  Graham;  State  Road,  J.  F.  Perry;  Washington,  G.  M. 
Moore,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Tionesta,  David  Eason;  Troy  and  Corsica, 

J.  W.  Weldon,  W.  A.  P.  Eberhart;  Punxsutawney,  N.  G.  Luke, 
Frederick  Vernon;  Warsaw,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Luthersburg,  J. 

K.  Mendenhall;  New  Bethlehem,  Jared  Howe;  Ridgway  Mission, 
O.  G.  McEntire.  Jamestown  District,  James  W.  Lowe,  presiding 


Twenty-Third  Session. 


377 


elder;  Jamestown,  J.  S.  Lytle,  John  Peate,  sup.;  Ashville,  S.  N. 
Warner;  Sugar  Grove,  E.  A.  Anderson;  Frewsburg,  L.  D.  Brooks; 
Pine  Grove,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Randolph,  O.  L.  Mead;  Little  Valley, 
Alexander  Barris;  Kinzua,  F.  W.  Smith;  Sheffield,  Jephtha 
Marsh;  Panama,  Joseph  Leslie;  Clymer,  T.  P.  Warner;  Colum- 
bus, S.  S.  Burton,  Warner  Bush,  Major  Colegrove,  sup.;  Watts- 
burg,  R.  A.  Caruthers,  Adam  Height;  Youngsville,  M.  H.  Bettes; 
Warren,  John  Robinson;  Pleasantville,  G.  F.  Reeser,  W.  W. 
Warner;  Titusville,  William  Hayes;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove 
Swedish  Mission,  to  be  supplied.  Fredonia  District,  James  H. 
Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Dunkirk,  A.  C. 
Tibbetts;  Portland,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Westfield,  R.  M.  Warren;  May- 
ville,  D.  M.  Stever;  Sherman,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Delanti,  John  Akers, 
S.  S.  Stuntz;  Sinclairville,  Peter  Burroughs;  Ellington,  Joseph 
Allen, ; W.  W.  Case;  Leon,  R.  R.  Roberts,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Perrys- 
burg,  Edwin  Hull;  Villenovia,  John  Crum;  Forestville  and  Sheri- 
dan, J.  R.  Lyon;  Silver  Creek,  W.  P.  Bignell. 


David  Eason,  Michael  Williams. 


David  Eason  was  discontinued  in  1862  because  of  ill 
health,  but  continued  to  serve  the  Church  in  the  local 
ranks.  Speaking  of  his  brief  ministerial  labors,  he  writes 
in  1868:  “I  must  say  here,  that  although  I endured 

some  trials,  and  some  afflictions  in  that  short  ministerial 
course,  for  the  Lord  not  only  afflicted  my  own  body,  but 
he  took  from  the  embrace  of  a fond  father  and  mother 
two  interesting  children,  and  made  us  to  feel  sorrow  and 
trouble.  I would  not  make  mention  of  this  reflecting  on 
the  divine  goodness  at  all,  for  I will  ever  remember  how 
the  Lord  enabled  me  to  say  in  that  hour,  ‘Thy  will  be 
done.’  But  what  I wish  to  say  is,  (for  the  encouraging 
of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry,)  those  were  my  happiest 
days.  And  I never  can  forget  them — they  were  days  of 
satisfaction,  days  of  comfort,  mingled,  it  is  true,  with  some 
sorrow,  but  grace  triumphed  and  I was  made  to  rejoice. 
And  I do  not  feel  to-day  as  though  my  work  on  earth 
were  finished.  I thank  God  I am  in  a church  that  has 
found  a sphere  of  action  for  the  local  preacher.  I can 
find  as  much  work  in  that  relation  as  I am  capable  of 
performing,  and  I am  most  sorry  that  I have  not 
abounded  more  in  labors  in  this  field  to  which  I believe 
in  the  providence  of  God  I have  been  called  to  work.  And 
I wish  to  say  to  every  one  of  my  brethren  in  the  local 
ministry,  let  us  stand  in  our  lot,  let  us  cultivate  Imman- 
uel’s ground;  there  is  work  for  us,  if  not  in  the  pulpit  as 
much  as  in  former  days,  there  is  work  for  us  in  warning 
men  in  our  daily  intercourse  with  them;  there  is  work 


^78  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

also  in  the  altar  with  penitents,  and  then  with  the  young 
convert,  encouraging  and  establishing  them  by  our 
words.”* — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  January  u, 

1 868.) 

Michael  Williams  was  one  of  six  brothers,  all  of  whom 
became  Methodist  preachers.  “He  possessed  in  a large 
degree  the  active  and  passive  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
As  a preacher  he  was  methodical  and  practical,  and  faith- 
ful in  all  his  duties.  In  his  character  were  blended  genu- 
ine piety,  deep  humility,  Christian  benevolence,  and  sta- 
bility of  conduct.”  He  was  converted  in  his  seventeenth 
year  and  eight  years  later  licensed  to  preach,  and  labored 
in  the  Wesleyan  connection  until  1853,  when  he  came  to 
America.  He  was  employed  as  a supply  until  1859, 
when  he  entered  the  Erie  Conference.  He  fell  into  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  Mr.  Williams  was 
born  in  Durham,  England,  May  4,  1815,  and  died  in 
New  Philadelphia,  O.,  March  25,  1890.! 

Obed  G.  McEntire,  Washington  Hollister. 

Obed  G.  McEntire  was  born  in  East  Fallowfield,  Craw- 
ford county,  Pa.,  February  11,  1829.  He  came  of  a long 
line  of  Methodist  ancestry.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
mother was  baptized  by  John  Wesley,  who  preached  sev- 
eral times  in  her  house.  Both  his  grandfathers  were 
Methodists,  and  his  parents,  John  and  Drusilla  McEn- 
tire, were  life-long  devoted  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Under  such  godly  influences  he  was 
converted  in  childhood.  His  early  school  advantages 
were  limited,  but  he  studied  much  at  home,  and  piepaied 
himself  for  college.  Under  great  discouragements  he 
pursued  his  studies  and  graduated,  and  in  1859  gradu- 
ated from  Allegheny  College  in  both  the  regular  classical 

♦David  Eason — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  discontinued,  1862; 
deacon,  1868,  Kingsley.  Appointments— 1859-’60,  Tionesta;  1861, 
Brookville. 

tMichael  Williams— Licensed  to  preach,  1840;  admitted  on 
trial,  1859;  full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder, 
1863  Simpson;  deceased,  New  Philadelphia,  O.,  March  25,  1890. 
Appointments — 1859,  Chester  and  Bainhridge;  1860,  Troy,  •» 
1861--62,  Bedford  and  Warrensville;  1863-'64  Twmsnurg,1865- 66, 
Edinburg;  1867-’68,  Middlebury;  1869,  Canfield,  1870- 72,  Niles, 
1873  Savbrook;  1874,  Albion;  1875,  supernumerary;  18/6-77, 
superannuated;  1878-’79,  Philadelphia  Plains;  x880-’89,  superannu- 
ated. 


Obed  G.  McEntire , Washington  Hollister.  379 


course  and  also  the  Biblical  Department — being  the  first 
graduate  in  the  latter  department.  His  license  to  preach 
was  granted  in  1858  by  the  Meadville  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence and  signed  by  Hiram  Kinsley.  He  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1859.  In  1856  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Fidelia,  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Gray,  of  the 
Erie  Conference,  who  proved  herself  an  efficient  co- 
worker in  his  sacred  calling.  Mr.  McEntire  served  the 
Church  thirty-four  years.  He  was  four  years  presiding 
elder  of  the  Jamestown  District.  He  had  some  wonder- 
ful revivals  on  the  charges  which  he  served.  In  his  auto- 
biography he  says:  “In  some  instances  both  men  and 

women  would  fall  down,  their  muscles  become  rigid,  and 
they  would  remain  motionless,  some  but  a few  minutes, 
others  from  one  to  three  hours,  and' one  was  carried  home 
and.  remained  in  this  condition  all  night — but  they  all 
appeared  happy  when  they  recovered."  He  was  a super- 
numerary but  a few  weeks  when  he  closed  his  earthly 
life  at  Geneva,  Pa.,  November  3,  1893.  He  possessed  a 
well  disciplined  mind,  his  reasoning  was  convincing,  his 
diction  pure,  and  his  oratory  stirring.  He  was  apt  in 
the  quoting  of  hymns  to  enrich  his  sermons  with  their 
wholesome  theology.  Looking  across  the  stream,  as  he 
neared  its  banks,  he  exclaimed : “It  is  all  right  on  the 

other  side"— and  passed  over.* 

Washington  Hollister  died  in  the  harness.  For  sev- 
eral weeks  his  health  had  been  failing,  but  he  kept  up 
his  work.  The  Sunday  before  his  death  he  preached 
morning  and  evening  with  more  than  usual  power,  his 
sermons  making  a deep  impression  upon  the  audience. 
He  spoke  at  the  Wednesday  evening  prayer  meetings. 
He  arose  Thursday  morning,  and,  after  breakfast,  wrote 
several  letters.  He  then  went  to  the  bank  to  transact 
some  business,  and  on  his  way  to  the  postoffice  stopped 
to  converse  concerning  the  union  prayer  meetings  it  was 

* *0.  G.  McEntire — Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial, 

1859;  full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863, 
Simpson;  deceased,  Geneva,  Pa.,  November  3,  1893.  Appoint- 
ments— 1859-’60,  Ridgway;  1861,  Brockwayville;  1862,  West  Free- 
dom; 1863-’64,  Callensburg  and  Freedom;  1865-’66,  Mercer;  1867- 
’68,  Ashtabula;  1869-’70,  Ellington;  1871,  Warren,  O.;  1872-’74, 
Greenville;  1875,  Warren,  Pa.;  1876-’79,  Jamestown  District; 
1880-’81,  Brookville;  1882-’84,  Girard;  1885-’87,  Jamestown.  Pa.; 
1888-’89,  Emlenton;  1890-’91,  Tidioute;  1892,  Cattaraugus;  1893, 
supernumerary. 


380  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

decided  to  hold  the  following  week.  Upon  his  arrival 
at  the  postoffice  his  tongue  refused  to  perform  its  ac- 
customed mission,  the  organs  of  speech  were  paralyzed. 
One  of  the  members  of  the  church  accompanied  him 
home,  physicians  were  called,  but  it  was  of  no  avail.  He 
passed  to  his  reward  from  Knox,  Pa.,  January  3,  1895. 
It  was  the  same  day  on  which  he  was  stricken. 

Mr.  Hollister  was  a man  of  studious  habits.  His  ser- 
mons were  arranged  methodically,  clothed  in  choice  dic- 
tion, and  delivered  with  force  and  feeling.  He  was  a 
good  pastor,  ever  manifesting  the  deepest  solicitude  for 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  people  he  served.  He  was  a 
helpful  counsellor,  and  sympathizing  friend.*  He  at- 
tended to  all  the  interests  of  the  church. 

He  was  born  in  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  February  14,  1827, 
and  the  most  of  his  early  life  was  spent  in  Cattaraugus 
county,  N.  Y.  In  1852  he  moved  to  Cleveland,  O.,  and 
the  following  year  was  married  to  Miss  Abby  G.  Gray. 
He  was  converted  in  western  New  York;  licensed  to 
preach  in  1857,  and  in  1859  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 

Conference.* 

John  Wesley  Aikin,  Charles  W.  Bear. 

John  Wesley  Aikin,  son  of  Rev.  John  E.  Aikin,  was 
born  in  Gustavus,  Trumbull  county,  O.,  February  8, 
1835,  and  died  in  Painesville,  Lake  county,  O.,  February 
19.  1861.  He  was  converted  under  the  labors  of  J.  O. 
Rich,  then  on  Painesville  station.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1858,  and  received  on  probation  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1859*  He  was  appointed  to  the  Montville 
Circuit,  but  soon  sent  to  Geneva,  left  vacant  by  the  death 
of  Edwin  J.  Kinney.  He  was  then  appointed  to  Bain- 
bridge,  “where  he  preached  five  times,  and  returned 

♦Washington  Hollister— Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on 
trial,  1859;  full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861,  Morns;  elder, 
1863  Simpson;  withdrew  from  the  ministry,  1885;  admitted  on 
trial!  1887;  full  connection,  1889;  deceased,  Knox,  Pa.,  January 
3 1895.  Appointments — 1859,  Nelson  and  Gan? ^ttsville , i860, 
Montville;  1861,  Claridon;  1862-’63,  Union;  1864-65,  Girard,  Pa  , 
1866,  Brookville;  1867-'68,  Waterford;  ISM-' 70  KmgsvUle^  1871- 
■*72,  Edinboro;  1873,  Fairview,  ButleJ  Co.,  18  4-  75  South  O 

City;  1876-’77,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1878-  Bern's- 

Cambridge*  1883-’84,  Cochranton;  1887,  Delanti,  1888-  89,  Pei^Y 
burg-  1890,  Forestville,  which  he  was  excused  from  serving, 
1891-’92  Pardoe;  1893,  Edenburg;  1894,  Knox. 


W . W . Warner. 


381 


home  to  linger  a few  months  in  pain,  and  to  die.  Con- 
sumption had  fastened  its  terrible  grasp  upon  him;  and 
by  slow  but  certain  steps,  brought  him  to  an  early  grave. 
He  died  as  easily  and  peacefully  as  the  infant  falls  to 
sleep  in  its  mother’s  arms.  There  was  not  one  sigh,  not 
one  groan,  not  one  convulsion  of  a muscle.  Gently  the 
Spirit  quitted  its  earthly  tabernacle  to  mingle  in  the  pure 
delights  of  the  heavenly  world!”* 

The  ministry  of  Charles  W.  Bear,  inaugurated  under 
auspices  so  full  of  promise,  was  brief  though  fruitful. 
His  father  was  a local  preacher  and  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Methodism  in  Lawrence  county,  Pa.,  and  his  house 
was  the  home  of  the  weary  itinerant  who  was  always 
received  as  a welcome  visitor.  Charles  was  born  near 
Mt.  Jackson,  Lawrence  county,  October  23,  1826.  He 
was  converted  in  1852,  licensed  to  preach  in  1859,  and 
joined  the  itinerant  ranks  the  same  year.  He  finished 
his  course  October  26,  1865,  and  was  laid  to  rest  at  Mt. 
Tackson. 

“Brother  Bear  was  a man  of  medium  height,  strongly 
built,  light  sandy  complexion,  heavy  full  beard,  which  he 
usually  allowed  to  remain  unshorn. 

“He  was  a man  of  fine  social  qualities,  good  English 
education,  more  than  an  ordinary  preacher,  a little  given 
to  controversy,  positive  in  his  mental  structure  and  of 
sterling  integrity.  Strong  in  faith,  blameless  in  life,  a 
close  student,  he  grew  in  power  as  he  grew  in  years.  A 
sermon  preached  by  him  at  the  Punxsutawney  camp  meet- 
ing a few  weeks  before  his  death  on  ‘Christ  Our  Refuge,’ 
will  be  remembered  through  life  by  many  who  heard  it. 
True  to  his  calling,  he  ended  his  labors  and  his  life  to- 
gether, and  has  gone  to  his  rest  on  high/'f — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  May  12 , 1866.) 


W.  W.  Warner. 


W.  W.  Warner  was  born  in  Franklinville,  Cattaraugus 


*J.  W.  Aikin — Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial,  1859; 
deceased,  Painesville,  O.,  February  19,  1861.  Appointments — 
1859,.  Montville,  four  months;  Geneva,  eight  months;  1860,  Bain- 
bridge. 


fC.  W.  Bear — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial, 
1859;  full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863, 
Simpson;  deceased,  Summerville,  Pa.,  October  26,  1865;  buried 
at  Mt.  Jackson,  Pa.  Appointments — 1859-’60,  Clinton ville;  1861, 
Williamsfield;  1862-’63,  Rockland;  1864-’65,  Troy,  Pa. 


^2  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

county,  N.  Y.,  March  20,  1815.  “His  parents  were  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his 
own  record  dates  his  conversion  to  God  by  the  witness 
of  the  Spirit  at  the  early  age  of  four  years.  At  that  day 
the  Cattaraugus  hills  possessed  but  meager  facilities  for 
education,  and  the  hoy  hungered  constantly  for  more  than 
he  could  obtain.  Beyond  the  rudiments  of  the  common 
school,  the  Bible,  Watts’  Hymns,  and  a few  Calvinistic 
standards  were  his  masters.  \\  ith  this  assistance  the 
young  man  became  a teacher,  and  while  thus  engaged  in 
Erie,  Pa.,  he  successfully  founded  what  is  now  the  Bethel 
of  that  city.  Twenty  years  of  his  life  were  given  to  busi- 
ness; not  from  predilection  but  from  seeming  necessity, 
years  of  double  burden,  of  Pauline  woe,  of  providential 
leading,  of  experience  that  shall  not  he  minutely  un- 
folded" because  it  is  not  given  to  many  in  this  life  to  un- 
derstand it.  His  business  relations  were  high  and  honor- 
able, but  his  soul  was  not  at  rest,  and  he  did  the  only 
reasonable  thing,  consecrated  his  powers,  just  as  they 
were  at  the  age  of  forty-five,  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
in  whatever  place  God  might  choose  to  use  him.” 

In  January,  1859,  he  was  employed  as  a supply  on 
Venango  Circuit,  and  at  the  next  session  of  the  Erie 
Conference  was  received  on  trial.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  Wisconsin  Conference  in  1870.  During  his  min- 
istry of  sixteen  years  he  led  to  Christ  thirteen  hundred 
and  thirty-three  souls.  “This  result  was  obtained  largely 
by  personal  effort.  He  was  a superior  judge  of  men,  and 
his  tact  was  only  excelled  by  his  readiness  to  do  anything 
to-  win  souls  to"  Christ.  He  would  descend  to  the  most 
menial  services  if  by  so  doing  he  could  lift  a lost  sinner 
to  heaven.  One  by  one  he  would  study,  reach  out  after, 
and  save  the  perishing.  Even  where  men  would  not 
love  his  Savior,  they  would  respect  him.  While  his 
mission  and  methods  must  have  opponents,  no  open 
enemy  could  rise  up  against  him.  Such  a man  could  in 
no  way  be  superstitious,  but  he  oftentimes  unhesitating- 
ly yielded  to  the  influence  of  dreams.  He  has  frequently 
gone  out  in  the  morning  by  an  unknown  road,  to  entice 
strangers,  and  brought  them  at  night  as  trophies  of  the 
cross,  guided  by  the  impressions  of  the  night.  As  a pas- 
tor he  was  discreet,  skillful,  tender  and  faithful.  If 
there  was  a distracted  or  rebellious  charge,  no  name  w as 


/.  E.  Chapin’s  Report.  383 

surer  of  mention  for  it  than  his,  and  what  he  failed 
to  accomplish  in  the  way  of  reconciliation  has  but  seldom 
been  realized  by  another.  He  was  a preacher  of  no  mean 
order,  and  a student  of  books,  and  of  human  nature; 
given  to  fresh  pulpit  preparation  to  the  very  last,  con- 
stantly stimulating,  but  never  envious  of  the  scholastic 
attainments  of  brethren  more  favored  in  their  youth.” 
After  a brief  illness  he  entered  into  rest  just  as  the  sun 
rose  on  the  morning  of  April  16,  1875.  He  was  buried 
in  the  pleasant  cemetery  at  Edgerton,  Wis. — his  last 
charge.* — (E.  B.  Cummings,  in  Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, July  22 , 18  y 5.) 

J.  E.  Chapin's  Report. 

J.  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder  of  Clarion  District,  gives 
an  excellent  report  of  the  progress  of  the  work  in  1858- 
’59:  “There  have  been  over  one  thousand  three  hundred 
conversions  on  this  district  since  conference.  The  work 
began  in  the  camp  meeting  held  in  August  and  Septem- 
ber last.  For  five  successive  weeks  we  tented  in  the 
grove;  they  were  eventful  and  memorable  occasions  to 
very  many;  the  revival  fire  spread  from  there  more  or 
less  over  the  district;  the  power  and  spirit  and  glory  of 
God  were  signally  manifested  on  these  assemblages  of 
worshipers  in  the  forest;  the  best  of  order  was  observed 
at  every  place.  Several  sites  of  ground  for  camp  meet- 
ings have  been  leased  for  a term  of  years,  and  very  ap- 
propriately arranged  and  prepared  with  seats,  tents,  wells 
and  other  paraphernalia  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
people 

“The  most  extensive  revivals  have  occurred  on  Wash- 
ington, Shippenville,  Curllsville  and  the  Brady's  Bend 
charges ; this  last,  under  the  abundant  and  energetic  la- 
bors of  Rev.  T.  Graham,  is  one  of  the  greatest  revivals 
I ever  knew.  Some  three  hundred  converts  are  num- 
bered as  the  fruits  of  this  glorious,  powerful  work — only 
four  preaching  places, ’and  two  of  these  at  small  school 

*W.  W.  Warner — Admitted  on  trial,  1859;  full,  connection,  1861 ; 
deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1863,  Simpson;  transferred  to  Wis- 
consin Conference,  1870;  deceased,  Edgerton,  Wis.,  April  16,1875. 
Appointments — 1859,  Pleasantville;  1860-’61,  Ellington;  1862-'63, 
Perrysburg;  1864-’66,  Villenovia;  1867-’68,  Sheridan;  1869,  Sher- 
man; 1870-71,  Fort  Atkinson,  Wis.;  1872-73,  Emerald  Grove, 
Wis.;  1874,  Edgerton,  Wis. 


384  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

houses.  Considering  the  number  of  inhabitants,  it  is  an 

extraordinary  work 

“On  the  first  Sabbath  of  May  last  our  new  church 
edifice  at  Brookville  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the 
Triune  God  . . . Much  credit  is  due  the  enter- 

prising society  and  their  dutiful  minister,  Rev.  E.  H. 
Yingling.  It  will  be  remembered  that  our  people  had 
just  completed  a fine  church  at  this  place,  after  the  strug- 
gle of  years,  and  $400  remained  a debt  due  for  the  same, 
when  a destructive  fire  occurred  in  the  village  and  our 
church  edifice  was  laid  in  ashes.  It  was  insured,  but 
the  company,  taking  advantage  of  some  technicality,  re- 
fused to  pay  it.  But,  notwithstanding  the  loss  and  the 
pressure  of  money  matters,  the  society  and  its  friends 
have  placed  the  entire  balance  of  debt  on  both  churches 
in  a prosperous  and  safe  state  of  liquidation. 

“In  November  last  a new  and  neatly  finished  church 
edifice  on  Corsica  Circuit  was  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God.  It  was  commenced  and  completed  un- 
der the  labors  of  their  faithful  pastor,  Rev.  J.  F.  Perry. 
No  debt  left  on  this  church ; their  enterprising  and  vigi- 
lant business  committee  have  so  judiciously  managed  this 
matter  as  to  leave  it  free. 

“Our  new  church  building  at  Punxsutawney  is  also 
nearly  ready  for  dedication.  Through  the  indefatigable 
labors  of  Rev.  J.  Shields,  it  has  been  rescued  from  judg- 
ments and  executions  and  perilous  debts,  and  also  funds 
raised  to  nearly  finish  the  church 

“Rev.  N.  G.  Luke,  of  Clarion  station,  is  succeeding 
beyond  all  expectation  in  raising  subscriptions  to  build 
and  establish  a seminary  of  learning  of  the  higher  grade 
for  the  education  of  young  ladies  and  gentlemen.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  July  5,  1839.) 


A VISIT  TO  THE  ERIE  CONFERENCE  IN 
THE  EARLY  SIXTIES— 1860-1865. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  Erie,  Pa.,  July  n,  i860, 
Bishop  Edmund  S.  Janes  presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Sec- 
retary. The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial: 
Samuel  Knowles,  J.  L.  Hayes,  George  W.  Staple,  Jairus 
J.  Bentley,  Stephen  S.  Sears,  Benjamin  J.  Kennedy,  Wil- 
liam A.  Clark,  Andrew  D.  Davis,  John  H.  Starrett, 
George  W.  Gray,  James  F.  Stocker,  Leland  W.  Day. 

J.  K.  Shaffer  and  L.  D.  Brooks,  located.  E.  J.  Kinney 
and  William  Monks  were  announced  as  deceased.* 

*S.  B.  Newman — Admitted  on  trial,  Alabama  Conference,  1845; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1860;  transferred  to  Central  Il- 
linois Conference,  1866;  became  a member  of  the  Northwest 
Swedish  Conference  at  its  organization,  1877;  became  a member 
of  the  Central  Swedish  Conference  at  its  organization,  1894. 
Appointments — 1845,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ala.;  not  able  to  trace  his 
appointments  between  1845  and  1855;  1855-’59,  New  York,  Swed- 
ish Bethel;  1860-’65,  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swede  Mission; 
1866-’67,  Galesburg,  111.,  Swede  Church;  1868-72,  Swedish  Mission 
District;  1873-’74,  Rockford,  111.;  1875-’76,  Wataga  and  Peoria, 
111.;  1877-78,  Geneva  and  Batavia,  111.;  1879-’81,  Evanston, 

111.;  1882-’83,  Moline,  Rock  Island  and  Genesee,  111.;  1884,  Omaha, 
Neb.;  1885,  Chicago  Mission;  1886,  City  Missionary  and  Tract 
Agent,  Chicago;  1887-1902,  superannuated. 

A.  D.  Davis — Admitted  on  trial,  1860;  full  connection,  1862; 
deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864,  Morris;  transferred  to  Phila- 
delphia Conference,  1866;  became  a member  of  Wilmington  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1868;  deceased,  Georgetown,  Del., 
1899.  Appointments — 1860-’61,  Curllsville;  1862,  Rimersburg; 
1863-’65,  Punxsutawney;  1866-’68,  Willow  Grove,  Del.;  1869-71, 
Harrington,  Del.;  1872-74,  Georgetown,  Del.;  1875,  Wilming- 
ton, Del.,  Madeley  Church;  1876-78,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Del.; 
1879-’81,  Zion,  Del.;  1882-’84,  Denton,  Del.;  1885,  Frankford,  Del.; 
1886,  Accomac,  Va.;  1887-’88,  Virginia  District;  1889,  Roxanna, 
Del.;  1890-’91,  Delmar,  Del.;  1892-’94,  Georgetown  Circuit;  1895- 
’97,  supernumerary;  1898-’99,  superannuated. 

J.  L.  Hayes — Admitted  on  trial,  1860;  discontinued,  1861;  af- 
terwards withdrew  from  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church. — Appointment — 1860, 
Punxsutawney. 


386 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Appointments  for  1860:  Cleveland  District,  Moses  Hill,  presid- 

ing elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  W.  F.  Day;  Erie  Street, 

; Scoville  Avenue,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  East  Cleveland,  Thomas 

Guy;  Newburg,  D.  C.  Wright;  Bedford  and  Warrensville,  Cyril 
Wilson;  Mayfield,  E.  B.  Lane;  Willoughby,  to  be  supplied;  Men- 
tor, E.  R.  Knapp;  Chardon,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Montville,  Albert 
Norton,  Washington  Hollister;  Burton,  J.  B.  Grover;  Troy, 
Michael  Williams;  Mantua,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Bainbridge,  B.  J. 
Kennedy,  J.  W.  Aikin;  Chagrin  Falls,  Dillon  Prosser;  Willough- 
by Collegiate  Institute,  S.  S.  Sears,  President;  Benjamin  Ex- 
cell, Agent;  Calvin  Kingsley,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate; Samuel  Knowles,  Missionary  to  India.  Painesville  District, 
James  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder;  Painesville,  John  Tribby; 
Thompson,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Perry,  A.  M.  Brown,  Potter  Sul- 
livan; Geneva  and  Saybrook,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Ashtabula,  Darius 
Smith;  Jefferson,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Morgan,  R.  W.  Crane; 
Grand  River,  H.  D.  Cole;  Kingsville,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Richmond, 
L.  E.  Beardsley,  W.  A.  P.  Eberhart,  Conneaut,  Alvin  Burgess; 
Springfield.  Allen  Fouts;  Albion,  Albina  Hall,  Z.  W.  Shadduck; 
B.  O.  Plimpton,  Agent,  Bible  Society.  Ravenna  District,  Samuel 
Gregg,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Akron,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Tallmadge,  Lewis  Clark;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  G.  W.  Ches- 
bro;  Franklin,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Northampton,  J.  F.  Brown; 
Hudson,  G.  W.  Staples;  Twinsburg,  H.  P.  Henderson;  Charles- 
town, Thomas  Radcliff;  Windham,  Valorus  Lake;  Nelson  and 
Garrettsville,  T.  B.  Tait;  Rootstown  and  Randolph,  A.  R.  Ham- 
mond; Braceville  and  Newton  Falls,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Edinburg, 
Stephen  Hubbard;  Atwater,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Deerfield,  Stephen 
Heard;  Jackson,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Ellsworth,  B.  C.  Warner;  Can- 
field,  J.  B.  Hammond.  Warren  District,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presid- 
ing elder;  Warren,  A.  D.  Morton;  Vienna,  G.  H.  Brown;  Niles 
and  Liberty,  R.  M.  Bear;  Youngstown,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Hubbard, 
J W Hill;  Hartford  and  Brookfield,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Orange- 
ville, James  Shields;  Williamsfield,  Ezra  Wade;  Gustavus,  P.  P. 
Pinney;  Green  and  Mecca,  Wareham  French;  Windsor,  W.  M. 
Bear;  West  Farmington,  John  Graham;  Southington,  David  King; 
Sharon,  W.  D.  Archbold;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  John  McLean; 
Western  Reserve  Seminary,  James  Greer,  Principal.  Erie  Dis- 
trict Josiah  Flower,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  First  Church,  John 
Peate;  Simpson  Church,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Wesley ville,  S.  L Wil- 
kinson, R.  R.  Roberts;  North  East,  I.  O.  Fisher;  Quincy,  David 
Mizener;  Mina,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Edinboro,  Samuel  Hollen;  Wat- 
erford, J.  H.  Vance,  Milton  Black;  McKean,  James  Gilfillan, 
one  to  be  supplied;  Fairview,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Girard,  L.  W.  Ely; 
Union,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Wattsburg,  B.  S.  Hill,  Major  Colegrove; 
Clymer  John  Robinson.  Meadville  District,  Niram  Norton,  pre- 
siding elder;  Meadville,  Thomas  Stubbs,  John  Bain;  Saeger- 
town,  Isaiah  Lane;  Steuben,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Cochranton,  N.  C. 
Brown;  Sunville,  S.  S.  Stuntz,  J.  M.  DeWoody;  Franklin,  D.  M. 
Rogers;  Greenville,  Jonathan  Whitely;  New  Lebanon,  J.  C. 
Sullivan;  Salem,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Sheakleyville,  J.  B.  Orwig; 
Evansburg,  Isaac  Scofield,  John  Wrigglesworth;  Conneautville, 
T H.  Tagg  W.  H.  Mossman;  Rockville,  P.  W.  Sherwood,  W.  A. 
Clark;  Espy  ville,  A.  L.  Miller,  John  Abbott;  Jamestown,  A.  J. 
Merchant;  Allegheny  College,  L.  D.  Williams,  Professor.  New 
Castle  District,  George  W.  Clarke,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle, 

D.  C.  Osborne;  East  New  Castle  and  Croton,  R.  W.  Scott;  Mt. 
Jackson,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Moravia,  John  McComb;  Wilmington,  W. 
N.  Reno;  Shenango,  S.  K.  Paden;  Harrisville,  C.  R.  Pattee,  Mer- 


John  Hilt  Starrett. 


38  7 


cer,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Hendersonville,  R.  B.  Boyd,  Ebenezer  Ben- 
nett; Washington  and  Clintonville,  W.  R.  Johnson,  C.  W.  Bear; 
Poland,  G.  B.  Hawkins;  Clarksville,  J.  G.  Thompson;  Middlesex, 
J.  M.  Greene;  Delaware  Grove,  S.  S.  Nye;  Pine  Grove,  S.  A.  Mil- 
roy;  Poland  Female  College,  G.  B.  Hawkins,  President  Clarion 
District,  R.  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  T.  P.  Warner; 
Brookville,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Curllsville,  Thomas  Graham,  A.  D. 
Davis;  West  Freedom,  S.  S.  Burton;  Shippenville,  Robert  Beatty, 
J.  F.  Perry;  Brady’s  Bend,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  State  Road,  Jared 
Howe;  Washington,  Adam  Height,  J.  J.  Bentley;  Tionesta,  David 
Eason;  Troy  and  Corsica,  George  Moore,  C.  M.  Heard;  Punx- 
sutawney,  Benjamin  Marsteller,  J.  L.  Hayes;  Warsaw,  J.  W.  Wel- 
don; Luthersburg,  Frederick  Vernon,  Samuel  Coon;  New  Beth- 
lehem, N.  G.  Luke;  Ridgway,  O.  G.  McEntire.  Jamestown  District  J. 
W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Joseph  Leslie;  Ashville,  J. 
F.  Stocker;  Sugar  Grove,  E.  A.  Anderson;  Frewsburg,  Robert 
Gray;  Pine  Grove,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Kinzua,  F.  W.  Smith;  Sheffield, 
Jephtha  Marsh;  Panama,  John  Crum;  Columbus,  S.  N.  Warner; 
Youngsville,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Warren,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Pleasantville, 
J.  K.  Mendenhall,  John  Elliott;  Rice ville,  William  Hayes,  Warner 
Bush;  Sherman,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Ellery,  Edwin  Hull;  Pleasant 
Valley,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish 
Mission,  S.  B.  Newman.  Fredonia  District,  D.  M.  Stever,  presid- 
ing elder;  Fredonia,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Dunkirk,  A.  C.  Tibbetts; 
Portland,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Westfield,  R.  M.  Warren;  May  ville,  O.  L. 
Mead;  Delanti,  Rufus  Pratt;  Sinclairville,  N.  M.  Shurick;  Elling- 
ton, W.  W.  Warner,  W.  W.  Case;  Leon,  Peter  Burroughs,  G.  W. 
Gray;  Perry sburg,  Joseph  Allen;  Villenovia,  John  Akers;  Forest- 
ville  and  Sheridan,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Silver  Creek,  E.  H.  Yingling; 
Randolph,  L.  W.  Day;  Little  Valley,  Alexander  Barris. 

John  Hilt  Starrett. 

John  Hilt  Starrett  was  born  in  Maine,  September  10, 
1835.  His  father’s  name  was  Cyrus  Baldwin  Starrett. 
He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  but  born  in  America. 
His  mother  was  Phoebe  Philbrook  Starrett,  also  Ameri- 
can born.  When  John  was  four  years  of  age  his  parents 
came  to  Warren  county,  Pa.,  and  settled  near  Warren. 
His  educational  advantages  were  such  as  the  public 
schools  afforded.  Having  a great  thirst  for  knowledge, 
his  spare  time  was  largely  spent  in  reading,  and  for  this 
many  books  must  needs  have  been  borrowed.  Through 
the  assistance  of  a tutor  he  gained  such  knowledge  of 
the  Greek  language  that  he  was  able  to  read  the  New 
Testament  in  the  original. 

He  was  converted  at  Jackson  Run  school  house  in  1853 
under  the  labors  of  H.  H.  Moore,  then  pastor  at  Warren. 

His  call  to  the  ministry  was  one  of  the  most  conscious 
of  all  his  religious  experiences,  but  he  never  gave  the 
church  an  expression  of  his  convictions  in  this  matter 
until  one  day  he  was  met  by  the  pastor,  D.  C.  Osborne, 


388  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

who  asked  him  if  he  did  not  think  God  had  called  him 
to  preach  the  gospel.  He  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
though  at  this  time  being  in  poor  health  as  the  result  of 
hard  work,  he  doubted  the  propriety  of  taking  that  work, 
and  also  felt  deeply  his  lack  of  intellectual  preparation. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1859  and  received  on  trial 
by  the  Erie  Conference  in  i860. 

In  1859  he  was  sent  as  a supply  to  the  Pleasant  Val- 
ley Charge  in  the  southwestern  part  of  V arren  county , 
and  received  for  several  months’  services  a salary  of 
$46.00.  His  salary  the  next  year  was  $126.00,  and  the 
following  year  $198.00. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Phoebe  Horton 
Mead  in  1863. 

When  on  the  Callensburg  charge,  and  at  Brookville  in 
i865-’68,  there  were  the  most  remarkable  meetings  of 
his  ministry.  At  Callensburg  there  were  about  sixty-five 
additions  to  the  church,  but  the  peculiar  manifestations 
were  of  special  note.  Often  there  were  from  four  to 
twenty  persons  that  would  be  helpless,  some  unconscious, 
from  one-half  hour  to  twenty-four  hours,  for  the  four 
weeks  of  the  revival  meetings.  The  sub j ects  usually  return- 
ed to  consciousness  with  shouts  of  praise.  ^ The  meet- 
ings at  Brookville  began  with  a two  weeks  meeting  at 
the  Rice  appointment  which  resulted  in  twelve  con- 
versions. At  Brookville  there  were  held  four  weeks  of 
cottage  prayer  meetings  four  nights  in  a week,  and  two 
weeks  of  prayer  meetings  four  nights  in  the  week  in  the 
church  lecture  room,  and  then  preaching  for  sixteen 
weeks  every  night  in  the  week  in  the  audience  room  of 
the  church.  There  were  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  addi- 
tions to  the  church;  and  the  year  following  forty-five 
members  were  added  to  the  Rice  appointment  and  sixty- 
'five  to  Brookville.* 

*J.  H.  Starrett — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial, 
1860;  full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864,  or- 
ris; became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  orgam- 
Zation  1876.  Appointments — 1860,  Pleasant  Valley , : 1861-  62,  Ridg- 
way;  1863-’64,  Warsaw;  1865-’66,  Callensburg  and  Freedom;  1867- 
’68  Brookville, ; 1869,  Niles;  1870, Dunkirk;  1871-72  Ashville  1873- 
>rrr’  Kent*  1876  Newton  Falls;  1877-’79,  Girard  and  Liberty, 
1880-^1,  Cortland;  1882-’83,  West  Farmington;  1884-’85,  Bethel; 
iRRfi  lewett*  1887-’89  Carrollton;  1890-’93,  McConnellsville, 
1894;  Ashlabuia  Harbor;’  189B-W,  Kingsville;  1898-1900,  Caldwell; 
1901-’02,  Orangeville. 


389 


George  W . Gray. 

George  W.  Gray. 

“George  W.  Gray  was  born  in  Dorset,  Vt.,  May  17, 
1832.  His  parents  soon  after  moved  to  Chautauqua 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  raised  to  manhood’s  years, 
receiving  such  educational  advantages  as  were  then  af- 
forded, but  being  mainly  self-educated  and  self-made. 
However,  being  a young  man  of  more  than  average  abil- 
ity, and  resourceful,  in  his  efforts  to  prepare  himself  for 
life’s  work,  he  laid  good  and  substantial  foundations. 
He  was  thoroughly  converted  in  this  formative  period, 
joined  the  church,  and  soon  felt  himself  called  to  the 
ministry,  and  began  preparation  to  this  end  with  great 
energy,  as  was  characteristic  of  his  nature.  Having  been 
licensed  to  preach  in  1859,  he  was  admitted  on  trial  to 
the  Erie  Conference  in  i860,  and  in  full  connection  in 
1862,  at  which  time  he  was  ordained  deacon,  and  elder 
two  years  later.  At  the  organization  of  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  in  1876  he  became  a member  of  that  body, 
where  he  continued  in  effective  service  until  1896,  when 
his  health  failed  and  he  retired  to  private  life  in  Geneva, 
O.,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  until  June  16,  1901, 
when  he  peacefully  fell  asleep.  ’ He  took  rank  early  as 
one  of  the  strongest  men  of  his  conference,  and  main- 
tained this  position  through  life.  He  was  possessed  of  a 
marked  personality  and  a high  degree  of  judicial  mind. 
He  was  conscientious,  self-reliant,  independent,  manly, 
with  the  special  gift  of  being  able  to  adapt  himself  to 
whatever  conditions  surrounded  him,  so  that  his  life  was, 
to  a degree,  a smoothly-flowing  current.  He  held  to  a 
high  standard  of  moral  purity,  spirituality,  Christian 
honor  and  integrity.  His  demeanor  was  that  of  a high- 
toned  Christian  gentleman,  never  degrading  ministerial 
manhood  by  anything  small  or  undignified.  During  his 
ministry  he  had  experience  of  all  phases  of  the  work,  and 
was  successful  everywhere.  Up  to  the  very  last  charge 
he  served  before  his  health  finally  failed  him,  this  success 
continued.  Doctor  Gray  was  trusted  by  his  conference 
with  all  the  honorable  recognition  in  its  gift.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinityfrom  Scio  College, 
was  a member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1884,  and 
wherever  confidence  was  reposed  in  him  he  proved  that 
it  was  not  misplaced.  He  thus  bore  faithfully  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities committed  to  his  charge,  brought  them  back 


390 


History  of 


Erie  Conference. 


and  yielded  them  up  untarnished,  acquitted  himself  with 
honor,  and  has  answered  unto  God.”* — (Minutes  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference,  1901,  p.  Jl.) 


Rufus  Pratt. 

Rufus  Pratt  owed  his  first  religious  instruction  to  his 
paternal  grandmother,  who  was  among  the  earliest  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Cambridge, 
N.  Y.,  where  Rufus  was  born,  May  7,  1807.  He  worked 
at  shoemaking  and  farming  much  of  the  time  until  thirty 
years  of  age.  He  improved  such  opportunity  for  an  edu- 
cation as  the  public  schools  afforded,  and  taught  several 
terms.  He  was  converted  when  sixteen  years  of  age 
under  the  labors  of  Samuel  Draper  and  J.  Lovejoy.  Mr. 
Pratt  says:  “Rev.  J.  Lovejoy  called  at  my  father's,  con- 
versed personally  with  each  member  of  the  family,  offered 
prayer  and  invited  all  to  attend  meeting  that  evening  at 
Father  King's  house.  The  visit  of  that  faithful  minister 
deeply  impressed  my  youthful  mind.  I went  to  meeting 
that  evening  and  with  others  bowed  at  the  altar,  and 
found  peace  in  believing;  but  the  witness  of  the  Spirit 
to  my  acceptance  became  clearer  from  day  to  day. 
(Manuscript  Autobiography.)  Mr.  Pratt  felt  his  call  to 
the  ministry,  and  became  earnest  in  Christian  woik.  Af- 
ter a few  years  he  lost  his  religious  enjoyment  and  wan- 
dered far  from  God,  but  always  cherished  a seciet  desiie 
to  return  at  some  convenient  season.  The  death  of  his 
first-born  child  was  his  call,  and  with  true  penitence  he 
again  sought  the  Lord  and  was  soundly  converted.  His 
wife  was  also  converted,  and  from  thenceforth  was  to 
him  a “helpmeet,”  indeed.  His  call  to  preach  now  be- 
came more  imperative.  He  says:  “I  even  had  a desire 

to  preach,  if  it  was  God  s will,  but  did  not  dare  to  think 
it  possible  for  me,  even  if  called  of  God.  I became  more 
active  in  church  work,  and  greater  earnestness  in  the 


*G  W Gray — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial,  1860; 
full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864,  Morris; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1876;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  June  16,  1901-  aPpo1i1q“®JJs 
’61  Leon;  1862-’64,  Delanti;  1865-’67,  Portland;  1868-69,  Silver 
Creek*  1870-’71,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1872-  73,  Ravenna; 
1874-’76,  Cuyahoga  Falls;  1877-’78,  Steubenville,  Hamline  < Chapel; 
1879-’82,  Barnesville  District;  1883-’85,  Warren,  1886- 
bula*  1888-’91,  Geneva,  First  Church;  1892,  Cadiz;  1893-94,  New 
Lisbon;  1895,  Chardon;  1896-1900,  superannuated. 


■ Jairns  J.  Bentley.  391 

cause  of  God  was  the  result.  My  former  zeal  was  re- 
kindled, and  brethren  would  say,  ‘You  are  neglecting 
duty.  You  ought  to  be  preaching.’  I now  began  to  ask 
the  Lord  to  make  duty  plain.  I sought  direction  from 
the  Bible,  read  the  lives  of  successful  ministers,  and  care- 
fully considering  their  impressions  when  called  to  the 
ministry.  Sometimes  I asked  myself,  ‘Can  I preach?’ 
The  word  came  to  me,  ‘See  that  ye  fall  not  out  by  the 
way.’  ” — (Manuscript  Autobiography.)  Mr.  Pratt  at 
last  yielded,  and  at  a camp  meeting  preached  his  first 
sermon  from  the  text : “I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father.” 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1844  by  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference on  Easton  Circuit,  J.  M.  Weaver,  presiding  elder. 
He  labored  three  years  as  a supply  and  joined  the  Troy 
Conference  in  1848.  He  moved  to  Chautauqua  county 
in  1856,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
i860.  It  is  owing  to  his  duties  to  his  family  and  his  im- 
paired health  that  his  name  appears  so  often  in  the  super- 
numerary and  superannuated  lists.  He  supplied  charges 
two  years,  and  preached  as  often  as  his  strength  would 
permit.  Brother  Pratt  was  a faithful  preacher,  and  pos- 
sessed a peculiarly  friendly  spirit,  which  at  once  won  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  and  held  their  affection.  He  was 
called  from  labor  to  reward  in  Chautauqua  county,  N. 
Y.,  August  31,  1883.* 

Jairus  J.  Bentley. 

Jairus  Jerome  Bentley  was  born  to  Arnold  and  Lydia 
Bentley  on  a farm  in  Ellington  township,  Chautauqua 
county,  N.  Y.,  December  28,  1839.  He  attended  the 

district  school  until  his  fourteenth  year,  and  then 
Ellington  Academy  two  terms  each  year,  working  on 
the  farm  the  rest  of  the  year.  During  the  three  follow- 
ing years  he  taught  during  the  winter,  getting  a term 

♦Rufus  Pratt — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
Troy  Conference,  1848;  full  connection,  1850;  deacon,  1850,  Mor- 
ris; elder,  1852,  Janes;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1860;  de- 
ceased, Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  31,  1883..  Appointments — 1848- 
’49,  East  Hebron,  N.  Y.;  1850,  Brunswick,  N.  Y.;  1851,  Raymer- 
town,  N.  Y.;  1852-’53,  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.;  1854-’55,  Nassau,  N. 
Y.;  1856-’59,  superannuated;  1860,  Delanti;  1861-’62,  Ashville; 
1863-’64,  Sinclairville;  1865-’67,  supernumerary;  1868,  Frewsburg; 
1869,  superannuated;  1870-’71,  North  Harmony  and  Summit;  1872, 
supernumerary;  1873,  North  Harmony  and  Ebenezer;  1874-’80, 
supernumerary;  1881-’82,  superannuated. 


392 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


each  year  in  the  academy,  and  about  five  months  on  the 
farm.  He  was  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  1857  during  a revival  meeting  held  in 
Ellington  by  T.  D.  Blinn.  His  license  to  preach  bears 
the  signature  of  J.  H.  Whallon,  and  was  granted  at  a 
quarterly  meeting  held  at  Cherry  Creek,  September  10, 
1859.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  “traveling  connection”  by  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence at  its  session  in  Erie,  Pa.,  in  i860.  Near  the  close 
of  the  Conference  the  presiding  elder  said  to  him : You 

will  go  in,  but  you  will  have  to  mount  a sheepskin  and 
ride  behind. ” He  was  transferred  to  the  Missouri  and 
Arkansas  Conference  in  1865,  arriving  in  Missouri  the 
fifth  of  June,  the  day  before  the  adoption  of  the  free 
state  constitution. 

Since  leaving  the  Erie  Conference  he  has  been  seven- 
teen years  in  the  pastorate,  twenty  years  in  the  presiding 
eldership,  one  year  he  was  field  agent  for  Lewis  College, 
and  he  is  now  (1905)  his  third  year  as  conesponding 
secretary  of  the  Deaconess’  Home  and  Hospital  Asso- 
ciation of  the  Missouri  Conference.  The  degree  of  M. 
A.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  McICenclree  College  in 
1869,  and  the  degree  of  D.  D.  by  Lewis  College  in 
1884.  He  has  been  a delegate  to  four  General  Confer- 
ences, and  in  1892  he  was  the  representative  of  the  Elev- 
enth District  on  the  General  Missionary  Committee.* 


Stephen  S.  Sears. 

Stephen  S.  Sears  was  born  in  Columbus,  W arren  coun- 
tv, Pa.,  July  19,  1827,  and  died  in  Willoughby,  O.,  No- 
vember 12,  1861.  “At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  he  com- 

*J.  J.  Bentley — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on 
trial  1860;  full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864, 
Morris;  transferred  to  Missouri  and  Arkansas  Conference,  1865, 
became  a member  of  the  St.  Louis  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1869;  transferred  to  Missouri  Conference ,1879.  Ap^mt 
ments— 1860,  Washington;  1861-62,  Clarion,  l86^4; 
burg;  1865-’66,  Ozark,  Mo.;  1867-’ 68  Springfield  Mo. ’ 

Jefferson  City,  Mo.;  1871,  SedaUa,  ^10  3^  1872  8^ Louis 

Central;  1873-’76,  Springfield  District,  1877- 78,  Sprmgheia  ^ir 
Church;  1879,  Glasgow,  Mo.;  1880-’81,  josephVis- 

1902,’  St.  Joseph  District;  1903-’05  Corresponding  Secretaj  of 
the  Deaconess’  Home  and  Hospital  Association  of  the  Missour 

Conferenced 


Stephen  S.  Sears. 


393 


menced  his  career  as  a teacher,  to  which  profession  he 
devoted  himself,  but  with  brief  intervals,  until  prostrated 
by  the  disease  which  terminated  his  active  labors  and  life. 
Brother  Sears  was  blessed  with  faithful,  Christian  par- 
ents, one  of  whom,  his  mother,  lives  to  bless  his  children 
by  her  pious  example  and  rich  counsels  (1862).  While 
attending  Allegheny  College  in  the  year  1849,  young 
Sears,  in  the  strength  of  divine  grace,  consecrated  him- 
self to  the  service  of  God  and  was  made  a ‘new  creature 
in  Christ  Jesus.’  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  he  remained  a member  until  his 
transfer  to  the  church  triumphant.  After  graduating  in 
1852  he  took  charge  of  Waterford  Academy,  where  he  re- 
mained until  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools, 
which  office  he  filled  for  nearly  three  years,  after  which 
he  had  charge  of  Edinboro  Normal  school  until  1859, 
when  he  was  elected  principal  of  Willoughby  Collegiate 
Institute,  where  he  labored  with  great  acceptability  until 
prostrated  by  disease.  In  1856  Brother  Sears  received 
license  to  preach,  and  in  i860  was  received  on  trial  by 
the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  richly  endowed  in  intellect 
and  heart;  a bold,  vigorous  thinker,  with  sympathies  the 
most  genial  and  generous.  In  his  chosen  profession  he 
was  enthusiastic  and  thorough,  his  quick  perception  of 
character  enabling  him  to  adapt  his  course  to  the  pecul- 
iarities of  his  pupils,  he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree 
the  power  of  controlling  them  and  winning  their  affec- 
tion. In  his  death  the  cause  of  education  has  lost  a zeal- 
ous and  efficient  laborer,  the  community  an  excellent  citi- 
zen, and  the  church  a faithful  member  and  an  able  min- 
ister. Brother  Sears’  illness  was  protracted,  but  com- 
paratively free  from  suffering;  indeed,  so  little  were  his 
sufferings  that  he  was  slow  to  believe  that  disease  had 
made  any  considerable  progress  until  long  after  his 
friends  saw  that  consumption  was  surely  doing  its  work 
of  death.  When  it  became  evident  to  Professor  Sears 
that  he  could  not  recover,  there  was  no  perturbation  of 
soul ; he  was  calm  and  trustful  in  God,  expressing  the 
most  implicit  trust  in  Christ  as  his  personal  Savior.  He 
would  gladly  have  lived  longer  to  accomplish  more  foi 
the  cause  of  God  and  himself,  and  especially  that  he  might 
train  up  his  little  children  for  usefulness  and  heaven; 
yet  he  had  no  murmurings  against  Providence,  no  com- 


394 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

plainings  that  he  was  hardly  dealt  with  in  being  cut  down 
in  the  prime  of  manhood,  and  in  the  midst  of  usefulness ; 
but  he  did  reproach  himself  for  having  been  too  prodigal 
of  his  life  energies,  attributing  to  his  own  lack  of  pru- 
dence in  his  labors,  and  not  to  an  ‘inscrutable  Providence/ 
his  approaching  premature  death,  which  would  leave  his 
companion  a widow,  and  his  four  loved  children  orphans. 
Doubtless  he  labored  more  than  he  ought,  and  thus  ex- 
hausted those  forces  which  nature  intended  as  a reserve 
to  ward  off  disease.  His  error,  however,  was  that  of  a 
noble  nature,  and  while  we  mourn  his  loss,  we  cannot 
but  admire  the  zeal  which  consumed  his  life.  On  the  12th 
of  November,  the  day  on  which  the  fall  term  of  the  ‘In- 
stitute' opened,  and  as  the  bell  was  ringing  to  call  his 
beloved  pupils  together,  his  toil  and  disease-worn  body 
fell  sweetly  asleep  in  Jesus.  ‘He  rests  from  his  labors 
and  his  works  do  follow  him.  * 

James  F.  Stocker,  Leland  W.  Day. 

The  parents  of  James  F.  Stocker  were  of  German  de- 
scent. He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Murray,  Orleans 
county,  N.  Y.,  August  9,  1830.  When  three  months  old 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Chautauqua  county.  They 
settled  near  Panama.  His  mother  died  while  he  was 
in  his  third  year.  After  her  death  James  lived  with  an 
aunt  for  a few  years,  and  then  found  a home  with  Justin 
Dewey,  near  Meadville,  Pa.  From  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  worked  his  own  way.  His  education  was  con- 
fined to  what  the  common  schools  could  furnish.  He 
was  converted  about  1856,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
Toseph  Leslie  in  1857.  He  was  employed  by  J.  W. 
Lowe,  presiding  elder,  to  fill  out  the  year  at  Perrysburg— 
the  health  of  the  pastor,  S.  N.  Warner,  not  permitting 
him  to  perform  the  work  of  the  charge.  He  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  i860.  He  was  super- 
numerary in  i87i-’72,  and  superannuated  in  1900.  He 
exchanged  labor  for  reward  in  Leon,  N.  Y.,  September 
25,  1902. 

Brother  Stocker  was  twice  married.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Henrietta  Bogardus,  of  Clymer, 

*S.  S.  Sears — Licensed  to  preach,  1856;  admitted  on  trial,  1860; 
deceased,  Willoughby,  O.,  November  12,  1861.  Appointment 
1860-'61,  Principal,  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute. 


Benjamin  Joiner  Kennedy. 


395 


N.  Y.,  in  1850.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Rose 
A.  Caneen,  of  Leon,  N.  Y.,  in  1889.* 

Leland  W.  Day  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  i860,  and  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  at  its  organization.  In  the  State  of  New 
York  he  served  Randolph,  Ellington,  Mayville  and  Sher- 
man, and  in  Pennsylvania,  Mercer  and  Sharon.  In  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  he  did  very  successful  work  on 
the  Youngstown  District  and  several  prominent  charges. 
Mr.  Day  was  born  at  Greenfield,  N.  Y.,  November  27, 
1827,  and  died  at  Ashtabula,  O.,  May  10,  1890.  “As  a 
preacher  and  impromptu  speaker  he  was  always  ready 
and  attractive.  As  a pastor  he  was  tender,  thoughtful, 
and  diligent,  scattering  sunshine  everywhere  he  went. 
He  was  loyal  to  Methodism  and  the  Church,  able  in 
counsel,  apt  to  teach,  a winner  of  souls,  an  earnest  work- 
er to  the  end,  and  a conqueror  in  death.” t 

Benjamin  Joiner  Kennedy. 

Benjamin  Joiner  Kennedy  was  born  in  Bolton,  Chitten- 
don  county,  Vt.,  August  16,  1808.  He  was  converted  in 
1842.  and  served  the  church  faithfully  in  various  relations 
for  many  years.  He  was  united  in  holy  wedlock  with 
Miss  Eveline  Humphrey,  October  1,  1838.  He  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  i860.  He  fell 
with  his  armor  on  and  his  face  to  the  foe.  victorious  in 
death.  He  was  one  of  God’s  noblemen,  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him.  In  disposition  he  was  cheerful ; his  soul 

*J.  F.  Stocker — Licensed  to  preach,  1857;  admitted  on  trial, 
1860;  full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder.  1864, 
Morris;  deceased,  Leon,  N.  Y.,  September  25,  1902.  Appoint- 
ments— 1860,  Ashville;  1861-'62,  Pleasantville;  1863-’64,  Sherman; 
1865-'66,  Sugar  Grove;  1867-’68,  East  Randolph;  1869-'70,  Rouse- 
ville;  1871-’72,  supernumerary;  1873,  St.  Petersburg;  1874-75, 
Frewsburg;  1876-78,  Mayville;  1879,  Delanti;  1880-’82,  Water- 
ford; 1883,  Linesville;  1884-’86,  Ashville;  1887,  Cherry  Creek; 
1888,  Columbus  and  North  Corry;  1889,  Columbus;  1890-'94, 
Chautauqua;  1895-1902,  Asbury. 

fL.  W.  Day — Admitted  on  trial,  1860;  full  connection,  1862; 
deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864,  Morris;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Ashtabula,  O.,  May  10,  1890.  Appointments — 1860-'61,  Randolph; 
1862-’63,  Ellington;  1864-'66,  Mayville;  1867-' 68,  Sherman;  1S69- 
’71,  Mercer;  1872-’73,  Sharon;  1874-75,  Ashtabula;  1876-79, 
Youngstown  District;  1880,  Alliance;  1881-'82,  Painesville;  1883- 
’85,  East  Liverpool;  1886-’88,  Cleveland,  Superior  Street;  1889, 
supernumerary. 


39^ 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  ever  filled  with  gladness;  and  he  seemed  to  possess 
the  power  to  lift  all  about  him  into  the  same  happy 
frame.  “Religion  was  to  him  a source  of  unspeakable 
happiness,  and  the  genial,  kind  pastor  had  many  and 
warmly  attached  friends.  The  little  children  loved  him, 
and  he  will  have  manv  as  stars  in  the  crown  of  his  re- 
joicing ” He  entered  into  rest  at  Hudson,  O.,  November 


30,  1869.. 

The  following  account  of  an  interview  with  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy refers  to  his  call  to  the  ministry:  “In  the  autumn 

of  1866,  as  I was  attending  a camp  meeting  in  northern 
Ohio,  my  eye  was  attracted  to  a stranger  on  the  stand 
who  was  evidently  captivating  his  numerous  auditors  by 
his  peculiar  power  of  song.  Upon  inquiry  we  found  the 
stranger  to  be  Rev.  B.  J.  Kennedy,  who,  although  ad 
vanced  in  life,  had  but  recently  commenced  his  minis- 
terial career.  I retired  to  my  berth,  but  could  not  sleep. 
Thoughts  of  responsibility  and  eternity  were  stealing  over 
me.  I arose  and  went  into  the  forest  to  give  myself  up 
to  reflection  and  prayer;  when  by  the  light  of  a moon- 
beam that  was  gliding  gently  in  between  the  sleeping 
leaves,  I beheld  the  huge  figure  of  a man.  Upon  recog- 
nition I approached — although  an  entire  stiangei  and 
abruptly  said : ‘Brother  Kennedy,  how  in  the  world  did 

you  make  up  your  mind  to  preach  at  your  advanced  age? 
The  response  came  as  sudden  and  impromptu  as  the  ques- 
tion: ‘My  dear  brother,  for  years  after  God  converted 
my  soul  I felt  a strange  drawing  toward  the  sacred  duty 
of  the  ministry,  but  a strong  sense  of  my  utter  unfitness 
prevented  me  from  entertaining  the  thought  that  the 
call  was  divine.  After  wading  for  years  thr ough  sor- 
rows, backslidings  and  afflictions,  in  the  bitterness  of  my 
soul  I told  the  good  Lord  that  if  He  would  give  me 
peace  I would  do  anything  He  would  command.  He 
then  told  me  to  go  across  the  lot  and  pray  with  that 
family  yonder — I went  and  found  relief.  And  so  by 
obedience  to  the  divine  impressions,  I was  soon  led  to 
my  present  happy  position  in  the  church  of  Christ. 

(R.  D.  Norris , in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March 

12 , i8jo.) 

Rev.  Moses  Hill,  D.D.,  says  of  him:  In  one  par- 

ticular he  excelled  any  man  I ever  knew,  and  that  was  in 
religious  singing.  Not  that  he  would  be  called  the  most 


William  A.  Clark. 


39  7 


accomplished  singer,  or  the  sweetest  singer,  or  the  finest 
singer.  There  are  others  that  for  some  style,  or  kinds  of 
singing  would  largely  excel  him.  But  take  him  all  in  all, 
and  every  day,  in  the  class  meeting,  love  feast,  or  at 
home,  at  the  bed  of  the  sick  and  the  dying,  at  the  camp- 
meeting or  the  conference,  I have  never  seen  or  heard 
another  such  man.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , 
July  16,  1870.) 

The  conduct  of  Mr.  Kennedy  was  pure.  His  conver- 
sation was  pure.  He  had  a deep  religious  experience. 
His  leading  theme  was  Jesus  and  His  saving  power.  He 
was  free  from  envy  or  pride,  and  the  graces  of  the  Spirit 
grew  and  matured  in  his  great  heart.  He  was  eminently 
kind — a kind  husband  and  a very  tender  father — kind  to 
his  neighbors — kind  to  the  poor.  He  always  had  a word 
of  encouragement  for  the  aged,  and  the  sick,  and  words 
of  love  and  cheer  for  all  the  children  of  his  flock.  He 
was  cheerful — looking  on  the  bright  side — full  of  hope 
and  confidence,  his  heart  seemed  always  joyful.  To  the 
low-spirited  and  the  disconsolate  he  was  as  the  angel  of 
God.* 

William  A.  Clark. 

William  A.  Clark  was  born  in  Cherry  Valley,  Ashta- 
bula county,  O.,  April  11,  1836.  He  was  converted  at 
the  John  Lupher  camp  meeting,  near  Hannahsville,  Ve- 
nango county,  Pa.,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  the  Reynolds  appointment,  on  the  Hen- 
dersonville Circuit,  now  Polk  Circuit.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1859  by  Hiram . Kinsley,  and  served  Rock- 
ville as  a supply  from  November  until  the  session  of  the 
Erie  Conference  the  following  July,  when  he  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  and  returned  to  the  same  work. 

The  Clarks  were  of  the  number  of  Puritans  who  fled 
from  England  to  Holland,  and  came  to  the  “Jersey 
shore”  in  the  good  ship  “Caledonia.”  There  were  three 
brothers,  and  Abram  Clark,  a son  of  one  of  these,  was  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Mr.  Clark's 
grandfather,  Dr.  W.  A.  Clark,  was  a local  preacher,  and 

*B.  J.  Kennedy — Admited  on  trial,  1860;  full  connection,  1862; 
deacon,  1859,  Simpson;  elder,  1864,  Morris;  deceased,  Hudson, 
O.,  November  30,  1869.  Appointments — 1860-’61,  Bainbridge; 
1862-’63,  Mayfield;  1864-’65,  Thompson;  1866-’67,  Bedford  and 
Northfield;  1868,  Twinsburg;  1869,  Hudson. 


398  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

his  mother’s  father  was  a class  leader.  His  father,  Alon- 
zo Clark,  and  his  mother,  Anna  Beals  Clark,  united  with 
the  church  after  his  own  conversion. 

Mr.  Clark  was  twice  married.  His  first  .wife  was 
Phoebe  Troy,  sister  of  the  late  McVey  Troy,  of  the  Erie 
Conference.  She  died  in  January,  1861.  In  July,  1863, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emily  Stuntz,  sister  of 
Revs.  George  H.  and  Homer  C.  Stuntz. 

His  ministry  was  successful,  and  several  marked  re- 
vivals blessed  his  labors.* 

Methodism  in  Titusville. 

In  i860  the  “Lincoln  Wigwam”  was  erected  in  Titus- 
ville, Pa.,  on  the  site  of  the  old  church.  This  was  a 
temporary  board  structure,  octagonal  in  form,  with  an 
immense  flagstaff  towering  from  the  center.  It  was  with- 
out floor,  and  the  seats,  rough  boards  nailed  to  posts 
driven  in  the  ground.  There  was  a platform  opposite 
the  door  on  which  was  a board  bench.  An  old  oil  barrel 
served  for  a pulpit.  During  services  an  old  hog,  with  a 
family  of  young,  frequently  fed  around  the  door  or  came 
inside  the  door  under  the  sill  and  gi  unted  her  satisfac- 
tion. Titusville  appointment  was  assessed  about  $50  a 
year,  but  not  much  of  it  was  ever  paid.  An  old  class 
book  has  been  found  in  which  the  first  date  is  “Jany. 
20th,  1837.  John  Chandler,  P.  E.,  and  J.  E.  Chapin  and 
Lewis  Janny,  Circuit  Prs.  Isaac  Folwell,  L.  The 
next  entry  reads:  “This  class  organized  Wednesday,  July 
eth,  1843.  Hiram  Luce,  P.  E.,  and  A.  L.  Miller,  A..  S. 
Ransom  Sillamon — L.”  The  next  entry  reads:  “Spring 
Creek  Mission,  Titusville  class*  Re-organized  Jan.  15th, 

*W.  A.  Clark — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial, 
1860;  full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864, 
Morris;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference^  1892;  present 
residence,  Meadville,  Pa.  Appointments— 1859,  Rockville  (sup- 
ply); I860,  Rockville;  1861,  Sunville;  1862, 

North  Washington;  1864,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1865,  Williamsfie  , 
1866-’67,  Green  and  Mecca;  1868-’69,  Jefferson;  1870,  Girarc  and 
Liberty  1871,  Waterford;  1872,  Fairview;  1873,  Springfield, 
1874-’75*  Perry;  1876,  Mentor;  1877,  Newton  Falls;  1878,  Kelloggs- 
villp*  1879  Orangeville  and  Burghill;  1880,  Burghill  Cncuit, 
1881,’  Vienna  anX Fowler;  1882,  Damascoville;  1883-'84,  Manbor- 
ough-  1885-’87,  New  Franklin;  1888,  North  Jackson,  1889  90. 
Geneva,  Second  Church;  1891,  Elkton;  1892-1900,  supernumeraiy, 
1901-’06,  superannuated. 


:>c)$  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

his  mother’s  father  was  a class  leader.  Ilis  father,  Alon- 
zo Clark,  and  his  mother,  Anna  Reals  Clark,  united  with 
the  church  after  his  own  conversion. 

Mr.  Clark  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Phoebe  Troy,  sister  of  the  late  McVey  Troy,  of  the  Erie 
Conference.  She  died  in  January,  1861.  In  July,  1863, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emily  Stuntz,  sistei  of 
Revs.  George  H.  and  llomer  C.  Stuntz. 

His  ministry  was  successful,  and  several  maiketl  re- 
vivals blessed  his  labors.* 


Methodism  in  Titusville. 

In  i860  the  “Lincoln  Wigwam”  was  erected  in  Titus- 
ville, Pa.,  on  the  site  of  the  old  church.  This  was  a 

temporary  board  structure,  octagonal  in  form,  with  an 
immense  flagstaff  towering  from  the  center.  It  was  with- 
out floor,  and  the  seats,  rough  boards  nailed  to  posts 
driven  in  the  ground.  There  was  a platform  opposite 
the  door  on  which  was  a board  bench.  An  old  oil  barrel 
served  for  a pulpit.  During  services  an  old  hog,  with  a 
family  of  young,  frequently  fed  around  the  door  or  came 
inside  the*  door  under  the  sill  and  grunted  her  satisfac- 
tion. Titusville  appointment  was  assessed  about  $50  a 
year,  but  not  much  of  it  was  ever  paid.  An  old  class 

book  has  been  found  in  which  the  first  date  is  Jany. 

20th.  1837.  John  Chandler,  P.  E.,  and  J.  E.  Chapin  and 
Lewis  Tanny,  Circuit  Prs.  Isaac  Folwell  L 1 he 
next  entry  reads:  “This  class  organized  \\  ednesday,  July 
-th.  1843.  Hiram  Luce,  P.  E.,  and  A.  L.  Miller,  A.  S. 
Ransom  Sillamon — LA  The  next  entry  reads:  Spring 

Creek  Mission,  Titusville  class,  Re-organized  Jan.  15th, 

*W.  A.  Clark — Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  tiial, 
iRfiO*  full  connection,  1862;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1864, 
Morris^ - became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1892;  present 
residence,  Meadville,  Pa.  Appointments— 1859,  Rockville  ,sup- 

, x . lofin  Rnekville’  1861  Sunville;  1862,  Cochranton,  1863, 
P,'oyrVh  washfngton;^ 1864  Jamestown,’  Pa.;  1865  Williamsfield; 
1866-’67,  Green  and  Mecca;  1 S68-’69  Jefferson ; 18  ‘ °»  ar  ^ield • 

t :wtv  1871  Waterford;  1872,  Fairview;  1873,  Sprinkle. d, 
1874-’75*  Perry';  1876,  Mentor;  1877,  Newton  Falls;  1878,  Kel  oggs- 
vme;  l’879  O’range’ville  and  BurghiH;  1880  BnrgJuU  ( nxmt 
1881,  Vienna  and  Fowler;  1882,  Damascoville  ,1883-  84,  Mdritjor 
ouah*  1885-’87  New  Franklin;  1888,  North  Jackson,  1889  90. 
Geneva,  Second  Church;  1891,  Elkton;  1892-1900,  supernumerary, 
1901-’06,  superannuated. 


* 

^ i Izrkjjj-. 2iiz& 

£ " j* 

s? 

! 

' - ■ - ; * I.  - 

warn — mr  tuning 


400 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

1850.  B.  O.  Plimpton,  P.  E. ; S.  N.  Forest  and  Alva 
Wilder,  Ct.  Prs.,  Samuel  Sillamon,  Class  Leader.” 
Examining  this  old  class  book  we  find  that  there  was  a 
fair  attendance  for  some  time  after  a revival  of  religion, 
then  a gradual  falling  off  and  finally  apparent  death. 
One  of  the  old  settlers  said  that  they  would  generally 
get  converted  in  the  fall  or  winter,  and  in  the  spring 
when  they  ran  their  lumber  down  the  river  theii  le- 
ligion  would  go  down  with  them,  but  did  not  seem  to 
return  promptly. 

Rev.  A.  S.  Dobbs  and  James  H.  Davis  began  work  on 
a parsonage  the  same  year.  A class  of  eleven  members, 
but  two  of  which  were  males,  was  formed  at  the  house 
of  Samuel  Silliman  by  Rev.  W illiam  Hayes.  James  H. 
Davis  was  appointed  leader  and  received  a class  book,  in 
the  margin  of  which  was  written : Br.  Davis  Many 

members' are  coming  in  here  from  all  parts;  try  to  search 
them  out  and  get  them  to  unite.  I cannot  possibly  be 
with  you  as  much  as  is  desirable.  You  must  act  in  my 
stead,  take  on  persons  on  probation,  receive  letters,  etc. 
The  great  Shepherd  Himself  bless  you  and  help  you  to 
take  charge  of  this  flock  and  keep  your  heart  full  of  re- 
ligion. Wm.  Hayes.” 

The  class  meetings  and  prayer  meetings  were  held  in 
Mr.  Davis’  house,  while  he  begged  money  for  the  erec- 
‘ tion  of  a parsonage  and  a church  edifice.  While  Mr. 
Davis  was  working  at  the  parsonage  he  was  called  upon 
by  a German  to  secure  his  order  for  lime  with  which  to 
make  the  plaster.  Mr.  Davis  asked  him,  “W  ill  you  take 
the  same  kind  of  pay  that  I take  for  my  work?”  What 
ish  dat?”  “Well,  I take  my  pay  in  Methodist  preach- 
ing-.” He  gave  a prolonged  “Ach!”  and  replied,  “Dat 
ish  pad  stoff !”  and  left.  In  1861  Titusville  Circuit  in- 
cluded Titusville,  Bethel  and  Hydetown.  The  member- 
ship had  increased  to  40.  After  a long  financial  stiugg  e 
the  new  church  was  dedicated  November  24,  1864,  by 
Bishop  Matthew  Simpson.  His  text  was  1 John  v.4, 
‘‘This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  your 
faith  ” The  cost  was  $11, 855,  and  the  cost  of  the  par- 
sonage, also  completed,  was  $1,277.  During  the  high 
tide  of  the  oil  excitement  in  Titusville  money  became 
abundant  and  in  1865  Rev.  Thomas  Stubbs  received  a 
donation  of  $1,875  in  cash,  besides  goods.  Rev.  E.  J.  E. 


Erie  Conference  in  1861. 


Baker  once  said : “This  part  of  the  conference  used  to  be 
called  the  colt  pasture  to  which  they  sent  the  boys  of  the 
conference,  but  after  1863  old  war  horses  were  sent  to 
fatten.  ” 

Erie  Conference  in  1861. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  annual  session  at  Warren, 
Pa.,  July  17,  1861,  Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris  presiding, 
and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary.  Doubtless  the  existence  of 
the  great  Civil  War  explains  the  fact  that  there  were  no 
candidates  for  admission  into  the  conference  this  year. 
Adam  Height,  F.  W.  Smith,  John  Elliott,  W.  A.  P. 
Eberman  and  Milton  Black,  located;  and  announcement 
was  made  that  J.  W.  Aikin  had  died  during  the  year. 

Appointments  for  1861:  Cleveland  District,  Moses  Hill,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  W.  P.  Bigneil;  Erie 
Street,  D.  C.  Wright;  Scoville  Avenue  and  City  Mission,  E.  B. 
Lane,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  East  Cleveland,  Thomas  Guy;  Newhurg, 
Samuel  Gregg;  Bedford  and  Warrensville,  Michael  Williams; 
Mayfield,  Cyril  Wilson;  Willoughby,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Mentor, 
E.  R.  Knapp;  Chardon,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Burton,  J.  B.  Grover; 
Troy,  H.  D.  Cole;  Mantua,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Bainbridge,  B.  J. 
Kennedy;  Chagrin  Falls  and  Solon,  Dillon  Prosser;  Twinsburg, 
C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute,  S.  S.  Sears; 
editor  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Calvin  Kingsley.  Painesville 
District,  James  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder;  Painesville,  John 
Tribby;  Thompson,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Perry,  A.  M.  Brown; 
Geneva  and  Saybrook,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Ashtabula,  Darius  Smith; 
Jefferson,  Samuel  Hollen;  Morgan,  R.  W.  Crane;  Grand  River, 
Samuel  Wilkinson;  Kingsville,  Albina  Hall;  Richmond,  A.  L. 
Miller;  Conneaut,  Alvin  Burgess;  Springfield,  Allen  Fouts;  Al- 
bion, J.  W.  Wilson,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Montville,  Albert  Norton; 
Claridon,  Washington  Hollister;  Agent,  American  Colonization 
Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton.  Ravenna  District,  William  F.  Wilson, 
presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  W.  F.  Day;  Akron,  .1.  D.  Norton;  Tall- 
madge,  Lewis  Clark;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Franklin 
and  Hudson,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Northampton,  J.  F.  Brown; 
Charlestown,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Windham,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Nel- 
son, T.  B.  Tait;  Rootstown,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Brace ville,  H.  P. 
Henderson;  Edinburg  and  Atwater,  A.  R.  Hammond;  Deerfield, 
Stephen  Heard;  Jackson,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Ellsworth,  B.  C. 
Warner;  Canfield,  Valorus  Lake.  Warren  District,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley, presiding  elder;  Warren,  Benjamin  Exceil;  Vienna,  C.  W. 
Reeves;  Niles  and  Liberty,  Ezra  Wade;  Youngstown,  G.  W. 
Maltby;  Hartford  and  Orangeville,  S.  S.  Nye;  Williamsfield,  C. 
W.  Bear;  Gustavus,  W.  M.  Bear;  Green  and  Mecca,  G.  H.  Erown; 
Windsor,  John  McLean;  West  Farmington,  John  Graham; 
Southington,  Frederick  Vernon;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  C.  R. 
Pattee;  Clarksville,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Jamestown,  S.  A.  Milroy; 
Western  Reserve  Seminary,  W.  D.  Archbold,  Principal.  Erie 
District,  Josiah  Flower,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  First  Church,  John 
Peate;  Simpson  Chapel,  R.  M.  Warren;  Wesley  ville,  S.  L.  Wil- 
kinson, R.  R.  Roberts;  North  East,  B.  S.  Hill;  Quincy,  John 
Akers;  Waterford,  J.  K.  Hallock;  McKean  and  Edinboro,  James 


402  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Gilfillan,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Fairview,  J.  H.  Vance;  Girard,  L.  W. 
Ely;  Union,  R.  F.  Keeler,  George  Staples;  Wattsburg  and  Mina, 
John  Crum,  Alexander  Barris;  Clymer,  John  Robinson.  Mead- 
ville  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Thomas 
Stubbs;  Saegertown,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Steuben,  G.  M.  Eberman; 
Cochranton,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Sunville,  S.  S.  Stuntz,  W.  A.  Clark; 
Franklin,  Jonathan  Whitely;  Greenville,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Salem, 

J.  W.  Hill;  Sheakleyville,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Evansburg,  Isaac  Sco- 
field; Conneautville,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Harmonsburg,  John  Bain;  Rock- 
ville, John  Wrigglesworth;  Espyville,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Linesville, 
W.  H.  Mossman;  New  Lebanon,  N.  C.  Brown;  Delaware  Grove, 
A.  H.  Bowers;  Allegheny  College,  L.  D.  Williams,  Professor. 
New  Castle  District,  George  W.  Clarke,  presiding  elder;  New 
Castle,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Mt.  Jackson,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Moravia,  Z.  W. 
Shadduck;  Wilmington,  W.  N.  Reno;  Shenango  and  Easibrook, 
R.  M.  Bear;  Harrisville,  J.  G.  Thompson;  Mercer,  James  v*reer; 
Hendersonville,  Robert  Beatty,  Ebenezer  Bennett;  Washington 
and  Clintonville,  R.  B.  Boyd,  S.  K.  Paden;  Poland,  G.  B Haw- 
kins; Middlesex,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Pine  Grove,  John  Abbott;  Sharon 
and  Brookfield,  T.  P.  Warner;  Hubbard,  David  King;  Chaplain 
in  Tenth  Regiment,  P.  V.,  J.  M.  Greene.  Clarion  District,  Richard 
A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  J.  J.  Bentley,  Brookville, 
D S Steadman,  David  Eason;  Curllsville,  A.  D.  Davis;  Rimers- 
burg,  Thomas  Graham;  West  Freedom,  S.  S.  Burton;  Shippeu- 
ville  John  McComb,  J.  F.  Perry;  Brady’s  Bend,  Gabriel  Dun- 
mire;  Washington,  James  Shields,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  Tio- 
nesta,  N.  W.  Jones;  Troy  and  Corsica,  George  Moore;  Punxsu- 
tawney,  C.  M.  Heard;  Warsaw,  Samuel  Coon;  Luthersburg,  J. 
W Weldon;  Brockway ville,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Ridgway,  J.  H.  Star- 
red; New  Bethlehem,  N.  G.  Luke;  President,  Jared  Howe. 
Jamestown  District,  James  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder,  James- 
town, Joseph  Leslie;  Ashville,  Rufus  Pratt;  Sugar  Grove,  Jeph- 
tha  Marsh;  Frewsburg,  Robert  Gray;  Pine  Grove,  S.  N.  Warner, 
Kinzua  Warner  Bush;  Sheffield,  Peter  Burroughs;  Panama,  E. 
J L Baker;  Columbus,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Youngsville,  David  Mizener; 
Warren,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Pleasantville,  William  Hayes,  J.F.  Stocker; 
Riceville,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Titusville,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Sherman, 
T D Blimr  Ellery,  Edwin  Hull;  Pleasant  Valley,  Major  Cole- 
grove-  Jamestown  Swedish  Mission,  S.  B.  Newman;  Chaplain  to 
Kansas  Volunteers,  H.  H.  Moore.  Fredonia  District  D M-  Ste- 
ver  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Dunkirk,  R.  W. 
Scott-  Portland,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  W^estfield,  A.  D.  Moiton,  May- 
ville,  O.  L.  Mead;  Delanti,  N.  M.  Shurick;  Sinclairville,  C.  R. 
Chapman;  Ellington,  W.  W.  Warner;  Leon,  G.  W.  Gray,  W.  W. 
Case*  Perrysburg,  Joseph  Allen;  Villenovia,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Forest- 
ville  'and  Sheridan,  I.  O.  Fisher;  Silver  Creek,  E.  H.  Tingling; 
Randolph,  L.  W.  Day;  Little  Valley,  E.  A.  Anderson;  Missionary 
to  India,  Samuel  Knowles. 

Progress  of  the  Work.  The  War  Spirit. 

There  is  good  news  from  the  Northampton  Circuit. 
“At  Hudson  souls  have  been  converted  and  sanctified, 
and  are  doing  well.  At  Chittenden’s  Corners  the  class 
has  been  nearly  doubled.  At  Steel’s  Corners  we  have 
received  some  mercy  drops  and  a number  have  been 
added  to  the  church.  A heavy  debt  has  been  on  the 


The  War  Spirit. 


403 


church  at  Northampton  Center  since  its  dedication  in 
1856.  Last  month  we  resolved  to  make  an  effort  for  its 
liquidation,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks  succeeded  in  se- 
curing nine  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  and  paid  off  the 
entire  indebtedness,  and  now  the  house  of  the  Lord  in 
this  place  is  free  from  all  incumbrance.  At  Peninsula — 
situate  on  the  canal — a place  considered  by  many  as  one 
of  the  hardest,  where  we  had  not  one  member  when  I 
came  here,  nor  had  there  been  any  for  the  past  fifteen 
or  twenty  years,  God  has  been  pleased  in  His  mercy  to 
pour  out  His  spirit,  and  we  have  labored  there  some 
five  weeks,  with  the  efficient  aid  of  Brothers  S.  W.  Har- 
rington and  G.  J.  Bliss,  local  preachers,  and  the  result  is 
— we  suppose — about  fifty  have  been  converted,  and 
these  are  mostly  heads  of  families.” — (J.  F.  Brozvn,  in 
the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  26,  1861.) 

John  Tribby  writes  from  Painesville,  Ohio:  “The 

war  excitement  with  us  is  unbounded.  Even  ministers 
of  the  gospel  are  offering  their  services.  We  have  ap- 
pointed a daily  morning  prayer  meeting  in  the  lecture 
room  of  the  M.  E.  Church  to  implore  God’s  blessing  on 
our  young  men  who  have  volunteered  for  the  defense  of 
their  country  and  for  the  triumph  of  our  cause.” 

Thomas  Graham  writes  from  Rimersburg,  Pa. : “Our 
country  here  is  all  excitement.  They  are  forming  volun- 
teer companies  as  fast  as  possible,  and  many  of  them  will 
soon  be  on  their  way  to  the  fields  of  strife  and  carnage. 
Dark  and  ominous  threats  are  made  against  any  who 
have  the  temerity  to  say  one  word  in  favor  of  the  South. 
I am  apprehensive  that  there  will  be  bad  work  even  here 
among  ourselves,  for  every  disloyal  man  expressing  him- 
self in  favor  of  the  South — for  there  are  a few  of  them 
here — is  in  danger  of  losing  his  life.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  April  30,  1861.) 

R.  A.  Caruthers  preached  a notable  patriotic  sermon 
before  the  Clarion  District  Preachers’  Association,  clos- 
ing with  these  words : “A  soldier  from  the  North  has 

fallen  in  the  defense  of  our  common  country.  That  man 
was  my  representative;  his  blood  was  my  blood,  and  the 
blood  of  my  children.  Our  blood — the  blood  of  the  na- 
tion— has  in  him  baptized  the  earth,  and  craven  and  das- 
tardly must  he  be — unfit  to  mingle  with  free  men — who 
would  not  give  his  own  warm  heart’s  blood  that  the  flag 


404 


History  of  Eric  Conference . 

which  he  defended  might  wave  undisturbed  over  the 
place  where  he  fell.  Our  fathers  bled  upon  the  field  of 
battle,  that  the  sacred  inheritance  of  freedom  might  de- 
scend to  their  children  and  their  children’s  children  for- 
ever. May  the  last  dollar  be  expended  and  the  last  man 
of  this  generation  fall,  rather  than  our  children’s  herit- 
age should  perish  in  our  hands.  With  the  flag  of  our 
country  upon  the  Bible,  and  our  hands  upon  both  to- 
gether* let  us,  kneeling  upon  the  blood-baptized  earth, 
pledge  eternal  opposition  to  American  slavery,  nor  tire 
in  our  efforts  until  it  is  buried  in  an  oblivion  deep,  dark 
and  relentless  as  the  grave.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, June  25,  1861.) 

The  venerable  Joshua  Monroe  writes:  “As  to  the 

Southern  rebellion,  I believe  it  to  be  one  of  the  foulest 
and  most  unjustifiable  that  has  ever  been  perpetrated  since 
Lucifer  rebelled  against  the  government  of  Jehovah;  and, 
like  him,  the  leaders  of  this  rebellion  have  drawn  many 
others  into  their  treacherous  schemes  who  are  likely  to 
share  in  the  fearful  retributions  which  will  be  visited 
upon  them  by  a government  which  they  have  despised, 
and  whose  just  wrath  they  have  awakened.  As  to  the 
war  itself  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Government,  it  is  a 
righteous  war ; not  waged  for  gain,  nor  for  the  glory  of 
conquest,  but  simply  to  put  down  rebellion,  and  to  sus- 
tain and  perpetuate  the  government  of  these  United 
States — the  best  ever  devised  by  human  reason — a gov- 
ernment under  which  we  have  been  the  most  pi  ospei  ous 
and  happy  nation  on  the  earth.  A rebellion  which  seeks 
to  overthrow  such  a government  ought  to  be  suppressed 
— a rebellion  aggravated  as  it  is  by  perfidy,  treason  and 
robbery.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , July  16, 
1861.) 

Erection  of  Churches. 

Mr.  Greene  writes  again : “There  have  been  quite  a 

number  of  very  fine  church  edifices  completed  and  dedi- 
cated within  the  bounds  of  the  New  Castle  District  w ithin 
the  last  two  months.  The  first  one  of  the  number  opened 
for  religious  services  is  at  Greenwood,  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Moravia  Circuit.  .The  opening  services  were  con- 
ducted by  Prof.  G.  W.  Clarke,  the  popular  presiding  el- 
der of  the  district.  The  services  throughout  were  of  the 


Erection  of  Churches. 


405 


most  interesting  character,  and  made  a fine  impression 
in  the  community.  The  services  were  protracted,  and  a 
fine  revival  of  religion  followed. 

“The  second  house  dedicated  is  at  Centerville,  on  the 
Harrisville  Circuit.  Rev.  D.  P.  Mitchell,  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  officiated  on  the  occasion.  Perhaps 
there  are  but  few  places  in  the  country  where  Methodism 
has  been  met  with  more  decided  opposition  than  at  Cen- 
terville. The  Calvinistic  element  in  the  community  be- 
ing in  the  preponderance,  the  idea  seemed  to  prevail  that 
Methodism  was  not  needed,  and  hence  a desperate  effort 
was  made  to  crush  it.  We  have  served  the  charge  one 
year,  and  having  labored  in  a revival  of  religion  at  Cen- 
terville for  five  weeks,  we  speak  from  experience  in  rela- 
tion to  the  matter.  The  first  individual  that  presented 
himself  at  the  altar  as  a seeker  of  religion  was  a man  in 
a state  of  intoxication,  prepared  for  that  purpose,  it  was 
believed,  by  the  liquor  faction  of  the  village.  But  in  this, 
as  in  many  other  instances,  the  devil  overshot  the  mark. 
The  revival  resulted  so  gloriously  that  the  erection  of  a 
new  church  was  resolved  upon,  and  in  this  the  brethren 
have  succeeded  beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations 
when  commencing. 

“As  an  item  of  history  I may  be  allowed  to  say  that 
the  first  Methodist  sermon  preached  in  Centerville  was 
in  a bar-room  by  Rev.  John  Chandler,  then  of  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  now  in  the  west.  At  least,  so  have  we 
been  informed  by  those  who  were  acquainted  with  the 
facts.  Father  Summerville  followed  him  on  the  circuit 
and  formed  the  first  class  in  the  place. 

“The  third  church  dedicated  is  at  Nazareth,  on  Pine 
Grove  Circuit.  Of  this  house  we  cannot  speak  particu- 
larly, not  having  seen  it,  but  understand  that  it  is  a very 
comfortable  country  church. 

“The  fourth  and  last  is  at  Alt.  Pleasant,  on  the  same 
circuit  as  the  last  mentioned.  This  is  one  of  the  finest 
churches  we  have  ever  seen.  It  is  really  a model,  and 
does  great  credit  to  the  society  that  erected  it.  On  the 
day  of  the  dedication  there  was  an  indebtedness  on  the 
church  of  over  $200;  this  was  promptly  met,  and  the 
house  was  presented  to  the  Lord  free  of  debt.*’ — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , January  1,  1861.) 

“The  society  at  West  Ellery  completed  a new  and 


406 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


beautiful  meeting  house  in  i860.  It  was  thirty-three  feet 
in  front  and  forty-five  feet  back,  and  had  a steeple  and 
gallery  in  front.  The  whole  cost  was  about  $1,450.  It 
was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  by  James 
W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder,  November  28,  i860,  and  had 
a good  subscription,  sufficient  in  amount,  to  meet  all  de- 
mands. The  dedicatory  services  were  signalized  by  sev- 
eral sound  conversions.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was 
held  with  the  Oregon  Society,  and  resulted  in  several 
conversions.  So  wrote  Edwin  Hull,  the  circuit  preach- 
er.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  January  1,  1861.) 

In  Callensburg,  Pa.,  in  the  years  1861  and  1862,  under 
the  labors  of  S.  S.  Burton  a great  revival  of  religion  was 
experienced  in  the  church.  The  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  manifest.  Many  times  it  was  impossible  to  close  the 
meeting  for  the  night.  Souls  were  seeking  and  would 
not  leave  the  altar  until  converted.  At  other  times  those 
under  strong  conviction  and  seeking  the  light  would  fol- 
low the  pastor  home  and  with  him  pray  on  into  the  night 
until  light  came.  One  instance  is  recalled  of  Mr.  Hile- 
man,  who  had  thus  spent  hours  in  prayer  with  pastor  and 
friends  at  the  parsonage,  when  finally  late  at  night  he 
was  urged  to  go  home,  though  yet  unsatisfied.  On  the 
way,  in  company  with  a brother,  as  they  were  about  to 
cross  a bridge  over  the  Allegheny  river  his  friend  said : 
“Now,  Brother  Hileman,  you  can  just  as  well  be  con- 
verted right  here  on  this  .bridge.”  Immediately  he 
grasped  the  promise  and  his  ringing  shout  of  “glory” 
rang  out  in  the  still  night  air.  Brother  Burton,  who  had 
followed  to  the  gate  and  was  anxiously  listening  to  his 
cries  of  mercy,  all  at  once  caught  the  sounds  of  rejoicing. 
He  went  into  the  house  and  said  to  his  wife:  “Hileman 

is  saved.”  “How  do  you  know?”  she  replied.  “Why,” 
said  he,  “I  heard  his  shout  of  victory.”  Thus  the  work 
went  on  until  over  two  hundred  souls  were  saved  and 
added  to  the  church. 

Delanti,  Middlesex,  Emlenton. 

On  the  first  page  of  the  record  of  Delanti  Circuit  we 
find  the  following  record : 

“The  Delanti  Society,  or  M.  E.  Church  now  (May  2, 
1861,)  existing,  was  organized  the  13th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1857,  by  Rev.  R.  Roberts,  junior  preacher  on  Sin- 


Dclanti,  Middlesex , Emlenton. 


407 


clairville  Circuit,  done  by  order  of  J.  H.  Whallon,  presid- 
ing elder  of  Fredonia  District,  Erie  Conference,  Rev.  E. 
M.  Nowlen  being  preacher-in-charge  on  said  circuit.  The 
society  remained  in  the  above  connection  until  the  next 
session  of  the  conference,  when  it  was  severed  from  Sin- 
clairville  and  formed  for  two  conference  years  a part 
of  Ellery  Circuit,  at  which  time  (July,  i860,)  Delanti 
(now  Stockton)  and  Chautauqua  Hill  Societies  were 
made  a separate  charge  called  Delanti.  Signed,  Rufus 
Pratt,  Pr.  in  Charge.” 

“The  church  at  Stockton  wras  built  under  the  super- 
vision of  Ralph  Roberts  in  the  spring  of  1858.”  The 
year  previous  there  had  been  a great  revival.  “New  Ore- 
gon, now  Centralia,  was  taken  on  as  an  appointment  in 
the  sixties,  and  it  now,  with  Stockton,  forms  the  charge. 
Chautauqua  Hill  appointment  was  abandoned  years  ago. 
'Blodgett’s’  in  Pomfret  was  organized  as  an  appointment 
in  the  eighties,  but  was  discontinued  during  the  pastorate 
of  Williams.  The  charge  has  two  churches  in  good  re- 
pair and  a parsonage  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church  at 
Stockton.” 

“Methodism  is  an  element  of  strength  in  Middlesex. 
A few  years  ago  it  was  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  a 
byword,  and  a reproach  among  the  people;  and  when  a 
few  noble-hearted  brethren,  that  labored  by  faith  and 
not  by  sight,  made  an  effort  to  erect  a house  of  worship 
a sober  elder  of  a ‘sister1  denomination,  when  the  frame 
of  a building  was.  up,  offered  to  buy  it  for  a blacksmith 
shop.  Then  it  was  one  preaching  place  on  a large  cir- 
cuit; now  it  is  a station  of  over  two  hundred  members, 
and  supports  all  the  institutions  of  the  church  with  a 
liberality  worthy  of  imitation.  And  in  the  place  of  the 
small  house  of  worship  erected  in  the  infancy  of  Method- 
ism in  this  community,  by  another  autumn  will  be  seen  a 
fine  brick  building,  the  cost  of  which  will  be  about  five 
thousand  dollars. 


“I  would  speak  in  conclusion  of  a revival  of  religion 
that  has  been  in  progress  in  the  bounds  of  the  station 
since  the  first  of  September.  There  are  a great  many 
miners  employed  at  the  coal  works  in  the  neighborhood 
of  our  village,  representing  about  as  many  different  na- 
tions as  were  present  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Their 
prejudices  and  habits  were  such  that  we  found  it  impos- 


408  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

sible  to  reach  them  by  the  ordinary  means  of  grace.  They 
never  attended  our  regular  services  on  the  Sabbath.  It 
was  finally  resolved  that  we  would  pitch  a tent  convenient 
to  their  dwellings  and  endeavor  to  bring  them  in  con- 
tact with  the  gospel.  The  effort  was  a glorious  success, 
and  though  we  were  not  within  consecrated  walls,  yet 
while  we  worshiped  in  nature’s  grand  and  blue-arched 
temple,  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  his  people 
as  at  the  beginning,  while  the  strong  men  bowed  at 
Jesus’  feet  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  Such  displays  of 
saving  power  it  was  never  before  our  privilege  to  wit- 
ness. The  number  converted  through  the  instrumental- 
ity of  the  meeting  we  reckon  at  not  much  under  a hun- 
dred.”— (J.  M.  Greene,  in  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advo- 
cate, December  11,1860.) 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted 
by  the  quarterly  conference  of  Clarion  station : 

“When  in  the  course  of  human  events  great  interests 
are  at  stake,  and  great  questions  are  being  discussed,  it 
becomes  those  occupying  influential  positions  to  speak  de- 
cidedly; therefore,  be  it 

“Resolved,  That,  although  our  delegates  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  have  infirmities  common  to  our  human- 
ity, yet  we  have  sufficient  confidence  in  them  to  prompt 
us  to  believe  that  they  can  transact  business  pertaining 
to  the  interest  of  the  Church  as  well  without  our  instruc- 
tions as  with  them; 

“Resolved,  That,  if  after  the  General  Conference  shall 
have  convened  for  the  transaction  of  business,  it  should 
find  itself  particularly  embarrassed  on  account  of  not 
having  been  instructed  by  us,  and  will  suspend  business 
until  it  can  get  word  from  us,  we  will  give  it  such  in- 
structions as  the  emergencies  of  the  case  may  require. 

“Resolved,  That  if  the  General  Conference  acts  with- 
out our  instruction  we  will  not  secede. 

“J.  E.  Chapin,  President. 

“E.  Alberson,  Secretary.” 

— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , April  3,  i860.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Emlenton  was  or- 
ganized in  i860.  The  first  class  was  composed  of  Mrs. 
James  Bennett,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Boyce,  William  Hunter  and 
wife,  Mrs.  John  Hunter,  Armstrong  Hunter,  Mrs.  Peter 
King,  Joseph  G.  Smith  and  wife,  Joseph  Sloan  and  wife, 


Swedish  Mission  at  Jamestown , N.  Y. 


409 


and  Mr.  Donaldson.  Another  authority  makes  the  fol- 
lowing list:  The  wives  of  William  Hunter  and  Joseph 

G.  Smith,  Joseph  Sloan  and  wife,  Armstrong  Hunter, 
and  Mr.  Donaldson;  but  gives  also  the  names  of  Peter 
King,  Robert  Teitsworth,  John  Hunter  and  Samuel  Liv- 
ingston, and  adds  that  John  Boney  was  the  first  class 
leader. 

The  first  minister  was  Robert  Beatty,  and  the  first 
meeting  was  held  in  the  “Town  Hall”  or  school  house, 
which  had  been  built  by  subscription.  Although  it  was 
understood  that  the  school  house  was  to  be  open  to  any 
denomination  which  desired  it  for  religious  purposes, 
Methodists  met  with  much  opposition  before  they  were 
permitted  peacefully  to  enjoy  the  privileges  accorded 
without  hesitancy  to  all  others.  The  present  church  edi- 
fice, on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Hill  streets,  was  erected 
in  1872.  The  trustees  at  the  time  of  building  were  John 
Boney,  Chauncey  Hamilton,  Joseph  G.  Smith,  Peter  King 
and  W.  R.  Karnes.  The  parsonage  occupies  an  adjoin- 
ing lot. 

At  first  this  was  a preaching  point  on  Shippenville 
Circuit,  and  afterwards  on  Rockland  Circuit.  “The  first 
resident  pastor  was  Rev.  Fry  in  1872” — he  must  have 
been  a local  preacher  employed  as  a supply. — (History 
of  Venango  County , Brown,  Rnnk  & Co.,  1890,  p.  523-) 

Swedish  Mission  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

R.  A.  Caruthers  writes  of  an  important  church  enter- 
prise in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  but  he  is  deficient  in  dates. 
He  says:  “Some  two  years  and  a half  ago  the  Swedes 

in  and  about  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y., — 
on  whose  behalf  the  Swedish  Mission,  under  the  care 
of  the  Erie  Conference,  was  instituted — undertook  the 
erection  of  a church  enterprise.  On  account  of  the  pov- 
erty of  those  interested,  the  work  went  on  slowly ; numer- 
ous discouragements  almost  crushed  out  all  hopes  of  suc- 
cess. The  building  stood  a mere  shell  till  within  the  last 
three  months,  when,  through  the  efficient  labors  of 
Brother  Lytle,  stationed  at  Jamestown,  and  Pastor  New- 
man, resident  missionary,  who  together  became  responsi- 
ble for  the  expenses  involved,  the  work  has  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  house  dedicated  to  Almighty  God  on 


iL 


410  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

the  last  Friday  of  the  old  year.  Pastor  Newman  dedi- 
cated the  church  in  the  morning  in  the  Swedish  tongue, 
at  which  time  the  Swedes  themselves  pledged  $140  to 
meet  the  claims  against  the  property.  In  the  evening 
our  presiding  elder,  J.  W.  Lowe,  preached  an  appropri- 
ate sermon  in  English,  and  some  fifty  dollars  more  were 
secured.  These  sums,  together  with  $240  collected  from 
abroad  by  Brother  Newman,  will  meet  the  entire  claim 
against  the  church. 

“The  edifice  is  a substantial  frame,  35  by  45  feet,  front 
gallery,  also  a prayer  meeting  room  attached  in  the  rear. 
Whole  cost  of  building,  exclusive  of  prayer  room,  $1,200. 
The  audience  room  is  plainly  but  neatly  furnished  with 
carpets,  lamps,  clock,  blinds,  etc.,  constituting  an  exceed- 
ingly comfortable  place  of  worship.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  January  31,  i860.) 

Reporting  the  Jamestown  District  Camp  meeting,  a 
worker  says:  “And  the  people  prayed,  waxed  valiant 

in  faith,  they  did  not  sponge  over  the  blessed  promises  of 
God  with  a worldly,  philosophic  exegesis,  to  bring  them 
down  to  a stunted,  paralyzed  faith;  but  pluming  their 
spirits  with  confidence  and  hope,  they  grasped  hold  of 
these  promises  in  their  fulness  and  power,  as  though  they  t 
expected  by  them  to  become  ‘partakers  of  the  divine  na- 
ture.’ They  performed  knee-work  as  though  they  knew 
how  it  was  done,  and  where  their  treasure  was. 

“The  results,  of  course,  cannot  now  be  known,  and 
will  not  be  ‘made  manifest’  until  all  things  are  revealed;, 
but  we  have  no  doubt  but  that  hundreds  in  the  resurrec- 
tion morning  will  arise,  and  pointing  to  their  white  1 obes 
and  glittering  crowns,  and  towering  mansions,  and 
thrones  of  life,  to  the  deepening  glory  that  spreads  away 
to  the  Mount  of  God,  ascribe  their  possession  of  all  this 
priceless  inheritance  under  God  to  the  camp  meeting  that 
commenced  at  Blockville  on  the  thirteenth  of  August 
and  closed  on  the  fifth  of  September,  i860.  The  num- 
ber of  conversions  I have  not  yet  ascertained.  On  the 
last  evening  of  the  meeting,  as  near  as  I could  ascertain 
for  the  throng  was  immense — about  forty  were  in  the 
altar  seeking  the  pardon  of  their  sins,  with  stiong  cries 
and  tears.  Several  joined  the  church  before  retiring  to 
their  homes,  and  on  some  of  the  charges  contiguous  and 
remote  from  the  place  of  meeting,  the  revival  fire  is  burn- 


— 


Session  of  1862.  41 1 

ing  briskly.” — (E.  A.  Anderson,  in  the  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  October  16,  i860.) 

Session  of  1862. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  session  of  1862  at 
Youngstown,  O.,  on  the  sixteenth  of  July,  Bishop  Ed- 
ward R.  Ames  presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary.  A. 
N.  Coons  and  E.  A.  Ludwick  were  admitted  on  trial, 
and  J.  M.  Greene  and  C.  W.  Reeves,  located.  During 
the  year  the  conference  had  lost  by  death  John  Scott, 
Wareham  French  and  W.  R.  Gehr.  E.  A.  Anderson 
withdrew  under  charges. 

Appointments  for  1862:  Cleveland  District,  William  F.  Wil- 

son, presiding  elder;  Cleveland— St.  Clair  Street,  W.  P.  Bignell; 
Erie  Street,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Scoville  Avenue,  W.  H.  Wilson;  City- 
Mission,  to  be  supplied;  East  Cleveland,  Samuel  Gregg;  Wil- 
loughby, G.  W.  Chesbro;  Mentor,  A.  M.  Brown;  Mayfield,  B.  J. 
Kennedy;  Chagrin  Falls,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Bainbridge,  H.  D. 
Cole;  Troy,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Mantua,  to  be  supplied;  Montville, 
H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Claridon,  Albert  Norton;  Chardon,  E.  C. 
Latimer;  Thompson,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Painesville,  G.  W.  Maltby; 
Perry,  Darius  Smith;  Geneva  and  Saybrook,  John  Graham; 
Grand  River,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Agent,  American  Colonization  So- 
ciety, B.  O.  Plimpton;  editor  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Cal- 
vin Kingsley.  Ravenna  District,  Moses  Hill,  presiding  elder; 
Ravenna,  W.  F.  Day;  Akron,  John  Peate;  Tallmadge,  Cyril  Wil- 
son; Cuyahoga  Falls,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Franklin  and  Hudson,  J.  B. 
Hammond;  Twinsburg,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Bedford,  Michael  Wil- 
liams; Warrensville,  to  be  supplied;  Newburg,  Dillon  Prosser; 
Northampton,  S.  S.  Nye;  Charlestown,  B.  C.  Warner;  Windham, 
to  be  supplied;  Rootstown,  Major  Colegrove;  Brace ville,  H.  P. 
Henderson;  Edinburg  and  Atwater,  J.  F.  Brown;  Deerfield, 
Lewis  Clark;  Jackson,  J.  B.  Grover;  Ellsworth,  A.  R.  Hammond; 
Chaplain  in  the  Army,  D.  C.  Wright.  Warren  District,  Hiram 
Kinsley,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  Benjamin  Excell;  Vienna,  John 
McLean;  Niles,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Youngstown,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Hart- 
ford and  Orangeville,  T.  P.  Warner;  Williamsfield,  S.  A.  Milroy; 
Gustavus,  W.  M.  Bear;  Greene  and  Mecca,  James  Gilfillan; 
Windsor,  G.  H.  Brown,  Frederick  Vernon;  West  Farmington,  L. 
W.  Ely;  Southington  and  Nelson,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Bloomfield 
and  Bristol,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Jamestown,  Isaac  Scofield;  Girard 
and  Liberty,  Ezra  Wade;  Morgan,  Stephen  Heard;  Jefferson, 
Allen  Fouts;  Richmond,  A.  L.  Miller;  Western  Reserve  Semin- 
ary, W.  D.  Archbold,  Principal;  Chaplain  in  the  Army,  G.  B. 
Hawkins.  Erie  District,  J.  H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Erie, 
First  Church,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Simpson  Chapel,  R.  M.  Warren; 
Wesleyville,  T.  B.  Tait,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  North  East,  Joseph 
Leslie;  Waterford,  J.  K.  Hallock;  McKean,  S.  S.  Burton;  Edin- 
boro,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Fairview,  J.  H.  Vance;  Girard,  John  Robin- 
son; Union,  Washington  Hollister,  G.  W.  Staples;  Wattsburg 
and  Mina,  John  Crum,  Alexander  Barris;  Kingsville,  Alvin  Bur- 
gess; Conneaut,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Springfield,  Albina  Hall,  L.  D. 
Prosser;  Albion,  E.  M.  Nowlen,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Ashtabula, 
Thomas  Guy;  Clymer,  R.  F.  Keeler.  Meadville  District,  Niram 


412 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Norton,  presiding  elder;  Meaclville,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Saegertown 
P.  W.  Sherwood;  Steuben,  Robert  Gray;  Cochranton,  J.  C.  Sulli- 
van, W.  A.  Clark;  Sunville,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Franklin,  Jonathan 
Whitely;  Greenville,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Salem,  J.  W.  Hill;  Sheak- 
leyville,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Evansburg,  Samuel  Hollen;  Conneautville, 
D.  M.  Rodgers;  Harmonsburg,  John  Bain;  Rockville,  John  Wrig- 
gles worth;  Espy  ville,  Josiah  Flower;  Linesville,  W.  H.  Moss- 
man;  New  Lebanon,  N.  C.  Brown;-  Delaware  Grove  A.  H.  Bow- 
ers; Chaplain  in  the  Army,  L.  D.  Williams.  New  Castle  District, 
George  W.  Clarke,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  J.  D.  Norton;  Mt. 
Jackson,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Greenwood,  Benjamin  Marsteller,  Z. 
W.  Shadduck;  Wilmington,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Slienango,  N.  M.  Shur- 
ick;  Harrisville,  J.  G.  Thompson;  Mercer,  James  Greer;  Hender- 
sonville, Robert  Beatty,  S.  K.  Paden;  Washington  and  Clinton- 
ville,  R.  B.  Boyd,  Ebenezer  Bennett;  Poland,  John  Tribby;  Mid- 
dlesex, E.  B.  Lane;  Pine  Grove,  John  Abbott;  Hubbard,  Willliam 
Hayes;  Sharon  and  Brookfield,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Clarksville,  T.  G. 
McCreary;  Canfield,  Valorus  Lake;  Chaplain  to  U.  S.  Hospital 
at  Pittsburg,  R.  M.  Bear.  Clarion  District,  Richard  A.  Caruth- 
ers,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  J.  J.  Bentley;  Brookville,  A.  N. 
Coons;  Curllsville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Rimersburg,  A.  D.  Davis;  West 
Freedom,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Shippenville,  Jared  Howe;  Rockland, 
C.  W.  Bear;  Washington,  James  Shields;  Tionesta,  R.  R.  Rob- 
erts; Troy  and  Corsica,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Punxsutawney,  C.  M. 
Heard;  Warsaw,  Samuel  Coon;  Luthersburg,  J.  W.  Weldon; 
Brockway ville,  George  Moore;  New  Bethlehem,  Thomas  Graham; 
President,  John  McComb;  Perrysville,  to  be  supplied;  Ridgway, 
J.  H.  Starrett;  Brady’s  Bend,  to  be  supplied.  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict, James  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  N.  G.  Luke; 
Ashville,  Richard  Pratt;  Sugar  Grove,  Jephtha  Marsh;  Frews- 
burg,  H.  H.  Moore;  Pine  Grove,  Peter  Burroughs;  Kinzua,  J.  K. 
Mendenhall;  Sheffield,  Warner  Bush;  Panama,  E.  J.  L.  Baker; 
Columbus,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Youngsville,  David  Mizener;  Warren, 
O.  L.  Mead;  Pleasantville,  J.  F.  Stocker,  N.  W.  Jones;  Riceville, 
Edwin  Hull;  Titusville,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Sherman,  T.  D.  Blinn; 
Ellery,  Joseph  Allen;  Pleasant  Valley,  to  be  supplied;  James- 
town Swedish  Mission,  S.  B.  Newman;  Chaplain  in  the  Army, 
J.  S.  Lytle.  Fredonia  District,  I.  O.  Fisher,  presiding  elder;  Fre- 
donia,  R.  W.  Crane;  Dunkirk,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Portland,  A.  C. 
Tibbetts;  May  ville,  D.  M.  Stever;  Delanti,  G.  W.  Gray;  Sinclair- 
ville,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Ellington,  L.  W.  Day;  Leon,  S.  M.  War- 
ner; Perrysburg,  W.  W.  Warner;  Villenovia,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Forest- 
ville  and  Sheridan,  E.  A.  Ludwick;  Silver  Creek,  W N.  Reno; 
Randolph,  R.  W.  Scott;  Little  Valley,  W.  W.  Case;  Quincy,  John 
Akers. 


Ephraim  A.  Ludwick. 

Ephraim  A.  Ludwick  was  born  near  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
April  8,  1836.  His  father  was  of  German  extraction, 
his  mother  of  Scotch.  Both  died  before  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  fourteen.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  engaged 
in  teaching.  He  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in 
1862,  and  the  same  year  was  received  on  trial  in  Erie 
Conference,  his  first  appointment  being  Forestville,  N. 
Y.  In  August  of  the  same  year  he  raised  a company  of 


Ephraim  A.  Ludwick. 


volunteers  and  entered  the  army  as  captain.  He  served 
three  years,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel  of 
his  regiment.  He  lost  his  right  arm  in  battle  while  in 
command  of  his  regiment  at  New  Market  Heights,  Va., 
September  29,  1864.  After  the  war  he  entered  again 
upon  his  chosen  work,  serving  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  two 
years.  He  was  two  years  colonel  and  aide-de-camp  on 
the  staff  of  Governor  Reuben  E.  Fenton,  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  State  Soldiers’  Home,  New  York,  during 
which  time  he  graduated  from  the  University  of  Albany. 
He  was  for  a time  deputy  governor  of  the  United  States 
Soldiers’  Home  at  Augusta,  Me.,  and  for  three  years 
chaplain  of  a similar  home  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.  For  two 
years  he  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  Egypt,  Morocco, 
Asia  Minor,  Palestine,  India,  China  and  Japan.  He  was 
transferred  to  the  California  Conference  in  1875,  and 
preached  at  intervals  in  San  Rafael  and  San  Francisco. 
For  several  years  he  was  chaplain  of  the  Sailors’  Home 
in  San  Francisco.  He  died  at  the  Soldiers’  Home,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  September  27,  1887,  and  was  buried  in 
the  National  Cemetery  at  the  Presidio. 

“Rev.  Ephraim  A.  Ludwick,  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
who  has  attended  the  conference,  is  just  returning  home- 
ward from  Europe  and  Asia,  having  been  on  a tour  of 
travel  for  the  past  two  years.  Brother  Ludwick  was  a 
young  man  who,  when  the  war  broke  out,  entered  the 
service  as  a captain.  For  gallant  services  he  was  pro- 
moted, first  to  the  rank  of  major  and  then  to  that  of 
colonel.  He  fought  bravely  and  left  an  arm  on  the  field 
of  conflict.  When  we  had,  with  some  difficulty,  suc- 
ceeded in  ‘interviewing’  him,  he  said  with  emphasis,  that 
the  entire  treasury  of  the  nation  could  not  have  pur- 
chased his  right  arm,  yet  the  life  of  the  nation  was  so 
dear  to  him  that  he  had  no  regrets  for  having  gone  into 
the  service  and  braved  its  perils.” — (California  Christian 
Advocate,  1875.) 

Brother  Ludwick  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  pas- 
toral charge  at  Dunkirk  to  obtain  surgical  treatment  in 
New  York  City,  for  injuries  received  in  battle.  He  was 
appointed  by  Governor  R.  E.  Fenton  an  aide-de-camp 
and  assigned  a post  in  that  city  as  assistant  quartermaster 
general  of  the  state. 

“His  gentlemanly  courtesy,  the  breadth  of  his  culture. 


27 


414  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

and  the  variety  of  his  intellectual  attainments  were  ob- 
vious even  to  slight  acquaintance ; but  to  those  who  knew 
him  best  there  were  revealed  the  virtues  of  a noble  man- 
hood. Quick  and  sensitive,  and  gentle  as  a woman,  he 
possessed  also  the  courage  and  determination  of  a hero. 
If  he  was  quick  as  lightning,  he  was  also  true  as  steel. 
Loyalty  seems  to  have  been  his  pole-star  in  his  voyage  of 
life.  He  manifested  his  loyalty  to  his  country  by  his 
devotion  and  bravery  in  the  late  Civil  War,  and  his  loy- 
alty to  God  by  the  conscientious  discharge  of  ministerial 
duties.  The  loss  of  a right  arm  in  battle  left  him  a ner- 
vous sufferer  for  life,  and  made  a constant  warfare  nec- 
essary to  a tolerable  existence.  Right  bravely  did  he 
struggle,  always  with  a pleasant  smile  and  a word  of 
good  cheer  to  all  he  met.  Although  living  on  the  verge 
of  the  grave,  he  had  no  gloomy  apprehensions,  but  a 
cheerful  faith  in  the  mercy  of  the  divine  Savior.”* — 
(Dr.  J.  H.  Wythe,  Son  Francisco  Christian  Advocate, 
1887.) 

Andrew  Nelson  Coons  was  born  March  20,  1825,  and 
died  May  31,  1866.  He  was  of  Lutheran  parentage,  but 
upon  being  converted  in  early  manhood  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  did  efficient  work  as  a 
local  preacher  for  several  years  and  was  received  on  trial 
in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1862.  Failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  take  a supernumerary  relation  in  1865. 
Hoping  that  a residence  in  the  west  might  be  beneficial 
to  his  health  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  entered  upon 
the  work  of  an  evangelist.  He  was  soon  obliged  to  de- 
sist and  went  to  Oak  Ridge,  Mo.,  where  he  lingered  a 
little  longer  and  then  passed  to  his  reward. 

Brother  Coons  was  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity and  above  all  of  deep  piety.  His  memory  is  still  cher- 
ished by  many  to  whom  he  was  greatly  endeared,  y 

*E.  A.  Ludwick — Admitted  on  trial,  1862;  full  connection,  1866; 
deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1868,  Kingsley;  transferred  to  Cali- 
fornia Conference,  1875;  located,  1876;  deceased,  Soldiers’  Home 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  September  27,  1887.  Appointments — 1862- 
’63,  Forestville  and  Sheridan;  1864-’66,  Dunkirk;  1867-’70,  super- 
numerary; 1871-’74,  Chaplain,  Soldier’s  Home,  Milwaukee,  Wis.; 
1875,  San  Rafael,  Cal. 

fA.  N.  Coons — Admitted  on  trial,  1862;  full  connection,  1864; 
deacon  1861,  Morris;  deceased,  Oak  Ridge,  Mo.,  May  31,  1866. 
Appointments — 1862,  Brookville;  1863-’64,  Luthersburg;  1865, 
supernumerary. 


The  Erie  Conference  Session  in  1863. 


415 


The  Erie  Conference  Session  in  1863. 

The  next  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  at 
Ashtabula,  O.,  July  15,  1863,  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson 
presiding;  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

George  J.  Bliss,  Cornelius  N.  Grant,  Charles  W. 
Reeves,  Milton  Smith,  Abraham  H.  Domer,  Austin  L. 
Kellogg,  Benjamin  F.  Wade,  Reuben  K.  Deem,  Edgar 

A.  Squier,  Frank  Brown,  Anthony  J.  Lindsey,  Edwin 

B.  Cummings,  John  O’Neal,  Francis  H.  Beck,  Robert 
N.  Stubbs,  Abraham  Bashline,  Charles  E.  Woodworth, 
Reuben  C.  Smith,  Benjamin  F.  Delo  and  James  Marvin 
were  admitted  on  trial,  while  John  W.  Stogdill  and  Jo- 
seph F.  Hill  were  re-admitted. 

D.  C.  Wright,  located. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  Isaiah  Lane,  Potter  Sullivan  and  G.  B.  Hawkins. 

Appointments  for  1863:  Cleveland  District,  William  F.  Wil- 

son presiding  elder;  Cleveland — St.  Clair  Street,  Jonathan 
Whitely;  Erie  Street,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Scoville  Avenue,  to  be  sup- 
plied; City  Mission,  Dillon  Prosser;  East  Cleveland,  Samuel 
Gregg;  Mayfield,  B.  J.  Kennedy;  Willoughby,  E.  C.  Latimer; 
Mentor,  A.  M.  Brown;  Painesville,  James  Greer;  Perry,  Darius 
Smith;  Geneva  and  Saybrook,  John  Graham;  Chagrin  Falls, 
Thomas  Stubbs;  Bainbridge,  H D.  Cole;  Troy,  Hiram  Kellogg; 
Thompson,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Grand  River,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Mont- 
ville,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Claridon,  J.  H.  Vance;  Chardon,  W. 
H.  Wilson;  Kirtland  and  Chester,  to  be  supplied;  Mantua,  G.  J. 
Bliss;  editor  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Calvin  Kingsley; 
Agent,  American  Colonization  Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton;  Agent, 
American  Bible  Society,  Albert  Norton.  Ravenna  District,  Moses 
Hill,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Akron,  John  Peate; 
Tallmadge,  Cyril  Wilson;  Mogadore,  C.  W Reeves;  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Franklin,  H.  P.  Henderson;  Hudson  C.  N. 
Grant;  Twinsburg,  Michael  Williams;  Bedford,  C.  T.  Kings- 
bury; Warrensville,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Solon,  B.  C.  Warner; 
Newburg,  R.  M.  Warren;  Northampton,  Ira  Eddy;  Charlestown, 
J.  B.  Hammond;  Windham,  J.  F Brown;  Rootstown  and  Ran- 
dolph, John  O’Neal;  Braceville,  J.  B.  Grover;  Edinburg,  D.  M. 
Rodgers;  Deerfield,  J.  W.  Stogdill;  Jackson,  S.  S.  Nye;  Ells- 
worth, A.  R.  Hammond.  Warren  District,  Benjamin  Excell,  pre- 
siding elder;  Warren,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Richmond,  T.  B.  Tait; 
Williamsfield,  Valorus  Lake;  Jamestown,  Isaac  Scofield;  Jef- 
ferson, Allen  Fouts;  Morgan,  Stephen  Heard;  Windsor,  G H. 
Brown;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  John  Wrigglesworth;  West 
Farmington  and  Agent  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  C.  R.  Pattee; 
Southington  and  Nelson,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Niles,  J.  T.  Boyle; 
Girard  and  Liberty,  Frederick  Vernon;  Green  and  Mecca,  John 
McLean;  Vienna,  James  Gilfillan;  Youngstown,  R.  H.  Hurlburt; 
Hartford  and  Orangeville  T.  P.  Warner;  Gustavus,  L.  W.  Ely. 
Erie  District,  James  H.  Whallon,  presiding  elder;  Erie,  First 
Church,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Simpson  Chapel,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Wes- 
ley ville,  N.  W.  Jones,  E A.  Squier;  North  East,  W.  P.  Bignell; 
Waterford,  Alexander  Barris;  McKean,  S.  S.  Burton;  Edinboro, 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


J.  V\\  Wilson;  Wells  Corners,  G.  W.  Staples;  Fairview,  It.  F. 
Keeler;  Girard,  John  Robinson;  Union,  Washington  Hollister; 
Wattshnrg  and  Mina,  L.  E.  Beardsley,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Kingsville, 
Alvin  Burgess;  Conneaut,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Springfield,  Albina  Hall; 
Albion.  Samuel  Wilkinson,  R.  K.  Deem;  Ashtabula,  Thomas  Guy; 
Clymer,  John  Akers.  Meadville  District,  James  W.  Lowe,  pre- 
siding elder;  Meadville,  W.  F.  Day;  Saegertown,  Niram  Norton, 
L.  D.  Williams;  Townville,  Robert  Gray;  Cochran  ton,  J.  W. 
Hill;  Sunville,  G.  M.  Eberman,  one  to  be  supplied;  Franklin 
John  Bain;  Greenville,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Salem,  W.  H.  Mossman; 
Sheakleyville,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  Evansburg,  Samuel  Hollen;  Con- 
neautville,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Harmonsburg,  N.  C.  Brown;  Rockville, 
Ezra  Wade;  Espyville,  Josiah  Flower;  Linesville,  Hiram  Kins- 
ley; New  Lebanon,  P W.  Sherwood,  R.  C.  Smith;  Delaware 
Grove,  Frank  Brown;  Oil  City,  Milton  Smith;  Professor  in  Alle- 
gheny College,  James  Marvin.  New  Castle  District,  George  W. 
Clarke,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  J.  D.  Norton;  Mt.  Jackson, 
Thomas  Radcliff;  New  Wilmington,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Shenango, 
N.  M.  Shurick;  Harris ville,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Hendersonville,  John 
Abbott,  B.  F.  Wade;  North  Washington,  W.  A.  Clark,  Ebenezer 
Bennett;  Poland,  John  Tribby;  Middlesex,  E.  B.  Lane;  Pine 
Grove,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  Sharon  and  Brookfield,  P.  P Pin- 
nev;  Mercer,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Hubbard,  William  Hayes;  Clarks- 
ville, W.  M.  Bear;  Canfield,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Greenwood, 
J.  G.  Thompson;  Chaplain  in  the  Army,  R.  M.  Bear. 
Clarion  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  el- 

der; Clarion,  Thomas  Graham;  Brookville,  J.  C.  Sco- 
field; Curllsville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Rimersburg,  J.  J.  Bentley;  Callens- 
burg,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Shippen ville,  James  Shields;  Rockland, 
C.  W.  Bear,  one  to  be  supplied;  Washington,  Samuel  Coon,  Abra- 
ham Bashline;  Tionesta,  R.  R Roberts;  Troy,  Gabriel  Dunmire; 
Corsica,  Jared  Howe;  Punxsutawney,  A.  D.  Davis;  Perrysville, 
J.  F.  Hill;  Warsaw,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Luthersburg,  A.  N.  Coons; 
Brockwavville,  George  Moore;  Putney  ville,  J.  W.  Weldon;  Presi- 
dent, John  McComb;  Ridgway,  F.  H.  Beck;  Brady’s  Bend,  C.  M. 
Heard.  Jamestown  District,  George  W.  Maltby,  presiding  elder; 
Jamestown,  N.  G Luke;  Ash  ville,  Jephtha  Marsh;  Sugar  Grove, 
David  Mizener;  Frewsburg,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Pine  Grove,  Peter 
Burroughs;  Kinzua,  B.  F.  Delo;  Sheffield,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Panama, 
J.  R.  Lyon;  Columbus,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Youngsville,  A.  H.  Domer; 
Warren,  O.  L.  Mead;  Pleasantville,  John  Crum,  Z.  W.  Shad- 
duck;  Riceville,  A.  L Miller;  Titusville,  D.  M.  Stever;  Ellery, 
Joseph  Allen;  Pleasant  Valley,  Warner  Bush;  Petroleum  Centre, 
Robert  Beatty;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission, 
S.  B.  Newman;  Chaplain  in  the  Army,  H.  H.  Moore.  Fredonia 
District,  Isaac  O.  Fisher,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  R.  W.  Crane; 
Dunkirk,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Mayville,  A.  D.  Morton;  Portland, 
Joseph  Leslie;  Delanti,  G.  W.  Gray;  Sinclairville,  Rufus  Pratt; 
Ellington,  L.  W.  Day,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  Zion,  S.  N.  Warner;  Catta- 
raugus, E.  B.  Cummings;;  Perrysburg,  W.  W.  Warner;  Ville- 
novia,  C.  R.  Chapman,  C.  W.  Woodworth;  Forestville  and  Sheri- 
dan, D.  S.  Steadman,  E.  A.  Ludwick;  Silver  Creek,  W.  N.  Reno; 
Randolph,  R.  W Scott;  Little  Valley,  W.  W.  Case;  Westfield, 
E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Quincy,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Sherman,  J.  F.  Stocker. 

Edwin  B.  Cummings,  Charles  E.  Woodworth. 

Edwin  B.  Cummings,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Mary 
Moore  Cummings,  was  born  in  Leesburg,  Carroll  county, 


Edwin  B.  Cummings,  C.  E.  IVoodworth.  417 


O.,  July  9,  1840.  He  was  converted  in  1852,  and  im- 
mediately united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  attended  Poland  Academy,  Poland  College  and  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  but  graduated  from  Allegheny  Col- 
lege in  1862.  Mr.  Cummings  enlisted  in  the  “College 
Company”  in  1861,  but  was  rejected  because  of  physical 
disability ; as  was  the  case  twice  thereafter.  During 
the  fiercest  of  the  excitement  in  “war  times,”  Judge 
Chamberlain  threatened  to  close  the  doors  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  Little  Valley  against  the  preach- 
ing of  Mr.  Cummings  on  account  of  the  politics  in  his 
sermons. 

Mr.  Cummings  was  licensed  to  preach  and  recom- 
mended to  the  Erie  Conference  for  admission  on  trial  in 
1862.  Twenty  candidates  were  recommended  that  year, 
but  all  save  two  were  “turned  down  by  Bishop  Ames  on 
account  of  the  war.”  Mr.  Cummings  served  as  a supply 
on  the  Villenovia  Circuit  until  the  year  following,  when 
he  was  duly  received.  He  was  a member  of  the  first 
session  of  the  Legislature  of  South  Dakota  in  1890,  and 
the  same  year  edited  the  “Dakota  Revivalist.”  He 
edited  the  “Non-Conformist,”  Indianapolis,  from  1891 
to  1893. 

He  was  twice  married;  in  1862  to  Mies  Thalia  E. 
Logan,  of  Poland,  O.,  who  died  in  1865;  and  in  1867 
to  Miss  Carrie  S.  Titus,  of  Perrvsburg,  N.  Y.  He  super- 
annuated in  1889,  and  now  in  the  ripeness  of  a happy 
Christian  experience,  awaits  the  glory  and  splendor  of 
the  sunset.* 

Charles  E.  Woodworth  had  not  completed  the  sev- 
enth year  of  his  itinerant  labors  when  he  was  called  to 
his  heavenly  home.  He  was  among  the  most  promising 
young  men  of  the  conference.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Conewango  in  1841,  converted  at  a camp  meeting 
held  in  Napoli  in  1858,  licensed  to  preach  in  i860,  and 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1862.  He 


*E.  B.  Cummings — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection, 
1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes;  transferred  to 
Wisconsin  Conference,  1870.  Appointments — 1863,  Cattaraugus; 
1864-’65,  Little  Valley;  1866-’67,  Cattaraugus;  1868-’69,  Portland; 
1870-’71,  Clinton,  Wis.;  1872-’73,  Watertown,  Wis.;  1874-’82,  super- 
annuated; 1883-’87  Missionary  to  Black  Hills;  1883,  Deadwood. 
Dak.;  1884,  Minnesota,  Dak.;  1885-’86,  Minnesela,  Dak.;  1887, 
Spearfish  and  Minnesela,  Dak.;  1888,  superannuated;  1889-1906, 
supernumerary;  present  residence,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


418 

preached  at  Delanti,  Sabbath  morning,  May  16,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  his  appointment  at  Chautauqua  Hill  in  the 
afternoon;  he  began  the  service,  death  struck  him.  He 
lingered  until  Saturday  morning,  May  22,  when  he  fell 
asleep  * 

Anthony  J.  Lindsey. 

Anthony  J.  Lindsey  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Pa., 
in  1836.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Catherine  Lindsey, 
were  pioneer  Methodists  of  that  part  of  the  country. 
Anthony  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  War- 
ren county  and  taught  several  years.  He  attended  acad- 
emies at  Randolph,  Fredonia  and  Meadville,  and  gradu- 

*C.  E.  Woodworth — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867, 
Janes;  deceased  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  May  16,  1869.  Appointments — 
1863,  Villenovia;  1864-’65,  Leon;  1866-’68,  Delanti. 

A L.  Kellogg — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection,  1865; 
deacon,  1863,  Simpson;  elder,  1867,  Janes;  located  at  his  own 
request,  1880;  has  since  resided  at  Santa  Clara,  Cal.,  where  at 
present  he  fills  and  for  considerable  time  has  filled  the  office  of 
school  commissioner  of  the  county  in  which  he  lives;  postoffice 
address,  Santa  Clara,  Cal.  Appointments— 1863-’64,  Wattsburg 
and  Mina;  1865-'67,  Sinclairville;  1868-’70,  Ashville;  1871-73  East 
Randolph;  1874-75,  Petrolia;  1876,  Brookville;  1877-79,  super- 
numerary. 

E.  A.  Squier — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection,  1865; 
deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes;  withdrew  from  ministry 
and  membership  of  the  Church,  1880,  and  united  with  the  mem- 
bership and  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church,  serving  pas- 
torates in  that  denomination  at  Erie,  Pa.,  Corry,  Pa.  Winooski, 
Vt.,  and  Decatur,  Ala.;  received  on  his  credentials  into  the  South 
East  Indiana  Conference,  1888;  transferred  to  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, 1888;  transferred  to  St.  Louis  Conference,  1899.  Appoint- 
ments—1863,  Wesleyville;  1864,  Cattaraugus;  1865-’66,  Petroleum 
Centre;  1867-’68,  Pleasantville;  1869-70,  Tidioute;  1871-73,  Cuya- 
hoga Falls;  1874,  Dunkirk;  1875-76,  Edinboro;  1877,  Erie  Simp- 
son Church;  1878,  Karns  City  and  Fairview;  1879,  Ridgway; 
1889,  Atlanta,  111.;  1890-’91,  Taylorville,  111.;  1892-’93,  Havana, 
111.;  1894-’95,  Sullivan,  111.;  1896,  Dawson,  111.;  1897,  Athens,  111.; 
1898,  Raymond,  111.;  1899-1900,  West  Plain,  Mo.;  1901,  supernu- 
merary. 

R.  K.  Deem — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection,  1865; 
deacon,  1865,  Baker;  transferred  to  Cincinnati  Conference,  1865; 
elder,  1867,  Ames.  Appointments — 1863,  Albion;  1864,  Ridgway; 
1865,  Raysville;  1866,  Old  Town;  1867,  Williamsburg;  1868-’69, 
Batavia;  1870-71,  Loveland  and  Mainville,  1872,  Harrison;  1873- 
74  Winton  Place;  1875-76,  Bethany;  1877  Milford;  1878-’80, 
Seven  Mile;  1881-’83,  Centerville;  1884-’86,  Bort  Union;  1887-’89, 
Waynesville;  1890-’92,  Vienna  and  New  Lexington;  1893-’94,  Tre- 
mont  City;  1895-’97,  Yellow  Springs;  1898-1900,  New  Burlington; 
1901,  Sabina. 


Anthony  J . Lindsey.  419 

atecl  from  Allegheny  College  in  1863.  The  same  year 
he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 

Anthony  was  converted  in  early  life,  but  without  join- 
ing the  church,  drifted  for  some  years  until,  under  the 
pastorate  of  E.  A.  Anderson,  on  the  Pine  Grove  charge, 
he  was  led  to  a more  complete  consecration  to  the  service 
of  his  Master.  He  always  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
preach  the  gospel.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  J.  W. 
Lowe,  presiding  elder,  in  i860.  His  choice  of  a life 
profession  was  justified  by  its  fruits.  On  his  second 
charge  at  Busti,  there  was  a notable  revival  and  a large 
number  were  received  into  the  Church.  After  forty 
years  many  still  remained  steadfast  in  the  faith  of  the 
gospel. 

Mr.  Lindsey  relates  a bit  of  experience  which  is  so 
similar  to  that  of  many  other  ministers,  that  it  may  be 
taken  as  a sample.  He  says : “Soon  after  we  moved 

into  the  parsonage  at  Busti,  one  evening  there  came  a 
rap  at  the  door.  Upon  opening  the  door  a man  stood 
there,  who  asked:  ‘Can  you  do  a little  job  for  me?’  I 

replied,  ‘That  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  job/  He 
said,  ‘There  is  a woman  out  here  and  we  want  to  be 
married/  I bade  them  come  in.  I recognized  the  young 
lady.  Her  parents  lived  seven  or  eight  miles  from  the 
parsonage.  She  said  they  had  just  come  from  home  and 
would  return  presently.  He  represented  himself  as  a 
wealthy  gentleman  from  California,  who  had  come  east 
to  buy  cattle  and  thought  he  would  take  a wife  back 
with  him.  He  was  a deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  ana 
wdien  the  pastor  was  absent,  sometimes  officiated  in  the 
pulpit.  In  a few  weeks  they  started  for  their  western 
home,  and  when  they  reached  Cincinnati  the  gentleman 
was  taken  sick  with  a mysterious  disease  which,  he  told 
his  wife,  might  be  contagious,  and  in  this  case  they 
would  both  be  left  sick  among  strangers.  He  advised 
her  to  return  home  and  as  soon  as  he  recovered  he  would 
come  for  her.  She  never  heard  from  him  again.  I 
learned  afterwards  that  he  had  become  acquainted  with 
a man  somewhere  near  Youngsville,  professed  to  be  a 
relative,  induced  him  to  sell  his  farm  and  go  with  him 
to  California.  He  kindly  ofifered  to  take  the  money  re- 
ceived for  the  farm  and  exchange  it  for  currency.  He 


420  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

never  saw  his  money  again,  and  I probably  received 
some  of  it  for  the  marriage  fee.” 

“I  never  accounted  myself  to  be  much  of  a revivalist 
and  was  always  sorry  I could  not  do  more;  yet  I have 
had  some  pretty  good  revivals  for  which  I ought  to  be 
thankful.  For  instance,  at  Perry,  O.,  I had  in  some 
respects,  a very  remarkable  work.  The  physician  of  the 
place  was  converted  and  became  a very  influential  church 
member.  A very  brilliant  young  man,  a leader  of  the 
young  people,  was  converted  and  stirred  the  meetings 
by  his  wonderful  appeals.  The  hotelkeeper  was  soundly 
converted,  gave  up  his  liquor  business  and  sold  gro- 
ceries instead. 

“The  largest  revival  I experienced  was  at  Cambridge, 
Pa., — now  Cambridge  Springs.  I was  engaged  in  re- 
vival work  from  the  middle  of  December  until  late  in 
April.  Two  hundred  or  more  professed  conversion  on 
the  charge,  which,  besides  Cambridge,  included  Venan- 
go and  Miller’s  Station.  A large  number  were  gath- 
ered into  the  church  and  the  new  converts  took  a prom- 
inent part  in  church  work.  One  little  incident,  I think, 
may  be  worth  recording.  I called  at  a home  one  after- 
noon where  the  father  and  daughter  had  already  pro- 
fessed conversion,  but  the  mother  was  still  unyielding. 
After  some  conversation  I proposed  a season  of  prayer 
and  as  we  knelt,  the  mother  shot  out  of  the  room  like 
a flash.  After  the  prayer  she  returned  and  addressing  me 
in  great  anger  said:  ‘You  needn’t  come  around  here 

with  your  prayers.  We  want  none  of  them.’  She  then 
gave  me  a regular  tirade,  as  well  as  she  knew  how,  and 
she  seemed  to  understand  the  business  thoroughly.  I 
said  but  little,  but  suo-p-ested  to  her  that  if  she  did  not 
want  my  prayers  she  would  better  commence  praying  for 
herself.  A few  days  later,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  even- 
ing’s service,  she  came  forward,  apologized,  and  re- 
quested the  privilege  of  joining  the  church  with  her 
husband  and  daughter. 

“During  my  ministry  I have  received  into  the  church 
about  one  thousand  persons. 

“I  wish  to  record  that  if  I had  my  life  to  live  over 
I would  be  a Methodist  preacher.  I have  never  re- 
gretted for  a moment  my  choice  of  a lifework.  When 
i reach  the  end  of  my  earthy  pilgrimage  I would  rather 


- 


Joseph  F.  Hill. 


421 


i 


know  that  I had  done  some  good,  that  I had  helped 
some  one  amid  life’s  struggles,  than  to  have  the  praises 
of  men  or  the  enconiums  of  the  world.”* 

Joseph  F.  Hill. 

Joseph  F.  Hill  was  born  in  Maryland,  November  15, 
1826.  His  parents  were  of  Puritan  lineage,  and  natives 
of  Connecticut.  His  father  and  mother  were  both  con- 
verted at  the  early  age  of  seven  or  eight  years,  and  the 
former  served  as  class  leader  for  forty  years.  Joseph 
was  converted  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  the  other  chil- 
dren— there  were  six  in  all — at  a still  earlier  age.  He 
had  a fair  common  school  education.  His  call  to  the 
ministry  was  clear,  and  dated  from  the  time  of  his  con- 
version. He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Elderton 
Circuit  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence in  1853,  the  license  bearing  the  signature  of  G.  D. 
Kinnear,  presiding  elder.  He  was  employed  by  the  elder 
to  travel  Cambria  Mission  in  1854,  R.  Jorden  being  in 
charge,  and  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference in  1855.  In  1862  he  was  superannuated,  and  in 
1863  located  and  received  into  the  Erie  Conference  on 
certificate  of  location.  Brother  Hill  was  effective  twenty- 
five  years,  and  superannuated  in  1881.  In  a letter  to 
the  author  he  says : “Up  to  the  time  I came  away  from 
dear  old  Erie  Conference  I received  into  the  church  four 
thousand  members,  lacking  thirty-nine.”  He  had  moved 
to  Kansas,  where  he  continued  to  labor  as  he  was  able. 
More  than  seven  hundred  souls  were  converted  through 
his  instrumentality  in  evangelistic  meetings  which  he  held 
in  different  parts  of  the  state. 

Rev.  R.  S.  Borland  says : “He  was  one  of  those  men 
who  in  that  earlier  day  entered  the  ministry  with  but 
little  in  the  way  of  scholastic  attainments,  and  yet  who 
by  thorough  consecration  and  great  industry  accomp- 

*A.  J.  Lindsey — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867 
Janes.  Appointments — 1863-’64,  Frewsburg;  1865-’67,  Ashville; 
1868-’69,  Sinclairville;  1870,  Cattaraugus;  1871,  Perry;  1872-’73, 
Pleasantville ; 1874-’75,  Ripley;  1876,  Frewsburg;  1877-’78,  Rouse- 
ville;  1879,  Sheakleyville;  1880,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1881, 
Linesville;  1882-’83,  Evansburg;  1884,  New  Wilmington;  1885, 
supernumerary;  1886,  Sugar  Grove;  1887-’88,  Sherman;  1889-’91, 
Cambridge;  1892-’93,  Springboro;  1894-’96,  East  Randolph;  1897- 
’99,  Spartansburg;  1900-’07,  superannuated. 


I 


422  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

lished  much  in  the  Master's  Kingdom.  One  of  the  mar- 
vels of  the  nineteenth  century  was  the  work  which  God 
wrought  in  raising  up  a great  church,  destined  to  be  sec- 
ond to  none  in  influence,  and  to  stand  among  the  best  in 
culture,  yet  using  therefor  a vast  multitude  of  men,  the 
majority  of  whom  would  have  been  pronounced  incom- 
petent from  a scholastic  standpoint. 

“Joseph  F.  Hill  was  of  a genial  and  social  disposition, 
an  agreeable  companion  and  a true  and  constant  friend. 
Though  he  had  been  gone  so  many  years  from  us,  the 
testimony  of  his  son  is  that  he  greatly  appreciated  and 
loved  his  brethren  of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  took 
pleasure  and  even  pride  in  speaking  of  his  connection 
with  the  conference,  and  kept  the  letters  received  from 
the  secretaries  and  other  brethren  among  his  treasures.” 

His  release  from  labor  and  suffering  came  Sunday 
morning,  July  3,  1904,  and  it  was  “a  moment  of  holy 
triumph.”* 

James  Marvin. 

James  Marvin  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.,  in 
1820,  and  inherited  the  best  traits  of  his  sturdy,  intelli- 
gent, God-fearing  ancestors.  In  the  intervals  of  rugged 
farm  work  he  attended  Keysville  Academy,  near  his 
home,  read  books,  talked  with  the  wisest  men  he 
could  find,  and  at  twenty-two  went  to  western  New 
York  and  opened  a new  farm  in  the  thick  woods.  Here 
he  studied  and  taught  school  in  winter  time  until  thirst 
for  learning  led  him  to  sell  the  farm  and  enter  Alfred 
Academy,  from  whence  he  went  to  Allegheny  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1850. 

He  then  became  a teacher  in  Alfred  Academy 
(now  Alfred  University),  where  he  served  five 

* Joseph  F.  Hill — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
Pittsburg  Conference,  1855;  full  connection,  1857;  deacon,  1857, 
Simpson;  elder,  1859,  Morris;  located  and  received  into  the 
Erie  Conference  on  certificate  of  location,  1863;  deceased,  July 
3,  1904.  Appointments— 1854,  Cambria  Mission  (supply);  1855, 
Georgeville;  1856-’57,  Mt.  Morris;  1858-’59,  Youghiogheny ; 1860, 
Chess  Springs;  1861,  Elderton;  1862,  superannuated;  1863,  Per- 
rysville;  1864-’65,  Curllsville;  1866-’67,  Mt.  Jackson;  1868,  Greens- 
burg;  1869,  Gustavus  and  Johnson;  1870,  Portland;  1871,  Pine 
Grove  and  Farmington;  1872-’73,  Youngsville;  1874,  Clymer; 
1875,  Wheatland  and  New  Virginia;  1876,  Lockport;  1877-’78, 
Hy detown;  1879,  Enterprise;  1880,  Tionesta;  1881-1904,  super- 
annuated. 


James  Marvin. 


423 


years;  then  city  superintendent  of  schools  in  Warren, 
O.,  where  he  remained  eight  years,  and  then  professor 
of  mathematics  in  Allegheny  College  for  eleven  years. 
In  each  of  these  positions  his  period  of  service  marked 
an  epoch  of  great  advancement  for  the  institution  con- 
cerned, and  he  gave  himself  personally  in  life  and  heart 
to  the  multitudes  who  came  under  the  influence  of  his 
example  and  fellowship.  This  was  notably  so  in  Alle- 
gheny College,  a host  of  whose  earlier  students  grate- 
fully confess  the  personal  debt  they  owe  to  Professor 
Marvin. 

But  the  greatest  work  of  his  life  was  the  habilitation 
of  Kansas  University,  and  its  entrenchment  in  the  confi- 
dence and  affection  of  the  State.  To  do  this  was  a 
problem  of  great  and  peculiar  difficulties.  The  institu- 
tion had  but  local  prestige,  was  scarcely  more  than  an 
academy,  was  oppressed  with  debt,  had  no  adequate 
equipment  or  resources,  or  effective  sympathy  in  any 
quarter.  The  State  was  new  and  poor,  the  legislatures 
composed  of  men  elected  upon  purely  political  grounds, 
and  having  far  other  objects  in  view  than  the  advance- 
ment of  learning. 

Dr.  Marvin  met  all  these  and  many  other  difficulties 
with  consummate  success.  By  masterful  planning,  tact- 
ful effort,  perennial  enthusiasm,  great  and  ever  growing 
personal  influence  among  all  classes  of  men  and,  we  may 
well  believe,  by  prevailing  prayer,  he  made  the  univer- 
sity an  object  of  affectionate  pride  to  the  entire  State, 
and  of  real  interest  and  appreciation  to  the  whole  coun- 
try. The  lines  of  policy  he  marked  out  are  still  followed 
in  the  administration  of  the  university,  and  his  influence, 
like  a pervasive  spirit,  abides  in  the  atmosphere  of  the 
institution.  He  did  this  work  in  the  nine  years  from 
1874  to  1883. 

His  remarkable  versatility  as  an  educator  was  further 
illustrated  when  he  was  chosen  to  organize  Haskell  In- 
dian Institute  under  the  patronage  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment. The  problem  of  Indian  education  was  wholly 
new  to  Dr.  Marvin,  but  his  acute  and  disciplined  judg- 
ment and  his  instinctive  sense  of  what  was  fitting  in  the 
case  led  him  to  methods  of  procedure  and  measures  of 
policy  which  are  being  vindicated  to  this  day  by  the  con- 
clusive test  of  continued  use. 


I 


424  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

I11  1885  he  became  pastor  of  First  Church,  Lawrence, 
and  left  an  imperishable  record  there  of  his  devotion 
and  power.  Besides  faithful  attention  to  every  duty  of 
his  office,  he  led  his  people  in  the  erection  of  one  of  the 
most  commodious  houses  of  worship  in  the  west.  The 
success  of  this  great  enterprise  must  be  attributed,  under 
God,  to  the  devotion,  the  business  sagacity  and  personal 
influence  of  Dr.  Marvin.  But  better  than  all  else  he 
built  himself  into  the  veneration  and  love  of  all  the  people 
who  came  into  contact  with  him. 

With  the  opening  of  the  new  church  he  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  and  for  five  years  lived  among  the  people  he 
had  known  so  long,  in  the  sweet  serenity  of  an  evening 
whose  sun  sinks  slowly  westward  in  a cloudless  sky. 
Then  came  two  years  of  physical  helplessness  in  which 
he  lay  like  a little  child  dozing  in  its  nurse’s  arms,  and 
then  the  end.  On  the  nth  of  July  he  was  carried  to  his 
grave  “like  a shock  of  ripe  corn  coming  in  his  season.” 

Dr.  Marvin  was  converted  in  his  boyhood  and  lived  a 
saintly  life  all  his  days.  He  was  admitted  to  Pittsburg 
Conference  during  his  professorship  at  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, was  transferred  to  Kansas  Conference  in  1875,  re" 
ceived  his  doctorate  in  divinity  from  Alfred  University, 
and  served  in  the  General  Conference. 

He  was  married  in  1850  to  Miss  Armina  LeSeuer, 
whose  piety,  intelligence  and  wifely  fidelity  made  his  do- 
mestic life  one  long  delight.  Their  only  son  is  a pro- 
fessor in  Kansas  University,  and  their  only  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  Professor  Wilcox,  of  the  same  institution. 
All  that  is  mortal  of  James  Marvin  sleeps  in  Oak  Hill 
cemetery,  Lawrence,  Kas.  His  record  is  in  heaven.* 

Frank  Brown,  John  W.  Stogdill,  George  J.  Bliss. 

Frank  Brown  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Pa.,  Jan. 
30,  1838.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  He 
taught  in  the  university  at  Athens,  O.,  four  years;  was 

♦James  Marvin,  D.D. — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection, 
1865;  deacon,  1855,  Morris;  elder,  1863,  Simpson;  transferred  to 
Kansas  Conference,  1875;  deceased,  Lawrence,  Kas.,  July  11, 
1904.  Appointments — 1863-’75,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  Alle- 
gheny College;  1875-’83,  Chancellor,  University  of  Kansas,  Law- 
rence, Kas.;  1884-’85,  Superintendent,  Haskell  Indian  Institute, 
Lawrence,  Kas.;  1886-’89,  Lawrence,  Kas.;  1890-’94,  supernumer- 
ary; 1895-1901,  superannuated. 


I 


Frank  Brown,  John  W.  Stogdill,  George  J.  Bliss.  425 

superintendent  of  schools  in  Allegheny  City  two  years, 
and  tutor  in  Allegheny  College  one  year.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Delia  A.  Carley,  of  Athens,  O.,  in 
1861.  He  entered  the  Erie  Conference  as  a probationer 
in  1863,  and  when  the  conference  was  divided  he  fell 
into  the  East  Ohio.  His  last  appointment  was  New 
Philadelphia.  After  serving  this  charge  one  year  he  was 
made  supernumerary,  which  relation  he  maintained  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  at  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  Au- 
gust 3,  1881.  “Brother  Brown  was  a good  man.  He 
lived  a pure  and  blameless  life.  He  was  a noble  speci- 
men of  Christian  manhood.  He  approached  the  ideal  as 
a minister  of  the  gospel.  * — (Minutes  of  Conferences 
Vol.  XVIII. , 1881,  p.  3i9.) 

John  W.  Stogdill  was  born  in  Milford,  Pa.,  in  1824, 
and  died  in  W ichita,  Kas.,  in  1873.  He  was  converted 
in  1843,  and  received  by  the  Rock  River  Conference  on 
trial  in  1850.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference in  1856;  located  in  1861,  and  re-admitted  to  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1863.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Kan- 
sas Conference  in  1870.  He  did  a most  noble  work  for  the 
church,  if  the  account  we  have  of  his  last  labors  is  an  index 
to  this  work:  “The  wickedness  of  Wichita  when  Brother 
Stogdill  was  appointed  there  was  without  parallel  be- 
tween the  Mississippi  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  There 
was  a little  band  of  the  faithful  there  and  God  sent  them 
the  great-souled  Stogdill  to  be  their  leader.  WTen  the 
story  of  the  battle  which  followed  shall  be  written  the 
Christian  heroism  of  this  gifted  man  will  stand  out  con- 
spicuously in  the  history  of  moral  struggles.  By  his 
great  heart  and  his  marvelous  moral  nerve,  the  Christians 
of  the  place  were  led  steadily  and  unflinchingly  forward. 
But  when  the  inevitable  reaction  took  place  in  his  over- 
taxed physical  being,  he  gathered  the  shafts  of  death 
into  his  own  bosom  and  fell,  like  Winkelried,  upon  the 

♦Frank  Brown— Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection,  1865; 
deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  August  3,  1881.  Appointments — 1863,  Dela- 
ware Grove;  1864-’65,  Sheakleyville;  1866-’67,  Conneautville- 
1868,  Girard,  Pa.;  1869-70,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol;  1871,  super- 
numerary; 1872,  Jefferson;  1873-74,  Tidioute;  1875-76,  Cleve- 
land, Scoville  Avenue;  1877,  New  Philadelphia;  1878-’80,  super- 
numerary. 


426  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

field  of  victory,  a martyr,  yet  a conqueror.”* — (Central 
Christian  Advocate,  February  2i  18/4.) 

George  J.  Bliss,  who  was  admitted  into  the  Erie  Con- 
ference on  trial  in  1863,  and  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  performed 
twenty-seven  years’  effective  work,  meantime  being  five 
years  supernumerary.  Asbury  was  his  last  charge,  and 
here  he  died.  While  walking  along  the  street,  December 
15,  1892,  he  fell  without  a moment’s  warning.  He  was 
born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1838. ' Mr.  Bliss  was  of  a 
genial  and  lovable  disposition.  “His  everyday  Christian 
life  was  an  onflowing  stream  of  gladness.  He  achieved 
the  most  lasting  success — the  conversion  of  souls.  It  is 
doubtful  if  he  ever  served  a charge  where  he  did  not 
see  many  sinners  converted,  his  last  charge  being  in  a 
continuous  revival.  Whatever  the  range  of  subjects  dis- 
cussed by  him,  his  central  theme  was  salvation  through 
Jesus  Christ. ”f — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXIV, 

1893 . PP-  4i5-4i6-) 

Francis  H.  Beck. 

Francis  H.  Beck,  son  of  William  and  Harriet  Beck, 
was  born  in  Gibbstown,  N.  J.,  August  2,  1840.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia,  graduat- 
ing from  the  High  school  in  1857.  He  was  employed 

*J.  W.  Stogdill — Admitted  on  trial,  Rock  River  Conference, 
1850;  full  connection,  1853;  deacon,  1853,  Scott;  elder,  1855, 
Janes;  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  1856;  located, 
1861;  re-admitted,  Erie  Conference,  1863;  transferred  to  Kansas 
Conference,  1870;  deceased,  Wichita,  Kas.,  1873.  Appointments 
—1850,  Hennepin;  1851,  La  Salle  Mission;  1852,  Lockport;  1853, 
Rock  Island;  1854-’55,  Princeton;  1856-’57,  Winona,  Minn.;  1858, 
Red  Wing,  Minn.;  1859,  Northfield,  Minn.;  1860, 
Shakopee,  Minn  ; 1863-’64,  Deerfield;  1865,  Middlesex;  1866-  67, 
Poland;  1868-’69,  West  Farmington;  1870,  Wathena,  Kas.;  1871- 
’72,  Burlingame,  Kas.;  1873,  Wichita,  Kas. 

tG.  J.  Bliss — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial,  1863; 
full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes; 
became  a member  of  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization, 
1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  December  15,  1892.  Appointments 
— 1863,  Mantua;  1864,  Claridon;  1865,  Twinsburg;  1866,  Twins- 
burg  and  Aurora;  1867,  Mayfield;  1868,  Chagrin  Falls;  1869-’70, 
Cleveland,  Waring  Street;  1871-’73,  supernumerary;  1874,  As- 
bury; 1875-’76,  supernumerary;  1877,  Lowell  and  Coitsville;  1878, 
Conneaut;  1879,  Saybrook;  1880,  Saybrook  and  North  Geneva; 
1881,  Nottingham;  1882,  Madison  and  North  Madison;  1883-’84, 
Madison;  1885-’86,  Gustavus;  1887,  Orwell;  1888,  Youngstown, 
Wesley  Chapel  and  Hazelton;  1889,  Youngstown,  Wesley  Chapel 
and  Hazelton;  1890,  Nelson;  1891-’92,  Cleveland,  Asbury. 


Francis  H.  Beck. 


427 


two  years  in  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Bank,  and 
taught  four  years  in  the  schools  of  the  city.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  i860,  and  admitted  to  the  traveling 
connection  in  Erie  Conference  in  1863.  In  1864  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Meeks,  of  Philadephia.  After  a con- 
tinuous service  of  thirty-six  years  he  fell  asleep  at  Du- 
Bois,  Pa.,  November  9,  1899.  The  remains  were  con- 
veyed to  Conneautville  for  interment. 

Brother  Beck  was  a ripe  scholar.  He  had  a large  li- 
brary of  the  best  works  on  theology  and  general  liter- 
ature, and  knew  how  to  use  it  so  as  to  become  familiar 
with  its  contents.  His  sermons  showed  great  thought, 
and  were  well  constructed.  He  was  unassuming,  modest 
and  retiring.  He  was  a member  of  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1892,  and  one  of  the  assistant  secretaries.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Erie  Conference  seven  years,  and 
his  work  was  of  such  accuracy  that  no  correction  was 
needed  during  the  whole  period  of  his  service.  He  was 
presiding  elder  ten  years  on  the  Meadville  and  Clarion 
Districts. 

Rev.  W.  P.  Bignell  says  of  him:  “Nature  endowed 

him  with  a keen  logical  intellect,  and  by  constant  study 
he  became  a ripe  scholar  and  a good  linguist.  Books  were 
his  delight  and  everyday  companions.  He  received  the 
degrees  of  Master  of  Arts  and  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and 
worthily  earned  and  wore  them.  His  sermons  were  well 
constructed  and  carefully  written  before  delivery.  He 
brought  beaten  oil  into  the  sanctuary;  there  was  no  un- 
certain sound  in  the  message.  The  doctrines  he  preached 
were  sound  and  scriptural.  Modest,  retiring,  unassum- 
ing in  manner,  yet  valiant  for  truth,  uncompromising 
when  principle  was  involved,  careless  of  popular  favor, 
he  was  a giant  for  righteousness,  attacking  fearlessly  all 
forms  of  social  and  political  error  so  prevalent  to-dav.”* 

*F.  H.  Beck — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial,  1863; 
full  connection,  1865;  deacon,-  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes; 
deceased,  DuBois,  Pa.,  November  9,  1899.  Appointments — 1863 
Ridgway;  1864,  Albion;  1865-’66,  Waterford;  1867,  Edinboro; 
1868,  Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1869,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue; 
1870-’72,  Geneva,  O.;  1873-’75,  Mercer;  1876-77,  Union  City; 
1878,  Greenville;  1879-’82,  Meadville  District;  1883-’84,  Conneaut- 
ville; 1885-’87,  DuBois;  1888-’89,  East  Brady;  1890-’95,  Clarion 
District;  1896,  Brookville;  1897,  Mayville;  1898,  Randolph;  1899, 
superannuated. 


428  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Cornelius  N.  Grant,  Benjamin  F.  Wade. 

Cornelius  N.  Grant  was  born  in  Hartsgrove,  Ashtabula 
county,  O.,  in  1837,  and  died  in  Cleveland,  July  29,  1876. 
His  parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Cornelius  was  early  converted.  He  soon 
felt  himself  called  to  the  office  and  work  of  the  ministry, 
and,  after  a great  struggle  of  heart,  yielded  to  the  divine 
call.  In  1862  he  was  employed  by  the  presiding  elder, 
and  appointed  to  Windham,  where  he  at  once  gave  evi- 
dence of  great  pulpit  power.  In  1863  he  was  received 
into  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  two  years  a member 
of  the  North  Ohio  Conference,  and  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  from  the  time  of  the  division  of 
the  Erie  Conference.  After  preaching  at  Hudson,  Tall- 
madge  and  Chardon,  he  was  brought  to  Cleveland  and  did 
most  excellent  work  at  Scoville  Avenue,  First  Church, 
Broadway,  and  Franklin  Street.  He  was  made  supernu- 
merary in  1875.  “His  ministry  was  comparatively  short 
but  successful.  He  was  a bright  and  shining  light.  He 
was  a man  of  sweet  and  gentle  spirit,  and  deeply  devoted 
to  God  and  his  work.  He  was  modest  and  retiring  in 
his  disposition,  and  eminently  agreeable  and  winning  in 
his  manners,  a man  greatly  beloved  by  the  people ; but 
his  great  strength  as  a minister  was  in  the  pulpit.  Though 
naturally  timid,  in  the  pulpit  he  seemed  bold  as  a lion; 
everything  about  him  united  to  adapt  him  to  this  work. 
His  figure  and  style  of  dress  were  faultless ; his  gestures 
easy,  natural  and  perfect.  He  had  a voice  of  great  com- 
pass, clear  and  distinct,  and  under  complete  control.  In 
language  he  was  master,  never  repeating,  never  at  a loss 
for  a word,  but  with  almost  unparalleled  skill  selecting 
the  right  word  for  the  right  place.  He  was  thoroughly 
evangelical  and  mighty  in  the  scriptures.  From  the 
Bible  he  proved  his  position  and  brought  his  illustra- 
tions. A divine  unction  attended  his  preaching,  and  all 
who  heard  him  once  desired  to  hear  him  again.  He  suf- 
fered severely  from  poor  health,  perhaps  never  seeing  a 
well  day  during  his  ministry.  His  end  was  peaceful, 
even  triumphant,  and  he  passed  away,  greatly  beloved 
and  deeply  mourned.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences , Vol. 
XVI.,  1876,  p.  124.) 

*C.  N.  Grant — Admitted  on  trial,  1863;  full  connection,  1865; 


R.  N.  Stubbs , Milton  Smith , John  O’Neal.  429 


Benjamin  F.  Wade  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bristol, 
Trumbull  county,  O.,  June  28,  1835.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  his  mother  of  Virginia.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  a farm,  and  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  higher  seminaries  of  learning  in 
his  native  county.  He  spent  some  time  teaching,  com- 
menced the  study  of  law,  tried  merchandizing,  but  found 
no  rest  until,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  he  entered  the 
gospel  ministry.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen at  a meeting  held  in  a log  school  house  by  J.  W. 
Clock  and  J.  D.  Norton.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Harriet  A.  Clark  in  1857.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1861,  and  the  same  year  employed  by  Hiram 
Kinsley  to  travel  the  Windsor  Circuit,  and  in  1862,  un- 
der W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder,  he  traveled  the  Clari- 
don  Circuit.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1863,  and  did  effective  service  for  thirty-six 


years. 


R.  N.  Stubbs,  Milton  Smith,  John  O'Neal. 


Robert  N.  Stubbs  is  another  graduate  from  a Metho- 
dist parsonage.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  and  Mary 
Stubbs,  and  was  born  in  Poland,  O.,  January  19,  1840. 
He  had  good  school  advantages,  and,  he  says,  “occasion- 
ally improved  them  by  running  away.”  He  attended  the 
grammar  and  high  schools  of  Cleveland,  O.,  and  gradu- 
ated from  Allegheny  College  in  1863,  “when  Lee’s  in- 
vasion scattered  the  students  before  commencement.”  The 
substance  of  his  religious  training  was,  “Leal  homage 


deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867,  Janes;  transferred  to  North 
Ohio  Conference,  1873;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1875; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference 
in  1876,  but  died  prior  to  its  organization; 
deceased,  Glenville,  Ohio,  July  29,  1876.  Appointments — 

1863,  Hudson;  1864,  Tallmadge;  1865,  Tallmadge  and  Middle- 
bury;  1866,  Chardon;  <>1867-’68,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1869- 

71,  Cleveland,  First  Church;  1872,  Cleveland,  Broadway;  1873-74, 
Cleveland.  Franklin  Street;  1875,  supernumerary 

*B.  F.  Wade — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867, 
Janes.  Appointments — 1863,  Hendersonville;  1864,  Hudson; 

1865-’66,  Charlestown;  1867-’68,  Tallmadge;  1869,  Edinburg;  1870- 

72,  Bedford  and  Northfield;  1873-74,  Edinboro;  1875-76,  Water- 
ford; 1877-79,  Randolph;  1880-’82,  Little  Valley;  1883,  Mayville; 
1884-’86,  Portland;  1887,  Millerstown;  1888-’90,  Evansburg;  1891- 
’93,  Mill  Village;  1894-’95,  Girard;  1896-’98,  Portland;  1899-1907, 
superannuated. 


28 


43° 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


to  Christ.”  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
since  which  time  he  has  known  nothing  but  work  in  the 
church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1862,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  reception  into  the  Erie  Conference,  in 
1863,  he  was  a member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  mil- 
itia, which  delayed  his  entering  upon  his  work.  He  was 
presiding  elder  on  the  New  Castle  and  Erie  Districts 
seven  years.  His  life  motto  has  always  been:  “Love 

for  Christ,  thought  for  Christ,  action  for  Christ.”* 
Milton  Smith  was  born  near  Greenville,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1838.  His  Methodist  ancestry  extended  back  to 
the  days  of  Asbury  and  Whatcoat.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  study,  teaching  and  farming.  In  October,  1853, 
in  a revival  meeting  held  by  H.  M.  Chamberlain,  he  was 
awakened  and  after  three  years  of  earnest  pleading  with 
God  for  pardon,  while  listening  to  a sermon,  a great  calm 
suddenly  rested  upon  his  spirit,  and  he  felt  like  one  who 
had  emerged  into  a new  world,  and  from  that  moment 
every  word  of  the  sermon  seemed  worthy  to  be  written 
in  letters  of  gold.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  immediately  entered  upon  active  Chris- 
tian duties.  In  1861  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  his  li- 
cense bearing  the  signature  of  Niram  Norton.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  employed  as  a supply  on  the  New 
Lebanon  charge,  N.  C.  Brown  being  preacher  in  charge. 
He  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1863, 
and  appointed  to  Oil  City.  During  the  year  the  first 
churches  were  built  in  Oil  City  and  Rouseville,  and  the 
societies  were  strengthened  by  an  increase  of  about  sev- 
enty-five members.  Upon  entering  the  ministry  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  the  Greek  and  Hebrew  languages,  and 
was  able  to  read  the  sacred  scriptures  in  their  original 
tongues.  He  was  six  years  presiding  elder  of  the  Frank- 
lin District.* 


*R.  N.  Stubbs — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867, 
Janes.  Appointments — 1863,  Ellington;  1864,  Villenovia;  1865- 
’66,  Clymer;  1867-’68,  Randolph;  1869-’70,  Pleasantville;  1871-’72, 
Erie,  Simpson  Church;  1873-’75,  Parker  City;  1876-’77,  Petrolia; 
1878-’80,  Dunkirk;  1881-’83,  Forestville;  1884-’86,  Corry;  1887, 
Union  City;  1888-’91,  Silver  Creek;  1892,  Portland  and  Brocton; 
1893,  New  Castle  District;  1894-’99,  Erie  District;  1900-’02,  Green- 
ville; 1903-’05,  Cambridge  Springs;  1906-’07,  Warren,  Grace 
Church. 

♦Milton  Smith — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867, 


R.  N.  Stubbs,  Milton  Smith,  John  O'Neal.  431 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Milton  Smith  in  Oil  City 
F.  B.  Jacobs  and  Daniel  McLane  formed  a partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  “McLane  & Jacobs,”  and  opened 
a hardware  store.  Mr.  Jacobs  was  a devout  Christian, 
but  Mr.  McLane  was  a “free  thinker.”  One  day  early 
in  the  week  Mr.  McLane  said  to  his  partner : “Our  men 
will  want  their  pay  on  Saturday,  and  I do  not  know  how- 
we  are  to  get  the  money.”  Mr.  Jacobs  replied:  “Trust 
Providence,”  and  passed  on  to  his  work.  Before  pay 
day  came  an  oil  speculator  who  had  dealings  with  the 
firm  came  down  the  creek,  entered  the  store,  and  called 
for  his  bill,  which  was  a large  one.  He  paid  the  bill, 
took  a receipt,  and  started  up  the  street.  Mr.  McLane 
ran  to  the  door  and  out  upon  the  sidewalk  and  watched 
the  vanishing  form  of  his  patron.  Mr.  Jacobs,  suppos- 
ing that  something  must  be  wrong,  inquired  in  surprise : 
“What  is  the  matter?”  “Nothing,”  answered  Mr.  Mc- 
Lane, “only  I wanted  to  get  another  square  look  at 
‘Providence.’  ” 

John  O’Neal  was  one  of  the  most  deeply  pious  minis- 
ters of  our  Methodism.  His  spirit  was  always  serene, 
and  his  words  full  of  trust  and  good  cheer.  He  had  an 
inappeasable  longing  for  souls,  and  was  most  successful 
in  winning  them  for  Christ.  He  had  experience  in  the 
deep  things  of  God,  and  made  this  blessed  life  attractive 
to  others.  Mr.  O’Neal  was  born  in  Frankport,  Ross 
county,  O.,  July  14,  1828,  and  died  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y., 
September  5,  1881.  He  was  converted  when  quite 
young,  and  became  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  received  license  to  exhort  in  1846  or  1847, 
and  about  the  same  time  united  with  the  American  Wes- 
leyan Church,  by  which  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  In 
1848  he  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  ranks,  and  labored  fif- 
teen years,  rising  to  a position  of  commanding  influence 
among  them.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  withdrew,  and 
after  serving  as  a supply  on  the  Rootstown  charge  for  a 
few  months,  was  received  in  the  Erie  Conference  and  re- 

Janes.  Appointments — 1863,  Oil  City;  1864-’65,  Townville;  1866- 
’67,  Sheakley  ville ; 1868-’69,  Fairview;  1870-’71,  Sherman;  1872-’74, 
Delanti;  1875-’76,  Silver  Creek;  1877-’79,  Ellington;  1880-’82,  May- 
ville;  1883-’85,  Erie,  Simpson  Church;  1886,  North  East;  1887-’92, 
Franklin  District;  1893,  Portland  and  Brocton;  1894-’95,  Portland; 
1896-’97,  Conneautville;  1898-1902,  Saegertown;  1903-’06,  Spring* 
boro. 


43  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


mained  effective  fifteen  years,  meantime  holding  a super- 
numerary relation  three  years  to  recruit  his  failing  health. 
In  1850  he  married  Miss  Maria  Saint,  who  became  a 
saint  indeed  to  all  who  knew  her.  Mr.  O’Neal  possessed 
a naturally  vigorous  intellect  which  he  disciplined  by 
close  study,  and  furnished  by  judicious  reading.  Among 
his  last  words  were : “I  know  that  I have  built  on  a sure 
foundation.”* 

Dr.  W.  P.  Bignell,  writing  of  the  revival  at  Greenville 
under  the  pastorate  of  Brother  O’Neal,  says:  “Taken 

all  in  all,  the  greatest  revival  of  which  I have  any  knowl- 
edge within  the  bounds  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  that 
under  Brother  John  O’Neal  at  Greenville.  I spent  some 
time  there  in  assisting  by  preaching,  etc.,  and  still  have 
no  reason  to  change  my  mind.  In  far-reaching  extent, 
character  of  the  converts,  influence  in  the  town  and  ad- 
jacent communities,  I doubt  if  it  has  been  equalled.  So 
great  was  its  power  that  all  kinds  of  amusements  were 
suspended,  and  the  theatrical,  minstrel  and  other  worldly 
entertainments  gave  the  town  the  go  by,  saying,  ‘No 
use  to  stop  there;  the  whole  town  is  getting  religion.’ 
Many  of  the  staunchest  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  to-day,  besides  many  who  have  gone  over, 
and  others  who  have  moved  to  other  places,  were  con- 
verted in  this  meeting.  It  would  seem  on  the  point  of 
stopping  when  it  would  break  out  among  persons  in  a 
new  neighborhood  who  had  come  to  see,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  a long  time.” — (Letter  to  the  Author.) 

Abram  Bashline,  Benjamin  F.  Delo. 

Abram  Bashline  was  born  in  Clarion  county,  Pa., 
April  27,  1832.  He  was  converted  at  a meeting  held  at 

*John  O’Neal — Licensed  to  preach,  1846;  admitted  on  trial, 
Miami  Conference,  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  1848.  In  due 
time,  in  this  Church,  graduated  into  full  connection  and  received 
orders  as  deacon  and  elder;  eventually  withdrew  and  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  into  the  Erie  Conference,  1863,  his  orders  being 
recognized;  full  connection,  1865;  deceased,  Fredonia,  N.  Y., 
September  5,  1881.  Appointments — 1848,  Lafayette,  Ind.;  1849- 
50,  Greensboro,  Ind.;  1851-’52,  Troy,  O.;  1853-’56,  Felicity,  O.; 
1857,  Carthage,  Ind  ; 1858,  Chagrin  Falls,  O.;  1859,  Milton,  Ind.; 
1860,  Felicity,  O.;  1861-’62,  Chagrin  Falls,  O.;  1863-’64,  Roots- 
town  and  Randolph;  1865-’66,  Sharon;  1867,  Chagrin  Falls;  1868- 
’70,  Greenville;  1871-’72,  Oil  City;  1873,  Rootstown  and  Ran- 
dolph; 1874-’76,  supernumerary;  1877-’79,  Brookville;  1880,  Fre- 
donia, N.  Y. 


Abram  Bashline , Benjamin  F.  Dclo. 


433 


Polk  Furnace  by  John  Whippo,  February  5,  1852.  He 
felt  a call  to  the  ministry  when  but  a child,  and  his  early 
impressions  never  left  him.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  a quarterly  conference  held  on  the  camp  ground  near 
Matildaville,  Clarion  county,  September  16,  1861,  R.  A. 
Caruthers,  presiding  elder,  signing  his  license.  In  1862 
he  labored  as  a supply  on  Washington  Circuit.  The  next 
year  he  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial,  and 
appointed  to  the  same  work.  After  laboring  faithfully 
for  thirty-eight  years  he  was  promoted  to  the  superannu- 
ate relation  in  1901,  and  moved  to  Knoxdale,  Pa.,  from 
which  he  writes,  November  22,  1905 : “I  am  now  a con- 
firmed invalid,  confined  to  my  room  and  bed,  waiting 
to  be  transferred.  It  will  not  be  long.  Pray  that  I may 
have  patience.  The  Master  does  all  things  well.  I do 
not  complain.”* 

Mr.  Delo  writes:  “In  the  fall  of  1856  I entered  on 

my  first  experience  of  an  itinerant  preacher  on  the  Pleas- 
antville  Circuit.  The  several  appointments  for  preaching 
were  Pleasantville,  Pithole,  Holman’s,  Tionesta,  Hickory, 
Fleming  Hill,  Scott’s  school  house,  Funk’s  Mill,  Pleasant 
Valley,  Gregory's  school  house  on  the  Spring  creek  road 
— a circuit  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  round. 
Besides  we  had  several  week-day  and  evening  appoint- 
ments. The  Rev.  James  Gilfillan  was  my  senior.  In 
i860  I undertook  the  organization  of  a cir- 
cuit on  Oil  creek,  between  Titusville  and  the  mouth  of 
Oil  creek — no  city  then,  and  without  a church  building. 
I established  preaching  places  under  appointment  of  the 
Rev.  J.  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder,  of  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict ; organized  societies  at  Watson’s  Flats,  Poor’s  school 
house  (Shamburg),  Funk  Flat  (McElhany  farm),  Plum- 
er,  Buchanan  farm  (Rouseville),  Shaw  farm  and 
Henry’s  Bend.  For  the  first  year  the  preachers  on  Sun- 
ville  Circuit  having  claimed  Buchanan  farm,  I preached 
alternate  Sundays  only  at  that  place.”  In  1873  he  was 

* Abram  Bashline— Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley.  Appointments— 1863,  Washington;  1864,  Paradise; 
1865-’66,  Warsaw;  1867-’68,  Perrysville;  1869-70,  Kinzua;  1871-72, 
Irvington  and  Deerfield;  1873-74,  Greenfield  and  Mina;  1875-’76, 
McKean;  1877-78,  Green;  1879-’80,  Volusia;  1881-’82,  Fairview; 
1883-’85,  Dayton;  1886,  Fagundus;  1887-’88,  Pleasantville;  1889- 
’92,  Rimersburg;  1893-’94,  Cranberry;  1895-’97,  Sigel;  1898-1900, 
Brockport;  1901-’06,  superannuated. 


I 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


appointed  to  Greece  City.  ‘‘When  I came  to  Greece  City 
I found  it  was  already  beginning  to  tear  down  and  move 
to  the  front.  On  a Sunday  afternoon  I went  to  Modock, 
stood  on  the  stoop  of  the  Sutton  log  house,  and  after 
singing  up  a congregation  preached,  and  gave  appoint- 
ment for  the  following  Sabbath.  In  the  winter  I preached 
first  in  a tank  shop,  then  in  a hired  hall,  and  the  summer 
following  a dancing  platform  was  tendered  by  its  own- 
ers. The  collections  for  service  amounted  to  eight  dol- 
lars and  fifty  cents  on  an  average.  I also  added  Buena 
Vista  (Peachville),  where  I preached  during  the  winter 
in  a billiard  room." — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Oc- 
tober 14  and  21,  1897.) 

Benjamin  Franklin  Delo,  son  of  Daniel  and  Christina 
Delo,  was  born  in  Beaver  township,  Clarion  (then  Ve- 
nango) county,  Pa.,  April  16,  1832.  He  was  of  Hug- 
uenot lineage  on  his  father’s  side,  on  his  mother’s,  Ger- 
man. His  father  was  honored  in  the  county  in  which 
he  lived,  and  was  elected  to  several  offices  of  trust. 
Brought  up  on  a farm,  Benjamin  attended  the  common 
schools  until  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  was  apprent- 
iced to  learn  the  art  of  printing.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  went  to  Clarion,  and  studied  in  the  academy  of 
that  place.  He  spent  some  time  in  the  profession  of 
teaching.  His  parents,  because  of  changes  of  residence, 
belonged  at  different  times  to  the  Reformed,  Lutheran 
and  Presbyterian  Churches,  and  his  religious  training 
was,  as  he  expresses  it,  “eclectic.”  He  attended  the  pri- 
vate school  of  a Lutheran  minister,  and  was  for  some 
time  a student  in  Allegheny  College.  *His  early  religious 
impressions  were  received  in  childhood,  and  in  1849  he 
entered  upon  a more  definite  religious  experience. 


He  received  local  preacher’s  license  by  authority  of  the 
Shippenville  Quarterly  Conference  by  the  hand  of  Moses 
Hill  in  1855.  He  supplied  Pleasantville  in  i855~’56. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Phoebe  Ann  Fleming  in 
1857.  This  year  he  moved  to  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  en- 
gaged in  his  trade  of  typesetting,  and  during  all  the 
time  did  much  supply  work.  He  now  engaged  in  lum- 
bering. In  i860  he  again  entered  upon  supply  work — 
in  i860,  Riceville  and  Titusville  Circuit;  in  i86o-'6i, 
Plumer  Mission;  in  1862,  Pleasant  Valley.  In  1863  he 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  has 


Abram  Bashline,  Benjamin  F.  Dclo. 


435 


been  effective  thirty-three  years,  four  years  having  been 
presiding  elder  of  the  Brookville  and  Clarion  Districts. 
He  was  supernumerary  in  1889,  and  was  promoted  to  a 
superannuate  relation  in  1897.* 

B.  F.  Delo  sends  the  following  reminiscences : 

“Too  late  the  heirs  of  a forgotten  past  seek  the  story 
of  battles  fought  and  victories  won  by  men  of  knightly 
courage,  who  in  toil  and  hunger  a century  ago  went 
forth  seeking  the  lost  in  the  wilds  of  a virgin  forest 
where  yet  the  red  man  claimed  his  hunting  grounds  in 
northwestern  Pennsylvania.  Tradition  at  times  affords 
a ray  of  light  here  and  there  in  which  names  are  read, 
and  some  long  forgotten  memory  of  their  deeds  is  awak- 
ened and  gives  inspiration  to  the  grey-haired  sire,  as  he 
tells  the  story  of  his  youth.  The  log  cabin,  the  log 
school  house  and  the  forest,  were  the  scenes,  altars  and 
temples  in  which  the  gospel  of  free  grace  and  redeeming 
love  were  proclaimed  to  men.  The  location  of  many  of 
these  cannot  now  be  identified. 

“A  few  years  ago  an  old  man  93  years  of  age,  John 
Over,  related  to  me  a story  of  his  attendance  at  a camp 
meeting  with  Reuben  Fowles  in  the  summer  of  1822. 
It  was  held  two  miles  south  of  Strattonville.  They  made 
the  journey  through  the  forest  on  foot  from  their  homes 
near  Callensburg.  At  that  time  Methodists  went  great 
distances  to  attend  camp  meetings.  There  were  in  at- 
tendance at  this  meeting,  probably,  representatives  from 
Brookville,  Summerville,  Punxsutawney,  Lazure  Run, 
Stoner’s,  Lawson’s,  Red  Bank,  Lawrenceburg  (now  Par- 
ker’s Landing),  and  Myers’  Mill  on  the  Clarion.  It  is 
probable  that  Glezen  Fillmore,  presiding  elder  of  the  Erie 
District,  had  charge  of  this  meeting.  Elijah  Coleman,  a 
local  preacher  of  Punxsutawney,  and  the  Yankee  local 
preacher,  B.  B.  Clark,  from  Lawson’s,  were  surely  there. 

*B.  F.  Delo — Licensed  to  preach,  1855;  admitted  on  trial,  1863; 
full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1863,  Simpson;  elder,  1866,  Clark. 
Appointments — 1855,  Pleasantville  (supply);  1859,  Titusville  and 
Riceville  (supply);  1860-’61,  Plumer  Mission  (supply);  1863, 
Pleasant  Valley  (supply);  1863-’65,  Kinzua;  1866,  Frewsburg; 
1867-’68,  Cochranton;  1869-70,  Youngsville;  1871,  Wheatland; 
1872,  Brookville;  1873,  Greece  City;  1874-75,  St.  Petersburg; 
1876,  Brookville  District;  1877-79,  Clarion  District;  1880-’81,  Cal- 
lensburg; 1882-’83,  Edenburg  (Clarion  District);  1884,  Financial 
Agent,  Carrier  Seminary;  1885-’87,  Clarion;  1888,  Corsica;  1889, 
supernumerary;  1890-’94,  Clarion  Junction;  1895,  Manor;  1896, 
Knox;  1897-1907,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Clarion,  Pa. 


436 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

One  person  with  whom  I was  acquainted,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Myers,  was  converted  at  this  meeting  and  joined  the 
Armstrong  class,  near  Knox,  Pa. 

“I  was  present  at  a camp  meeting  on  the  Thompson 
farm,  near  Edenburg,  in  1832.  Father  and  mother  went 
on  horseback  and  mother  carried  me  in  her  arms.  Zerah 
H.  Coston  had  charge  of  the  meeting.  Camp  meetings 
were  held  in  that  neighborhood  for  a number  of  years. 

“In  1842  John  Bain,  during  the  first  year  of  his  pre- 
siding eldership  on  the  Meadville  District  held  a camp 
meeting  at  Edenburg.  Ralph  Clapp  was  present  and 
preached  a most  remarkable  sermon,  at  which  the  whole 
multitude  was  strangely  moved.  Mr.  Bain  knew  that  he 
could  not  compete  with  Ralph  Clapp.  He  introduced  his 
discourse  by  saying:  ‘If  I had  a flower  garden  I would 

as  soon  have  an  elephant  in  it  as  Brother  Clapp;  what  he 
has  not  plucked  he  has  trampled  down.’ 

“In  1850  a camp  meeting  was  held  about  a mile  south 
of  Tylersburg,  R.  A.  Caruthers  in  charge.  There  were 
perhaps  more  than  the  usual  number  of  roughs  at  this 
meeting.  One  of  their  number  stood  near  where  there, 
were  several  Methodist  ministers  and  was  heard  to  boast : 
‘I  can  whip  any  Methodist  preacher  on  the  ground.’ 
James  Gilfillan,  then  a local  preacher,  standing  by  said : 
‘John,  you  had  better  be  careful.  I am  a Methodist 
preacher.’  At  once  the  drunken,  boasting  fellow  seized 
a club  and  ‘went  for’  the  preacher.  Mr.  Gilfillan  straight- 
ened his  right  arm  from  the  shoulder  and  sent  the  bully 
about  ten  feet  under  the  fire  stand.  This  was  followed 
by  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Gilfillan.  The  difficulty  was  settled, 
as  the  young  man  was  the  son  of  the  local  preacher. 

“I  attended  camp  meeting  at  the  Home  farm,  near  West 
Freedom,  in  1851,  a very  successful  meeting  at  which 
there  were  many  converts.  A very  fine  singer,  Abiel 
Drake,  just  at  the  dawn  of  day  on  the  last  morning  of 
the  camp  meeting  took  his  station  before  the  door  of  the 
tent  of  John  H.  Boggs  and  sang: 

‘When  the  last  trumpet  shall  sound, 

And  the  earth  shake  around, 

And  the  saints  shall  arise 
And  ascend  to  the  skies. 

There  to  meet  Him  who  died, 

With  His  glorious  bride, 

There  to  praise  Him  forever,  by  Immanuel’s  side. 


Reminiscences  of  Benjamin  F.  Delo.  437 

Chorus. 

‘Hallelujah  to  Jesus,  amen  and  amen, 

We  will  praise  Him  forever  again  and  again. 

To  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  and  liveth  again. 

Hallelujah,  Hallelujah,  Amen  and  Amen.’ 

“The  singing  awakened  the  people  and  preachers  as  a 
trumpet  call.  W.  F.  Day  said  ‘It  seemed  to  me  as 
though  the  resurrection  morn  had  come.’  Brother  Drake 
gave  me  the  words  of  this  trumpet  song  and  taught  me 
the  tune  then  and  there.  Subsequently  I sent  the  song 
and  music  to  Hiram  Matson  for  the  ‘First  Revivalist,’ 
published  about  1859  or  i860. 

“In  1853  I attended  a camp  meeting  at  Edenburg,  at 
which  Ralph  Clapp  preached  one  of  his  wonderful  ser- 
mons. By  way  of  introduction  he  said : ‘Little  did  I 

expect  to  address  you  this  morning,  but  in  the  order  of 
God’s  providence  and  the  economy  of  the  church,  the 
lot  has  fallen  upon  me.  We  bespeak  your  careful  atten- 
tion, as  we  desire  to  clear  our  skirts  of  the  blood  of  im- 
mortal souls.  It  may  be  the  last  time.  In  a few  months 
this  voice  will  sound  in  different  climes.  These  tones 
may  rot  ’neath  the  sods  of  the  Pacific  shore.’  Mr.  Clapp 
expected  at  that  time  to  go  to  California.  Then  came  a 
discourse  of  wonderful  power  and  eloquence. 

‘‘Moses  Hill,  the  presiding  elder,  preached  a sermon 
in  which  he  replied  to  a book  against  the  Methodists  pub- 
lished by  the  Rev.  William  McMichael.  Mr.  McMichael 
in  this  book  said:  ‘Even  their  women  speak  in  public.’ 

To  this  Mr.  Hill  replied:  ‘I  might  possibly  give  a reason 
for  this  man’s  horror  at  Methodist  women  speaking.  I 
heard  of  a certain  William  McMichael,  Carmichael,  or 
some  other  Michael,  who  became  enamored  of  a Metho- 
dist preacher’s  daughter.  I will  not  say  that  it  was  the 
same  man;  but  this  certain  William  McMichael,  Car- 
michael, or  some  other  Michael,  when  the  parents  refused 
to  give  consent  to  his  suit,  persisted  in  pursuing  the 
young  lady.  When  the  family  were  on  board  the  steam- 
boat at  Franklin  starting  for  the  wilds  of  Indiana,  this 
certain  William  McMichael,  Carmichael,  or  some  other 
Michael,  was  determined  to  go  with  the  family,  and  had 
to  be  ejected  from  the  boat.  Some  time  subsequently, 
when  this  certain  William  McMichael,  Carmichael,  or 
some  other  Michael,  received  a fine  letter  of  dismissal  ' 
from  the  young  lady,  he  fell  from  his  chair  in  a swoon 


438  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

at  his  home  in  Mercer  county.  I will  not  say  that  he 
was  the  same  man,  but  if  the  same  man,  we  have  suffi- 
cient reason  for  his  fear  of  the  speech  of  the  Methodist 
women.’ 

“Clarion  District  finally  had  only  one  camp  ground, 
Cherry  Run,  which  has  been  regularly  used  for  this  pur- 
pose for  about  forty-five  years.  It  belongs  to  the  Cal- 
lensburg,  Rimersburg  and  Sligo  Circuits. 

“I  attended  a camp  meeting  at  Chautauqua  in  1870. 
Three  presiding  elders — D.  M.  Stever,  R.  A.  Caruthers 
and  Joseph  Leslie — were  present  and  a great  number 
of  other  preachers.  On  the  morning  of  July  1st  it  was 
very  cold — ice  had  formed  on  the  window  panes.  All 
the  corn  in  Chautauqua  and  Erie  counties  was  frozen. 
On  the  morning  of  the  Fourth  of  July  rain  fell  in  tor- 
rents. I have  no  remembrance  of  another  so  great  fall 
of  rain.  The  ground  was  flooded — wood,  boards,  tim- 
ber debris  of  every  kind  floated  down  into  the  lake;  our 
tents  collapsed  and  became  uninhabitable.  The  people 
began  to  hurry  to  the  boats  at  the  wharf  and  were  car- 
ried to  Mayville  for  shelter.  The  boarding  house  was 
used  for  services  and  the  camp  meeting  continued.  When 
the  flood  subsided  the  tenters  returned  and  gathered  up 
the  zvreck. 

“The  first  preaching  places  in  Clarion  county  were 
Lawson's,  Lazure  Run.  Young’s,  Harold's,  or  Arm- 
strong's, Stoner's,  near  Curllsville,  and  Sullinger’s,  near 
Salem.  In  1821  a quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Clover’s 
stone  house,  two  miles  southeast  of  Clarion.  The  earliest 
Clarion  Methodist  family  names  were : Harold,  Myers, 

Clark,  Wilson,  Clover,  Stoner,  Lawson,  Jones,  Conser, 
Levins,  Latshaw,  Thompson,  Richardson,  Whitehill  and 
Young.  The  Young  family  came  to  a place  between 
Clarion  and  Strattonville  in  1801,  where  Thomas  Young, 
the  first  male  child  in  Clarion  county,  was  born  under  a 
tree  still  standing. 

“Mr.  Harold,  one  of  the  early  Methodists,  owned  a 
distillery,  but  there  was  little  drinking  among  Metho- 
dists. One  of  the  questions  at  quarterly  examinations 
in  those  days  was  'Do  you  drink  drams?’  Few  Metho- 
dist ministers  drank  drams,  but  many  of  them  used  to- 
bacco. Ralph  Clapp  used  a pipe  and  smoked  plug  to- 
bacco. Moses  Hill  and  D.  M.  Stever  used  the  best  of 


Reuben  C.  Smith. 


439 


cigars.  I know  for  I tested  them  when  a young  man. 
Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris,  when  asked  why  he  used  to- 
bacco, answered,  ‘Because  I like  it.’  ’ 

Reuben  C.  Smith. 

Reuben  Smith  moved  from  Massachusetts  about 
1820,  and  at  about  the  same  time  Rhoda  S.  Jones  moved 
from  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  both  settled  in  Crawford 
county,  Pa.  This  couple  married  and  of  them  was  born 
Reuben  C.  Smith,  August  7,  1838.  They  were  members 
of  the  old  Randolph  Church  at  Guy’s  Mills,  which  Reu- 
ben also  joined.  He  was  converted  in  1848,  and  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to 
preach  the  gospel.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1861 
by  J.  Whitely.  The  next  year  he  supplied  the  Sunville 
charge.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  at  Pine  Grove,  six 
miles  from  Meadville,  June  29,  1859,  having  at  that  time 
a license  to  exhort.  His  first  sermon  on  his  charge  was 
at  the  Bogardus  appointment.  There  were  twelve  ap- 
pointments, and  his  salary  was  fixed  at  $125,  of  which 
he  received  $97.  He  says : “Hay  was  $20  per  ton,  corn 
$1  per  bushel,  and  muslin  75  cents  per  yard,  and  yet  only 
$97  for  my  year’s  work,  and  out  of  this  to  keep  my 
horse,  buy  my  books,  and  procure  board.  Weeks  at  a 
time  I had  not  money  enough  to  pay  the  postage  on  a 
letter.  This  was  a little  like  frontier  work,  and  tried  my 
faith  a little.” 

Brother  Smith  was  two  years  agent  of  Carrier  Sem- 
inary, six  years  presiding  elder  of  the  Clarion  District, 
and  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1896.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline  Muse,  of  New 
Lebanon,  in  1866. 

Reuben  C.  Smith  writes:  “After  fifty-three  years  in 

the  Church  and  forty  in  the  ministry  there  may  be  a few 
things  which  have  come  under  my  observation  with 
which  the  young  men  are  not  familiar.  I gave  myself 
to  the  Lord  just  fifty-three  years  ago  last  evening,  March 
3,  1901,  at  a prayer  meeting  held  by  some  young  boys 
of  my  own  age  in  a log  house  near  Guy’s  Mills.  I com- 
plete forty  years  in  the  ministry  the  second  Sunday  of 
next  July.  I have  been  sick  only  one  Sunday  during  my 
ministerial  life.  My  first  charge,  in  1862,  was  Sunville, 
which  I served  as  junior  preacher  with  Rev.  G.  M.  Eber- 


440 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


man.  1 his  charge  was  a large  circuit  of  twelve  appoint- 
ments. I received  $97  of  my  ‘claim’  of  $125,  when  hay 
was  $20  per  ton,  corn  $2  per  bushel,  and  muslin  75  cents 
per  yard. 

“The  Shermanville  Church,  now  a part  of  Conneaut 
Lake  charge,  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1866  while  I was 
pastor  at  Linesville.  The  cost  was  about  $2,200,  and  it  was 
dedicated  by  G.  W.  Maltby,  presiding  elder.  There  were 
seventeen  members.  Steamburg  church,  in  Crawford 
county,  was  started  in  this  wise.  While  visiting  this 
neighborhood  in  the  fall  of  1866  to  officiate  at  a wedding 
and  a funeral,  Mr.  Uriah  Gillard,  who  was  not  a mem- 
ber of  the  church,  invited  me  to  come  up  and  give  them 
a sermon,  and  I left  an  appointment  and  preached  once 
in  two  weeks  in  the  school  house.  In  March  of  the 
next  spring  I held  a protracted  meeting  which  resulted 
in  a goodly  number  of  conversions.  I was  able  to  form 
a class  of  twenty-two  members.  Mr.  George  Potter,  a 
very  good  man,  then  came  to  me  and  said  that  if  I ex- 
pected any  remuneration  for  my  services  I would  prob- 
ably be  disappointed,  since  the  people  of  that  community 
would  not  support  preaching  and  that  was  the  reason 
why  they  had  no  church.  I replied  that  I did  not  come 
for  pay  but  only  to  see  if  some  good  might  be  done. 
The  meeting  had  been  in  progress  then  about  one  week. 
One  evening  I sent  an  invitation  to  Mr.  Gilland,  who 
lived  some  two  miles  away,  inviting  him  to  church.  The 
next  evening  he  and  his  wife  were  there.  After  service 
I spoke  to  her  and  saw  she  was  greatly  wrought  upon  by 
the  Spirit.  They  invited  me  down  to  see  them,  and  I ac- 
companied them  home.  In  conversation  I found  them 
both  under  conviction.  Mr.  Gilland  said  he  had  been  a 
Universalist  all  his  life,  but  was  not  satisfied.  I prayed 
with  them  and  invited  them  back  to  meeting.  The  next 
evening  they  attended  and  were  gloriously  converted. 
Mr.  Gilland  has  been  a class  leader  for  many  years,  and 
is  still  living.  At  this  same  meeting  the  Maxwell  family 
of  six  members  were  all  converted.  One  of  the  sons, 
James,  who  was  a sickly  boy,  regained  his  health,  worked 
his  way  through  Allegheny  College,  married  a Miss 
Blackmar,  of  Erie  county,  went  to  India,  where  he  had 
charge  of  our  publishing  house,  and  died  of  cholera  in 
Cawnpore  in  1870.  His  wife  is  author  of  the  popular 


Reuben  C.  Smith. 


441 


work,  'Conversion  of  the  Bishop.'  After  the  close  of 
the  meeting  they  made  us  a donation  of  $117,  and 
started  a subscription  for  a church,  which  was  built  in 
1870,  and  dedicated  with  no  money  to  raise  at  the  dedi- 
cation. 

"Bethel  Church  is  now  an  appointment  on  the  Steam- 
burg  charge.  When  I was  at  Conneautville  I went  out 
west  about  three  miles  to  the  Pettit  school  house,  where 
there  had  been  a Sunday  school  for  a number  of  years, 
and  held  a protracted  meeting,  at  which  nearly  all  the 
older  scholars  were  converted.  This  was  in  1887.  Mr. 
Grillet  Cray  was  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school, 
but  had  not  been  converted.  Near  the  close  of  the  meet- 
ing I spoke  to  him  about  taking  a stand  for  Christ,  join- 
ing the  Church,  and  setting  a good  example  to  the  young 
people  under  his  care.  He  seemed  to  be  offended,  and  I 
closed  the  conversation  by  saying:  ‘I  will  pray  for  you 

from  this  time  till  to-morrow  evening,’  and  bade  him 
'good  night!’  He  told  me  afterward  that  from  the  mo- 
ment I said  I would  pray  for  him  he  had  no  peace  and 
slept  but  little  that  night.  The  next  day  he  could  not 
work,  and  at  the  evening  service  he  was  converted.  Mr. 
F.  M.  Hewitt  started  a subscription  for  a new  church 
which  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1888  at  a cost  of  $1,700. 
One  of  the  oldest  members,  who  was  not  able  to  get  to 
meeting,  sent  for  one  of  the  trustees  and  said  to  him : 
‘I  am  poor  and  have  no  money,  but  here  is  a quilt;  sell 
it,  and  put  the  money  into  the  new  church.'  On  the  day 
when  the  cornerstone  was  laid  the  quilt  was  sold  at 
auction  and  given  back  to  the  church  three  times  suc- 
cessively till  it  brought  $36,  when  it  was  given  to  the 
pastor’s  wife.  This  devoted  old  lady  was  Mrs.  Gifford, 
aged  ninety  years. 

"At  an  early  date  there  was  a church  built  at  Guy’s 
Mills,  which  was  the  first  in  all  that  section  of  country. 
It  has  never  been  mentioned  in  history,  and  yet  from 
that  center  Methodism  spread  over  the  eastern  part  of 
Crawford  county.  This  church  was  built  in  1822. 
Among  the  first  members  were  Joel  Jones  and  wife, 
John  Smith  and  wife,  Reuben  Smith  and  wife,  David 
Hawks  and  wife,  and  William  Waid  and  wife.  It  seems 
to  have  belonged  to  the  French  Creek  Circuit.  Job  Wil- 
son, an  early  pastor,  died  in  the  neighborhood  in  1844. 


442 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  building  was  about  50x60  feet,  and  lined  and  ceiled 
with  pine  boards,  the  ceiling  being  supported  by  four 
pillars  about  twelve  inches  in  diameter.  The  pulpit  was 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  high  kind,  at  least  five  feet  above 
the  floor;  where  the  preacher  stood,  he  was  boxed  in 
and  the  door,  at  one  end,  closed  so  he  would  not  fall  out. 
This  old  church  was  abandoned  in  1859,  and  the  Mount 
Hope  and  Pisgah  churches  were  formed  from  its  mem- 
bership. The  Mount  Hope  Church  was  built  in  the 
spring  of  1859  under  the  pastorate  of  N.  C.  Brown.  The 
Pisgah  Church  had  been  built  five  years  previous — Delos 
Crouch,  Daniel  Hunt  and  Luther  Wilder  and  their  wives 
being  among  the  first  members.  Pine  Grove  Church 
was  erected  in  1859. 

“In  the  winter  of  i884-’85  I held  a meeting  on  the  East 
Side,  in  a school  house,  in  DuBois,  Pa.,  and  received 
twelve  converts  on  probation.  This  was  followed  by  a 
revival  meeting  in  DuBois,  at  which  two  hundred  and 
sixty  came  out  for  Christ,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
joined  on  probation.  In  1891 -’92  I held  a revival  meet- 
ing in  Grace  Church,  Oil  City,  Pa.,  and  two  hundred 
were  converted.  There  were  two  meetings  of  great 
power.  The  first  was  on  the  first  day  of  February.  That 
evening  there  had  been  four  persons  at  the  altar.  Three 
of  them  had  been  converted,  but  one  young  lady  was 
still  seeking,  unwilling  to  leave  the  church  until  she  was 
satisfied.  I dismissed  the  congregation  at  the  usual  time 
and  said  to  those  near  by  that  we  would  have  another 
season  of  prayer  after  the  people  had  gone  out.  Quite  a 
number  remained  for  the  after-meeting.  At  the  close 
of  the  first  season  of  prayer  I noticed  two  ladies  back  in 
the  congregation  with  their  heads  bowed.  I went  back 
and  asked  them : ‘Are  you  Christians  ?’  They  answered, 
‘No,  but  we  feel  we  should  be.’  I said : ‘Come  for- 

ward/ and  they  immediately  accepted  the  invitation. 
They  were  followed  by  others  until  twenty-one  came  to 
Jesus  and  were  converted.  On  the  fourth  of  February 
there  was  another  meeting  that  continued  until  nearly 
midnight.  Major  Maitland  led  that  meeting,  and  I think 
it  was  the  greatest  meeting  of  my  life. 

“This  great  revival  did  not  come  without  preparation. 
I had  set  apart  a week  of  prayer.  I went  into  my  study 
and  prayed.  The  burden  of  my  prayer  was  for  a re- 


Abraham  H.  Domcr. 


443 


vival  and  a new  church.  Such  a week!  God  only 
knows  the  struggle  I passed  through.  I prayed  and 
wept.  At  last  there  came  to  me  while  on  my  knees  the 
answer,  ‘It  will  be  done.’  It  came  unexpectedly,  but  so 
clear  was  the  answer  that  I could  not  doubt.  No  man 
knows  what  a struggle  like  this  means  unless  he  has  had 
a similar  experience.  It  was  surely  all  of  God.  There 
immediately  followed  the  revival  and  the  new  church.”* 

Abraham  H.  Domer. 

Matthias  Domer  and  Martha  Lusher,  the  parents  of 
Abraham  Domer,  were  born  about  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century  in  Maryland.  Their  families  re- 
moved to  Blair  county,  Pa.,  where  Matthias  and  Martha 
were  married,  and  then  came  to  Rockland,  Venango 
county,  Pa.  Four  of  their  six  sons  became  ministers  of 
the  gospel.  Abraham  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at 
Rockland,  January  i,  1837.  His  parents  were  poor,  but 
blessed  with  a large  family,  and  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  limited.  His  father  dying  when  Abraham  was 
ten  years  of  age,  he  was  left  to  his  own  resources.  Be- 
sides the  common  school  of  his  neighborhood  he  attended 
a select  school,  and  afterward  the  academy  at  Franklin, 
where  he  fitted  himself  for  college,  earning  his  way  by 
day  labor  and  teaching,  which  he  began  before  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  was  converted  at  a camp 
meeting,  August  21,  1854,  and  united  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  He  graduated  from  Allegheny 
College  in  1861 ; teaching  during  the  winters  and  engag- 
ing in  some  manual  labor  in  his  vacations.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  i860,  and  was  employed  two  years 
as  a supply.  On  July  24,  1862,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Kate  Kephart,  of  Franklin.  He  was  received 
on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1863,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion. 

*R.  C.  Smith — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1867, 
Janes.  Appointments — 1862,  Sunville  (supply);  1863-’64,  New 
Lebanon;  1865-’67,  Linesville;  1868-70,  Sheakleyville;  1871-73, 
Rockville;  1874-76,  Cochranton;  1877-78,  Shippenville;  1879,  Sa- 
lem, Clarion  Co.;  1880-’81,  Financial  Agent,  Carrier  Seminary; 
1882-’84,  DuBois;  1885-’88,  Conneautville;  1889-’93,  Oil  City,  Grace 
Church;  1894-’95,  Corry;  1896-1901,  Clarion  District;  1902-’05, 
Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1906,  Girard. 


444 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Mr.  Domer  continued  to  labor  without  interruption 
from  sickness  or  any  other  cause  until  1899,  when  he 
took  a superannuate  relation  and  moved  to  Geneva,  O., 
where  he  has  since  resided,  spending  the  evening  of  his 
life  in  a cheerful  and  contented  retirement.  He  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Allegheny  Col- 
lege in  1885,  and  he  has  for  many  years  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Control  of  that  institution. 

The  whole  ministerial  life  of  Brother  Domer  has  been 
pleasant  and  successful.  He  has  to  an  unusual  degree 
the  faculty  of  adapting  himself  to  people  and  circum- 
stances, so  that  he  has  had  for  the  most  part  peaceful 
pastorates.  He  never  found  difficulties  in  his  churches 
which  he  could  not  amicably  adjust,  enemies  and  quar- 
rels he  could  not  conciliate,  nor  violations  of  church  dis- 
cipline or  other  misdemeanors  he  could  not  quietly  settle, 
and  hence  he  never  had  a church  trial.  While  he  shared 
all  the  honors  his  conference  had  to  bestow,  and  had  ex- 
perience in  all  phases  of  ministerial  work,  he  was  too 
modest  to  crowd  himself  to  the  front  or  scramble  for  po- 
sition or  make  demands  for  preferment.* 

Hazen  Charge. 

The  territory  now  embraced  in  the  Hazen  Charge  was 
formerly,  in  part  at  least,  included  in  the  Luthersburg 
Mission.  The  first  preaching  place  was  the  dwelling 
house  of  \\  illiam  Weeks,  located  near  the  present  site 
of  Hazen,  Pa.,  and  the  first  Methodist  sermon,  so  far 
as  is  known,  was  preached  by  Elijah  Coleman,  a local 
preacher,  about  1838.  It  was  about  the  same  time  that 
a class  was  formed  which  was  called  the  “Barrens 
Class/  ’ This  has  existed,  under  various  names  up  to  the 
present  day,  and  is  now  the  Hazen  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  1847  this  territory  was  transferred  to  the 

*A.  H.  Domer — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1864,  Morris;  elder,  1867, 
Janes;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876.  Appointments — 1861,  Troy  and  Corsica  (sup- 

ply); 1862,  Brady’s  Bend  (supply);  1863,  Youngsville;  1864,  Tidi- 
oute;  1865-’66,  North  Washington  and  Clintonville;  1867-’68,  Cen- 
terville (New  Castle  District);  1869-71,  Clarksville;  1872-’73, 
Randolph;  1874-’76,  West  Farmington;  1877-’78,  Chagrin  Falls; 
1879-’80,  Poland;  1881-’82,  Niles;  1883-’85,  Youngstown,  Henrietta 
Street;  1886-’88,  New  Philadelphia  District;  1889-’90,  Willoughby; 
1891-’95,  Madison;  1896-’98,  Saybrook;  1899-1907,  superannuated. 


Hazen  Charge. 


445 


\ 


Brookville  Mission.  In  1848  a class  was  formed  at  Het- 
rick's, now  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in 
1849  or  1850  a class  was  organized  at  Richardsville.  In 
1854  the  territory  was  organized  into  a mission  called 
Warsaw  Mission,  attached  to  Brookville  charge,  on  the 
Franklin  District.  The  next  year  Warsaw  Mission  be- 
came a separate  charge,  J.  K.  Mendenhall,  pastor.  Clar- 
ion District  was  organized  at  this  time.  The  Hazen 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church — then  called  Mayville — 
was  commenced  this  year,  and  dedicated  the  year  follow- 
ing under  the  pastorate  of  George  W.  Moore.  In  1858 
the  first  parsonage  was  built  at  Hetrick’s,  now  Mun- 
derf.  In  1858  the  charge  became  self-supporting. 

In  1863,  during  the  pastorate  of  Samuel  Coon,  steps 
were  taken  toward  the  building  of  the  Zion  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  J\lunderf,  but  it  was  not  ready  for 
dedication  until  the  pastorate  of  Abraham  Bashline  in 
1865.  In  a church  edifice  was  dedicated  in  Rich- 

ardsville, which  two  years  later  became  the  name  of  the 
charge. 

The  charge  had  formerly  extended  to  the  Clarion 
river  and  included  two  appointments — Raught’s  Mills 
and  Irwin’s  Mills — in  the  bounds  of  what  is  now  Arroyo 
charge.  These  appointments  were  dropped  in  1885.  The 
next  year  a new  parsonage  was  built  at  Hazen.  The 
name  of  the  charge  was  changed  to  Hazen  in  1889.  In 
1887  W.  B.  Holt  established  a preaching  place  at  Allen’s 
Mills,  and  organized  a class  of  fifteen  members;  and  in 
1893,  under  the  pastorate  of  H.  F.  Miller,  a good  frame 
church  was  erected.  In  1889  C.  W.  Darrow  began  to 
preach  in  a school  house  on  Sugar  Hill,  and  the  next 
year  a class  was  organized  by  W.  H.  Robinson,  then  an 
exhorter,  with  twenty-seven  members.  In  1892  a neat 
and  substantial  little  church  was  erected;  and  in  1893 
this  was  added  to  the  Hazen  Church,  thus  completing 
the  present  five  appointments — Hazen,  Richardsville, 
Zion,  Allen’s  Mills  and  Sugar  Hill. 

When,  at  the  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  of  1838, 
a volunteer  was  called  for  to  go  to  the  Barrens,  Mr. 
Coleman,  already  a patriarch  in  the  service,  who  lived 
across  the  line  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  offered  him- 
self. He  had  already  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  a 
number  of  churches  on  untilled  territory.  He  said  he 


29 


446  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

had  a good  farm  on  the  Mahoning  and  could  get  his 
living  from  the  farm,  and  he  would  preach  to  the  peo- 
ple and  take  what  they  could  give.  “So  he  came  and 
organized  a class,  preaching  to  the  people  on  Sabbath 
and  working  on  his  farm  week  days — traveling  a dis- 
tance of  seventy  miles,  round  trip,  on  horseback  to  and 
from  his  work.  Then,  in  1842,  he  was  appointed  as  a 
supply  on  Luthersburg  Mission,  and  included  the  Bar- 
rens as  one  of  his  appointments.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  Methodism  at  Hazen.  The  first  members  of 
the  class  were  Peter  Chamberlin,  Mary  Chamberlin, 
George  Frederick,  Mary  Ann  Frederick,  Matthew  Med- 
calf,  Lydia  Medcalf,  William  Weeks,  Lovina  W eeks,  Eli 
B.  Irvin,  Darius  Ingraham,  Mendel  Medcalf,  Lucy  Med- 
calf, and  Mrs.  Whitney.  Peter  Chamberlin  was  the  first 
class  leader.  He  was  afterwards  licensed  to  exhort.” 
Philo  Bowdish,  a local  preacher  of  considerable  ability, 
moved  into  the  community  in  1842.  “This  little  class 
held  services  for  a time  in  private  dwelling  houses,  prin- 
cipally in  the  dwelling  house  of  William  Wreeks.  Later 
services  were  held  in  the  1 emple  school  house,  a mile 
and  a quarter  east  of  Hazen ; then  in  the  Bower  school 
house,  a mile  west  of  Hazen,  until  1856,  when  a church 
was  built  in  Hazen,  called  at  that  time  Mayville.” 

The  Leon  Circuit  had  ten  appointments  in  1863 — two 
in  the  town  of  Leon,  one  in  Dayton,  one  in  Persia,  three 
in  New  Albion,  one  in  Napoli,  and  two  in  Conewango. 
“It  had  the  largest  number  of  members  and  paid  the 
largest  amount  of  missionary  money  of  any  circuit  on 
the  Fredonia  District.”  This  year  the  circuit  was  di- 
vided, and  the  Cattaraugus  Circuit  formed  from  its  fair- 
est part. — (S.  H.  Warner , in  the  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  November  14 , 1863.) 

Gathering  the  Fruits. 

A.  D.  Davis  reports  glorious  meetings  on  the  Rimers- 
burg  charge : “We  are  happy  to  report  that  we  are  en- 
joying peace  and  prosperity  on  Rimersburg  charge.  A 
general  revival  influence  prevails  throughout  the  circuit. 
We  have  held  five  protracted  meetings  on  the  work. 
Numbers  have  been  converted,  backsliders  reclaimed,  the 
church  quickened,  and  my  heart  has  bounded  with  joy. 
This  has  been  the  happiest  year  of  my  ministerial  life. 


Gathering  the  Fruits. 


447 


The  Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are 
glad.  We  have  just  closed  a protracted  meeting  at  Pike 
Furnace,  which  resulted  in  about  forty  conversions  and 
thirty-six  accessions.  To  God  be  all  the  glory!  The 
conversions  at  all  our  meetings  have  been  very  bright. 
As  soon  as  converted  they  usually  commenced  to  pray 
in  public  for  the  conversion  of  their  unconverted  friends. 
We  have  had  some  powerful  manifestations  of  God’s 
power.  Our  meetings  have  been  attended  with  a good 
deal  of  shouting.  Numbers  have  fallen  and  remained  for 
hours  as  stiff  as  they  will  be  in  death,  without  the  sign 
of  life  about  them.  One  sister  remained  for  fifty  hours 
in  this  condition.  We  have  received  since  conference 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  on  probation  and  six  by 
letter.  A number  of  brethren  have  professed  perfect 
love,  and  many  more  are  praying  for  a ‘clean  heart.’ 
Our  members  are  seeking  the  old  paths  of  vital  holiness, 
consecrating  themselves  anew  to  God,  and  learning  to 
become  like  Him  who  hath  loved  us  and  given  Himself 
for  us.  Our  brethren  here  are  of  that  class  of  Metho- 
dists that  kneel  when  they  pray,  shout  when  they  get 
happy,  and  go  to  heaven  when  they  die." — ( Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  February  7,  1863.) 

The  Sherrod  Hill  class  was  formed  in  1863,  and  the 
appointment  was  attached  to  the  Edinboro  Circuit.  A 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1864.  The  work  was  con- 
nected with  the  Edinboro,  or  Lockport  Circuit,  until 
1903,  when  a new  circuit  was  formed  of  Sherrod,  Wal- 
do and  Pennside  appointments.  The  Waldo  class  was 
formed  in  1888,  and  attached  to  the  Edinboro  Circuit. 
Afterward  it  became  a part  of  the  Woodcock  Circuit, 
but  was  again  placed  on  the  Edinboro  Circuit,  where  it 
remained  until  1903.  The  Pennside  class  was  formed 
by  D.  E.  S.  Perry,  of  the  Albion  Circuit,  and  a church 
edifice  erected  and  dedicated  by  Dr.  I.  C.  Pershing,  of 
the  Pittsburg  Conference.  It  was  served  for  some  years 
by  supplies,  then  attached  to  the  Springboro  Circuit, 
and  then  left  without  a pastor  until  1902,  when  it  was 
served  by  students  from  Allegheny  College  for  one  year. 
In  1903  it  became  a part  of  the  “Sherrod  and  Waldo’’ 
Circuit. 

“Silas  Rawson  was  born  June  7,  1813,  in  western 
New  York,  and  was  brought  by  his  parents  in  early  child- 


448 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


i 


■ 


1 


hood  to  Indiana.  He  was  self-educated,  entering  Alle- 
gheny College  in  his  seventeenth  year.  While  there  he 
was  soundly  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  His  health  failing  before  he  finished  his 
college  course,  he  left  with  an  honorable  report,  and  soon 
after,  while  still  very  young,  joined  the  Erie  Conference 
on  trial,  in  which  he  remained  two  years.  Returning  to 
Indiana  in  1837  he  joined  the  Indiana  Conference  and 
was  appointed  to  Lawrenceburg  Circuit."  He  died  April 
18,  1880.  He  was  a man  of  strong  faith  in  Christ,  of 
great  purity  and  simplicity  of  manners,  strong  in  his 
friendships  and  charity,  without  hypocrisy,  and  without 
partiality ; cheerful  without  levity,  of  good  understand- 
ing though  not  brilliant,  having  strong  convictions  and  a 
steady  will,  a most  devoted  husband,  father  and  friend; 
in  a word,  a man  to  be  loved  and  trusted.” — (Minutes  of 
Conferences , Vol.  XlrIII,  1880 , pp.  257-258.) 

Erie  Conference  in  1864. 

The  Erie  Conference  session  of  1864  was  held  at  \\  est 
Greenville,  Pa.,  July  20,  Bishops  Thomas  A.  Morris  and 
Calvin  Kingsley  presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : George  W. 

Patterson,  John  R.  Shearer,  Archibald  S.  Goodrich, 
David  Latshaw,  Platt  W.  Scofield,  John  M.  Greene,  and 
Abram  S.  Dobbs.* 

S.  A.  Milroy,  M.  H.  Bettes,  James  Gilfillan  and  E.  B. 
Lane  were  announced  as  deceased. 

Appointments  for  1864:  Cleveland  District,  W.  F.  Wilson, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland— St.  Clair  Street,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Erie 
Street,  J.  S.  Lytle;  City  Mission,  Dillon  Prosser;  East  Cleveland, 
Darius  Smith;  Mayfield,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Willoughby,  Thomas 
Guy;  Mentor,  A.  M.  Brown;  Painesville,  J.  D.  Norton;  Madison 
and  Perry,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Geneva  and  Saybrook,  A.  C.  Tibbetts; 
Chagrin  Falls,  John  Graham;  Bainbridge,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Troy, 
H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Thompson,  B.  J.  Kennedy;  Grand  River, 


*G.  W.  Patterson — Admitted  on  trial,  1864;  deacon,  1865,  Bak- 
er; discontinued  at  his  own  request,  1867.  Appointments — 1864, 
Riceville;  1865,  Villenovia;  1866,  Madison  and  Perry. 

J.  R.  Shearer — Admitted  on  trial,  Pittsburg  Conference,  1845; 
full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849,  Waugh; 
located,  1851;  re-admitted,  Erie  Conference,  1864;  located,  1876. 
Appointments — 1845,  Brownsville;  1846,  Salem;  1847,  New 
Brighton;  1848,  Knoxville;  1849,  Carrollton;  1850,  Clarington; 
1864-’65,  Perrysburg;  1866,  East  Randolph;  1867,  Hartford  and 
Orangeville;  1868,  Gustavus;  1869,  Edinboro;  1870,  McKean; 
1871-’75,  superannuated. 


/ 


Eric  Conference  in  1864. 


Ezra  Wade;  Montville,  H.  D.  Cole;  Claridon,  G.  J.  Bliss;  Chardon, 
W.  H.  Wilson;  Kirtland  and  Chester,  Ira  Eddy;  Mantua, 
S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Agent,  American  Colonization  Society,  B.  O. 
Plimpton;  Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  Albert  Norton;  Chap- 
lain in  the  Army,  J.  D.  Norton.  Ravenna  District,  Moses  Hill, 
presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  John  Tribby;  Akron,  E A.  Johnson; 
Tallmadge,  C.  N.  Grant;  Mogadore,  Frederick  Vernon;  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Franklin,  H.  P.  Henderson;  Twinsburg, 
Michael  Williams;  Bedford,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Warrensville,  J.  K. 
Mendenhall;  Newburg,  R.  M.  Warren;  Charlestown,  J.  B.  Ham- 
mond; Windham,  S.  S.  Nye;  Rootstown  and  Randolph,  John 
O’Neal;  Braceville,  J.  B.  Grover;  Edenburg,  D.  M.  Rodgers; 
Deerfield,  J.  W.  Stogdill;  Canfield  and  Ellsworth,  G.  H.  Brown; 
Jackson,  John  McLean;  Solon,  B.  C.  Warner;  Hudson,  B.  F. 
Wade;  Bible  Agent,  C.  W.  Reeves.  Warren  District,  Benjamin 
Excell,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  John  Peate;  Richmond,  T.  B. 
Tait;  Williamsfield,  Valorus  Lake;  Jamestown,  W.  A.  Clark; 
Jefferson,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Morgan,  John  Wriggles  worth;  Windsor 
anu  Hartsgrove,  Alvin  Burgess;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  T.  P. 
Warner;  West  Farmington,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Southington  and  Nel- 
son, Thomas  Radcliff;  Niles,  J.  T.  Boyle;  Girard  and  Liberty, 
William  Hayes;  Green  and  Mecca,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Vienna,  J.  H. 
Vance;  Youngstown,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Hartford  and  Orangeville,  Jo- 
siah  Flower;  Gustavus,  L.  W.  Ely.  Erie  District,  J.  H.  Whallon, 
presiding  elder;  Erie,  First  Church,  D C.  Osborne;  Simpson 
Chapel,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Wesley ville,  N.  W.  Jones;  Green,  Samuel 
Wilkinson;  North  East,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Waterford,  Alexander 
Barris;  McKean,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Edinboro,  W.  M.  Bear;  Fair- 
view,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Girard,  Washington  Hollister;  Union,  O.  L. 
Mead;  Wattsburg  and  Mina,  L.  E.  Beardsley,  A.  L.  Kellogg; 
Kingsville,  W.  N.  Reno;  Conneaut,  John  Robinson;  Springfield, 
Stephen  Heard;  Albion,  S.  S.  Burton,  F.  H.  Beck;  Ashtabula, 
D.  M.  Stever.  Meadville  District,  J.  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder; 
Meadville,  W.  F.  Day;  Saegertown,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Townville, 
Milton  Smith;  Cochranton,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Sunville,  Peter 
Burroughs,  J.  B.  Orwig;  Franklin,  John  Bain;  Greenville,  A.  J. 
Merchant;  Salem,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Sheakley ville,  Frank  Brown; 
Evansburg,  J.  W.  Hill;  Conneautville,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Harmons- 
burg,  N.  C.  Brown;  Rockville,  Samuel  Hollen;  Espy  ville,  S.  S. 
Stuntz;  Linesville,  Hiram  Kinsley;  New  Lebanon,  Robert  Gray, 
R.  C.  Smith;  Delaware  Grove,  Isaac  Scofield;  Oil  City,  Jonathan 
Whitely;  President,  J.  W.  Weldon;  Professor,  Allegheny  College, 
James  Marvin;  Agent,  Allegheny  College,  L.  D.  Williams.  New 
Castle  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  New 
Castle,  James  Greer;  Mt.  Jackson  and  Shenango,  J.  G.  Thomp- 
son; New  Wilmington,  Samuel  Gregg;  Harrisville  and  Center- 
ville, R.  B.  Boyd;  Mercer,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Hendersonville,  John 
Abbott,  Jared  Howe;  North  Washington  and  Clinton  ville,  George 
Moore,  Stephen  Hubbard;  Poland,  N.  G.  Luke;  Middlesex,  Cyril 
Wilson;  Pine  Grove,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  Sharon  and  Brook- 
field, Albina  Hall;  Clarksville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Greenwood,  Ebenezer 
Bennett;  Great  Western,  Allen  Fouts;  Hubbard,  T.  G.  McCreary; 
Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  J.  M.  Greene.  Clarion  District, 
R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  Thomas  Graham; 
Brookville,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Curllsville,  J.  F.  Hill;  Rimersburg,  J. 
J.  Bentley;  Callensburg  and  Freedom,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Shippen- 
ville,  James  Shields;  Rockland,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Washington,  John 
McComb;  Tionesta,  R.  R.  Roberts;  Troy,  C.  W.  Bear;  Corsica, 
P.  W.  Scofield;  Punxsutawney,  A.  D.  Davis;  Perrysville,  Edwin 


4^o  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Hull;  Warsaw,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Luthersburg,  A.  N.  Coons;  Brock- 
way ville  David  Latshaw;  Putney  ville,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Para- 
dise, Abram  Bashline.  Jamestown  District,  G.  W.  Maltby,  pre- 
siding elder;  Jamestown,  Niram  Norton;  Ashville,  Jephtna 
Marsh;  Sugar  Grove  and  Pine  Grove,  David  Mizener,  Z.  W. 
Shadduck;  Frewsburg,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Randolph,  A.  S.  Dobbs, 
Kinzua,  B.  F.  Delo;  Sheffield,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Panama  J.  R.  Lyon; 
Columbus  and  Corry,  J.  W.  Wilson,  G.  W Staples;  Youngsville, 

C M.  Heard;  Warren,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Pleasantville,  John  Crum, 
Tidioute,  A.  H.  Domer;  Rice  ville,  Joseph  Allen,  G.  W.  Patterson, 
Titusville,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Ellery,  Warner  Bush;  Pleasant  Va‘ 
lev  A.  S.  Goodrich;  Petroleum  Centre,  Robert  Beatty,  Ridgway, 

R K.  Deem;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission,  S.  . 
Newman;  Chaplain  in  the  Army,  H.  H Moore.  Fredonm  Dis- 
trict I O.  Fisher,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  R.  W.  Crane,  Dun- 
££:  E H.  Yingling;  Mayville,  L W Day;  Portland  Joseph 
T pslie-  Delanti  G W.  Gray;  Sinclairville,  Rufus  Pratt,  Elling 
ton  1:  N Warner;  Leon,  C.  E.  Woodworth ; Cattaraugus^  R A. 
Sauier*  Perrysburg,  J.  R.  Shearer,  Villenovia,  W.  "W.  > 

RQ  N Stubbs*;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  D.  S Steadman,  E.  A. 

Ludwick;  Little  Valley,  E.  B.  Cummings ; S^v%.^ee^m^ 
Scott;  Westfield,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Quincy,  T.  D.  Blinn,  Sherman, 

J.  F.  Stocker;  Clymer,  John  Akers. 

Ammi  Bradford  Hyde. 

At  the  chapel  exercises  of  the  University  of  Denver 
on  Thursday  morning,  March  13,  1902,  the  professors 
and  students  held  a unique  celebration.  It  was  to  note 
the  seventy-sixth  birthday  of  Professor  Ammi  Brad- 
ford Hyde.  The  entire  student  body  came  forward  and 
covered  the  venerated  teacher  with  roses  and  carnations 
and  flowers  of  every  variety.  In  connection  with  the  ex- 
ercises Chancellor  Buchtel  read  the  following  sketch  of 
Professor  Hyde  s remarkable  caieei  . 

“Ammi  Bradford  Hyde  was  born  March  13,  1826. 
He  began  to  teach  in  1837 — the  year  Victoria  was 
crowned  Queen  of  England.  In  that  year  he  and  his 
brother  and  his  sister  were  students  at  the  Oxford  Acad- 
emy at  Oxford,  N.  Y.  Here  he  taught  three  classes  in 
Latin,  when  only  eleven  years  old,  and  in  this  way  pai 
the  tuition  of  himself,  his  brother  and  his  sister.  In 
1846  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree = of  Bachelor  of 
Arts  at  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown  Conn. 
Considering  the  number  of  its  graduates  it  may  be  said 
that  no  college  in  the  world  has  had  so  wide  an  influence 
for  good  among  men.  In  the  fall  of  1846  the  young 
graduate  entered  upon  his  duties  as  professor  of  lan- 
guages at  Cazenovia  Seminary,  Cazenovia,  N . 1 ■ We 
Slight  Latin,  Greek,  German  and  French  at  Cazenovi 


Amtni  Bradford  Hyde.  451 

Seminary  for  sixteen  years — until  1862.  Among  Pro- 
fessor Hyde’s  students  at  Cazenovia  were  John  P.  New- 
man, afterwards  known  as  Bishop  Newman ; Philip  D. 
Armour,  founder  of  the  Armour  Institute,  Chicago;  Le- 
land  Stanford,  founder  of  the  Leland  Stanford  Univer- 
sity; Franklin  H.  Head,  of  Chicago;  Charles  S.  Fair- 
child,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  President  Cleve- 
land, and  Charles  Dudley  Warner. 

“In  1862  Professor  Hyde  took  a pastorate  for  two 
years  at  Rushville,  N.  Y.  In  1864  he  was  called  to  the 
professorship  of  Greek  in  Allegheny  College  at  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.  He  taught  Greek  there  for  sixteen  years,  at 
the  same  time  teaching  French  and  German  privately. 
And  for  four  years  he  was  professor  of  English  liter- 
ature. 

“In  1884  Professor  Hyde  accepted  the  invitation  of 
the  trustees  of  the  University  of  Denver  to  become  pro- 
fessor of  languages.  He  is  now  known  as  the  professor 
of  Greek.  But  at  the  beginning  he  taught  everything. 
W ithin  these  eighteen  years  here  he  has  taught  Greek, 
Latin,  German,  French,  Spanish  and  Italian,  with  some 
incidental  teaching  of  English.  His  literary  fertility  dur- 
ing all  these  years  has  been  remarkable.  His  first  ar- 
ticle appeared  in  the  Methodist  Review,  then  the  Metho- 
dist Quarterly  Review,  in  1848.  on  'Dante  and  His  Im- 
mortal Poem.’  Professor  Hyde  was  then  twenty-two 
years  old.  Continuously  from  1848  to  1902  he  has  con- 
tributed articles  to  that  great  magazine. 

“In  1870  Professor  Hyde  began  to  write  the  weekly 
exposition  of  the  International  Sunday  School  Lessons 
for  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate.  From  that  time 
until  now  he  has  written  an  article  every  week  for  that 
paper.  So  for  more  than  sixteen  hundred  and  fifty  weeks, 
without  a single  break,  his  contribution  has  appeared  in 
the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate. 

“During  Professor  Hyde's  entire  life  he  has  not  been 
hindered  from  the  discharge  of  his  proper  duties  by  any 
physical  disability  of  any  sort  for  half  a day  in  a year. 
This  phenomenal  vigor  is  accounted  for  primarily  by  his 
personal  attention  to  the  laws  of  physical  and  mental 
health,  and  secondarily  by  the  line  of  sound-hearted  and 
sound-bodied  people  from  whom  he  comes.  Elder  W il- 
liam  Brewster  came  over  in  the  ‘Mavflower his  son. 


452 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Truelove  Brewster,  came  also  in  the  ‘Mayflower;’  his 
son,  William  Brewster,  is  in  the  third  generation;  his  son, 
William  Brewster,  is  in  the  fourth  generation;  his  son, 
Ichabod  Brewster,  is  in  the  fifth  generation;  his  daughter, 
Hopestill  Brewster,  is  in  the  sixth  generation ; her  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Osborne  Hinckley,  is  in  the  seventh  generation, 
and  her  son,  Ammi  Bradford  Hyde,  is  in  the  eighth  gen- 
eration. In  undiminished  vigor,  and  in  a reverent  love 
of  professors  and  students  and  citizens  which  is  beautiful 
to  behold.  Professor  Hyde  continues  to  discharge  his 
duties  as  professor  of  Greek,  and  as  guide,  philosopher 
and  friend  to  many  friends.’' — ( Central  Christian  Advocate , 
August  26,  1903.) 

In  answer  to  a request  made  to  Dr.  Hyde  for  his  per- 
sonal biography,  he  sends  this  model  of  modesty : 

“University  Park,  Col., 

“Saturday,  June  30,  1906. 

“Rev.  & Dear  Brother — My  failure  to  write  was  due  to 
my  thinking  that  I had  nothing  worth  writing.  I venture 
to  give  some  statistics : 

“Ammi  Bradford  Hyde— Born,  Oxford,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  March  13,  1825. 

“Converted  at  eleven  years  under  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  George  Harmon. 

“Educated— Prepared  at  Oxford  Academy,  graduated 
at  the  Wesleyan  University,  1846. 

“Conference — 1848-62,  Oneida;  1862-64,  East  Gen- 
esee; 1864-84,  Erie;  i884-’o6,  Colorado. 

“Pastor — i862-’64,  Rushville,  N.  Y. ; i890-’98,  Uni- 
versity Park,  Col. 

“Teaching — Began  at  eleven,  ended  at  eighty-one. 

“Now — Librarian,  University  of  Denver.  (D.D.,  Syra- 
cuse University,  1868.) 

“Beyond  these  I can  think  of  nothing  in  my  life  worth 
printing.”* 


*A  B Hyde — Licensed  to  preach,  1847;  admitted  on  trial, 
Oneida  Conference,  1848;  full  connection,  1851;  deacon  1851, 
Janes;  elder,  1854,  Janes;  transferred  to  East  Genesee  Confer- 
ence 1862;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1864;  transferred  to 
Colorado  Conference.  1885.  Appointments-1848-’61  Professor. 
Oneida  Conference  Seminary;  1862-’63,  Rushville,  N.  Y.,  1864- 
’83,  Professor,  Allegheny  College;  1884-1907,  Professor,  Univer- 
sity of  Denver. 


Platt  Wheeler  Scoheld. 


453 


Platt  Wheeler  Scofield. 

On  the  writing  desk  of  Platt  Wheeler  Scofield  was 
found  his  last  sermon,  written  but  never  delivered.  It 
closed  with  an  apostrophe  to  the  prophet  Daniel : “Fare 
thee  well,  grand  prophet!  Thou  deservedst  to  see  our 
day ; and  I saw  it  and  was  glad.  Rest  in  thy  resting  place. 
God  help  us  so  to  live  that  we  stand  in  our  lot,  we  may 
be  accounted  by  thee  as  a brother.  Farewell!  God  help 
us.”  These. words  we  shout  forth  to  our  departed  brother. 
Platt  W.  Scofield  was  born  in  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y., 
December  29,  1830.  When  five  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  Blockville,  Chautauqua  county.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  having  the  advantage  of 
higher  schools  but  for  a brief  time.  The  old  school  li- 
brary was  a great  blessing.  It  contained  for  his  delight 
treasures  in  history,  biography  and  travel.  He  read  every 
volume  and  re-read  many.  His  evenings  were  spent  in 
reading  and  study.  In  this  manner  he  supplemented  his 
common  school  education  with  extensive  reading.  Books 
were  his  treasures,  and  he  was  ready  to  spend  all  his 
money  for  their  purchase.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Wal- 
radt  in  1853  J was  converted  at  camp  meeting  near  his  own 
home  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age ; licensed  to 
preach  in  i860;  he  labored  as  a supply  during  the  con- 
ference year  i863-’64;  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence on  trial  in  1864,  and  raised  to  the  more  abundant  life 
at  Forestville,  June  19,  1889.  One  of  his  younger  breth- 
ren says  of  him:  “He  was  a true  friend  in  the  fullest 

meaning  of  the  term.  He  never  flattered,  and  words  of 
commendation  falling  from  his  lips  were  like  diamonds. 
When  he  criticised,  it  was  always  with  the  acuteness  of  a 
master’s  insight,  but  given  as  a father’s  counsel,  with  a 
brother’s  love.  His  friendship  was  of  the  kind  that  en- 
dures.” His  ministrations  were  wise  and  tender.  He 
was  a hard  student,  seeking  knowledge  that  he  might  help 
others.  He  was  an  honest  preacher,  loyal  to  the  church, 
to  the  truth,  to  his  own  conscience,  and  to  his  God.* 

*P.  W.  Scofield — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1864;  full  connection,  1866;  deacon,  1864,  Morris;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley;  deceased,  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  June  19,  1889.  Appoint- 
ments— 1864-’65,  Corsica;  1866-’67,  Brockway ville;  1868-’69,  Rim- 
ersburg;  1870-’71,  Petroleum  Centre;  1872-’74,  Ellington;  1875-'77, 
Pleasantville;  1878-’79,  Petrolia  and  Martinsburg;  1880-’82,  St. 
Petersburg;  1883-’85,  Brookville;  1886-’88,  Forestville. 


454 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


David  Latshaw,  Almon  A.  Horton. 


David  Latshaw  was  born  in  West  Freedom,  Clarion 
county,  Pa.,  November  5,  1835,  and  died  in  Clarion,  Pa., 
January  26,  1892.  He  was  converted  in  his  native  place 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  1859  he  removed  to  Clarion 
and  engaged  in  teaching.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Clarion  Quarterly  Conference  in  1861.  From  June 
25,  1863,  to  January  21,  1864,  he  served  in  the  army, 
holding  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  Upon  his  return 
he  was  employed  in  teaching  in  Shippenville,  and  began 
his  itinerant  ministry  as  a supply  on  the  Shippenville  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  as  a pro- 
bationer in  1864.  He  was  effective  twenty-eight  years, 
and  ten  years  presiding  elder  on  the  New  Castle  and 
Clarion  Districts.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1880,  and  a reserve  delegate  in  1888.  In  1890 
Grove  City  College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  for  several  years  superinten- 
dent of  instruction  of  Clarion  Assembly.  He  was  a good 
preacher,  systematic,  sympathetic,  eloquent.  Many  souls 
were  converted  under  his  ministry.  He  was  interested  in 
all  benevolent  and  reformatory  movements,  and  contrib- 
uted liberally  to  every  worthy  cause.  He  labored  earn- 
estly and  intelligently  for  the  prohibition  of  the  liquor 
traffic.  He  was  enthusiastic,  intensely  energetic,  an  ex- 
cellent organizer,  and  well  fitted  for  leadership.  He  was 
a warm  and  unchanging  friend. 

Clarion  was  his  last  charge  and  he  had  taken  hold  of 
the  work  with  a vigorous  hand  \ and  had  already  made 
for  himself  a large  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  when 
God  called  him  home.  In  sweet  submission  to  God’s  will, 
he  sent  loving  messages  to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
and  went  into  death  triumphantly.  He  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Greenwood  cemetery,  Elmira,  N.  Y.* 

Almon  A.  Horton  relates  many  incidents  connected 
with  his  early  religious  experience.  A few  passages  may 


*David  Latshaw — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial, 
1864;  full  connection,  1866;  deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley;  deceased,  Clarion,  Pa.,  January  26,  1892.  Appoint- 
ments—1863,  Shippenville  (supply);  1864-’65,  Brockwayville; 
1866-’68,  Punxsutawney;  . 1869-’71,  Brookville;  1872-  73,  East 
Cleveland;  1874-’75,  Sharon;  1876-’79,  New  Castle  District;  1880, 
Sharon;  1881-’83,  Franklin;  1884-’89,  Clarion  District;  1890, 
Greenville;  1891,  Clarion. 


David  Latshaw,  Almon  A.  Horton.  455 

be  quoted:  “I  was,”  says  he,  “thoroughly  trained  in  Cal- 
vinistic  Baptist  views.  Converted  when  eight  years  old, 
I was  driven  away  by  the  old  church  members,  one  of 
whom  saying  as  I was  rising  to  speak  in  meeting:  ‘Sit 

down,  boy,  you  don't  know  anything  about  it.’  At 
seventeen  years  of  age  I was  awakened  by  my  mother’s 
prayers,  when  for  a year  I had  denied  God  and  religion, 
my  whole  nature  rejecting  such  a God  as  Calvinism  pre- 
sented. My  mother’s  prayers  and  the  consistent  life  of  a 
young  companion  convinced  me  of  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity. For  six  months  I groped  in  darkness  and  de- 
spair, sure  that  I had  committed  the  unpardonable  sin. 
I attended  church  and  listened  to  some  truth  and  much 
about  decrees.  In  September,  sitting  on  a rock  in  a deep 
gorge,  I decided  to  be  a Christian — arguing  that  if 
among  the  elect  it  must  be  that  way,  and  if  damned  it 
could  do  no  harm.  Then  God  breathed  into  my  heart 
words  of  comfort.  I became  a probationer  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  though  every  effort  was  made  to 
induce  me  to  join  with  the  Baptists.  In  due  time  I was 
received  into  full  membership,  received  license  to  exhort, 
and  appointed  leader  of  the  young  people. 

. “I  worked  on  a farm  in  the  summer  and  taught  school 
in  the  winter — studying  evenings,  and  giving  myself  but 
four  hours  rest  each  night.  The  church  renewed  my  ex- 
horter’s  license  annually,  but  I would  not  yield  to  the 
call  to  preach  the  gospel.  In  1855  I was  licensed  to 
preach,  my  license  bearing  the  signature  of  J.  H. 
Whallon.  One  day  he  said  to  me,  T want  you.'  I re- 
plied, ‘Wait  till  September  15th,  and  I will  decide.’  He 
said,  ‘Go  to  Kinzua  as  supply.’  I went.  E.  A.  Ander- 
son was  the  preacher  in  charge.  He  was  not  right,  and 
I became  discouraged.  Nearly  insane,  I resolved  to  com- 
mit suicide,  and  climbed  the  rocks  for  that  purpose,  but 
tripped  on  a root  and  my  life  was  saved.  I went  to  my 
evening  appointment  and  found  the  church  praying  for 
me.  I had  prayed  that  if  God  had  a work  for  me  He 
would  show  me  that  night ; and  he  did.  A large  congre- 
gation gathered — the  congregation  had  been  usually 
small — and  one  soul  was  converted.  In  1857  I married 
Miss  V.  C.  Harris,  and  shortly  afterward  resolved  to 
become  an  itinerant,  if  the  way  opened.  In  September 
I went  to  Wisconsin  and  was  employed  on  the  Heins- 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


456 


terford  Circuit,  which  had  three  appointments  and  six 
members.  I reached  the  place  after  pawning  my  watch, 
but  was  eight  dollars  in  debt.  Thirty-five  souls  were 
converted.  I was  now  received  as  a probationer  in  the 
conference.” — (Communication  to  the  Author.)  Brother 
Horton  was  born  in  Boston,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  17, 
18^  He  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 

1864.* 


A.  S.  Goodrich,  W.  A.  Maltby. 

Archibald  Stewart  Goodrich  was  born  September  24, 
1832.  and  died  in  Corry,  Pa.,  August  22,  1893.  His 
early  life  was  spent  near  Meadville,  and  he  was  con- 
verted at  the  old  State  Road  Church  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen. He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Juline  Chase  in 
1856.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  i860,  and  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1864.  On  account 
of  his  aged  mother  he  was  unable  to  serve  his  first  charge. 
The  last  year  of  his  ministry  he  was  appointed  to  the 
temperance  evangelistic  work  in  the  conference. 

“Brother  Goodrich  was  a most  systematic  and  careful 
man  in  all  that  he  did.  The  temporal  interests  as  well  as 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  charges  he  served  were  all 
carefully  attended  to.  The  church  property  was  always 
left  in  better  condition  than  he  found  it.  Brother  Good- 
rich had  his  peculiarities  which  were  not  always  well  un- 
derstood by  his  brethren,  nor  correctly  interpreted  by 
the  churches,  but  he  had  a good  heart  and  strong  love 
for  the  church.  His  last  days  were  full  of  peace.  He 
was  honored  in  his  death. ”j 

*A.  A.  Horton — Licensed  to  preach,  1855;  admitted  on  trial, 
Wisconsin  Conference,  1858;  full  connection,  “General  Minutes” 
say  1859;  deacon,  1860,  Scott;  elder,  1862,  Janes;  transferred  to 
Erie  Conference,  1864.  Appointments — 1858,  Cambridge,  Wis.; 
1859-’60,  Princeton,  Wis.;  1861,  Lamartine,  Wis.;  1862,  Chilton, 
Wis.;  1863,  superannuated;  1865,  Cattaraugus;  1866-’67,  Perrys- 
burg;  1868,  Kinzua;  1869-71,  Sugar  Grove;  1872-73,  Columbus 
and  North  Corry;  1874-76,  Ashville  and  Busti;  1877-79,  East 
Randolph;  1880-’82,  Ellington;  1883-’85,  Sheffield;  1886-’90,  Wat- 
erford; 1891-’93,  Girard;  1894-’96,  Erie,  Wayne  Street;  1897-’98 
Wattsburg;  1899-1907,  Jamestown,  Second  Church,  name  changed 
to  Brooklyn  Heights  in  1901. 

tA.  S.  Goodrich — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1864*  full  connection,  1866;  deacon,  1864,  Morris;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley;  deceased,  Corry,  Pa.,  August  22,  1893.  Appointments 
—1864,  Pleasant  Valley;  1865-’67,  Sheffield;  1868-’69,  Columbus; 
1870-71,  New  Lebanon;  1872-73,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1874-76,  East 


A.  S.  Goodrich , W.  A.  Maltby. 


45  7 


William  Austin  Maltby  was  a young  man  of  much 
promise.  He  consecrated  all  his  powers  to  Christ  and 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  His  heart  glowed  with  an  in- 
tense desire  to  save  souls.  For  this  he  studied,  fasted, 
wept,  and  prayed.  “An  independent  thinker,  ready  in 
utterance,  emotional,  strong  in  faith,  a heart  all  aglow 
with  holy  fervor,  his  efforts  have  been  represented  by 
those  who  have  heard  him,  as  frequently  most  brilliant 
and  powerful.”  His  sickness  was  brief.  Two  days  con- 
fined to  his  bed  with  excruciating  suffering,  he  ceased 
at  once  to  work  and  live.  The  death  scene  was  glorious. 
Filled  with  inexpressible  joy  his  countenance  shone  with 
celestial  light,  and  in  the  rapture  of  a full  heart  he 
shouted  the  praises  of  God.  He  was  born  in  Ashtabula, 
O.,  November  3,  1838,  and  died  in  Albion,  Erie  Co., 
Pa.,  September  20,  1866.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1862,  and  moved  to  Minnesota,  and  was  there  employed 
on  the  Newport  Circuit.  In  the  autumn  he  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Minnesota  Conference.  He  was 
transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1864.  At  an  early 
hour  his  Master  calls  him  from  his  beloved  work — he 
may  have  been  needed  in  the  heavenly  world.* 

“The  Lord  has  visited  West  Farmington  appointment, 
C.  R.  Pattee,  pastor,  with  a gracious  revival.  About 
seventy  persons,  a number  of  them  heads  of  families, 
have  been  engaged  in  seeking  religion.  Forty-three  have 
been  received  on  probation  up  to  March  6.  About 
twenty-five  of  the  converts  were  students  of  the  Western 
Reserve  Seminary.” 

George  B.  Eberman,  of  Sunville,  writes : “The  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  at  Wallaceville  was  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  God  on  February  21.  Dr.  Loomis  not  be- 
ing able  to  come.  Rev.  A.  S.  Dobbs,  of  Titusville,  was 
invited  and  officiated  on  the  occasion,  preaching  a very 
appropriate  and  stirring  discourse.  . . . We  con- 

Randolph;  1877,  Salamanca;  1878,  Corry;  1879-’81,  Youngsville; 
1882-’84,  Ridgway;  1885,  Sheridan;  1886,  Ellery;  1887,  Garland 
and  Grand  Valley;  1888-’89,  Clarendon;  1890-’91,  Elgin  and  North 
Corry;  1892,  Agent,  Conference  Temperance  Society 

*W.  A.  Maltby— Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
Minnesota  Conference,  1862;  full  connection,  1864;  deacon,  1864, 
Kingsley;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1864;  elder,  1866, 
Clark;  deceased,  Albion,  Pa.,  September  20,  1866.  Appointments 
— 1862,  Newport,  Minn.;  1863,  Shakopee,  Minn.;  1864,  Pleasant 
Valley;  1865,  Frewsburg;  1866,  Albion. 


458  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

tinned  to  hold  meetings  several  evenings,  and  eight  or 
nine  were  hopefully  converted  to  God.” — (Pittsburg 
C hristian  Advocate , March  19,  1864.) 

“The  Lord  is  still  favoring  His  people  with  showers 
of  divine  grace  on  Punxsutawney  charge,  A.  D.  Davis, 
pastor.  A recent  meeting  at  the  Finley  Mills  appoint- 
ment resulted  in  seventeen  conversions  and  accessions 
to  the  Church.  Since  conference  eighty  have  been  received 
on  probation,  and  more  than  one  hundred  conversions. 
Some  have  professed  the  blessing  of  sanctification  and 
others  are  seeking  it.” 

Paradise  Circuit  was  organized  by  R.  A.  Caruthers, 
presiding  elder  of  Clarion  District,  in  February,  1864, 
and  A.  N.  Craft  appointed  to  the  new  charge.— (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  April  2,  1864.) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Kane. 

As  early  as  the  year  1864  George  F.  Reeser,  a pioneer 
Methodist  minister,  came  to  Kane,  Pa.,  from  Sheffield 
to  proclaim  the  glad  message  of  salvation.  A little 
group  of  men  and  women,  chiefly  railroad  employes, 
gathered  for  this  first  service  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Marsh. 
From  that  time  the  preaching  of  the  Word  was  contin- 
ued at  intervals  in  the  log  school  house  and  afterwards 
in  the  more  dignified  school  building  which  has  since 
been  transformed  into  the  Swedish  Mission  Church.  A 
Mr.  Doddington  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  resident 
member  of  Methodism.  Among  those  who  ministered 
to  the  people  in  that  early  period  were  A.  S.  Goodrich, 
J.  K.  Hallock,  Alva  Wilder  and  Major  Colegrove.  In 
1871,  during  the  pastorate  of  L.  F.  Merritt  and  M.  V. 
Stone,  a number  of  souls  were  led  to  accept  Christ  as 
their  Savior  and  a church  organization  composed  of 
twenty-four  members  was  effected. 

The  history  of  McKean  county  gives  the  names  of 
these  original  members : Neil  McEwen,  Lydia  McEwen, 
Maggie  McEwen,  Katie  McEwen,  Mary  A.  Repine,  Jo- 
seph \\  egley,  Eva  \\  egley,  W llliam  Flubbard,  Char les 
Everson,  Elizabeth  Everson,  John  A.  Mell,  Hettie  Mell, 
Theodosia  Mell,  Robert  Campbell,  Sarah  Campbell, 
Elizabeth  S.  James,  Mary  A.  Blew,  Laura  Campbell, 
Lucetta  Lafferty,  Hannah  Davis,  Ebenezer  Edwards, 
Helen  Fisher,  Orpha  Campbell,  Almysee  Jane  Cum- 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Kane.  459 

mings. — ( History  of  McKean  County , 1890,  pp.  322- 
3*3) 

Plans  were  then  matured  for  the  building  of  a place 
of  worship  and  General  Thomas  L.  Kane,  generously 
donating  the  lot  on  Fraley  street,  which  we  now  occupy, 
the  work  began  the  following  year,  with  J.  P.  Hicks 
as  pastor.  A modest  edifice  was  completed  at  a cost  of 
$1,200.  Here  from  time  to  time,  under  the  ministry  of 
His  servants,  God’s  Spirit  was  manifested,  and  the  names 
of  S.  M.  Clark,  Miller  Fording,  L.  O.  Mead  and  others 
are  still  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  people. 
Not,  however,  until  the  year  i885-’86  did  a very  great 
awakening  take  place.  Then  J.  A.  Parsons,  assisted  by 
Evangelists  Moody  and  Hathaway,  conducted  a series  of 
meetings  which  resulted  in  scores  being  born  into  the 
Kingdom.  The  ministry  of  J.  Bell  Neff  was  signalled  by 
still  greater  accessions  to  the  church,  and  this,  together 
with  the  increasing  population,  made  it  necessary  to  en- 
large the  building  until  it  contained  a seating  capacity 
of  over  three  hundred  and  fifty.  Under  the  able  pas- 
torate of  H.  G.  Hall  substantial  progress  was  made  in 
every  department  of  church  work.  The  first  year  of  the 
pastorate  of  \V.  H.  Bunce  witnessed  a large  ingathering 
of  souls.  During  the  first  year  of  the  pastorate  of  D.  E. 
S.  Perry,  the  church  was  found  to  be  too  small  to  accom- 
modate the  increased  congregations  and  was  enlarged 
and  remodeled  at  a cost  of  $13,000.  This  amount  in- 
cludes a fine  pipe  organ  presented  by  the  Ladies’  Aid  So- 
ciety. The  seating  capacity  of  the  church  at  present  is 
six  hundred  and  nineteen.  The  greatest  awakening  our 
town  has  ever  known  was  witnessed  in  1901 -’02  under 
the  leadership  of  Staff  Captain  March,  of  the  Salva- 
tion Army,  assisted  by  Brother  Perry  and  others. 

This  church  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  morning  of 
April  8,  1905,  and  a magnificent  new  church,  costing 
$57>5°°,  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Charles  C.  McCabe. 
July  1,  1906.  It  is  English  gothic  in  design,  built  of 
Hummelstown  brown  stone,  with  opalescent  glass  win- 
dows. The  floor  is  of  polished  oak,  and  the  pews  of 
heavy  golden  oak.  The  church  affords  a seating  capacity 
for  655  people. 

In  1864  Wesleyville  Circuit  was  divided.  The  north- 
ern portion  retained  the  name  of  the  old  circuit,  and  the 


460  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


southern  was  called  ‘‘Green  Circuit.  In  1867  the  work 
was  again  united  under  the  name  of  “Wesleyville  and 
Green  Circuit.”  The  next  annual  conference  returned 
to  the  division  of  1864 — except  that  the  quarterly  meet- 
ings were  to  be  separately  held.  In  1871  John  Akers 
was  appointed  to  Green  charge,  and  a revival  spiiit  pre- 
vailed over  the  circuit.  At  Asbury  Chapel  fifty-two 
joined  the  church  on  probation,  twenty-nine  weie  bap- 
tized and  thirty-two  received  into  full  membership.  Llieie 
was  also  a good  work  at  Phillipsville.  Mr.  Akers  estab- 
lished preaching  at  Lowville,  and  March  2,  1 87 3-  01 " 
ganized  a class  consisting  of  ten  members  and  twenty-two 
probationers.  The  circuit  is  now — 1902— known  as 
Phillipsville,  and  is  composed  of  three  appointments — 
Phillipsville,  West  Green,  formerly  Asbury  Chapel,  and 
Wales. 

“A  great  many  years  ago  William  \\  eed  and  wife 
moved  into  this  section.  They  were  both  loyal  Metho- 
dists and  raised  a large  family  of  children,  all  of  whom 
were  faithful  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  One  son,  William, 
Tr..  is  still  living.  He  is  growing  old  in  years,  but  con- 
tinues to  be  one  of  the  most  faithful  members  of  the 
church,  holding  the  offices  of  class  leader  and  tiustee. 
The  senior  Mrs.  Weed  died  only  two  years  ago  at  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  years.  In  then  eaily  life 
Brother  and  Sister  \\  eed  were  so  loyal  that  more  than 
once  they  walked  to  quarterly  meeting  at  Wesleyville, 
fourteen  miles  distant,  carrying  a child  in  their  arms.’  — 
(E.  W.  Robinson,  Letter  to  the  Author,  dated  August  8, 

1902.) 

Erie  Conference  Session  in  1865. 

Erie  Conference  met  for  its  annual  session  at  James- 
town, N.  Y.,  July  12,  1865,  Bishop  Osmond  C.  Baker 
presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial:  \ irgil  C.  Halt. 
Ira  B.  Goodrich,  James  G.  Hawkins,  Levi  L.  Luce,  James 
M.  Groves,  Clinton  L.  Barnhart,  Simeon  L.  Dimmick, 
James  G.  Townsend.  Amos  N.  Craft,  Orrin  Babcock, 
Adoniram  J.  Bartlett,  Francis  A.  Archibald,  Cornelius  C. 
Hunt,  William  H.  Hover,  John  M.  Leonard,  and  John 
B.  Robinson. 


Erie  Conference  Session  in  1865.  461 

James  E.  Wilson,  J.  K.  Shaffer  and  Almon  A.  Hor- 
ton were  re-admitted. 

\Y.  D.  Archbold,  J.  W.  Weldon  and  S.  N.  Warner, 
located. 

Virgil  C.  Hart  became  a missionary  to  China. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  Lorenzo  D.  Rodgers.* 

Appointments  for  1865:  Cleveland  District,  William  F.  Wil- 

son, presiding  elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  E.  S.  Gillette; 
Erie  Street,  J.  S.  Lytle;  City  Mission,  Dillon  Prosser;  East  Cleve- 
land, A.  M.  Brown;  Mayfield,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Willoughby,  Thomas 
Guy;  Mentor,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Painesville,  J.  M.  Greene;  Madison 

*L.  L.  Luse — Licensed  to  preach  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church;  withdrew  from  Alle- 
gheny Conference,  said  Church,  and  admitted  on  trial,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1865,  his  orders  being  rec- 
ognized; full  connection,  1867;  transferred  to  Kansas  Confer- 
ence, 1873;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1874;  withdrew, 
1878;  has  since  devoted  his  time  largely  to  editing  newspapers 
in  western  Pennsylvania  and  Nebraska  in  the  interest  of  the 
Greenback  and  Populist  political  parties.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial,  Nebraska  Conference,  1882;  discontinued,  1883.  Appoint- 
ments— 1865,  Luthersburg;  1866,  Troy,  Pa.;  1867-’68,  Delaware 
Grove;  1869,  McKean;  1870,  Waterford;  1871,  Fairview,  Erie  Co.; 
1872,  Dunkirk;  1873,  Seneca,  Kas.;  1874,  supernumerary;  1875, 
Spring;  1876-’77,  Linesville;  1882,  Wilber  and  DeWitt,  Neb. 

J.  M.  Leonard — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  transferred  as  a mem- 
ber on  trial  to  the  Delaware  Conference,  1867;  full  connection, 
1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1867; 
located,  1888.  Appointments — 1865-’66,  principal,  Western  Re- 

serve Seminary;  1867-’87,  supernumerary.  The  greater  part  of 
the  time  since  1867  he  has  spent  in  educational  work  in  Cincin- 
nati, O. 

C.  C.  Hunt — Licensed  to  preach,  1863;  admitted  on  trial,  1865; 
full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869,  Ames. 
Appointments — 1865,  Tallmadge  and  Middlebury;  1866-’67,  Jack- 
son;  1868,  Kent;  1869,  Braceville;  1870-71,  Clarion,  1872-74, 
Curllsville;  1875-76,  Brockway  ville ; 1877-78,  supernumerary; 

1879-’80,  Curllsville;  1881-’82,  Troy;  1883,  Sunday  School  Agent; 
1884-’86,  Russell  and  North  Warren;  1887-’88,  Sheakley ville; 
1889-’90,  Superintendent  Sunday  School  Work,  the  last  half  of 
the  year  serving  DuBois  as  pastor;  1891-’93,  Russell  and  North 
Warren;  1894,  Kinzua;  1895-’97,  Sinclairville;  1898,  supernumer- 
ary, the  last  half  of  the  year  supplying  Sinclairville;  1899-1903, 
Clymer;  1904-’06,  superannuated. 

J.  G.  Hawkins — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869, 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  located,  1877;  has  since  been  a book  seller; 
present  residence,  North  Bloomfield,  O.  Appointments — 1865, 

Randolph;  1866,  Delaware  Grove;  1867,  Cooperstown;  1868-’69, 
agent,  American  Bible  Society;  1870-71,  Ellsworth  and  Berlin; 
1872-73,  Mantua;  1874,  Charleston;  1875-76,  supernumerary. 

J.  B.  Robinson — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  full  connection,  1867; 


30 


46  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


and  Perry,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Geneva,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Saybrook,  to 
be  supplied;  Chagrin  Falls,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Bainbridge,  Samuel 
Wilkinson;  Troy,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Thompson,  B.  J.  Kennedy; 
Grand  River,  Ezra  Wade;  Montville,  H.  D.  Cole;  Huntsburg  and 
Claridon,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Chardon,  J.  D.  Norton;  Kirtland  and 
Chester,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Mantua,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Agents,  Bible 
Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton,  Albert  Norton;  Agent,  National  Freed- 
men’s  Relief  Association,  A.  D.  Morton;  Agent,  Willoughby  Col- 
legiate Institute,  D.  M.  Stever;  Principal,  Willoughby  Collegiate 
Institute,  J.  B.  Robinson.  Ravenna  District,  Moses  Hill,  presid- 
ing elder;  Ravenna,  John  Tribby;  Akron,  D.  C.  Osborne;  T all- 
madge  and  Middlebury,  C.  N.  Grant,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Franklin,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Hudson,  G.  W. 
Chesbro;  Twinsburg,  G.  J.  Bliss;  Bedford,  Samuel  Gregg;  Solon, 
Frederick  Vernon;  Warrensville,  B.  C.  Warner;  Newburg,  R.  M. 
Warren;  Charlestown,  B.  F.  Wade;  Windham,  J.  G.  Townsend; 
Rootstown  and  Randolph,  to  be  supplied  by  W.  W.  Wythe, 
Braceville,  John  Graham;  Edinburg,  Michael  Williams;  Deer- 
field J B Grover;  Canfield  and  Ellsworth,  John  McLean;  Jack- 
son  ' A.  R.  Hammond.  Warren  District,  Benjamin  Excell,  pre- 
siding elder;  Warren,  John  Peate;  Richmond,  W.  H.  Hover; 
Kelloggsville;  Valorus  Lake;  Williamsfield,  W.  A.  Clark;  James- 
town, S.  S.  Burton;  Jefferson,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Morgan,  C.  R. 
Chapman;  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove,  Josiah  Flower;  Bloomfield 
and  Bristol,  T.  P.  Warner;  Farmington,  C.  R.  Pattee,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Southington  and  Nelson,  Alexander  Barns;  Niles,  1. 
B Tait-  Girard  and  Liberty,  William  Hayes;  Green  and  Mecca, 
Hiram  Kellogg;  Bazetta  and  Johnston,  J.  H.  Vance;  Vienna  and 
Fowler,  Ira  Eddy;  Youngstown.  J.  E.  Wilson;  Hartford  and 
Orangeville  A.  N.  Craft;  Gustavus,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Agent,  West- 
ern Reserve  Seminary,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Principal,  Western  Reserve 
Seminary,  J.  M.  Leonard.  Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  presid- 
io- elder;  Erie,  First  Church,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Simpson  Chapel, 
J.  H.  Tagg;  Wesleyville,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Green,  J.  K.  Mendenhall, 


deacon,  unable  to  learn;  elder,  1868,  Kingsley;  transferred  to 
North  Indiana  Conference,  1869;  transferred  to  New  Hampshire 
Conference  1872;  transferred  to  Central  Illinois  Conference, 
1878;  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference,  1884  . Appointments 
— 1865-’68  principal,  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute;  1869-  71, 
president,’  Fort  Wayne  College;  1872-’77,  president  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference  Seminary  and  Female  College;  1878-  83,  presi- 
dent Grand  Prairie  Seminary;  1884-’87,  president,  Jennings  Sem- 
inarv ; 1887-’88,  Sterling,  111.,  Fourth  Street;  1889-'91,  Lemont, 
Til  • 1892-’96  Lena  111.;  1897-’98,  Rockford,  111.,  Grace  Church; 
?899, ^Barrington  i’ll.;  1900,  Hebron,  111.;  1901-’02,  Libertyville, 
111. 


S.  L.  Dimmick — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  discontinued,  1866. 
Appointment — 1865,  Lockport. 

A.  J.  Bartlett — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Baker; 
iiscontinued,  1867.  Appointment— 1865-’66,  Perrysville. 

Orrin  Babcock — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
L865'  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869, 
Arne’s;  located,  1886.  Appointments- -1 865-’ 66  New  Lebanon; 

1867-’68  Sunville;  1869,  Linesville;  1870-  72,  Waterloo,  1873-  75, 
Cooperstown;  1876-’77,  Meadville  State  Street;  1878-;79,  Pana- 
ma; 1880-’82,  Salamanca;  1883,  Cherry  Creek;  1884-  85,  super- 
numerary. 


Erie  Conference  Session  in  1865.  463 

North  East,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Waterford,  F.  H.  Beck;  Millville, 
C.  L.  Barnhart;  McKean,  N.  W.  Jones;  Edinboro,  S.  W.  Lloyd; 
Fairview,  Albina  Hall;  Girard,  Washington  Hollister;  Union,  CL 
L.  Mead;  Wattsburg  and  Mina,  W.  M.  Bear,  Joseph  Allen;  Kings- 
ville,  W.  N.  Reno;  Conneaut,  John  Robinson;  Springfield,  Stephen 
Heard;  Albion,  Alvin  Burgess;  Lockport,  S.  L.  Dimmick;  Ashta- 
bula, I.  O.  Fisher.  Meadville  District,  J.  W.  Lowe,  presiding  el- 
der; Meadville,  W.  F.  Day;  Saegertown,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Town- 
ville,  Milton  Smith;  Cochranton,  Peter  Burroughs;  Sunville,  to 
be  supplied;  Franklin,  John  Bain;  Greenville,  W.  P.  Bignell; 
Salem,  G.  H.  Brown;  Sheakleyville,  Frank  Brown;  Evansburg, 
James  Shields;  Conneautville,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Harmonsburg, 
Samuel  Hollen;  Rockville,  J.  W.  Hill;  Espy  ville,  S.  S.  Stuntz; 
Linesville,  R.  C.  Smith;  New  Lebanon,  Robert  Gray,  Orrin  Bab- 
cock; Delaware  Grove,  Isaac  Scofield;  Oil  City,  Jonathan  White- 
ly;  Rouseville,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Professor  in  Allegheny  College, 
James  Marvin;  Agent,  Allegheny  College,  L.  D.  Williams.  New 
Castle  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  New 
Castle,  James  Greer;  Mt.  Jackson  and  Shenango,  J.  G.  Thomp- 
son; New  Wilmington,  L.  W.  Ely;  Eastbrook  and  Harlansburg, 
to  be  supplied;  Harrisville  and  Centerville,  Thomas  Graham; 
Mercer,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Hendersonville,  Cyril  Wilson;  Water- 
loo, R.  M.  Bear;  North  Washington,  A.  H.  Domer,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Clintonville,  to  be  supplied;  Poland,  N.  G.  Luke;  Mid- 
dlesex, J.  W.  Stogdill;  Pine  Grove,  Robert  Beatty;  Sharon  and 
Brookfield,  John  O’Neal;  Clarksville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Greenwood, 
Ebenezer  Bennett;  Brady’s  Bend,  George  Moore;  Hubbard  and 
Coitsville,  John  Abbott.  Clarion  District,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  pre- 
siding elder;  Clarion,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Brookville,  J.  C.  Scofield; 
Curllsville,  J.  F.  Hill;  Rimersburg,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Callensburg  and 
Freedom,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Shippen ville,  Samuel  Coon;  Rockland, 
A.  H.  Bowers;  Washington,  John  McComb,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Tionesta,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Troy,  C.  W.  Bear;  Corisca,  P.  W.  Sco- 
field; Punxsutawney,  A.  D.  Davis;  Perrysville,  A.  J.  Bartlett; 
Warsaw,  Abram  Bashline;  Luthersburg,  L.  L.  Luce;  Brock way- 
ville,  David  Latshaw;  Putney  ville,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Paradise, 
J.  M.  Groves;  President,  N.  C.  Brown;  Agent,  Pennsylvania 
Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull.  Jamestown  District,  George  WT.  Malt- 
by,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  Niram  Norton;  Ashville,  A.  J. 
Lindsey;  Sugar  Grove,  J.  F.  Stocker;  Pine  Grove,  Z.  W.  Shad- 
duck;  Frewsburg,  W.  A.  Maltby;  Kinzua,  B.  F.  Delo;  Sheffield, 
A.  S.  Goodrich;  Panama,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Columbus  and  Corry,  J. 
W.  Wilson,  G.  W.  Staples;  Youngsville,  C.  M.  Heard;  WTarren, 
P.  P.  Pinney;  Pleasantville,  to  be  supplied;  Tidioute.  Darius 
Smith;  Plumer  and  Pithole,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Petroleum  Centre, 
E.  A.  Squier;  Riceville,  John  Crum,  one  to  be  supplied;  Titus- 
ville, Thomas  Stubbs;  Garland,  Major  Colegrove;  Ellery,  War- 
ner Bush;  Ridgway,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Jamestown  and  Sugar 
Grove  Swedish  Mission,  S.  B.  Newman;  Chaplain  in  the  Army, 
H.  H.  Moore.  Fredonia  District,  James  E.  Chapin,  presiding 
elder;  Fredonia,  E.  H.  Tingling;  Dunkirk,  E.  A.  Ludwick;  May- 
ville,  L.  W.  Day;  Portland,  G.  W.  Gray;  Delanti,  David  Mizener; 
Sinclairville,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Ellington,  Joseph  Leslie;  Leon,  C. 
E.  Woodworth;  Cattaraugus,  A.  A.  Horton;  Perrysburg,  J.  R. 
Shearer;  Villenovia,  W.  W.  Warner,  G.  W\  Patterson;  Forestville 
and  Sheridan,  R.  WT.  Crane;  Little  Valley,  E.  B.  Cummings; 
Silver  Creek,  R.  W.  Scott;  W7estfield,  G.  W7.  Clarke;  Quincy, 
L.  E.  Beardsley;  Sherman,  Jephtha  Marsh;  Clvmer.  R.  N.  Stubbs; 
East  Randolph,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Randolph,  J.  G.  Hawkins. 


464 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Reports  of  Districts. 

In  1865  the  reports  of  the  presiding  elders  are,  for 
the  first  time,  inserted  in  the  minutes,  and  henceforth 
we  have  reliable  historic  matter.  It  will  be  piofitable  to 
present  these  first  reports  in  full. 

Cleveland  District  embraces  all  of  Lake,  Geauga,  a 
large  portion  of  Cuyahoga  and  fractions  of  Ashtabula 
and  Portage  counties.  It  stretches  along  the  beautiful 
and  fertile  lake  valley  from  Cleveland  to  Saybi  00k,  and 
extends  southward  over  the  highlands  from  ten  to  twenty- 
five  miles. 

Cleveland,  the  most  important  city  in  the  district  and 
conference,  is  in  the  extreme  northwest  cornel , and 
teems  with  a population  of  60,000.  A place  of  chaiming 
residences,  nestling  amid  a forest  of  tiees,  a thing  of 
beauty  and  joy  forever.”  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
has  three  English  (and  one  German)  stations  within 
our  bounds.  1 he  North  Ohio  Confeience  embiaces 
Cleveland  west  side,  having  two  English  and  one  Ger- 
man station.  The  societies  are  slowly  but  permanently 
developing  in  strength  and  influence,  and  a prosperous 
and  glorious  future  is  anticipated.  Painesville,  the  seat 
of  our  next  session,  is  country-wide  famed  as  a perfect 
gem  of  a town,  filled  within  enterprising  and  hospitable 
people,  as  the  preachers  will  learn  at  our  annual  gather- 
ing. . . 

Willoughby,  less  in  size,  but  equally  pleasant  in  loca- 
tion, is  the  seat  of  the  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute. 
This  young  and  promising  institution  is  rapidly  rising- 
in  public  esteem,  and  taking  rank  among  the  fir  st  and 
most  promising  seminaries  of  the  land.  The  college 
building  is  of  great  architectural  beauty,  stands  on  a com- 
manding eminence  overlooking  the  Lake  Shore  railroad, 
and  beyond  it  in  the  distance,  “the  blue  expanse  of  old 

Erie. 

Chardon,  “a  city  set  on  a hill;”  Chagrin  Falls,  “low 
down  in  a beautiful  valley;”  Geneva,  “white  as  the  tents 
of  Israel,”  are  all  delightful  “villas”  of  charming  resi- 
dences. In  all  these  places  our  societies  are  in  a healthy 

and  prosperous  condition. 

The  Western  Reserve  was  originally  (after  the  In- 
dians) inhabited  by  emigrants  from  New  England,  bring- 


Reports  of  Districts. 


465 


ing  with  them  the  doctrines  of  a limited  atonement,  and 
making  themselves  strong  by  establishing  churches, 
schools  and  missions.  The  mental  and  moral  soil  thus 
preoccupied,  it  is  a wonder,  a miracle  of  grace,  that 
Methodism  has  spread  so  widely  and  established  itself 
so  firmly  among  the  people.  It  is  now  the  most  numer- 
ous, and  ought  to  be  (perhaps  is)  the  most  influential 
body  of  Christians  within  the  bounds  of  the  district. 

We  have  nine  stations  and  twelve  circuits,  composing 
the  largest  district  in  the  conference.  These  several 
fields  send  up  annually  increasing  contributions  in  sup- 
port of  the  missionary,  Bible,  and  other  benevolent 
causes,  although  we  lie  quite  outside  the  “charmed  circle” 
of  “oildom.”  Sixteen  out  of  the  twenty-one  fields  have 
parsonages,  and  others  will  be  added  this  year. 

There  are  forty-one  churches,  mostly  in  a state  of 
good  repair,  some  of  which  have  been  enlarged,  im- 
proved and  beautified  last  year.  In  Madison  village,  a 
place  where  we  have  had  no  society  till  within  a year,  a 
fine  church  is  in  the  course  of  erection,  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  efficient  pastor. 

Some  things  among  us  are  to  be  regretted,  but,  all  in 
all,  we  have  reason  to  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

New  Castle  District  extends  from  the  Allegheny  river 
along  the  south  line  of  the  conference  about  sixty  miles, 
reaching  into  the  State  of  Ohio  just  far  enough  to  em- 
brace one  tier  of  townships.  In  breadth  the  district  is 
about  thirty  miles,  having  Ravenna  District  on  the  west, 
Meadville  on  the  north,  and  Clarion  on  the  east.  The 
territory  embraced  constitutes  part  of  Lawrence,  Mercer, 
Venango  and  Armstrong  counties,  including  the  county 
seats  of  Lawrence  and  Mercer.  Within  its  limits  also 
are  Poland,  Middlesex,  Sharon,  Hubbard  and  Clarksville 
on  the  west  ; New  Wilmington,  Pine  Grove,  Harrisville 
and  Centerville  in  the  middle ; and  Brady's  Bend,  on  the 
Allegheny  river.  The  eastern  portion  of  the  district  is 
somewhat  broken,  but  parts  of  it  are  fertile,  the  whole 
abounding  with  coal  and  iron.  The  middle  and  western 
portions  watered  by  the  Slippery  Rock,  Wolf,  Neshan- 
nock,  Shenango  and  Mahoning  creeks,  is  a land  of  broad 
valleys,  undulating  high  lands,  productive  soil,  and  is  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  The  whole  country  abounds 
with  coal  and  iron.  Vast  quantities  of  coal  are  exported 


466  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

by  the  Erie  canal  and  railroad,  and  tire  lights  of  the 
fires  of  the  iron  furnaces  may  be  seen  all  along  the  She- 
nango  valley. 

This  country  was  originally  settled  by  men  of  the 
Calvinistic  order,  and  although  Methodism  has  made 
great  inroads  upon  the  faith  of  the  fathers,  the  Presby- 
terian churches  are  in  many  places  yet  in  the  ascendant. 
The  Westminister  College,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
United  Presbyterians,  is  located  at  New  Wilmington. 

This  district  contains  fifteen  charges,  six  of  which  are 
stations,  three  or  four  others  having  preaching  every 
Sabbath  morning,  the  balance  are  circuits,  two  of  which 
employ  two  preachers  each,  affording  regular  service  at 
the  several  appointments  once  in  two  weeks.  Several 
year’s  experience,  accompanied  with  close  observation, 
has  convinced  me  that  the  interest  of  our  work  demands 
such  an  arrangement  as  will  employ  but  one  person  to  a 
charge,  with  territory  sufficient  to  support  him,  and  just 
enough  of  work  to  supply  his  time. 

Notwithstanding  the  influence  of  the  war,  which  was 
in  some  respects  deleterious,  the  cause  of  God  has  con- 
stantly advanced  within  the  territory  included  within  the 
district.  Our  finances  will  show  an  improvement,  while 
our  contributions  for  benevolent  objects  are  greatly  in 
advance  of  past  years.  j 

During  the  year  now  closing  two  new  churches  have 
been  built,  two  or  three  others  have  been  refitted,  others 
are  still  in  process  of  repair,  and  old  church  debts  have 
generally  been  paid  off. 

Sabbath  school  interests  have  been  sustained. 

Preachers  are  all  loyal  to  our  country,  and  trusting 
in  God,  are  disposed  to  bring  into  requisition  the  whole 
machinery  of  Methodism,  and  now  that  the  war  is  over, 
we  look  for  a great  outpouring  of  the  spirit  of  revival. 

Fredonia  District  is  in  the  northeast  section  of  the 
conference  territory,  commencing  on  the  west  of  the 
state  line,  running  along  the  lake  shore  on  the  north  to 
the  Cattaraugus  creek,  then  up  said  creek  and  along  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  conference,  across  the  Allegheny 
river  southward  to  the  Red  House  creek  and  settlement, 
to  the  Jamestown  District  appointments,  by  which  it  is 
bounded  on  the  south.  The  points  of  more  especial  so- 
licitude to  the  Church  are  Dunkirk  and  Salamanca,  both 


Reports  of  Districts. 


467 


towns  built  in  railroad  interests;  the  former  has  grown 
into  a very  flourishing  place  of  some  6,000  or  more  in- 
habitants. We  have  until  now  required  an  appropria- 
tion of  missionary  money.  The  latter  is  on  the  reserva- 
tion, and  is  subject  to  change,  but  requires  more  labor 
than  it  has  had  in  the  past.  Fredonia  and  Westfield, 
two  pleasant  and  populous  towns  upon  the  shore  of  Lake 
Erie,  give  increased  promise  to  the  Church  in  the  future. 
The  best  house  of  worship  upon  the  district  is  at  Forest- 
ville.  On  the  whole,  the  Church  is  in  prosperity  upon 
the  district ; it  has  increased  in  membership  during  the 
four  years  past  of  war  and  trial;  has  furnished  five  min- 
isters and  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  members  for 
the  army,  and  is  decidedly  loyal  to  God  and  duty;  is 
ready  to  oppose  all  rebellion  still,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

The  ministry  is  an  industrious  God-fearing  one,  and 
will  compare  for  talent  with  the  conference. 

It  has  been  a time  of  health ; the  exceptions  with  the 
families  of  the  ministers  have  been  John  Akers  and  J.  R. 
Shearer.  Brother  Akers  has  had  affliction  in  person  and 
family  during  nearly  the  whole  year,  and  has  lately  been 
bereft  of  his  excellent  companion,  and  does  in  his  deep 
affliction  challenge  the  sympathy  of  his  brethren.  Brother 
Shearer  has  put  away  in  the  grave,  to  await  the  resur- 
rection morning,  one  of  his  babes. 

We  have  not  had  extensive  revivals  of  religion,  but 
growth  in  grace  is  evidenced  in  the  cheerfulness  with 
which  duty  is  done  and  burdens  borne.  The  claims  of  the 
ministers  have  been  increased  full  one-third.  The  mis- 
sionary contributions  raised  from  $393  in  1861  to  $1,990 
in  1865.  All  other  benevolent  collections  increased,  in 
addition  to  the  heavy  burdens  imposed  by  the  war. 

Our  Sunday  schools  are  prospering.  Most  of  them, 
under  efficient  officers,  are  at  work  for  the  missionary 
cause  with  success. 

In  its  duty  to  the  baptized  children  the  Church  is  at 
fault.  Although  provided  for  in  its  discipline,  but  little 
has  been  done  toward  forming  them  into  classes,  or 
otherwise  caring  for  them.  This  we  very  much  regret. 

The  State  of  New  York  provides  for  the  election  of 
trustees,  removing  the  responsibility  somewhat  from  the 
quarterly  conference  and  pastor.  This,  or  some  other 


j 


I 


€ 


1 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

reason,  has  caused  our  conference  to  become  too  indif- 
ferent upon  this  subject.  \\  e have  raised,  and  paid  out 
upon  church  property,  $7,000  this  year.  Our  finances  are 
in  a good  condition,  and  indeed  the  Church  occupies  ad- 
vanced ground  in  its  relations  to  other  evangelical 
churches,  aa  well  as  to  the  communities  generally,  and 
is  at  peace  within  itself. 

The  Jamestown  District  embraced  the  past  year  twen- 
ty-one appointments,  filled  by  twenty-five  ministers,  in- 
cluding the  presiding  elder,  and  one  chaplain,  making 
it  the  largest  district  in  the  conference.  Seven  of  its 
appointments  were  in  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus  coun- 
ties, New  York.  Six  are  now  in  Chautauqua  county, 
one  (Randolph)  having  been  transferred  to  Fredonia 
District.  Eight  are  in  Warren  county,  Pa. ; one,  Colum- 
bus and  Corry,  lies  in  Warren  and  Erie  counties;  four  in 
Crawford,  and  one  each  in  Venango  and  Elk  counties. 

The  membership  of  the  district  (about  2,500)  is  the 
smallest,  save  one,  in  the  conference.  Several  of  its  ap- 
pointments, lying  in  the  “oil  regions  1 of  Pennsylvania, 
are  new  fields,  and  have  but  few  in  society.  Some  of  the 
old  and  time-honored  charges  have  lost  their  member- 
ship entire  almost,  they  having  sold  their  farms  for  large 
sums  for  “oil  lands,”  and  removed  to  other  parts.  The 
local  preachers  number  some  thirty,  many  of  them  or- 
dained, and,  as  a body,  are  faithful,  laborious  and  use- 
ful men.  # * 

The  Sabbath  schools  number  over  fifty,  with  about  ten 
thousand  volumes  in  their  libraries,  and  over  twenty-five 
hundred  children,  all  being  carefully  trained  for  the 
great  and  responsible  duties  of  the  Church  and  the 
country.  Benevolent  enterprises  have  been  well  attended 
to.  The  missionary  cause  will  receive  about  one  dollai 
per  member,  and  other  regular  collections  will  not  fall 
behind,  but  in  many  instances  be  in  advance  of  former 
years,  while  extra  collections,  demanded  by  the  exig- 
encies of  the  times,  such  as  sanitary  and  Christian  com- 
missions, Freedmen’s  Aid,  Soldiers’  and  Families’  Relief 
Societies,  will  bear  the  impress  of  Christian  enlighten- 
ment and  a noble  patriotism. 


Some  of  our  prominent  and  most  excellent  members 
have  fallen  in  battle,  sealing  with  their  blood  their  de\  o- 
tion  to  their  country  and  its  glorious  cause,  while  others 


Reports  of  Districts. 


469 


are  returning  to  take  their  places  in  the  ranks  of  the  sol- 
diers  of  Christ — to  do  battle  again  with  renewed  zeal  in 
the  great  conflict  with  the  “powers  of  darkness.” 

We  have  twenty-five  churches  finished,  one  in  a for- 
ward state  of  completion  at  Corry,  which  will  cost  some 
twelve  thousand  dollars;  one  at  Jamestown  now  being 
rebuilt,  enlarged  and  beautified,  at  an  expense  of  some 
five  or  six  thousand  dollars,  and  fourteen  parsonages,  al- 
together representing  a value  of  some  ninety  thousand 
dollars. 

The  religious  condition  of  the  district  is,  all  things 
considered,  very  encouraging.  Some  good  revivals  have 
occurred,  and  much  good  seed  has  been  sown  all  over  the 
work,  which  will  most  certainly  be  reaped,  although  it 
may  be  by  other  hands  than  those  who  sowed.  “In  this 
we  do,  yes,  and  will  rejoice,”  for  undoubtedly  “he  who 
sows  and  he  who  reaps  will  receive  wages,”  “and  both 
gather  fruit  unto  eternal  life.” 

Financially,  it  is  ahead  of  what  it  has  ever  been  before. 
The  salaries,  ranging  from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred 
per  cent,  in  advance  of  the  preceding  year,  were  all  paid, 
excepting  in  one  or  two  instances.  Almost  all  the  preach- 
ers, not  excepting  the  presiding  elder,  received  fine  dona- 
tions, in  addition  to  their  salaries,  of  from  fifty  to  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  in  one  instance  (Titusville)  the 
magnificent  sum  of  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  regular  quarterly  collections  will  amount  to  be- 
tween fourteen  and  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 


The  district  is  traversed  by  the  Atlantic  & Great  West- 
ern railroad  for  thirty  miles,  by  the  Philadelphia  & Erie 
for  eighty  miles,  and  the  Oil  Creek  road  its  entire  length 
of  some  forty  miles.  On  these  several  roads  are  situ- 
ated some  of  the  most  beautiful,  stirring,  enterprising 
little  villages  of  western  New  York  and  Pennsylvania; 
Jamestown,  the  seat  of  the  last  conference,  embowered 
in  trees,  just  on  the  outlet  of  the  beautiful  “Chautauqua,” 
famed  for  its  palatial  residences,  embracing  the  state  ex- 
ecutive’s, its  public  houses,  fine  business  places,  its  large 
churches,  and  larger  hearted,  intelligent  and  refined  citi- 
zens— Frewsburg,  Ashville,  Panama  and  Columbus, 
staid,  sober,  wealthy  and  growing  villages. 

Corry  is  at  the  junction  of  the  three  above  named 
roads.  Belligerent  Corry  is  four  years  of  age,  waging 


-rtf 


470  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

unconditional  warfare  with  the  woods  with  which  it  is 
invested.  Victorious  Corry!  triumphing  over  the  forest, 
and  counting  her  six  or  eight  thousand  inhabitants 
“Young  Pennsylvania.”  Youngsville,  on  the  Little 
Brokenstraw.”  just  stepping  out  boldly  to  stand  all  alone, 
and  bound  to  be  one  of  our  best  stations  very  soon. 
Warren,  beautifully  situated  in  the  valley  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Conewango  and  Allegheny  rivers,  manfully 
and  successfully  grappling  the  responsibilities  of  a firs  , 
class  station.  Ridgway,  shire  town  of  Elk  county,  opened 
up  to  the  world  now,  and  awakening  into  new  life  by 
her  railroad  facilities  and  mineral  developments.  ^ 
number  of  little  towns  on  the  outskirts  of  oildom  ate 
traversed  by  the  Oil  Creek  road.  Spartansburg,  Centei- 
ville.  Tyronville  and  Hydetown,  in  the  Riceville  : charge. 
Next  Titusville,  christened  the  “Capital  of  Greece. 
Here  Oil  creek  begins  to  be  thickly  perforated,  and  sends 
out  its  oleaginous  streams  to  grease  and  gladdens  its  six 
thousand  inhabitants,  together  with  its  thousands  of  in- 
terested visitors.  Titusville!  overflowing  with  strangers 
seeking  fortunes  in  “oil  wells,”  and  all  intent  on  either 
building,  buying,  selling,  trafficking  speculation  goug- 
ing. hurrying,  running  or  rushing  after  each  othei  and 
oil.'  Thence  down  Oil  creek  proper,  the  oildoiado  o 
the  world,”  where  the  whole  valley  and  parts  of  the  ad- 
joining ravines  and  bluffs  are  covered  with  derricks 
wells,  engines,  tanks,  barrels,  teams,  shanties,  cabins  an 
people,  to  Petroleum  Centre,  the  present  terminus  of 
the  road.  Thence  to  Plumer,  on  Cherry  run  famed  of 
late  for  its  greasy  developments.  I hence  to  Pithole, 
just  now  more  famed  than  any  of  the  “seven  wonders 
of  the  world,”  containing  five  thousand  fortune  hun 
ers.”  having  grown  to  its  present  dimensions  m a tew 
weeks,  or  at  most  months,  where  men  count  their  for  - 
tunes  bv  millions— “young  America”  daily  eclipsing  Cali- 
fornia in  its  palmiest  days,  in  bustle  and  excisemen  . ien 
the  River  Allegheny  and  its  tributaries,  embracing  Kin- 
zua  and  Tidioute,  the  place  that  a profane  resident  said, 
“God  had  forgotten.”  now  enriched  ancl  brought  into 
notice,  an  important  station,  strong  and  liberal,  togethei 
™th  many  other  inland  villas,  beautiful  for  situation, 
famed  for  their  quietude  and  generous  Christian  entei 

prise. 


Reports  of  Districts. 


47i 


This  district,  embracing  so  much  of  the  “oil  regions,” 
and  consequently  so  much  wealth  and  enterprise,  is  very 
properly  manned  with  many  of  the  best  preachers  of  the 
conference — young,  zealous,  educated  and  refined;  and 
also  some  of  the  fathers,  renowned  for  their  life-long 
zeal  and  success,  still  young  in  their  feelings  and  energy. 
All,  all  glowing  with  most  earnest  desire  and  Christian 
ambition,  to  wage  successful  and  glorious  warfare  against 
the  “powers  of  darkness.”  May  abundant  success  attend 
all  our  efforts  to  “win  souls  to  Christ,”  and  spread  scrip- 
tural holiness  over  these  lands. 

Warren  District  is  composed  of  seventeen  charges,  and 
is  situated  on  the  Western  Reserve,  embracing  parts  of 
Trumbull  and  Ashtabula  counties.  It  reports  2,731  mem- 
bers and  213  probationers,  and  twenty-four  local  preach- 
ers. It  employed  eighteen  effective  ministers,  who,  with 
the  aid  of  the  local  ministry,  were  able  to  give  the  bread 
of  life  to  the  hungry  souls  of  men  in  almost  or  quite 
every  neighborhood  in  its  bounds.  The  past  year  wit- 
nessed some  success  in  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  also 
in  building  and  repairing  churches.  Two  very  good  par- 
sonages were  purchased  during  the  year,  which  makes 
in  all  fourteen,  leaving  but  five  charges  without  the  in- 
dispensable auxiliary  to  the  comfort  of  the  minister’s 
family.  There  are  in  the  district  forty-three  churches 
of  various  grade,  some  in  good  taste  and  good  repair, 
others  not  so  good.  We  need  a little  more  church  enter- 
prise; a few  first  class  churches  erected  among  us  would 
greatly  benefit  the  Church,  and  give  us  increased  power 
in  the  communities  where  erected.  I11  the  line  of  benevo- 
lent contributions,  it  will  compare  favorably  with  other 
districts,  though  we  are  not  favored  with  many  rich 
members  or  adherents.  The  missionary  contributions 
amount  to  $2,306.83,  or  an  average  of  84  cents  per 
member,  which  is  $418.09  in  advance. of  last  year.  It 
paid  for  conference  claimants  $308.87,  an  average  of  n 
cents  and  a fraction  per  member.  About  $1,000  Bible 
money;  tract,  $70.16,  and  Sunday  School  Union,  $64.77, 
while  it  did  nobly  in  other  enterprises  involving  the  in- 
terests of  our  noble,  self-sacrificing  soldiers,  and  the  sup- 
plying of  the  wants  of  the  indigent  Freedmen,  etc.  We 
have  49  Sunday  schools,  with  upwards  of  3,000  Sunday 
school  scholars;  605  officers  and  teachers,  and  about 


472 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


10,000  volumes  in  libraries.  The  area  of  the  district  con- 
tains a large  field  for  Christian  and  philanthropic  effort, 
and  the  field  is  whitening  for  the  harvest;  and  now  the 
public  mind  is  in  some  degree  relieved  from  such  intense 
anxiety  as  to  the  safety  of  our  beloved  nation,  and  the 
complete  triumph  of  our  arms,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
instruments  employed  by  the  great  head  of  the  Church 
for  the  world’s  conversion  to  God  will  be  abundantly 
blessed  in  sowing  the  field  with  the  good  seed  of  the 
kingdom,  and  in  reaping  a glorious  harvest  of  souls. 
What  the  district  greatly  needs  is  a baptism  of  fire,  and 
how  we  are  straitened  until  it  is  given  and  received! 
If  this  should  be  realized  in  answer  to  our  fervent  pray- 
ers, the  whole  machinery  of  the  Church  would  be  lubri- 
cated with  the  oil  of  Divine  Grace  and  would  receive 
such  an  increase  of  velocity  as  should  greatly  glorify 
God,  comfort  Zion,  and  lead  poor  sinners  to  the  Savior. 
Then  churches  would  rise  as  out  of  the  dust,  clothed  with 
beautiful  garments;  the  house  of  God  would  be  built 
wherever  needed,  parsonages  bought  or  built,  our  semin- 
ary at  Farmington  filled  with  earnest  students,  and  gen- 
eral prosperity  make  us  like  the  Garden  of  the  Lord. 

The  Clarion  District  lies  wholly  east  of  the  Allegheny 
river,  embracing  Clarion  and  Jefferson  counties,  with 
portions  of  Venango,  Forest,  Elk,  Clearfield  and  Arm- 
strong. The  surface  of  the  country  is  generally  hilly, 
and  along  the  water  courses  quite  broken  and  mountain- 
ous. The  vast  forests  of  pine  timber,  with  the  almost  in- 
exhaustible mines  of  iron  and  bituminous  coal,  have  given 
to  this  rough  region  a permanent  source  of  wealth. 

Although  the  soil  and  surface  seem  not  so  well  adapted 
to  agriculture,  yet  by  patient  and  persevering  industry 
the  wilderness  has  been  cleared  away,  and  highly  pro- 
ductive farms  are  seen  stretching  away  over  the  hills  and 
through  the  valleys. 

With  regard  to  the  people,  they  are  intelligent  and 
solid,  frank  and  genial.  They  are  proverbial  for  their 
generous  hospitality. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  a power  in  this  lo- 
cality, and  is  accomplishing  well  her  part  in  the  great 
work  of  moulding  the  religious  character  of  the  country. 
The  revival  fires  still  burn  brightly  upon  her  altars;  be- 
lievers are  sanctified  and  sinners  converted.  The  num- 


Reports  of  Districts. 


473 


ber  of  accessions  to  the  Church  throughout  the  district 
during  the  year  just  closed  is  probably  not  less  than  five 
hundred. 

The  preachers  on  their  respective  charges  have  labored 
faithfully  and  successfully.  God,  in  His  providence,  has 
graciously  preserved  their  health  and  lives.  Their  sal- 
aries have  been  fully  paid,  and  liberal  donations  added 
almost  without  exception. 

Indeed,  all  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  Church 
have  been  remembered,  a fine  increase  in  the  contribution 
to  the  missionary  cause  is  reported.  Last  year  the  district 
reported  for  missions  $2,020,  this  year  reports  over 
$3,500,  perhaps  $3,600.  The  other  collections  also  show 
a very  gratifying  and  healthful  advance. 

The  Church  property  is  in  a tolerably  good  condition, 
and  free  from  debt,  with  some  trifling  exceptions.  Two 
neat  and  commodious  churches  have  been  built,  and  two 
others  completed  which  were  in  process  of  construction 
at  the  beginning  of  the  year. 

On  the  whole,  the  Clarion  District  may  be  regarded  as 
in  good  condition,  and,  as  she  appears  in  the  statistical 
and  financial  reports,  will  not  suffer  in  comparison  with 
her  sister  districts  of  the  Erie  Conference,  though  she 
be  the  youngest  of  them  all. 

This  region  has  long  been  regarded  as  the  “rough  and 
tumble  department' 5 of  the  conference — greatly  misunder- 
stood generally,  and  by  some  greatly  misrepresented. 
“Over  the  river"  has  been  the  dread  and  terror  of  many 
good  brethren,  whose  souls  would  have  feasted  while 
preaching  the  gospel  in  these  green  pastures  of  Metho- 
dism. 

May  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  make  the  coming 
year  more  prosperous  than  the  preceding  one. 

Meadville  District  occupies  a central  position  in  the 
Erie  Conference.  It  lies  wholly  in  western  Pennsylvania, 
embraced  mainly  in  Crawford,  Venango  and  Mercer 
counties,  and  taking  in  a fair  proportion  of  the  famous 
oil  regions.  It  is  a fertile  and  healthy  portion  of  our 
country,  abounding  in  hills  and  valleys  and  crystal 
streams,  intersected  with  railroads,  and  dotted  over  with 
flourishing  towns  and  villages. 

Among  its  larger  towns  may  be  mentioned  Meadville, 
from  which  the  district  takes  its  name,  situated  on  French 


474  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

creek,  and  capital  of  Crawford  county.  Here  is  located 
Allegheny  College,  which  really  constitutes  it  the  Athens 
of  the  conference,  and  its  most  important  station— for 
the  reason  that  here  young  men  from  all  parts  of  the 
land,  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a liberal 
education,  will  receive  their  abiding  impressions  of  Meth- 
odism It  is  a central  point  from  which  radiate  and 
must  continue  to  flow  out  influences  that  will  go  far  to 
mould  the  character  of  our  institutions,  not  only  within 
the  bounds  of  our  conference,  but  throughout  the  whole 
country.  Allegheny  College  is  assuming  magnificent  pro- 
portions. Long  and  nobly  has  she  struggled  with  ad- 
verse influences ; but  the  day  of  her  redemption  has  come. 
She  now  has  a full  and  efficient  board  of  instructors,  rich 
cabinets  and  extensive  apparatus  for  the  illustration  o 
science;  while  her  endowments,  through  the  munificence 
of  opulent  friends,  are  placing  her  upon  a foundation  t la 
cannot  be  shaken. 

We  may  not  omit  to  mention  other  important  towns, 
which  adorn  and  serve  to  give  importance  to  the  district. 
Franklin,  surrounded  and  guarded  by  the = evei  la. ■ „ 

hills  is  a place  of  strength  and  enterprise;  West  Green- 
ville is  assuming  importance,  and  was  the  generous  en- 
tertainer of  the  conference  during  the  session  of  1864, 
while  Conneautville  and  Harmonsburg  are  old  and  hon- 
ored names ; and  lastly,  though  not  least  Oil  City  like 
Minerva,  has  sprung  full  armed  from  the  head  of 
father — oildom. 

The  district  has  nineteen  circuits  and  stations,  employs 
twenty  effective  preachers,  has  forty-eight  churches 1 an 
seventeen  parsonages.  There  is  a church  erected,  01  m 
nrocess  of  erection,  at  every  point  where  one  is  neede  . 
The  friends  at  Meadville  and  Franklin  will  this  year  put 
up  houses  of  worship  that  will  be  a credit  to  our  beloved 

Zion. 

The  writer  is  not  prepared  with  the  figuies  to  give  a 
statement  of  what  the  district  has  ^"e  m the  matter  of 
contribution  for  the  various  benevolent  objects  of  the 
Church  But  one  thing  he  is  assured  of,  and  that  is,  that 
h is  not  one  whit  behind  others.  Its  members  are  loyal 
to  both  Church  and  State,  and  pour  out  their  libei  ality 
to  sustain  the  one  and  uphold  the  other. 


James  M.  Groves , William  Windsor  Wythe.  475 

James  M.  Groves,  William  Windsor  Wythe. 

James  M.  Groves  was  born  in  Donegal  county,  near 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  1828.  The  family  came  to 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1833,  and  in  1841  settled  on  the 
farm  at  Grove  Summit,  Jefferson  county,  where  Brother 
Groves  is  now  spending  the  years  of  his  superannuation. 
His  parents  were  Methodists,  and  in  this  faith  James 
was  trained.  In  1854  G.  F.  Reeser  held  a protracted 
meeting  in  Beech  Woods  and  the  Groves  family  of  seven 
children  were  converted.  The  class  then  formed  still 
lives  and  bears  witness  to  a Savior’s  love.  Josiah  Flower 
dedicated  the  first  church  building  in  1857. 

Mr.  Groves  attended  Allegheny  College  for  a brief 
period,  and  in  1862  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  served 
as  a supply  with  John  McComb  in  1863  on  the  President 
Circuit,  and  the  year  following  on  the  Washington  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference 
in  1865.  In  the  course  of  his  ministry  Mr.  Groves  en- 
joyed many  gracious  revivals,  and  was  successful  in 
building  up  the  classes  where  he  served.* 

William  Windsor  Wythe  was  born  in  England,  De- 
cember 4,  1829,  but  gave  his  life  to  America. 

After  seventy-seven  years  of  intense  activity,  the  last 
few  clouded  by  disease,  he  passed  from  Sinclairville,  N. 
Y.,  to  the  higher  realms  beyond.  His  early  education 
was  in  Philadelphia,  graduating  with  distinction  from 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine.  He  began  busi- 
ness as  a physician,  but  his  early  conversion  contained  a 
call  that  forced  him  into  the  ministry,  joining  the  New 
Jersey  Conference  in  1852,  and  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence in  1858.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  made  an  enviable  record. 

Dr.  Wythe  was  a genius.  The  ordinary  rules  which 
measure  men  will  not  apply  to  him.  The  words  “talent’’ 
and  “ability”  do  not  meet  his  case.  He  was  great  with- 
out the  weakness  of  ambition.  He  did  things  because 

*J.  M.  Groves — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869, 
Ames.  Appointments — 1863,  President  (supply);  1864,  Washing- 
ton (supply);  1865,  Paradise;  1866-’67,  Washington;  1868,  Harris- 
ville  and  Pine  Grove;  1869-’70,  Clintonville;  1871,  New  Bethle- 
hem; 1872-’73,  Perrysville;  1874-’75,  Brady’s  Bend;  1876-’77,  Rich- 
ardsville;  1878,  Spring;  1879-’84,  supernumerary;  1885-1906,  sup- 
erannuated; present  residence,  Grove  Summit,  Pa. 


476 


476  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

he  was  the  things.  W e climb  to  things ; he  was  thei  e 
without  climbing.  It  would  be  an  honor  to  be  any  one 
of  a score  of  things  in  which  he  was  great.  He  who 
knew  Dr.  Wythe  met  one  of  the  most  genial,  sunshiny 
natures  and  charming  conversationalists  that  one  would 
find  in  a lifetime.  No  matter  what  topic  was  sprung,  he 
could  pour  light  on  it.  \\  hat  added  lustei  to  his  bri 
liance.  he  never  seemed  to  think  he  knew  more  than  his 
humblest  brother. 

In  the  army  he  was  distinguished  as  a physician  and 
surgeon,  having  charge  of  hospitals  at  Knoxville  and 
Nashville.  While  patriotically  springing  to  save  Ins 
adopted  country,  he  ministered  where  skill  and  science 
counted  for  more  than  bullets.  For  some  time  after  the 
close  of  the  war  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Newbuig 
insane  asylum.  In  the  treatment  of  these  unfortunates  he 
not  only  displayed  sympathy,  but  might  be  classed  as  an 
expert  alienist. 

Dr  Wvthe  was  a microscopist  of  no  mean  abilities. 
He  could  grind  his  own  lenses,  if  needs  be.  It  was  he 
who  inspired  John  Peate  to  his  daring  feat  of  grinding 
the  greatest  lens  in  the  world.  At  one  time  he  made  a 
parabola  to  throw  a side  light  upon  the  object  of  investi- 
gation. Mechanics  was  familiar  to  him.  If  he  had  been 
placed  in  anv  railroad  shop  he  would  have  been  a fot  tune 
to  the  company.  He  was  undoubtedly  the  peer  of  master 
minds  in  that  profession.  A draftsman,  too,  lie  was, 
of  rare  skill  He  often  assayed  the  inventor  s realm, 
and  had  what  often  befell  the  flight  of  such  geniuses— 
broken  wings;  the  fruit  of  his  industries  others  often 
gathered.  He  invented  a prism  for  determiningthetrue 
north.  It  was  for  some  time  used  on  the  United  States 
theodolites.  He  also  invented  an  instrument  for  deter- 
mining the  speed  of  railroad  trains.  It  was  in  use  on 
the  Erie  road  for  many  years.  His  ast  invention  was 
the  working  out  of  an  acetylme  retort.  He  will  be 
membered  by  the  countless  thousands  who  visit  Chaut au- 
nua  for  the  Palestine  and  Jerusalem  models,  and  for 
work  in  the  Hall  of  Antiquities.  H.s  Palestine  was  ex- 
ecuted  with  mathematical  accuracy. 

In  science  he  was  at  home,  familiar  with  the  ideas  of 
the  great  leaders,  and  could  make  it  clear  to  common 


William  H.  Hover,  Arnos  N.  Craft.  477 

folk  that  science  and  religion  were  not  enemies,  but  God’s 
angels  of  blessing  to  mankind. 

But  his  fascination  was  the  Christ- world  or  life. 
Through  his  broad  gifts  he  preached  to  scholars,  artisans, 
and  professional  men  who  never  entered  his  church.  He 
made  men  feel  the  greatness,  and  sweetness,  and  human- 
ity, and  divinity  of  Christ.  His  personality  was  even 
greater  than  his  sermons.  While  they  were  rich  in 
thought,  at  times  great  in  grasp  and  scope,  maybe  bril- 
liant and  rising  to  eloquence,  yet  his  personality  was  yet 
more  impressive.  Doubters,  skeptics  and  infidels  were 
greatly  drawn  to  his  unfolding  of  the  Christ,  and  many 
were  won  to  accept  the  Savior.  Those  who  had  repudi- 
ated the  Bible  had  their  eyes  opened  to  see  the  hand  of 
God  in  the  sacred  pages.* 

William  H.  Hover,  Amos  N.  Craft. 

W illiam  H.  Hover,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Bern- 
hard  Hover,  was  born  in  West  Salem,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
May  13,  1835.  He  was  of  Holland-Irish  extraction.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  a farm,  and  his  school  advantages 
were  limited.  His  father’s  health  having  failed,  the  three 
sons  were  compelled  to  struggle  hard  to  till  the  farm. 
His  parents  were  Methodists,  and  he  was  baptized  in 
infancy  and  never  ceased  to  thank  God  for  the  holy  in- 
fluence of  this  consecration.  He  attended  the  academy 
in  Kingsville,  O.,  during  two  fall  terms,  and  taught  eight 
terms  in  the  common  schools. 

Mr.  Hover  was  converted  in  1853  under  the  labors 
of  H.  M.  Chamberlain.  He  says : “I  went  time  and 

again  for  several  days  to  the  mourner's  bench,  but  found 

*W.  W.  Wythe — Licensed  to  preach,  1849;  admitted  on  trial, 
New  Jersey  Conference,  1852;  full  connection,  1854;  deacon,  1854, 
Waugh;  located,  1855;  elder,  1859,  Scott;  re-admitted,  Philadel- 
phia Conference,  1858;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1865. 
Appointments — 1851,  Rome  and  Wantaye,  N.  J.  (supply);  1852, 
Millville,  N.  J.;  1853,  Rockaway,*  N.  J.;  1854-’55,  Hackensack,  N. 
J.;  1858-’59,  Cressona,  Pa.;  1860,  Conshohocken,  Pa.;  1861,  Mil- 
ton,  Del.;  1862,  Georgetown;  1863-’64,  superannuated;  1865,  Roots- 
town  and  Randolph;  1866-’67,  East  Cleveland;  1868-’69,  New 
Castle;  1870-’71,  Erie,  First  Church;  1872-’73,  Meadville,  First 
Church;  1874,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1875,  agent,  National  Sunday 
School  Assembly;  1876,  Financial  Secretary,  Allegheny  College; 
1877,  Millerstown;  1878-’84,  supernumerary;  1885,  Erie,  Tenth 
Street;  1886,  Parkers’  Landing;  1887,  Chautauqua;  1888-’94,  sup- 
ernumerary; 1895-’96,  Chautauqua;  1897-’98,  Miles  Grove;  1899- 
1905,  superannuated. 


31 


_l^8  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

no  peace  for  the  reason  that  1 was  not  willing  to  do  the 
work  that  the  Master  had  laid  out  before  me  But  one 
evening,  while  getting  ready  to  go  to  meeting,  1 resolved 
to  lay  all  upon  the  altar  and  do  the  work  God  wanted 
me  to  do  1 then  knelt  down  to  ask  God  to  help,  when 
instantly  the  burden  was  rolled  from  my  heart,  and  1 
rose  and  opened  my  eyes  upon  what  seemed  to  be  a new- 
world.  Everything  seemed  to  he  praising  God.  Brot  iei 
Hover  served  the  church  in  several  capacities  until  -> 
when  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Jamestown  Cir- 
cuit Quarterly  Conference,  Hiram  Kinsley,  presiding  el- 
der signing  the  license.  In  1865  he  was  employed  by 
Benjamin  Excell,  presiding  elder,  as  a supply  on  Niles 
station,  left  vacant  by  the  transfer  of  J.  1 . Boyle  to  the 
Missouri  and  Arkansas  Conference.  1 he  same  yeai  he 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
effective  twenty-seven  years,  and  in  1892  was  promoted 
to  a place  among  the  superannuates.* 

The  father  of  Amos  Norton  Craft,  Mahlon  Craft,  was 
born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa.  His  mother,  whose  maid- 
en name  was  Clarissa  Cowdery,  was  born  neai  Hartford, 
Conn.  Amos  N.  Craft  was  born  in  Mecca,  O.,  Ju  7> 
184.4.  He  was  the  only  surviving  child  of  his  parents, 
the  other  children  having  died  in  infancy.  His  paren  s 
were  devout  Methodists  and  under  their  influence 
became  a member  of  the  same  church  when  twelve  years 
old.  At  that  early  period  he  felt  the  call  to  the  ministry , 
and  his  father  gave  him  his  time  for  study,  requiring 
but  little  manual  labor  from  hint  front  childhood.  He 
graduated  at  Mount  Union  College,  Ohio,  at  the  age  o 
twenty-one.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  at  the  age  o 
seventeen.  While  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  enlisted  in 
the  Union  Army,  but  by  the  interposition  of  his  paren  s 
he  was  not  sworn  into  the  regular  service  but  as  a citizen 
nurse,  in  which  capacity  he  served  in  the  hospitals  m 
Nashville,  Tenn.  After  a few  months  he  was  brought 

*W  H Hover — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon  1866  A^es;  elder  1868 
Kingsley  Appointments— 1865,  Richmond;  1866-67,  Kelloggs 

vine;  1868,  Mill  Village;  1869,  Green;  1870,  Greenfield  and  Mina 
1871-72,  Leon;  1873,  Dayton;  1874,  1 Evansburg , 1875- 76, 

■ i C77.’7S  Lnrknort’  1879*  80,  Linesville,  1881  82,  &un 

1 883  ’84  Garland-  1885  Ellery;  1886,  Sherrett;  1887,  Farm- 
tagton!^  1890-’91,  Deianti;  1892-1906,  snperannu- 

ated. 


479 


William  H.  Hover,  Amos  N.  Craft. 

down  with  fever  and  dysentery.  In  the  sickness  and  the 
relapse  which  followed  he  was  twice  given  up  by  his 
physicians  to  die. 

As  a local  preacher  he  preached  nearly  every  Sabbath. 
In  his  twentieth  year  he  supplied  Paradise  Circuit  six 
months  and  hoped  to  be  admitted  into  conference  but,  as 
he  said,  his  then  somewhat  grandiloquent  periods  did 
not  recommend  him  to  the  favorable  opinion  of  his  pre- 
siding elder,  who  dropped  him  without  ceremony.”  He 
then  returned  to  college,  graduated  and  applied  once 
more  to  conference  and  was  admitted. 

His  first  failure  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of 
medicine  which  he  soon  abandoned.  In  his  twenty-sec- 
ond year  he  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  and 
appointed  to  the  Hartford  Circuit  in  Ohio.  In  the  fol- 
lowing winter  he  witnessed  near  150  conversions.  The 
next  year  he  was  appointed  to  the  T ionesta  Circuit.  The 
year  following  he  was  elected  principal  of  the  Western 
Resei  ve  Seminary,  where  he  continued  two  years,  dur- 
ing  which  time  he  held  a debate  of  twelve  sessions  with 
A.  A.  Wheelock,  Ohio  State  Missionary  sent  out  by  the 
Spiritualists.  As  a result  of  the  debate  he  published  a 
challenge  in  the  Banner  of  Light  to  meet  in  debate  any 
other  man  the  Spiritualists  might  bring  forward.  I.  G. 

L irt,  an  author  of  repute  among  Spiritualists,  accepted 
the  challenge  and  the  debate  of  six  days'  duration  was 
held  in  Lyceum  Hall,  Buffalo,  X.  Y.  He  has  held  nine 
public  debates,  chiefly  with  Spiritualists  and  infidels.  He 
has  written  a book,  “Epidemic  Delusions,"  published  by 
the  Methodist  Book  Concern.  He  was  elected  by  his 
conference  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1880.  and  again  in  1900. 

Among  the  principal  revivals  which  have  attended  his 
ministry  were  those  at  Oil  City  and  Titusville,  in  each  of 
which  places  during  his  pastorate  there  were  about  300 
converted.  While  stationed  at  Oil  City,  Pa.,  and  Tames- 
town,  X.  Y.,  he  pursued  a post  graduate  course  in  philos- 
ophy, and  on  examination  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  D. 
at  Mount  Union  College.  His  wife,  the  daughter  of  the 
late  Rev.  John  J.  Steadman,  has  assisted  him  with  great 
faithfulness  in  pastoral  visitations  among  the  people  and 


480  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

largely  made  up  for  a weakness  in  work  of  that  kind  of 
which  he  was  always  conscious.* 

Francis  A.  Archibald,  James  E.  Wilson. 

Francis  A.  Archibald  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in 
1841,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Oakland,  Cal.,  January  23, 
1896.  He  was  converted  early  in  life,  educated  at  Alle- 
gheny College,  and  entered  the  Erie  Conference  in  1865. 
After  a number  of  years  of  active  service,  owing  to  a 
throat  trouble,  he  accepted  a position  in  connection  with 
the  Western  Methodist  Book  Concern,  and  while  thus 
engaged  put  forth  a volume  entitled  “Methodism  and 
Literature.”  He  went  to  Los  Angeles  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness, and  afterwards  to  San  Francisco.  “He  was  in  fail- 
ing health  for  several  months,  though  his  final  illness 
was  brief.  He  suffered  greatly,  but  bore  it  all  in  faith 
and  hope.  His  kindness  of  heart  added  a charm  to  all 
he  touched.  There  was  nothing  revengeful,  acrimonious, 
or  critical  in  his  temper;  all  was  serenity,  repose  and 
sunshine.  He  was  a man  of  high  character  refined  by 
grace.”* — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXVI,  1896, 
p . 432.) 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Erie  Conference,  1866,  we  find 
the  following : “The  minutes  of  last  year's  session  closed 

*A.  N.  Craft — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference,  1876; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1877 ; transferred  to 
Ohio  Conference,  1884;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference, 
1887.  Appointments — 1865,  Hartford  and  Orangeville;  1866,  Tio- 
nesta;  1867-’68,  principal.  Western  Reserve  Seminary;  1869-’70, 
Erie,  Simpson  Chapel;  1871-’72,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1873-  75,  Titus- 
ville; 1876,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1877-’79,  Oil  City,  Trinity 
Church;  1880-’81,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1882-’83,  Erie,  First  Church; 
1884-’86,  Columbus,  O.,  Wesley  Chapel;  1887-’90,  Youngstown,  O., 
Trinity;  1891-’93,  Cleveland,  O.,  Euclid  Avenue;  1894,  Coshocton, 
O ; 1895-’99,  Youngstown  District;  1900-’01,  Pueblo,  Col.,  First 
Church;  1902,  professor,  Fort  Worth  University,  Fort  Worth, 

TbxBiS 

*F.  A.  Archibald — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  full  connection, 
1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869,  Ames;  became  a member 
of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Oakland,  Cal.,  January  23,  1896;  buried  at  Fredonia,  N.  Y.  Ap- 
pointments—1865,  Ridgway;  1866,  Richmond;  1867-’68,  James- 
town, Pa.;  1869,  Delanti;  1870-71,  Frewsburg;  1872-73,  Pine 
Grove  and  Farmington;  1874,  Pleasantville ; 1875,  Nottingham 
and  Glenville;  1876-78,  Windham;  1879,  Cleveland,  Broadway 
Church;  1880-’86,  Conference  Agent  Sunday  School  Union;  1887- 
92,  supernumerary;  1893-’95,  superannuated. 


Francis  A.  Archbald,  James  E.  Wilson.  481 

by  saying,  ‘Some  of  us  parted  to  meet  no  more  on  earth.’ 
A twelve-month  has  sadly  fulfilled  the  prediction.  Pat- 
terson, of  grave  demeanor  and  holy  ambition;  Coons,  of 
, sweetest  spirit — another  John  the  Evangelist;  Wilson, 
whose  mental  flights  were  soaring  in  the  heavens,  and 
Bear,  young,  strong,  modest,  loving  and  beloved,  have 
crossed  the  flood.” 

James  E.  Wilson  was  born  in  Steubenville,  O.,  Sept. 
21,  1815,  and  died  at  Youngstown,  O.,  Sept.  24,  1865. 
He  attended  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  for 
some  time,  but  graduated  at  Canonsburg  College,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  entered  the  Western  Theological  Semin- 
ary, but  left  because  of  disagreement  with  the  doctrines 
taught.  Meeting  a Methodist  minister,  he  found  that 
he  could  perfectly  agree  with  the  Methodist  standards 
of  doctrine.  He  had  found  a church  home.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mahala  Goodwin,  daughter  of  Timothy  Good- 
win, of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Mt.  Vernon,  O.,  and  elected  clerk  of  the  State 
Legislature.  But  God  called  him  to  preach  and  he 
yielded.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1845,  and  at  once  assumed  a prominent  position. 
He  served  important  pastorates  in  the  Rock  River,  Mis- 
souri, Illinois,  West  Virginia  and  Pittsburg  Conferences. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  became  agent  of  the  Sanitary 
and  Christian  Commissions.  “To  give  to  the  wounded 
heroes  the  gospel  of  food  and  sympathy,  and  then,  with 
his  dark  eyes  suffused  with  tears,  tell  them,  with  a 
seraph’s  sweetness,  of  the  ‘great  salvation,’  to  close  the 
dying  eye  that  had  just  shone  in  reconciliation  to  God, 
through  Jesus,  and  to  cheer  the  living,  was  to  him  a 
work  of  untold  comfort.”  On  account  of  poor  health 
he  located  in  1851,  1854,  and  i860.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1865,  and  stationed  at  Youngs- 
town, O.,  but  his  labors  were  done.  He  lived  a trans- 
figured life  for  a little  longer.  “His  sermons  were  more 
wondrously  eloquent  than  ever  before.  His  soul  was 
full  of  joy,  the  presence  of  Christ  made  labor  rest  to  him. 
None  who  listened  to  him  will  soon  forget  the  vivid  im- 
pressions made  by  his  last  sermons.  As  he  reasoned  of 
'sin,  righteousness,  and  judgment  to  come,’  he  was  only 
sounding  out  the  songs  his  soul  caught  from  the  ex- 
cellent glory.  His  health  failed  rapidly.  The  physicians 


1 


482  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

recommended  travel,  and  accompanied  by  his  faithful 
wife,  he  re-visited  Chicago,  taking  in  his  heart  the  care 
of  his  new  charge.  He  made  but  a short  visit  and  re- 
turned to  his  work,  only  to  die.  The  Sabbath  before  his 
death  he  desired  to  be  carried  to  the  church  and  deliver 
one  more  message  to  the  Sunday  school.  But  it  could 
not  be ; his  work  was  done.  The  angels  were  then  wait- 
ing to  bear  him  to  his  home.  On  Thursday  he  ceased 
to  live  on  earth,  passing  out  of  the  twilight,  into  the 
sunshine  beyond.' * 

Brother  Wilson  was  genial  and  unselfish,  easy  and  un- 
affected in  manner;  he  was  possessed  of  kindly  wit  that 
sparkled  like  a diamond,  and  superior  conversational 
power.  “But  the  pulpit  was  his  throne.  There  he  was 
most  attractive.  His  commanding  figure,  deep-toned  and 
well  modulated  voice,  his  expressive  features,  his  vivid 
imagination,  his  wonderful  descriptive  powers,  his  flash- 
ing intellect,  and  his  loving  Christian  heart  were  ever 
in  loving  harmony  and  were  all  enriched  by  a constant 
flow  of  Christian  tenderness,  poetic  beauty  and  spiritual 
power."* 

Rev.  Moses  Hill,  D.D.,  says  of  Mr.  Wilson: 

“Rev.  James  Emmett  Wilson  in  many  respects  was  a 
man  of  mark.  In  person  he  was  tall,  straight,  and  very 
commanding  in  his  carriage.  In  disposition  he  was  kind, 
remarkably  frank,  and  generous  almost  to  a fault.  As 
a husband  and  father  he  was  very  affectionate,  cheerful 
and  indulgent.  In  the  social  circle  he  greatly  excelled. 
His  manners  were  easy  and  unaffected,  and  his  cheerful 
sociability  put  all  at  ease  in  his  presence.  His  wit  was 
ever  ready,  but  always  harmless.  He  never  sent  out  any 
poisoned  arrows.  His  smile  was  peculiarly  impressive, 


*J  E Wilson — Admitted  on  trial,  Rock  River  Conference,  1847, 
being  a local  elder  at  the  time  of  his  admission;  transferred  to 
Wisconsin  Conference,  1848;  transferred  to  Missouri  Conference, 
1850*  located,  1851;  re-admitted,  Rock  River  Conference,  1852, 
located,  1854;  re-admitted,  Illinois  Conference,  1855;  transferred 
to  West  Virginia  Conference,  1857;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, 1859;  located,  1860;  re-admitted,  Erie  Conference,  1865; 
deceased,  Youngstown,  O.,  September  24,  1865. 

1847,  Rockford,  111.;  1848-’49,  Milwaukee,  Wis  ; 1850,  St.  Louis, 
Mo  Ebenezer;  1852,  Chicago,  111.,  Canal  Street;  1853,  superannu- 
ated; 1855,  Jacksonville,  West  Charge;  1856,  supernumerary; 
1857-’58,  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  Fourth  Street;  1859,  Pittsburg,  Christ 
Church;  1865,  Youngstown. 


Clinton  L.  Barnhart , Sylvester  W . Lloyd.  483 


and  gave  a double  power  to  the  charm  of  his  conversa- 
tion. In  the  excitement  of  the  social  circle  a stream  of 
innocent  humor  seemed  constantly  to  flow  through  his 
soul.  He  was  usually  the  center  of  an  interested  and 
greatly  delighted  group.  His  fund  of  anecdotes  was  ex- 
tensive, and  no  man  could  tell  them  better.  His  piety 
was  deep  and  earnest.  Those  who  knew  him  intimately 
speak  of  him  as  a man  of  earnest  prayer  and  close  com- 
munion with  God.  . . . His  sermons  were  peculiar. 

In  their  construction  he  used  no  other  man’s  pattern ; 
and  hence,  when  prepared  they  would  suit  none  but  him- 
self ; but  when  he  delivered  them  they  were  a power. — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  December  16 , 1865.) 

Clinton  L.  Barnhart,  Sylvester  W.  Lloyd. 

Clinton  L.  Barnhart  was  a native  of  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York.  He  was  born  September  1,  1842. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  academies 
of  his  own  county,  and  prepared  for  college  under  private 
tutorage.  He  was  converted  in  a revival  meeting  con- 
ducted by  A.  C.  Tibbetts  in  February,  1862.  He  en- 
listed as  a private  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- fourth 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  and  was  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant,  and  commanded  the  company  in  four 
battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  wounded  three 
times,  the  third  wound  being  so  severe  that  he  was  kept 
from  further  active  service.  He  was  on  detached  service 
in  Columbus,  Ohio,  during  part  of  the  winter  of  i864-’65. 
While  there  he  united  by  letter  with  Bigelow  Chapel,  of 
which  D.  H.  Moore,  afterwards  Bishop  Moore,  was  the 
pastor.  There  he  received  his  license  to  preach.  Receiv- 
ing his  discharge  from  the  army,  he  returned  to  his  home, 
and  in  1865  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Michigan  Conference  in  1871. 
In  1891  he  took  a supernumerary  relation,  and  in  1901 
superannuated.  He  then  engaged  in  agricultural  and 
horticultural  pursuits,  and  holds  his  church  relations  at 
Sparta,.  Mich.  He  writes — 1905:  “I  retain  ardent  af- 

fection for  the  dear  old  brethren  of  the  Erie  Conference 
who  bore  with  my  youthful  mistakes  and  inexperience.”* 

*C.  L.  Barnhart — Admitted  on  trial,  1865;  full  connection,  1867 ; 
deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869,  Ames;  transferred  to  Michigan 
Conference,  1871.  Appointments — 1865,  Millville;  186c  Albion 


484 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Sylvester  W.  Lloyd,  son  of  Rev.  Watts  B.  Lloyd,  was 
born  in  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  January  31,  1837.  He  re- 
sided with  his  father,  after  the  retirement  of  the  latter 
from  the  ministry,  on  a farm  near  Waterford,  Erie 
county.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In 
1856  he  went  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  teaching,  and 
the  next  year  removed  to  Kansas.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1858,  his  license  bearing  the  signature  of  L. 
B.  Dennis,  presiding  elder.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  Conference  the  same  year.  His 
first  appointment  embraced  several  counties  and  required 
three  hundred  miles  of  travel  to  make  the  round.  He 
was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Morris  in  1861,  and 
at  the  same  date  he  was  ordained  elder  under  the  mis- 
sionary rule.  He  then  went  to  Colorado,  which  at  that 
time  belonged  to  the  Kansas  Conference,  where  he  la- 
bored two  years.  In  1865  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Erie  Conference.  His  frequent  changes  noted  in  the 
margin  were  made  necessary  by  sicknesses  and  death  in 
his  own  family  and  that  of  his  wife’s  parents. 

He  was  elected  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of 
1876.* 

and  Lockport;  1867,  Wesley ville  and  Green;  1868,  Springfield; 
1869,  Waterford;  1870,  Millville;  1871-’72,  Schoolcraft  and  Vicks- 
burg, Mich.;  1873-’74,  Galesburg  and  Climax,  Mich.;  1875-’77,  Mus- 
kegon, Mich.;  1878-’79,  Big  Rapids,  Mich.;  1880,  Jackson,  Mich., 
First  Church;  1881-’84,  Ionia  District;  1885-’86,  Albion  District; 
1887-’89,  Charlotte,  Mich.;  1890,  Mason,  Mich.;  1891-1900,  super- 
numerary; 1901-’07,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Sparta, 
Mich. 

*S.  W.  Lloyd — Licensed  to  preach,  1858;  admitted  on  trial, 
Kansas  and  Nebraska  Conference,  1858;  full  connection,  1860, 
deacon,  1861,  Morris;  elder,  1861,  Morris;  transferred  to  Erie 
Conference,  1865;  transferred  to  Kansas  Conference,  1868;  trans- 
ferred to  Minnesota  Conference,  1877;  transferred  to  Genesee 
Conference,  1879.  Appointments — 1858,  Kansas  Center,  (Mr. 

Lloyd  says  “Emporia”)  Kas.;  1859,  Mound  City,  (Mr.  Lloyd  says 
“Minneola”)  Kas.;  1860,  Spring  Hill,  Kas.;  1861,  Colorado  City, 
(Mr  Lloyd  says  “Canon  City”)  Kas.;  1862,  South  Park,  Kas.; 
1863,  Troy,  Kas.;  1864,  Doniphan,  Kas.;  1865,  Edinboro;  1866-  67, 
Springfield;  1868-’69,  Junction  City,  Kas.,  (Mr.  Lloyd  says:  1868, 
“Holton”;  1869-’71,  “Junction  City”);  1870-’71,  not  able  to  learn; 
1872-’74  Manhattan,  Kas.;  1875-76,  Lawrence,  Kas.;  1877,  St. 
Paul,  First  Church;  1878,  Minneapolis,  Centenary  Church;  18 <9- 
’80  Buffalo,  Grace  Church;  1881-’83,  Hornellsville;  1884,  Corning, 
Park  Church;  1885-’87,  Wellsboro;  1888-’91,  Batavia;  1892-’95, 
North  Tonawanda,  First  Church;  1896-’98,  Medina;  1899-1900, 
Perry;  1901,  Walworth,  (Mr.  Lloyd  say-  “Williamsville”) ; 1902- 


James  G.  Tozvnsend , Ira  Baker  Goodrich.  485 


James  G.  Townsend,,  Ira  Baker  Goodrich. 


James  G.  Townsend  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in 
1839.  His  mother  was  a descendant  of  the  Schuylers, 
of  New  York  city.  He  was  converted  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  in  the  little  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Brockway,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio.  From  Oberlin  College, 
where  he  was  a student,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army 
in  1862.  In  the  battle  of  Perryville  he  received  a gun- 
shot wound  which  gave  him  a helpless  arm  which  he 
has  carried  all  his  life.  Upon  his  return  from  the  army 
in  1863  he  entered  Allegheny  College,  from  which  at  a 
later  date  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
He  was  some  time  principal  of  the  Union  school  at  New 
Falls,  and  one  year  principal  of  Carrier  Seminary.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1863,  and  joined  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1865.  He  withdrew  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1874,  and  served  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  Amherst  for  six  months,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Oil  City,  Pa.,  where  he  was  pastor  when  he 
withdrew,  and  finished  building  the  present  fine  church 
edifice.  He  was  pastor  of  several  of  the  most  prom- 
inent churches  in  the  conference,  which  he  served  with 
great  acceptability.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Genesee 
Conference  in  1884,  and,  after  a year’s  ministry  in  Buf- 
falo, again  withdrew  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  founded  the  Independent  Congregational 
Church  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  teaching  what  he  called  a 
“New  Theology.”  His  sermons  were  published  weekly 
for  several  years  and  widely  read.  After  four  years, 
finding  himself  failing  in  health,  he  rested  for  a year, 
and  then  founded  the  First  Unitarian  Church,  of  Pitts- 
burg. His  health  again  failing,  he  spent  three  years  on 
his  farm  in  Brookfield,  Ohio.  Two  volumes  of  his  ser- 
mons have  been  published  in  book  form,  and  several 
other  small  volumes.  He  now,  July  16,  19 07,  lives  in 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  and  is  engaged  in  literary  work.* 


’04,  Buffalo,  Ontario  Street;  1905,  Buffalo,  Northampton  Street. 
These  differences  may  be  the  result  of  changes  made  after  con- 
ferences, as  is  often  the  case  in  new  and  growing  territory. 


*J.  G.  Townsend — Licensed  to  preach,  1863;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869, 
Ames;  withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership,  1874,  and  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church,  serving  one 


486 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Ira  Baker  Goodrich  was  born  in  Madison,  O.,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1830.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was  left  with- 
out the  tender  care  and  loving  influence  of  a Christian 
mother.  He  was  converted  during  the  winter  of  1845 
in  a meeting  held  by  Milo  Butler.  He  was  married  to 
Adeline  Cortam,  March  26,  1851.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Thompson  Quarterly  Conference,  January 
22,  i860.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  July,  1865.  In  1894  he  superannuated,  settling 
in  Geneva,  where  he  lived  till  the  day  of  his  death.  Be- 
ing of  a cheerful  disposition,  he  drove  sorrow  and  sad- 
ness out  and  carried  sunshine  in.  For  the  many  years 
of  his  sufferings  he  was  never  complaining,  but  sweet 
and  cheerful,  trying,  as  he  often  said,  to  live  the  life  of 
the  Master.  How  well  he  succeeded  there  are  many 
who  can  testify.  Just  before  his  death,  waking  out  of  a 
sound  sleep,  as  he  stood  on  the  borderland,  he  exclaimed, 
“I  am  the  child  of  a King,”  and  then  fell  asleep.  It  was 
as  the  clock  struck  one  on  the  night  of  September  7,  1905, 
that  the  voice,  unheard  by  mortal  ear,  was  heard  by 
him,  and  the  chariot  of  heaven  was  sent  to  carry  him 
home.  Surely  it  may  be  said:  “They  rest  from  their 

labor  and  their  works  do  follow  them.  I he  funeral 
services  were  held  at  his  late  home.* — (Minutes  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference,  1905.) 


year  as  pastor  of  the  churches  at  Amherst  and  North  Amherst, 
O.;  withdrew  from  the  Congregational  Church,  1875,  and  re- 
entered the  membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  a 
local  preacher;  admitted  on  trial,  1876;  full  connection,  1878; 
transferred  to  Genesee  Conference,  1884;  withdrew  from  the 
ministry  and  membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
1885.  Appointments— 1865,  Windham;  1866,  Middlebury;  1867, 
principal,  Carrier  Seminary;  1868,  Edinboro;  1869-  70,  North 
East;  1871-’72,  Forestville;  1873,  Oil  City;  1875,  Oil  City  (sup- 
ply); 1876,  Oil  City;  1877-’79,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1880-’82,  Mead- 
ville,  First  Church;  1883,  Corry;  1884,  Buffalo,  Asbury  Church. 


*1.  B.  Goodrich — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial, 
1865;  full  connection,  1867;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1869, 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  deceased,  Geneva,  O.,  September  7,  1905. 
Appointments — 1865,  Kirtland  and  Chester;  1866-  67,  Williams- 
field;  1868-’69,  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove;  1870-’71,  Jefferson;  1872- 
’73,  Mayfield;  1874-’75,  Mentor;  1876-’78,  Nottingham  and  Glen- 
ville;  1879-’80,  Conneaut;  1881-’82,  Bedford  and  Northfield;  1883- 
’84  Green;  1885-’86,  Orwell;  1887,  New  Cumberland;  1888-  89, 
Warrensville;  1890,  Mayfield;  1891-’93,  Geneva,  Second  Church; 
1894,  supernumerary;  1895-1904,  superannuated. 


James  G.  Townsend , Ira  Baker  Goodrich.  487 

W.  F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder,  speaking  of  the  Cleve- 
land District  camp  meeting,  says : 

“Our  camp  meeting  was  a noble  success.  The  Spirit 
was  poured  out  upon  us  from  the  beginning.  The  in- 
terest and  prosperity  of  the  meeting  continually  in- 
creased. Seekers  of  religion  came  forward  from  the 
first.  Mourners  were  converted  every  day.  Seventeen 
were  reported  as  having  been  brought  into  the  Kingdom 
in  one  prayer  meeting.  The  whole  number  of  profes- 
sions could  not  be  ascertained.  At  the  close  some  set  the 
number  at  fifty,  some  seventy,  and  many  more  at  one 
hundred.  The  Church  was  deeply  moved,  and  baptized 
by  the  Spirit.  The  blessing  of  holiness  was  sought  by 
multitudes,  and  found  by  many.  The  tide  of  religious 
feeling  was  constant  and  all  prevailing,  and  although  the 
external  excitement  and  demonstrations  were  less  than 
have  been  seen,  the  writer  never  witnessed  a finer  flow 
of  enjoyment.  The  order  on  the  ground  and  in  the 
vicinity  was  most  excellent.”  This  meeting  was  held 
near  Thompson. — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , Sept. 
16. 1865.) 


VII. 


SLAVERY— WAR— PEACE. 

Slavery  in  Pennsylvania. 

Slavery  was  introduced  in  Pennsylvania  in  1681.  In 
1780  an  act  for  the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery  was 
passed.  This  measure  was  originated,  prepared,  and 
carried  through  the  Legislature  by  George  Bryan.  It  was 
many  years  before  the  state  was  wholly  free  from  slav- 
ery. As  late  as  i860  there  was  still  one  slave  in  Penn- 
sylvania; his  name  was  Lawson  Lee  Taylor,  and  he  be- 
longed to  James  Clark,  of  Donegal  township,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  In  1787  Samuel  Wright  laid  out  Columbia, 
Lancaster  county,  and  set  apart  the  northeastern  part 
for  the  colored  people,  to  many  of  whom  he  presented 
lots.  This  section  was  thickly  settled,  and  formed  a 
good  hiding  place  for  escaped  slaves.  The  term  ‘‘under- 
ground railroad”  originated  in  this  way:  At  Columbia 

the  runaway  slave  was  so  completely  lost  to  the  pursuer 
that  the  slave  hunter  would  frequently  exclaim,  “There 
must  be  an  underground  railroad  somewhere."  Hence 
the  name. 

In  1838  an  organization  was  effected  in  Philadelphia, 
of  which  Robert  Purvis  was  the  president,  and  Jacob  C. 
White,  secretary.  The  system  grew  and  extended  all 
over  the  state,  several  of  the  lines  of  the  underground 
railroad  passed  through  the  Erie  Conference  territory. 
We  will  not  attempt  to  give  an  account  of  the  whole 
system.  One  road  started  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
extended  by  way  of  Bellefonte,  Grampion  Hills,  Punx- 
sutawney,  Brookville,  Clarington  and  Warren  to  Lake 
Erie  and  Canada.  A branch  road  came  from  Indiana, 
Pa.,  to  Clayville.  The  conductors  and  agents  of  these 
roads  were  principally  Methodists  and  Quakers.  In  Jef- 
ferson county  were  Elijah  Heath  and  wife,  Arad  Pear- 
sal  and  wife,  James  Steadman  and  wife,  and  the  Rev. 


490 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Christopher  Fogel  and  his  first  and  second  wife,  of 
Brookville,  Isaac  P.  Carmalt  and  his  wife,  of  near  Clay- 
ville,  James  A.  Minish  of  Punxsutawney,  and  William 
Coon  and  his  wife  of  Clarington.  The  Heaths,  Pearsals 
and  Fogels  were  Methodists,  and  Mrs.  Fogel,  the  first 
wife  of  Rev.  Fogel,  was  the  first  woman  who  ever  prayed 
aloud  in  Brookville. 


The  number  of  slaves  which  escaped  through  this  line 
may  be  judged  by  notices  in  the  newspapers  of  the  day. 
For  an  example,  an  early  paper  of  Brookville  says  edi- 
torially: “Twenty-five  fugitive  slaves  passed  through 

Brookville  Monday  morning  on  their  way  to  Canada." 
On  Monday  morning,  October  14,  1850,  forty  armed 
fugitive  slaves  passed  through  Brookville  to  Canada. 
The  Brookville  Jeffersonian  of  September  15,  1854,  con- 
tained among  others  this  advertisement:  “Escaped  from 
jail  of  Jefferson  county.  Pa.,  last  night,  a black  man, 
'named  William  Parker,  alias  Robinson,  a slave  belong- 
ing to  the  undersigned ; aged  about  twenty-six  years, 
and  about  five  feet  and  six  inches  high ; broad  shoulders, 
full  round  face,  rather  a brave  countenance,  and  thick 
lips,  particularly  the  upper  lip;  stammers  a little,  and 
rather  slow  in  speech ; was  removing  him  to  the  State 
of  Virginia  by  virtue  of  a certificate  from  Judges  Ship- 
pen  and  Irvin  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Venan- 
go county;  wanted  to  take  him  to  the  place  from  which 
he  fled.  I will  give  reward  of  $150  to  any  person  who 
will  deliver  him  to  the  jail  of  Jefferson  county,  Va.,  and 
if  that  sum  should  appear  to  be  inadequate  to  the  expense 
and  trouble,  it  shall  be  suitably  increased. 

“Stephen  Delgarn." 

Now  it  appeared  that  Arad  Pearsal  was  the  jailer. 
The  jail  was  constructed  from  stone  spawls  with  wooden 
doors  and  big  iron  locks.  The  prisoners  were  shackled 
and  handcuffed.  William  Parker,  the  slave,  reached 
Canada.  Heath,  another  Methodist,  and  Steadman,  fur- 
nished augurs  and  files.  A thief,  also  in  jail,  named 
Butler  B.  Amos,  filed  the  shackles  from  the  slave  and, 
with  augurs,  bored  the  locks  off  the  doors.  Pearsal, 
Heath  and  Steadman  did  the  rest.  Then,  too,  Steadman 
had  Delgarn,  who  was  in  pursuit  of  the  slave,  arrested 
for  traveling  on  Sunday.  This  gave  the  slave  a good 
start  through  the  woods  for  Canada.  This  is  one  of 


Early  Conferences  on  Slavery. 


491 


the  exciting  incidents  of  the  times. 

Christopher  Fogel,  whom  we  have  already  mentioned, 
was  in  the  underground  railroad  business  in  Heathville, 
and  so  continued  until  the  war  for  the  Union.  Several 
posts  in  and  around  Brookville  are  still  shown  as  his 
places  of  concealment  for  the  fugitive  slaves — the  old 
tannery,  the  K.  L.  Flood  farm,  the  little  yellow  house, 
where  Benscoter’s  residence  now  is,  and  the  old  house 
formerly  owned  by  John  J.  Thompson,  opposite  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  The  next  station  on  the 
road  was  the  house  of  William  Coon,  of  Clarington. 
He  fed  the  slaves,  ferried  them  over  the  Clarion  river 
and  started  them  through  the  wilderness  for  Warren; 
other  stations  are  mentioned,  Mercer  and  Fredonia,  N. 
Y.,  being  among  the  more  prominent.  Several  lines 
passed  across  the  Ohio  river  into  Ohio  and  through  the 
Western  Reserve. — (W.  J.  McKnight,  A Pioneer  Out- 
line History  of  Pennsylvania , pp.  310-328;  consult  also 
Pioneer  History  of  Jefferson  County,  pp.  266-284.) 

Early  Conferences  on  Slavery. 

The  following  questions  and  answers  appear  in  the 
“minutes  of  some  conversations  between  the  preachers  in 
connection  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley,”  held  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  April  24,  1780: 

“O.  16.  Ought  not  this  conference  to  require  those 
traveling  preachers  who  hold  slaves  to  give  promises  to 
set  them  free?” 

“A.  Yes.” 

“O.  17.  Does  this  conference  acknowledge  that  slav- 
ery is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God,  man,  and  nature,  and 
hurtful  to  society ; contrary  to  the  dictates  of  conscience 
and  pure  religion,  and  doing  that  which  we  would  not 
others  should  do  to  us  and  ours?  Do  we  pass  our  dis- 
approbation on  all  our  friends  who  keep  slaves,  and  ad- 
vise their  freedom?” 

“A.  Yes.” 

In  the  minutes  of  the  conference  held  at  “Ellis’s 
Preaching  House,”  May  6,  1783,  and  adjourned  to  Bal- 
timore, May  27,  we  have  the  following : 

“O.  10.  W hat  shall  be  done  with  our  local  preachers 
who  hold  slaves  contrary  to  the  laws  which  authorize 
their  freedom  in  any  of  the  United  States? 


492 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


“We  will  try  them  another  year.  In  the  meantime 
let  their  assistant  deal  faithfully  and  plainly  with  every- 
one, and  report  to  the  next  conference.  It  may  then  be 
necessary  to  suspend  them.” 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  we  find  this  additional  ac- 
tion : 

“Q.  12.  What  shall  we  do  with  our  friends  that  will 
buy  and  sell  slaves? 

“If  they  buy  with  no  other  design  than  to  hold  them 
as  slaves,  and  have  been  previously  warned,  they  shall 
be  expelled,  and  permitted  to  sell  on  no  consideration. 

“Q.  !3-  What  shall  we  do  with  our  local  preachers 
who  will  not  emancipate  their  slaves  in  the  states  where 
the  laws  admit  it? 

“Try  those  in  Virginia  another  year,  and  suspend  the 
preachers  in  Maryland,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey. 

“Q.  22.  What  shall  be  done  with  our  traveling  preach- 
ers that  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be,  possessed  of 
slaves,  and  refuse  to  manumit  them  where  the  law 
permits  ? 

“Employ  them  no  more." 

It  was  found  that  the  problem  of  slavery  was  too  great 
for  solution  at  that  time.  The  minutes  of  1785  contain 
the  following: 

“It  is  recommended  to  all  our  brethren  to  suspend 
the  execution  of  the  minute  on  slavery  till  the  delibera- 
tions of  a future  conference : and  that  an  equal  space  of 
time  be  allowed  all  our  members  for  consideration,  when 
the  minute  shall  be  put  in  force. 

“N.  B. — We  do  hold  in  the  deepest  abhorrence  the 
practice  of  slavery,  and  shall  not  cease  to  seek  its  de- 
struction by  all  wise  and  prudent  means. 

These  early  efforts  to  rid  the  Church  of  the  crime  of 
slavery  suffered  defeat,  d here  is  a single  mention  of 
the  subject  in  1795,  when  the  call  for  a fast  included 
among  the  causes  for  “fasting,  humiliation,  prayers  and 
supplication”  “the  deep-rooted  vassalage  that  still  reign- 
eth  in  many  parts  of  these  free,  independent,  United 
States.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  I,  pp.  12,  18, 
20,  21 , 24,  64.) 

The  following  action  of  the  General  Conference  of 


Early  Conferences  on  Slavery.  493 

1800  and  later  conferences  shows  its  gradual  retreat  from 
its  early  advanced  position: 

“Brother  Snethen  moved  that  this  General  Conference 
do  resolve,  that  from  this  time  forth  no  slaveholder  shall 
be  admitted  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Nega- 
tived.” 

“Brother  Bloodgood  moved  that  all  negro  children  be- 
longing to  the  members  of  the  Methodist  Society,  who 
shall  be  born  in  slavery  after  the  fourth  day  of  July, 
1800,  shall  be  emancipated — males  at  — years,  and  fe- 
males at  — years.  Negatived.” 

“Brother  Lathomus  moved  that  every  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  holding  slaves,  shall,  with- 
in the  term  of  one  year  from  the  date  hereof,  give  an 
instrument  of  emancipation  for  all  his  slaves;  and  the 
quarterly  meeting  conference  shall  determine  on  the  time 
the  slave  shall  serve,  if  the  laws  of  the  state  do  not  ex- 
pressly prohibit  their  emancipation.  Negatived.” 

“Brother  Cooper  moved  that  a committee  be  appointed 
to  prepare  an  affectionate  address  to  the  Methodist  So- 
cieties in  the  United  States,  stating  the  evils  of  the  spirit 
and  practice  of  slavery,  the  necessity  of  doing  away  with 
the  evil  as  far  as  the  laws  of  the  respective  states  will 
allow ; and  that  the  said  address  be  laid  before  the  con- 
ference for  their  consideration,  and,  if  agreed  to,  be 
signed  by  the  bishops  in  behalf  of  the  conference. 
Agreed  to.” 

Brother  Timmons  “moved  that  when  any  of  our  trav- 
eling preachers  become  owners  of  a slave  or  slaves  by 
any  means,  they  shall  forfeit  their  ministerial  character 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  unless  they  execute, 
if  it  be  practicable,  a legal  emancipation  of  such  slave  or 
slaves  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the  state  wherein  they 
live.  Agreed  to.” — (General  Conference  Journal,  1800, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  40,  41,  44.) 

At  the  next  General  Conference,  after  various  reso- 
lutions concerning  slavery,  Ezekiel  Cooper  moved  that 
a committee  be  appointed  to  which  the  whole  subject 
should  be  referred.  The  motion  carried,  and  the  com- 
mittee was  appointed.  Their  report  was  adopted  by  the 
conference,  and  was  as  follows : 

“1.  We  declare  that  we  are  as  much  as  ever  con- 
vinced of  the  great  evil  of  slavery,  and  do  most  earnestly 


32 


494 


History}  of  Eric  Conference. 

recommend  to  the  yearly  conferences,  quarterly  meeting 
conferences,  and  to  those  who  have  the  oversight  of  dis- 
tricts, circuits,  and  stations,  to  be  exceedingly  cautious 
what  persons  they  admit  to  official  stations  in  our  church , 
and  in  the  case  of  future  admission  to  official  stations, 
to  require  such  security  of  those  who  hold  slaves  for  the 
emancipation  of  them,  immediately  or  gradually,  as  the 
laws  of  the  states  respectively  and  the  circumstances  of 
the  case  will  admit;  and  we  do  fully  authorize  all  the 
yearly  conferences  to  make  whatever  regulations  they 
judge  proper  in  the  present  case  respecting  the  admis- 
sion of  persons  to  official  stations  in  our  church. 

“2.  When  any  traveling  preacher  becomes  the  owner 
of  a slave,  or  slaves,  by  any  means,  he  shall  forfeit  his 
ministerial  character  in  our  church,  unless  he  execute, 
if  it  be  practicable,  a legal  emancipation  of  such  slaves, 
conformably  to  the  laws  of  the  state  in  which  he  lives. 

‘W  No  slaveholder  shall  be  received  into  full  mem- 
bership in  our  society  till  the  preacher  who  has  the  over- 
sight of  the  circuit  or  station  has  spoken  to  him  fully 
and  faithfully  on  the  subject  of  slavery. 

“4  Every  member  of  our  society  who  sells  a slave, 
except  at  the  request  of  the  slave,  in  cases  of  mercy  and 
humanity,  agreeably  to  the  judgment  of  a committee  of  . 
three  male  members  of  the  society,  appointed  y ie 
preacher  who  has  the  charge  of  the  circuit  or  station, 
shall,  immediately  after  full  proof,  be  excluded  from  the 
societv ; and  if  any  members  of  our  society  purchase  a 
slave  'the  ensuing  quarterly  meeting  conference  shall  de- 
termine on  the  number  of  years  which  the  slave  so  pur- 
chased should  serve  to  work  out  the  price  of  his  pur- 
chase; and  the  person  so  purchasing  shall,  immediately 
after  such  determination,  execute  a legal  instrument  o 
the  manumission  of  such  slave  at  the  expiration  of  the 
term  determined  by  the  quarterly  meeting  conference; 
and  in  default  of  his  executing  such  instrument  of  man- 
umission. or  on  his  refusal  to  submit  his  case  to  the 
judgment  of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference.  such  "lum- 
ber shall  be  excluded  the  society:  Provided,  That  m 

case  of  a female  slave,  it  shall  be  inserted  111  the  aforesaid 
instrument  of  manumission  that  all  her  childien  \\  to 
shall  be  born  during  the  years  of  her  servitude  shall  be 
free  at  the  following  times,  viz.:  every  temale  child  at 


Early  Conferences  on  Slavery. 


495 


the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  every  male  child  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five;  provided,  also,  that  if  a member  of  our 
society  shall  buy  a slave  with  a certificate  of  future  eman- 
cipation, the  terms  of  emancipation  shall,  notwithstand- 
ing, be  subject  to  the  decision  of  the  quarterly  meeting 
conference.  Nevertheless,  the  members  of  our  society 
in  the  states  of  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Geor- 
gia shall  be  exempted  from  the  operation  of  the  above 
rules. 

“5.  Let  our  preachers  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion 
serves,  admonish  and  exhort  all  slaves  to  render  due  re- 
spect and  obedience  to  the  commands  and  interests  of 
their  respective  masters.” — (General  Conference  Jour- 
nal, 1804,  1>  PP - 62-63-) 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1808:  “Moved  by 

Stephen  G.  Roszel,  and  seconded  by  Thomas  Ware,  that 
the  first  two  paragraphs  of  the  section  on  slavery  be  re- 
tained in  our  discipline;  and  that  the  General  Confer- 
ence authorize  each  annual  conference  to  form  their  own 
regulations  relative  to  buying  and  selling  slaves.  Car- 
ried.”— (General  Conference  Journal,  1808,  Vol.  I,  p. 
93-) 

The  committee  on  slavery  in  1816,  after  stating  that 
“the  evil  appears  to  be  past  remedy,”  and  rehearsing 
the  difficulties  in  the  case,  replace  the  recommendatory 
part  of  the  answer  to  the  question  about  slavery  in*  the 
discipline  by  the  words:  “Therefore,  no  slaveholder 

shall  be  eligible  to  any  official  station  in  our  church  here- 
after where  the  laws  of  the  state  in  which  he  lives  will 
admit  of  emancipation,  and  permit  the  liberated  slave  to 
enjoy  freedom.”  This  report  was  adopted. — (General 
Conference  Journal,  1816,  Vol.  I,  pp.  169-1  jo.) 

In  1828  S.  G.  Roszel  offered  the  following  resolution: 

“Resolved,  By  the  delegates  of  the  annual  conferences 
in  General  Conference  assembled.  That  in  all  cases  when 
there  is  creditable  testimony  against  any  members  show- 
ing that  they  treat  their  slave  or  slaves  with  inhumanity, 
either  in  not  supplying  them  with  comfortable  and  suffi- 
cient food  or  raiment,  or  in  separating  husbands  and 
wives  or  parents  or  children  by  buying  or  selling  them 
in  an  inhuman  traffic  of  our  fellow  creatures,  the  person 
or  persons  so  offending  shall  be  dealt  with  in  the  same 
manner  as  in  the  cases  of  immorality  : and  that  this 


496 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


regulation  be  inserted  in  our  form  of  discipline.”  The 
resolution  was  signed  by  S.  G.  Roszel  and  P.  W.  Cart- 
wright. It  was  laid  on  the  table.  At  a later  time  these 
brethren  offered  a motion  to  take  it  from  the  table,  but 
withdrew  the  motion. — ( General  Conference  Journal , 
1828,  Vol.  I , p.  337.) 

During  the  session  of  the  General  Conference  of  1836 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Rev.  Samuel  Norris  and  Rev.  George 
Storrs,  both  members  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
and  delegates  to  the  General  Conference,  attended  an 
anti-slavery  meeting  held  in  the  city,  and  each  delivered 
a brief  address.  This  was  the  occasion  of  great  excite- 
ment in  the  General  Conference.  S.  G.  Roszel  offered 
a preamble  and  resolution  which  were  discussed  for  two 
days,  and  then  adopted  as  follows : 

“Whereas,  Great  excitement  has  prevailed  in  this 
country  on  the  subject  of  modern  abolitionism,  which  is 
reported  to  have  been  increased  in  this  city  recently  by 
the  unjustifiable  conduct  of  two  members  of  the  General 
Conference,  in  lecturing  upon  and  in  favor  of  that  agitat- 
ing topic;  and, 

“Whereas,  Such  a course  on  the  part  of  any  of  its 
members  is  calculated  to  bring  upon  this  body  the  sus- 
picions and  distrust  of  the  community,  and  misrepresent 
its  sentiments  in  regard  to  the  point  at  issue;  and, 

“Whereas,  In  this  aspect  of  the  case,  a due  regard  for 
its  own  character,  as  well  as  a just  concern  for  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Church  confided  to  its  care,  demand  a full, 
decided,  and  unequivocal  expression  of  the  views  of  the 
General  Conference  in  the  premises;  therefore,  be  it 

“Resolved,  By  the  delegates  of  the  annual  conferences 
in  General  Conference  assembled,  (1)  That  they  dis- 
approve in  the  most  unqualified  sense  the  conduct  of  two 
members  of  the  General  Conference,  who  aie  repoited 
to  have  lectured  in  this  city  recently  upon  and  in  favor 
of  modern  abolitionism; 

“Resolved,  (2)  That  they  are  decidedly  opposed  to 
modern  abolitionism,  and  wholly  disclaim  any  right,  wish, 
or  intention  to  interfere  in  the  civil  and  political  relation 
between  master  and  slave  as  it  exists  in  the  slave-holding 
states  of  this  Union; 

“Resolved,  (3)  That  the  foregoing  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions be  published  in  our  periodicals.” 


Erie  Conference  on  Slavery.  497 

I he  unanimity  with  which  the  General  Conference 
adopted  this  paper  is  given  in  the  Journal: 

“The  consideration  of  the  motion  of  S.  G.  Roszel  was 
resumed,  and,  after  a few  remarks,  the  question  was 
taken  on  the  first  resolution,  which  was  adopted,  122 
voting  in  favor,  and  n against  it.  The  second  resolu- 
tion was  then  read.  An  amendment  was  moved  by  A. 
Scott,  and  after  considerable  debate,  on  taking  the  ques- 
tion, the  motion  to  amend  was  lost,  123  against  and  14 
in  favor  of  it.  The  resolution  was  then  read,  and  a 
division  of  it  called  for.  The  first  member  of  the  reso- 
lution was  then  read,  and  on  taking  the  question  it  was 
adopted,  120  in  favor  and  14  against  it.  The  remain- 
ing part  of  the  resolution  was  then  read,  and  on  taking 
the  question,  137  voted  in  favor  of  it,  and  none  in  the 
opposition. 

“The  preamble  was  then  read  and  adopted. 

“The  third  resolution  was  also  read  and  adopted/’ — 
( General  Conference  Journal , 1836,  Vol.  I,  pp.  446-443.) 

Erie  Conference  on  Slavery. 

J.  S.  Barris  and  Martin  Ruter  were  delegates  to  this 
conference  from  this  territory,  and  the  former  returned 
greatly  strengthened  in  his  anti-slavery  sentiments.  The 
action  of  the  General  Conference  ofifended  many.  They 
began  to  preach,  lecture,  pray  and  talk  upon  the  evils  of 
slavery  yet  more  earnestly.  They  advocated  immediate, 
universal,  and  unconditional  emancipation.  Ralph 
Clapp,  Isaac  Winans,  William  Swayze,  George  W. 
Clarke,  Bryan  S.  Hill  and  Benjamin  Preston  became 
ardent  supporters  of  Mr.  Barris.  Foremost  among  their 
opposers  were  William  Stevens,  Ira  Eddy,  Billings  O. 
Plimpton,  Hiram  Kinsley,  John  C.  Ayres,  John  Chand- 
ler and  John  J.  Steadman.  J.  S.  Barris  was  the  recog- 
nized leader  in  behalf  of  emancipation. 

Mr.  Barris  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  Tuly 
25,  1800,  and  was  converted  at  the  Pike  Run  camp  meet- 
ing in  1820.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Local 
Preachers’  Conference,  held  in  Salem,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
in  June,  1822,  and  two  years  later  admitted  on  trial  in 


498 


1 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

the  Ohio  Conference.  He  became  a member  of  the 
Pittsburg  and  Erie  Conferences  at  their  organization. 

“Indeed,  Mr.  Barris  at  this  time  possessed  more  popu- 
lar influence  than  any  other  member  of  the  conference 
outside  of  Allegheny'  College.  He  was  now  thirty-six 
years  old,  with  twelve  years'  experience  in  the  ministry ; 
small  in  stature,  but  possessing  robust  health;  quick  in 
all  his  movements,  and  exceedingly  genial  in  his  dispo- 
sition. He  was  very  apt  and  adroit  as  a disputant,  gave 
a peculiar  nod  of  his  head  when  uttering  emphatic  words, 
carrying  generally,  both  in  the  pulpit  and  when  out  of  it, 
a good-sized  quid  of  tobacco  inside  of  his  undei  lip.  c 
was  lively  and  animated  in  his  address,  but  rather  too 
full  of  pleasantry  and  free  with  laughable  stories  to  im- 
press vou  in  the  most  favorable  manner  with  the  depth 
of  his' piety,  and  yet  his  zeal  for  God’s  glory  and  mans 
well-being  was  so  great  as  to  inspire  you  with  great  re- 
spect for  the  man.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism, 

Erie  Conference , To/.  II,  pp.  3^~37-) 

T S.  Barris  and  Isaac  Winans  were  presiding  elders 

of  two  prominent  districts— the  Meadville  and  the  Ra- 
venna. The  subject  of  abolitionism  became  the  topic  of 
conversation  at  social  gatherings,  was  discussed  at  public 
meetings  called  for  that  purpose,  and  furnished  pulpit 
themes.  The  excitement  on  these  districts  grew  in  in- 
tensity. The  sentiments  of  the  presiding  elders  called 
forth  the  most  bitter  opposition.  There  was  frequent 
alienation  of  friends.  “Zion’s  Watchman,”  pledged  to 
emancipation,  was  started  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  by  Rev 
Orano-e  Scott,  who  had  been  a member  of  the  General 
Conference  of  1836.  Messrs.  Barris  and  \\  inans,  and 
their  associates  endorsed  and  circulated  this  paper  in- 
stead of  the  church  papers  which  denounced  their  course. 
They  encouraged  passing  anti-slavery  resolutions  at  quar- 
terly and  district  conferences,  and  formed  abolition  so- 
cieties. Opposition  became  more  demonstrative.  Abo- 
lition speakers  were  mobbed  and  their  meetings  broken 
up.  and  the  law  gave  no  protection.  The  Erie  Confer- 
ence became  the  storm  center  of  abolition  agitation.  1 he 
session  of  1837  saw  the  culmination. 

No  member  of  the  conference  would  admit  that  he 
was  in  favor  of  slavery,  doubtless  no  one  would  admit 
that  he  really  desired  its  continuance.  “They  saw  it  so 


Erie  Conferences  on  Slavery. 


499 


interwoven  with  the  entire  structure  of  our  government, 
and  the  whole  machinery  of  the  Church,  that  to  abolish 
it  was  impossible,  and  even  to  mitigate  its  numerous  ad- 
mitted evils  was  beyond  the  power  or  rightful  action  of 
the  people  in  these  Northern  States ; ;and,  therefore, 
claimed  that  the  hot  and  exciting  discussion  of  the  sub- 
ject now  going  on  was  hurtful  to  the  Church,  injurious 
to  both  master  and  servant,  and  full  of  peril  to  the  na- 
tional government,  and  therefore  should  be  terminated 
in  some  way.”  The  abolitionists  had  hoped  to  have  had 
a majority  in  the  conference.  They  had  made  gains  dur- 
ing the  year.  Rev.  Orange  Scott  was  to  be  present. 

The  conference  met  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  August  9, 
1837,  Bishop  Robert  R.  Roberts  presiding.  Allured 
Plimpton  was  chosen  secretary.  Several  members  of  the 
Pittsburg  Conference  were  present  in  the  interest  of 
Allegheny  College  and  the  ‘'Pittsburg  Conference  Jour- 
nal.” The  conference  desired  to  hear  them,  and  passed 
a resolution  inviting  “members  of  sister  conferences  who 
are  or  may  be  present,”  to  seats  within  the  bar  of  the 
conference,  and  to  take  part  in  the  deliberations.  This 
admitted  Orange  Scott  and  any  other  abolitionists  who 
might  be  present. 

\Ye  meet  with  the  following  action  taken  Friday  morn- 
ing, the  third  day  of  the  conference : “A  resolution  was 
offered  by  Brother  Barris  on  the  General  Rule  of  Slav- 
ery, and  on  motion  the  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table — 
32  to  29.” — (Written  Journal  of  the  Erie  Conference , 
I&37’  P‘  20 •)  The  resolution  is  not  recorded,  but  we 
are  able  to  trace  its  origin.  The  Baltimore  Conference, 
at  its  session  in  March,  1837,  had  by  resolution  given  its 
exposition  of  the  rule  on  slavery,  as  it  then  appeared  in 
the  discipline,  as  follows : 

“Resolved,  That  in  all  cases  of  administration,  under 
the  general  rule  in  reference  to  buying  and  selling  men, 
women  and  children,  it  be  and  hereby  is  recommended 
to  all  committees,  as  the  sense  and  opinion  of  this  con- 
ference, that  the  said  rule  be  taken,  construed  and  under- 
stood so  as  not  to  make  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the 
accused  to  depend  upon  the  simple  fact  of  purchase  or 
sale  of  any  such  slave  or  slaves,  but  upon  the  attendant 
circumstances  of  cruelty,  injustice  or  inhumanity,  on  the 
one  hand,  or  those  of  kindness  or  good  intentions  on 


500  History  of.  Erie  Conference. 

the  other,  under  which  the  transactions  shall  have  been 
perpetrated." 

The  resolution  of  Mr.  Barris  was  against  this  interpre- 
tation. Messrs.  Barris,  Winans  and  Scott  spoke  at 
length,  and  several  brethren  replied.  The  same  evening 
a meeting  was  called  and  a society  organized  under  the 
initials  of  the  Erie  Conference,  with  the  avowed  purpose 
of  continuing  the  discussion.  The  next  day  B.  O.  Plimp- 
ton offered  in  conference  the  following  resolution : 

“Whereas,  An  anti-slavery  society  is  said  to  have  been 
formed  under  the  initials  of  the  Erie  Conference ; there- 
fore, be  it 

“Resolved,  That  as  a conference  we  disclaim  all  con- 
nection with  such  association.’ 

The  resolution  was  signed  by  b.  O.  Plimpton  and  J.  J. 
Steadman,  “and  was  carried— 35  being  in  favor  of  the 
motion  and  25  against  it."* — ('Written  Journal  of  the  Erie 
Conference , 1837,  p.  24.) 

The  next  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  was  held  in 
Painesville,  O.,  commencing  August  8,  1838,  Bishop 
Beverly  Waugh  presiding,  and  Allured  Plimpton,  Secre- 
tary. The  great  battle  for  abolition  was  at  hand.  The 
clans  were  gathering.  It  was  the  subject  discussed  on 
the  way  to  conference.  The  battle  was  not  delayed.  In 
the  forenoon  of  the  second  day  “Father  Stevens"  offered 
the  following  resolution: 

“Resolved,  by  the  Erie  Annual  Conference,  That  while 
we  disclaim  all  intention  of  interfering  with  any  man’s 
private  opinions,  and  while,  as  the  discipline  says,  ‘We 
are  as  much  as  ever  convinced  of  the  great  evil  of  slav- 
ery,’ we  judge  it  incompatible  with  the  duties  and  obli- 
gations of  Methodist  preachers  to  spend  their  time  in 
delivering  abolition  lectures,  contributing  to  the  getting 
up  of  abolition  meetings,  or  in  attending  abolition  con- 
ventions or  in  circulating  abolition  papers.” 

The  discussion  was  heated  and  lengthy,  when  the  pre- 
vious question  was  called  for,  and  a vote  ordeied  by  a di- 
vision of  the  house.  The  resolution  was  adopted  36  fQ1  > 
and  30  against.  Mr.  Gregg  says  of  the  argument  of  J. 
J.  Steadman:  “His  speech  was  ingeniously  and  carefully 
arranged,  eloquently  delivered,  and  exceedingly  impress- 


*Mr.  Gregg  gives  the  vote  as  31  to  25. 


Charges  Against  Preachers  and  Their  Results.  50 1 


ive,  and  he  was  frequently  interrupted  with  applause  from 
the  conference,  and  even  the  bishop  in  the  chair  responded 
approvingly  at  times.” — (Written  Journal  of  the  Erie 
Conference,  1838,  p.  30;  Gregg , History  of  Methodism , 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  II,  pp.  73-76.)  This  was  not  the 
first  time  that,  in  these  slavery  and  other  discussions, 
“the  chair”  has  indicated  its  sympathy  so  as  to  influ- 
ence the  vote.  We  may  notice  also  that  at  the  former 
session  of  the  conference,  when  the  resolution  concern- 
ing the  anti-slavery  society”  was  under  discussion,  Hiram 
Kinsley,  after  a powerful  plea  in  which  new  arguments 
were  presented,  moved  the  previous  question,  thus  giving 
no  opportunity  for  reply. 

The  next  Sunday  evening  Mr.  Barris  preached  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  in  his  sermon  spoke  strongly 
concerning  the  action  of  the  conference,  and  announced 
his  determination  to  become  still  more  active  in  the  cause 
of  freedom  for  the  slaves.  On  Tuesday  morning  the  fol- 
lowing charge  and  specifications  were  presented : 

Charges  Against  Preachers  and  Their  Results. 


“Charge.  Insubordination  to  the  constituted  authori- 
ties of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

“Specification  1.  Disobedience  to  the  advice  of  the 
General  Conference  in  lecturing  and  agitating  the  sub- 
ject of  abolitionism  the  past  year. 

“Specification  2.  For  contempt  of  this  conference  by 
getting  up  and  presiding  at  an  abolition  meeting  on 
Thursday,  the  9th  inst.,  and  in  delivering  an  abolition 
lecture  under  pretense  of  preaching  a gospel  sermon  in 
the  Congregational  Church  in  this  place  on  Sabbath  even- 
ing last. 

“Specification  3.  In  giving  leave  to  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  New  Castle  Circuit  to  attend  the  abolition  con- 
vention held  in  Utica  in  May  last.” 

A motion  was  carried  giving  Mr.  Barris  “time  to  pre- 
pare to  meet  said  charges,”  but  the  delay  was  brief.  The 
first  specification  was  read  and  while  the  first  witness  was 
testifying  the  following  resolution  was  presented  and 
adopted : 

“Whereas,  Charges  have  been  preferred  against  Rev. 
J.  S.  Barris  for  insubordination  to  the  authorities  of  the 


502  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  agitating  the  subject  of 
abolitionism  and  is  likely  to  protract  the  session  of  this 
conference  to  a greater  length  than  necessary;  therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  the  parties  be  respectfully  requested 
to  suspend  further  investigation  and  try  to  effect  a mu- 
tual reconciliation  and  report  to  conference.” 

This  resolution  was  signed  by  Isaac  Winans  and  David 
Preston.  Brother  Barris  and  the  prosecuting  parties, 
with  two  or  three  friends  from  each  side  requested  per- 
mission to  retire,  and  it  was  granted.  At  the  afternoon 
session  the  charges  against  Mr.  Barris  were  withdrawn. 
He  now  made  a statement  and  explanations  and  retired, 
and  the  conference,  not  willing  to  let  the  matter  rest, 
adopted  the  following  resolution : 

“Resolved,  That  this  conference  regrets  the  course  pur- 
sued by  Brother  Barris  with  regard  to  the  agitating  of 
the  subject  of  modern  abolitionism;  and  that  he  be 
admonished  by  the  presiding  officer  of  its  impropriety, 
and  through  the  same  medium  respectfully  requested  to 
desist  from  such  conduct  in  future;  and  that  his  charac- 
ter pass.”  The  admonition  was  administered,  and  the 
case  ended. — (W ritten  Journal  of  the  Erie  Conference , 
1838 , pp.  35-36;  Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  II,  pp.  36-/8.) 

The  case  of  Benjamin  Preston  must  be  presented.  Mr. 
Gregg,  who  was  a member  of  the  conference,  gives  de- 
tails not  to  be  found  in  the  journal.  We  will  let  him  re- 
late the  story. 

“When  this  brother's  name  was  called  Rev.  John 
Chandler,  his  presiding  elder,  arose  and  said  to  the  con- 
ference that  complaints  having  been  made  to  him  rela- 
tive to  the  conduct  of  Brother  Preston,  he  had  felt  it  to 
be  his  duty  to  call  a committee  to  investigate  them ; and 
as  the  committee  had  decided  against  his  course  of  action, 
it  became  his  duty,  as  presiding  elder,  to  bring  the  whole 
subject  before  the  conference  for  final  adjudication.  On 
Tuesday  morning  the  case  of  Brother  Preston  was  called 
up  and  the  minutes  of  the  investigation  referred  to  were 
read,  and  conference  decided  to  sustain  the  findings  of 
the  committee,  and  as  a punishment  ordered  that  Brother 
Preston  should  be  reproved  in  open  conference  by  the 
bishop,  and  the  reproof  was  promptly  administered.  On 
Wednesday  following  a new  bill  of  complaints  against 


Charges  Against  Preachers  and  Their  Results.  503 

Brother  Preston  was  presented  to  conference  for  investi- 
gation, as  follows: 

“ ‘First — For  saying  that  the  proceedings  of  the  New 
York  Conference  at  its  last  session  were  unrighteous  and 
unjust,  and  equal  to  a Roman  inquisition,  and  he  would 
as  leave  see  the  prosecutions  under  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary  revived  as  said  proceedings,  and  that  the  devil  was 
at  the  bottom  of  it.* 

“ ‘Second — For  saying  that  in  reference  to  his  aboli- 
tion movements  he  would  lecture  as  much  as  he  pleased, 
and  circulate  “Zion’s  Watchman”  as  much  as  he  could, 
and  the  conference  might  help  itself  if  it  could. 

“ ‘Third — For  making  exertions  in  favor  of  an  aboli- 
tion meeting  in  Monroe  village,  to  the  injury  of  the 
Methodist  Society  in  that  place,  although  earnestly  re- 
quested not  to  do  so. 

“ ‘Fourth — For  desecrating  the  Sabbath  by  delivering 
abolition  lectures  thereon.’ 

“But  little  testimony  was  produced,  Brother  Preston 
admitting  all  that  was  alleged  against  him,  except  that 
his  abolition  lectures  delivered  on  the  Sabbath  were  not 
a desecration  of  the  day.  He  was  pronounced  guilty, 
and  the  passage  of  the  following  resolution  closed  up  the 
unpleasant  case : 

“ ‘Resolved,  That  Rev.  Benjamin  Preston  be  deprived 
of  his  parchments  and  be  suspended  one  year.’ 

“The  next  evening  a large  audience  was  hastily  con- 
vened to  hear  Brother  Preston’s  defense,  in  which  he  de- 
nounced the  action  of  the  conference  with  great  severity 
and  much  warmth  of  feeling,  comparing  its  action  to  the 
Roman  inquisition , etc.,  which  greatly  widened  the  breach 
between  him  and  the  conference,  and  rendered  a complete 
separation  inevitable.” 

There  were  several  other  cases,  concerning  which  Mr. 
Gregg  writes : “The  reception  of  candidates  into  full 

connection  became  the  next  cause  of  trouble,  for  some  of 
the  young  men  had  given  offense  by  their  abolition  move- 
ments. B.  K.  Maltby  was  discontinued,  and  went  and 
spent  a year  in  Allegheny  College  improving  his  educa- 
tion, and  the  next  year  was  elected  a member  in  full 
connection.  J.  W.  Lowe  was  not  received  on  account  of 

♦The  New  York  Conference  had  tried  some  of  its  abolition 
members  as  we  were  doing. 


504 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


participating  slightly  in  one  or  two  abolition  meetings; 
but  in  the  afternoon  session  of  conference,  Mr.  Lowe  was 
induced  to  make  a statement  of  the  facts  in  his  case, 
which  so  far  relieved  the  minds  of  brethren  that  he  was 
admitted.  H.  J.  Moore  was  continued  on  trial,  and 
Joseph  Leslie  had  to  receive  a brief  criticism,  but  was 
elected.  These  trying  scenes  made  the  first  Painesville 
Conference  one  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  at- 
tended it.” — (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , Erie  Con- 
ference, Vol.  II,  pp.  78-80.) 

Benjamin  Preston,  mentioned  above,  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  David  Preston.  He  was  converted  at  one  of  the 
quarterly  meetings  held  on  the  Chautauqua  Circuit  by 
William  Swayze,  in  about  1828.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
in  1831.  He  was  then  a young  man  of  eighteen  or  nine- 
teen years.  “He  was  a stout-built  young  man,  of  medium 
height,  full  of  good  humor;  possessed  excellent  natural 
abilities,  and  with  close  application  to  study  might  have 
been  brilliant  ; could  preach  a good,  strong  sermon.” — 
(Gregg,  History  of  Methodism,  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I, 
pp.  285-286.) 

Soon  after  conference  Mr.  Preston  withdrew  from  the 
Church  and  became  the  pastor  of  a church  that  withdrew 
from  the  old  St.  Clair  Street  Church  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  joined  the  “Congregational  Consociation.* * When  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  was  formed  it  became  a 
member  of  that  denomination.  Mr.  Preston  was  not 
happy  in  this  work,  and  closing  his  labors  in  February, 
1841,  went  to  Harmony,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with 
the  intention  of  seeking  membership  again  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  Erie  Conference;  but  he  was 
taken  with  typhoid  fever  which  terminated  in  death, 
March  10,  1841. 

J.  S.  Barris  also  withdrew  from  the  Church,  and  was 
the  foremost  leader  in  the  organization  of  the  “Congre- 
gational Consociation.”  He  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  for  many  years  was  the  settled  pastor 
in  the  town  of  Quincy,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  later 
served  a church  near  Niagara  Falls. 

Isaac  Winans  was  the  third  prominent  preacher  who 
withdrew.  He  served  pulpits  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist, 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational  Churches,  in  the  last 


Further  Slavery  Resolutions  and  Legislation.  505 

of  whose  ministry  he  died.  He  had  assisted  Mr.  Barris 
in  the  formation  of  the  ‘‘Congregational  Consociation.” 
He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in 
1828,  and  became  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at 
its  organization. 

Ensign  B.  Hill  withdrew,  spent  a few  years  in  the 
“Congregational  Consociation,”  and  then  with  the  Wes- 
leyans  until  “he  came  to  a sudden  and  rather  mysterious 
death  somewhere  in  northern  Ohio.”  He  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1835,  and  be- 
came a member  of  the  Erie  Conference  at  the  division. 


Further  Slavery  Resolutions  and  Legislation. 

The  rule  on  slavery  prohibited  the  “buying  and  selling 
men,  women  and  children”  with  “the  intention  to  en- 
slave them.”  The  slaveholders  interpreted  the  rule  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  nullify  it — except  in  case  of  the  regular  Afri- 
can slave  trade.  According  to  this  interpretation,  neither 
“buying”  nor  “selling”  alone  constituted  a violation  of 
the  rule;  there  must  be  “buying  and  selling”  in  the  same 
transaction.  And  then,  too,  “men,  women  and  children” 
must  be  embraced  in  the  purchase.  Any  two  of  these 
would  not  be  enough.  Again,  it  must  be  with  the  “in- 
tention to  enslave  them;”  that  is,  as  they  interpreted  the 
rule,  to  reduce  those  not  already  slaves  to  slavery.  The 
New  England  Conference  had  passed  a resolution  with 
the  request  that  the  bishops  present  it  for  approval  to  the 
several  annual  conferences  for  their  concurrence,  request- 
ing the  next  General  Conference  to  alter  the  “General 
Rule  on  Slavery”  so  as  “to  prohibit  the  buying,  or  sell- 
ing, or  holding  men,  women  or  children  as  slaves  under 
any  circumstances,  or  giving  them  away,  unless  on  pur- 
pose to  free  them.”  The  following  resolution,  signed  by 
William  Stevens  and  B.  O.  Plimpton,  was  offered: 

“Resolved,  That  the  conference  non-concuv  in  the  reso- 
lution of  the  New  England  Conference  requesting  the 
next  General  Conference  to  alter  our  general  rules  on 
the  subject  of  slavery.” 

The  presiding  bishop,  Joshua  Soule,  was  invited  to 
take  part  in  the  discussion,  and  Mr.  Gregg  says  “the  pre- 
siding bishop  took  a prominent  part.”  The  resolution  of 
720/1-concurrence  was  passed — the  vote  standing  86  to  3. 


-06  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

It  would  be  interesting  reading  if  we  had  the  arguments 
by  which  the  Erie  Conference  justified  this  extraordinary 
and  amazing  action,  by  which  it  practically  declaied  itself 
in  favor  of  slavery  in  every  form  in  which  it  existed  in 
the  United  States,  and  in  favor  of  nullifying  any  previous 
General  Conference  legislatioo  which  stood  in  the  way. 
But  the  matter  was  not  to  pass  without  furnishing  the 
conference  an  oppotunity  of  placing  itself  more  fiiml^  on 
the  record,  dhe  following  resolution  was  presented  and 
laid  on  the  table : 

“Resolved,  That  the  resolution  on  abolition  passed  by 
the  last  Erie  Annual  Conference  be  rescinded  from  the 
minutes  of  the  journal.” 

A.  Plimpton  and  J.  E.  Chapin  then  offered  the  follow- 
ing, which  was  promptly  laid  on  the  table: 

“Resolved,  By  the  Erie  Annual  Conference  that  the 
resolution  of  the  last  conference  on  abolition  is  not  in- 
tended to  deprive  a Methodist  preacher  of  the  privilege 
of  uniting  and  acting  in  common  with  their  fellow  citi- 
zens in  an  anti-slavery  society  the  same  as  is  allowed  to 
the  preachers  who  wish  to  unite  and  act  in  Colonization 
Society.” — (Manuscript  Journal  of  the  Eric  Conference , 
Vol.  I , 1839,  pp.  48-49.)  The  Erie  Conference  could  not 
have  served  the  cause  of  slavery  better  unless  it  were  it- 
self to  have  entered  actively  upon  the  traffic. 

After  the  result  of  the  vote  was  announced  Allured 
Plimpton  asked  for  a location  and  it  was  granted.  Al- 
lured w^as  the  brother  of  B.  O.  Plimpton.  He  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1829,  and 
became  a member  of  the  Erie  Confeience  at  its  orgamza 
tion.  “Mr.  Plimpton  was  below  medium  size,  and  had 
an  impediment  in  his  speech  which  lessened  his  efficiency 
as  a public  speaker ; but  he  was  an  accomplished  gentle- 
man, had  an  amiable  disposition,  was  a close  student,  and 
was  highly  esteemed.”— (Gregg,  History  of  Methodism , 
Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  p.  263.)  After  his  location^  he 
returned  to  the  practice  of  medicine  which  he  had  aban- 
doned to  enter  the  ministry.  He  served  the  Church  as  a 
local  preacher  and  w^as  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  He 
closed  his  earthly  career  peacefully  and  triumphantly  in 
Painesville,  O.,  November  24,  1862. 

Both  parties  held  a caucus  and  nominated  delegates  to 
the  General  Conference,  and  the  nominees  of  the  anti- 


The  Second  Abolition  War.  507 

abolition  party  were  elected — B.  O.  Plimpton,  John 
Chandler,  David  Preston,  Hiram  Kinsley  and  John  C. 
Ayres;  with  John  J.  Steadman  and  Arthur  M.  Brown 
as  reserve  delegates.  Thus  ended  the  first  abolition  war 
in  the  Erie  Conference. 

In  1840  a little  murmur  was  heard  but  the  voice  was 
promptly  stifled.  The  following  entry  in  the  journal  is 
the  only  hint  that  disturbs  the  mortuary  silence : “Ira 

Norris  passed  with  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion: ‘Whereas,  Brother  Norris  has  pursued  a course 

during  the  past  year,  disorganizing  in  its  tendency; 
therefore,  Resolved,  By  the  Erie  Annual  Conference  that 
it  unqualifiedly  condemns  his  course  and  that  in  view 
of  his  humble  confession  we  pass  his  character  and  con- 
tinue him  among  us.’  ” Let  other  rash  young  men  take 
notice. 

The  Second  Abolition  War. 

We  now  quote  from  the  Conference  Journal  of  1843: 

“The  resolution  from  the  General  Conference  on  the 
subject  of  slavery  as  follows:  ‘Resolved,  By  the  Genesee 
Annual  Conference,  that  we  petition  the  next  General 
Conference  to  so  alter  the  general  rules  in  the  discipline 
of  our  Church  as  not  to  admit  or  continue  any  person 
a member  who  holds  a slave  or  slaves  in  any  state,  terri- 
tory or  district  where  the  laws  of  the  state,  territory  or 
district  will  admit  of  emancipation  and  permit  the  eman- 
cipated slave  to  enjoy  freedom;  and  for  this  purpose  the 
rule  be  changed  so  as  to  read  as  follows,  viz. : “The 

buying  or  selling  of  men,  women  or  children  with  an  in- 
tention to  enslave  them  or  the  holding  them  as  slaves  in 
any  state,  territory  or  district  where  the  laws  of  said 
state,  territory  or  district  will  admit  of  emancipation  and 
permit  the  liberated  slave  to  enjoy  freedom/’  ’ — was  pre- 
sented for  concurrence,  and  on  motion  the  conference  re- 
solved not  to  concur  : non-concurrence  61,  concurrence 
33.  A resolution  of  the  New  York  Conference  on  the 
subject  of  slavery  was  presented  as  follows:  ‘Resolved, 
by  the  New  York  Annual  Conference,  that  the  next  Gen- 
eral Conference  be  authorized  and  requested  to  suspend 
the  fourth  item  in  the  restriction  regulations  so  far  as 
to  make  the  rule  on  slavery  read  as  follows : “The  buy- 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


5°8 

in g or  selling  of  men,  women  or  children  with  an  inten- 
tion to  enslave  them.”  ’ On  motion  the  conference  con- 
curred in  the  above  resolution;  concurrence  84,  non-con- 
currence o.” — (Manuscript  Journal  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Vol.  I,  1843,  PP'  I49~I50-) 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  at  a district 
meeting  held  in  Braceville,  Ohio,  January  21,  1846: 

“While  we  still  stand  upon  the  old  Methodist  prin- 
ciples of  our  venerable  founder  and  early  fathers,  as  set 
forth  in  their  explicit  and  elaborate  testimony  against  the 
system  of  American  slavery;  and  whereas,  the  South 
have  separated  from  the  Methodist -Episcopal  Church  on 
account  of  the  action  of  the  General  Conference  on  the 
subject  of  slavery,  which  action,  we  believe,  was  both 
constitutional  and  scriptural;  and  whereas,  this  position 
of  the  South  throws  a sanction  around  the  system  of 
slavery;  therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  we  are  uncompromisingly  opposed  to 
the  position  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South, 
and  cannot  consent  to  enter  into  any  relation  that  will 
recognize  them  as  a legitimate  branch  of  the  Wesleyan 
family,  believing  that  such  a relation  would  both  be  un- 
scriptural  and  destructive  to  the  interests  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church. 

“Whereas,  The  establishment  of  a geographical  line, 
beyond  which  the  ministers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  may  not  be  permitted  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
their  commission,  would  be  saying  to  the  seceding  church 
that  we  are  willing  to  confide  the  cause  of  Christianity 
exclusively  to  their  supervision,  and  whereas,  such  a con- 
cession would  be,  in  our  judgment,  both  anti-scriptural 
and  anti-Methodistic ; therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  we  cannot  conscientiously  support  a 
paper  that  continues  to  advocate  the  establishment  of 
such  an  impassable  gulf ; 

“Resolved,  That  the  untiring  opposition  of  Drs.  Bond 
and  Elliott  to  the  establishment  of  a boundary  line  meets 
with  our  unqualified  approbation,  and  that  we  will  use 
our  best  endeavors  to  increase  their  subscription  lists ; 

“Resolved,  That  the  rule  of  discipline,  so  frequently 
broken  by  ministers  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  which  prohibits  the  buying  and  selling  of 
men,  women  and  children  with  an  intention  to  enslave 


Further  Slavery  Resolutions  and  Legislation.  509 

them,  was  designed  to  prohibit  all  traffic  in  human  be- 
ings. 

“Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions be  forwarded  to  the  Western  Christian  Advocate, 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  and  the  Christian  Advo- 
cate and  Journal,  for  publication. 

“N.B.  Will  the  two  last  mentioned  papers  copy? 
Signed  by  J.  J.  Steadman,  A.  Fouts,  J.  W.  Lowe,  L. 
Clark,  Alden  Walker,  W.  W.  Maltby,  J.  L.  Holmes, 
Potter  Sullivan,  Lorenzo  Rogers,  J.  C.  Ayres." — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  March  25,  1846.) 

Dr.  William  Hunter,  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  to  which  these  resolutions  referred,  replied 
under  the  same  date.  The  reply  ends  in  these  words : 
“In  conclusion,  we  have  only  to  say  that  we  have  a pass- 
able reputation  for  good  nature ; but  we  have,  withal, 
what  may  not  be  so  generally  known,  a little  stubborn- 
ness therewith — mulishness  if  you  please.  We  dislike 
threats,  and  when  attempted  to  be  driven,  become  utterly 
impracticable.  We  have  taken  our  position  deliberately, 
understandingly,  and  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  cannot  be 
moved  from  it  by  proscription.  We  are  not  the  Advo- 
cate of  the  South,  its  doctrine  or  its  measures,  but  we 
are  the  Advocate  of  the  General  Conference,  the  wisdom 
of  its  plans,  and  the  propriety  of  abiding  by  them.  Here 
we  stand,  and  expect  to  stand,  till  we  fall.” 

The  Ravenna  District  meeting  was  held  in  Chardon, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  May  13,  and  a series  of  resolutions 
were  adopted,  of  which  we  present  the  last : 

'‘Resolved,  (4th)  That  we  deprecate  the  establishment 
of  any  immovable  boundaries  of  our  Zion,  intended  as 
dividing  lines  betwixt  us  and  our  southern  brethren.  For 
we  shall  ever  hold  it  to  be  the  inalienable  Christian  right 
of  individuals,  and  also  congregations  of  God's  people 
to  form  such  associations  in  the  household  of  faith  as 
they  may  deem  best  calculated  to  subserve  their  spiritual 
good,  and  promote  the  glory  of  God.  We  shall,  there- 
fore, deem  it  meet  and  right  that  those  who,  on  the  slav- 
ery question,  are  with  the  South  in  faith  and  practice, 
should  if  they  choose,  cast  their  lot  with  them  wherever 
their  location  may  be  among  us;  and  also  those  situated 
in  the  midst  of  slavery,  who  would  wish  to  wash  their 
hands  of  the  evil,  and  unite  with  us,  that  we  would  not 


33 


510  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

only  esteem  it  their  privilege  in  the  gospel,  but  would  hail 
them  as  brethren  beloved,  and  as  workers  together  with 
God  in  a cause  dear  to  philanthropy,  blessed  to  man  and 
precious  in  the  sight  of  God.” 

In  the  course  of  Dr.  Hunter’s  reply  he  says:  “The 

Church  at  the  present  time  occupies,  as  we  think,  scrip- 
tural and  defensible  ground.  She  records  her  testimony 
against  the  great  evil — she  prohibits  the  traffic  in  slaves 
among  her  members — a traffic  usually  though  not  in- 
variably attended  with  cruelties.  Her  general  spirit  and 
the  tendency  of  her  operations  are  against  slavery;  and 
many  are  the  bondmen  she  has  been  the  means  of  eman- 
cipating. But  this  effect  is  produced  rather  more  indi- 
rectly than  directly  by  her  influence,  and  is  the  more  in 
accordance  with  scripture  for  this.  Silently  and  surely 
has  she  been  contributing  her  quota  of  influence  and 
means  in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  freedom  of  the 
enslaved,  by  preaching  the  gospel  to  master  and  servant, 
and  enforcing  the  duties  of  the  relation,  preparing  the 
minds  of  both  for  the  fullness  of  time  in  which  the  provi- 
dence and  grace  of  God  should  lead  to  a better  constitu- 
tion of  society.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  June 
io,  1846.) 

The  Triumph  of  Abolitionism. 

In  1846  the  Erie  Conference  committee  on  slavery  report- 
ed as  follows : “That  it  is  still  as  ever  ‘a  great  moral  evil,’ 
and  that  our  discipline  and  standard  works  combine  their 
undeviating  testimony  against  it  as  opposed  to  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  alike  subversive  of  liberty,  of  right,  and  of 
virtue;  and  that  such  are  and  ever  must  be  the  relations 
of  master  and  slave  wherever  they  exist  in  all  those 
states,  territories,  and  districts  where  the  laws  admit  of 
emancipation  and  allow  the  liberated  slave  to  enjoy  free- 
dom that  all  our  members  should  be  required,  by  the 
same  rule  which  obliges  our  official  members  to  free 
their’s,  to  do  likewise,  and  that  such  a rule  should  be  in- 
serted among  the  general  rules  of  the  discipline.  \ our 
committee  also  deprecate  a line  of  demarkation,  limiting 
the  field  of  our  itinerancy  as  derogatory  to  the  genius  of 
Methodism  and  a disregard  of  interest  of  the  souls  to 
whom  we  are  to  preach  the  word  of  God.  And,  fuithei- 


The  Triumph  of  Abolitionism. 


more,  your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  such  are  the 
indications  of  providence  and  the  aspect  of  affairs  both 
in  and  out  of  the  Church  growing  in  part  out  of  the  do- 
ings of  the  General  Conference  that  by  the  adoption  of 
prudent  but  decided  measures  we  may  finally  and  safely 
free  ourselves  from  the  embarrassments  of  this  greatly 
agitated  subject.”  The  following  resolutions  were 
passed,  and  ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  several  con- 
ferences for  their  concurrence : 

“Resolved,  (i)  That  our  general  rule  on  slavery  pro- 
hibits the  buying  or  selling  men,  women  or  children  with 
the  intention  of  either  originating  or  perpetuating  their 
enslavement. 

“Resolved,  (2)  That  we  recommend  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Conference  to  add  the  following  rule  immediately 
after  our  general  rule  on  slavery:  The  holding  of  slaves 
in  any  state,  territory  or  district  where  the  laws  will  ad- 
mit of  emancipation  and  permit  the  liberated  slave  to  en- 
joy freedom.’  ” 

The  following  resolution  was  also  passed : 

“Resolved,  (4)  That  although  we  ardently  desire  the 
extirpation  of  slavery,  nevertheless  we  have  no  sympathy 
for,  nor  fellowship  with  thbse  who  seek  the  division  of 
the  churches  or  the  dissolution  of  the  Union.” — (Manu- 
script Journal  of  the  Eric  Conference , Vol.  I,  1846,  pp. 
258-25(4.) 

“After  reading  the  report  Mr.  Steadman  made  a very 
able  speech  in  its  favor,  and  Mr.  Kinsley  followed  in  a 
speech  of  nearly  equal  ability  against  it.  Mr.  Bain  and 
several  others  spoke  in  its  favor,  but  Mr.  Steadman 
showed  so  much  readiness  and  ability  in  debate,  its  ad- 
vocacy was  left  mostly  to  him;  and,  on  the  other  side, 
while  several  brief  speeches  were  made  in  opposition, 
Mr.  Kinsley  was  the  principal  opponent.  The  discussion 
lasted  most  of  the  day,  with  the  house  densely  crowded, 
for  the  community  as  well  as  the  conference  was  greatly 
excited  on  the  occasion.  It  was  very  amusing  to  see  the 
two  ablest  disputants  of  the  conference,  who  had  always 
previously  acted  in  concert  on  this  subject,  now,  for  the 
first  time,  arrayed  so  earnestly  against  each  other.  And 
all  felt  some  of  the  animus  of  the  speakers — anxious  to 
see  which  would  obtain  the  ascendency.  The  whole  re- 
port and  all  the  resolutions  were  adopted  by  respectable 


512 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 

majorities ; but  the  chief  contest  was  upon  the  second 
resolution,  which,  after  being  displaced  by  a substitute, 
and  then  this  substitute  reconsidered,  was  finally  adopted 
by  a vote  of  65  against  26.  This  was  regarded  as  a 
great  triumph  by  the  abolition  party  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. After  a long  and  earnest  struggle,  in  which 
they  had  lost  several  valuable  men,  they  were  now  in  the 
ascendency,  with  competent  and  reliable  leaders,  and  the 
conference  committed  to  the  anti-slavery  side  of  the  great 
conflict,  now  fast  becoming  national. 

“The  change  which  had  taken  place  in  Mr.  Steadman, 
Mr.  Bain  and  others  can  easily  be  accounted  for.  Dur- 
ing the  previous  winter  a discussion  took  place  in  Fre- 
donia,  N.  Y.,  on  the  following  question:  ‘Does  the 

Bible  sanction  human  slavery?’  Mr.  Steadman,  occupy- 
ing the  negative  side  of  the  question,  was  remarkable  foi 
thoughtfulness  of  preparation  on  any  subject  he  under- 
took to  debate.  He  therefore  undoubtedly  examined  the 
moral  and  religious  aspects  of  the  institution  of  slavery 
to  an  extent  he  had  never  reached  before,  and  he  and 
Mr.  Bain  were  both  members  of  the  General  Conference 
in  New  York  and  participated  in  the  great  contest  over 
Bishop  Andrews’  case  in  1844,  and  were  more  than  ever 
before  aroused  to  the  danger  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  had  to  apprehend  from  this  institution,  and  as  it 
had  broken  the  bounds  of  union  and  was  trying  to  get 
itself  out  of  the  Church,  they,  with  many  others,  saw 
how  much  better  it  would  be  for  us  to  clear  it  all  out 
while  we  were  at  that  business.  Small  portions  of  the 
border  slave  states  were  disposed  to  remain  with  us,  with 
slaveholders  enough  to  keep  us  in  commotion.  The  re- 
moval of  these  to  the  Southern  Church  were  desired  by 
many  unless  they  would  free  their  slaves ; and  for  more 
than  a year  past  Mr.  Foster,  accompanied  by  Miss  Kelley, 
from  Boston,  Mass.,  had  been  traveling  all  through  north- 
ern Ohio  from  town  to  town  professedly  lecturing 
against  slavery,  but  claiming  that  the  only  successful 
way  of  abolishing  it  was  to  demolish  the  Christian 
churches  of  the  country  and  then  divide  the  Union,  and 
amid  the  general  confusion  that  would  follow  the  slave 
would  escape.  Their  attacks  on  the  Erie  Conference  for 
its  past  doings  upon  the  slavery  question  were  perfectly 
withering,  and  neither  Mr.  Steadman  nor  any  one  else 


The  Triumph  of  Abolitionism . 513 

could  successfully  defend  the  conference,  and  consequent- 
ly many  of  our  societies  were  being  distracted,  which 
“Comeouterism”  was  rampant  all  over  the  W estern  Re- 
serve. Hence  both  preachers  and  people  in  this  part  of 
our  work  felt  the  absolute  necessity  of  changing  the  po- 
sition of  the  conference  on  that  subject,  and  greatly  re- 
joiced when  it  was  done.” 

This  action  drew  from  Dr.  Charles  Elliott,  editor  of  the 
Western  Christian  Advocate,  a reply  from  which  we  take 
the  following  sarcastic  pleasantry : 

“The  brethren  giving  this  vote,  though  excellent  men, 
are  young  and  inexperienced.  It  is,  also,  in  the  way  of 
extremes  leading  to  extremes,  a natural  effect  of  the  at- 
tempt of  their  periodical  in  endeavoring  to  put  off  the 
southern  organization  as  a sound  branch  of  Wesleyan 
Methodism,  without  amendment  or  correction.  Brother 
Hunter  has  surfeited,  through  downright  kindness  and 
extreme  good  nature,  the  inexperienced  brethren  of  the 
Erie  Conference,  hence,  they  have  been  led,  in  their  haste, 
to  vote  that  one  of  the  old  landmarks  should  be  removed. 
But  this,  we  are  sure,  will  never  be  done.  It  is  idle  to 
dream  of  any  such  revolution  as  this  and  if  the  revolution- 
ary step  should  be  persisted  in  by  a few  young  hot-heads, 
the  Scottites  will  have  another  small  reinforcement  in  the 
Erie  Conference,  to  continue  a little  longer  their  almost 
extinct  existence.  We  believe  both  the  editor  and  the 
young  brethren  of  Erie  will  soon  get  right  again  but  for 
either  to  carry  their  purposes  in  the  church,  nothing  is 
more  preposterous.  We  advise  them  all,  in  both  these  ex- 
tremes, to  say  their  prayers,  think  a little  more,  and  they 
will  then  think  and  act  as  good  Methodists,  just  as  they 
have  formerly  done.  The  course  of  the  Church  is  to 
separate  sinful  slaveholding  from  her  pale,  by  applying 
the  moral  precepts  of  the  gospel,  to  each  individual  case ; 
which  is  the  only  way  to  meet  it.  As  to  regulating  this 
great  evil  by  one  or  more  general  sweeping  rules,  it  is  out 
of  the  question;  for  the  moral  character  of  individual 
slaveholders  can  only  be  ascertained  by  a special  examin- 
ation of  it  in  detail.” — (Western  Christian  Advocate , 
Sept.  18,  1846.) 

The  discussion  created  much  feeling  on  the  part  of  some 
of  the  brethren,  and  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  was 


5x4  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

filled  with  contributions  which  served  to  feed  the  flame. 
The  brief  note  which  follows  must  suffice. 

“Mr.  Editor — As  I learn  from  you  that  my  reply  to  the 
Rev.  S.  Gregg’s  attack  upon  the  motives  of  the  majority, 
his  mis-statement  of  facts,  and  his  illogical  reasoning  in 
regard  to  our  action  on  slavery,  cannot  be  published  for  a 
number  of  weeks,  I have  concluded  to  have  it  withdrawn. 

If  it  is  any  pleasure  to  your  correspondent  to  attribute  to 
his  brethren  a degree  of  dishonesty  that  would  disgrace 
the  most  unprincipled  politician  of  the  day,  he  can  enjoy 
it  at  least  so  far  as  I am  concerned.  J.  J.  Steadman. 
Farmington.  April  12,  184 7."— (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, April  28,  184J.) 

But  a great  calm  soon  followed  the  storm;  and  Dr. 
Bond,  who  was  present  at  the  session  of  the  conferencec 
held  in  Meadville.  Pa.,  in  1847,  had  this  to  say: 

“The  Erie  Conference  contains  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  members.  Last  year  was  a year  of  uncommon 
affliction  among  them,  as  well  as  in  a large  poition  o 
country  in  which  they  labored.  Various  forms  of  malarial 
disease  prevailed  to  a great  extent,  and  the  sequelae  are 
still  visible.  I think  there  are  more  superannuated  and 
supernumerary  preachers  in  this  conference,  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  members,  than  in  any  conference  I have 
visited.  In  point  of  talent  the  members  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  best  of  their  sister  associations,  and  in  zeal 
and  piety  they  are  worthy  of  imitation.  I think,  too, 
Methodism  wears  a more  primitive  garb  than  in  some 
other  conferences.  The  session  has  been  peaceful  and 
harmonious.  Indeed  I have  been  very  agreeably  disap- 
pointed. I had  expected,  from  the  resolutions  passed  in 
the  conference  last  year,  proposing  changes  in  our  dis- 
cipline on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  which  have  been  re- 
jected by  so  large  a majority  of  our  annual  conferences, 
that  I should  find  no  little  ultraism  of  opinion  on  this  sub- 
ject and  the  usual  heat  and  bitterness  of  spirit  which 
usually  accompany.  But,  on  the  contrary,  there  are  few 
conferences  less  afflicted  with  this  malady.  (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , Aug.  25,  1847.) 

The  “Fugitive  Slave  Law”  had  been  passed,  and  a me 
morial  was  sent  to  the  conference  of  1851  from  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  in  regard  to  the  duty  of  Christians  under  this 


The  Triumph  of  Abolitionism. 


law.  The  memorial  was  referred  to  a committee  whose 
report  was  adopted  as  follows  : 

“That  while  they  do  not  feel  that  it  is  the  calling  of  this 
conference  to  enter  the  arena  of  party  politics ; yet  so  far 
as  the  moral  aspects  of  the  subject  referred  fo  your  com- 
mittee are  concerned,  they  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  be- 
comes the  duty  of  this  conference  to  express  their  views 
definitely  and  decidedly.  We  therefore  submit  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  for  your  adoption. 

“i.  Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  confer- 
ence, the  late  ‘Fugitive  Slave  Law’  is  in  direct  opposition 
to  the  principles  of  the  Christian  faith. 

“2.  Resolved,  That  while  as  Christians  and  Chris- 
tian ministers  we  urge  submission  to  the  powers  that  be, 
yet  we  do  not  believe  that  Christians  can  obey  such  laws 
of  men  as  require  disobedience  to  the  laws  of  God. 

“3.  Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  our  people  to 
manifest  under  all  circumstances  due  respect  for  the  laws 
and  authorities  of  the  land,  acting  as  becometh  the  sub- 
jects of  that  kingdom  which  is  not  of  this  world,  com- 
mitting the  cause  of  the  slave  into  the  hands  of  the  righte- 
ous God  who  judgeth  righteously.” — ( Manuscript  Jour- 
nal of  the  Erie  Conference,  Vol.  I,  1851,  pp.  399,  400.) 

The  Committee  on  Slavery  reported  as  follows,  and  the 
report  was  adopted : 

“Whereas : ‘We  are  as  much  as  ever  convinced  of  the 

great  evil  of  slavery’  and  as  sincerely  anxious  as  ever  for 
its  ‘extirpation,’  and,  whereas : we  believe  that  by  the  in- 
creasing resources  of  the  M.  E.  Church  the  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  emancipation  are  much  more  within  our  con- 
trol than  formerly,  and,  that  it  is  the  spirit  and  design  of 
our  Discipline,  that  all  lawful  and  prudent  measures  shall 
be  adopted  for  the  removal  of  slavery  and,  that  while  we 
do  not  recognize  the  right  of  property  in  man  as  a chattel 
we  may  still  confer  a great  favor  on  our  fellow-beings 
who  are  in  bondage  by  purchasing  them  in  order  to  free 
them,  thereby  doing  unto  others  as  we  would  they  should 
do  unto  us,  Therefore 

“Resolved,  by  the  members  of  the  Erie  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  conference  assembled,  that  we  respectfully  request 
the  next  General  Conference  to  so  amend  the  first  three 
answers  to  the  question  in  Chap.  7th  of  the  Discipline, 
that  they  shall  read  as  follows : 


516  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

“Ans.  i st.  We  declare  that  we  are  as  much  as  ever 
convinced  of  the  great  evil  of  slavery.  Therefore  no 
slaveholder  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  in  our  church 
hereafter  when  emancipation  can  be  effected  without  in- 
jury to  the  slave. 

“2d.  There  shall  be  a fund  raised,  called  the  Extirpa- 
tion Fund,  to  be  raised  by  voluntary  contributions  in  all 
our  congregations  where  the  people  are  willing  to  con- 
tribute for  that  object,  which  fund  shall  be  under  the  con- 
trol of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence and  shall  be  employed  by  them  in  assisting  our 
brethren  who  may  be  desirous  of  emancipating  theii 
slaves,  to  remove  them  to  a free  state,  if  necessary  in  order 
that  the  liberated  slave  may  enjoy  freedom,  and  also  in 
purchasing  in  order  to  free  them  such  slaves  as  it  may  be 
necessary  to  purchase,  to  prevent  severing  family  relations 
when  a portion  may  be  set  free  by  being  removed  to  a free 
state  or  otherwise,  and  also  in  furnishing  such  other  pe- 
cuniary assistance  to  our  brethren  who  may  be  desirous  of 
freeing  their  slaves,  as  such  commission  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  General  Conference  may  think  necessary. 

“3d.  If  there  should  still  be  cases  where  the  emancipa- 
tion can  not  be  effected  without  manifest  injury  to  the 
slaves  themselves,  our  preachers  shall  prudently  enforce 
upon  all  our  members  in  such  circumstances  the  necessity 
of  teaching  their  slaves  to  read  the  word  of  God,  and  of 
allowing  them  time  to  attend  upon  the  public  worship  of 
God  on  all  our  regular  days  of  divine  service. 

“Your  committee  have  carefully  considered  the  Me- 
morial from  Painesville,  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  doc- 
trines herein  set  forth,  together  with  the  action  of  this 
conference,  at  its  previous  session  as  referred  to  by  the 
brethren  at  Painesville,  sufficiently  indicate  our  views  on 
the  subject  of  slavery. 

“C.  Kingsley,  Chairman. “ 

— (Report  of  Erie  Conference,  1851,  pp.  21,  22.) 

Still  later  we  find  this  report : 

“The  Committee  on  Slavery  offer  the  following  as  their 
report. 

“Resolved,  That  we  understand  by  the  question  ever 
propounded  in  our  Discipline,  ‘What  shall  be  done  for  the 
removal  of  the  evil  of  slavery?’  that  it  is  the  spirit  and 
design  of  the  Discipline,  that  whenever  an  advance  step 


The  Triumph  of  Abolitionism. 


5i7 


can  be  taken  in  a lawful  and  prudent  manner  for  the  re- 
moval of  slavery,  it  should  be  done  therefore, 

“Resolved  2d,  That  we  reaffirm  our  action  of  1852 
and  1853  relative  to  an  alteration  of  the  seventh  section 
of  the  Discipline  on  the  subject  of  slavery. 

“Resolved  3d,  That  the  recent  Act  of  Congress  which 
opens  to  slavery  a vast  territory  heretofore  regarded  as 
sacred  to  freedom  by  solemn  and  time-honored  compact, 
merits  our  strongest  disaporobation  and  dissent,  and  we 
claim  the  rierht  as  Christian  ministers  in  view  of  the  moral 
bearing  of  the  subject,  to  enter  against  this  act  our  earnest 
protest.  We  protest  against  it,  as  an  act  providing  for 
the  extension  and  perpetuity  of  the  system  of  American 
slavery,  a system  which  is  only  evil  and  that  continually 
— as  a measure  which  by  providing  a market  and  creating 
a demand  for  slave  labor,  offers  strong  temptations  to  a 
revival  of  the  slave  trade,  and  otherwise  encourages 
slavery  in  its  vilest  and  most  revolting  forms,  when  it 
would  otherwise  soon  cease  to  exist.  We  protest  against 
this  act  as  a measure  in  our  judgment  dangerous  to  the 
union  of  these  states,  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  exposed  to  the  displeasure  and  judgments  of  God. 
(Yeas,  86;  no  nays.) 

“The  Committee  have  had  under  careful  consideration 
the  circular  of  the  Troy  Conference  proposing  an  alter- 
ation in  the  General  Rule  on  Slavery  in  these  words,  ‘The 
buying  or  selling  of  human  beings  except  with  a view  to 
their  emancipation,  and  the  voluntary  or  mercenary  hold- 
ing them  in  bondage’;  and  while  we  are  desirous  of  co- 
operating with  our  sister  conferences  in  all  proper  ways 
for  the  removal  of  slavery,  yet  the  language  of  the  pro- 
posed rule  seems  to  us  to  be  somewhat  objectionable  on 
account  of  its  being  ambiguous,  not  sufficiently  definite. 
We  therefore  recommend  that  we  postpone  action  on  the 
Troy  resolution,  and  offer  the  following  resolutions : 

“Resolved,  By  the  members  of  the  Erie  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  conference  assembled,  that  we  recommend  to  the 
next  General  Conference  to  so  amend  the  General  Rule  on 
Slavery  that  it  shall  read  as  follows : 

“ ‘The  buying  or  selling  of  human  beings  with  an  in- 
tention to  enslave  them  or  holding  them  in  slavery  when 
emancipation  can  be  effected  without  injury  to  the  slave.’ 
(Yeas,  93 ; no  nays.) 


5 iS  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

“Resolved,  That  the  General  Superintendents  be  re- 
quested to  present  the  foregoing  rule  to  the  several  an- 
nual conferences  for  their  concurrence  preparatory  to  the 
action  of  the  ensuing  General  Conference. 

“C.  Kingsley,  Chairman.” 

— ( Report  of  Erie  Conference , 1851-1865,  pp.  57,  58.) 

The  struggle  had  been  long  and  hard,  and  progress 
was  slow,  but  the  question  of  slavery  was  studied  in  all 
its  bearings,  agitation  was  rife,  and  sentiment  was  cre- 
ated. The  subject  not  only  moved  the  heart,  but  also 
troubled  the  conscience.  Christian  people  began  to  feel 
that,  if  they  longer  maintained  silence  in  the  presence  of 
the  greatest  crime  of  the  ages,  they  would  become  moral 
accomplices  and  sharers  in  the  guilt.  \\  hen  thus  con- 
vinced in  their  whole  natures,  they  moved  forward  with 
confident  and  firm  tread  and  the  work  was  done. 

Other  Strong  Reports. 

Having  gained  these  signal  victories  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence consistently  held  to  its  position.  But  a new  crisis 
was  approaching.  A new  battle  was  to  be  fought  and  a 
yet  more  glorious  victory  to  be  won.  We  pass  to  the 
session  of  the  conference  held  in  1857.  A strong  com- 
mittee was  appointed  on  the  subject  of  slavery  of  which 
E.  J.  L.  Baker  was  chairman.  The  committee  reported 
and  the  report  was  amended  and  adopted  as  follows  : 

“As  Christian  Philanthropists  and  Ministers  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  Himself  proclaimed  liberty  to  the 
captive,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  were 
bound,  we  maintain,  with  inflexible  firmness  and  unshaken 
confidence  in  God,  the  same  high,  honorable  and  uncom- 
promising opposition  to  American  Slavery  that  has 
hitherto  characterized  the  Erie  Annual  Conference ; and 
“Whereas,  The  history  of  our  country,  during  the 
past  year,  has  both  in  her  civil,  judicial  and  ecclesiastical 
movements,  sufficiently  demonstrated  the  aggressive  spirit 
of  slavery  and  the  untiring  vigilance  of  its  propagandists, 
we  unhesitatingly  declare  that  this  is  no  time  to  relax  our 
efforts  to  counteract  the  influence  of  this  unmitigated  evil, 
but  would  rather  recommend  such  prudent  advancement 
as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  may  from  time  to  time 
require.  We  would  therefore  recommend  the  adoption 
of  the  following  resolutions : 


Other  Strong  Reports.  519 


“Resolved  1st,  That  while  we  do  not  admit  that  in- 
terpretation of  the  ‘general  rule’  which  makes  it  tolerate 
slaveholding  in  the  membership,  we  will  nevertheless  use 
all  prudent  efforts  to  have  its  language  so  modified,  that 
it  shall  embody  the  real-antislavery  doctrine  of  our  church 
on  the  subject  of  slave-holding,  in  language  as  free  as 
possible  from  all  ambiguity. 

“Resolved  2d.  That  we  highly  approve  the  action  of 
the  last  General  Conference  touching  the  publication  of 
Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Thoughts  on  Slavery,’  in  connection  with 
other  anti-slavery  literature,  and  that  we  will  use  our  ut- 
most endeavors  to  circulate  the  same. 

“Resolved  3d,  That  we  expect  of  all  our  periodicals 
that  they  maintain  a well-defined  aggressive  position  in 
the  anti-slavery  rank,  and  that  our  efforts  to  secure  their 
circulation  within  the  bounds  of  our  work  will  be  likely 
to  correspond  with  their  true  anti-slavery  character. 

“Resolved  4th,  That  while  we  highly  disapprove  of 
the  ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  partisans,  and  would 
regard  it  beneath  the  dignity  of  such  to  enter  the  arena  of 
political  strife,  we  will  resist  all  efforts  to  exclude  the  sub- 
ject of  political  morality  from  the  censorship  of  the  Chris- 
tian pulpit.  That  holding  as  we  do,  that  our  opposition 
to  slavery,  intemperance.  Sabbath-breaking,  and  polyg- 
amy, is  based  upon  higher  grounds  than  legislative  action, 
we  cannot  but  regard  the  person  who  would  succumb  to 
the  dictatorial  spirit  of  the  slave  power,  as  a traitor  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  Church,  society,  and  the  souls  of 
men.” 

In  1858  the  Erie  Conference  appointed  a very  strong 
Committee  on  Slavery,  of  which  Calvin  Kingsley  was 
chairman.  The  following  is  the  report  which  the  commit- 
tee prepared  and  the  Conference  adopted : 

“The  sum  of  all  human  duty  between  man  and  man,  is 
briefly  but  comprehensively  embraced  in  the  divine  in- 
junction, ‘Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.’  The 
enslavement  from  generation  to  generation  of  innocent 
human  beings,  is  fundamentally  opposed  to  this  divine 

(precept.  If  the  one  therefore  embraces' the  sum  of  all 
virtue,  the  other  embraces  the  sum  of  all  villainy. 

“The  system  of  American  slavery  either  directly  or  in- 

if  not  every  one  of  the  command- 
It  entails  a pernicious  influence 


directly  violates  nearly, 
ments  of  the  Decalogue 


520 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


upon  every  thing  with  which  it  comes  in  contact,  not  spar- 
ing even  the  honest  soil.  It  is  a fruitful  cause  of  murder, 
adultery,  theft  and  lying.  It  involves  the  worst  form  of 
that  covetousness  which  is  idolatry.  It  is  fundamentally 
at  war  with  the  marriage  and  parental  relations,  those 
most  ancient  and  honorable  institutions  of  God  among 
men.  It  interferes  directly  with  the  duties  which  God  has 
enjoined  upon  husbands  and  wives,  and  upon  parents  and 
children.  It  deprives  multitudes  of  being  able  to  do  what 
all  men  are  required  to  do,  namely : to  read  the  word  of 
God.  It  invests  one  human  being  with  authority  over 
other  human  beings,  which  can  be  rightly  exercised  only 
by  the  Creator  of  all  things. 

“That  such  a monstrous  evil  should  be  on  the  increase 
in  the  midst  of  a Christian  nation,  and  in  the  middle,  of 
the  nineteenth  century  of  the  Christian  era,  calls  for  deep 
humiliation  and  sincere  repentance.  Our  fathers  declared 
that  slavery  is  contrary  to  the  Golden  Law  of  God,  to  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  to  the  inalienable  rights 
of  mankind;  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  never 
ceased  to  re  affirm  the  declaration.  Our  fathers  inquired 
with  earnest  and  prayerful  solicitude,  ‘What  shall  be  done 
for  the  extirpation  of  the  evil — the  great  evil?’  The 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  never  ceased  to  repeat 
the  inquiry. 

“The  General  Rule  prohibits  the  buying  and  selling  of 
human  beings  with  the  intention  to  enslave  them.  The 
chapter  on  slavery  prohibits  the  holding  of  slaves  by  offi- 
cial members  of  the  Church,  where  the  laws  of  the  state 
will  allow  their  emancipation,  and  permit  the  emancipated 
person  to  enjoy  freedom. 

“But  as  a difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to  the  meaning 
of  the  General  Rule  relative  to  slave-holding,  your  com- 
mittee are  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  either  by  a change  in 
the  wording  of  the  rule  itself,  or  by  an  official  exposition 
of  it  by  the  General  Conference,  or  by  some  action  equiva- 
lent to  this,  the  Discipline  should  embody  the  real  anti- 
slavery sentiment  of  the  Church,  as  clearly  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  slave-holding  as  upon  the  subject  of  the  slave  traf- 
fice. 

“The  thing  prohibited  in  the  General  Rule  is  ‘the  in- 
tention to  enslave’ ; that  is,  as  it  plainly  seems  to  us,  the 
intention  of  either  originating  or  perpetuating  slavery. 


Other  Strong  Reports. 


52i 


In  the  case  of  a person  already  a slave,  the  crime  prohibit- 
ed is  the  intention  to  perpetuate  human  bondage.  A per- 
son who  buys  a slave  with  the  sole  purpose  of  freeing  him, 
does  not  violate  the  Golden  Law  of  God  or  the  Discipline 
of  our  Church.  So  a person  who  has  no  other  way  of 
freeing  a slave  than  by  sustaining  a temporary  legal  re- 
lation of  owner  until  he  can  carry  out  his  purpose  of  con- 
ferring permanent  freedom,  may  be  justified  in  sustain- 
ing for  a time  this  temporary  legal  relationship.  In 
either  case,  the  wrong  consists  in  the  intention  to  perpet- 
uate slavery. 

“It  appears  therefore  to  your  committee,  that  one  rule 
should  apply  to  the  buying,  selling  and  holding  of  human 
beings  in  the  relation  of  slaves ; and  that  any  member  of 
our  Church  who  may  sustain  either  of  the  foregoing  re- 
lations to  slavery,  should  be  requested  to  show  that  he 
holds  such  relation  with  the  sole  intention  of  freeing  such 
slave  or  slaves,  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

“Your  committee  therefore  offer  for  adoption  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

“Resolved  1.  That  in  the  judgment  of  the  Erie  An- 
nual Conference,  one  rule  should  apply  to  the  buying  and 
selling  of  human  beings  in  the  relation  of  slaves. 

“Resolved  2.  That  one  rule  should  apply  to  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  who  may  become  connected  with 
slavery,  whether  such  persons  be  official  members  or 
otherwise. 

“Resolved  3.  That  we  approve  of  the  course  of  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Wise,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Sun- 
day School  Union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
furnishing  sound  anti-slavery  doctrines  in  the  publications 
of  said  Sunday  School  Union;  believing  that  such  doc- 
trines are  right  and  proper  for  the  training  of  our  chil- 
dren in  the  way  they  should  go.” 

The  following  year  Mr.  Kingsley  was  again  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Slavery,  and  prepared  a still  stronger 
report  which  was  adopted  by  the  conference  we  believe 
without  a dissenting  vote. 

“Former  reports  of  the  Erie  Annual  Conference,  have 
so  well  defined  our  position,  and  so  fully  set  forth  our  op- 
position to  American  slavery,  that  our  committee  do  not 
deem  it  necessary  to  present  any  extended  declaration  at 
this  time,  further  than  to  re-affirm  all  that  we  have  ever 


522 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

uttered  in  opposition  to  a system  which  we  regard  as 
fundamentally  opposed  to  both  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the 
gospel  of  the  Son  of  God. 

“The  time  for  action  has  now  arrived,  and  our  earnest 
desire  and  prayer  is,  that  our  action  may  be  characterized 
bv  that  benevolence,  wisdom  and  firmness  becoming 
Christian  men,  acting  for  the  Church.  Opposition  to 
slavery  is  no  new  thing  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  It  is  coeval  with  our  being  as  a church  or- 
ganization. From  the  first  day  of  our  existence  to  this 
day,  there  has  been  no  moment  when  we  have  not  pro- 
claimed our  firm  and  unalterable  opposition  to  human  op- 
pression. 

“The  best  method  for  the  ‘extirpation’  of  slavery  is  a 
constantly  recurring  question  in  our  discipline.  Our  gen- 
eral rule  from  the  beginning,  has  prohibited  ‘the  buying 
and  selling  of  men,  women  and  children,  with  the  inten- 
tion to  enslave  them.’  But  within  a few  years  a difference 
of  opinion  has  sprung  up  as  to  the  bearing  the  general 
rule  has  on  the  subject  of  slave-holding.  One  interpreta- 
tion, and,  as  we  believe,  the  correct  one,  is  that  as  the 
holding  and  using  of  slaves  is  at  the  foundation  of  the 
traffic,  and  the  only  motive  for  the  traffic  among  the  up- 
holders of  the  system,  the  general  rule,  in  the  language  of 
the  bishop’s  address  to  the  General  Conference  of  1840,  is 
condemnatory  ‘both  of  slavery  and  the  slave  trade and 
that  by  fair  implication  it  condemns  all  slave-holding,  ex- 
cept where  under  peculiar  circumstances,  the  immediate 
surrendering  of  the  legal  relation  might.be  a greater  in- 
jury to  the  enslaved,  than  its  temporary  continuance. 

“The  other  interpretation  is,  that  the  general  rule,  by 
specifically  forbidding  the  traffic  and  not  specifically  for- 
bidding the  holding,  does  thereby  constitutionalize  slave- 
holding by  the  membership.  Without  stopping  now  to 
examine  this  position,  it  appears  to  us  that  this  difference 
of  interpretation,  honestly  entertained  by  men  equally  in- 
telligent, is  a sufficient  reason  for  using  other  and  less 
ambiguous  language. 

“There  are  two  propositions  before  the  Church,  looking 
to  an  alteration  in  the  general  rule : one  coming  from  the 
Cincinnati  Conference  in  these  words : ‘ The  buying  or 

selling  of  men,  women  or  children  or  holding  them,  with 
an  intention  to  use  them  as  slaves.’ 


Other  Strong  Reports. 


523 


“The  other  proposed  rule  comes  sanctioned  by  the 
Providence  Conference,  in  the  words  following:  ‘Slave- 

holding— The  buying  or  selling  of  men,  women  or  chil- 
dren, with  an  intention  to  enslave  them.’ 

“The  length  of  time  during  which  these  propositions 
have  now  been  before  the  Church,  affords  us  a better  op- 
portunity than  has  been  afforded  to  any  previous  confer- 
ence, to  judge  of  their  general  acceptability.  And  while 
each  has  merits,  which,  in  our  judgment,  entitles  it  to  con- 
sideration, as  an  improvement  of  our  existing  rule,  yet  we 
think  we  may  say  without  egotism,  that  each,  in  the  light 
of  the  criticisms  which  have  been  elicited,  has  its  defects, 
which  a better  wording  may  remedy. 

“While  it  was  evidently  the  design  of  the  Cincinnati 
Conference,  to  put  the  buying,  selling  and  holding  slaves 
upon  the  same  footing,  it  has  been  questioned  among  able 
critics,  whether  the  proposed  change  does  not  make  one 
rule  for  buying  and  selling,  and  another  for  holding. 
Men,  whose  opinions  are  entitled  to  consideration,  have 
contended  that  the  latter  clause  of  the  rule,  ‘with  the  in- 
tention to  use  them  as  slaves,’  can  be  construed  only  with 
the  phrase  immediately  preceding,  namely : ‘holding 
them.’  Another  objection  has  been  made  to  the  plural 
form,  ‘men,  women  or  children’ ; and  the  usages  in  some 
quarters  have  tended  to  strengthen  this  objection.  Again, 
if,  as  we  think  was  evidently  the  case,  it  was  the  design  of 
the  Cincinnati  Conference  that  each  of  the  phrases  ‘the 
buying,’  ‘the  holding,’  ‘the  selling,’  was  to  be  construed 
with  the  last  clause  of  the  rule,  then  the  language  is 
faulty ; for  we  can  hardly  speak  with  propriety  of  selling  a 
person  with  an  intention  to  use  him  as  a slave,  inasmuch 
as  the  act  of  selling  puts  it  beyond  our  power  to  use  him 
at  all.  Finally,  the  last  clause,  namely,  ‘with  the  inten- 
tion to  use  them  as  slaves,’  is  thought  by  many  to  involve 
an  unnecessary  ambiguity. 

“The  Providence  resolution  is  still  more  objectionable. 
That  does,  without  doubt,  make  one  rule  for  slave-hold- 
ing, and  another  for  the  slave  traffic.  The  holding  is  ab- 
solutely forbidden,  while  the  traffic  is  only  conditionally 
forbidden.  Again,  the  plural  form  is  retained  the  same 
as  in  the  Cincinnati  rule.  Finally,  the  ‘bone  of  conten- 
tion’ is  retained  entire.  The  expression,  ‘with  the  inten- 
tion to  enslave  them,’  has  been  a matter  of  more  dispute 


e;24  History  of  Uric  Conference. 

than  every  thing  else  about  the  rule.  It  does  appear  to 
us,  that  in  any  attempted  change,  this  litigated  language 
should  give  place  to  a less  ambiguous  expression.  If  we 
had  no  alternative  but  to  vote  for  one  or  the  other  of  the 
foregoing  propositions,  we  should  be  inclined  to  favoi 
either  of  them  as  an  improvement  of  the  present  general 
rule,  as  lx>th  include  slave  holding  in  express  language. 
But,  since  we  ought  to  profit  by  the  criticisms  that  have 
lieen  elicited,  and  since  we  may  do  so,  and  still  have  time 
for  all  the  Annual  Conferences  to  vote  for  an  amended 
rule,  we  deem  it  our  duty  to  offer  a rule  as  fiee  as  possible 
from  the  foregoing  objections,  and  which  contains  a pro- 
vision not  found  in  either  of  the  foregoing  rules,  against 
giving  and  bequeathing  human  beings  to  be  used  in  a 
state  of  slavery. 

“\Ve,  therefore,  offer  for  adoption  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

“Resolved  by  the  Erie  Annual  Conference,  in  confer- 
ence assembled,  l hat  the  Annual  and  Geneial  Confer- 
ences be  requested  to  concur  in  so  amending  the  General 
Rule  on  slavery  that  it  shall  read  as  follows : ‘The  buy- 

ing. selling,  holding  or  transferring  of  any  human  being 
to  be  used  in  slavery.’ 

“Resolved  2d,  that  we  recommend  the  suspension  of 
the  fourth  restrictive  rule  for  the  purpose  specified  in  the 
foregoing  resolution. 

“Resolved  3d,  That  our  bishops  be  and  are  hereby  re- 
spectfully requested  to  present  the  foregoing  resolutions 
to  all  the  Annual  Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  their  concurrence.” 

The  State  of  the  Country. 

Another  subject  of  absorbing  moment  now  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  Church. 

At  the  conference  session  in  1861,  a strong  committee 
was  appointed  on  the  “State  of  the  Country,"  consisting 
of  Calvin  Kingsley,  J.  H.  Whallon,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  A.  D. 
Morton;  B.  S.  Hill,  Jonathan  Whitely,  G.  B.  Hawkins, 
Thomas  Graham,  Joseph  Leslie  and  O.  L.  Mead.  This 
became  one  of  the  standing  committees,  appointed  from 
year  to  year  until  1868,  when,  on  motion  of  Hiram  Kins- 
ley “the  committee  on  the  State  of  the  Country  was  dis- 
pensed with.”  When  the  committee  was  first  raised,  the 


- 


The  State  of  the  Country.  525 

great  Civil  War  was  in  progress.  The  Erie  Conference 
had  always  shown  an  interest  in  national  affairs  when 
questions  of  great  moment  were  at  issue.  In  its  several 
utterances,  made  through  this  committee,  again  and  again 
it  proclaimed  its  full  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  Union, 
its  sympathy  and  prayers  for  the  soldiers  on  the  field  and 
in  the  hospital,  and  its  unshaken  confidence  in  the  success 
of  the  cause.  We  have  already  presented  an  account  of 
the  controversies  upon  the  subject  of  slavery  and  the  final 
outspoken  expression  of  the  firm  stand  of  the  conference 
in  behalf  of  Abolitionism.  We  now  present  selections 
from  its  equally  important  reports  adopted  in  the  course 
of  the  nation’s  great  struggle  for  its  life.  This  can  not 
but  be  profitable  reading  and  an  inspiration  to  loyalty,  and 
worthy  of  permanent  preservation  in  our  Church  history. 
The  committee,  whose  names  have  been  given  above,  re- 
ported on  Saturday  of  the  conference  session  and  the  re- 
port was  unanimously  adopted  by  a rising  vote.  We  pre- 
sent the  report  in  full. 

“While,  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  we  have  no  inten- 
tion or  wish  to  inter-meddle  with  party  politics,  vet  as 
American  citizens  we  claim  to  have  a common  interest  in 
the  great  and  fundamental  principles  enunciated  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  and  embodied  in  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States. 

“Established  upon  these  principles,  this  nation  has  pros- 
pered in  all  that  constitutes  the  happiness  and  greatness 
of  a people,  in  a manner  which  has  no  parallel  in  this 
world’s  history.  With  a stronger  emphasis  than  even 
characterized  the  original  declaration,  we  have  reason  to 
say,  the  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places,  and  we 
have  a goodly  heritage.  One  man’s  life-time  stretches 
over  the  entire  period  of  American  independence : and  vet 
what  wonder  hath  God  wrought  among  us  in  this  brief 
period.  Our  population  has  increased  ten-fold;  our 
wealth  a hundred-fold ; our  educational  and  religious  fa- 
cilities a thousand-fold,  a nd  our  political  importance  in  the 
estimation  of  the  nations  of  the  earth  ten  thousand-fold. 

“In  no  other  nation  on  the  globe  have  the  political  hopes 
of  the  human  race  so  centered  as  in  this.  There  is  not  a 
nation  under  the  whole  heaven  where  the  heart  does  not 
beat  quicker,  and  the  eye  kindle  brighter,  and  the  thoughts 
grow  larger,  and  the  hopes  rise  higher,  at  the  mere  men- 


34 


526 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tion  of  the  name  America.  The  oppressed  and  the  down- 
trodden of  other  lands  hail  the  name  as  the  home  of  the 
stranger,  the  asylum  for  the  poor,  and  the  land  of  plenty. 
It  is  understood  that  vast  enterprises  undreamed  of  in  all 
the  ages  of  past  generations,  are  to  find  a speedy  realiza- 
tion in  this  new  and  newly-quickened  world.  Problems 
the  grandest  and  most  imposing  that  have  ever  engaged 
the  human  mind,  are  here  to  find  a solution. 

“Shall  this  hope  of  the  nations  perish  forever?  Shall 
this  light  of  the  present,  and  the  coming  ages,  go  out  in 
everlasting  darkness  ? Shall  this  glorious  experiment  of 
self-government,  already  the  wonder  and  the  admiration 
of  the  world,  be  allowed  to  turn  out  a wretched  failure, 
and  become  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  mankind?  Hav- 
ing successfully  withstood  all  foes  from  without,  shall 
this  nation  now  commit  suicide,  to  be  followed  by  the 
pains  of  perdition?  This  must  not  be.  From  such  in- 
finite folly  may  the  God  of  our  fathers  preserve  us ! 

“From  the  beginning,  there  has  existed  an  element  an- 
tagonistic to  the  general  scope  and  design  of  our  free  in- 
stitutions— an  element  permitted,  endured — not  sanction- 
ed— by  the  Constitution,  but  allowed  as  an  admitted  evil, 
whose"  immediate  removal  seemed  impracticable,  but 
whose  disappearance  at  no  distant  day  was  confidently  ex- 
pected. From  feeding  at  first  up  the  leaves  of  the  tree 
of  liberty,  this  creature  has  ventured  at  length  to  attack  the 
root,  and  now  seeks  to  destroy  both  tree  and  fruits  to- 
gether. This  attack  must  be  repelled  at  any  cost  and  at  all 
hazard.  We  can  never  believe  that  in  the  toleration  ex- 
tended to  a sectional  and  local  institution,  it  was  ever  the 
design  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  to  provide 
for  its  own  destruction.  Such  a notion  is  alike  disparag- 
ing to  the  intelligence  and  patriotism  of  the  fathers  of  the 
Republic. 

“While,  therefore,  we  fully  recognize  the  authority  of 
the  Constitution  of  our  country  on  all  the  subjects  to 
which  it  applies,  yet,  if  in  a persistent  effort  to  overthrow 
our  government,  for  the  sake  of  extending  and  perpetuat- 
ing American  slavery,  the  latter  institution  should  perish 
forever  from  the  earth,  we  shall  be  found  acquiescing  in 
the  arrangements  of  divine  providence.  We  offer,  in  con- 
clusion, the  following  resolutions  for  adoption : 

“Resolved,  I.  That  in  its  prompt  and  vigorous  efforts 


The  State  of  the  Country.  527 

to  preserve  the  Union  and  suppress  rebellion  and  treason, 
the  government  at  Washington  shall  have  our  earnest 
sympathy  and  prayers,  our  hearty  approval  and  co-opera- 
tion. 

“Resolved,  2.  That  we  are  opposed  to  all  compromise 
with  armed  traitors,  believing  that  unconditional  submis- 
sion to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  our  country,  is  a duty 
which  our  government  has  both  the  power  and  the  right 
to  enforce. 

“Resolved,  3.  That  we  confidently  trust  the  time  has 
come  when  slavery  shall  no  longer  be  the  controlling 
power,  either  in  our  domestic  or  foreign  relations,  but 
that  its  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation  shall  grow 
less  and  less,  until  it  shall  please  God  to  remove  the  great 
evil  altogether. 

“Resolved,  4.  That  without  intending  any  improper 
interference  with  the  affairs  of  the  army,  we  respectfully 
and  earnestly  recommend  to  all  in  command  to  respect  the 
obligations  of  the  holy  Sabbath  and  to  carefully  guard  the 
morals  of  the  soldiers  against  those  evils  which  are  but 
too  common  to  a state  of  war.  Our  confidence  in  the 
justice  of  our  cause  inspires  the  belief  that  success  will  be 
all  the  more  certain  and  speedy  by  a careful  observance 
of  Christian  morality.” 

We  find  the  following  also  among  the  resolutions 
passed  at  the  close  of  the  conference  session : 

“Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  deplorable  state  of 
our  beloved  country,  and  the  trying  hour  that  has  fallen 
upon  the  Church,  in  common  with  our  fellow  citizens, 
and,  as  we  have  reason  to  believe,  in  consequence  of  our 
national  and  personal  sins,  we  recommend  to  all  our  peo- 
ple to  observe  the  third  Friday  in  August  next  as  a day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  for  help  and  heal- 
ing to  the  nation.” 

We  present  several  paragraphs  from  the  report  of  the 
committee  for  1862: 

“One  year  has  passed  away,  during  which  time  this 
wicked  rebellion  has  assumed  gigantic  proportions.  Our 
enemies  in  its  prosecution  have  manifested  a deadly  hatred 
of  the  principle  of  liberty,  an  utter  disregard  of  justice 
and  the  common  rights  of  man,  and  in  many  instances  a 
fiendish  cruelty  unparalleled  even  in  the  history  of  savage 
warfare.  During  the  past  year  very  much  has  been  ac- 


528 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


complished.  Great  and  glorious  results  have  been  at- 
tained. Much  territory  has  been  reconquered ; the  Stars 
and  Stripes  again  wave  over  many  strongholds,  and  the 
wonderful  resources  and  power  of  this  government  have 
been  exhibited  to  the  world. 

‘‘Nor  has  this  been  accomplished  without  a sacrifice. 
Many  of  the  noblest  in  the  land  have  already  fallen. 
Thousands  of  noble  young  men  have  gone  forth  to  war, 
to  return  no  more,  and  for  this  the  voice  of  mourning  is 
heard  in  the  land.  Many  hearts  are  stricken,  and  many 
hearthstones  left  desolate.  And  the  end  is  not  yet.  Still 
the  barbarous  monster  seeks  the  life  blood  of  our  national 
existence.  Still  rebels  in  arms  are  striking  at  the  root  of 
our  tree  of  liberty,  and  shall  they  succeed  in  their  dark  and 
treasonable  designs?  No!  As  long  as  the  flame  of  lib- 
erty burns  brightly  upon  the  shrine  of  America’s  heart — 
as  long  as  strong  arms  are  found  to  wield  the  sword  and 
bear  aloft  our  glorious  banner,  so  long  shall  our  national 
unity  be  preserved. 

“We  offer,  in  conclusion,  the  following  resolutions  for 
adoption : 

“Resolved,  i.  That  the  close  of  this  war  is  not  desir- 
able until  the  iron  arm  of  oppression  is  effectually  broken, 
and  freedom  of  speech  and  the  pre$s  permanently  secured 
to  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  great  land. 

“Resolved,  2.  That  we  most  heartily  approve  of  the 
acts  of  the  recent  session  of  Congress,  namely,  the  abo- 
lition of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  its  perpetual 
exclusion  from  the  Territories,  together  with  the  late  act 
of  confiscation,  all  of  which  we  believe  to  be  constitutional 
and  just,  and  a glorious  triumph  over  the  evil  designs  of 
wicked  men. 

“Resolved,  3.  That  the  time  has  come  when  it  be- 
hooves every  Christian  with  unsparing  profusion  to  lay 
his  means  upon  the  altar  of  his  country,  for  the  support  of 
the  war  and  the  relief  of  the  suffering. 

“Resolved,  4.  That  we  express  our  unqualified  dis- 
approbation of  all,  whether  North  or  South,  who  have  the 
least  sympathy  for  rebels,  and  regard  them  as  being  in 
league  with  the  rebellion,  and  traitors  to  the  government. 

“Resolved,  5.  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  our 
brave  soldiers  who  are  suffering  in  hospitals,  diseased  or 
wounded,  and  also  with  those  who  mourn  the  loss  of 


The  War  Spirit.  529 

friends  and  kindred  who  have  fallen  upon  the  battle-field. 

“Resolved,  6.  That  at  this  most  critical  period  of  the 
war,  it  is  more  than  ever  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  offer 
her  unceasing  and  fervent  prayers  to  the  God  of  nations 
for  the  success  of  our  arms,  and  the  speedy  establishment 
of  an  honorable  and  permanent  peace.” 

The  conference  returned  to  the  subject  again  in  the  re- 
port of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  : 

“Resolved,  1.  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  confer- 
ence, the  elements  of  sedition  and  contumacy,  which 
wrought  effectually  the  severence  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  1844,  have  culminated  in  treason  and  re- 
bellion by  the  revolted  states  of  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy. 

“Resolved,  2.  That  the  struggle  in  which  the  Federal 
Government  is  now  engaged  with  the  Confederacy,  is  one, 
not  of  choice,  but  of  necessity,  in  maintaining  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  Union. 

“Resolved,  3.  That  it  is  the  imperative  duty  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  follow  the  conquests  of 
this  government  into  those  states  and  territories,  where 
the  rights  of  religious  tolerance,  guaranteed  by  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  have  been  wantonly  inter- 
cepted, and  immediately  restore  to  our  injured  people  the 
immunities  of  the  Discipline,  and  the  church  of  their 
•choice.” 

The  War  Spirit. 

The  loyal  spirit  of  the  conference  is  more  fully  shown 
in  the  proceedings  of  quarterly  conferences,  preachers’  as- 
sociations and  commencements  in  our  institutions  of  learn- 
ing. We  present  in  this  connection,  but  a single  illustra- 
tion : 

At  the  “Fifth  Regular  Meeting  of  the  Meadville  Dis- 
trict Preachers'  Association,”  held  in  Conneautville,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  14,  1862,  the  patriotism  of  the  preachers 
was  unusually  manifest.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
patriotic  hints  and  expressions  found  in  their  reports : 

Meadville — “War  affected  us  as  elsewhere.” 

Saegertown — “W  ar  has  had  its  influence.  Some  have 
^ sympathy  with  the  South,  causing  much  opposition," 


rjo  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Rockville— ‘‘Sunday  Schools  good,  except  at  Rockville 
which  has  closed,  some  officers  and  teachers  being  absent 
in  the  army.” 

Franklin— “ Many  have  gone  to  the  army.  Have  made 
war  speeches,  and  have  recruited  some  for  the  army ; have 
thus  been  the  occasion  of  stumbling  to  some  of  weak 
consciences.’  ’ 

Greenville — “Have  made  war  speeches,  and  do  not 
scruple  to  preach  ‘on  the  times.’  For  every  dollar  lost 
ten  have  been  gained.” 

Salem “A  good  many  sympathizers  with  the  south. 

We  preach  as  much  war  as  we  can  without  cutting  their 
heads  off.” 

Evansburg—" War  has  affected  us  much;  has  taken 
from  us  those  loyal  to  both  church  and  state,  leaving  those 
in  sympathy  with  the  rebellion.  I,  too,  do  not  scruple  to 
preach  war  sermons.” 

Linesville — “But  one  or  two  sympathizers  with  the  re- 
bellion ; they  hardly  dare  peep.  They  would  not  subscribe 
for  our  religious  journals.  Can  account  for  their  seces- 
sion proclivities  from  the  fact  that  they  aie  subscribers 
for  a little  sheet  published  in  Meadville.” 

On  the  evening  of  the  fifteenth,  a patriotic  meeting  was 
held  with  addresses  bv  J.  E.  Chapin  and  Jonathan  White- 
ly  on  “The  Moral  Aspects  of  the  Present  War.” 

At  the  sixth  session  of  the  association  held  in  Cochran- 
ton,  February  24,  1863,  the  following  resolutions  were 

adopted:  . 

“Whereas  our  common  country  is  involved  in  a calami- 
tous war,  affecting  all  persons,  classes,  and  interests,  more 

or  less ; therefore,  . . 

“Resolved,  1.  That  it  becomes  the  duty  of  all  citizens 
and  classes  of  persons  to  use  their  personal  and  concerted 
influence  in  all  suitable  ways  to  help  in  the  suppression  of 
this  rebellion. 

“Resolved,  2.  That  it  is  our  Christian  duty  to  stand  by 
the  national  authorities,  the  flag,  the  soldiers,  the  govern- 
ment, and  the  U nion  and  freedom  of  all  loyal  citizens  of 
the  United  States. 

“Resolved,  3.  That  it  is  in  vain  to  look  for  peace  in 
the  abstract,  while  the  causes  of  this  rebellion  still  exist. 

“Resolved,  4.  That  it  is  incompatible  with  and  dero- 
gatory to  Christian  character  and  responsibility,  to  give, 


The  War  Spirit. 


53i 


either  by  word  or  act,  our  influence,  patronage,  sympathy 
or  support  to  men  who  denounce  our  government  and  our 
rulers,  who  discourage  enlistments  into  the  army,  who 
slander  ministers  of  the  gospel  and  the  churches,  or,  who 
otherwise  use  their  influence  in  discouraging  our  army 
and  in  strengthening  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 

“Resolved,  5.  That  we  heartily  and  earnestly  give  our 
support  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  his  proc- 
lamation and  efforts  for  the  emancipation  of  the  enslaved 
Africans  in  the  slave-holding  states,  and  that  we  shall  not 
cease  to  pray  for  the  President  and  with  him  labor  for  the 
universal  freedom  of  all  mankind.” 

The  seventh  session  of  the  association  was  held  in 
Linesville,  June  9,  1863.  At  the  close  of  a sermon  by 
Brother  Whitely,  by  request  of  the  president,  Miss  A.  M. 
Shader  sang  “The  Star-Spangled  Banner.” 

The  following  are  taken  from  pastors’  reports : 

Rockville — “Tried  to  accommodate  myself  to  disloyal- 
ists, but  it  was  ‘no  go.’  Have  preached  an  anti-slavery 
sermon.” 

Espyville — Josiah  Flower  reports  vigorously:  “Stars 

and  Stripes  go  with  me.  Disloyalists  threatened  to  starve 
me  but  have  not  done  it.  ‘Copperheads’  will  give  noth- 
ing. Have  expelled  three.” 

New  Lebanon — “Show  our  loyalty.  Have  cut  off  'Cop- 
perheads.’ ” — ( Record  of  Meadville  District  Preachers' 
Association ; and  Meadville  District  Conference,  i860 
189 1 — Manuscript.) 

The  Rev.  E.  B.  Cummings  relates  the  following  in  illus- 
tration of  the  spirit  of  the  times : 

“When  this  writer  was  about  seven  years  of  age  in 
1847  an  incident  occurred  which  illustrates  the  intensity 
of  the  church  controversies  of  that  day.  Jacob  Millisack 
and  my  father.  Dr.  Thomas  Cummings  and  their  families 
had  been  most  intimately  associated  religiously  and  so- 
cially, for  many  years,  and  my  brother  Thomas,  had  mar* 
ried  Martha  Millisack.  The  slavery  question  following 
the  secession  of  the  Church  South,  wrought  a fateful  cleav- 
age among  Methodists  in  Leesburgh.  Mr.  Millisack  with 
some  others,  organized  a Wesleyan  Methodist  society  and 
built  a church  which  at  once  became  the  base  for  vigorous 
attacks  upon  the  old  church  on  every  line  from  slavery  to 
spiritualism.  In  those  days  the  quarterly  tickets  were  the 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


I 


532 

passes  into  the  love-feast.  Many  have  I seen  turned  away 
from  the  doors  by  this  means. 

“But  one  morning  the  pastor  of  the  Wesleyan  church 
in  some  way  gained  admitance  to  the  love  feast.  He  oc- 
cupied the  front  seat  and  busied  himself  throughout  the 
service  taking  notes  of  the  speaking.  My  father  sat  in 
his  usual  place  in  the  third  seat  back  of  this  man  intently 
watching  him  in  every  movement.  Thomas  had  gone 
into  the  pulpit  preparatory  for  preaching.  The  pastor  of 
our  church  said  he  would  now  bring  the  love-feast  service 
to  a close,  when  the  intruder  launched  forth  in  terrible 
invective  upon  the  members  and  preachers.  Father  spring- 
ing to  his  feet  stretched  out  his  arm  to  seize  the  man,  and 
said : ‘You  have  violated  our  rules,  and  come  in  here 

for  no  good  purpose  and  we  will  put  you  out  of  this 
house.'  And  now  I see  Thomas  leaning  far  out  of  the 
pulpit  and  quietly  saying:  ‘Father  do  nothing  rashly. 

Please  sit  down.’  Then  turning  to  the  intruder  he  ad- 
ministered so  effective  a rebuke  that  at  command  he  left 
the  house.  This  incident  marked  the  turn  in  favor  of  the 
old  church  in  those  violent  controversies  in  Leesburg/’ 

At  the  session  of  the  conference  held  in  1863  it  was 
found  that  the  excitement  had  greatly  increased  and  loyal 
feeling  intensified.  Some  new  phases  of  the  question  had 
developed,  among  which  were,  the  demand  for  the  free- 
dom of  the  slaves  and  the  conviction  that  the  sympathy  and 
influence  of  those  who  were  then  called  “Copperheads” 
had  greatly  encouraged  and  strengthened  the  government 
of  the  Confederate  States.  The  conference  had  determined 
by  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  that  nothing 
should  be  left,  necessary  to  demonstrate  the  unquestioned 
loyalty  of  every  one  of  its  members. 

“Whereas  a most  wicked  and  causeless  war  is  now  rag- 
ing in  this  nation,  threatening  its  very  existence — and 
whereas,  it  is  a Christian  and  ministerial  duty  to  sustain 
the  government  that  protects  and  blesses  us,  and  also  to 
separate  ourselves  as  far  as  practicable  from  all  imputa- 
tion and  complicity  with  rebellion  and  treason ; therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  we  solemnly  appropriate  the  hour  of 
ten  A.  M.  next  Friday,  July  17,  to  receive  the  oath  of 
allegience  to  these  United  States,  and  do  hereby  respect- 
fully request  the  Hon.  Judge  Chaffee,  of  this  judicial  dis- 
trict, to  be  present  and  administer  the  same.” 


The  War  Spirit. 


533 


With  this  in  view,  when  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
the  state  of  the  country  was  unanimously  adopted  on  a 
vote  of  the  ayes  and  nays,  Honorable  Judge  Chaffee  ad- 
ministered the  oath  of  allegience  to  the  conference  and 
every  member  took  the  oath  with  an  intensity  of  enthusi- 
asm which  probably  had  never  been  surpassed.  We  se- 
lect from  the  report  a few  passages. 

“The  senseless  cry  about  meddling  with  politics  shall 
never  induce  us  to  look  on  with  indifference,  and  see  our 
country  torn  to  pieces.  We  care  nothing  for  abstract  po- 
litical partisan  issues.  The  only  living  issue  now  is, 
whether  the  government  itself  shall  live  or  die.  Our  con- 
victions are  as  strong  as  convictions  can  be,  that  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  extending  over  every  inch 
of  her  territory,  should  be  maintained  at  all  costs  and  at  all 
hazards,  and  that  whatever  stands  in  the' way  of  this,  no 
matter  what  it  may  be,  should  be  put  out  of  the  way  as  an 
enemy  of  the  human  race.  It  seems  to  us  that  the  signs 
of  the  times  strongly  indicate  the  will  of  God  to  be,  that 
slavery,  the  wicked  cause  of  the  rebellion,  shall  perish  with 
the  rebellion  itself.  The  negroes  everywhere  hailed  the 
approach  of  our  armies  as  the  opening  of  the  year  of 
jubilee.  Their  uniform  testimony  is  that  they  have  been 
long  praying  for  this  hour.  They  come  within  our  lines 
with  their  eyes  streaming  with  tears  of  gratitude,  and  with 
prayer  and  praise  mingled  with  songs  of  thanksgiving. 
They  ascribe  their  deliverance  to  God,  in  answer  to  prayer. 

We  have  no  fellowship  with  that  professed 
loyalty  which,  pretending  to  be  favorable  to  the  Union, 
opposes  every  measure  that  can  possibly  restore  it.  If  the 
rebellion  is  to  be  put  down,  it  requires  men  to  do  it.  To 
oppose  enlistments,  therefore,  or  to  oppose  the  draft,  is  to 
aid  the  rebels;  a matter  they  understand  very  well,  and 
count  upon.  If  men  go  forth  to  defend  the  government, 
they  must  be  fed  and  clothed,  and  this  requires  money. 
To  oppose  the  raising  of  money  for  this  purpose,  is  to  help 
the  rebellion.  This  is  also  well  understood  and  counted 
on  by  the  rebels.  . . .We  hold  it  to  be  the  duty  of 

every  man  fit  to  live  under  such  a government  as  ours,  to 
be  willing  to  give  his  influence,  his  prayers,  his  money, 
and  his  life  if  need  be,  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
and  the  integrity  of  the  Union.” 


534 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


From  the  series  of  resolutions  which  were  passed,  we 
present  the  fifth  and  the  sixth. 

“Resolved,  5.  That  our  hearts  and  purses  shall  ever  be 
open  to  those  who  have  been  maimed  and  crippled  on  the 
battle-field.  Their  wounds  and  scars  in  such  a cause  are 
the  truest  badges  of  nobility. 

“Resolved.  6.  That  the  negro  soldier  in  many  a well- 
fought  battle  has  vindicated  his  manhood  against  the 
slanders  of  those  who  have  sought  to  degrade  his  charac- 
ter, as  an  excuse  for  reducing  him  to  the  condition  of  a 
brute.  We  trust  that  the  day  has  dawned  on  his  long 
night  of  bondage.” 

Not  satisfied  with  these  expressions  of  loyalty  and  in- 
terest in  the  soldiers,  the  conference  appointed  a commit- 
tee on  army  literature.  In  the  report  which  was  adopted, 
we  find  the  following : 

“The  thorough  and  ardent  loyalty  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  her  unswerving  opposition  to  the 
wicked  rebellion  now  raging  in  the  land,  as  well  as  the 
cause  of  it,  and  her  determination  to  render  the  govern- 
ment all  the  aid  in  her  power  in  annihilating  treason,  pre- 
serving the  Union,  and  transmitting  untarnished  to  future 
generations  the  principles  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence, are  facts  as  generally  and  as  thoroughly  understood 
as  any  facts  of  current  history.  Inspired  by  these  high 
and  holy  considerations,  multitudes  of  our  members  have 
rushed  to  the  aid  of  our  country  in  its  time  of  peril.  They 
are  sacrificing,  for  the  time,  the  blessings  of  home  with  all 
its  sacred  associations.  . . .We  who  remain  at 

home  can  but  poorly  appreciate  the  sacrifices  of  our  breth- 
ren, who  can  take  little  else  than  their  lives  in  their  hands, 
as  they  go  forth  to  defend  their  homes  and  ours.  The 
weary  hours  in  camp,  the  exhausting  marches,  the  lonely 
days  and  nights  in  hospitals,  the  terrible  results  of  battle, 
all  fill  the  soldier’s  heart  with  lively  recollections  of  home 
and  better  days.  Then  he  longs  to  enjoy  privileges  ren- 
dered doubly  dear  by  contrast  with  his  present  circum- 
stances.” 

The  report  continues  recommending  the  sending  of 
books  and  periodicals  to  the  soldiers  in  the  field,  camp  and 
hospital ; commending  our  book  agents  for  furnishing  the 
literature  of  our  Church ; urging  as  many  as  are  able  to 
visit  the  soldiers  that  they  may  acquire  personal  knowl- 


The  Last  Great  Report. 


535 


edge  of  their  condition  and  wants ; and  calling  attention  to 
the  splendid  work  of  the  Christian  Commission.  Among 
the  resolutions  passed  is  one  pledging  a collection  on  all 
the  charges  for  the  purpose  of  army  literature  from  our 
* publishing  houses. 

The  Last  Great  Report. 

The  report  of  1867  was  written  by  Jonathan  Whitely: 

“By  the  grace  of  a merciful  God,  our  country  again  en- 
joys the  blessing  of  peace,  which  demands  the  profound 
acknowledgment  of  a grateful  people.  No  period  of  our 
history  has  been  fraught  with  such  great  and  numerous 
dangers,  and  momentous  interests ; nor  given  stronger  evi- 
dence of  the  divine  favor,  nor  brighter  prophetic  indica- 
tions of  a glorious  future  than  the  last  four  years.  At 
the  same  time  we  have  abundantly  admonished  that  can- 
dor on  the  part  of  political  leaders,  and  intelligence,  moral 
purity,  and  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  people,  are  de- 
manded, in  order  to  the  peace  and  stability  the  Republic. 

“We  tremble  even  now  to  look  back  upon  the  darkness 
and  tempest  through  which  we  have  passed.  Had  re- 
bellion succeeded,  free  institutions  would  have  been  en- 
dangered all  over  the  land.  Free  speech,  on  the  subject 
of  freedom  and  slavery,  would  have  been  instantly  at  an 
end  in  the  South,  and  in  the  North.  The  poor  whites  of 
the  South  would  have  been  doomed  to  a protracted  and 
deeper  degradation ; the  shackles  would  have  been  riveted 
on  the  limbs  of  the  slave  without  hope  of  redress,  without 
a voice,  save  that  of  God  to  plead  his  cause;  republics 
would  have  become  a hissing  and  byword  in  all  the  world  ; 
tyranny,  in  both  continents,  unrebuked,  would  have  vaunt' 
ed  itself,  and  held  the  reins  of  authority  with  firmer  grasp 
than  ever ; hope  would  have  died  in  the  hearts  of  millions 
who  have  looked  on  the  rising  star  of  the  west  with  pleas- 
ing anticipations  of  coming  liberty;  truth  would  have 
languished;  social  and  civil  systems,  based  on  error  and 
wrong  would  have  predominated ; and  the  gospel  itself 
have  become  corrupt  to  suit  the  new  state  of  social  and 
civil  depravity. 

“But  through  the  success  God  has  given  us,  the  star  of 
the  west  has  risen  higher,  and  shines  brighter  for  the 
temporary  cloud  which  obscured  her  glory,  and  millions 
of  hearts  are  strengthened  in  hope.  The  unscientific  me- 


536 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


chanics,  in  their  attempts  to  rivet  the  chain  on  the  limbs  of 
the  bondsman,  not  understanding  their  work,  nor  the 
power  and  purpose  against  which  they  strove,  have  broken 
the  links,  and,  thank  God  the  slave  is  free.  Grave  doubts 
have  been  settled  in  the  minds  of  thoughtful  men,  and  the 
capacity  of  man  for  self-government  is  a demonstrated 
fact.  The  whole  country,  north  and  south,  has  been 
opened  to  the  preaching  of  a free  and  full  salvation,  and 
not  a soul  is  prohibited  to  hear  the  joyful  sound.  The 
flag  of  our  Union,  and  of  our  fathers  waves  defiantly  over 
all  our  land  and  is  respected  and  feared  everywhere ; 
while  inspired  millions,  everywhere,  are  rising  with  elas- 
tic step  to  pursue  the  march  of  freedom  and  progress 
“New  fields  of  toil  and  enterprise  are  opened  to  the 
energies  of  the  Church,  and  new  responsibilities  rest  upon 
her.  The  times  in  which  we  live,  the  events  transpiring 
and  the  emotions  of  the  Church  are  beautifully  described 
by  Isaiah,  ‘Then,  thou  shalt  see  and  flow  together  and  thy 
heart  shall  fear  and  be  enlarged,  because  the  abundance  of 
the  sea  shall  be  converted  to  thee,  the  forces  of  the  Gen- 
tiles shall  come  unto  thee.’  The  colored  man  has  at- 
tained his  majority.  He  has  endured  a tedious  minority 
of  severe  but  imperfect  discipline,  and  has  come  to  man’s 
estate  without  the  necessary  preparation  to  meet  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  manhood.  He  possesses  liberty  with  the 
vices  of  slavery  clinging  to  him  and  is  an  object  of  com- 
miseration. His  degradation  demands  patience  to  endure 
him  as  a burden;  philanthropy  and  justice  to  protect  him 
from  the  cupidity  of  the  avaricious  and  designing ; Chris- 
tian charity  to  educate  him  to  honest  toil,  and  to  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country  and  his  God.  Humanity  and  religion 
must  stoop  down  to  his  degradation,  lay  hold  on  him,  and 
at  whatever  cost  of  effort  and  money  lift  him  up  to  the 
level  of  the  civilization,  liberty,  and  religion  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  This  work  is  surrounded  by  all  but  in- 
surmountable barriers.  In  the  south  there  still  is  a strong 
feeling  of  hostility  to  the  Union,  and  to  free  institutions; 
this  feeling  regards  the  freedman,  with  a vote,  as  its  bit- 
terest and  most  formidable  opponent,  hence  will  dispute 
every  inch  in  the  path  of  his  progress.  Then  there  is  the 
natural  prejudice,  north  and  south,  against  his  social  ele- 
vation. which  must,  in  the  nature  of  the  case  oppose  his 
moral  improvements,  for,  his  progress  in  intelligence  and 


The  Last  Great  Report.  537 

religion  is  necessarily  associated  with  his  social  advance- 
ment. Notwithstanding  all  this,  faith  in  God  will  feel 
that  the  same  gospel  which  makes  the  Anglo-Saxon  of  to- 
day differ  from  the  ancient  Briton,  can  redeem  the  negro 
also. 

“ I he  homestead  law,  with  other  attractions,  will  draw 
‘the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  to  us.’  They  will  clear  our 
forests,  and  dot  our  prairies  with  homesteads  and  vil- 
lages; they  will  dig  our  rich  minerals  from  the  dark 
places  of  the  hidden  treasures,  and  our  land  yielding  her 
increase  shall  feed  dependent  nations  as  with  an  over- 
flowing charity.  But  we  must  remember  that  they  will 
come  with  the  prejudices,  vices,  and  infidelites  of  home. 
They  will  have  to  be  converted  unto  us.  In  many  in- 
stances the  love  of  home,  the  pride  of  nationalities,  and 
adherence  to  anti-republican  customs  and  dogmas,  cher- 
ished from  childhood  will  linger  in  the  bosom  long  after 
they  have  become  naturalized  and  the  owners  of  real  es- 
tate. How  easily  and  extensively  the  prejudices  and  pas- 
sions of  the  multitude  can  be  excited,  we  have  seen  in  the 
frenzy  with  which  a portion  of  our  own  people  have  at- 
tempted to  overthrow  their  government,  and  which  cul- 
minated in  that  crowning  act  of  folly  and  iniquity,  which 
filled  the  land  with  mourning,  the  assassination  of  the 
faithful,  honest,  and  beloved  president  of  the  United 
States.  With  this  knowledge  and  experience  it  cannot 
be  without  some  apprehension  that  we  witness  attempts  to 
nominate  and  make  presidents  on  the  idea  of  a foreign  na- 
tionality. Nor  yet  that  we  should  have  in  our  midst  an 
organized,  armed,  and  officered  force  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  men,  bound  by  a religious  oath,  which  many 
or  all  of  them,  consider  the  very  first  and  greatest  obliga- 
tion which  they  can  assume,  for  the  ostensible  purpose, 
whatever  the  real  one  may  be,  of  delivering  a foreign 
people  from  their  allegiance  to  a foreign  power.  We  are 
a nation,  with  our  peculiar  municipal  arrangements,  but 
a nation  as  truly  as  any  people  in  Europe  is  a nation. 
We  have  a national  government  as  truly  as  any  nation 
in  Europe  has  a government,  and  to  that  national  gov- 
ernment every  citizen  owes  his  first  allegiance.  Sacred 
and  armed  combinations,  and  organized  nationalities,  for 
political  or  ecclesiastical  purposes  are  not  homogeneous 
with  our  institutions;  we  want  all  nationalities,  sects  and 


538 


History  of  Methodism. 


parties  fused  into  one  enthusiastic  patriotism  which  seeks 
the  development  and  adornment  of  all  parts  of  our  com- 
mon country. 

“How  is  such  a patriotism  to  be  secured?  We  answer, 
systems  of  education  and  moral  influence  must  be  main- 
tained on  a scale  equal  in  magnitude  to  the  demands  of 
the  times.  Thoughtful  men  must  be  vigilant.  The 
Church  in  her  membership  and  ministry  must  insist  on 
the  enjoyment  of  the  constitutional  right,  freely  to  dis- 
cuss the  moral  aspect  of  every  political  measure  and  doc- 
trine. They  must  not  be  driven  from  the  exercise  of 
that  right  by  the  insane  cry,  ‘you  attempt  to  unite  re- 
ligion and  politics/  The  politics  of  Christian  countries 
are  based  on  the  Christian  system — they  are  united  and 
cannot  be  separated ; nor  can  the  American  ministry  give 
up  its  right  to  discuss  such  measures  without  the  sacri- 
fice of  Christian  duty,  and  leaving  every  kind  and  degree 
of  political  injustice  and  corruption  unrebuked.  Our 
book  concerns  must  enlarge  their  buildings  and  increase 
their  machinery.  The  wealth  in  the  Church  muvst  and 
will  be  more  than  ever  consecrated  to  God.  The  ministry 
must  seek  the  baptism  of  fire,  of  love,  of  zeal  which  ani- 
mated the  heroes  of  Methodism,  then  we  may  hope  that 
our  cities  and  rural  districts  shall  be  blessed  with  a popu- 
lation of  Christian  and  patriotic  citizens,  and  the  smile' 
of  the  Almighty  be  the  peace  and  health  of  the  nation. 
Your  committee  would  respectfully  submit  the 'following 
resolutions : 

“First.  We  acknowledge,  with  profound  gratitude, 
the  hand  of  God  in  the  complete  subjugation  of  the  rebel 
armies,  and  in  the  signal  disgrace  which  covers  the  late 
so-called  Confederacy  and  its  friends. 

“Second.  We  deplore  the  existence  of  wickedness  so 
great  in  this  Christian  country  as  could,  for  political  pur- 
poses, destroy  the  life  of  a good  man,  and  deprive  the 
Republic  of  one  of  its  most  worthy  Presidents. 

“Third.  We  have  increased  confidence  in  the  stability 
of  our  Civil  Government  and  in  the  purpose  of  God  for 
good  in  our  country,  and  as  a conference,  we  will  shrink 
from  no  duty  or  devotion  to  our  country  that  may  be 
demanded  of  us. 

“Fourth.  That  we  highly  appreciate  and  admire  the 
exalted  patriotism,  the  unparalleled  bravery  and  patient 


Erie  Conference  and  the  Freedmen. 


539 


endurance  of  the  brave  men  who  defended  our  country 
in  the  hour  of  her  peril;  and  that  our  sympathies  are 
with,  and  our  prayers  are  for  the  families  which  have 
been  bereaved  by  the  war. 

“Fifth.  That  the  colored  man  has,  in  the  late  war, 
proved  himself  to  be  a man  of  brave  and  patriotic  im- 
pulses, and  that  justice  demands  that  he  shall  enjoy  the 
elective  franchise,  without  any  qualifications  or  restraint 
which  is  not,  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  equally  applicable  to 
the  white  man. 

“Sixth.  That  this  conference,  as  heretofore,  will  con- 
tinue to  pray  for  the  President  of  the  United  States,  that 
he  may  have  grace  to  sustain  him,  and  wisdom  to  direct 
in  the  discharge  of  his  arduous  duties,  and  that  he  shall 
have  our  cordial  support  in  every  administrative  act  of 
justice  and  equity.” 

Erie  Conference  and  the  Freedmen. 

New  duties  came  with  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves.  At  the  first,  only  private  charity  was  in- 
voked, but  soon  the  work  assumed  a more  systematic 
form  and  the  Freedmen’s  Relief  Association  was  organ- 
ized. The  conference  of  1865  recognized  the  work  of 
this  association  and  commended  it  to  the  confidence  and 
liberality  of  our  people.  The  organization  of  the  Freed- 
men’s Aid  Society  was  not  long  delayed,  and  in  1867  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  report  upon  this  cause.  In 
the  report  of  this  committee  there  is  mention  of  the  prog- 
ress of  emancipation  among  the  nations.  By  an  act  of 
war  and  the  providence  of  God  millions  of  emancipated 
slaves  in  poverty,  ignorance  and  suffering,  pleaded  their 
cause  before  the  hearts  of  our  people.  It  was  said  that 
seven  thousand  had  been  murdered  since  the  close  of  the 
war  and  the  murderers  went  free.  During  the  year  the 
Congregational  Church  had  given  to  the  cause  $200,000 ; 
the  Presbyterian,  $100,000;  the  Baptist,  $200,000,  and 
the  Roman  Catholic,  in  six  months,  $600,000.  This  ap- 
pealed to  us  to  erect  a great  monument  to  human  charity. 
The  conference,  therefore,  commended  the  work  of  the 
Freedmen’s  Aid  Society  and  pledged  a collection  in  all 
our  congregations.  The  conference  also  organized  the 
‘'Freedmen’s  Aid  Society  of  the  Erie  Conference,' * auxil- 
iary to  the  parent  body,  and  adopted  a constitution  for 


\ 


540 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  same.  The  reports  of  the  committee  on  this  society 
from  year  to  year  are  among  the  more  important  of  our 
conference  utterances.  That  for  the  year  1868  follows: 

“Your  committee  on  the  Freedmen’s  Aid  Society  beg 
leave  to  say  that  while  necessity  for  some  annual  reports 
has  ceased  to  exist  in  the  progress  of  events,  it  is  not  the 
case  with  this  cause.  It  is  still  one  of  continued  and  liv- 
ing interest  and  of  most  practical  and  gracious  utility. 
Until  Christ  forgets  the  poor,  the  Methodist  Church  can- 
not cease  to  put  forth  her  labors  in  their  behalf.  During 
this  year  there  has  been  raised  $2,200  in  the  conference, 
and  $1,600  in  available  subscription.  In  our  present  ac- 
tion, we  would  simply  adopt  the  report  and  resolutions  of 
the  General  Conference,  substantially  as  follows: 

“ ‘The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  was  organized  by  a convention  of  ministers 
and  laymen.  It  has  been  sanctioned  by  all  the  annual 
conferences,  and  emphatically  approved  by  the  bishops. 
It  began  its  work  in  November,  1866,  and  has  disbursed 
about  sixty  thousand  dollars.  It  employed  during  the 
last  year  fifty-two  teachers,  and  has  increased  the  number 
to  seventy-five,  and  about  twelve  thousand  pupils  have 
been  enrolled  in  its  schools.  A wise  policy  has  guided  in 
all  its  affairs.  The  teachers  have  heartily  co-operated 
with  our  ministers  in  their  work.  The  society  has  gained 
the  confidence  of  the  government,  and  is  now  sharing 
with  other  associations  the  aid  furnished  through  the 
Freedmen’s  Bureau,  to  provide  school  houses  and  trans- 
port teachers. 

“ ‘The  work  accomplished  by  the  society  in  alleviating 
suffering,  restoring  social  order,  and  preparing  the  way 
for  a free  school  system  in  the  South  is  essential  to  the 
welfare  of  that  people,  to  the  highest  success  of  our 
Church,  and  should  be  liberally  supported  while  the  de- 
mand exists.  When  the  southern  states  are  fully  recon- 
structed, proper  poor  laws  and  school  laws  enacted,  in- 
dustry organized,  and  free  society  moves  forward  in  a 
healthy  manner,  this  work  will  possibly  be  superseded. 
We  abide  our  time,  follow  providence  and  do  our  duty. 

“ Tn  view  of  these  facts  we  recommend  the  adoption 
of  the  following,  viz. : 

“ ‘Whereas,  The  Freedmen’s  Aid  Society  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  organized  for  the  relief  and  edu- 


Erie  Conference  and  the  Freedmen.  541 

cation  of  the  poor  in  the  South,  without  regard  to  color, 
and  having  the  approval  of  the  annual  conference,  the 
board  of  bishops,  the  delegates  of  the  Church  in  General 
Conference  assembled,  has  been  received  with  favor  by 
our  members,  and  is  promoting  the  highest  interests  of 
the  communities  where  it  has  located  schools,  maintained 
teachers,  and  dispensed  Christian  charity,  and  has  gained 
the  confidence  of  the  government,  and  of  the  loyal  people 
without  distinction  of  color,  and  has  effectually  aided  the 
Missionary  and  Church  Extension  Societies,  by  meeting 
a pressing  demand  for  which  no  other  provision  was 
made,  and  is  contributing  to  the  spread  of  religion  and 
the  signal  progress  of  Methodism  in  the  South;  and, 

“ ‘Whereas,  Through  the  overthrow  of  slavery,  God, 
in  His  providence,  has  opened  before  our  Church  an  ex- 
tended and  unparalleled  field  of  usefulness  in  the  South, 
to  the  cultivation  of  which  we  are  impelled  by  the  strong- 
est conviction  of  duty,  and  by  every  humane,  patriotic 
and  Christian  sentiment,  and  a field  where  the  school  and 
Church  must  be  planted  together,  and  the  minister  and 
teacher  labor  side  by  side;  therefore, 

“ T.  Resolved,  That  according  to  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  General  Conference  we  place  this  society  on 
the  list  for  annual  collections,  and  urge  our  ministers  so 
to  use  their  influence,  and  so  to  instruct  our  people  that 
they  may  send  their  money  through  this  treasury,  in 
preference  to  any  other  organization  in  the  land. 

“ ‘2.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  conference, 
in  view  of  the  present  exigency,  and  in  view  of  our  past 
and  present  record , to  cultivate  this  new  field  with  all 
the  energy  and  power  at  our  command,  and  that  we  will 
take  collections  and  co-operate  with  the  society  in  any 
measures  or  plans  it  may  adopt  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  the  Church  in  the  South. 

“ ‘3.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  allow  any  collec- 
tions to  be  lifted  in  our  congregations,  for  the  freedmen, 
but  such  as  shall  go  through  cur  own  society.’ 

“All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted.” 


35 


VIII. 

STILL  MAKING  HISTORY—  1 866-’69. 

The  annual  session  of  Erie  Conference  convened  at 
Painesville,  O.,  July  n,  1866,  Bishop  Edward  R.  Ames 
presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary.  Bishop  Ames  was 
assisted  by  Bishops  Thomas  A.  Morris,  Davis  W.  Clark, 
and  Calvin  Kingsley. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : John  F.  Thomp- 
son, Owen  Hicks,  George  Elliott,  William  Rice,  Charles 
Truesdell,  Richard  W.  Hawkins,  Seneca  B.  Torrey,  Ed- 
win Chace,  Rush  D.  Waltz,  William  A.  Bowyer,  Elijah 
C.  Mcllhatten,  David  M.  Beams,  Thomas  J.  Baker,  Loris- 
ton  G.  Merrill,  Addison  P.  Colton,  James  H.  Merchant, 
John  Eckels,  D.  Allen  Crowell.  William  C.  Henderson 
was  re-admitted. 

George  McKae  was  received  from  the  Wesleyan  Con- 
ference of  Canada  and  transferred  to  the  California  Con- 
ference. 

W.  W.  Wythe,  H.  P.  Henderson,  Asa  Falkner  and 
Albert  Van  Camp  were  received  by  transfer. 

Ezra  Jones  and  S.  S.  Nye  located. 

I.  O.  Fisher  was  expelled  from  the  connection,  and 
A.  R.  Hammond  withdrew. 

The  following  were  announced  as  deceased  during  the 
year:  William  Patterson,  J.  E.  Wilson,  A.  N.  Coons 

and  C.  W.  Bear. 

Appointments  for  1866:  Cleveland  District,  James  Greer,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Erie  Street, 
A.  J .Merchant;  City  Mission,  S.  S.  Stuntz;  South  Cleveland  Mis- 
sion, Dillon  Prosser;  East  Cleveland,  W.  W.  Wythe;  Euclid,  to 
be  supplied;  Mayfield,  A.  M.  Brown;  Willoughby,  John  Bain; 
Mentor,  Hiram  Kingsley;  Painesville,  J.  M.  Greene;  Madison  and 
Perry,  John  Robinson,  G.  W.  Patterson;  Geneva,  A.  C.  Tibbetts; 
Saybrook,  Samuel  Gregg;  Chagrin  Falls,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Bain- 
bridge,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Troy,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Thompson, 
Josiah  Flower,  Owen  Hicks;  Grand  River,  Ezra  Wade;  Montville, 
L.  Wilkinson;  Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  Thomas  Radcliff; 
Chardon,  C.  N.  Grant;  Kirtland  and  Chester,  S.  B.  Torrey;  Man- 
tua, D.  M.  Stearns;  Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  J.  D.  Nor- 

I 


544  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

ton;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  B.  O.  Plimpton;  Prin- 
cipal, Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute,  J.  B.  Robinson;  Agent, 
National  Freedmen’s  Relief  Association,  A.  D.  Morton.  Ravenna 
District,  John  Graham,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  John  Tribby; 
Akron,  D.  C.  Osborne;  Tallmadge,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Middlebury,  J. 
G.  Townsend;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Franklin,  to  be 
supplied;  Hudson,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Twinsburg  and  Aurora,  G.  J. 
Bliss;  Bedford  and  Northfield,  B.  J.  Kennedy;  Warrensville,  B. 
C.  Warner;  Newburg,  Moses  Hill;  Charlestown,  B.  F.  Wade; 
Windham,  Valorus  Lake;  Rootsville  and  Randolph,  Albert  Van 
Kamp;  Braceville,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Edinburg,  Michael  Wil- 
liams; Deerfield,  J.  B.  Grover;  Canfield  and  Ellsworth,  John  Mc- 
Lean; Jackson,  C.  C.  Hunt.  Warren  District,  D.  M.  Stever,  pre- 
siding elder;  Warren,  R.  M.  Warren;  Richmond,  F.  A.  Archibald; 
Kelloggsville,  W.  H.  Hover;  Williamsfield,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  James- 
town, to  be  supplied;  Jefferson,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Morgan,  H.  D. 
Cole;  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove,  N.  C.  Brown;  Bloomfield  and 
Bristol,  William  Hayes;  Farmington,  Alvin  Burgess;  Southing- 
ton and  Nelson,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Niles,  T.  B.  Tait;  Girard  and 
Liberty,  J.  H.  Vance;  Green  and  Mecca,  W.  A.  Clark;  Bazetta, 
L.  W.  Ely;  Vienna  and  Fowler,  Asa  Falkner;  Youngstown,  John 
Peate;  Hartford  and  Orangeville,  S.  S.  Burton;  Gustavus,  Alex- 
ander Barris;  Johnson,  to  be  supplied;  Principal,  Western  Re- 
serve Seminary,  J.  M.  Leonard;  Agent,  Western  Reserve  Sem- 
inary. C.  L.  Pattee;  Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  P.  P.  Pinney. 
Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church, 
E.  A.  Johnson;  Simpson  Chapel,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Wesleyville  and 
Green,  J.  K.  Mendenhall,  T.  D.  Blinn;  North  East,  Thomas  Guy; 
Waterford,  F.  H.  Beck;  Millville,  Joseph  Allen;  McKean,  N.  W. 
Jones;  Edinboro,  George  Elliott;  Fairview,  Albina  Hall;  Girard, 
W.  N.  Reno;  Union,  O.  L.  Mead;  Wattsburg  and  Mina,  W.  M. 
Bear,  R.  D.  Waltz;  Kingsville,  T.  P.  Warner;  Conneaut,  W.  H. 
Wilson;  Springfield,  S.  W.  Lloyd;  Albion  and  Lockport,  C.  L. 
Barnhart,  WT.  A.  Maltby;  Ashtabula,  W.  F.  Wilson.  Meadville 
District,  J.  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  Benjamin  Ex- 
cell, L.  D.  Williams;  Saegertown,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Townville, 
James  Shields;  Cochranton,  Peter  Burroughs;  Sunville,  D.  M. 
Beams;  Franklin,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Greenville,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Salem, 
G.  H.  Brown;  Sheakleyville,  Milton  Smith;  Evansburg,  John 
Crum;  Conneautville,  Frank  Brown;  Harmonsburg,  John  Akers; 
Rockville,  J.  W.  Hill;  Espyville,  Robert  Gray;  Linesville,  R.  C. 
Smith;  New  Lebanon,  Isaac  Scofield,  Orrin  Babcock;  Delaware 
Grove,  J.  G.  Hawkins;  Oil  City,  Jonathan  Whitely;  Rouseville, 
G.  W.  Staples;  Professors  in  Allegheny  College,  James  Marvin, 
A.  B.  Hyde;  Financial  Agent  of  Allegheny  College,  Niram  Nor- 
ton. New  Castle  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder; 
New  Castle,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Mt.  Jackson  and  Shenango,  J.  F. 
Hill;  New  Wilmington,  J.  F.  Perry;  Eastbrook  and  Harlansburg, 
T.  G.  McCreary;  Harrisville  and  Centerville,  Thomas  Graham; 
Mercer,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Hendersonville,  Cyril  Wilson;  North 
Washington  and  Clintonville,  A.  H.  Domer,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Wat- 
erloo, John  Eckles;  Poland,  J.  G.  Stogdill;  Middlesex,  W.  H. 
Mossman;  Pine  Grove,  Robert  Beatty;  Sharon,  John  O’Neal; 
Clarksville,  R.  M.  Bear;  Greenwood,  Ebenezer  Bennett;  Brady’s 
Bend,  George  Moore;  Hubbard  and  Brookfield,  C.  W.  Reeves. 
Clarion  District,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  R.  F. 
Keeler;  Brookville,  Washington  Hollister;  Curllsville,  H.  P. 
Henderson;  Rimersburg,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Callensburg  and  Freedom, 
J.  H.  Starrett;  Shippenville,  Samuel  Coon;  Rockland,  John  Ab- 


Conference  Session  in  1866. 


545 


bott;  Washington,  G.  F.  Reeser,  J.  M.  Groves;  Tionesta,  A.  N. 
Craft;  Troy,  L.  L.  Luce;  Corsica,  E.  C.  Mcllhattan;  Punxsutaw- 
ney,  David  Latshaw;  Perrysville,  A.  J.  Bartlett;  Warsaw,  Abra- 
ham Bashline;  Luthersburg,  D.  A.  Crowell;  Brockway ville,  P.  W. 
Scofield;  Putney  ville,  A.  P.  Colton;  Paradise,  T.  J.  Baker;  Presi- 
dent, Frederick  Vernon,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Agent,  Pennsylvania 
Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull.  Jamestown  District,  George  W.  Malt- 
by,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  W.  F.  Day;  Ash  ville,  A.  J. 
Lindsey;  Sugar  Grove,  J.  F.  Stocker;  Pine  Grove,  Warner 
Bush;  Frewsburg,  B.  F.  Delo;  Kinzua,  William  Rice,  J.  K_ 
Shaffer;  Sheffield,  A.  S.  Goodrich;  Panama,  Gabriel  Dunmire; 
Columbus,  Samuel  Hollen;  Corry,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Youngsville,  J.  C. 
Sullivan;  Warren,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Pleasantville,  H.  H.  Moore; 
Tidioute,  Darius  Smith;  Pithole,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Petroleum 
Centre,  E.  A.  Squier,  R.  W.  Hawkins;  Riceville,  A.  H.  Bowers, 
Edwin  Chase;  Titusville,  N.  G.  Luke;  Garland,  Major  Colegrove; 
Ellery,  Charles  Truesdell;  Ridgway,  W.  A.  Bowyer;  Randolph,  A. 
S.  Dobbs;  East  Randolph,  J.  R.  Shearer;  Jamestown  and  Sugar 
Grove  Swedish  Mission,  to  be  supplied.  Fredonia  District,  James 
E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Dunkirk, 
E.  A.  Ludwick;  May  ville,  L.  W.  Day;  Portland,  G.  W.  Gray; 
Delanti,  C.  E.  Woodworth;  Sinclairville,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Elling- 
ton, Joseph  Leslie;  Leon,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Cattaraugus,  E.  B. 
Cummings;  Perrysburg,  A.  A.  Horton;  Villenovia,  W.  W.  War- 
ner, Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Forestville  and  Sheridan,  C.  M.  Heard; 
Little  Valley,  R.  W.  Scott;  Silver  Creek,  David  Mizener;  West- 
field,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Quincy,  to  be  supplied;  Sherman,  Jephtha 
Marsh;  Clymer,  R.  N.  Stubbs. 

Several  Preachers. 

Thomas  J.  Baker  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1859  at  the 
quarterly  conference  held  at  Scotch  Hill,  Washington 
Circuit,  J.  E.  Chapin,  presiding  elder.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1866,  and  at  the  same 
time  ordained  local  deacon.  The  preceding  year  he  had 
been  employed  as  a supply  on  Washington  Circuit.  He 
writes  under  date  of  September  8,  1902 : “I  was  ap- 

pointed to  the  Paradise  Circuit.  The  first  year  I found 
Reynoldsville  without  Methodist  preaching,  and  left  an 
appointment  for  preaching  in  the  school  house,  where  I 
held  a protracted  meeting  for  six  weeks  with  not  one 
member  to  assist.  I had  a glorious  revival,  and  organized  a 
class  with  Joseph  Syphert  as  leader.  This  was  the  first  class 
with  Joseph  Syphert  as  leader.  This  was  the  first  class 
ever  organized  in  Reynoldsville.  The  same  year  I took 
up  the  Moore  appointment — now  Emericksville — which 
had  been  abandoned.  Three  members  only  remained.  I 
held  a protracted  meeting  and  re-organized  the  class. 
There  were  twenty-two  conversions,  and  all  these  were 
received  into  full  membership.  The  third  year  we  built 


546 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


a new  church  at  this  place  called  ‘Moore’s  Church,’  in 
which  we  had  a good  revival  the  same  year.  The  church 
was  dedicated  bv  O.  L.  Mead,  presiding  elder  of  the 
Clarion  District.  The  same  year — i868-’69 — I took  up 
a new  appointment  at  Rumbergers — now  DuBois — and 
to  the  best  of  my  knowlege  I was  the  first  Methodist 
preacher  there;  certainly  there  was  no  regular  appoint 
ment  before  that  time.” 

Mr.  Baker  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference at  its  organization.  After  twenty-seven  years  in 
the  effective  ranks,  and  two  years  in  the  supernumerary 
relation,  he  superannuated  in  1894. 

William  Rice  was  born  in  Panama,  Chautauqua  Co., 
N.  Y.,  November  9,  1831.  His  parents  were  among  the 
pioneer  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  they  thor- 
oughly instructed  William  in  the  principles  of  our  holy 
religion.  He  was  converted  and  united  with  the  Baptist 
Church  in  1848,  and  continued  in  that  relation  until 
1858.  when  he  was  received  into  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Tidioute,  Pa., 
and  the  next  year  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  his  license 
bearing  the  signature  of  J.  W.  Lowe,  and  given  at  Pleas- 
antville.  He  was  recommended  to  the  traveling  connec- 
tion in  1866,  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  was  blessed  with  revivals  of  considerable  in- 
terest on  Harmonsburg,  Linesville,  North  Harmony  and 
North  Corrv  and  Columbus  Circuits.  In  1885  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Northern  Minnesota  Confeience  at  its 
organization. 

D.  Allen  Crowell  was  born  in  Blair  county,  Pa.,  April 
28.  1843.  He  was  converted  when  quite  young  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episeopal  Church.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1863,  3.nd  in  1864  was  appointed 
as  a supply  to  the  Bloody  Run  Circuit,  Bedford  county, 
G.  W.  Palisgrove,  preacher  in  charge.  He  was  received 
on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1866.  In  1874  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Nebraska  Conference,  where  he 
labored  very  successfully  for  four  years,  organizing  so- 
cieties and  building  churches  in  the  presence  of  great  dif- 
ficulties. He  was  transferred  to  the  Oregon  Conference 


Several  Preachers. 


54  7 


in  1878,  and  served  churches  in  that  field  with  his  usual 
ability  and  success  for  six  years.*  In  1882  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Southern  California  Conference,  but  his 
health  failing,  after  two  years  of  hard  labor,  he  was 
made  supernumerary,  and  moved  into  Nevada  county, 
where  he  supplied  Downieville,  within  the  bounds  of  Cali- 
fornia Conference.  He  returned  to  his  own  conference 
in  1894,  was  made  effective,  and  appointed  to  Los  Al- 
amos, where  he  passed  to  his  reward,  March  22,  1894. 

Rev.  S.  A.  Thomson,  of  the  Southern  California  Con- 
ference, writes:  “He  fell  like  a faithful  soldier  at  his 

post  and  ceased  to  work,  but  not  to  live.  Only  one 
brief  hour  of  suffering  and  he  passed  into  the  painless 
realm  of  immortal  life.  Brother  Crowell  was  a manly, 
able  and  effective  preacher.  He  was  filled  with  a great 
purpose  to  aid  in  saving  men.  To  this  he  was  called, 
and  it  carried  him  in  labor  and  anxiety  beyond  his 
strength ; for  this  he  lived,  and  in  this  he  died.” 

Elijah  C.  Mcllhatten  was  born  in  Center  county,  Pa., 
in  October,  1823 ; converted  at  a camp  meeting  held  near 
Edenburg,  Clarion  county,  when  about  eighteen  years  of 
age;  licensed  to  preach  in  i860,  and  received  on  trial  in 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1866,  and  appointed  to  the  Cor- 
sica Circuit.  In  1867  he  was  sent  to  the  W arsaw  Cir- 
cuit, where  he  labored  about  ten  months.  Consumption 
had  fastened  upon  him,  and  claimed  him  as  its  victim. 
He  was  moved  to  his  former  home  near  Shippenville, 
where  he  lingered  until  January  19,  1869,  when  he  en- 
tered into  rest.  He  was  “acceptable  wherever  he 
preached,  and  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ.” 

Addison  P.  Colton  was  born  in  Manlius,  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  3,  1830.  When  a young  man  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  Here, 
by  request  of  his  father,  he  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  but  did  not  feel  that  he  had  been  con- 
verted. He  experienced  the  great  change  in  1851,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  Brookfield  by  John  Crum.  He  then  felt 
it  to  be  his  duty  to  join  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Soon  after  he  removed  to  Mavville,  Ky.,  and  in  1853 

*He  resided  in  Nebraska  two  years  before  his  transfer,  having 
been  made  supernumerary  in  1872,  and  probably  supplied  in  that 
new  field. 


548  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

was  licensed  to  exhort.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to 
Ohio  and  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1857  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Coovert,  a daughter  of  Thomas 
Coovert,  Esq.,  of  Lawrence  county,  Pa.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  served  ten  months.  Upon 
his  return  he  removed  to  Lowell,  Ohio.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1865,  and  in  1866  received  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference.  In  the  hope  that  a change  of  climate 
would  prove  beneficial  to  his  health  he  was  transferred 
to  the  St.  Louis  Conference  in  1870.  In  1874  he  was 
made  supernumerary,  and,  returning  to  Pennsylvania, 
died  at  Mt.  Jackson,  May  17,  1875. 

“Brother  Colton  was  a very  acceptable  preacher,  zeal- 
ous and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  to  God  and 
to  the  Church,  and  when  death  came  it  found  him  ready. 

. His  conversation  in  his  last  moments  was 
about  heaven,  and  the  prospect  of  meeting  his  father  and 
mother  and  friends  in  heaven.  His  last  word  was  to 
commend  his  family  to  the  care  of  God.” — (John  Crum , 
in  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate , July  8,  1875.) 

Seneca  B.  Torrey  was  born  in  Madison  county,  N.  Y., 
in  1830.  When  he  was  two  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  the  Western  Reserve,  and  his  early  life  was 
passed  in  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  He  had  acquired  a 
good  common  school  education,  and  attended  “Kingsville 
Academy”  and  “Grand  River  Institute”  several  terms. 
He  received  good  religious  training  from  his  parents, 
who  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
taught  district  school  a number  of  terms,  and  served  in 
the  army  two  years,  being  with  General  Sherman  s army 
during  the  memorable  “march  to  the  sea.”  When  the 
Civil  War  closed  he  was  employed  by  Elder  George  W. 
Maltby  as  a supply  on  the  Riceville  charge,  John  Crum 
being  preacher  in  charge.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
same  year,  1866,  by  the  Riceville  Quarterly  Conference, 
recommended  to  the  Erie  Conference,  and  received  on 
trial.  In  1875  he  was  granted  a supernumerary  rela- 
tion, and  attended  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  graduat- 
ing from  that  institution.  He  then  returned  to  his 
work  and  remained  effective  until  1898,  when  he  was 
made  supernumerary,  and  the  following  year  superan- 
nuated. 


Several  Preachers.  549 

John  Eckels  was  born  in  Summit  township,  Washing- 
ton county,  Pa.,  September  4,  1821,  and  died  at  Reno, 
Pa.,  October  25,  1888.  His  parents  were  devoted  and 
exemplary  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
John  had  careful  Christian  training.  He  was  converted 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  at  a revival  meeting  held  by  the 
Free-Will  Baptists  in  Mercer  county.  His  conversion 
was  clear;  and  his  testimony  to  the  witness  of  the  Spirit 
thrilling  and  convincing.  He  united  with  the  church  of 
his  parents  in  Greenville,  but  not  being  in  full  agreement 
with  its  doctrines  he  withdrew  and  cast  his  lot  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  From  the  time  of  his 
conversion  he  became  an  earnest  worker  in  all  depart- 
ments of  church  activity.  * He  was  an  efficient  class 
leader  for  about  twenty-five  years,  and  a Sunday  school 
superintendent  for  sixteen  years. 

Mr.  Eckels  felt  that  he  was  called  to  the  ministry,  and 
the  Church  recognized  this  call  by  granting  him  license 
to  preach  in  i860.  He  was  a blacksmith  by  trade,  but 
at  the  same  time  forged  out  sermons  which  he  preached 
to  the  edification  and  delight  of  the  people.  His  services 
were  in  almost  constant  demand.  After  serving  the 
Church  six  years  in  the  local  ranks,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  itinerant  ministry  in  1866.  He  was  appointed  to 
the  Reno  charge  in  1888,  and  had  served  the  church  but 
two  Sundays.  As  he  was  crossing  the  railroad  track, 
near  the  Reno  station,  apparently  in  a profound  reverie, 
he  was  struck  by  the  engine  of  a swiftly  passing  train, 
and  instantly  killed. 

Brother  Eckels  was  a man  of  one  work,  and  many 
were  saved  through  his  instrumentality.  He  possessed  the 
gift  of  exhortation  in  an  eminent  degree.  He  left  the 
Church  the  rich  legacy  of  an  unsullied  reputation,  a pure 
ai\d  spotless  character,  a noble  and  virtuous  life.  He 
was  truly  a saintly  man.  I o him,  sudden  death  was 
sudden  glory. 

James  H.  Merchant  was  born  at  Napoli,  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  August  10,  1839.  He  was  converted  in  1854 
at  the  Napoli  appointment,  then  connected  with  Leon 
Circuit;  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1865,  and  admitted 
to  the  traveling  connection  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1866.  He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization.  He  has  been  uniformly  sue- 


550 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


cessful  in  his  work.  He  writes  from  Freeport,  Ohio, 
September  5,  1902:  “I  have  attended  every  session  of 

conference  since  becoming  a member  and  have  answered 
to  the  first  roll  call  at  each  conference,  but  one,  and  that 
was  caused  by  a train  being  delayed.” 

Session  of  Erie  Conference  in  1867. 

The  Erie  Conference  session  of  1867  was  held  July 
10  at  New  Castle,  Pa.,  Bishop  Edmund  S.  Janes  presid- 
ing, and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

There  were  admitted  on  trial  Hiram  H.  Lowrey, 
Daniel  Rowland,  John  P.  Hicks,  Willard  Ransom,  Rob- 
ert S.  Borland,  John  Perry,  Frederick  Fair,  William  F. 
Warren,  George  W.  Anderson,  Edward  D.  McCreary, 
and  John  Frampton.  From  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Connection  of  America  were  received  Cyrus  Prindle,  Jo- 
seph S.  Albertson,  John  E.  Johnson  and  J.  H.  Stoney. 
James  Lynch  was  received  from  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  John  W.  Davis  was  received  from 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  James  M.  Bray, 
John  J.  Excell,  William  Sampson  and  Bennett  A.  Carl- 
son were  received  by  transfer. 

The  conference  lost  by  death  during  the  year  James 
Gillmore  and  W.  A.  Maltby. 

Appointments  for  1867:.  Cleveland  District,  James  Greer,  pre- 
siding elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  one  to  be  supplied,  Moses 
Hill:  Erie  Street,  A.  J.  Merchant;  City  Mission,  S.  S.  Stuntz; 
Ohio  Street,  Cyrus  Prindle;  Scoville  Avenue,  C.  N.  Grant;  East 
Cleveland,  W.  W.  Wythe;  Euclid,  Daniel  Rowland;  Mayfield, 

G.  J.  Bliss;  Willoughby,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Mentor,  Hiram  Kinsley; 
Madison  and  Perry,  John  Robinson,  Samuel  Gregg;  Painesville, 
E.  S.  Gillette;  Geneva,  John  Tribby;  Saybrook,  John  Bain;  Chag- 
rin Falls,  John  O’Neal;  Bainbridge,  Allen  Fouts;  Troy,  J.  B. 
Hammond;  Thompson,  Josiah  Flower,  Samuel  Wilkinson; 
Grand  River,  Darius  Smith;  Montville,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Hunts- 
burg  and  Claridon,  S.  B.  Torrey;  Chardon,  C.  T.  Kingsbury; 
Kirtland  and  Chester,  C.  R.  Chapman;  Mantua,  D.  M.  Stearns; 
Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  J.  D.  Norton;  Principal  of  Wil- 
loughby Collegiate  Institute,  J.  B.  Robinson.  Ravenna  District, 
John  Graham,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  J.  M.  Greene;  Akron,  D. 
C.  Osborne;  Tallmadge,  B.  F.  Wade;  Middlebury,  Michael  Wil- 
liams; Cuyahoga  Falls,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Kent,  J.  J.  Excell;  Hudson, 
to  be  supplied;  Twinsburg,  J.  B.  Grover;  Bedford,  B.  J.  Ken- 
nedy; Warrensville,  B.  C.  Warner;  Newburg,  G.  W.  Chesbro; 
Charlestown,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Windham,  Valorus  Lake;  Roots- 
town,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Braceville,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Edinburg, 

H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Deerfield,  John  McLean;  Canfield,  George 


Session  of  Erie  Conference  in  1867. 

Elliott;  Jackson,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Aurora,  Ezra  Wade.  Warren  Dis- 
trict, D.  M.  Stever,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  R.  M.  Warren; 
Richmond,  Asa  Faulkner;  Kelloggsville,  W.  H.  Hover;  Williams- 
field,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Jamestown,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Jefferson, 
D.  M.  Rogers;  Morgan,  H.  D.  Cole;  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove, 
N.  C.  Brown;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  William  Hayes;  Farming- 
ton,  Alvin  Burgess;  Southington  and  Nelson,  J.  H.  Stoney;  Niles, 
T.  B.  Tait;  Girard  and  Liberty,  J.  H.  Vance;  Green  and  Mecca, 
W.  A.  Clark;  Bazetta  and  Johnson,  L.  W.  Ely;  Vienna  and  Fow- 
ler, G.  W.  Anderson;  Youngstown,  John  Peate;  Hartford  and 
Orangeville,  J.  R.  Shearer;  Gustavus,  Alexander  Barris;  Ohl- 
town  and  Mineral  Ridge,  William  Ransom;  Principal,  Western 
Reserve  Seminary,  A.  N.  Craft.  Erie  District,  E.  J.  L.  Baker, 
presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church,  E.  A.  Johnston;  Centenary 
Mission,  to  be  supplied;  Simpson  Chapel,  Dillon  Prosser;  Wes- 
ley ville  and  Green,  C.  L.  Barnhart,  R.  D.  Waltz;  North  East, 
Thomas  Guy;  Waterford  and  Millville,  Washington  Hollister, 
N.  W.  Jones;  McKean,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Edinboro,  F.  H.  Beck; 
Fairview,  Albina  Hall;  Girard,  W.  N.  Reno;  Union,  Jonathan 
Whitely;  Wattsburg  and  Mina,  W.  M.  Bear,  J.  W.  Hill;  Kings- 
ville, H.  N.  Stearns;  Conneaut,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Springfield,  S.  W. 
Lloyd;  Albion  and  Lockport,  T.  D.  Blinn,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Ash- 
tabula, O.  G.  McEntire;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  J. 
W.  Lowe.  Meadville  District,  George  W.  Maltby,  presiding  el- 
der; Meadville,  Benjamin  Excell,  L.  D.  Williams;  Saegertown, 
J.  K.  Hallock;  Tow’nville,  A.  L.  Miller;  Cochranton,  B.  F.  Delo; 
Sunville,  Orrin  Babcock;  Franklin,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Greenville,  W. 
P.  Bignell;  Salem,  G.  H.  Brown;  Sheakleyville,  Milton  Smith; 
Evansburg,  J.  F.  Perry;  Conneautville,  Frank  Brown;  Harmons- 
burg,  T.  P.  Warner;  Rockville,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Espy  ville,  Robert 
Gray;  Linesville;  R.  C.  Smith;  New  Lebanon,  Isaac  Scofield; 
Oil  City,  O.  L.  Mead;  Rouseville,  G.  W.  Staples;  Cooperstown, 
J.  G.  Hawkins;  Professors  in  Allegheny  College,  James  Marvin, 
A.  B.  Hyde;  Financial  Agent,  Allegheny  College,  Niram  Norton. 
New  Castle  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  New’ 
Castle,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Mt.  Jackson,  J.  F.  Hill;  Low’ell  and  Eden- 
burg,  Ebenezer  Bennett;  New  Wilmington,  John  Crum;  east- 
brook  and  Shenango,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Harris  ville  and  Pine 
Grove,  Robert  Beatty;  Centerville  and  Mt.  Pleasant,  A.  H. 
Domer;  Mercer,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Hendersonville,  Thomas  Graham; 
North  Washington,  John  Perry;  Clintonville,  Cyril  Wilson;  Wat- 
erloo, John  Eckels;  Poland,  J.  W.  Stogdill;  Middlesex,  W.  H. 
Mossman;  Sharon,  J.  S.  Albertson;  Clarksville,  R.  M.  Bear; 
Charleston,  to  be  supplied;  Delaware  Grove,  L.  L.  Luce;  Green- 
wood, J.  H.  Merchant;  Brady’s  Bend,  George  Moore;  Hubbard, 
R.  S.  Borland;  Brookfield,  to  be  supplied  by  R.  W.  Crane.  Clar- 
ion District,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  Clarion.  D.  A. 
Crowrell;  Brookville,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Curllsville,  H.  P.  Hender- 
son; Rimersburg,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Callensburg  and  Freedom,  J.  E. 
Johnson;  Shippen ville,  A.  P.  Colton;  Rockland,  John  Abbott; 
Washington,  G.  F.  Reeser,  J.  M.  Groves;  Tionesta,  E.  D.  Mc- 
Creary; Troy,  John  Frampton;  Corsica,  Frederick  Fair;  Punx- 
sutawney,  David  Latshawr;  Perrysville,  Abraham  Bashline;  War- 
saw’, E.  C.  Mcllhattan;  Luthersburg,  W.  A.  Bowyer;  Brockway- 
ville,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Putney  ville,  Samuel  Coon;  Paradise,  T.  J. 
Baker;  Venango  City,  R.  F.  Keeler,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Principal,  Car- 
rier Seminary,  J.  G.  Townsend;  Agent,  Carrier  Seminary,  E.  R. 
Knapp;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull.  James- 
town District,  Joseph  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  W.  F. 


552 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Day;  Ashville,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Sugar  Grove,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Pine 
Grove  and  Farmington,  Samuel  Hollen;  Frewsburg,  to  be  sup- 
plied; Kinzua,  William  Rice;  South  Valley,  W.  F.  Warren; 
Sheffield,  A.  S.  Goodrich;  Panama,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Columbus, 
R.  W.  Scott;  Corry,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Youngsville,  J.  C.  Sullivan; 
Warren,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Pleasantville,  E.  A.  Squier;  Tidioute,  to 
be  supplied  by  William  Sampson;  Petroleum  Centre,  J.  W.  Wil- 
son; Pithole  and.  Tarr  Farm,  R.  W.  Hawkins;  Riceville,  A.  H. 
Bowers,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Titusville,  N.  G.  Luke;  Garland,  Major 
Colegrove;  Ellery,  S.  S.  Burton;  Ridgway,  Frederick  Vernon; 
Randolph,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  East  Randolph,  J.  F.  Stocker;  James- 
town and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission,  B.  A.  Carlson;  Principal, 
Chamberlain  Institute,  A.  S.  Dobbs.  Fredonia  District,  J.  E. 
Cnapin,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Dunkirk, 
J.  M.  Bray;  Mayville,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Portland,  G.  W.  Gray; 
Delanti,  C.  E.  Woodworth;  Sinclairville,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Elling- 
ton, H.  H.  Moore;  Leon,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Cherry  Creek,  Edwin 
Chace;  Cattaraugus,  E.  B.  Cummings;  Perrysburg,  A.  A.  Hor- 
ton; West  Dayton,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Hamlet,  Jephtha  Marsh; 
Forestville,  C.  M.  Heard;  Sheridan.  W.  W.  Warner;  Little  Val- 
ley and  Salamanca,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Silver  Creek,  David  Mizener; 
Westfield,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Quincy,  J.  W.  Davis;  Sherman,  L.  W. 
Day;  Clymer,  Peter  Burroughs;  Agent,  Freedmen’s  Aid  Society, 
A.  D.  Morton. 

Cyrus  Prindle. 

Cyrus  Prindle  was  born  in  Canaan,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  April  n,  1800,  and  died  December  1,  1885.  He 
was  converted  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  being  awak- 
ened at  the  first  Methodist  prayer  meeting  he  ever  at- 
tended, and  soon  after  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  He  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  con- 
nection in  1843  011  account  of  his  profound  convictions 
on  the  subject  of  slavery  and  the  attitude  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  that  time.  The  Wes- 
leyan Church  owes  much  to  Mr.  Prindle  for  his  wise 
counsel  in  the  early  years  of  its  history.  His  position 
was  one  of  exceptional  prominence  among  his  brethren. 
In  1867  he  returned  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  remained  a member  until  his  death.  He 
was  self-educated,  never  having  attended  school  of  any 
kind  but  a few  months  in  his  life.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  New  York  Conference  in  1821,  and  continued 
in  the  effective  relation  over  fifty-three  years,  with  but  a 
single  month’s  relaxation  from  the  regular  work. 

It  is  one  of  the  pleasant  memories  of  the  author  that 
he  was  some  time  pastor  of  this  holy  man;  and  the  ap- 
preciative words  of  this  saint  of  God,  spoken  when 


Cyrus  Prindle,  George  W . Anderson.  553 

needed,  have  been  an  inspiration  during  the  years  which 
have  followed. 

“Brother  Prindle  was  a man  of  rare  purity  of  charac- 
ter, a true  friend  of  the  oppressed,  of  intelligent  and 
very  positive  convictions.  In  all  his  ministry  he  was 
greatly  distinguished  for  sound,  practical  sense,  quiet 
force,  and  intimate  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  love 
of  his  kind.  In  all  his  walks  and  conversation  he  mani- 
fested consistent  and  devoted  piety.” 

Mr.  Prindle  could  justify  his  departure  from  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  he  could  justify  his  return. 
At  the  time  of  his  own  reception  in  1867  there  were  also 
admitted  from  the  same  church  Joseph  S.  Albertson  and 
John  E.  Johnson,  and  from  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  John  W.  Davis.  At  the  Monday  morning  ses- 
sion of  the  conference — July  15 — they  were  received  as 
elders  on  the  preceding  Friday — Mr.  Prindle  sent  the 
following  paper  to  the  conference : 

“Dear  Brethren : In  behalf  of  myself  and  the  two 

brethren  who  have  been  recognized  as  members  of  your 
body  at  your  present  session  from  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist Connection,  allow  me  to  express  to  you  our  sincere 
thanks  for  the  generous  and  brotherly  manner  with 
which  we  have  been  treated  and  received  among  you. 
These  thanks  I should  have  tendered  to  you  personally , 
but  my  heart  was  too  much  moved  to  allow  me  to  give 
utterance  to  my  feelings  at  the  proper  time.  Believing 
as  we  did,  that  differences  which  formerly  existed  had  so 
far  been  adjusted  by  the  providence  of  God  as  to  render 
it  eminently  fitting  that  organic  Methodist  unity  should 
be  effected,  we-  felt  that  our  influence  should  correspond 
with  our  convictions,  and  therefore  we  accept  our  new 
home  among  you  with  pleasure.  Hoping  that  the  Divine 
blessing  may  rest  upon  you  and  us,  giving  all  greater 
success  in  our  mission  in  these  strange  and  wonderful 
years,  I subscribe  myself,  your  grateful  brother  in  Chris- 
tian bonds.  “C.  Prindle. 

George  W.  Anderson  was  born  at  Howland  Center, 
Ohio,  five  miles  east  of  Warren,  on  December  2,  1826, 
and  died  at  Mineral  Ridge,  Ohio,  August  21,  1903,  after 
a severe  sickness  of  several  weeks.  \\  hen  he  was  but 
fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  passed  from  earth.  At 
this  early  period  in  life  he  bravely  and  courageously 


554 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

faced  some  of  life’s  problems  and  successfully  solved 
them.  He  was  a loving,  obedient  son,  cheering  the  sad 
heart  and  making  lighter  the  burdens  of  his  widowed 
mother. 

^ On  May  29,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  B.  W.  Mc- 
Clurg,  to  whom  were  born  two  children — a son  and 
daughter.  He  was  married  again  on  November  23, 
1882,  to  Miss  Amanda  Z.  Barringer,  who  remains  with 
his  son  to  mourn  their  great  loss. 

In  early  life  he  was  converted  to  God  and  felt  called  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  struggled  bravely 
to  prepare  himself  for  this  work  unto  which  he  had  been 
called.  He  was  possessed  of  peculiar  and  more  than 
ordinary  gifts,  and  these  were  developed  by  education 
and  sanctified  by  the  grace  of  God.  His  strong,  vigor- 
ous mind,  and  his  great  ability  as  a debater  made  him 
conspicuous  as  a defender  of  the  doctrines  and  polity  of 
the  church  which  he  so  ardently  loved.  As  a preacher 
he  was  forcible,  as  a pastor  he  was  faithful,  as  a seeker 
after  truth  he  was  earnest,  and  as  a student  of  the  Book 
he  was  diligent.  His  efforts  were  crowned  with  success. 
He  led  many  to  the  feet  of  the  Master.  He  reached  all 
classes,  and  when  the  day  of  reckoning  shall  come  many 
shall  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed. 

But  the  day  of  the  superannuation  came.  This  neces- 
sary cessation  of  active  labor  was  a great  grief  to  him. 
During  this  time  his  desire  to  preach  the  Word  was  even 
more  intense  than  in  former  years. 

But  the  time  came  when  with  his  Savior  he  exclaimed : 
“Father,  I have  finished  the  work  which  Thou  gavest 
me  to  do."  His  last  sickness  was  severe,  but  he  bore  it 
with  Christian  patience  and  resignation,  and  his  last  end 
was  the  end  of  the  righteous. — ( Minutes  of  the  East  Ohio 
Conference , 1903.) 

Rowland,  Perry,  Johnson,  Albertson. 

Daniel  Rowland  was  a choice  man.  “He  was  born 
and  reared  in  a Christian  home,  and  from  a child  had 
known  the  scriptures,  but  the  prayers  and  influence  of 
his  wife  were  needed  to  bring  him  to  Christ.  He  was 
naturally  diffident  and  sensitive;  quiet  and  reserved  in 
manner,  but  firm  in  his  convictions.  The  work  of  the 


Rowland,  Perry,  Johnson,  Albertson. 


ODD 


ministry  was  the  joy  and  crown  of  his  life.  To  lead 
men  to  Christ  and  build  them  up  in  Him  his  one  work. 
At  Grand  River  and  Mayfield  great  revivals  cheered  his 
heart.  He  knew  of  the  bitterness  of  bereavement,  an 
only  daughter  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  the  wife  of 
his  youth  had  been  called  away  by  death,  but  this  only 
led  him  nearer  to  Christ.” 

Daniel  Rowland  was  born  in  Ellery,  Chautauqua  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April  16,  1835.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  A. 
Winchester,  of  Madison,  Ohio,  in  1856.  His  wife  died 
in  Twinsburg  in  1876.  He  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Minnie  L.  Gill,  whom  he  married  in  1878.  He 
was  converted  in  1857.  He  served  two  years  in  the 
Second  Regiment,  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery.  He  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1866,  and  de- 
parted this  life  at  Poland,  Ohio,  November  15,  1885. — 
(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXI,  1886,  p.  350.) 

John  Perry  was  born  in  Wolverhampton,  Stafford- 
shire, England,  and  was  converted  and  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  Wesleyan  Church  in  the  mother  country.  His 
name  was  also  placed  upon  the  circuit  plan  there  as  an 
exhorter  or  local  preacher.  He  came  to  this  country  in 
1853,  and  shortly  after  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  sup- 
plied work  near  Johnstown,  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference. 
He  also  spent  some  time  as  a local  preacher  in  or  near 
Brady’s  Bend.  He  was  received  on  probation  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1867.  Brother  Perry  was  a “positive 
character,  manly  and  Christian,  though  firm  and  some- 
times apparently  severe,  yet  the  deep,  underlying  senti- 
ment, ‘The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us,’  developed  a 
great  tenderness  and  Christian  love  to  all  who  fully 
knew  his  true  spirit  and  manner  of  life.  An  unswerving 
fidelity  marked  his  course  in  all  he  conceived  to  be  good 
and  right,  both  in  private  and  public  life.  A very  marked 
point  in  his  Christian  and  ministerial  life  was  a clear 
consciousness  of  personal  acceptance  with  God  through 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  point  he  ever  aimed 
to  have  fixed  definitely  in  himself,  and  also  to  impress 
in  its  real  importance  most  emphatically  upon  others, 
both  in  his  pulpit  and  other  labors.  Many  souls  were 
saved  through  his  instrumentality.  He  died  in  the  clear 
consciousness  of  an  intelligent,  calm  and  triumphant 


mam 


556 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


faith  in  the  living  Redeemer.’, — (Minutes  of  Conferences , 
Vol.  XX,  1885,  pp.  330-331.)  He  was  successful  in 
winning  souls  for  Christ.  He  was  transferred  to  his 
heavenly  home,  from  his  earthly  home  near  Clarksville, 
Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  November  7,  1884.  He  left  the  legacy 
of  a good  life — saying  when  about  to  depart:  “I  am  satis- 
fied; it  is  all  right.” 

John  E.  Johnson  was  born  in  Bushington,  Vermont, 
Oct.  27,  1830.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een, and  two  or  three  years  later  was  licensed  to  preach. 
He  joined  the  Allegheny  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  connection,  and  continued  to  labor  in  this  body 
with  fervent  zeal  and  good  success  until  1867  when  he 
withdrew  and  united  with  the  Erie  Conference,  his  orders 
being  recognized. 

“Brother  Johnson  had  the  distinctive  marks  of  a true 
minister.  He  lived  a blameless  life;  he  deeply  realized 
the  demands  of  his  work;  his  ministrations,  though  un- 
adorned by  finished  rhetoric,  were  ever  imbued  with  the 
pungency  of  truth  and  the  pathos  of  love ; he  was  mighty 
in  prayer;  and,  best  of  all,  he  was  successful,  having  the 
wisdom  by  which  souls  are  won.  His  constitution,  never 
very  rugged,  was  worn  out  in  the  service.  Feeling  that 
his  work  was  done,  he  sought  a place  in  the  superannuated 
ranks  at  the  last  session  of  the  conference,  and  on  the  5th 
of  November,  1878,  peacefully  received  his  Master’s  sum- 
mons. He  sleeps  where  he  fell,  in  Bainbridge,  Ohio.’’ 

— (Minutes  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference , 1879,  p.  46.) 

Joseph  S.  Albertson  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio,  April  20,  1828;  and  died  in  Townville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  April,  1882.  At  the  family  altar  in  his  own 
home,  he  received  his  earliest  religious  impressions  which 
resulted  in  a clear  Christian  experience  when  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age.  He  did  not,  however,  make  a public 
profession  of  religion  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty. 
He  then  united  with  the  American  Wesleyan  Church ; and 
entered  its  ministry  in  the  Allegheny  Conference  in  1850. 
In  1867  he  was  received  on  his  credentials  into  the  Erie 
Conference.  Townville,  the  place  of  his  death,  deeply 
mourned  his  loss,  as  his  work  in  this  field  seemed  scarcely 
begun.  He  was  recognized  by  all  as  truly  a man  of  God. 


James  Madison  Bray , Robert  Stuart  Borland.  557 

t» 

James  Madison  Bray,  Robert  Stuart  Borland. 

James  Madison  Bray,  Jr.,  was  born  near  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  June  3,  1839.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Bray,  who  were  of  New  England  descent.  He  was 
adopted  as  the  only  son  of  Rev.  James  Madison  Bray,  Sr., 
brother  of  John  Bray,  in  the  year  1840.  He  received  a 
good  common  school  education  and  spent  fifteen  years 
with  his  adopted  parents  moving  from  place  to  place  most- 
ly in  the  Ohio  part  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  ranging 
through  Jefferson,  Columbiana,  Stark,  Harrison  and  Cos- 
hocton counties.  From  an  infant  he  had  the  best  of  re- 
ligious instruction.  He  thought  he  was  a Christian  when 
only  seven  years  old,  but,  forming  new  acquaintances 
every  two  years  he  was  led  into  bad  company.  Step  by 
step  he  wandered  away  from  his  father’s  God  until  Febru- 
ary 19th,  1857,  under  a sermon  preached  by  his  adopted 
father,  Isa.  1:18,  “Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together, 
saith  the  Lord.  Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet  they  shall 
be  as  white  as  snow ; though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they 
shall  be  as  wool.”  He  was  deeply  convicted  of  sin,  turned 
penitently  to  God  in  prayer,  and  found  pardon  and  great 
peace  of  mind  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  his  Savior. 
So  clear  were  the  evidences  of  his  acceptance  with  God 
that  no  skeptical  views  then  or  since  have  for  a moment 
shaken  his  confidence  in  and  reliance  upon  his  Redeemer. 
This  event  turned  the  whole  course  of  his  thinking  and 
acting.  He  entered  at  once  heartily  into  the  exercise  of 
private  and  public  prayer,  testimony,  daily  reading  the 
scriptures,  working  in  the  Sunday  School,  laboring  to 
bring  many  of  his  acquaintances  to  the  same  Christ  whom 
he  found  to  be  his  chief  joy.  This  conversion  occurred 
at  New  Athens,  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  Here  also  he  at- 
tended for  two  years  Franklin  College  under  the  control 
of  the  Lmited  Presbyterian  Church.  This  was  followed 
by  three  terms  of  teaching  in  common  schools.  In  March, 
1861,  he  entered  Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1863.  He  was  licensed  as  a local  preacher  by 
Meadville  Quarterly  Conference,  in  1863.  He  was  at  the 
same  time  recommended  to  the  annual  conference  for  ad- 
mission on  trial  ; and  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference  and  appointed  junior  preacher  on  Mal- 
vern Circuit.  In  1867  he  was  transferred  to  Erie  Con- 

36 


558  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ference  and  employed  under  the  elder  of  Fredonia  District 
to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  four  months  of  Rev.  E. 
A.  Ludwick  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. 

During  his  ministry  of  twenty  years  1,065  have  been 
converted  and  added  to  the  church.  An  average  of  120 
sermons  each  year  have  been  preached.  The  average  sal- 
ary for  annual  support  has  been  $795*5°* 

Robert  Stuart  Borland  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Rockland,  County  of  Venango,  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
June  17,  1836.  His  father  and  mother,  Rebecca  Gray, 
were  both  of  Scotch-Irish  blood.  The  name  goes  back  to 
the  days  of  the  Scottish  Chiefs  and  appears  among  their 
tenantry.  His  parents  removed  from  Center  County, 
Pennsylvania,  to  the  place  of  his  birth  in  1826  and  settled 
upon  the  farm  that  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 
He  is  the  youngest  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity.  His  father  was  drowned  in  the  Allegheny 
river  when  he  was  in  his  second  year.  His  childhood  was 
spent  amid  the  simplicity  characteristic  of  country  life  in 
Western  Pennsylvania  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. 

He  attended  the  public  school  with  fifty  or  more  of  the 
other  children  of  the  neighborhood  at  the  Shannon  School 
House.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the  prepara- 
tory department  of  Allegheny  College,  influenced  thereto 
by  his  teacher,  William  Burgwin,  and  this  was  not  the 
only,  nor  the  greatest  service  tendered  him  by  Mr.  Bur- 
gwin. It  was  in  response  to  his  invitation  in  August, 
1854,  at  a camp-meeting  near  his  mother’s  home  and  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  John  Crum  and  J.  H.  Vance,  that  he 
bowed  as  seeker  of  pardon  and  began  a religious  life.  His 
ancestry  was  Presbyterian,  and  he  was  probably  the  first 
of  the  kindred  to  unite  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

In  his  college  life  he  was  dependent  upon  his  earnings 
for  funds,  and  his  course  was  prolonged  and  interrupted 
by  stopping  to  teach.  His  first  trip  to  Meadville,  thirty- 
seven  miles,  was  on  foot  and  the  total  outlay  for  his  first 
term  was  $37.00.  In  the  winter  of  1853-’ 54  he  taught  his 
first  term  of  school.  His  college  course  was  completed  in 
1859,  the  next  eight  years  were  spent  chiefly  in  teaching. 

Marietta,  Ohio,  Warsaw,  111.,  and  Franklin,  Pa.,  were 
the  scenes  of  these  labors.  At  Marietta  he  was  married 


James  Madison  Bray , Robert  Stuart  Borland.  559 

to  Miss  Charlotte  Bosworth,  Jan.  13,  1862.  At  Warsaw 
he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1865,  James  Leaton,  presiding 
elder  of  the  Illinois  Conference  signing  the  license.  On 
account  of  the  failing  health  of  his  wife,  he  returned  to 
Franklin  in  the  autumn  of  1865  where  she  died  in  May, 
1867.  For  a short  time  he  kept  books  for  a hardware 
firm  in  Franklin,  and  then  returned  to  the  school  room 
taking  charge  of  the  Venango  Academy.  He  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1867.  Since 
which  time  with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  as  a su- 
perannuate he  has  been  in  active  service,  serving  a number 
of  important  charges  in  the  conference. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Adelia  Clark,  of 
Hubbard,  Ohio,  June  5,  1868. 

He  served  the  Jamestown  district  as  presiding  elder  for 
the  full  term  of  four  years,  appointed  thereto  in  1883. 
He  was  a member  of  the  general  conferences  of  i888-’96. 
At  the  close  of  his  third  year  in  the  conference,  he  was 
placed  upon  the  secretaries’  staff  and  continued  there  for 
seventeen  years. 

Mr.  Borland  was  appointed  to  the  Reno  charge  in  1872. 
He  says  “Reno  was  a little  oil  town  quite  prosperous  and 
inhabited  by  a class  of  people  of  unusual  culture  for  such  a 
town.  A little  hall  in  which  services  were  held  would  seat 
about  120  and  few  congregations  of  higher  average  in- 
telligence could  be  found  anywhere.  This  made  a de- 
mand for  thorough  preparation  for  the  pulpit  and  the 
lightness  of  the  pastoral  work  gave  an  opportunity  for 
study  which  I was  glad  to  embrace.  During  my  second 
year  at  Reno,  financial  disaster  came  to  some  of  the  lead- 
ing  people  of  the  place,  so  that  the  little  church  was  much 
embarrassed.  At  the  end, of  the  year  the  salary  of  $1,200 
was  $550  in  arrears  but  the  mettle  of  the  people  was 
shown  in  the  fact  that  they  would  permit  no  deficiency  to 
be  published  in  connection  with  their  charge  and  actually 
paid  up  in  full  the  last  $350  coming  in  a lump  some  fifteen 
months  after  I had  left  the  place.” 

In  1879  Mr.  Borland  was  sent  to  Girard.  He  says  of 
the  work  there : “This  was  a field  which  represented  un- 

usual difficulties.  Fourteen  years  before  a fine  church  had 
been  dedicated  costing  $30,000.  At  the  dedication  the 
debt  had  been  paid — on  paper — ; some  years  later  an  ef- 
fort had  been  made  with  the  assistance  of  a bishop  to  liqui- 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


560 

date  the  debt  and  again  it  was  paid — on  paper — ; later 
still  a third  effort  was  made  and  with  the  same  result. 
When  I accepted  the  pastorate  I found  over  $10,000  still 
unpaid  and  most  of  it  bearing  eight  per  cent,  interest.  The 
people  were  thoroughly  disheartened.  The  management 
of  the  trustees  had  resulted  in  a loss  of  confidence,  and  the 
chief  financial  men  of  the  place  pronounced  the  payment 
of  the  debt  an  impossibility,  besides  the  church  was  rent 
by  the  most  bitter  church  quarrel.  After  thoroughly  ex- 
amining the  situation  I decided  that  time  must  be  the  chief 
factor  in  settling  the  quarrel,  and  I addressed  myself  to 
the  church  debt.  It  was  regarded  as  a desperate  under- 
taking and  such  it  was,  and  without  going  into  details, 
when  I closed  my  three  years’  pastorate  the  debt  was  re- 
duced to  $2,000  and  that  was  abundantly  covered  with 
valid  obligations  had  they  been  properly  attended  to.” 

He  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  all  his  fields  of  la- 
bor. He  is  worthy  of  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
which  he  bears. 

Frederick  Fair,  Edward  D.  McCreary. 

Frederick  Fair  writes  under  date  of  April  17,  1888:  “I 
was  born  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  22,  1840.  My 
parents  were  of  German  descent,  and  at  my  birth  they 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  But  from  the 
time  of  my  first  sense  of  the  import  of  Christianity,  I 
have  been  under  the  influence  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Among*  the  earliest  circumstances  of  my  recol- 
lection, I think  nothing  is  more  vivid  now  than  the  siege 
my  father  passed  through  when  he  first  identified  himself 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  midst  of 
violent  opposition  and  insulting  jeers  from  his  relatives. 
I remember  of  my  grandmother  (his  mother),  in  conver- 
sation with  my  mother,  saying,  ‘I  would  rather  have  fol- 
lowed him  to  his  grave  than  to  see  him  mingling  with 
those  ignorant  Methodists.’  The  change  realized  by  my 
father  was  remarkable,  and  I remember  distinctly  one  of 
his  answers  to  his  opponents:  T was  eighteen  years  a 

member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  living  under  the  form 
of  godliness  but  knowing  nothing  of  its  power.  But  now, 
by  the  teachings  of  those  whom  you  despise,  I am  led  into 
the  essential  light,  and,  to  the  joy  of  my  previous  deluded 
heart,  I realize  the  power.’ 


Frederick  Fair,  Edward  D.  McCreary. 


“My  mother,  as  well  as  others,  at  first  frowned  upon 
my  father’s  new  experience.  She  refused  to  kneel  with 
him  in  family  worship,  which  was  also  a new  thing  in  our 
family,  but  two  older  brothers  and  myself  did  according 
to  our  father’s  instructions;  and  the  indignant  frown 
which  I saw  on  my  mother’s  face,  as  I peeped  through  be- 
tween my  fingers — while  father  was  praying — to  see  how 
mother  looked,  seems  vividly  apparent  to  me  now,  though 
many  years  have  passed.  But  in  less  than  two  years,  thus 
witnessing  my  father’s  devotion,  mother’s  indignation  was 
turned  to  conviction  of  her  mistake,  then  to  penitence,  and 
from  this,  under  the  agency  of  Methodism,  to  conversion. 
From  this  on,  my  father’s  house,  though  in  the  midst  of  a 
Lutheran  community,  became  the  place  of  Methodist  Sun- 
day evening  prayer  meetings,  in  connection  with  which 
conversions  were  frequent,  while  the  bitter  accusations 
and  repeated  jeers  of  the  older  church  seemed  to  have  a 
tendency  to  rivet  even  tighter,  rather  than  to  weaken, 
Methodism  in  that  part. 


“During  the  summer  of  1858  I worked  away  from 
home,  and  among  the  home  news  that  reached  me  was  that 
a great  spiritual  revival  was  going  on  in  the  vicinity. 
My  old  playmates  and  schoolmates  were  being  converted 
and  joining  the  church.  I made  up  my  mind  that  when  I 
went  home  the  coming  fall  I would  do  the  same,  and  in 
connection  with  this  I counseled  with  myself  that  if,  es- 
pecially soon,  after  I got  home,  there  would  be  an  oppor- 
tunity for  me  to  evince  my  desire  under  special  church 
solicitation,  I would  recognize  that  as  a proof  that  I was 
specially  bound  to  act  according  to  my  previous  con- 
clusion. 


“It  was  in  December  when  I reached  home — on  Thurs- 
day. Among  other  things  I soon  found  out  that  Quar- 
terly Meeting  was  to  be  in  the  old  chapel — Asbury  Chapel, 
Pleasantville  Circuit,  Venango  Co.,  Pa., — on  the  follow- 
ing Saturday  and  Sunday,  and  also  that  there  was  to  be 
special  service  on  Thursday  and  Friday  evenings.  I re- 
sponded to  the  invitation  at  the  close  of  the  sermon, 
bowed  at  the  altar,  where  and  when,  for  the  first  time  I 
really  felt  my  load  of  guilt,  my  distance  from  God  and 
Christianity  and  my  need  of  light  relative  to  the  great 
question  of  my  salvation.  I struggled  hard  for  over  two 


562 


History  of  Erie  Coirferencc. 


weeks.  On  Christmas  eve,  1858,  I accepted  Christ,  upon 
which  he  immediately  accepted  me. 

“The  fourth  Quarterly  Conference,  of  Meadville,  in 
1864,  J.  W.  Lowe,  presiding  elder,  granted  me  local 
preacher’s  license.  Thus  I found  myself  in  the  ministerial 
ranks,  hardly  knowing  how  I got  there.  I was  received 
by  the  Erie  Conference  on  probation  in  1867,  and  succes- 
sively admitted  and  ordained  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
conference,  in  connection  with  which  I still  stand.” 

The  Methodist  parsonage  has  sent  many  preachers  into 
the  world’s  great  harvest  field  to  gather  sheaves  for  -the 
kingdom.  The  record  which  they  have  made  is  a worthy, 
a noble  one.  Ministers’  sons  have  taken  up  the  work  of 
their  fathers,  and  their  uniform  success  has  proved  the 
value  of  the  training  they  have  received. 

Edward  D.  McCreary,  the  son  of  Rev.  T.  G.  McCreary 
and  Jane  R.  McCreary,  was  born  near  Franklin,  Venango 
Co.,  Pa.  He  was  taught  from  childhood  the  importance 
of  attendance  upon  all  the  means  of  grace,  and  pious  re- 
gard and  deep  reverence  for  the  holy  word  of  God.  He 
was  converted  when  ten  years  of  age  at  a protracted  meet- 
ing held  by  his  father  at  New  Bethlehem,  Clarion  County. 
He  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in  1867.  The  same 
year  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  his  license  bearing  the 
signature  of  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder  of  Clarion 
District ; and  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference.  He 
was  presiding  elder  of  Jamestown  District  in  i88o-’82. 
He  was  transferred  to  Des  Moines  Conference  in  1884, 
and  to  California  Conference  in  1887. 


New  Classes  and  Churches. 

The  first  class  at  Rockland  was  organized  by  Reverend 
Dorsey  of  the  Shippenville  Circuit,  at  the  house  of  David 
Smith,  and  consisted  of  seven  members : David  and 

Mary  Smith,  Peter  and  Polly  Lovell,  Mrs.  Lovell’s 
mother,  and  John  and  Hannah  Prier.  The  exact  date  of 
the  organization  has  not  been  ascertained.  In  1830  there 
was  a good  revival  which  added  thirty  members  to  the 
Church.  J.  C.  Ayres  was  the  preacher.  Rockland  Cir- 
cuit was  formed  in  1862.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
erected  in  1832,  and  was  replaced  by  the  present  building 
in  1867.  The  ground  for  the  latter  was  donated  by  Jacob 


Neu ' Classes  and  Churches. 


563 


Smith.  The  cemetery  under  the  control  of  the  trustees 
of  the  church  comprises  an  acre  of  ground  jointly  given 
by  Daniel  Smith  and  Abraham  Lusher,  since  enlarged  by 
purchase. 

The  class  at  Georgeville  was  organized  by  Revs.  Sco- 
field and  Monks.  Peter  Prier  was  the  first  class-leader, 
and  several  members  of  the  Myers  family  were  active 
members  of  the  first  church  organization.  The  church 
building  was  erected  in  1858. 

The  church  at  Maple  Shade — Zion  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — formerly  belonged  to  the  Lutherans  but  during 
the  pastorate  of  E.  M.  Kernick  united  with  the  Methodist 
denomination. 

The  Rockland  Circuit  has  been  a powerful  factor  in 
Methodism.  Twenty  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  been 
sent  forth  from  this  charge.  Six  of  these  lived  within 
the  radius  of  a mile.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  preserve  the 
list.  W.  M.  Stanford  became  a bishop,  and  John  Domer, 
George  Domer  and  J.  W.  Domer,  elders  in  the  Evan- 
gelical Association.  Jacob  Domer  became  a minister  in 
the  Church  of  God,  and  Austin  Jolly,  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  Methodists  were:  John  S.  Lytle,  Abram 

H.  Domer,  Robert  S.  Borland,  James  M.  Foster,  Henry 
C.  Smith,  Friend  W.  Smith,  John  Lusher,  J.  C.  McDon- 
ald, O.  H.  Nickle,  S.  M.  Nickle,  W.  S.  Nickle— “Singing 
Evangelist  and  Preacher’ — B.  P.  Linn,  W.  B.  Linn  and 
E.  N.  Askey. 

Early  in  1867  a few  Methodist  families  residing  in  Ma- 
honingtown — most  of  whom  had  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  that  being  the  only  religious  organization  in  the 
place — determined  to  organize  a society  of  their  own  faith 
and  secure  a place  of  worship.  Ebenezer  Bennett,  of  the 
Lowell  and  Edenburg  Charge,  held  occasional  services  in 
an  old  school  house,  and  formed  a class  consisting  of  ten 
members — John  Balmer  and  wife,  David  Rhodes  and 

I wife,  John  Pitzer  and  wife,  Joseph  Cox  and  wife,  Mrs. 

Jane  Wallace,  and  Mrs.  Eva  Forney.  In  1868  two  lots 
were  procured  on  the  corner  of  Cedar  and  Madison  ave- 
nues, and  the  contract  for  erecting  a church  building  was 
given  to  David  Rhodes,  the  contract  price  being  $2,200. 
The  money  was  soon  raised,  Cyrus  Clark,  George  Rice, 
George  Crawford,  and  Hon.  David  Sankey  being  liberal 


564 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


church  possible.  The  carpenters — David  Rhodes,  Abra- 
ham  Rhodes,  Henry  Rhodes,  John  Balmer,  John  Pitzer, 
and  James  Kincaid  donated  the  greater  share  of  their 
work.  J.  M.  Kelly,  teacher  in  the  new  school  house  which 
the  Methodists  now  began  to  occupy  for  services,  and  lo- 
cal preacher,  who  later  became  a member  of  the  St.  Louis 
Conference,  was  most  zealous  in  the  various  departments 
of  church  work.  The  new  church  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy in  April,  1869.  At  the  conference  of  that  year,  D. 
A.  Crowell,  “a  most  wonderfully  gifted  pulpit  orator, ” 
was  sent  to  the  Mount  Jackson  Charge,  which  included 
Mahoningtown,  and  in  the  winter  conducted  a great  re- 
vival, receiving  more  than  sixty  new  members.  The 
church  was  now  cleared  of  debt  and  dedicated. 

“The  first  organized  church  in  the  town  of  Sheffield 
was  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination,  and  was 
formed  in  the  Barnes  neighborhood  about  fifty  years  ago. 
Erastus  Barnes,  though  not  a member  of  any  denomina- 
tion, recognized  the  desirability  of  having  a church  in  the 
town,  and  obtained  a good  subscription  list,  which  he 
headed  himself.  Silas  Lacy,  Jeremiah  Lane,  Melchi 
Snapp,  and  Richard  Dunham  were  also  very  prominent 
and  active  in  its  organization  and  support.  J . K.  Hallock 
preached  the  first  year,  while  residing  in  Warren.  Ser- 
vices were  held  once  in  four  weeks  in  the  school  house. 

“The  first  church  to  be  built  in  Sheffield  village  was  the 
Methodist  Episcopal,  which  was  erected  in  1867,  and 
burned  in  the  winter  of  i876-’77.  It  was  originally  built 
through  the  efforts  of  Richard  Dunham  and  Horton, 
Crary  & Co.  After  the  fire,  the  firm  just  named  rebuilt 
it  at  once  at  a cost  of  about  $7,000,  and  presented  it  to  the 
Methodist  denomination.” — (History  of  Warren  County, 
D.  Mason  & Co.,  1887,  P • 522-) 

The  Reno  class  was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1867 
by  R.  F.  Keeler,  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  Venango  City, 
and  consisted  of  the  following  members : S.  A.  Darnell, 

leader,  Angeline  J.  Darnell,  Emily  Daniels,  Martha  C. 
Simons,  Isabella  Hoffman,  Albert  Simpson,  and  Marilla 
O.  Simpson.  At  the  close  of  the  year  the  class  had  been 
reduced  by  removals  to  three  members.  In  1868  Reno 
was  attached  to  Venango  City  as  a regular  appointment. 
The  class  increased  to  nine  members  by  the  time  of  the 
next  conference.  The  society  has  worshiped  in  a room 


Erie  Conference  in  1868. 


565 


of  the  Reno  Oil  Company’s  office  building.  The  most 
notable  revivals  have  been  those  of  J.  H.  Vance  in  1872, 
resulting  in  the  conversion  of  nearly  one  hundred  souls, 
that  of  J.  M.  Thoburn,  Jr.,  in  1876,  when  thirty  were 
added  to  the  church,  and  that  of  J.  H.  Miller  in  1880, 
when  twenty  found  peace.  The  first  Sunday  School  was 
organized  in  1865  by  Rev.  J.  M.  DeWoody,  a local 
preacher. 

One  of  the  pastors  writes  : “Reno  is  noted  throughout 

the  conference  for  the  ardent  interest  she  feels  in  and  the 
handsome  contributions  she  makes  to  the  missionary 
work.  Her  contributions  toward  this  benevolence  ever 
have  been  and  still  are  greater  per  member  than  any 
charge  in  the  conference.”  For  many  years  this  state- 
ment was  true. 

The  society  at  Galloway  was  organized  as  the  result  of 
a revival  held  under  the  labors  of  J.  M.  DeWoody  in 
1875.  It  numbered  at  first  sixty-eight  members.  The 
leading  laymen  were  Thomas  Fee,  Silas  Smith,  William 
Reading,  James  R.  Neely,  Nelson  C.  Smith,  and  Amos 
Dunbar.  In  1881  the  present  church  was  dedicated.  It 
had  been  moved  from  Petroleum  Centre,  repaired,  and 
furnished.  A Sunday  School  had  been  established  some- 
time prior  to  the  organization  of  the  church.  During  the 
ministry  of  two  years  of  Rev.  M.  F.  Compton,  a student 
of  Allegheny  College,  there  were  about  sixty  conversions. 

The  class  at  Worden  Chapel — formerly  “Smith’s  Cor- 
ners”— was  formed  in  1876  after  a very  successful  work 
of  grace  under  the  labors  of  J.  M.  DeWoody.  Among 
the  original  members  were  William  McElhaney,  Charles 
S.  Coxon,  Clark  Worden,  and  Martin  Smith.  Perhaps 
the  most  successful  revival  since  that  which  gave  birth  to 
the  society,  occurred  under  the  ministry  of  M.  F.  Compton 
when  thirty  souls  were  added  to  the  church. 

Erie  Conference  in  1868. 

The  Erie  Conference  session  of  1868  was  held  July  15, 
at  Warren,  Ohio,  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley  presiding  and 
W.  F.  Day,  secretary. 

Admitted  on  trial : Manassas  Miller,  Daniel  W. 

Wampler,  Edward  Brown,  S.  T.  Requa,  Isaac  W.  Clover, 
William  M.  Taylor,  John  W.  Blaisdell  and  McVey  Troy. 
Received  from  Wesleyan  Methodist  connection  of  Amer- 


566 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ica : Orsenius  M.  Sackett.  Received  by  transfer:  C. 

E.  Felton,  J.  M.  Leonard  and  J.  M.  Brown. 

P.  D.  Horton  was  announced  as  deceased  during  the 
year. 

Appointments  for  1868:  Cleveland  District,  James  Greer,  pre- 

siding elder;  Cleveland— First  Church,  C.  E.  Felton;  Erie  Street, 
D.  C.  Osborne;  City  Mission,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Scoville  Ave- 
nue, C.  N.  Grant,  Moses  Hill;  East  Cleveland,  Cyrus  Prindle; 
Euclid,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Mayfield,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Willoughby, 
P.  P.  Pinney;  Mentor,  Hiram  Kinsley;  Painesville,  Benjamin 
Excell;  Madison  and  Perry,  John  Robinson,  Darius  Smith;  Gen- 
eva, John  Tribby;  Saybrook,  John  Bain;  Chagrin  Falls,  G.  J. 
Bliss;  Bainbridge,  Allen  Fouts;  Troy,  Hiram  Kellogg;  Thomp- 
son, Josiah  Flower,  Daniel  Rowland;  Grand  River,  Richard  Gray; 
Montville,  Alvin  Burgess;  Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  S.  B.  Tor- 
rey;  Chardon,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Kirtland  and  Chester,  C.  R. 
Chapman;  Mantua,  J.  F.  Brown;  Agent,  Bible  Society,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Principal  of  Willoughby  Collegiate  Institute,  J.  B.  Rob- 
inson; Bible  Agent,  Albert  Norton.  Ravenna  District,  John  Gra- 
ham, presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  R.  M.  Warren;  Akron,  W.  F. 
Day;  Tallmadge,  B.  F.  Wade;  Middlebury,  Michael  Williams; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  J.  R.  Lyon;  Kent,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Hudson,  H.  P. 
Henderson;  Twinsburg,  B.  J.  Kennedy;  Bedford,  A.  M.  Brown; 
Warrensville,  Thomas  Radcliff;  Newburg,  G.  W.  Chesbro; 
Charlestown,  Valorus  Lake;  Windham,  D.  N.  Stearns;  Roots- 
town,  R.  S.  Borland;  Braceville,  E.  D.  McCreary;  Edenburg,  H. 

M.  Chamberlain;  Deerfield,  John  McLean;  Canfield,  George  El- 
liott; Jackson,  John  Beetham.  Warren  District,  D.  M.  Stever, 
presiding  elder;  Warren,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Richmond,  Asa  Falk- 
ner;  Kelloggsville,  N.  W.  Jones;  Williamsfield,  N.  C.  Brown; 
Jamestown  and  State  Line,  F.  A.  Archibald,  one  to  be  supplied; 
Jefferson,  W.  A.  Clark;  Morgan,  Samuel  Wilkinson;  Windsor 
and  Hartsgrove,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  D.  A. 
Crowell;  West  Farmington,  J.  W.  Stogdill;  Southington  and 
Wilson  Chapel,  Ezra  Wade;  Nelson  and  Garrettsville,  J.  H. 
Stoney;  Niles,  D.  M.  Rogers;  Girard  and  Liberty,  L.  W.  Ely; 
Greensburg,  J.  F.  Hill;  Bazetta  and  Johnston,  T.  B.  Tait;  Vienna 
and  Fowler,  G.  W.  Anderson;  Youngstown,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Hartford 
and  Orangeville,  Alexander  Barris;  Gustavus,  J.  R.  Shearer; 
Ohltown  and  Mineral  Ridge,  Manassas  Miller;  Principal,  West- 
ern Reserve  Seminary,  A.  N.  Craft.  Erie  District,  E.  J.  L. 
Baker,  presiding  elder;  Erie— First  Church,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Simp- 
son Church,  F.  H.  Beck;  Wesleyville,  J.  K.  Hallock;  Green,  R. 
D.  Waltz;  North  East,  Thomas  Guy;  Waterford,  Washington 
Hollister;  Millville,  W.  H.  Hover;  McKean,  P.  W.  Sherwood; 
Edinboro,  J.  G.  Townsend;  Fairview,  Milton  Smith;  Girard, 
Frank  Brown;  Union,  Jonathan  Whitely;  Wattsburg,  J.  W. 
Wilson;  Greenfield  and  Mina,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Kingsville,  H. 

N.  Stearns;  East  Ashtabula,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Conneaut,  David  Miz- 
ener;  Springfield,  C.  L.  Barnhart;  Albion,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Lock- 
port,  J.  W.  Hill;  Ashtabula,  O.  G.  McEntire.  Meadville  District, 
George  W.  Maltby,  presiding  elder;  Meadville,  John  Peate,  L.  D. 
Williams;  Saegertown,  Niram  Norton;  Townville,  A.  L.  Miller; 
Cochranton,  B.  F.  Delo;  Sunville,  Orrin  Babcock;  Franklin,  J. 
H.  Tagg;  Greenville,  John  O’Neal;  Salem,  J.  W.  Blaisdell;  Sheak- 
leyville,  R.  C.  Smith;  Evansburg,  J.  F.  Perry;  Conneautville, 
Gabriel  Dunmire;  Spring,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Harmonsburg,  T.  P. 


Erie  Conference  in  1868. 


567 

Warner;  Rockville,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Espyville,  G.  H.  Brown; 
Linesville,  William  Rice;  New  Lebanon,  John 
Eckles;  Waterloo,  Isaac  Scofield;  Oil  City,  R.  A. 
Caruthers;  Rouseville,  G.  W.  Staples;  Cooperstown, 
John  Abbott;  Professors  in  Allegheny  College,  James  Marvin, 
A.  B.  Hyde;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  J.  G.  Hawkins. 

. New  Castle  District,  Russell  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  New 
Castle,  W.  W.  Wythe;  Mt.  Jackson,  J.  B.  Grover;  Lowell,  Eben- 
ezer  Bennett;  New  Wilmington,  John  Crum;  Eastbrook  and  She- 
nango,  Robert  Beatty;  Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove,  J.  M.  Groves; 
Centerville,  A.  H.  Domer;  Mercer,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Henderson- 
ville, Thomas  Graham;  North  Washington,  William  Hayes,  J.  P. 
Hicks;  Clinton ville,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Poland,  George  Moore; 
Middlesex,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Sharon,  J.  S.  Albertson;  Clarksville, 
R.  M.  Bear;  Charleston,  to  be  supplied;  Delaware  Grove,  L.  L. 
Luce;  Greenood,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Brady’s  Bend,  J.  J.  Excell; 
Hubbard,  J.  H.  Vance;  Brookfield  and  Wheatland  Furnace,  John 
Perry;  Hubbard  and  Sharon  Welsh  Mission,  Edward  Brown. 
Clarion  District,  O.  L.  Mead,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  S.  S. 
Stuntz;  Brookville,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Curllsville,  Samuel  Coon; 
Rimersburg,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Callensburg  and  Freedom,  J.  E. 
Johnson;  Shippen  ville,  A.  P.  Colton,  E.  C.  Mcllhattan;  Rockland, 
R.  B.  Boyd;  Washington,  W.  A.  Bowyer;  Clarington,  to  be  sup- 
plied; Tionesta,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Troy,  W.  M.  Taylor;  Corsica, 
Frederick  Fair;  Punxsutawney,  David  Latshaw;  Perrysville, 
Abraham  Bashline;  Warsaw,  I.  N.  Clover;  Luthersburg  and 
Paradise,  T.  J.  Baker;  Brockway  ville,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Putney- 
vibe,  O.  M.  Sackett;  Venango  City,  R.  F.  Keeler;  President, 
McVey  Troy;  Agent,  Carrier  Seminary,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Agent, 
Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull.  Jamestown  District,  Joseph  Leslie, 
presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  E.  A.  Johnson;  Ash  ville,  A.  R. 
Kellogg;  Sugar  Grove,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Pine  Grove  and  Farming- 
ton,  C.  W.  Reeves;  Frewsburg,  Rufus  Pratt;  Kinzua,  A.  A.  Hor- 
ton; Sheffield,  Stephen  Hollen;  Panama,  W.  M.  Bear;  Columbus, 
A..  S.  Goodrich;  Corry,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Youngsville,  J.  C.  Sulli- 
van; Warren,  R.  W.  Scott;  Pleasantville,  E.  A.  Squier;  Tidioute. 
William  Sampson;  Deerfield,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Petroleum  Centre, 
C.  M.  Heard;  Pithole  and  Tarr  Farm,  R.  W.  Hawkins,  S.  T. 
Requa;  Riceville,  A.  H.  Bowers,  one  to  be  supplied;  Titusville, 
W.  P.  Bignell;  Garland,  Edwin  Chace;  Ellery,  S.  S.  Burton; 
Ridgway,  Frederick  Vernon;  Randolph,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  East  Ran- 
dolph, J.  F.  Stocker;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish 
Mission,  B.  A.  Carlson.  Fredonia  District,  James  E.  Chapin, 
presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Dunkirk,  J.  M.  Bray; 
May  ville,  N.  G.  Luke;  Portland.  E.  B.  Cummings;  Delanti,  C.  E. 
Woodworth;  Sinclairville,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Ellington,  H.  H.  Moore; 
Leon,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Cattaraugus,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Perrysburg, 
J.  W.  Davis;  West  Dayton,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Hamlet  and  Cherry 
Creek,  Jephtha  Marsh,  W.  F.  Warren;  Forestville,  G.  W.  Clarke; 
Sheridan,  W.  W.  Warner;  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca,  John 
Akers;  Silver  Creek,  G.  W.  Gray;  Westfield,  C.  R.  Pattee; 
Quincy,  Albina  Hall;  Sherman,  L.  W.  Day;  Clymer,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs; District  Secretary  of  the  Freedmen’s  Aid  Society,  A.  D. 
Morton. 

Orsemus  M.  Sackett  was  a strong  anti-slavery  man. 
and  one  of  the  number  of  Methodist  Episcopal  preachers 
who,  to  make  their  influence  most  strongly  felt,  united 
with  the  American  Wesleyan  Church.  As  the  years  pass 


1 


568 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


by,  we  are  learning  to  hold  them  in  the  highest  honor  for 
their  allegiance  to  a great  moral  principle.  Mr.  Sackett 
was  born  in  Windsor,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  26, 
1833,  and  passed  to  his  reward  in  Shippenville,  Clarion 
Co.,  Pa.,  June  10,  1882.  A child  of  Christian  parents,  he 
was  converted  when  nineteen  years  of  age  under  the  la- 
bors of  Benjamin  Norris,  a local  preacher  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  He  united  with  that  Church,  but 
a year  later  connected  himself  with  the  Wesleyans.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1859;  admitted  to  the  Allegheny 
Conference  on  trial  in  i860;  and  received  on  his  creden- 
tials into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1868,  and  labored  among 
us  fourteen  years  until  called  to  his  rest.  He  had  been 
for  years  afflicted  with  asthma  which  finally  resulted  in 
consumption.  “Erie  Conference  never  mourned  a purer, 
better,  or  more  faithful  man.  His  character  may  be  read 
by  his  appointments.  He  almost  invariably  went  from 
one  charge  to  the  next  nearest,  being  most  desired  where 
best  known.  Everything  about  him,  whether  in  the  pulpit 
or  out  of  it,  showed  him  to  be  a man  of  one  work — the 
saving  of  souls” 

John  W.  Blaisdell. 

The  Blaisclells  came  to  America  from  England  in  1633 
and  settled  in  New  England.  The  name  was  originally 
spelled  “Blasdell.”  Seven,  at  least,  of  the  name  were  in 
the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  John  W.  was  born  on  a farm 
in  Gilford,  New  Hampshire.  His  parents  were  Thomas 
J.  and  Ann  P.  (Lang)  Blaisdell.  Mr.  Blaisdell  says: 
“My  mother  was  one  of  the  kindest  and  wisest  women  I 
have  ever  known.  I cannot  remember  when  she  was  not 
a Christian.  My  father,  always  a man  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  marked  integrity,  was  not  converted  until  mid- 
dle life.”  His  grandfather,  the  Rev.  William  Blaisdell, 
for  more  than  forty  years  prominent  in  his  denomination, 
was  repeatedly  re-elected  to  the  New  Hampshire  Legis- 
lature. 

He  attended  the  public  schools  and  high  school  and 
academies  convenient  to  the  neighborhood  in  which  the 
family  resided,  but  much  of  his  training  was  received  in  a 
school  owned  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Hosea 
Quinby  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  This  was  a 


John  IV.  Blaisdell. 


569 


school  of  high  order,  carrying  the  students  through  the 
studies  belonging  to  the  freshman  and  sophomore  years  in 
college.  While  making  preparation  to  further  prosecute 
his  studies  he  was  led  to  accept  a clerkship  with  a large 
iron  company  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  The  company 
with  which  he  was  employed  was  discontinued  at  the  end 
of  one  year  when  Mr.  Blaisdell  opened  a private  school  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  ‘He  was  principal  of  the 
public  school  for  one  year  when  he  went  to  Oil  City,  and 
became  a member  of  the  real  estate  firm  of  Gordon,  Blais- 
dell & Company. 

He  was  converted  at  the  Cherry  Run  camp  meeting  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was 
soon  licensed  to  exhort  and  afterward  to  preach.  He  was 
made  class  leader  and  Sunday  School  superintendent, 
holding  the  latter  office  at  first  at  Brady’s  Bend  and  later 
in  Trinity  Church,  Oil  City.  He  was  ordained  a local 
deacon  by  Bishop  Janes  at  New  Castle  in  1867  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. Mr.  Blaisdell  has  been  especially  successful  in  re- 
vival work  on  all  the  charges  which  he  has  served.  At 
Sharon  in  two  years  he  received  three  hundred  and  forty 
persons  on  probation.  In  i88o-’83  he  was  presiding  elder 
of  the  New  Castle  District.  In  1895,  because  of  serious 
bronchial  trouble  and  upon  the  advice  of  his  physician,  he 
accepted  the  presidency  of  Bordentown  Female  College, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  spent  three  laborious  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  he  again  returned  to  the  active  work  of  the 
ministry. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  in  1896.  * 

Brother  Blaisdell  was  converted  under  the  preaching  ot 
Thomas  Graham  from  the  text,  “Awake,  thou  that  sleep- 
est.”  He  went  to  the  altar  on  the  Cherry  Run  camp 
ground,  and  so  anxious  was  he  in  seeking  his  soul’s  sal- 
vation that  he  did  not  know  when  the  service  closed. 
Finally  some  one  touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  E.  H. 
Tingling  took  him  to  his  father’s  tent  and  left  him  there 
to  his  own  reflections.  Mr.  Blaisdell  then  held  a conver- 
sation with  himself  as  follows:  “Is  it  necessary  for  me 

to  wait  until  this  evening  to  go  to  that  altar  to  be  con- 
verted?” “No!”  “Is  the  Lord  able  to  save  me?” 
“Yes.”  “Is  he  ready  to  save  me  now?”  “Yes.”  “If  he 


570 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


li 


is  ready  to  save  me  now,  and  I want  to  be  saved  now,  why 
should  I not  he  saved?”  ‘‘Why  not,  sure?”  “Lord  save 
me!”  was  his  prayer.  Then  God  spoke  to  his  inner  con- 
sciousness as  clearly  as  though  it  had  been  an  audible 
voice,  “Will  you  preach?”  “Yes,  Lord,  anything;  only 
remove  this  burden  from  my  soul.”  In  a moment  the 
burden  was  gone  and  he  had  rest.  His  darkness  disap- 
peared and  the  full  light  of  love  shone  in  his  soul,  and 
his  joy  seemed  to  be  complete.  His  was  a cleat  call  to 
the  ministry,  of  which  he  never  had  a doubt.  For  some 
time  he  endeavored  to  answer  the  call  by  exercising  his 
gifts  as  a local  preacher,  while  he  continued  in  a business 
career.  But  the  “woe”  pressed  upon  him  until  he  yielded 
all,  and  gave  himself  wholly  to  the  ministry  of  the  Word. 
Since  that  time  his  peace  has  flowed  like  a river. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Har- 
riet Irene  Morse  in  Oil  City,  Pa.,  December  20,  1864. 
Mrs.  Blaisdell  was  a noble,  Christian  woman.  She 
passed  to  the  higher  life  May  5,  1906.  After  her  death 
there  were  found  among  her  papers  the  following  con- 
versation and  testimony  which  are  worthy  of  prominent 
record  and  must  prove  a blessing  to  many : 

“My  Consecration. 

“God  has  done  great  things  for  me,  whereof  I am 
glad. 

‘‘I  desire  to  record  my  formal,  heartfelt  consecration 
to  Him.  I cannot  do  anything  of  myself.  I am  entire 
weakness.  So  I give  myself  to  God,  that  He  may  work 
in  me  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure. 

“I  present  to  God  my  body,  a living  sacrifice  ; my  soul, 
to  be  His  through  all  eternity;  my  spirit,  with  which  I 
may  worship  God  acceptably;  my  heart,  to  be  wholly 
His;  my  mind,  that  it  may  be  conformed  to  His  image; 
my  thoughts,  that  they  may  all  the  time  be  fixed  on  God 
and  those  things  which  pertain  to  His  work  and  wor- 
ship; my  affections,  that  they  may  be  given  wholly  to 
God;  my  temper,  that  it  may  be  wholly  sanctified;  my 
will,  that  I may  say  in  all  things.  Thy  will  be  done. 

“I  give  to  God  my  ‘friends  and  home  and  earthly 
store';  my  children,  to  be  used  for  Him  as  He  may 
choose;  my  husband,  to  work  for  him;  I give  to  God 
my  hands  and  feet,  and  pen  and  voice  and  time,  to  be 


John  W . Blaisdell. 


57 1 


used  as  the  Holy  Spirit  shall  guide  me;  my  health  and 
strength ; all  I have,  and  all  I am,  or  ever  shall  have,  or 
ever  may  be, — myself , Lord,  I give  unreservedly  to  Thee. 

“Take  me,  Lord,  and  keep  me,  always,  ever,  wholly 
thine;  and  may  the  blood  of  Jesus  be  so  applied,  contin- 
ually, to  this  sacrifice  which  I gladly  render  unto  Thee, 
that  I may  be  constantly  cleansed  and  kept  by  the  power 
of  God  unto  an  endless  life. 

“A  Wonderful  Testimony. 

“I  desire  to  record,  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  en- 
couragement of  seekers  after  holiness,  something  of 
God’s  goodness  to  me  during  the  past  weeks. 

“I  was  converted  when  only  fourteen  years  old,  and 
since  that  time  have  never  had  a doubt  of  my  conversion 
to  God,  or  of  His  love  to  me  as  one  of  His  children. 
But  I have  felt  for  many  years  a longing  to  be  more 
perfectly  conformed  to  His  image.  As  far  back  as  1878, 
at  the  National  camp  meeting  at  New  Castle,  I presented 
myself  at  the  altar  again  and  again,  as  a seeker  after  the 
blessing  of  holiness.  I sought  advice  and  counsel  of 
Sisters  Inskip  and  Wood,  and  tried,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
in  every  way  in  my  power  to  put  myself  in  God's  way, 
that  I might  receive  the  blessing  I sought.  I found  re- 
lief, and  often  felt  His  presence  in  my  heart,  but  never 
in  as  positive  and  satisfactory  a way  as  I desired. 

“For  some  months  past  I have  felt  burdened  again  for 
this  experience  of  perfect  love,  and  especially  for  a bless- 
ing of  such  a real,  positive  character,  that  I could  never 
by  any  possibility  be  tempted  to  doubt  it.  On  the  13th 
of  November  the  burden  was  rolled  upon  me  with  al- 
most crushing  weight,  until  I felt  I could  endure  it  no 
longer.  I took  my  Bible,  and  going  to  my  closet,  I pros- 
trated myself  before  God  in  a complete  surrender  of  my- 
self and  all  I am  to  His  will. 

“I  cannot  by  any  possibility  express  the  wonderful 
revelation  of  God's  goodness  and  love  to  me.  I remem- 
ber when  I was  converted,  the  blessing  came  to  me  like 
the  gentle  ripple  of  a tiny  rivulet  through  my  soul.  When 
this  second  blessing  came,  it  seemed  as  though  the  great 
deep  of  my  heart  was  broken  up.  and  torrents  of  bright- 
ness and  love  and  joy  flowed  through  and  through  my 
soul.  At  first  it  seemed  like  ‘peace  upon  peace,  and  then 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


572 


‘glory  upon  glory.’  These  were  words  that  kept  ringing 
in  my  ears.  And  then  it  came  to  me  so  sweetly,  ‘This 
is  the  victory  that  overeometh  the  world,  even  our 
faith: 

“When  I finally  came  to  a realization  of  what  God 
had  done  for  me,  I at  once  went  to  my  husband,  and  in 
making  it  known  to  him,  in  confessing  it,  the  weight  of 
glory  came  upon  me  again,  and  I was  constrained  to 
praise  God  aloud.  I know  now  what  ‘a  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory’  means.  God  in  His  wonderful  love 
and  mercy,  had  more  than  answered  my  prayer  for  a 
distinct,  tangible  blessing  He  had  done  for  me  ‘exceed- 
ingly, abundantly  above  all  I could  ask  or  think.’  Praise 
His  Name!  “I  am  living  in  a new  world. 

“The  experience  of  this  rest  which  remaineth  for  the 
people  of  God  abides  in  my  heart  continually,  and  though 
temptations  come  sometimes  thick  and  sharp,  I have  a 
constant  sense  of  abiding  under  the  shadow  of  the  wing 
of  the  Almighty,  which  is  indescribable. 

“May  God  awaken  the  church  to  a sense  of  their  won- 
derful privileges  in  Christ  Jesus! 

“Titusville,  Pa.,  1888.” 


John  Beetham,  McVey  Troy,  William  M.  Taylor. 

John  Beetham  was  the  great-grandson  of  John  Stubbs, 
a Methodist  preacher  in  the  time  of  John  Wesley, 
who  often  listened  to  the  preaching  of  the  great  founder 
of  Methodism.  In  each  of  the  five  succeeding  generations 
there  has  been  at  least  one  standard  bearer  of  the  banner 
of  Jesus  Christ  in  Methodism.  He  was  born  on  watch 
night,  1842,  in  the  Lake  district  of  England,  where  lake 
and  wood,  valley  and  hill,  tarn  and  fell,  united  to  pro- 
duce marvelous  natural  loveliness.  At  twelve  years  of 
age  his  school  days  were  ended,  and  at  fourteen  he  was 
proofreader  and  bookkeeper  on  the  staff  of  the  Kendal 
Times,  the  leading  paper  of  that  region.  He  remained 
in  that  position  until  he  left  for  America  in  1868.  He 
entered  the  ministry  in  young  manhood,  and,  along  with 
his  work  as  bookkeeper,  preached  regularly  on  Sundays, 
and  organized  a Methodist  Church  in  Kendal,  which 
stands  to-day  a monument  to  his  youthful  Christian  ser- 
vice. At  the  suggestion  of  his  uncle,  Thomas  Stubbs,  of 
Erie  Conference,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  labored  for  thirty- 


John  Bectharn,  McVey  Troy , W.  M.  Taylor. 


two  years  within  the  bounds  of  the  present  East  Ohio 
Conference,  serving  sixteen  different  charges. 

Mr.  Beetham  was  a strong  preacher  of  a virile  religion, 
and  was  invariably  heard  with  interest  and  profit  by 
steadily  increasing  congregations.  But  he  was  more  wide- 
ly and  favorably  known  as  a singer  and  lover  of  music. 
He  inherited  musical  tastes  and  played  the  pipe  organ 
in  the  Methodist  Church  in  Kendal  as  the  regular  organ- 
ist at  the  age  of  fifteen.  He  was  proficient  on  violin, 
flute,  piano,  violincello  and  double  bass;  but  was  blessed 
more  abundantly  and  was  a more  abundant  blessing  to 
others  as  a singer,  comforting  many  hearts  and  inspiring 
many  a life  to  nobler  deeds. 

In  1898.  in  the  very  vigor  of  manhood,  he  was  stricken 
with  apoplexy,  and  two  years  later  was  superannuated 
at  his  own  request,  being  utterly  unable  to  resume  his 
work.  It  was  a sore  trial,  for  he  loved  the  work  for  its 
own  sake  and  for  the  Master’s.  Since  that  time  he  has 
resided  in  Jewett,  O.,  happy  among  friends  and  deeply 
interested  in  the  progress  of  the  church.  He  ripened  and 
mellowed  and  sweetened  with  the  progress  of  the  years, 
and  his  transition  was  sudden,  painless,  triumphant.  Like 
the  burst  of  full  day  in  a tropical  clime,  unheralded  but 
glorious,  must  have  been  his  entrance  into  the  larger  life. 
“As  he  preached  he  lived,  unselfish,  blamelessly  heroic.” 

Mr.  Beetham  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Rennison,  of 
Kendal,  in  1865.  His  wife  died  in  1891,  and  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Illingworth,  of  England,  in  1896. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  i860,  and  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1868.  He  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization.  He 
fell  asleep  at  Jewett,  Ohio,  December  7,  1905. — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , January  18 , 1906.) 

McVey  Troy  was  born  November  12,  1846,  and  died 
April  15,  1873,  at  the  home  of  his  childhood,  near  Sheak- 
levville.  Pa.  He  was  converted  about  nine  years  before 
his  death,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  W.  A.  Clark.  He 
was  admitted  into  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1868. 
and  appointed  to  President  charge.  Here  he  labored  suc- 
cessfully one  year,  and  then  was  sent  to  Punxsutawney, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  During  a protracted  meet- 
ing he  contracted  a severe  cold,  which,  with  constant 


37 


574  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

labor,  induced  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs,  which  prostrated 
him  for  a time ; but  he  continued  to  work  as  he  was  able, 
and  sinners  were  converted.  He  was  sent  to  the  Rock- 
land charge,  where  his  strength  gradually  failed,  and  at 
conference  he  was  compelled  to  take  a supernumerary 
relation.  He  declined  rapidly  during  the  winter,  and 
when  the  time  of  the  singing  of  birds  had  come  his 
happy  spirit  took  its  flight  to  the  land  of  pure  delight. 

The  parents  of  William  M.  Taylor  were  Germans  and 
life-long  members  of  the.  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  took  great  interest  in  the  early  Christian  training  of 
their  children.  William  attended  the  district  schools  of 
the  time,  and  taught  four  terms.  He  entered  the  army  in 
1862,  and  served  his  country  two  years.  He  was  early 
impressed  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach.  He  hoped  that 
this  conviction  would  pass  away  in  the  midst  of  the  stir- 
ring events  of  army  life,  but  it  only  deepened.  It  was 
then  that  he  promised  God  that  if  his  life  was  spared  he 
would  leave  all  and  follow  whither  He  might  lead.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1867,  and  supplied  McConnells- 
ville  Circuit  with  J.  R.  King  until  the  session  of  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1868,  when  he  was  received  on  trial.  In 
1886  he  was  permitted  to  withdraw  under  charges.  He 
subsequently  united  with  the  Evangelical  Association  and 
supplied  churches  in  Nebraska. 

Edward  Brown,  Manassas  Miller. 

Edward  Brown  was  born  at  Sipirowe,  Monmouthshire, 
South  Wales,  July  6,  1824,  and  died  at  Perrysburg,  Cat- 
taraugus County,  New  York,  April  29,  1879.  He 
was  converted  and  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church  at  the  age-  of  seventeen.  He  came  to 
America  in  1851,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1853.  He  served  the  Church  in  the  local  ranks  for  fif- 
teen years,  and  was  then  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference.  He  was  discontinued  one  year  later,  but 
was  re-admitted  in  1872.  Brother  Brown  was  an  excel- 
lent man,  upright,  benevolent,  and  withal  possessed  of 
large  common  sense.  He  was  deeply  pious,  and  rich  in 
all  the  graces  of  the  Spirit.  He  was  a hard  worker,  quiet 
and  modest,  neglecting  no  known  duty ; a plain,  practical 
preacher,  sound  in  doctrine.  “Without  ostentation  he  was 
attractive,  without  oratory  he  was  impressive.  His  death 


Edward  Brown,  Manassas  Miller. 


575 


was  sudden  and  unexpected.  While  engaged  in  a pro- 
tracted meeting  he  was  attacked  with  paralysis,  but  so 
far  recovered  as  to  be  able  again  to  take  up  his  work.  On 
the  Sunday  previous  to  his  death  he  preached  twice,  and 
attended  a praise  service.  “On  Monday  he  felt  a little 
indisposed.  In  the  evening  he  was  attacked  with  a severe 
pain  in  the  head,  and  speedily  passed  into  an  unconscious 
state  from  which  he  did  not  recover.  On  Tuesday  at  n 
o’clock  he  opened  his  eyes,  smiled  and  passed  sweetly  and 
quietly  away.” 

Manassas  Miller  died  suddenly  in  Corry,  January  5, 
1899.  Says  the  author  of  his  memoir: 

“To  one  in  readiness,  instant  departure  is  instant  glori- 
fication. Amid  the  shadows  and  gloom  of  sudden  death, 
but  in  the  light  of  devotion  to  the  cause  ever  near  his 
heart,  we  confidently  cherish  the  belief  that  the  chariot 
found  our  departed  comrade  and  brother  ready  for  his 
translation.  Suddenly,  a gasp  and  a sigh,  and  he  was  gone ! 
None  like  him  remain.  He  was  ever  on  fire  with  faith, 
hope  and  love.  Faith  was  to  him  instead  of  sight  ; hope 
anchored  his  soul;  love  swayed  his  entire  life.  His  zeal, 
burning  like  a mighty  flame,  knew  no  bounds.  The  earth- 
ly casket,  though  seemingly  robust,  could  not  long  retain 
his  large,  ardent  soul.  It  }vas  rent  asunder  by  his  over- 
mastering passion  to  make  full  proof  of  his  ministry.  To 
an  unusual  degree  was  his  ministry  successful.  Evan- 
gelical in  spirit  and  doctrine,  wise  and  tactful  in  methods, 
and  of  a deeply  sympathetic  nature,  he  excelled  in  win- 
ning souls  to  Christ.  His  ministerial  history  is  that  of  a 
true  evangelist.  Great  numbers,  through  his  instrumen- 
tality, were  brought  to  experience  the  saving  power  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Clear  in.  his  conception  of  the 
truth,  and  lucid  in  his  statements,  he  was  not  easily  mis- 
understood. Tremendously  in  earnest,  he  inspired  others 
with  a like  enthusiasm.  When  expostulated  with  by  his 
brethren  for  his  excessive  exertion,  he  was  accustomed 
to  say  : T can  preach  in  no  other  way.’  Fearing  nothing, 
uncompromising  in  spirit  and  moved  by  a righteous  in- 
dignation against  all  evil  doing,  he  was  vehement  and 
outspoken  against  all  prevailing  iniquities.  Bold  in  his 
attacks  upon  all  forms  of  vice  and  immorality,  he  never- 
theless commanded  the  respect  of  those  whose  pursuits 
he  challenged,  and  enjoyed  the  deserved  admiration  of  all 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


wjm 


576 

true  philanthropists.  Warm-hearted  and  generous  in  his 
impulses,  he  linked  to  his  soul  hosts  of  sincere  and  valued 
friends.  His  sentiments  became  their  sentiments;  his 
very  life  entered  into  their  lives.  It  may  seem  a wonder 
that  he  had  so  few  enemies.  All  were  compelled  to  re- 
gard him  as  sincere,  and  hence  they  could  but  honor  him. 

“As  a pastor,  going  from  house  to  house,  he  had  few, 
if  any,  superiors.  In  this  department  of  ministerial  work 
he  was  an  exemplar  worthy  of  the  following  of  all  who 
are  consecrated  to  the  holy  calling  of  the  ministry  of  the 
Lord  fesus.  In  managing  the  financial  enterprises  of  the 
church  he  was  a master.  Like  the  poet-king  of  Israel, 
he  gave  freely  of  his  own  means,  and  successfully  called 
the  people  to  consecrate  their  services  to  the  Lord.  In 
the  creation  and  care  of  church  property  he  was  ever  on 
the  alert.  This  undoubtedly  had  much  to  do  in  determin- 
ing the  fields  of  labor  to  which  he  was  assigned.  He  was 
honored  with  the  treasurership  of  the  Conference  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  also  with  that  of  the  conference; 
and,  later,  when  his  health  became  impaired,  still  as  as- 
sistant treasurer. 

“He  was  a conspicuous  figure  at  the  sessions  of  our 
Annual  Conference,  and  will  be  greatly  missed  in  the  de- 
votional services,  in  the  work  of  the  committees,  and  in 
the  routine  duties  from  day  to  day.  His  jubilant  voice  in 
song  is  forever  hushed,  but  its  memory  will  long  linger  in 
the  cadence  of  inspired  strains.” 

He  was  born  in  North.'  Middletown,  Ohio,  November 
24.  1837,  where  he  was  converted  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  a farm,  where  he  en- 
joyed the  advantage  of  the  common  schools.  Later  he 
attended  Poland  and  Canfield  Seminaries.  He  served 
three  years  in  the  great  Civil  War,  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifth  Ohio  Regiment.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1862,  and  received  in  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in 
1868.  The  same  year,  on  October  29th,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Maria  \\  allace,  of  Poland,  Ohio.  He 
was  effective  thirty-one  years.  He  was  buried  in  the 
beautiful  cemetery  of  Youngstown,  Ohio. 

“Scarcely  since  the  early  days  of  Methodism  has  the 
inception  of  a revival  been  hedged  aound  with  more  dis- 
couraging circumstances  than  that  of  Petrolia.  The 
church  membership  had  dwindled  to  a mere  handful — 


Manassas  Miller. 


577 


less  than  half  a score  of  active  members,  and  of  these 
barely  a sufficient  number  to  justify  a claim  to  the  bless- 
ing could  be  gathered  together  in  the  prayer  room,  and 
three  or  four  score  would  include  the  number,  more  sin- 
ners than  saints,  who  regularly  attended  the  public  Sab- 
bath day  services,  while  at  the  same  time  the  class  meet- 
ing and  the  Sabbath  school  were  at  the  lowest  ebb  con- 
sistent with  existence.  Furthermore,  so  far  as  character- 
istic Methodism  was  concerned,  it  existed  only  in  name. 
The  discipline  had  become  a dead  letter.  Dancing,  card 
playing  and  other  forbidden  amusements  were  indulged 
in  by  such  members  as  felt  inclined  in  that  way  and  there 
was  not  spiritual  vitality  enough  in  the  remainder  to 
urge  them  to  rebuke  the  others. 

“The  difference  between  the  Church  and  the  world 
was  more  in  form  than  reality.  So  utterly  faithless  was 
the  Church,  the  possibility  of  inaugurating  and  carrying  a 
protracted  effort  to  a successful  issue  was  scouted  and 
laughed  at.  We  take  no  pleasure  in  reverting  to  this  con- 
dition of  the  Church,  but  it  seems  to  us  necessary  in  order 
that  the  wonderful  transformation  which  has  been  pro- 
duced and  the  exact  magnitude  of  the  work  done  here 
may  be  fully  understood.  Such  was  the  discouraging 
state  of  affairs  when  Brother  Miller  came  upon  the 
charge.  He  immediately,  in  the  plainest,  the  most  direct 
and  often  in  the  bluntest  way  possible,  sounded  the  alarm 
in  the  ears  of  the  church.  There  was  no  disguising  of 
the  truth;  it  was  recognizable  because  naked.  It  was 
not,  however,  relished  in  this  form  by  all,  for  some  were 
made  angry  and  stood  afar  off;  but  the  majority  were 
awakened,  and  in  consequence  renewed  their  covenants 
and  received  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

“From  this  time  on  till  the  close,  the  work  with  scarce- 
ly an  intermission,  went  vigorously  on.  If  the  inception 
of  these  meetings  seemed  unpromising  and  hedged  around 
with  difficulties,  no  less  was  their  progress  opposed  and 
hindered  in  every  way  imaginable.  The  personal  and 
ministerial  character  of  our  pastor  was  assailed  in  every 
conceivable  way.  The  whisky  ring,  a fit  tool  of  the 
devil,  used  and  urged  every  means  possible  to  injure  the 
great  work.  So-called  reputable  citizens  gave  their  in- 
fluence in  the  same  direction.  In  no  instance  was  this 
opposition  merely  passive,  but  always  active.  At  one 


578  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

time  several  prominent  citizens  counseled  together  as  to 
whether  they  should  not  proceed  to  the  church  and  sum- 
marily close  the  meetings  on  the  plea  that  it  was  a sani- 
tary measure  justified  by  the  existence  of  a few  cases  of 
diphtheria.  Physical  considerations  alone  induced  them 
to  restrain  themselves.  We  cannot  speak  too  highly  of 
the  prudence  and  Christlike  spirit  displayed  by  the  pastor 
and  church  under  these  trying  circumstances.  Literally, 
no  further  notice  was  taken  of  all  this  active  opposition 
than  frequent  reference  to  it  in  prayer.  This  leads  us  to 
the  consideration  of  the  third  and  most  prominent  salient 
point  in  this  narrative.  After  the  baptism  of  the  Spirit 
was  sent  upon  the  Church,  much  of  the  time,  day  and 
night,  was  spent  in  faithful  prayer.  Prayer  became  the 
great  lever  power  which  produced  such  great  results.  In 
consequence  a deep  and  powerful  spirit  of  conviction  per- 
vaded not  only  Petrolia  but  a scope  of  country  for  ten 
•miles  around.  Souls  a hundred  miles  away,  unaware  of 
the  existence  of  the  meetings,  were  struck  with  convic- 
tion in  answer  to  prayer  in  their  behalf  and  were  event- 
ually converted.  Certain  individuals  were  frequently 
made  objects  of  special  prayer  and,  so  far  as  the  writer 
knows,  were  in  every  instance  brought  to  the  mercy  seat. 
Gamblers,  drunkards,  the  hardest  cases  in  this  county 
sought  pardon.  The  chip  rooms  and  saloons  were  draped 
in  mourning  because  of  the  loss  of  these,  their  best  paying 
patrons. 

“It  would  be  unjust  if  we  should  omit  to  notice  more 
fully  the  efforts  of  Rev.  M.  Miller.  We  simply  state  the 
fact  when  we  remark  that  as  an  instrument  in  the  hands 
of  God  he  has  been  a power  in  this  great  work.  The 
awakening  of  the  Church  was  due  to  his  faithful,  candid 
preaching.  The  sinfulness  of  sin  was  laid  bare  in  the 
most  forcible  terms.  This  whole  country  for  miles 
around  was  traversed  by  him  in  search  of  sinners.  He 
spared  himself  in  no  way  and  is  to-day  working  in  the 
same  manner  on  the  other  end  of  the  charge  at  Martins- 
burg.  It  looks  very  much  now  as  though  he  will  spend 
six  months  of  this  conference  year  in  revival  work.  . To 
sum  up  we  find  in  the  church  book  two  hundred  and  sixty 
probationers.  Three  hundred  conversions  are  known  to 
have  been  made.  Fifty  more  manifested  an  interest  in 
rising.  How  many  of  these  were  converted  we  cannot 


Daniel  W.  Wampler. 


579 


say.  Every  service  of  the  church  is  now  fully  and  gladly 
attended.  It  is  certain  the  work  is  not  yet  completed. 

“Martinsburg,  three  miles  below,  is  in  the  midst  of  a 
greater  revival  in  some  respects  than  Petrolia  experienced. 
While  we  had  from  four  to  ten  only  forward  at  a time, 
there  are  from  thirty  to  forty  up  at  a time  at  the  former 
place.  Already  over  a hundred  have  been  converted,  and 
the  climax  does  not  appear  yet  to  have  been  reached.  It 
really  looks  as  though  we  might  expect  an  accession  to 
our  ranks  on  this  charge  of  five  hundred  sinners.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  14,  1881,  p.  233.) 

Daniel  W.  Wampler  was  born  near  Rural  Valley,  Arm- 
strong Co.,  Pa.,  February  14,  1836.  He  was  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Margaret  Wampler.  His  parents  were  poor, 
and  labored  as  tenants  on  a farm.  They  were  caught  in 
a terrific  cyclone  which  swept  through  that  part  of  the 
country,  August  27,  1837,  and  both  instantly  killed  by  a 
falling  tree.  Their  only  child,  about  eighteen  months  old, 
being  in  the  house  in  the  care  of  his  aunt,  escaped  death. 
During  infancy  he  was  a subject  of  charity,  and  when 
only  nine  years  old  began  to  work  for  his  own  support. 
He  early  developed  a thirst  for  knowledge,  and  by  hard 
work,  close  economy,  and  diligent  study,  advanced  so  far 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  that  he  began  to  teach  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  Thereafter  he  taught  and  studied  alter- 
nately. In  the  fall  of  1853,  he  walked  seventy-five  miles, 
carrying  his  books  and  clothing,  to  Meadville,  Pa.,  and 
became  a student  in  Allegheny  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1859.  At  a camp  meeting  held  in  1854  he 
was  convicted  of  sin,  and  a few  weeks  later  converted  in 
the  class  room.  In  1857  George  W.  Maltby  gave  him 
license  to  exhort,  and  in  1858,  by  action  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Meadville,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  Hiram  Kinsley, 
presiding  elder,  signing  the  license.  In  1859  he  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference.  In  1862  he 
located  because  of  ill  health,  and  did  excellent  service  in 
this  relation  until  1867,  when  he  was  employed  as  a 
suPply  on  the  Clintonville  Circuit,  under  Richard  A.  Car- 
uthers,  presiding  elder.  The  next  year  he  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  and  returned  to  the  same 
work. 

His  own  record  of  work  shows  that  during  his  ministry 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


he  married  95  couples,  baptized  240  children  and  245 
adults,  superintended  the  building  of  ten  new  churches, 
and  the  repairing  of  two  churches  and  one  parsonage; 
preached  1,840  sermons,  and  saw  2,000  souls  converted 
to  God,  1,321  of  whom  he  received  on  probation. 

He  was  a sufferer  for  many  years,  and  the  last  two 
years  of  his  life,  an  invalid,  yet  he  was  always  patient 
and  trustful.  “By  the  depression  of  disease  his  faculties 
seemed  wholly  dormant  in  his  last  days,  but  the  mention 
of  the  ministry,  the  church,  or  heaven,  would  arouse  his 
sensibilities  to  a fervor  manifest  in  the  days  of  his  youth- 
ful activity.’’ 

He  fell  asleep  at  Conneaut  Lake,  Pa.,  October  1,  1901. 

“The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Wheatland  owes 
its  existence  to  Mrs.  James  Wood,  wife  of  the  man  who 
laid  out  and  named  the  town.  She  gave  the  lot  and  fur- 
nished the  means  for  erecting  the  building.”  The  organi- 
zation was  effected  in  1868,  when  John  Perry  served  the 
Wheatland  and  Brookfield  Circuit.  The  church  edifice 
was  erected  about  1870,  and  the  same  year,  in  September, 
the  congregation  was  incorporated.  “The  strength  of 
the  church  depending  upon  the  mills,  its  prosperity  has 
fluctuated  with  the  changes  occurring  in  their  business.” 
— (History  of  Mercer  County , Brozvn,  Runk  & Co.,  1888, 

p ■ 490.) 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  Franklin,  Pa.,  September 
29,  1869,  Bishop  Edwin  R.  Ames  presiding;  W.  F.  Day, 
Secretary. 

Lucian  F.  Merritt,  Henry  W.  Leslie,  Lewis  W ick, 
Charles  W.  Foulke,  Henry  Webb,  James  P.  Mills,  John 
Brown,  J.  A.  Rummer  and  James  Iverson  were  admitted 
on  trial. 

Jonathan  Whitely  and  N.  G.  Luke  located. 

J.  M.  Green  withdrew  under  charges. 

L.  D.  Prosser,  C.  E.  Woodworth,  D.  W.  Vorse  and 

E.  C.  Mclhattan  were  announced  as  deceased  during  the 
year. 

Appointments  for  1869:  Cleveland  District,  Cyrus  Prindle, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  C.  E.  Felton,  C.  N. 
Grant;  Erie  Street,  D.  C.  Osborne,  Moses  Hill;  Scoville  Avenue, 

F.  H.  Beck;  Warring  Street,  G.  J.  Bliss;  East  Cleveland,  Ben- 
jamin Excell;  Euclid,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Mayfield,  Hiram  Kellogg; 
Willoughby,  Alexander  Burgess;  Mentor,  John  Wrigglesworth ; 
Painesville,  John  Tribby;  Perry,  John  Bain;  Madison,  G.  W. 
Chesbro;  Geneva,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Saybrook,  H.  N.  Stearns;  Char- 


Appointments  for  1869. 


581 

don,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Thompson,  Robert  Gray;  Grand  River, 
Daniel  Rowland;  Montville,  John  Robinson;  Huntsburg,  Darius 
Smith;  Chagrin  Falls,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Chester,  to  be  supplied; 
Bainbridge,  C.  E.  Latimer;  Benton,  S.  B.  Torrey;  Troy,  Josiah 
Flower;  Mantua,  D.  M.  Rodgers;  Principal,  Willoughby  Col- 
legiate Institute,  J.  H.  Herron;  Agent,  American  Bible  Society, 
J.  D.  Norton;  County  Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  Albert 
Norton.  Ravenna  District,  James  Greer,  presiding  elder,  Ra- 
venna, R.  M.  Warren;  Akron,  W.  F.  Day;  Tallmadge,  H.  M. 
Chamberlain;  Middlebury,  George  Elliott;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  R.  M. 
Bear;  Kent,  A.  M.  Brown;  Hudson,  B.  J.  Kennedy;  Twinsburg, 
E.  D.  McCreary;  Bedford,  B.  C.  Warner;  Warrensville,  Thomas 
Radcliff;  Newburg,  Thomas  Stubbs;  Rootstown,  R.  S.  Borland; 
Edinburg,  B.  F.  Wade;  Charleston,  J.  F.  Brown;  Windham,  John 
McLean;  Deerfield,  John  Brown;  Braceville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Jack- 
son,  John  Beetham;  Canfield,  Michael  Williams;  Northfield,  T. 
G.  McCreary.  Warren  District,  John  Graham,  presiding  elder; 
Warren,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Youngstown,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Girard  and 
Liberty,  L.  W.  Ely;  Niles,  J.  H.  Starrett;  West  Farmington,  J. 
W.  Stogdill;  Mesopotamia,  Ezra  Wade;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol, 
Frank  Brown;  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Wil- 
liamsfield,  Cyril  Wilson;  Cherry  Valley,  to  be  supplied;  Jeffer- 
son, W.  A.  Clark;  Richmond,  N.  C.  Brown;  Gustavus  and  John 
son,  J.  F.  Hill;  Kinsman  and  State  Line,  Asahel  Reeves;  Cort- 
land, T.  B.  Tait;  Greensburg,  Asa  Falkner;  Vienna  and  Brook- 
field, J.  H.  Stoney;  Hartford  and  Orangeville,  G.  W.  Anderson; 
Ohlton  and  Mineral  Ridge,  Manasses  Miller;  Southington,  R.  W. 
Crane;  Nelson,  Valorus  Lake;  Jamestpwn,  Stephen  Heard; 
Morgan,  Henry  Webb;  Kelloggsville,  N.  W.  Jones;  Principal, 
Western  Reserve  Seminary,  J.  P.  Mills.  Erie  District,  D.  M. 
Stever,  presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church,  A.  S.  Dobbs,  E. 
J.  L.  Baker;  Simpson  Chapel,  A.  N.  Craft;  Wesley ville,  R.  R. 
Roberts;  Green,  W.  H.  Hover;  North  East,  J.  G.  Townsend; 
Waterford,  C.  L.  Barnhart;  Millville,  T.  J.  Baker;  McKean,  L. 
L.  Luce;  Edinboro,  J.  R.  Shearer;  Fairview,  Milton  Smith; 
Girard,  A.  D.  Morton;  Union,  A.  J .Merchant;  Wattsburg,  to  be 
supplied;  Greenfield  and  Mina,  John  Allen;  Beaver  Dam,  J.  W. 
Wilson;  Kingsville,  Washington  Hollister;  East  Ashtabula,  J. 
W.  Lowe;  Conneaut,  David  Mizener;  Springfield,  H.  H.  Moore; 
Albion,  John  Kummer;  Lockport,  J.  W.  Hill;  Ashtabula,  J.  R. 
Lyon;  assistant  editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  E.  A. 
Johnson.  Meadville  District,  George  W.  Maltby,  presiding  elder; 
Meadville — First  Church,  Alfred  Wheeler;  State  Street,  T.  P. 
Warner;  Saegertown,  Niram  Norton;  Townville,  J.  W.  Blaisdell; 
Cochranton,  L.  D.  Williams;  Cooperstown,  John  Abbott;  Sun- 
ville,  Robert  Beatty;  Franklin,  John  Peate;  Greenville,  John 
O’Neil;  Salem,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Sheakley ville,  R.  C.  Smith; 
Evansburg,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Conneautville,  Gabriel  Dunmire; 
Spring,  C.  W.  Foulke;  Harmonsburg,  William  Rice;  Rockville, 
J.  F.  Perry;  Espy  ville,  G.  H.  Brown;  Linesville,  Orrin  Babcock; 
New  Lebanon,  John  Eckles;  Oil  City,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Rouseville, 
J.  F.  Stocker;  Waterloo,  Isaac  Scofield;  Professor  in  Allegheny 
College,  James  Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible 
Society,  J.  G.  Hawkins.  New  Castle  District,  Russell  H.  Hurl- 
burt,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  W.  W.  Wythe;  Mount  Jack- 
son,  D.  A.  Crowell;  Lowell,  J.  B.  Grover;  New  Wilmington, 
Thomas  Graham;  Pulaski,  A.  P.  Colton;  Harrisville  and  Cen- 
terville, John  Crum;  Mercer,  L.  W.  Day;  Hendersonville,  D.  W. 
Wampler;  North  Washington,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Clintonville, 


582  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

J.  M.  Groves;  Poland,  George  Moore;  Middlesex,  J.  S.  Albertson; 
Sharon,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Clarksville,  A.  H.  Domer;  Sharpsville, 
Lewis  Wick;  Delaware  Grove,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Greenwood,  J.  E. 
Johnson;  Brady’s  Bend,  J.  J.  Excell;  Hubbard,  J.  H.  Vance; 
Wheatland,  John  Perry;  Harlansburg,  Ebenezer  Bennett.  Clar- 
ion District,  Orville  L.  Mead,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  W.  F. 
Warren,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Troy,  O.  M.  Sackett;  WTarsaw,  I.  N. 
Clover;  Brookville,  David  Latshaw;  Callensburg,  William  Hayes; 
Rimersburg,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Curllsville,  Frederick  Fair;  Punx- 
sutawney,  McVey  Troy;  Perrysville,  to  be  supplied;  Washing- 
ton, A.  L.  Miller;  Clarington,  Benjamin  Marsteller;  Brockway- 
ville,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Luthersburg,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Paradise,  S.  S. 
Burton;  Venango  City,  R.  D.  Waltz;  President,  Samuel  Coon; 
Putney ville,  to  be  supplied;  Tionesta,  R.  F.  Keeler,  J.  P.  Hicks; 
Rockland,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Shippen ville,  W.  A.  Bowyer;  Corsica,  W. 
M.  Taylor;  Agent,  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull. 
Jamestown  District,  Joseph  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown, 
E.  S.  Gillette;  Ash  ville,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Sugar  Grove,  A.  A. 
Horton;  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington,  W.  H.  Leslie;  Frews- 
burg,  L.  F.  Merritt;  Kinzua,  Abraham  Bashline;  Sheffield,  Major 
Colegrove;  Panama,  W.  M.  Bear;  Columbus,  A.  S.  Goodrich; 
Corry,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Youngsville,  B.  F.  Delo;  Warren,  R.  W. 
Scott;  Pleasantville,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  Tidioute,  E.  A.  Squier; 
Deerfield,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Petroleum  Center,  C.  M.  Heard;  Pit- 
hole  and  Tarr  Farm,  James  Shields,  S.  T.  Requa;  Riceville, 
one  to  be  supplied,  Edwin  Chace;  Titusville,  W.  P.  Bignell; 
Garland,  to  be  supplied;  Ellery,  to  be  supplied;  Ridgway  and 
Wilcox,  William  Sampson;  Randolph,  G.  W.  Staples;  East  Ran- 
dolph, J.  C.  Sullivan;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish 
Mission,  James  Iverson.  Fredonia  District,  Richard  A.  Caruth- 
ers,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Dunkirk,  W.  N. 
Reno;  May  ville,  Thomas  Guy;  Portland,  E.  B.  Cummings;  De- 
lanti,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Sinclairville,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Ellington, 
O.  G.  McEntire;  Leon,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Cattaraugus,  W.  H. 
Wilson;  Perrysburg,  Jephtha  Marsh;  West  Dayton,  Peter  Bur- 
roughs; Hamlet,  L.  E.  Beardsley;  Forestville,  G.  W.  Clarke; 
Sheridan,  J.  M.  Bray;  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca,  John  Akers; 
Silver  Creek,  G.  W.  Gray;  Westfield,  C.  R.  Pattee;  Quincy,  Al- 
bina Hall;  Sherman,  W.  W.  Warner;  Clymer,  J.  W.  Davis; 
Cherry  Creek,  Frederick  Vernon;  Temperance  Agent,  J.  E. 
Chapin. 

Lucian  F.  Merritt  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county,  N. 
Y.,  on  the  12th  day  of  June,  1835,  and  died  at  Duluth, 
Minn.,  September  28,  1900,  aged  65  years,  3 months  and 
16  days. 

The  Merritt  family  moved  to  Warren  county,  Pa.,  in 
1850,  and  in  1855  to  Austinburg,  Ohio,  where  Lucian 
and  his  brothers  attended  school  at  the  Grand  River  In- 
stitute. The  same  year  the  father,  Lewis  H.  Merritt,  came 
to  the  head  of  Lake  Superior  to  found  a new  home  for 
the  family  and  settled  at  Oneota,  now  Duluth,  then  a 
wilderness,  to  which  place  the  family  came  the  following 
year,  where  Lucian  remained  for  about  two  years,  then 
he  returned  to  Ohio  to  attend  school.  He  received  his 


Charles  W.  Fonlke. 


583 


theological  training  at  Austinburg  College.  He  was  con- 
verted in  1861,  and  shortly  after  united  with  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  in  which  he  has  ever  since  been  an  effective 
worker.  He  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence in  1869  and  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Northern 
Conference  in  1890. 

During  his  pastorate  in  Duluth  the  Oneota  church 
building  was  erected,  a lasting  monument  to  his  zeal  and 
labors. 

He  wore  himself  out  in  the  service  of  the  church,  and 
only  ceased  to  labor  when  he  ceased  to  live.  No  man 
was  so  low  that  he  could  not  put  a loving  arm  around 
him  and  call  him  brother  and  lift  him  up  to  Christ,  none 
so  high  that  with  equal  kindness  he  could  not  point  them 
to  the  Perfect  Man.  Like  his  Master,  “he  went  about  do- 
ing  good.”  His  last  work  was  done  for  his  presiding 
elder  at  Wrenshall,  Minn. 

In  his  last  address  he  said  again  and  again,  as  if  in 
anticipation  of  the  coming  change,  “We  are  walking  in 
the  very  jaws  of  death.” 

Death  had  no  terrors  for  him.  His  favorite  maxim 
which  he  was  fond  of  quoting,  was,  “The  chamber  where 
the  good  man  meets  his  fate  is  privileged  above  the  com- 
mon walks  of  life,  quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven.” 

His  friends  will  ever  remember  his  unselfish  kindness 
and  self-sacrificing  devotion,  for  no  man  had  ever  a truer, 
stauncher  friend  than  Lucian  F.  Merritt.  He  belonged 
to  that  largest  division  of  our  humanity,  “the  common 
people,”  “with  a heart  that  could  feel  for  a neighbor's 
woe,  and  share  in  his  joy  with  a friendly  glow."  He  was 
ever  ready  to  do  anything  he  could  to  help  another.  Es- 
pecially is  this  true  of  his  relation  to  the  young  men  in 
our  ministry.  His  hospitable  home  was  ever  open  to 
them,  and  he  was  always  ready  to  speak  words  of  hope 
and  encouragement  to  them  when  they  felt  the  storm  and 
stress  of  life’s  work  upon  them. 

Charles  W.  Foulke  was  born  in  Vernon,  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  March  1,  1839.  His  parents,  George  and 
Rebecca  Foulke,  mingled  in  their  veins  the  blood  of  the 
German,  the  English,  the  Scotch  and  the  Irish.  Charles 
was  the  third  of  a family  of  eight  children.  In  his  early 
youth  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  neighbor- 


584 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


T 


hood  in  which  he  lived;  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  the 
Greenville  Academy,  Greenville,  Pa.  He  then  taught  two 
terms  in  Iowa,  after  which  he  matriculated  in  a western 
college.  Returning  to  the  east  he  taught  school  in  Mer- 
cer county  two  terms  and  then  entered  Allegheny  Col- 
lege. At  the  beginning  of  the  great  Civil  War  he  en- 
listed in  what  was  known  as  the  “College  Company/’ 
Later  he  joined  Company  I,  Second  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Cavalry  and  served  four  years  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  doing  much  Christian  work  dur- 
ing the  term  of  his  service.  Returning  from  the  army 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  re-entered  Allegheny  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1869. 

Mr.  Foulke  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
at  a meeting  held  in  the  Coulter  school  house,  Mercer 
county,  under  the  preaching  of  J.  W.  Wilson.  He  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  the  year  of 
his  graduation.  Mr.  Foulke  has  met  with  a considerable 
degree  of  success  in  his  ministry  in  revival  work  and  in 
building  and  repairing  churches  and  parsonages.  Of  his 
work  at  Linesville,  Mr.  Foulke  says:  “The  Linesville 

Church  was  struck  by  lightning  one  summer  morning  in 
1872.  This  electric  bolt  was  the  means  of  discovering 
about  $400  worth  of  ready-made  clothing  and  webs  of 
cloth  which  had  been  stolen  from  a merchant  tailor  of 
Linesville  about  six  years  before.  It  was  also  the  means 
of  killing  a mongrel  Sabbath  school,  which  was  com- 
posed of  TJniversalists,’  ‘Spiritualists,’  ‘Skeptics/  ‘Noth- 
ingists’  and  Methodists.  And  still  further,  it  was  the 
cause  of  organizing  a Methodist  Episcopal  Sabbath 
school,  and  thoroughly  renovating  and  repairing  the 
church  at  a cost  of  $850 — followed  by  a very  helpful  re- 
vival.” We  presume  it  would  have  been  in  order  for  Mr. 
Foulke  to  thank  God  for  the  lightning. 

At  Sheakleyville  there  were  three  hundred  conversions ; 
at  New  Lebanon  he  built  a new  brick  church ; at  Spring- 
boro  a new  parsonage  was  erected ; at  Albion  an  old 
debt  was  paid:  at  Mill  Village  an  old  debt  was  paid,  and 
there  were  three  hundred  and  fifty  conversions;  at  Cro- 
ton Avenue,  New  Castle,  a new  church  was  erected,  cost- 
ing $10,000;  at  New  Wilmington  there  were  one  hun- 
dred conversions,  and  as  city  missionary  in  New  Castle 
during  six  years  of  service,  six  Sabbath  schools  and  two 


Alfred  Wheeler.  585 

churches  have  been  organized  and  two  brick  churches 
erected. 

Mr.  Foulke  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella 
Louise  Luper,  daughter  of  Daniel  Luper,  of  Harmons- 
burg,  Pa.,  June  1,  1871. 

Roscoe  L.  Foulke  son  of  C.  W.  Foulke,  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1899,  and  is  doing  good 
work. 

Alfred  Wheeler. 

Rev.  Naphtali  Luccock,  D.D.,  has  written  the  follow- 
ing memoir  of  Rev.  Alfred  Wheeler,  D.D.,  L.L.D. : 

“ ‘Ulysses  is  gone,  and  there  is  none  left  at  Ithaca 
strong  enough  to  draw  his  bow.’ 

“Alfred  Wheeler,  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Ameri- 
can Methodism  in  this  generation,  was  born  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  September  14,  1824,  and  died  on  Staten 
Island,  July  7,  1892.  Between  these  two  dates  stretches 
a life  singularly  full  of  aggressive  thought  and  action. 
Converted  at  the  age  of  sixteen  in  the  good  old  way  of 
Pentecost  and  Methodism,  Alfred  Wheeler  never  became 
mixed  in  his  theology  or  dim  in  his  experience.  He  was 
founded  on  a rock  and  was  a rocklike  man — a man  of 
mighty  convictions  and  with  a mighty  grasp  upon  them. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University  under 
the  personal  influence  and  friendship  of  that  rare  Chris- 
tian scholar,  Edvvard  Thomson.  In  1852  he  graduated 
in  medicine  from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  began  practice  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  but  in 
the  same  year  yielding  to  a conviction  of  duty,  he  entered 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  join- 
ed the  North  Ohio  Conference.  While  a member  of  that 
conference  his  appointments  were  as  follows:  Clyde, 

i852-’53;  Republic,  i853-’54;  Milan,  i854-’56;  San- 
dusky, 1 856-’ 58;  Cleveland,  i858-’6o;  Ashland,  iSbo-'bi. 
In  1862  he  entered  the  army  of  the  United  States  as 
Chaplain  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
later  served  six  months  without  commission  or  pay  as 
surgeon  of  an  Ohio  battery.  From  1864  to  1866  he  was 
again  stationed  at  Sandusky.  From  1866  to  1869  he 
was  presiding  elder  of  the  Cleveland  District.  In  1869 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference.  In  this  con- 
ference his  appointments  have  been  as  follows:  Mead- 


Alfred  Wheeler. 


587 


ville,  1869-72;  Erie,  First  Church,  1872-74;  Warren, 
Ohio,  i875-’76.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  the  editorship 
of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  a position  which  he 
filled  for  eight  years  with  marked  ability.  From  1884 
to  1890  he  was  presiding  elder  of  the  New  Castle  Dis- 
trict. In  1890  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the 
Erie  District,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
great  acceptability  for  nearly  two  years. 

“In  1850  Dr.  Wheeler  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lydia  P.  Curtiss,  a woman  in  every  way  fitted  to  be  his 
wife,  who  entered  sincerely  into  his  highest  thought  and 
purpose. 

“Dr.  Wheeler  was  a life-long  student,  always  in  quick 
touch  with  the  living  issues  of  his  time.  As  a preacher 
he  appealed  to  the  understanding  rather  than  to  the  emo- 
tions, and  was  able  and  convincing  rather  than  eloquent. 
As  an  administrator  he  excelled.  In  fact,  he  was  a states- 
man, clear,  comprehensive  and  profound  in  his  thinking. 
He  was  the  trusted  counselor  of  Simpson,  Ames  and 
Harris,  those  leaders  and  lawmakers  of  our  Israel.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  any  important  legislation  has  taken 
place  in  the  church  in  recent  years  without  the  influence 
of  Dr.  Wheeler's  guiding  thought  upon  it.  In  great  de- 
bates he  was  a master  of  assemblies.  It  really  required 
some  sort  of  opposition  to  bring  his  faculties  into  best 
action  and  to  give  him  full  command  of  his  resources. 
Perhaps  he  was  not  always  hospitable  to  new  ideas ; 
possibly  he  sometimes  mistook  his  prejudices  for  his  prin- 
ciples, but  his  aim  was  always  to  know  the  truth  and  to 
hold  it.  Alfred  Wheeler  was  a famous  friend.  An  ap- 
peal to  his  friendship  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  resist.  In- 
deed, most  of  the  friction  of  his  life  was  in  behalf  of 
others.  His  sympathies  were  deep  and  genuine.  Under 
the  snows  of  sixty-eight  winters  there  beat  the  heart  of  a 
child.  Perhaps  Dr.  Wheeler’s  best  legacy  to  the  church 
was  a letter  he  wrote  to  a former  member  of  his  con- 
ference— almost  his  last  words.  His  words  recall  the 
triumphant  utterance  of  that  old  veteran,  ‘The  Tentmaker 
of  Tarsus,’  ‘I  have  kept  the  faith.’  The  editor  of  the 
Christian  Advocate,  with  fine  description,  has  appreciated 
the  real  worth  of  these  words,  and  has  rendered  a genu- 
ine service  to  the  church  by  the  manner  in  which  he  has 
lifted  them  into  prominence.  I quote  a single  passage: 


Alfred  Wheeler. 


587 


ville,  i86q-'72;  Erie,  First  Church,  i872-’74;  Warren, 
Ohio,  1875-76.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  the  editorship 
of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  a position  which  he 
filled  for  eight  years  with  marked  ability.  From  1884 
to  1890  he  was  presiding  elder  of  the  New  Castle  Dis- 
trict. In  1890  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the 
Erie  District,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
great  acceptability  for  nearly  two  years. 

“In  1850  Dr.  \\  heeler  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lydia  P.  Curtiss,  a woman  in  every  way  fitted  to  be  his 
wife,  who  entered  sincerely  into  his  highest  thought  and 
purpose. 

“Dr.  \\  heeler  was  a life-long  student,  always  in  quick 
touch  with  the  living  issues  of  his  time.  As  a preacher 
he  appealed  to  the  understanding  rather  than  to  the  emo- 
tions, and  was  able  and  convincing  rather  than  eloquent. 
As  an  administrator  he  excelled.  In  fact,  he  was  a states- 
man, clear,  comprehensive  and  profound  in  his  thinking. 
He  was  the  trusted  counselor  of  Simpson,  Ames  and 
Harris,  those  leaders  and  lawmakers  of  our  Israel.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  any  important  legislation  has  taken 
place  in  the  church  in  recent  years  without  the  influence 
of  Dr.  Wheeler’s  guiding  thought  upon  it.  In  great  de- 
bates he  was  a master  of  assemblies.  It  really  required 
some  sort  of  opposition  to  bring  his  faculties  into  best 
action  and  to  give  him  full  command  of  his  resources. 
Perhaps  he  was  not  always  hospitable  to  new  ideas; 
possibly  he  sometimes  mistook  his  prejudices  for  his  prin- 
ciples, but  his  aim  was  always  to  know  the  truth  and  to 
hold  it.  Alfred  Wheeler  was  a famous  friend.  An  ap- 
peal to  his  friendship  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  resist.  In- 
deed, most  of  the  friction  of  his  life  was  in  behalf  of 
others.  His  sympathies  were  deep  and  genuine.  Under 
the  snows  of  sixty-eight  winters  there  beat  the  heart  of  a 
child.  Perhaps  Dr.  Wheeler’s  best  legacy  to  the  church 
was  a letter  he  wrote  to  a former  member  of  his  con- 
ference— almost  his  last  words.  His  words  recall  the 
triumphant  utterance  of  that  old  veteran,  ‘The  Tentmaker 
of  Tarsus,’  ‘I  have  kept  the  faith.’  The  editor  of  the 
Christian  Advocate,  with  fine  description,  has  appreciated 
the  real  worth  of  these  words,  and  has  rendered  a genu- 
ine service  to  the  church  by  the  manner  in  which  he  has 
lifted  them  into  prominence.  I quote  a single  passage : 


588 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


ifeid 


‘And  now,  looking  back  over  the  past,  and  facing  the  fu- 
ture, it  is  a matter  of  unspeakable  joy  to  me  that  with 
St.  Paul  I can  say,  “I  have  kept  the  faith.”  I have  been 
troubled  with  the  questions  of  the  times  as  have  other 
men.  Philosophy  has  at  times  created  perplexity ; higher 
criticism  has  at  times  intensified  these  perplexities.  But 
through  them  all  I have  been  able  to  preach  the  cross  as 
the  only  hope  of  the  world.  I have  been  enabled  to 
preach  Christ  as  a Divine  Savior,  God  manifest  in  the 
flesh,  and  the  blood  of  the  atonement  as  the  only  and 
sufficient  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  I 
have  looked  over  my  own  life,  but  I can  not  trust  it  for  a 
moment.  I have  looked  at  my  own  works,  but  they  are 
destitute  of  merit.  I have  looked  at  my  own  righteous- 
ness. It  is  as  a filthy  garment.  I look  at  the  righteous- 
ness of  Jesus  Christ — its  folds  are  ample  for  me  and  they 
are  spotless.  In  this  faith  I have  lived,  and  wrought ; in 
it  I shall  die.' 

“Dr.  Wheeler’s  attachment  to  the  members  of  the  Erie 
Conference  was  most  touching.  He  was  very  grateful 
for  their  kindness  to  him  and  for  the  honor  they  be- 
stowed upon  him.  During  his  last  illness,  like  that  other 
Boanerges,  his  constant  theme  was  ‘the  love  of  his  breth- 
ren/ The  ‘Son  of  Thunder’  was  subdued  into  a ‘Son  of 
Peace  and  Consolation.’  Was  it  not  fitting  that  he 
should  appropriate  these  words  of  Paul : ‘I  have  fought 
a good  fight;  I have  kept  the  faith/ 

(<He  has  conquered  and  is  crowned.  On  the  eleventh 
of  July  he  was  carried  by  his  brethren  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference to  his  grave  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  in  the 
bounds  of  his  last  district.  Perhaps  the  familiar  stanza 
was  never  more  happily  placed  than  at  the  close  of  this 
memorial : 

‘Servant  of  God,  well  done, 

Thy  glorious  warfare’s  past. 

The  battle’s  fought,  the  race  is  run, 

And  thou  art  crowned  at  last.’  ” * 

James  H.  Herron,  Henry  W.  Leslie,  Lewis  Wick. 

James  H.  Herron  was  born  in  New  Richmond,  Ohio, 
May  13,  1829,  and  passed  to  his  eternal  home  in  the 
triumphs  of  Christian  faith  from  Erie,  Pa.,  September 
23,  1895.  He  graduated  from  Ohio  Wesleyan  Univer- 


J.  H.  Herron , H.  W . Leslie , L.  Wick.  589 

sity  in  1853,  and  filled  the  chair  of  professor  of  ancient 
languages  in  Herron’s  Seminary  in  i853-’54.  The  same 
year  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  S.  Josephine 
Fuller,  daughter  of  Judge  Fuller,  of  Delaware,  Ohio. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Cincinnati  Conference  in 
1854.  He  was  president  of  Springfield  College  from 
1862  to  1867,  and  of  Willoughby  College  from  1867  to 
1870.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1869,  and  superannuated  in  1892.  Dr.  Herron  was  a 
Christian  scholar  and  gentleman,  a lover  of  truth,  a true 
friend.  He  was  a man  of  pure  lips  and  spotless  charac- 
ter. He  was  a genuine  manly  man,  gentle  in  spirit,  mod- 
est in  demeanor,  and  yet  unswerving  in  following  his 
convictions  of  duty.  His  Christ-likeness  was  apparent  in 
his  daily  walk  and  he  preached  eloquently  for  righteous- 
ness, truth  and  purity.  His  sermons  were  able,  clear  and 
sound  in  doctrine,  and  were  especially  calculated  to  build 
up  Christian  character.  The  diction  was  pure,  the  spirit 
sweet,  the  arguments  sound,  and  the  truth  presented  at- 
tractive. Dr.  Herron  was  a pleasant  companion,  a good 
conversationalist,  an  appreciative  friend.  “Dr.  Herron 
outlives  death,  first,  in  what  he  said:  second,  in  what  he 
did  ; and  third,  in  what  he  was.”  He  died  in  the  full  sun- 
shine of  God’s  love. 

Of  Henry  W.  Leslie,  his  biographer  writes : “Brother 
Leslie  possessed  more  than  a common  education,  having 
been  favored  in  early  life  with  collegiate  advantages.  He 
was  a practical  man  whether  in  business  life  or  in  the 
ministry,  and  he  won  his  success  by  hard  work.  He  was 
a kind  and  affectionate  husband  and  father,  a cheerful,^ 
earnest  Christian,  believing  most  heartily  the  doctrines 
taught  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  As  a minis- 
ter he  was  careful  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 
In  the  society  of  his  brethren  he  was  genial  and  happy. 
But  his  work  is  done.  Ere  his  friends  were  aware  of  the 
fact  he  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the  cold  river,  and  as  the 
voice  of  love  grew  fainter  behind  him,  and  the  shore  re- 
ceded, the  songs  of  the  redeemed  fell  upon  his  ear,  and 
all  his  pathway  was  flooded  with  celestial  light.” 

Henry  W.  Leslie  was  born  in  Chardon,  Geauga  Co„ 
Ohio,  March  18,  1838.  He  was  converted  when  eleven 
years  of  age  at  a protracted  meeting  held  by  his  father, 
Rev.  Joseph  Leslie,  at  Espyville.  Resisting  the  call  to 

38 


590  History  of  Erie  Conference. 


preach  the  gospel,  his  love  became  cold,  but  he  was  newly 
baptized  with  the  Holy  Spirit  at  Girard  under  the  labors 
of  Rev.  John  W.  Wilson.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1867,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1869.  He  was  called  to  his  heavenly  rest  from  Portland, 
N.  Y.,  March  16,  1874. 

Lewis  Wick  was  of  Scotch-Irish-German  lineage.  His 
parents,  John  and  Mary  Wick,  were  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Lewis  was  edu- 
cated in  this  faith.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  a farm, 
and  he  was  singularly  free  from  evil  habits.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Allegheny  College  in  1868.  He  was  con- 
verted at  a camp  meeting  at  Harrisville  in  1861,  being 
then  seventeen  years  of  age.  The  second  time  he  ever 
attended  the  services  he  went  to  the  mourners’  bench, 
and,  after  several  days  of  earnest  seeking,  and  when 
about  to  give  up  in  despair,  he  was  happily  converted. 
Returning  home  he  told  the  glad  news,  talked  and  prayed 
with  his  father  who  lay  on  his  dying  bed,  and  saw  him 
rejoice  in  the  Savior.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1868, 
and  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1869, 
and  did  effective  work  until  his  superannuation  in  1902. 


Harvey  Webb,  J.  A.  Kummer. 

Harvey  Webb,  who  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1869,  has  done  a good  work.  We  have 
not  been  favored  with  an  account  of  his  early  life.  He 
was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference  in  1892.  Writ- 
ing in  1906  he  says : “I  have  received  over  one  thousand 
souls  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  have  an- 
swered the  first  roll  call  at  conference  thirty-five  times. 
I asked  for  superannuate  relation  four  years  ago,  and  it 
was  granted.  I have  preached  most  of  the  Sabbaths  since, 
and  the  Lord  has  allowed  me  good  health  every  day 

“1841,  September  21— December  15,  1897.  Between 
these  dates  a beautiful  strong  life.  J.  A.  Kummer,  born 
in  Allentown,  Pa. ; sunny  boyhood,  in  Philadelphia ; un- 
folding youth,  fourteen  to  twenty,  in  Akron,  Ohio.  Care- 
fully nurtured  and  disciplined  in  the  rigid  training  of  the 
Lutheran,  he  never  entered  a Methodist  Church  till  the 
great  revival  of  1859.  Then,  under  a sermon  preached 
by  Thomas  Stubbs,  he  came  to  the  great  illumination  of 
soul.  Henceforth  he  was  a Methodist. 


♦ 

Harvey  Webb , J.  A.  Hummer.  591 

“He  was  serving  in  the  shoe  business  when  the  war 
broke  out.  The  sound  ‘To  arms!’  awakened  his  heroic 
and  patriotic  spirit,  and  he  became  a ‘boy  in  blue’  at 
twenty,  a member  of  Company  G,  Twenty-ninth  O.  V.  I. 
For  over  three  years  the  cloud  of  battle  was  his  ‘pillar,’ 
guiding  to  freedom.  Musket  and  cannon  were  the  music 
which  fired  his  soul.  The  tramp  of  armies  became  his 
lofty  inspiration.  Between  four  and  five  months  on 
Belle  Isle  he  endured  the  tortures  of  starvation  which 
brought  him  into  keenest  sympathy  with  souls  starved 
and  tortured  by  sin.  He  was  wounded  on  Little  Round 
Top,  a bullet  passing  through  his  body.  But  for  a rigor- 
ous constitution  he  would  have  rested  on  the  sacred  soil 
of  Gettysburg  and  the  Church  would  have  lost  a quarter 
of  a century  of  most  noble  service.  After  a partial  re- 
covery he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  time,  till  honorably 
discharged,  in  the  secret  service  at  Indianapolis.  When 
at  the  front  he  surprised  his  pastor  by  inclosing  his  two 
dollars  missionary  money,  showing  his  loyalty  to  Church 
and  country.  To  this  same  pastor,  Dr.  Peate,  the  cap- 
tain described  him  as  ‘the  bravest  man  in  his  company.’ 

“On  his  return  to  his  home  he  was  seized  by  a loftier 
ambition.  He  heard  the  cry  of  the  crucified.  He  con- 
sulted his  pastor,  the  Rev.  E.  A.  Johnson,  whose  advice 
would  be  a fortune  to  every  young  man  who  would  obey 
it:  ‘Go  to  college  four  years,  and  then  give  twenty-five 

years  to  the  ministry,  and  you  will  do  a good  work/ 
With  enthusiasm,  dauntless  courage  and  sacrifice,  he  gave 
himself  to  study,  in  departing  received  the  honor  of  his 
class,  and  in  after  years  the  doctorate  from  his  alma 
mater,  DePauw.  In  1869,  at  Franklin,  Pa.,  he  knocked 
at  the  door  of  the  Erie  Conference,  was  admitted  and 
appointed  to  Albion,  Pa.  In  1870  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emiline  Beardsley,  of  Akron,  Ohio.  It 
proved  a life  of  unbroken  happiness  and  usefulness.  Af- 
terwards the  following  places  were  honored  with  his  min- 
istrations : Springfield,  Wattsburg,  Dunkirk,  Simpson, 

Erie;  Fredonia  and  Sharon.  He  then  gave  six  years  to 
the  presiding  eldership  on  the  Meadville  District.  To 
say  that  he  was  a faithful  presiding  elder  would  be  put- 
ting it  mildly.  He  was  devotion,  courage,  energy,  ex- 
cessive in  the  abundance  of  his  labors.  From  the  elder- 
ship he  went  to  his  last  appointment,  Warren,  Pa.,  which 


592 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


, 


he  served  faithfully  for  three  years,  making  hosts  of 
friends.  One  year  ago  the  bullet  finished  its  work,  and 
among  old  friends  and  in  the  sweets  of  home  his  life 
slowly  ebbed  away. 

“Nature  formed  him  in  a large  and  generous  mould. 
She  was  not  stinting  in  her  gifts.  Many  traits  of  beauty 
and  strength  were  divinely  blended.  There  was  very 
much  iron,  and  not  a little  sunshine  in  his  disposition. 
There  was  a sternness,  a vigor,  a relentlessness  in  his 
moral  convictions  which  remind  one  of  the  sterling  qual- 
ities of  the  Puritans,  yet  the  sunshine  played  so  much  on 
these  that  one  was  charmed.  He  was  like  some  majestic 
rock  over  which  the  mosses  and  the  vines  have  woven 
evergreen  chaplets  out  of  which  the  flowers  have  smiled. 
His  convictions  were  clear  and  bold.  He  was  not  a 
chameleon,  leaving  the  Church  without  ideas,  convictions 
or  force  of  character. 

“The  preacher.  He  rested  on  no  laurels.  He  pleaded 
no  weakness.  He  lived  in  no  memories,  however  sacred. 
With  the  same  enthusiasm  he  had  offered  himself  to  his 
country,  he  consecrated  himself  to  God.  He  became  a 
soldier-preacher.  He  had  convictions  as  to  Christ.  He 
was  not  a preacher  because  he  desired  an  easy  place.  He 
was  in  the  mighty  army  of  Christ.  It  was  to  conquer 
the  world.  To  him  Christ  was  the  eternal  verity,  his  in- 
spiration, his  bugle  call  to  battle  against  wrong.  He  was 
an  earnest  preacher.  To  him  preaching  was  like  the 
greatness  of  a great  battle.  It  seemed  as  if  he  heard  the 
bugle  blowing,  the  drums  beating,  the  mighty  tread  of 
armies  and  the  tremendous  crash  of  arms.  He  was  in 
the  conflict  to  win.  He  was  a brave  preacher.  He  made 
no  compromises  with  sin  for  the  sake  of  ease.  He  did 
not  lower  the  standard  of  Christ  to  court  the  praise  of 
the  world.  In  these  times  when  often  great  pressure  is 
brought  to  bear  to  have  men  suppress  the  truth  it  is  in- 
spiring to  think  he  fearlessly  lifted  high  the  standard  of 
Prince  Immanuel.  His  bravery  won  him  success  in  all 
departments  of  church  work  and  life.  No  charge  he 
•ever  served  but  will  bear  the  strong  outlines  of  his  own 
character.  He  was  faithful.  Not  till  the  fatal  wound 
stretched  him  as  on  a battle  field  did  he  cease  his  toil. 
Even  then  was  he  conqueror.  The  last  enemy  was  under- 
neath his  feet.  It  was  inspiring  to  hear  him  say,  Tell 


Classes  and  Churches. 


593 

the  brethren  that  they  might  as  well  expect  the  mountains 
to  fall  as  that  my  faith  should  fail/  ” 

Classes  and  Churches. 

In  1845  some  twenty-five  members  of  the  Clintonville 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  formed  an  organization  near 
their  own  homes,  and  held  services  in  the  old  log  building 
known  as  the  “Walter  school  house.”  Among  the  first 
members  were  John  C.  Hovis  and  wife,  Daniel  McFad- 
den  and  wife,  James  Walter  and  wife,  Craft  McFadden, 
Robert  Hutchison  and  wife,  John  Hutchison  and  wife, 
Jacob  Hoffman  and  wife,  Philip  Walter  and  wife,  Mary 
Walter,  Ann  Walter,  Amelia  Hovis,  Mary  Morris,  Peggy 
J.  Fitz,  Freelove  Hoffman,  Mary  A.  McFadden,  Mar- 
jorie McFadden,  Catherine  Walter,  Eli  Hoffman  and 
wife.  Daniel  McFadden  was  the  first  class  leader.  After 
a few  years  of  struggle  the  society  was  discontinued,  and 
many  of  its  members  returned  to  the  mother  church  at 
Clintonville.  In  1869  James  M.  Groves,  of  the  Harris- 
ville  and  Pine  Grove  charge,  re-organized  the  society, 
and  in  1873  the  site  for  a church  was  purchased  from 
James  Walter.  “Peter’s  Chapel”  was  erected  during  the 
pastorate  of  Cearing  Peters,  and  named  in  his  honor. 
The  cost  was  about  $1,800. — (History  of  Venango  Coun- 
ty, Brozvn,  Runk  & Co.,  1890,  p.  534.) 

There  was  a great  revival  on  the  Salem  appointment 
of  the  Troy  charge  under  the  labors  of  H.  M.  Sackett 
in  1869.  Salem  was  a small  church  on  Beaver  run,  about 
one  mile  from  Belleview.  In  1874  the  Salem  appoint- 
ment was  divided  under  the  pastorate  of  Cyril  Wilson 
and  two  classes  formed — Belleview  and  Chestnut  Cliff. 
The  old  Salem  church  was  abandoned.  The  church  at 
Belleview  was  dedicated  in  1874,  and  that  at  Chestnut 
Cliff  in  1875 — both  under  the  pastorate  of  D.  W.  Wamp- 
ler. In  1876  the  name  of  the  charge  was  changed  to 
Belleview.  It  is  now — 1901 — composed  of  the  follow- 
ing appointments : Belleview,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Chestnut 

Ridge,  and  Longville.  The  first  quarterly  conference 
record  gives  the  name  of  Edward  Rietz  as  the  first  class 
leader  at  Belleview.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1882 
under  the  pastorate  of  H.  V.  Talbot,  and  cost  $1,400. 
‘Rev.  Talbot  dug  wild  apple  trees  and  grafted  them,  and 
made  a fine,  shady  lawn  with  many  kinds  of  fruit.” 


594  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Clarington  charge  was  formed  from  the  old  Washing- 
ton charge  in  1869,  but  some  of  its  appointments  have  a 
long  previous  history.  A class  was  organized  at  Claring- 
ton by  E.  Hull  in  1845,  and  consisted  of  the  following 
members : William  R.  Coon,  Mrs.  Margaret  Armstrong, 
Samuel  Armstrong  and  wife,  Mrs.  Polly  Williams,  John 
Williams,  Lewis  Herron  and  wife,  Taylor  Thurston  and 
wife,  John  Knowlton  and  wife,  and  Sylvester  Knowlton 
and  wife.  Mr.  Coon  was  the  first  class  leader,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  Methodist  on  the  Clarion  river 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  society  passed  through 
great  tribulations,  not  the  least  of  which  was  the  annoy- 
ance during  divine  service  from  the  roughs  of  the  new 
settlement  and  surrounding  neighborhoods.  A church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1850 

When  Clarington  became  a change  it  included  also 
Robert’s  Chapel,  Greenwood  and  Ebenezer.  In  1871 
Millstone  appears  as  an  appointment;  in  1873,  Cooks- 
burg  and  Hominy  Ridge;  and  in  1878,  Marienville.  For- 
est City  or  Byron’s  also  became  an  appointment.  The 
church  at  Greenwood  was  commenced  in  1878,  but  not 
completed  until  1883.  A parsonage  was  built  in  1854. 

The  charge  has  sent  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  Samuel 
Coon,  T.  J.  Baker  and  Abram  S.  Dobbs  into  the  ministry. 

“The  circuit  as  it  now  stands  (1884)  is  said  to  be  the 
largest  circuit  in  the  Erie  Conference  and  is  still  to  a 
very  large  extent  in  its  primeval  condition;  a very  great 
part  of  it  being  yet  unbroken  forest  with  here  and  there 
a settler.  Methodism  is  the  only  denomination  that  has 
any  prominent  hold  in  all  this  vast  region,  and  is  thor- 
oughly prepared  to  take  the  country  for  the  Lord.” 

“Methodism  on  this  circuit  always  was  and  is  to  the 
present  day  of  the  old-time  type.  The  old  songs  of  Zion 
are  still  sung  and  the  sound  of  the  King  in  the  camp  is 
often  heard.” 

Our  church  at  Stoneboro  was  organized  by  John 
Eckels  in  1869,  with  forty-two  member*.  The  regular 
services  were  held  in  the  school  house.  Edwin  Egbert, 
of  Sandy  Lake,  was  the  first  class  leader,  and  Adam 
Davis  the  first  steward.  A frame  building,  convenient 
and  quite  commodious  was  erected  in  1875. — (History  of 
Mercer  County , Broun,  Runk  & Co.,  1888,  p.  468.) 


Nashville , Volusia Union  City. 


595 


We  group  together  in  this  convenient  place  an  account 
of  the  founding  of  several  churches  of  different  dates : 

Hayne  is  the  name  of  the  postoffice  where  the  Pine 
City  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  located.  Members 
from  this  class  began  to  hold  meetings  eight  or  ten  miles 
northwest  of  Shippenville  in  Armstrong’s  barn.  A little 
later  meetings  were  held  in  the  Armstrong  school  house, 
and  people  attended  from  the  surrounding  country  for 
ten  miles,  walking  and  carrying  their  infant  children. 
These  meetings  were  remarkable  for  the  accompanying 
emotional  excitement,  and  the  “falling  exercise"  was  com- 
mon. It  is  stated  that  on  one  occasion  Mrs.  George 
Howe  shouted  so  long  and  so  loud  that  the  stove  fell 
down.  Summer  camp  meetings  were  held  on  the  Nathan 
Phipps  farm,  at  which  there  were  many  conversions.  Wil- 
liam Stratman,  who  afterward  became  a class  leader  and 
exhorter  of  no  little  ability,  invited  John  McComb  to  hold 
a protracted  meeting.  Mr.  McComb,  in  a manner  quite 
characteristic,  replied:  “How  can  I hive  bees  without  a 

beehive?"  Mr.  Stratman  said:  “We  will  provide  a 

hive,”  and  so  they  did.  Without  money,  with  but  few 
to  take  the  lead  in  such  an  enterprise,  the  good  people 
pressed  forward,  nothing  doubting.  Trees  were  cut  down 
and  converted  into  rough  boards  at  the  mill,  and,  in  a 
short  time  there  stood  completed  what  became  known  far 
and  wide  as  Perry  Chapel.  This  was  accomplished  in 
1850.  David  Latshaw  was  the  first  preacher,  and  Sister 
McEntire  enjoys  recalling  how,  the  first  time  he  preached 
there,  the  presiding  elder  was  present,  which  so  embar- 
rassed him  that  confused,  he  sat  down  in  ten  minutes. 
The  presiding  elder  finished  the  sermon.  Nathan  Phipps 
and  George  Howe  were  early  class  leaders  at  this  appoint- 
ment. In  1881  the  class  at  Pine  City  was  divided  on  the 
question  of  the  location  of  a new  church.  The  result 
was  the  erection  of  the  Haven  Church  and  the  Pine  City 
Church,  and  there  were  two  weak  congregations  instead 
of  one  strong  one. 

Nashville,  Volusia,  Union  City. 

Previous  to  1850  a class  was  formed  at  Nashville  by 
J.  E.  Chapin,  consisting  of  L.  P.  James  and  wife,  Harlow 
W.  Smith  and  wife,  R.  W.  Nevins  and  wife,  Jonathan 
Carter  and  wife,  V.  R.  Carey  and  wife,  L.  J.  Knapp  and 


596 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


wife,  Samuel  Chace  and  wife,  and  S.  P.  McKee  and  wife. 
V.  R.  Carey  was  the  first  class  leader.  A convenient 
and  neat  little  church  was  dedicated  in  1852. 

In  1837  a Methodist  class  was  organized  at  Volusia 
consisting  of  the  following  members:  Rand  Aides,  class 

leader  ; Robert  Hall  and  wife,  L.  D.  Harmon  and  wife, 
Ezra  Hopkins  and  wife,  Alanson  Jones,  and  perhaps 
some  others.  A church  was  erected  in  1852  and  a par- 
sonage in  1874.  A class  was  formed  at  the  Summerdale 
appointment  in  1832  and  a church  built  in  1849.  Among 
the  members  at  Summerdale  were : L.  H.  Flagler,  a 

local  preacher,  and  his  wife,  William  Stanton  and  wife, 
Isaac  Willcox  and  wife,  and  two  or  three  others.  There 
were  also  classes  at  Wattlesburg,  Sinden’s  school  house 
and  Adams'  school  house. 

In  1872  a church  edifice  was  erected  at  Hanna’s  Cor- 
ners at  a cost  of  $1,700.  This  replaced  an  old  church 
which  was  built  in  1830,  and  stood  about  one  and  a half 
miles  southeast.  This  was  known  as  “Keen  Church.” 
Prior  to  its  erection  the  class  had  worshiped  in  a hall 
over  John  Keen’s  wood  house.  The  first  class  was  or- 
ganized previous  to  1815.  Among  the  original  members 
were:  Adam  and  Dinah  Keen,  Joseph  Mattocks  and 

wife,  the  Siselys,  and  Polly,  Henry  and  John  McEntire. 
The  society  belonged  to  the  Salem  Circuit. 

A.  B.  Funk  erected  a church  six  miles  west  of  Tidioute 
on  the  Warren  and  Franklin  pike  and  presented  it  to  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  was  dedicated  April 
19,  1863,  by  President  Loomis,  of  Allegheny  Colllege. 
With  the  decrease  in  the  lumber  and  oil  interests  the 
population  moved  away  and  the  church  has  enjoyed  re- 
ligious services  only  part  of  the  time,  and  later  semi- 
occasionally. 

Concerning  the  early  history  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Union  City,  we  have  been  able  to  gather 
but  little  information.  We  only  know  that  there  was 
Methodist  preaching  in  that  vicinity  at  a very  early  date, 
perhaps  near  the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  Ira  Eddy, 
traveling  the  Erie  Circuit  in  1817,  is  said  to  have  organ- 
ized the  first  society.  The  first  church  building  was 
erected  in  1847,  and  in  1862  this  was  replaced  by  a more 
commodious  structure  at  a cost  of  about  $10,000.  For 


Asbury , Hatch  Hollozv,  Edinboro.  597 

more  than  forty  years  this  served  its  purpose  as  a place 
of  worship  for  Methodist  people. 

During  the  pastorate  of  J.  N.  Fradenburgh  a subscrip- 
tion was  started  for  a new  church,  but  the  enterprise  was 
not  completed  until  the  pastorate  of  C.  W.  Miner.  The 
old  church  property  was  sold,  a new  and  more  convenient 
site  secured  and  a fine  church  edifice  was  dedicated  in 
1901  at  a cost  of  $23,000. 

The  Barnes  class,  now  known  as  the  Asbury  appoint- 
ment on  the  Ferdinand  charge,  was  organized  by  John 
Scott  in  1840  as  one  of  the  fruits  of  a camp  meeting  held 
at  Hatch  Hollow,  four  miles  north  of  Union  City.  The 
original  class  consisted  of  the  following  members:  My- 

ron Williams,  leader;  Levi  Barnes,  local  preacher;  Susan 
Giles  and  Hannah  Barnes,  William  Carroll,  and  Hannah, 
Betsy,  Jane  and  Mary  Carroll — ten  in  all.  The  Barnes 
appointment  belonged  to  the  Wattsburg  charge,  and  later 
to  the  Union  City  charge.  In  i860  a revival  started  at  a 
camp  meeting  at  Hatch  Hollow  and  continued  at  Barnes, 
increased  the  membership  to  eighty-three.  A church 
building  was  erected  and  dedicated,  January  21,  1863,  by 
Presiding  Elder  J.  H.  Whallon.  In  1892  K.  T.  JaOuay 
organized  a new  charge  consisting  of  Asbury  Chapel, 
Wilkins  Church,  and  Tillotson’s.  It  was  named  Ferdi- 
nand charge,  the  name  of  one  of  the  pioneers,  Ferdinand 
Carroll,  and  also  the  name  of  the  postoffice.  There  are 
now  suitable  church  buildings  at  each  of  these  points,  and 
a parsonage  at  Asbury. 

A class  was  organized  at  Chapinville  by  John  Graham, 
then  traveling  the  Oil  Creek  Circuit,  in  1840.  This  be- 
came the  Wilkins  class  and  the  church  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated in  1867  by  Jonathan  Whitely.  The  first  board  of 
trustees  consisted  of  the  following  persons:  John  Chap- 
in, Lewis  Larkins  and  William  B.  Taylor. 

A Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  erected  at  Hatch 
Hollow  and  dedicated  in  1859.  The  society  was  organ- 
ized some  time  prior  to  1835,  and  was  attached  to  Watts- 
burg Circuit.  For  some  time  it  was  connected  with  the 
Union  City  charge.  Hatch  Hollow  derived  its  name  from 
the  numerous  Hatch  family  in  the  neighborhood,  fur- 
nishing a large  number  of  loyal  and  devoted  Methodists. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Edinboro  was  or- 
ganized in  1829.  The  second  church  in  the  village  was 


598 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


built  by  the  Methodists  in  1838,  and  now  constitutes  the 
town  house.  This  was  replaced  by  a more  commodious 
edifice  in  1863. 

The  ascertainable  facts  concerning  the  churches  on 
the  Elgin  charge  are  meager  and  indefinite.  The  church 
at  Carter  Hill  was  built  in  1883  at  a cost  of  $1,200.  For 
many  years  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church  ser- 
vices had  been  held  in  school  houses  and  private  resi- 
dences. 

The  class  at  McCray’s  was  organized  in  1902  and 
consisted  of  nine  original  members.  There  had  been  a 
building  controlled  by  different  denominations,  but  some 
years  ago  there  was  an  uncivil  religious  war  in  the  com- 
munity over  the  church  property  and  the  court  decided 
in  favor  of  the  Wesleyans,  granting,  however,  other  de- 
nominations the  right  to  worship  in  the  building  when 
not  in  use  by  the  Wesleyans.  Within  recent  years  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  secured  possession  of 
the  property,  although  it  does  not  have  complete  control. 

The  first  class  of  Christians  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal denomination  at  what  is  called  ‘Donation  District,’ 

consisted  of  eight  members  and  was  formed  by  Hiram 
Kinsley,  who  was  the  pastor.  They  held  their  first 
meeting  at  Warren  Palmer’s  log  cabin  on  Donation  Hill. 
The  church  located  at  Beaver  Dam  was  organized  in 
1838  with  thirty  members  by  the  Rev.  William  Patter- 
son, who  was  its  first  pastor.  The  first  church  edifice 
was  erected  in  1839,  and  the  present  one,  which  will  seat 
about  three  hundred  people,  in  1872,  at  a cost  of  $3,200. 
James  Steward  was  the  first  leader  of  this  class. 

At  Elgin  services  were  held  in  private  houses  for  a 
number  of  years,  when  the  Methodists  joined  with  the 
Disciples  in  building  a Disciple  Church.  After  a time 
the  little  Methodist  flock  wras  driven  from  the  church. 
They  then  bought  a Presbyterian  Church,  located  at 
Beaver  Dam,  and  moved  it  to  Elgin;  the  total  outlay 
was  about  $1,222. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  the  oldest  in  the 
village  of  Linesville.  Meetings  were  held  for  many 
years  in  the  school  house  of  the  neighborhood,  but  in 
i860  a neat  frame  building  was  erected.  The  Linesville 
appointment  was  at  first  a part  of  Conneautville  charge, 
but  was  afterwards  attached  to  the  Shenango  Circuit. 


Rid  gw  ay  Mission. 


599 


In  1 86 1 Linesville  Circuit  was  formed,  of  which  W.  H. 
Mossman  was  the  first  pastor.  Later  this  , circuit  in- 
cluded besides  Linesville,  Shermansville  and  Frey’s 
Chapel. 

Ridgway  Mission. 

Benjamin  F.  Sedwick  was  a native  of  Maryland.  At 
the  close  of  the  War  of  1812  the  family  moved  to  But- 
ler, Pa.  Here  Benjamin  attended  the  Butler  Academy, 
after  which  he  engaged  for  some  time  in  teaching.  He 
was  converted  in  1827,  licensed  to  exhort  by  J.  P.  Kent, 
of  the  Butler  Circuit,  in  1829,  and  licensed  to  preach  by 
Ira  Eddy  in  1831.  Now  it  chanced  that  in  1832  a young 
man  had  been  sent  from  the  Baltimore  Conference  to 
form  a circuit  which  was  afterward  entered  on  the  min- 
utes as  “Ridgway  Mission.”  He  bravely  set  out  on 
horseback  to  discover  the  work  to  which  he  had  been 
assigned.  Reaching  the  headwaters  of  the  Clarion  river 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  and  still 
pushing  his  way  in  the  direction  of  the  circuit  of  which 
he  scarcely  knew  the  name,  he  entered  a forest  of  great 
pines — trees  standing  thick  and  tall,  and  dark  even  at 
mid-day,  night  overtook  him  and  he  lost  his  path.  De- 
spairing of  finding  his  way  out,  in  his  desperate  condi- 
tion he  alighted  from  his  horse,  and  hitching  him  to  a 
sapling,  he  knelt  on  the  ground  and  endeavored  to  find 
the  path  by  feeling  about  with  his  hands.  Failing  in 
this,  he  turned  to  find  his  horse,  but  the  horse  was  gone. 
Finally,  worn  out  with  searching  and  sad  at  heart,  he  sat 
down  and  listened  to  the  approach  of  the  wolves  and 
other  beasts  of  the  forest.  At  the  dawn  of  day  he  heard 
a rooster  crow,  and  following  the  sound  of  the  welcome 
voice,  he  reached  a farm  house  and  related  the  story  of 
his  adventure.  The  farmer  went  with  him,  and  when 
they  reached  the  neighborhood  of  where  they  supposed 
the  preacher’s  horse  had  been  left,  he  directed  the  lost 
stranger  to  halt  and  he  himself  would  advance,  and  if 
his  horses,  when  separated,  should  whinney  to  get  to- 
gether, the  stranger's  horse,  if  in  hearing,  would  reply. 
So  it  turned  out.  The  brother  found  his  horse,  got  out 
of  the  woods  as  soon  as  he  could,  turned  his  face  home- 
ward and  never  thereafter  was  seen  in  those  parts.  When 
the  presiding  elder  who  had  sent  the  young  man  to  the 


6oo 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Ridgway  Mission,  heard  of  the  facts  he  wrote  to  Zerah 
H.  Coston,  presiding  elder  of  Meadville  District,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  informing  him  of  his  effort  to  estab- 
lish the  mission,  and  stating  that  after  carefully  exam- 
ining the  territory,  he  was  convinced  that  it  did  not  belong 
to  the  Baltimore  Conference  anyway,  and  Mr.  Coston 
might  look  after  the  work  if  he  so  desired.  So  the 
latter  sent  for  Mr.  Sedwick  and  appointed  him  to  the 
mission.  Mr.  Sedwick,  more  successful  than  his  pre- 
decessor, reached  his  field  of  labor.  He  says:  “When 

I reached  Ridgway,  the  principal  settlement,  I found  a 
few  families  of  intelligence  driving  a lumbering  business. 
I preached  on  Sunday  and  invited,  serious  persons  to  re- 
main for  class.  One  lady,  in  her  talk  said : ‘Sisters,  we 

are  here  in  the  woods  without  preaching,  and  we  united 
our  prayers  that  God  would  send  us  a preacher,  and  He 
has  heard  our  prayers.’  We  had  a shouting  time  that 
day  in  class  meeting.” 

Mr.  Sedwick  met  with  all  kinds  of  religious  beliefs 
in  the  little  scattered  settlement.  Among  others  there 
were  two  brothers,  one  claiming  to  be  Jeremiah  the 
Prophet,  and  the  other  St.  Paul.  At  the  close  of  his 
year  he  made  out  a plan  for  the  mission  and  sent  it  to 
the  conference,  which  met  in  Meadville  in  1833.  This 
year  he  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Pittsburg  Confer- 
ence.— ; (Sedwick , Semi-Centennial  Sermon,  Preached 
June  1 7,  1883,  at  Robert's  Chapel.) 

In  a letter  written  to  C.  W.  Darrow,  dated  Slippery 
Rock,  Pa.,  January  26,  1888,  Mr.  Sedwick  says:  “My 

plan  took  in  all  the  area  from  near  Brookville,  covering 
a large  territory  on  the  summit  of  the  dividing  range, 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Clarion  and  Susquehanna 
rivers.  I have  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  brother 
sent  from  Baltimore  and  myself  were  the  first  persons 
ever  assigned  to  this  field.” 

Mr.  Sedwick  continues  his  reminiscences : “When 

Rev.  Job  Wilson  was  on  Clarion  Circuit  and  lived  in  a 
little  shanty  in  Brother  Haggerty's  yard,  he  occasionally 
called  upon  me  to  aid  him  on  the  circuit.  I also  preached 
frequently  for  J.  P.  Kent  and  James  Babcock  on  Butler 
Circuit,  traveling  often  from  Butler  to  near  Mercer.  My 
brother  William  and  three  sisters  and  myself  moved  to 
Lawrenceburg,  now  Parker  City.  There  was  no  Metho- 


Ridgway  Mission.  601 

dist  preaching  in  all  this  country,  except  at  Fletcher’s 
school  house  on  Bear  creek,  where  Martinsburg  (now 
Bruin)  now  stands.  I think  Rev.  John  Summerville  or- 
ganized a small  society  there  in  1828,  composed  of  the 
Fletcher  family,  the  Shepards  and  two  or  three  others. 
We  had  preaching  in  Lawrenceburg  in  our  own  house 
and  organized  a class  in  1830.  Rev.  Isaac  Winans  and 
family  were  with  us  for  some  time,  and  Rev.  James 
Gillmore  and  family  until  he  erected  a shed  hut  against 
one  end  of  Brother  Horton’s  cabin  at  the  mouth  of 
Sugar  creek,  near  East  Brady.  Brother  Horton  was  a 
local  preacher,  and  his  house  was  a preaching  place.  The 
Gillmore  family  seemed  to  live  happy  in  a building  in- 
ferior to  many  of  the  sheds  now  used  to  shelter  cattle.” 

In  1854  Nathan  Shaffer  and  N.  W.  Colburn  were 
sent  by  the  Baltimore  Conference  to  the  Caledonia  Cir- 
cuit. Writing  in  1887,  he  mentions  the  following  ap- 
pointments: Wilson’s,  later  called  Penfield;  Bliss’s,  Pine 
school  house,  Overturf  school  house,  Morey’s  school 
house,  Caledonia,  Centerville,  Dr.  Bennett’s,  McColey’s, 
Ridgway,  Mt.  Pleasant  school  house,  Brandy  Camp,  and 
Bawltown  school  house.  He  mentions  a great  revival 
near  Mr.  Beman’s,  at  which  Mr.  Beman,  then  seventy- 
three  years  of  age,  was  converted.  He  preached  also  at 
Oaks’  school  house,  and  Beechwood  school  house.  In 
1855  name  of  the  charge  was  changed  to  “Ridgway,” 
and  was  served  by  T.  R.  Satterfield,  and  perhaps  a sup- 
ernumerary supply,  Robert  Beers. 

Mr.  Colburn  says : “We  had  plenty  of  work  and 

travel.  I have  gone  for  three  months  without  staying 
two  consecutive  nights  in  one  house,  and  have  eaten  corn 
bread  for  three  weeks  at  a time  without  having  seen  a 
mouthful  of  any  other  kind  of  provisions.  I have  led 
my  horse  in  the  fence  corners  to  get  his  breakfast  and 
dinner  many  times.” — (Letter  to  C.  W.  Darrow.) 

The  class  at  Beman’s  school  house  was  organized  as 
early  as  1845,  consisting  of  three  members — Mrs.  Rhoda 
Beman,  Mrs.  Anna  Allen  and  Ray  Giles.  This  appoint- 
ment was  also  known  as  “Bawltown,”  “Sibley’s”  and 
“Cramshaw.”  The  class  at  Oak’s  school  house — Warsaw 
township — consisted  of  six  members — Jerome  Wood- 
bury, leader;  Reuben  Powell,  Allen,  Joseph  and  Julia 
Green  and  John  Pr indie.  In  i860  the  place  of  meeting 


6o  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  changed  to  Brockwayville  school  house.  In  1861  a 
church  lot  was  purchased,  and  in  1864  a building  was 
completed  and  a parsonage  provided. 

Reports  Frqm  the  Field. 

“Plumer  can  do  well.  It  has  eleven  male  members. 
The  charge  has  allowed  its  pastor,  S.  S.  Burton,  twelve 
hundred  dollars,  and  so  far  has  overpaid  him.  A pros- 
perous Sabbath  school  of  sixty  or  seventy  scholars  is 
connected  with  the  station.  And  a new  house  of  wor- 
ship to  cost  six  thousand  dollars  has  been  commenced, 
and  three  thousand  dollars  already  paid.  On  last  Christ- 
mas evening  a tree  was  loaded  with  fruit  valued  at  four 
hundred  dollars,  and  was  provided  chiefly  for  the  chil- 
dren of  the  Sunday  school;  but  also  contained  an  entire 
suit  of  clothes  for  the  pastor,  a valuable  silk  dress  for 
his  wife,  and  an  envelope  for  the  pastor’s  household 
containing  a roll  of  greenbacks/’ — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  January  13,  1866.) 

“Johnston  charge  is  within  the  bounds  of  the  Warren 
district,  set  off  at  the  last  session  of  the  conference  from 
the  Gustavus  charge,  and  attached  to  the  Bazetta  Circuit, 
and  since  conference  created,  for  the  present  at  least, 
into  a separate  appointment,  with  Rev.  Newton  appointed 
to  its  oversight.  Since  the  commencement  of  his  pas- 
torate a protracted  meeting  of  six  weeks  resulted  in  over 
fifty  conversions,  most  of  the  converts  entering  the 
church." — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  May  3,  1866.) 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  conference  “to  direct 
in  appropriating  Centenary  Funds"  met  in  Meadville, 
Pa.,  February  20,  1866,  and  organized  by  the  election 
of  N.  Norton,  Chairman,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 
The  following  resolutions  formulate  the  result  of  the  de- 
liberations of  the  committee : 

“Resolved,  1.  That  the  first  and  most  prominent  ob- 
ject for  local  centenary  subscriptions  and  contributions — - 
and  as  really  a central  pbject  for  the  Erie,  Pittsburg  and 
West  Virginia  Conferences — should  be  the  enlarged  edu- 
cational facilities  and  ample  endowment  of  Allegheny 
College. 

“Resolved,  2.  That  the  Western  Reserve  Seminary 
at  Farmington,  and  the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Willough- 


Reports  From  the  Field.  603 

by,  be  also  commended  to  our  people  as  highly  import- 
ant and  deserving  objects  of  liberal  education. 

“Resolved,  3.  That  in  our  judgment,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  action  of  our  late  conference,  there  should 
be  a seminary  of  high  grade  and  ample  educational  facili- 
ties, under  the  control  and  patronage  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, in  Western  New  York,  and  a similar  one  at  some 
point  within  the  bounds  of  the  Clarion  district,  and 
that  our  people  be  requested  to  make  liberal  centenary 
contributions  for  their  establishment. 

“Resolved,  4.  That  we  recommend  the  creation  of  a 
special  fund,  the  interest  of  which  shall  be  used  to  aid 
young  men  preparing  for  the  ministry  in  seminaries  or 
colleges ; said  fund  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Cen- 
tenary Fund  Society,  and  the  interest  disbursed  at  the 
discretion  of  its  Executive  Board. 

“Resolved,  5.  That  one-half  of  the  unspecified  sub- 
scriptions and  collections  shall  go  to  the  Connectional 
Educational  Fund,  and  the  other  half  be  divided  as  fol- 
lows : One-half  to  Allegheny  College,  and  the  other  half 
divided  equally  among  the  seminaries  above  named.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  March  31,  1866.) 

“W.  W.  Warner  announces  that  the  Lord  is  reviving 
his  work  at  Dayton  Summit  and  Villenovia  Circuit.  He 
and  his  colleague,  Z.  W.  Shadduck,  have  been  holding 
a meeting  there  for  • five  weeks ; and  sixty-seven  have 
been  at  the  altar  for  prayer,  and  give  good  evidence  of 
conversion.  The  meeting  is  still  in  progress,  and  the 
interest  increasing.  The  camp  meeting  at  Markham's 
Corners,  on  this  charge,  was  a great  blessing  to  the 
people.  Holiness  was  preached,  and  about  fifty  conver- 
sions are  reported.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
October  26 , 1866) 

“A  most  extensive  revival  has  prevailed  at  the  Pleas- 
antville  appointment,  on  the  Hendersonville  charge,  C. 
Wilson,  pastor.  As  many  as  seventy-five  persons  asked 
the  prayers  of  the  church  during  a meeting  of  three 
weeks;  and  most  of  them  professed  to  have  experienced 
conversion.  Forty-five  were  received  on  probation.  The 
whole  church  was  baptized  with  the  Spirit,  poured  out 
upon  the  people  from  on  high.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  January  /p,  i86y.) 


6c>4 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  following  will  illustrate  Dillon  Prosser’s  method 
of  work:  “The  last  session  of  Erie  Conference  sent  Rev. 
D.  Prosser  to  the  South  Cleveland  Mission,  with  the  ap- 
propriation of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  his 
support.  He  went  to  work,  found  no  church,  and  began 
preaching  in  the  street,  with  a hitching  post  for  a pulpit. 
His  first  congregation  was  composed  of  four  adults  and 
five  children.  Moving  to  a grove  near  Forest  street,  the 
congregation  increased,  benches  and  a few  chairs  form- 
ing their  seats.  Services  * continued  there  until  inter- 
rupted by  cold  weather,  and  then  for  a time  were  re- 
moved to  houses  kindly  furnished  by  friends.  During 
this  time  Brother  Prosser  purchased  the  Lutheran 
Church  on  Bolivar  street,  moved  it  to  Scovill  street, 
(we  so  make  the  name  of  the  street,)  and  had  it  dedi- 
cated November  22nd.  Dr.  Granville  Moody  preached 
the  dedication  sermon.  Money  enough  was  raised,  with 
what  had  been  secured  before,  to  meet  all  demands 
against  the  church.” 

“The  new  church  at  Hampden,  Geauga  county,  Ohio, 
Rev.  S.  L.  Wilkinson,  pastor,  was  dedicated  to  divine 
worship  011  Sabbath  week.  J.  M.  Greene  assisted  the 
pastor  in  the  dedication  services,  preaching  an  admirable 
discourse.  After  the  sermon  the  indebtedness,  amount- 
ing to  twelve  hundred  dollars,  was  secured  on  subscrip- 
tion, and  also  about  two  hundred  more  for  the  purchase 
of  an  organ.  . . . Soon  after  a revival  com- 

menced, and  has  continued  till  now.  Seventy  persons 
have  been  gathered  into  the  church,  and  the  Sunday 
school  numbers  one  hundred  scholars.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate , January  26,  1867.) 

“The  Lord  has  favored  us  on  the  Cleveland  district 
with  gracious  outpourings  of  His  spirit.  At  least  fifteen 
charges  have  shared  in  His  grace,  and  been  gladdened 
by  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and  two  or  three  more, 
when  last  heard  from,  were  expecting  immediate  results. 
The  names  received  thus  far  foot  up  about  five  hundred. 
The  cities  of  Cleveland  and  Painesville  have  shared  most 
largely.” 

“The  meeting  at  New  Castle,  held  for  six  weeks  by 
the  pastor,  J.  C.  Scofield,  was  one  of  the  best  ever  held 
in  that  community,  and  has  closed  with  over  one  hun- 


Reports  From  the  Field. 


605 

dred  and  eighty  accessions  to  the  church.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  March  2,  1867.) 

“A  great  work  of  revival  has  been  refreshing  God’s 
heritage  at  Franklin,  Pa.,  under  the  pastoral  labors  of 
J.  R.  Lyon.  Not  far  from  two  hundred  have  professed 
faith  in  Christ,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-four  united 
with  the  church.  Sunday  week  forty-four  persons  re- 
ceived the  ordinance  of  baptism.  The  work  still  goes 
on.  Interest  unabated.  Altar  nightly  crowded.  The 
young  and  the  old  bow  together,  and  cry  for  mercy.” — 
(Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  April  6 , 186 j.) 

“Venango  City,  R.  F.  Keeler,  pastor,  is  blessed  with 
a good  revival,  and  over  twenty  have  united  with  the 
church.  Between  thirty  and  forty  professed  conversion. 
A gracious  season  has  been  enjoyed  in  the  Centerville 
appointment.  Thirteen  have  united  with  the  church,  and 
the  altar  is  nightly  crowded.” 

“A  gracious  revival  has  prevailed  at  Perry  Chapel  on 
Shippenville  Circuit,  A.  P.  Colton,  pastor.  The  work  is 
deep,  and  the  conversions  clear.  Forty  have  professed 
faith  in  Christ,  and  over  fifty  have  united  with  the 
church.” 

“The  Hendersonville  meeting,  T.  Graham,  pastor,  re- 
sulted in  over  one  hundred  conversions.  Eighty-eight 
united  with  the  Church.” 

“The  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Delaware 
Grove  Circuit,  L.  L.  Luce,  pastor,  was  re-opened  on  the 
i oth  inst.  W.  P.  Bignell,  of  Greenville,  preached  the 
morning  and  evening  sermons.  They  were  grand  pro- 
ductions, and  produced  a fine  result.” 

“The  Lord  is  visiting  the  church  with  showers  of 
mercy  on  the  Clarion  district,  R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding 
elder.  Hundreds  and  hundreds  are  coming  to  Christ. 
Nearly  every  charge  on  the  district  is  enjoying  a power- 
ful and  widespread  revival.  About  one  thousand  have 
been  added  to  the  church.” 

“The  Lord  is  doing  great  things  for  his  people  on  the 
Zion  appointment,  on  Perrysville  Circuit,  A.  Bashline, 
pastor.  Some  fifty  have  already  professed  faith  in  Christ, 
and  many  more  are  still  seeking.  Since  conference  the 
pastor  has  received  into  the  church  some  eighty  on  pro- 
bation.”— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  February  1, 
1868.) 


39 


6o6 


History  of  Erie  Conference . 


“God’s  cause  is  prospering  at  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  B.  F. 
Wade,  pastor.  For  several  years,  Methodism,  encounter- 
ing great  obstacles,  had  made  but  little  progress.  But  a 
faithful,  hoping,  praying  band  continued  ‘battling  for 
the  Lord,’  and  sowing  precious  seed.  Two  years  ago, 
with  a generous  liberality,  they  poured  their  gifts  into 
the  Lord’s  treasury,  and  built  an  excellent  parsonage, 
to  which  they  have  since  added  barn,  well  and  cistern. 
A year  ago,  under  the  labors  of  E.  R.  Knapp,  the  Lord 
opened  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  poured  them  out 
abundant  blessings.  Many  were  added  to  the  church. 
Lately  they  undertook  to  repair  the  church,  and  trans- 
formed it  into  a beautiful  and  comfortable  house  of  wor- 
ship. . . . Meetings  for  a few  weeks  have  been 

attended  with  a gracious  revival,  bringing  twenty-seven 
into  the  church.” — ( Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Feb. 
15,  1868.) 

“At  Orwell,  on  Windsor  and  Hartsgrove  charge,  N. 
C.  Brown,  pastor,  a good  meeting  has  been  held,  thirty- 
two  professing  conversion,  several  experiencing  the  wit- 
ness of  perfect  love,  and  twenty  entering  the  church  on 
trial.  A movement  is  on  foot  to  enlarge  and  improve 
the  Orwell  church.” 

“J.  F.  Brown  reports  the  dedication,  January  24,  of  a 
new,  neat,  well  finished  church  at  Orange  Center,  on  the 
Warrensville  charge.  ...  A gracious  meeting  fol- 
lowed the  dedication.  The  third  quarterly  meeting  was 
held  in  the  new  house,  February  15-16,  and  was  an  oc- 
casion of  great  power.” 

“At  the  late  session  of  the  Erie  Conference,  Sheridan 
was  set  off  from  Forestville  charge,  and  W.  W.  Warner 
appointed  as  pastor.  Since  conference  the  Lord  has  re- 
membered his  people  in  an  abundant  outpouring  of  his 
Spirit.  The  pastor  has  received  in  Sheridan  forty-four 
into  full  membership,  and  forty  on  probation.  At  the 
Crauston  school  house  forty-nine  penitents  sought  mercy, 
and  eleven  at  the  Elmore  school  house." 

“The  meeting  at  Brookville,  ].  H.  Starrett,  pastor,  is 
still  progressing.  At  latest  date  one  hundred  and  forty- 
four  had  joined  the  church  on  probation.” 

“The  Millville  charge,  N.  W.  Jones,  pastor,  has  been 
visited  with  gracious  outpourings  of  God’s  Holy  Spirit. 
At  the  Frisbee  appointment  a revival  season  has  been  en- 


Reports  From  the  Field.  607 

joyed  ; the  conversions  numbering  forty-five,  and  the  ac- 
cessions twenty-one.” 

“God  has  answered  the  prayers  of  his  people  in  Cor- 
sica Circuit,  under  the  labors  of  Frederick  Fair,  in  the 
conversion  of  many  precious  souls  and  seventy  accessions 
to  the  church.  A meeting  of  two  weeks  at  the  Zion  ap- 
pointment had  resulted  in  about  forty  conversions,  and 
the  work  was  still  going  on.” 

“The  gracious  revival  that  has  prevailed  in  the  New 
Castle  congregation,  J.  C.  Scofield,  pastor,  has  resulted 
in  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  accessions  to  the  church. 
The  society  now  numbers  about  seven  hundred  mem- 
bers.” 

“We  have  a good  report  to  make  of  the  work  of  God 
in  Ravenna  station,  J.  M.  Greene,  pastor-in-charge.  Re- 
vival influences  have  prevailed  most  of  the  conference 
year;  the  conversions  numbering  between  one  and  two 
hundred ; the  accessions  numbering  seventy-six  on  pro- 
bation, and  twenty-four  on  certificate.” 

“God  has  recently  visited  His  people  on  the  Clintonville 
charge,  formerly  a part  of  North  Washington  Circuit. 
Since  the  last  Erie  Conference  the  appointments,  Brady’s 
Bend,  Farmington  and  Clintonville,  were  constituted  a 
circuit.  And  during  the  last  quarter  twenty-seven  joined 
on  probation  at  Brady’s  Bend,  thirty-six  at  Clintonville, 
and  sixty-nine  at  Farmington." — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  March  14,1868.) 

“the  meeting  at  Power’s  Corners,  Greensburg  Cir- 
cuit, J.  F.  Hill,  pastor,  still  sweeps  forward  with  won- 
derful powers.  The  accessions  number  at  latest  reports 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  the  conversions  over  two  hun- 
dred. Others,  it  is  expected,  will  yet  enter  the  church 
at  other  appointments,  as  at  Bristol  and  Baconsburg. 
Power’s  Corners  is  situated  near  the  center  of  Mecca 
township,  hardly  a village.  The  people  flocked  into  the 
meeting  from  the  country  around,  were  brought  to  seek 
the  Lord,  found  mercy,  and  then  brought  their  friends 
to  the  Savior.  The  pastor,  in  his  seven  weeks’  work 
has  been  assisted  by  D.  A.  Crowell,  of  Bristol.” — (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate,  January  16,1869.) 

The  next  issue  of  the  Advocate  says:  “The  meeting 

at  Powers’  Corners  has  closed  with  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  conversions  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-one 


6o8 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


« 


accessions.  Some  of  the  converts  enter  other  churches. 
The  work  was  deep,  widespread,  powerful,  and  has  left 
a fine  spiritual  influence  on  the  community.  It  reached 
and  saved  all  classes,  the  old  man  of  seventy  and  the 
boy  of  ten.  Many  were  heads  of  families.  On  Tuesday 
evening  before  the  close  of  the  meeting,  the  pastor  bap- 
tized some  forty  of  the  converts  by  sprinkling  and  pour- 
ing; and  on  the  Thursday  following,  ten  by  immersion/’ 

“The  new  church  at  Big  Bend  on  the  Delaware  Grove 
appointment,  L.  L.  Luce,  pastor,  was  dedicated  February 
14,  R.  H.  Hurlburt  preaching  morning  and  evening  of 
each  night  during  the  week.  The  debt  was  about  $400, 
and  subscriptions  were,  in  a few  minutes  secured,  amount- 
ing to  $525.  God  followed  the  preaching  of  the  week 
with  His  blessing.  Fourteen  were  added  to  the  church, 
and  the  work  goes  on.” 

“The  church  at  East  Claridon,  Ohio,  was  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  God  a few  days  since  by  the  presiding 
elder,  James  Greer.  An  indebtedness  of  over  eleven  hun- 
dred dollars  was  provided  for  at  the  first  service  by  the 
congregation  promptly  pledging  over  thirteen  hundred 
dollars ; and  the  new  church  thus  given  to  the  Lord  free 
of  incumbrance,  was  honored  in  the  evening  with  five 
penitents  at  the  altar  seeking  salvation.” — (Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  February  2J,  1869.) 

“The  new  church  at  Napoli,  East  Randolph  charge, 
J.  F.  Stocker,  pastor,  was  dedicated  January  14,  W.  F. 
Day  preaching  morning  and  evening.  After  morning 
service  an  indebtedness  of  nearly  nine  hundred  dollars 
was  provided  for,  and  in  the  evening  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  were  pledged  for  a bell.  The  dedica- 
tion was  followed  by  a glorious  revival  meeting,  number- 
ing about  eighty  conversions.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, March  6 , 1869.) 

Note. 

J.  H.  Merchant — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1868,  Kingsley;  elder,  1870, 
Clark;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876.  Appointments:  1866,  North  Washington  and 

Clinton ville;  1867-8,  Greenwood;  1869,  Delaware  Grove;  1870, 
Fredonia,  Pa.;  1871-’3,  Sharpsville;  1874,  Akron,  Second  Church; 
1875-’7,  Bedford  and  Northfield;  1878,  Tallmadge  and  Brimfield; 
1879-’80,  Canfield  and  Ellsworth;  1881-’2,  Deerfield  and  Atwater; 
1883-’5,  McConnellsville ; 1886-’8,  West  Farmington;  1889-’91, 


Note.  609 

Kingsville;  1892,  Cortland;  1893-’5,  Hubbard;  1896,  Akron,  North 
Hill;  1897-’9,  Mechanicstown;  1900-’2,  Freeport. 

John  Eckels — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  admitted  on  trial,  1866; 
full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1865,  Baker;  elder,  1870,  Clark; 
killed  by  a railway  train  at  Reno,  Pa.,  October  25,  1888.  Appoint- 
ments: 1866-’7,  Waterloo;  1868-’9,  New  Lebanon;  1870-’l,  Evans- 

burg;  1872-4,  Townville;  1875,  Mill  Village;  1876-7,  Espyville; 
1878-’9,  Edinboro;  1880-’l,  Clarksville;  1882-’3,  Mt.  Jackson; 
1884-5,  Volant;  1886-’7,  Stoneboro;  1888,  Reno. 

S.  B.  Torrey — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1868, 
Kingsley.  Appointments:  1866,  Kirtland  and  Chester,  1867-’8, 

Huntsburg  and  Claridon;  1869,  Burton;  1870-’l,  Mantua;  1872, 
Coalburg;  1873,  Peninsula;  1874,  Morgan;  1875-’6,  supernumerary, 
during  which  time  he  attended  Drew  Theological  Seminary; 
1877-’8,  Enterprise;  1879-’81,  Plumer;  1882-’3,  Volusia;  1884-’6, 
Fairview;  1887-’8,  McKean;  1889,  Asbury;  1890-’2,  East  Hickory; 
1893-’5,  Eau  Claire;  1896-’7,  Hamlet;  1898,  supernumerary;  1899- 
1906,  superannuated. 

A.  P.  Colton — Admitted  on  trial,  1866;  full  connection,  1868; 
deacon,  1868,  Kingsley;  elder,  1870,  Clark;  transferred  to  St. 
Louis  Conference,  1870;  deceased,  Mt.  Jackson,  Pa.,  May  17, 1875. 
Appointments:  1866,  Putneyville;  1867-’8,  Shippensville;  1869,  Pu- 
laski; 1870-’2,  Dresden,  Mo.;  1873,  Marshall,  Mo.;  1874-’5,  super- 
numerary. 

E.  C.  Mcllhattan — Admitted  on  trial,  1866;  deceased,  Shippens- 
ville, Pa.,  January  19,  1869.  Appointments:  1866,  Corsica;  1867, 

Warsaw;  1868,  Shippensville. 

D.  A.  Crowell — Licensed  to  preach,  1863;  admitted  on  trial, 
1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1868,  Kingsley;  elder,  1870, 
Clark;  transferred  to  Nebraska  Conference,  1874;  transferred  to 
Oregon  Conference,  1878;  transferred  to  Southern  California 
Conference,  1882;  deceased,  Los  Alamos,  Cal.,  March  22,  1894. 
Appointments:  1864,  Bloody  Run,  Bedford  County,  Pa.,  (supply); 
1866,  Luthersburg;  1867,  Clarion;  1868,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol; 
1869-’70,  Mt.  Jackson;  1871,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1872-’3,  supernumerary; 
1874,  Plumb  Creek  and  Conrad,  Neb.;  1875,  Grand  Island,  Neb.; 
1876-’7,  supernumerary ; 1878-’80,  Jacksonville,  Ore.;  1881,  Browns- 
ville, Ore.;  1882,  San  Diego  Circuit,  Cal.;  1883,  San  Jacinto,  Cal.; 
1884-’93,  supernumerary,  but  supplied  Downieville,  Cal.;  1894,  Los 
Alamos. 

William  Rice — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1870, 
Clark;  transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference,  1885;  became  a 
member  of  the  Northern  Minnesota  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion, 1894.  Appointments:  1866-’7,  Kinzua;  1868,  Linesville; 

1869-’70,  Harmonsburg;  1871,  Mill  Village;  1872,  North  Harmony 
and  Ebenezer;  1873-’4,  Ellery;  1875-’7,  Leon;  1878-’9,  Columbus 
and  North  Corry;  1880-’2,  Dayton;  1883-’4,  Plumer;  1885-’6,  super- 
numerary; 1887-’8,  Park  Rapids,  Minn.;  1889,  Royalton,  Minn.; 
1890,  Perham,  Minn.;  1891-’4,  Deer  Creek,  Minn.;  1895-1902,  super- 
annuated; present  residence,  Park  Rapids,  Minn. 

T.  J.  Baker — Admitted  on  trial,  1866;  full  connection,  1868; 
deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1870,  Clark;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876.  Appointments: 
1866-’7,  Paradise;  1868,  Luthersburg  and  Paradise;  1869-’70,  Mill- 
ville; 1871,  McKean;  1872,  Williamsfield;  1873,  Windsor  and 
Mesopotamia;  1874-’5,  Mantua;  1876-’7,  Salem;  1878-’9,  Stafford; 
1880,  Bridgeport  Circuit;  1881-’2,  Thompson;  1883,  supernumer- 


f 


610  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

ary;  1884-’5,  Mineral  Ridge;  1886-7,  Steubenville,  Thompson  and 
Findley;  1888,  New  Cumberland;  1889-’90,  Elkton;  1891-’2,  Free- 
port; 1893,  supernumerary;  1894-7,  superannuated. 

B.  A.  Carlson — Admitted  on  trial,  1866;  transferred  to  Erie 
Conference,  1867;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  not  able  to 
ascertain;  elder,  Missionary  Rule,  1867,  Janes;  transferred  to 
Sweden  Conference,  1876.  Appointments:  1866-’8,  Jamestown 

and  Sugar  Grove,  Swedish  Mission;  1869-75,  Missionary  to 
Sweden;  1876-7,  Carlskrona  District;  1878-’9,  Stockholm  District; 
1880-’3,  Goteborg  District;  1884,  Helsingfors,  Finland  Mission; 

1885- ’8,  Finland  District  and  Helsingfors;  1889,  Finland  District 
and  St.  Petersburg  and  Wiborg;  1890,  Finland  District  and  editor 
of  Nya  Budbaren;  1891-’3,  Stockholm,  St.  Paul's;  1894-’8,  Stock- 
holm, St.  Mark’s;  1899-1900,  Koping;  1901,  Kalmar. 

Albert  Van  Camp — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  Canada,  1864;  received  on  his 
credentials  into  the  Erie  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  1866;  full  connection,  1866;  deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder, 

1868,  Kingsley;  withdrew  from  ministry  and  membership,  1877, 
and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church,  having 
charge  most  of  the  time  of  a pastorate  at  Ridgway,  Pa.,  until 
1884,  when  he  was  received  on  his  credentials  into  the  North 
Ohio  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  deceased,  North 
Amherst,  O.,  April  9,  1902.  Appointments — 1865,  Jackson  (sup- 
ply); 1866-7,  Rootstown  and  Randolph:  1868,  Cleveland,  City 
Mission;  1869-71,  Chardon;  1872-’3,  Union  City;  1874-’5,  super- 
numerary; 1876,  Ridgway;  1884-’5,  Cleveland,  Jennings  Avenue; 

1886- ’90,  Brooklyn  Village;  1891-’2,  Cleveland,  Taylor  Street; 
1893-’5,  Cleveland,  Gordon  Avenue;  1896-’8,  Lorain,  First  Church; 
1899-1900,  Lakewood;  1901,  North  and  South  Amherst. 

George  Elliott — Admitted  on  trial,  1866;  full  connection,  1868; 
deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1868,  Kingsley;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876.  Appoint- 
ments: 1866,  Edinboro;  1867-’8,  Canfield;  1869-71,  Middlebury; 

1872-’3,  Edinburg  and  Atwater;  1874-6,  Rootstown  and  Randolph; 
1877-8,  Madison;  1879,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore;  1880,  Lee- 
tonia;  1881,  Richmond;  1882,  Richmond  and  Andover;  1883-’4, 
Williamsfield;  1885-7,  Greensburg;  1888,  Marlborough;  1889-’90, 
Gustavus;  1891-’3,  Deerfield;*  1894-’6,  Geneva,  Second  Church; 
1897,  Chapel;  1898-1900,  Mechanicsville;  1901-’2,  Kellogsville. 

L.  G.  Merrill — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon,  1864,  Morris;  elder,  1870, 
Clark.  Appointments:  1866,  President;  1867-’8,  Sugar  Grove; 

1869-71,  Luthersburg;  1872-’4,  Brockwayville;  1875,  Troy,  Pa.; 
1876,  Shippensville;  1877,  Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove;  1878-’9, 
Wampum;  1880-1,  Evansburg;  1882,  Meadville  Circuit;  1883-’5, 
supernumerary;  1886,  Troy;  1887-’8,  Summerville;  1889-’92, 
Luthersburg;  1893,  Guy’s  Mills,  second  preacher;  1894-’06,  super- 
annuated; 1895-’6,  Mt.  Pleasant  (supply);  present  residence, 
Meadville,  Pa. 

J.  P.  Hicks — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial,  1867; 
full  connection,  1869;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1871,  Simpson. 
Appointments:  1867,  Venango  City;  1868,  North  Washington; 

1869,  Tionesta;  1870,  Paradise;  1871,  Reynoldsville ; 1872,  Kane; 


Note. 


61 1 


1899-1900,  Emerickville;  1901,  Putney ville;  1902-’4,  Clarington; 
1905,  Luthersburg;  1906,  Glen  Hazel. 

J.  J.  Excell — Licensed  to  preach  and  received  orders  in  the 
German  Reformed  Church,  from  which  church  he  withdrew  in 
1866  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  admitted 
as  a traveling  elder  into  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  March,  1867; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  July,  1867;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  located,  1884; 
has  since  withdrawn  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
re-entered  the  ministry  of  the  German  Reformed  Church.  Ap- 
pointments: 1866,  Kent  (supply);  1867,  Kent;  1868-’9,  Brady’s 

Bend;  1870,  Hubbard;  1871-’2,  Madison;  1873-’4,  Greensburg; 
1875,  Nelson  and  Southington;  1876-’7,  Edinburg  and  Atwater; 
1878,  New  Matamoras;  1879,  Brownsville;  1880,  Jackson  and 
Ohlton;  1881,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore;  1882-’4,  super- 
numerary. 

Cyrus  Prindle — Licensed  to  preach,  1821;  admitted  on  trial, 
New  York  Conference,  1821;  full  connection,  1823;  deacon,  1823; 
elder,  1825,  (?);  transferred  to  Troy  Conference,  1833;  withdrew, 
1843,  and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Connection  of  America*in  whose  ministry  he  remained  until  1867 
when  he  withdrew  and  united  with  the  Erie  Conference,  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church;  became  a member  of  the  East  Chio  Con- 
ference at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleveland,  O.,  De- 
cember 1,  1885.  Appointments:  1821,  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.;  1822,  St. 

Albans,  Vt.;  1823,  Charlotte,  N.  Y.;  1824,  Weybridge,  N.  Y.; 
1825-’6,  Brandon,  N.  Y.;  1827-’8,  Pittstown  and  Hoosick,  N.  Y.; 
1829-’30,  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  1831-’2,  New  York  City;  1833,  Lansing- 
burg  and  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  from  the  adjournment  of  the  New 
York  to  the  meeting  of  the  Troy  Conference;  1833-’4,  Middlebury 
District;  1835,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Garretson  Station;  1836-’7,  Agent, 
Troy  Conference  Academy;  1838-’9,  Shelburne,  Vt.;  1840-T,  Mid- 
dlebury, Vt.;  not  able  to  ascertain  his  appointments  in  the  Wes- 
leyan Methodist  Church;  1867,  Cleveland,  Ohio  Street;  1868,  East 
Cleveland  until  June,  1869.  From  then  until  the  close  of  the  Con- 
ference year,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1869-72,  Cleveland  District; 
1873-’4,  supernumerary;  1875-’85,  superannuated. 

G.  W.  Anderson — Admitted  on  trial,  1867;  full  connection,  1872; 
deacon,  1864,  Morris;  elder,  1875,  Scott;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Min- 
eral Ridge,  O.,  August  21,  1903.  Appointments:  1867-’8,  Vienna 

and  Fowler;  1869-70,  Hartford  and  Orangeville;  1871,  Lowell; 
1872,  Windsor;  1873,  Orwell  and  Colebrook;  1874,  New 
Bethlehem;  1875-’6,  Lowell;  1877-’8,  Damascoville;  1879,  New 
Cumberland;  1880,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore;  1881-’3,  Jack- 
son;  1884-’5,  Hanoverton;  18867,  Franklin  Square;  1888-’9,  High- 
landtown;  1890-’3,  superannuated. 

Daniel  Rowland — Admitted  on  trial,  1867;  full  connection,  1869; 
deacon,  1866,  Ames;  elder,  1871,  Simpson;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Poland,  O.,  November  15,  1885.  Appointments:  1867,  Euclid; 

1868,  Thompson;  1869-70,  Grand  River;  1871,  Mayfield;  1872, 
Brookfield;  1873-’4,  Jefferson;  1875,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Moga- 
dore; 1876-’8,  Twinsburg;  1879,  Randolph;  1880,  Montville  and 
Hampden;  1881-’2,  Saybrook;  1883-’4,  Welshfield;  1885,  Poland. 

John  Perry — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial,  1867; 
full  connection,  1869;  deceased,  Clarksville,  Pa.,  November  7, 
1884.  Appointments:  1867,  North  Washington;  1868,  Wheatland 
and  Brookfield;  1869,  Wheatland;  1870,  Lowell;  1871,  Coalburg; 


6l  2 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1872-%  Clarksville;  1874-’5,  Sharpsville;  1876-7,  Wampum  and 
Mt.  Pleasant;  1878-’9,  Middlesex;  1880-1,  Fredonia;  1882-’4, 
Clarksville. 

J.  E.  Johnson — Licensed  to  preach,  admitted  on  trial  and  into 
full  connection;  ordained  deacon  and  elder  in  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church  of  America,  the  dates  of  which  are  not  ascer- 
tainable; received  into  the  Erie  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  1867,  his  orders  being  recognized;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Bainbridge,  O.,  November  5,  1878.  Appointments:  1867-%  Cal- 

lensburg;  1869,  Greenwood;  1870,  Sharpsville;  1871,  Mahoning- 
town;  1872,  Wampum;  1873-’4,  Brookfield;  1875,  Niles;  1876-7, 
Bainbridge;  1878,  superannuated. 

J.  S.  Albertson — Admitted  on  trial,  Allegheny  Conference,  Wes- 
leyan Methodist  Church,  1850;  became  a member  of  Erie  Confer- 
ence, Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1867;  deceased,  Townville, 
Pa.,  April,  1882.  Appointments:  1850,  Gustavus  and  Trumbull; 

1851,  Chagrin  Falls;  1852,  Montville;  1853-%  Mesopotamia  and 
Windsor;  1856-’62,  West  Middletown;  1863-%  Sandy  Lake; 
1867-%  Sharon;  1869-71,  Middlesex;  1872-’3,  Meadville,  State 
Street;  1874-%  Springfield;  1876-%  Sheridan;  1879,  Hamlet;  1880, 
Edinboro;  1881,  Townville. 

J.  M.  Bray — Licensed  to  preach,  1861;  admitted  on  trial,  Pitts- 
burg Conference,  1863;  full  connection,  1865;  deacon,  1865,  Ames; 
elder,  1867,  Thompson;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1867.  Ap- 
pointments: 1863,  Malvern,  O.;  1864-’5,  New  Cumberland,  O.; 

1866,  Salineville,  O.;  1867-’8,  Dunkirk;  1869-71,  Sheridan;  1872-’4, 
Silver  Creek;  1875-%  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1877-%  Tidioute;  1880-’2, 
Parker  City;  1883-%  Franklin  District;  1887,  Warren;  1888-% 
Union  City;  1890-’4,  Erie,  Simpson  Church;  1895-’6,  Mayville; 
1897-1900,  Ripley;  1901-%  supernumerary;  1904-%  superannuated. 

R.  S.  Borland — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1867;  full  connection,  1869;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1871, 
Simpson.  Appointments:  1867,  Hubbard;  1868-’9,  Rootstown; 

1870,  Tallmadge;  1871-’3,  Reno;  1874-’5,  Randolph;  1876-’8,  St. 
Petersburg;  1879-’81,  Girard;  1882,  Brookville;  1883-%  James- 
town District;  1887-’9,  Sharon;  1890,  Miles  Grove;  1891,  North 
East;  1892,  superannuated;  1893-’4,  Busti  and  Farmington; 
1895-’6,  Forestville ; 1897-1901,  Mercer;  1902-7,  Commissioner  of 
Conference  Claimant  Fund;  residence,  Mercer,  Pa. 

Frederick  Fair — Licensed  to  preach,  1865 admitted  on  trial, 
1867;  full  connection,  1869;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1871, 
Simpson.  Appointments:  1867-%  Corsica;  1869-70,  Curllsville; 

1871,  supernumerary;  1872-’3,  Evansburg;  1874-’6,  Fredonia,  Pa.; 
1877-%  Sharpsville;  1879,  Hendersonville;  1880,  Petersburg; 
1881-%  Edinboro;  1883,  Centerville,  Crawford  County;  1884-’5, 
Wattsburg;  1886-%  Wesleyville;  1889,  McKean;  1890-’l,  Sheri- 
dan; 1892-’4,  Karns  City;  1895,  Shenango  and  Pulaski;  1896, 
Leon;  1897,  supernumerary;  1889-1907,  superannuated;  present 
residence,  Pleasantville,  Pa. 

E.  D.  McCreary — Licensed  to  preach,  1867;  admitted  on  trial, 
1867;  full  connection,  1869;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1871, 
Simpson;  transferred  to  Des  Moines  Conference,  1884;  trans- 
ferred to  California  Conference,  1887.  Appointments:  1867,  Tio- 

nesta;  1868,  Braceville;  1869,  Twinsburg;  1870-7,  Canfield; 
1872-%  Sheridan;  1874-%  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1876-7,  Oil  City,  South 
Side;  1878,  Oil  City,  Grace  Church;  1879,  Parker  City;  1880-% 
Jamestown  District;  1883,  Meadville,  First  Church;  1884-%  Coun- 
cil Bluffs,  la.;  1887-%  San  Francisco,  Bush  Street;  1889-’92,  Santa 


Note. 


613 


Cruz,  Cal.;  1893-’6,  Stockton,  Cal.,  Central  Church;'  1897-’8, 
Phoenix,  Arizona,  Arizona  Mission;  1899,  Santa  Rosa,  Cal.; 
1900-’l,  Santa  Cruz,  Cal. 

D.  W.  Wampler — Licensed  to  preach,  1863;  admitted  on  trial, 
1868;  full  connection,  1870;  deacon,  1862,  Ames;  elder,  1872,  Mer- 
rill; deceased,  Conneaut  Lake,  Pa.,  October,  1901.  Appoint- 
ments: 1868,  Clintonville;  1869,  Hendersonville;  1870-’l,  Putney- 

ville;  1872-’3,  Luthersburg;  1874,  Troy;  1875,  Townville;  1876-7, 
Saegertown;  1878-’9,  Evansburg;  1880-’l,  Wampum;  1882,  Edin- 
burg; 1883-’4,  Centerville;  1885-’90,  supernumerary;  1891-1907, 
superannuated. 

Manassas  Miller — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial, 
1868;  full  connection,  1870;  deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1872, 
Merrill;  deceased,  Corry,  Pa.,  January  5,  1899.  Appointments: 
1868-’70,  Ohlton  and  Mineral  Ridge;  1871,  Vienna  and  Brookfield; 
1872,  Vienna;  1873-’5,  Punxsutawney;  1876-’7,  Clarion;  1878-’9, 
Emlenton;  1880-’l,  Petrolia  and  Martinsburg;  1882-’4,  Oil  City, 
Grace  Church;  1885-7,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1888-’90,  DuBois; 
1891-’2,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1893-’5,  Parker’s  Landing;  1896-’8,  Corry. 

Edward  Brown — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1868;  discontinued,  1869;  readmitted  on  trial,  1872;  full  connec- 
tion, 1874;  deacon,  1863,  Simpson;  elder,  1872,  Merrill;  deceased, 
Perrysburg,  N.  Y.,  April  29,  1879.  Appointments:  1868,  Hubbard 

and  Sharon,  Welsh  Mission;  1869-70,  Cherry  Creek,  supply; 
1871,  Irving,  supply;  1872-’3,  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca; 
1874-5,  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington;  1875,  Garland  and  Spring 
Creek;  18 77-’ 8,  Perrysburg. 

W.  M.  Taylor — Licensed  to  preach,  1867;  admitted  on  trial, 
1868;  full  connection,  1870;  deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1872,  Mer- 
rill; permitted  to  withdraw  under  charges,  1886.  Appointments: 
1868,  Troy;  1869-70,  Corsica;  1871-’2,  Rimersburg;  1873-4,  War- 
saw; 1875-’6,  Rockland;  1877,  supernumerary;  1878-’9,  Luthers- 
burg; 1880-’l,  supernumerary;  1882-’3,  Petrolia  and  Martinsburg; 

1884,  Ellery  (excused  after  Conference  from  serving  the  charge) ; 

1885,  case  referred  to  the  presiding  elder  of  Jamestown  District 
for  investigation. 

McVey  Troy — Admitted  on  trial,  1868;  full  connection,  1870; 
deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1872,  Merrill;  deceased,  Sheakleyville, 
Pa.,  April  15,  1873.  Appointments:  1868,  President;  1869-70, 

Punxsutawney;  1871,  Rockland;  1872,  supernumerary. 

John  Beeth am— Admitted  on  trial,  1868;  full  connection,  1870; 
deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1872,  Merrill;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased, 
Jewett,  O.,  December  7,  1905.  Appointments:  1868-’9,  Jackson; 

1870-’l,  Windham;  1872,  Tallmadge  and  Brimfield;  1873-’4,  Bed- 
ford and  Northfield;  1875-’6,  Greensburg;  1877,  Niles;  1878-  9, 
North  Jackson  and  Ohlton;  1880-’l,  Bloomingdale,  O.;  1882-'4, 
Gnadenhutten,  O.;  1885-7,  West  LaFayette,  O.;  1888,  Leesville, 
O.;  1889,  Vienna,  O.;  1890-’4,  Jewett,  O.;  1895-’6,  Canton,  Law- 
rence Avenue;  1897,  Thompson,  O.;  1898-’9,  Somerton,  O.;  1900-’5, 
superannuated. 

J.  W.  Blaisdell— Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial, 
1868;  full  connection,  1870;  deacon,  1867,  Janes;  elder,  1872,  Mer- 
rill. Appointments:  1868,  Salem;  1869-71,  Townville;  1872-  4, 

Mill  Village;  1875-7,  New  Castle,  Second  Church;  1878-’9, 
Sharon;  1880-’3,  New  Castle  District;  1884-’6,  Greenville;  1887-'8, 
Titusville;  1889-’93,  Brookville;  1894,  Punxsutawney;  1895-7, 
President  Bordentown  Female  College,  Bordentown,  N.  J.;  1898- 
1901,  Mayville ; 1902-’6,  Brockwayville. 


614  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

O.  M.  Sackett— Licensed  to  preach,  1859;  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Allegheny  Conference,  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  in  which 
he  was  received  into  full  connection  and  ordained  deacon  and 
elder;  received  on  his  credentials  into  the  Erie  Conference 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1868,  his  orders  being  recognized;’ 
deceased,  Shippensville,  Pa.,  June  10,  1882.  Appointments:  1860, 
Mesopotamia  and  Middlefield;  1861-’5,  Sandy  Lake;  1866-7  Mar- 
tinsburg;  1868,  Putneyville;  1869-71,  Troy;  1872-’3,  Clarion; 
1874-’6,  Callensburg;  1877-’8,  Salem,  Clarion  -County;  1879-’81, 
Shippensville. 

E.  H.  Prosser — Admitted  on  trial,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina 
Mission  Conference,  1868;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1871; 
deacon,  1870,  Janes;  elder,  1872,  Merrill;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  withdrew, 
1876.  Appointments:  1868,  Wythe  and  Grayson;  1869,  Forest 

Hill;  1870,  White  Sulphur;  1871,  Highland  until  session  of  Erie 
Conference,  then  Ohlton  and  Mineral  Ridge;  1872,  Hartford; 
1873,  Cortland;  1874,  without  appointment;  1875,  supernumerary. 

J.  P.  Mills — Admitted  on  trial,  1869;  full  connection,  1871; 
deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1874,  Peck;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1877;  transferred  to  North  Ohio  Confer- 
ence, 1880.  Appointments:  1869-70,  Principal,  Western  Reserve 

Seminary;  1871-’2,  Principal,  Lake  Shore  Seminary;  1873,  with- 
out appointment;  1874-’6,  Windham;  1877-’9,  Little  Valley;  1880, 
editor  of  the  Lake  Side  Visitor;  1881-’2,  Fredericktown,  O.; 
1883-’4,  Lorain,  O.;  1885,  Apple  Creek,  O.;  1886-’9,  Agent,  Na- 
tional Reform  Association;  1890-’l,  State  Secretary,  American 
Sabbath  Union;  1892-’3,  North  and  South  Amherst,  O.;  1894-’5, 
Millersburg,  O.;  1896,  Bellville  and  Butler;  1897-1907,  superannu- 
ated. 

L.  F.  Merritt — Licensed  to  preach,  1864;  admitted  on  trial, 
1869;  full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1868,  Kingsley;  elder,  1873, 
Gilbert  Haven;  transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference,  1890;  be- 
came a member  of  Minnesota  Northern  Conference  at  its  organi- 
zation, 1894;  deceased,  Duluth,  Minn.,  Sept.  28,  1900.  Appoint- 
ments: 1869,  Frewsbdrg;  1870,  Sheffield;  1871,  Sheffield  and 

Kane;  1872,  Riceville;  1873,  Shaw  Farm  and  Plumer;  1874-’5, 
Plumer  and  Pithole;  1876-’8,  Sheffield;  1879,  Kane  and  Ludlow; 
1880-’l,  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington;  1882-’3,  Ashville;  1884-’5, 
Monterey;  1886,  Farmington;  1887,  Karns  City;  1888,  North 
Washington;  1889,  supernumerary;  1890-’4,  Duluth,  Minn., 
Oneota;  1895,  Hutchinson,  Minn.;  1896,  Evelith,  Minn.;  1897, 
Duluth  Circuit;  1898,  Proctor  Knott,  Minn.;  1899,  Duluth  City 
Missions. 

C.  W.  Foulke — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1869;  full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1873, 
Gilbert  Haven.  Appointments:  1869-71,  Spring;  1872-’3,  Lines- 

ville;  1874-’5,  Sheakleyville;  1876-’8,  New  Lebanon;  1879-’81, 
Spring;  1882-’3,  Albion;  1884-’6,  Mill  Village;  1887,  Kane;  1888-’9, 
East  Randolph;  1890-’2,  Shenango;  1893-’4,  New  Castle,  Croton 
Avenue;  1895-’6,  New  Wilmington;  1897-’8,  Mahoningtown;  1899, 
New  Castle,  Cedar  Avenue;  1900,  New  Castle,  Fifth  Ward  and 
Savanna;  1901,  supernumerary;  1902-’4,  New  Castle,  Wesley; 
1905-’6,  superannuated,  but  supply  for  New  Castle  City  Mission. 

Alfred  Wheeler — Licensed  to  preach,  1852;  admitted  on  trial, 
North  Ohio  Conference,  1853;  full  connection,  1855;  deacon,  1855, 
Ames;  elder,  1857,  Baker;  located,  1863;  readmitted,  1864;  trans- 
ferred to  Erie  Conference,  1869;  deceased,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y., 


Note. 


615 


July  7,  1892.  Appointments:  1853,  Republic,  O.;  1854-’5,  Milan, 

O.;  1856-7,  Sandusky,  O.;  1858-’9,  Cleveland,  Church  Street;’ 
1860-’l,  Ashland,  O.;  1862,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.;  1864,  Sandusky,  O.; 
1865,  Agent,  Centenary  Fund  Society;  1866-’7,  Cleveland  District; 
1868,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Bethel  Union;  1869-71,  Meadville, 
First  Church;  1872-’3,  Erie,  First  Church;  1874-’5,  Warren,  O.;’ 
1876-’83,  Editor,  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  1884-’9,  New 
Castle  District;  1890-’l,  Erie  District. 

J.  H.  Herron — Admitted  on  trial,  Cincinnati  Conference,  1854; 
full  connection,  1856;  deacon,  1856,  Ames;  elder,  1858,  Janes; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1869;  deceased,  Erie,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1895.  Appointments:  1854,  Winchester,  O.;  1855, 

Clarksville,  O.;  1856,  Laurel,  O.;  1857-’8,  Milford,  O.;  1859,  Ba- 
tavia, O.;  1860-’l,  not  able  to  ascertain;  1862-7,  president,  Spring- 
field  Female  College;  1867-70,  president,  Willoughby  College; 

1870- 7,  Willoughby;  1872-’4,  Girard;  1875-’6,  Westfield;  1877-’8, 
North  East;  1879-’81,  Oil  City,  Grace  Church;  1882-’4,  Erie,  Tenth 
Street;  1885-7,  Silver  Creek;  1888,  Meadville,  State  Street; 
1889-’90,  Girard;  1891,  McKean  (not  able  to  serve  the  charge); 

1892- ’4,  superannuated. 

H.  W.  Leslie — Licensed  to  preach,  1867;  admitted  on  trial, 
1869;  full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1873, 
Gilbert  Haven;  deceased,  Portland,  N.  Y.,  March  16,  1874.  Ap- 
pointments: 1869-70,  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington;  1871-’2,  Sin- 

clairsville,  1873,  Portland. 

Lewis  Wick — Licensed  to  preach,  1868;  admitted  on  trial,  1869; 
full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1873,  Gilbert 
Haven.  Appointments:  1869,  Sharpsville;  1870,  New  Wilming- 

ton; 1871,  Harrisville  and  Centerville;  1872-’3,  Greenwood; 
1874-’5,  Mt.  Jackson;  1876-7,  Evansburg;  1878-’9,  Espyville; 
1880-7,  Brockwayville;  1882,  Emerickville;  1883-’5,  Farmington; 
1886,  Waterloo;  1887-’8,  Salem  (Clarion  District);  1889-’90,  Ship- 
pensville;  1891-’2,  Belleview;  1893-’4,  Sligo;  1895-’6,  Washington; 
1897-’8,  Putneyville;  1899-1900,  Hazen;  1901,  Brockport;  1902-’6, 
superannuated. 

Harvey  Webb — Licensed  to  preach,  1869;  admitted  on  trial, 
1869;  full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1873, 
Gilbert  Haven;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference 
at  its  organization,  1876.  Appointments:  1869-70,  Morgan; 

1871- ’3,  Bloomfield  and  Bristol;  1874,  Ravenna;  1875,  Garretts- 
ville;  1876,  Cleveland,  Waring  Street;  1877-’8,  Cleveland,  Super- 
ior Street;  1879,  Steubenville,  Hamline  Chapel;  1880-’2,  Ashta- 
bula; 1883-’4,  Geneva;  1885-’90,  Steubenville  District;  1891, 
Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1892-’3,  St.  Clairsville;  1894-’5,  Kent; 
1896-’9,  Cadiz;  1900-7,  East  Palestine;  1902-’6,  superannuated; 
present  residence,  Alliance,  O. 

J.  A.  Kummer — Licensed  to  preach,  1865;  admitted  on  trial, 
1869;  full  connection,  1871;  deacon,  1869,  Ames;  elder,  1873,  Gil- 
ert  Haven;  deceased,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  December  15,  1897.  Ap- 
pointments: 1869-70,  Albion;  1871-’2,  Springfield;  1873-’4,  Watts- 
burg;  1875-7,  Dunkirk;  1878-’80,  Erie,  Simpson  Church;  1881-’3, 
Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1884-’6,  Sharon;  1887-’92,  Meadville  District; 

1893- ’5,  Warren;  1896-7,  supernumerary. 


IX 


TEN  YEARS- 1 870- 1879- MISSIONARY 
SOCIETIES. 


The  session  of  Erie  Conference  for  1870  was  held  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  September  14,  with  Bishop  Davis  W. 
Clark  presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : H.  Arscott 

Cobbledick,  Sylvester  Fidler,  Josiah  O.  Osborne,  John  B. 
Corey,  Ira  P.  Darling,  Nicholas  H.  Holmes,  J.  Albert 
Hume,  John  M.  Edwards,  John  W.  Crawford,  Edward 
M.  Kernick,  Julian  S.  Card,  James  B.  Leedom,  Joseph  L. 
Mechlin,  John  W.  Martin,  John  M.  Zeile,  A.  C.  Webster 
and  Albert  R.  Rich. 

Samuel  Coon  located,  and  R.  W.  Hawkins  withdrew. 
It  was  announced  that  during  the  year  B.  J.  Kennedy 
and  Frederick  Vernon  had  died. 

Appointments  for  1870. 

Appointments  for  1870:  Cleveland  District,  Cyrus  Prindle, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  C.  N.  Grant;  Erie 
Street,  D.  C.  Osborne,  M.  Hill;  Scoville  Avenue,  G.  W.  Gray; 
Waring  Street,  G.  J.  Bliss,  J.  D.  Norton;  East  Cleveland,  Ben- 
jamin Excell,  Samuel  Gregg;  Nottingham  and  Glenville,  R.  D. 
Waltz;  Mayfield,  H.  Kellogg;  Willoughby,  to  be  supplied;  Men- 
tor, D.  Mizener;  Painesville,  J.  Tribby;  Perry,  to  be  supplied; 
Madison,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Geneva,  F.  H.  Beck;  Saybrook,  J.  B. 
Hammond;  Chardon,  A.  Van  Camp;  Thompson,  R.  Gray,  one 
to  be  supplied;  Grand  River,  D.  Rowland;  Montville,  J.  B. 
Grover;  Warrensville,  Allen  Fouts;  Chagrin  Falls,  C.  T.  Kings- 
bury; Chester,  to  be  supplied;  Bainbridge,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Prin- 
cipal, Willoughby  College,  J.  H.  Herron,  member  of  Willoughby 
Quarterly  Conference;  Agent,  American  Bible  Society,  A.  Nor- 
ton, First  Church  Quarterly  Conference,  Cleveland;  Agent, 
Bethel,  D.  Prosser,  member  of  First  Church  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence, Cleveland.  Ravenna  District,  J.  Greer,  presiding  elder; 
Ravenna,  R.  M.  Warren;  Akron,  W.  F.  Day;  Tallmadge,  R.  S. 
Borland;  Middlebury,  George  Elliott;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  R.  M. 
Bear;  Kent,  A.  T.  Copeland;  Hudson,  T.  Radcliff;  Twinsburg, 
A.  Burgess;  Northfield  and  Bedford,  B.  F.  Wade;  Newburg,  J.  R. 
Lyon;  Rootstown,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Edinburg,  J.  Brown;  Charleston, 
J.  F.  Brown;  Windham,  J.  Beetham;  Deerfield,  A.  Cobbledick; 


6i8 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


Braceville,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Jackson,  S.  Hollen;  Canfield,  E.  D. 
McCreary;  Ellsworth  and  Berlin,  J.  G.  Hawkins;  Mantua,  S.  B. 
Torrey;  Burton,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Troy,  J.  Flower.  Warren  Dis- 
trict, J.  Graham,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  E.  H.  Yingling; 
Youngstown,  W.  F.  Wilson;  Girard  and  Liberty,  W.  A.  Clark; 
Niles,  M.  Williams;  West  Farmington,  H.  M.  Chamberlain; 
Huntsburg,  B.  C.  Warner;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  F.  Brown; 
Windsor  and  Hartsgrove,  to  be  supplied;  Williamsfield,  C.  Wil- 
son; Cherry  Valley,  J.  W.  Hill;  Jefferson,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Rich- 
mond, N.  C.  Brown;  Gustavus  and  Johnson,  T.  B.  Tait;  Kinsman 
and  State  Line,  E.  Wade;  Courtland,  J.  H.  Stoney;  Greensburg, 
A.  Faulkner;  Vienna  and  Brookfield,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Hartford 
and  Orangeville,  G.  W.  Anderson;  Ohlton  and  Mineral  Ridge, 
M.  Miller;  Southington,  to  be  supplied;  Nelson,  S.  Fidler; 
Jameston,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Morgan,  H.  Webb;  Kelloggsville, 
A.  L.  Miller;  Principal,  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  J.  P.  Mills, 
member  of  Southington  Quarterly  Conference.  Erie  District,  D. 
M.  Stever,  presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church,  W.  W.  Wythe; 
Simpson  Chapel,  A.  N.  Craft;  Wesley ville,  J.  B.  Corey;  Green, 
to  be  supplied;  North  East,  J.  G.  Townsend;  Waterford,  L.  L. 
Luse;  Millville,  T.  J.  Baker;  McKean,  J.  R.  Shearer;  Edinboro, 
C.  L.  Barnhart;  Fairview,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Girard,  A.  D.  Morton; 
Union,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Wattsburg,  J.  O.  Osborne;  Greenfield  and 
Mina,  W.  H.  Hoover;  Wayne,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Kingsville,  W. 
Hollister;  East  Ashtabula,  D.  Smith;  Conneaut,  T.  D.  Blinn; 
Springfield,  H.  H.  Moore;  Albion,  J.  A.  Kummer;  Lockport,  N. 
W.  Jones;  Ashtabula,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Associate  Editor  Pittsburg 
Christian  Advocate,  E.  A.  Johnson,  member  of  the  Erie  First 
Church  Quarterly  Conference;  Agent  Lake  Shore  Seminary, 
J.  W.  Wilson,  North  East  Quarterly  Conference.  Meadville  Dis- 
trict, G.  W.  Maltby,  presiding  elder;  Meadville — First  Church,  A. 
Wheeler;  State  Street,  W.  Sampson;  Saegertown,  N.  Norton; 
Townville,  J.  W.  Blaisdell;  Cochranton,  L.  D.  Williams;  Coop- 
erstown,  Ira  D.  Darling;  Sunville,  R.  Beatty;  Franklin,  J.  Peate; 
Greenville,  J.  O’Neal;  Salem,  J.  Abbott;  Sheakleyville,  R.  C. 
Smith;  Evansburg,  J.  Eckles;  Conneautville,  N.  H.  Holmes; 
Spring,  C.  W.  Foulke;  Harmonsburg,  W.  Rice;  Rockville,  J.  F. 
Perry;  Espy  ville,  G.  H.  Brown;  Linesville,  S.  Heard;  New  Leb- 
anon, A.  S.  Goodrich;  Oil  City,  J.  S.  Lytle;  Rouseville,  J.  F. 
Stocker;  Waterloo,  O.  Babcock;  Reno,  J.  H.  Vance;  Professors 
in  Allegheny  College,  J.  Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde,  members  of  the 
Meadville  First  Church  Quarterly  Conference.  New  Castle  Dis- 
trict, R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  A.  S.  Dobbs; 
Mt.  Jackson,  D.  A.  Crowell;  Lowell,  J.  Perry;  New  Wilmington, 
L.  Wick;  Pulaski,  J.  S.  Card;  Harrisville  and  Centerville,  J. 
Crum;  Mercer,  L.  W.  Day;  Hendersonville,  J.  M.  Edwards; 
North  Washington,  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Clintonville,  J.  M.  Groves; 
Poland,  George  Moore;  Middlesex,  J.  S.  Albertson,  Sharon,  W. 
H.  Mossman;  Clarksville,  A.  H.  Domer;  Sharpsville,  J.  E.  John- 
son; Fredonia,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Greenwood,  to  be  supplied; 
Brady’s  Bend,  Thomas  Graham;  Hubbard,  J.  J.  Excell;  Wheat- 
land,  G.  Dunmire;  Harlansburg,  E.  Bennett;  Charleston,  J.  W. 
Crawford;  Fairview,  E.  M.  Kernick;  Lawrenceburg,  R.  W.  Crane. 
Clarion  District,  O.  L.  Mead,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  C.  C.  Hunt; 
Troy,  O.  M.  Sackett;  Warsaw,  J.  M.  Zelle;  Brookville,  D.  Lat- 
shaw;  Callensburg,  W.  Hayes;  Rimersburg,  W.  A.  Bowyer; 
Curllsville,  F.  Fair;  Punxsutawney,  M.  V.  Troy;  Perry  ville,  to 
be  supplied;  Washington,  I.  N.  Clover;  Clarington,  J.  Martin; 
Brockway  ville,  J.  L.  Mechlin;  Luthersburg,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Para- 


H.  A.  C obblcdick , Joseph  L.  Mechlin. 


619 


dise,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Venango  City,  T.  P.  Warner;  President,  B. 
Marsteller;  Putney ville,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Tionesta,  S.  S.  Burton; 
Rockland,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Shippen ville,  J.  R.  Leedom;  Corsica,  W. 

M.  Taylor;  New  Bethlehem,  to  be  supplied;  Hickory,  J.  A. 
Hume;  Agent  Carrier  Seminary,  E.  R.  Knapp,  member  of  the 
Clarion  Quarterly  Conference;  Agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Bible 
Society,  E.  Hull,  member  of  the  Perryville  Quarterly  Conference. 
Jamestown  District,  J.  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  E.  S. 
Gillette;  Ash  ville,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Sugar  Grove,  A.  A.  Horton; 
Pine  Grove  and  Farmington,  H.  W.  Leslie;  Frewsburg,  F.  A. 
Archibald;  Kinzua,  A.  Bashline;  Sheffield,  L.  F.  Merritt;  Corry, 
J.  C.  Scofield;  Youngsville,  B.  F.  Delo;  Warren,  E.  J.  L.  Baker; 
Pleasantville,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  Tidioute,  E.  A.  Squier;  Deerfield, 
E.  Chace;  Petroleum  Center,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Pithole  and  Tarr 
Farm,  J.  Shields;  Shamburg  and  Miller  Farm,  A.  C.  Webster; 

» Riceville,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Titusville,  W.  P.  Bignell;  Garland,  to  be 
supplied;  Ridgway  and  Wilcox,  C.  M.  Heard;  Randolph,  William 

N.  Reno;  East  Randolph,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Jamestown  and  Sugar 
Grove  Swede  Mission,  J.  Iverson;  Fagundus  City  and  Enterprise, 
P.  P.  Pinney;  Kane  Mission,  M.  Colegrove;  Spartansburg,  to  be 
supplied;  Principal  of  Chamberlain  Institute,  J.  T.  Edwards,  mem- 
ber of  the  Randolph  Quarterly  Conference.  Fredonia  District,  R.  A. 
Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  J.  H.  Tagg;  Dunkirk,  J.  H. 
Starrett;  May  ville,  T.  Guy;  Portland,  J.  F.  Hill;  Delanti,  W.  M. 
Bear;  Sinclairville,  J.  Akers;  Ellington,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Panama, 
R.  W.  Scott;  Leon,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Cattaraugus,  A.  J.  Lindsay; 
Perrysburg,  J.  Marsh;  West  Dayton,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Hamlet, 
L.  E.  Beardsley;  Forestville,  G.  W.  Staples;  Sheridan,  J.  M. 
Bray;  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca,  P.  Burroughs;  Silver 
Creek,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Irving,  A.  R.  Rich;  Westfield,  J.  E.  Chapin; 
Quincy,  A.  Hall;  Sherman,  M.  Smith;  Clymer  and  Columbus,  J. 
W.  Davis;  Cherry  Creek,  to  be  supplied;  North  Harmony  and 
Summit,  R.  Pratt;  Ellery  and  Dewittville,  to  be  supplied;  B.  A. 
Carlson,  Missionary  to  Sweden;  C.  E.  Felton,-  transferred  to  St. 
Louis  Conference,  and  stationed  at  Union  Church,  St.  Louis; 
C.  R.  Pattee,  E.  B.  Cummings,  W.  W.  Warner,  transferred  to 
Wisconsin  Conference;  A.  P.  Colton,  transferred  to  St.  Louis 
Conference. 

H.  A.  COBBLEDICK,  JOSEPH  L.  MECHLIN. 

Henry  Arscott  Cobbledick  was  born  in  Devonshire, 
England,  February  14,  1845,  anc^  came  to  America  in 
1869.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  sixteen  in  the 
midst  of  a gracious  revival  in  Lake  Chapel,  Shebbear, 
under  the  ministry  of  George  Daniel,  a local  preacher  of 
the  Bible  Christian  denomination,  whom  he  character- 
izes still  as  “the  greatest  man  on  earth."  Feeling  him- 
self called  to  the  ministry  he  entered  upon  a course  of 
study  while  yet  in  England  to  qualify  himself  for  the 
sacred  office.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1870.  In  1872  he  located  for  the  purpose  of 
attending  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  and  was  re-admitted 
in  the  East  Ohio  Conference  in  1877. 


620 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Joseph  L.  Mechlin  was  born  near  North  Hope,  Butler 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  26,  1837.  He  was  of  Scotch-German  descent, 
and  was  instructed  in  the  Presbyterian  faith.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age,  under  the  ministry  of  J.  H.  Vance,  he 
was  clearly  converted  and  entered  upon  a devout  re- 
ligious experience.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  but  it  was  some  years  before  Ins  parents 
could  be  reconciled  in  having  their  son  become  a shout- 
ing Methodist.  He  attended  the  Sunbury  and  Freedom 
Academies,  and  followed  the  profession  of  teaching  for 
several  years.  Later  he  entered  upon  mercantile  pursuits 
at  Pittsville,  Pa.,  and  received  license  as  a local  pieacher 
in  1866,  his  license  bearing  the  name  of  R.  H.  Hurlburt, 
presiding  elder.  In  1869  he  labored  as  supply  on  the 
Putneyville  and  New  Bethlehem  charges,  and  in  1870 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  and  was 
ordained  deacon.  Mr.  Mechlin  was  an  earnest,  useful 
and  conscientious  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  several  men 
of  note  and  ability,  lay  and  clerical,  were  received  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Christian  church  during  Ins  differ- 
ent pastorates.  During  each  year  of  his  ministry  souls 
were  led  to  Christ,  the  least  number  during  any  one  year 

being  sixteen.  . ^ , , 

\t  the  beginning  of  the  late  Civil  \\  ar  in  1861,  under 

the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln,  he  volunteered  for 
service  and  went  with  the  troops  to  Harrisburg,  but 
failed  in  the  physical  examination.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca  Morrow,  of  Rockland,  Pa., 

in  1862.  . . 00  t 

Mrs.  Mechlin  died  at  Mercer,  Pa.,  m April,  1883.  In 

September,  1885,  Mr.  Mechlin  married  Miss  Ella  Jacobs, 
of  Millbrook,  Pa. 

Edward  M.  Kernick. 

Edward  M.  Kernick,  late  pastor  of  our  church  at  Tidi- 
oute.  Pa.,  passed  to  his  reward  October  22.  1903.  He 
was  born  February  2,  1854.  in  Cornwall,  that  fragment 
of  England  so  full  of  Celtic  traditions  and  Druidic  sur- 
vivals. He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  joined  the  Wesleyan  Church  at  Crow’s  Nest,  Corn- 
wall. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  already  exhorting 
sinners  to  repentance.  He  prepared  himself  for  the  min- 
istry at  Liskeard  College.  He  was  a schoolmate  of  Mark 


Ecki’ard  M.  Kernick. 


621 


Guv  Pearse,  to  whom  he  owed  his  life — physicians  had 
pronounced  him  dead,  but  Mr.  Pearse  doubted  their  ver- 
dict, and  succeeded  in  his  restoration.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  in  1864,  and  came  to  this  countrv  in  1869. 
His  mother  had  devoted  him  in  early  life  to  the  ministry, 
and  by  the  side  of  her  death-bed  he  had  promised  her 
that  he  would  give  his  life  to  the  work  of  preaching  the 
gospel.  He  never  for  a moment  forgot  this  solemn  vow. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in 
1870.  He  was  ordained  a deacon  by  Bishop  Merrill  in 
1872,  and  elder  by  Bishop  Peck  in  1874*  His  effective 
ministry  lasted  thirty-three  years  without  interruption. 

His  health  had  been  failing  for  some  time,  but  he  con- 
tinued his  chosen  work  to  the  last.  While  at  Chautauqua, 
seeking  needed  rest,  he  was  stricken  by  the  malady  which 
carried  away  his  life.  God  spared  him  from  suffering — 
his  strength  wasted  away;  the  wheels  of  life  stood  still; 
his  spirit  took  its  flight. 

In  1870  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Evans,  daughter  of  James  and  Ellen  Evans,  of  Frank- 
lin, Pa. 

Brother  Kernick  was  an  able  minister  and  a good 
man.  He  was  courteous  in  all  his  social  intercourse, 
friendly  to  all,  very  gentle  in  heart,  and  always  kept  close 
to  the  people  irrespective  of  their  creed  or  profession — 
such  a man  as  the  great  world  needs.  He  was  modest 
and  retiring,  taking  little  part  in  the  discussions  and  strife 
which  have  stirred  the  conference,  but  a prince  in  the  pul- 
pit, which  was  his  throne.  He  was  well-read  and  scholarly. 
His  large  library  was  filled  with  standard  works  on 
theology,  history  and  general  literature,  and  he  knew 
how  to  use  them  so  as  to  feed  his  mind  and  heart  and 
soul;  and  then  he  could  feed  the  flock  of  Christ.  In  his 
family  he  was  all  kindness  and  tenderness,  even  in  the 
presence  of  death  gently  exhorting  them  to  serve  God 
and  love  one  another.  He  was  given  to  hospitality,  and 
was  always  solicitous  concerning  the  comfort  of  his 
guests.  He  spared  not  himself  that  he  might  help  others. 

He  was  a good  pastor,  visiting  from  house  to  house,  a 
favorite  with  young  and  old  alike,  sympathetic,  carrying 
his  people  in  his  heart.  He  was  an  interesting  conversa- 
tionalist, and  very  pure  of  lip ; while  pleasant  in  compan- 
ionship, he  never  forgot  the  proper  dignity  due  to  his 


40 


522  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

profession.  Because  he  has  lived,  the  world  has  been 
made  better. 

John  W.  Martin,  James  T.  Edwards 

William  Martin  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland. 
Eliza  Wynkook  was  born  in  Indiana  county,  Pa.  Her 
father  was  of  Dutch  descent,  the  family  being  among 
the  early  settlers  of  New  York.  Her  mother  was  de- 
scended'from  the  English  Quakers  who  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia. William  and  Eliza  were  married,  and  were 
blessed  in  the  birth  of  John  W.  Martin  near  Phillips- 
burg,  Clarion  Co.,  Pa.,  December  15,  1845.  His  eaily 
life  was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  his  educational 
advantages  limited  to  the  common  schools.  His  parents 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Seceder  Church,  and  his 
religious  training  was  according  to  the  requirements  of 
this  slightest  sect  of  the  Presbyterians-family  prayers 
twice  a dav  at  which  times  the  scriptures  were  read  and 
the  Psalms  of  David  (Rouse’s  version)  sung  with  week- 
ly installments  of  shorter  catechism  and  Y\  estminstei 

confession  of  faith. 

John  W.  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  at  a 
Methodist  protracted  meeting  held  by  R.  B.  Boyd  at  P 11 - 
lipsburg  on  the  Rimersburg  Circuit.  He  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  m 1868.  His  call  to 
the  ministry  consisted  in  “an  inward  conviction  of  duty 
and  a sense  of  satisfaction  when  working  the  capacity 
of  an  exhorter  ” He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1870,  and 
1 same  veaV  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He' was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Adams,  of  Tar- 
entum,  Allegheny  Co.,  Fa.,  April  25,  1872. 

He  enioved  a precious  revival  at  the  Canada  Church, 
Corsica  charge,  resulting  in  thirty-five  acossiom, ■ »« 
at  Brockwayville  with  ninety-six  accessions.  Writing 
188^  he  reported  three  hundred  persons  received  on  pi 
badon  during  the  twelve  years  of  his  ministry.  He  was 
transferred  to  North  Nebraska  Conference  in  188.,.  and 

'YamesY!  Eidwards  was  born  in  Barnegat,  Ocean  Co., 
xt  t January  6,  1838.  “His  parents  were  influential, 
well-to-do  people,  and  among  his  large  connection  are 
manv  names  of  men  whose  influence  has  been  felt  a 3 
power  in  moulding  the  character  of  society  and  t ,e 


John  W . Martin,  J.  T.  Edwards. 


church.  James  Edwards,  his  great-grandfather,  fought 
with  Washington  at  the  time  of  Braddock’s  defeat,  and 
during  the  whole  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which 
he  was  severely  wounded.  His  parents  were  Job  and 
Susanna  Edwards.  The  former  was  known  as  an  elo- 
quent local  preacher  and  twice  served  as  a member  of 
the  State  Legislature.  The  latter  was  a woman  of  un- 
usual force  of  character,  and  in  her  earlier  years  was  a 
teacher.” 

Mr.  Edwards  prepared  for  college  at  Pennington  Sem- 
inary, and  graduated  from  Wesleyan  University  in  i860. 
He  filled  the  chair  of  natural  science  in  Amenia  Semin- 
ary, Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  one  year,  and  then  accepted 
the  same  position  in  East  Greenwich  Academy,  in  Rhode 
Island.  “His  favorite  departments  of  instruction  were 
the  sciences  and  belles  lettres,  and  to  this  work  he  de- 
voted himself  with  an  unfailing  enthusiasm,  which  was 
contagious  and  inspiring.  Besides  training  his  classes  in 
the  lecture  room,  he  was  constantly  delivering  addresses 
before  institutes  and  teachers’  associations  throughout 
the  state.  For  a long  time  he  was  a member  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  the  State  Teachers’  Association, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  Rhode  Island  was  its 
president.” 

In  1862  he  married  Emma  A.,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Charles  Baker,  who  by  her  varied  accomplishments  has 
been  his  efficient  co-worker  and  “helpmeet.”  In  the  fall 
of  1862  he  enlisted  as  a private  in  the  First  Rhode  Island 
Volunteers,  but  immediately  received  from  Governor 
Sprague  a commission  as  second  lieutenant,  and  soon 
after  was  made  first  lieutenant.  He  was  afterward  made 
adjutant  of  the  parole  camp,  near  Alexandria,  Va. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  he  was  elected  principal  of  the 
seminary  at  East  Greenwich.  While  engaged  in  this 
work  he  served  three  terms  in  the  State  Senate,  in  which 
he  made  a noble  record.  In  1870  he  was  elected  principal 
of  Chamberlain  Institute  at  Randolph,  N.  Y.  In  1876 
Allegheny  College  honored  itself  by  conferring  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  in  1890  he  was  made 
Doctor  of  Laws.  He  continued  at  the  head  of  Chamber- 
lain  Institute  twenty-two  years,  conducting  the  affairs 
of  the  institution  with  great  success.  He  resigned  in 
1892,  having  had  a part  in  the  education  of  six  thousand 


624  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

students.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Conferences 

»‘.S4e«Ss  ,s  „ 

ences.  and  has  endeavored  icultUral 

tical  value 

fairs,  farmers’  >^t>tutes  and  c ^ first  silo  m south- 

and  showed  the  wholesomeness  and 

igsr: .... 

“The  Silva  of  C^Yo' beautiful  little  booklets  written 
and  addresses,  and  two  b ‘ fiUed  for  more  than 

from  the  sick  chair  which  he  ^ wkh  the  great 

five  years  (i9°3)-  H - m tbe  beginning,  for  most  o 
Chautauqua  movemei  ity  Qf  lecturer,  professo 

the  time  in  the * three-fold  capac^  f the  de- 

and  trustee.  Foi  nmt  ) . • the  College  of 

partment  of  physics  and  chemist  > Qr  in  l89o. 

Liberal  Arts.  He  was  on  Education, 

and  was  made  chairman  of  the  influent;ai  in  securing 
During  his  term  of  service  he  hich  bear  his  name 

the  passage  of  .^‘“^S^ry  bill,”  and  the  ;‘Schoo 
— the  “University  bill,  the  L^  ^ by  education  and 
Conimissionei  bill.  executive  ability, 

S«”r“'  “,ff  public"  »pe*k«'  » ”?H  e to” 

always  taken  an  act.ve  P»*  blessings  of  a 

theory  that  every  citizen^  who  enjoy  ^ ^ shareinlts 
free  government  ^™Xd^Flood%  History  of  Chautm- 
responsibilities.  (T-  ^ & Co.,  PP-  *^7' Balti- 

qua  County,  U . S.  re  g McDonOUgh  School,  Balti 
He  was  principal  of  the  Me  ^ yeaf  be  was  pi<> 
more  Md.,  in  1893-1097*  • ^ visit  to  bis  bom 

“;,i,o,h«snp«»nm.^  ™ *»ar  and  active.  »d  an 

» * a.®s”  surround  Ins  srek  ckarr. 

w.  Crawford,  J.  O.  OsroruR. 

A.  T.  Copel-  . J Tefferson  county, 

Alanson  T.  Copeland  was  born  ^ ^ P 

vr  y September  130183  , converted  at  a camp 

Senary  k 

meeting.  In  i»5»  ne  <=> 


A.  T.  Copeland , J.  W.  Crawford , J.  O.  Osborne.  625 

Soon  after  he  became  a teacher  at  Poland,  Ohio,  where 
he  married  Miss  Minerva  Detchon.  He  entered  the 
Black  River  Conference  in  1859,  where  he  successfully 
filled  seven  pastorates.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1870,  and  his  appointments  were  Kent, 
Charlestown,  Hubbard  and  Bloomfield  and  Bristol — all 
in  Ohio.  He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
ference at  the  division,  and  filled  eight  pastorates,  super- 
annuating in  1893.  “He  was  a manly  man.  As  a 
preacher  he  was  sound,  strong  and  edifying.  At  his 
home  in  Girard  all  felt  that  a friend  and  a good  man  has 
gone.” 

John  Wellington  Crawford  had  visited  the  General 
Conference  in  Chicago,  and  had  taken  a deep  interest  in 
its  proceedings.  Upon  his  return  he  stopped  in  Cleve- 
land to  visit  a friend,  and  was  about  to  continue  his 
journey  to  his  home.  While  mounting  the  steps  near 
the  depot  to  take  a street  car  he  fell  from  faintness,  frac- 
tured his  skull  and  ruptured  a blood  vessel,  and  was 
taken  to  the  Lake  Side  Hospital.  His  wife  was  sum- 
moned and  was  waiting  in  the  reception  room  when  he 
breathed  his  last.  “From  the  city  in  which  he  was  re- 
ceived into  Erie  Annual  Conference,  he  was  received 
into  the  conference  of  God’s  heroic  workmen  of  all  ages 
and  climes  and  in  which  there  are  more  who  were  of  us 
at  the  time  of  his  reception  than  there  are  on  this  side. 
From  that  city  he  was  sent  forth  by  Bishop  Clark  to  do 
his  first  itinerant  work  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  from  it  he  was  called  by  the  Bishop  of  us  all  into 
the  ranks  of  the  Church  Triumphant,  which  is  without 
fault  before  the  throne  of  God.”  It  was  May  26,  1900. 

Brother  Crawford  was  born  'in  Tyrone  county,  Ire- 
land, November  19,  1837.  Being  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage 
he  possessed  the  sterling  qualities  which  characterize  that 
people.  His  parents  came  to  America  while  John  was 
yet  quite  young,  and  made  their  home  in  Philadelphia. 
His  more  advanced  youth  and  early  manhood  were  spent 
in  Butler  county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  Sunbury  and 
Harrisville  Seminaries,  and  in  Witherspoon  Institute, 
Butler,  and  was  about  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  law, 
when  he  was  converted  and  recognized  a divine  call  to 
the  ministry,  and  sought  better  to  qualify  himself  for  this 
sacred  office.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 


626 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ference  in  1870.  “He  was  a noble  man,  a faithful  pastor, 
a good  preacher,  a warm  friend.  Those  who  knew  him 
best  loved  him  most/' 

Josiah  O.  Osborne  was  born  at  Candor,  Tioga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  October  17,  1823,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Mc- 
Kean, Pa.,  Nov.  6,  1888.  His  father  and  brothers 
were  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was 
converted  in  Monroe  township,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  un- 
der the  preaching  of  Rev.  William  Sampson.  His  li- 
cense to  preach  was  given  in  1853,  and  signed  by  A.  D. 
Morton.  He  labored  eight  years  as  a supply,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  traveling  connection  in  1870.  He  took 
a superannuate  relation  in  1885.  He  still  preached  as 
his  strength  would  permit,  and  the  last  year  of  his  life 
supplied  the  Sterrettania  appointment.  His  last  sermon 
was  from  the  text:  “If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the 
prophets,  neither  will  they  be  persuaded  though  one  rose 
from  the  dead.”  At  its  close  the  preacher,  overcome,  fell 
fainting  in  the  pulpit.  Early  Tuesday  morning  the  spirit 
of  this  holy  man  took  its  flight  to  be  forever  with  the 
Lord. 

Brother  Osborne  was  a sweet-spirited  man,  with  a deep 
and  joyous  experience.  He  was  humble,  but  firm  for  the 
right.  * There  will  be  many  stars  for  his  crown  of  re- 
joicing. 

I.  D.  Darling,  N.  H.  Holmes,  A.  R.  Rich. 

Ira  D.  Darling  held  the  responsible  position  of  chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Conference  Stewards  for  twenty 
years,  and  his  form  was  so  familiar  at  our  conference 
sessions  that  his  departure  was  sadly  noted.  He  was 
born  in  Candor,  N.  Y.,  November  4,  1844,  and  the  char- 
iot of  God  caught  him  up  from  Ellington,  N.  Y.,  March 
28,  1900.  He  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  parents, 
and  was  converted  at  a camp  meeting  held  near  Watts- 
burg  in  his  early  youth.  He  graduated  from  the  Edin- 
boro  State  Normal  School  in  1866,  and  from  Allegheny 
College  in  1870,  and  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  the  same  year.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Deborah  Elizabeth  Kirkwood,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  in  1871.  He  was  effective  thirty  years,  and  died 
at  his  post. 

Brother  Darling  was  a student  of  wide  reading  and 


I.  D.  Darling,  N.  H.  Holmes,  A.  R.  Rich.  627 


broad  scholarship.  He  excelled  in  mathematics  and  nat- 
ural sciences,  and  was  a fine  Hebrew  scholar,  delighting 
in  the  study  of  the  holy  scriptures  in  the  original  tongue. 
He  endeared  himself  to  the  people  on  all  the  charges 
which  he  served.  He  lived  a guileless  life,  and  was  of  a 
cheerful,  quiet  spirit.  He  spoke  ill  of  no  one,  and  tried 
to  recognize  that  good  which  is  to  be  found  in  all.  He 
was  happy  and  contented  in  his  work,  which  he  did 
successfully.  He  received  the  announcement  of  the 
speedy  and  fatal  termination  of  his  malady  without 
fear  and  without  the  quickening  of  a pulse;  arranged 
his  earthly  affairs  for  the  best  welfare  of  his  family,  sent 
affectionate  remembrances  to  his  brethren;  comforted  his 
dear  ones;  said:  “It  is  all  right,  and  His  grace  is  suffi- 

cient;” and  gathered  up  his  feet  in  death. 

Nicholas  H.  Holmes  was  born  in  Ronne,  a city  on  the 
Island  Bornholm  in  the  Baltic  Sea,  belonging  to  the 
kingdom  of  Denmark.  His  parents  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  State  Church,  but  were  people  of  deep  religious 
convictions  and  consistent  character.  The  home  afforded 
him  every  advantage  for  a good  education,  and  when 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  placed  in  a Latin  grammar 
school  of  his  native  town,  which  institution  also  served 
as  a preparatory  department  for  the  University  of  Copen- 
hagen. When  fourteen  years  old  he  found  in  the  library 
of  that  school  “Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin,”  in  Danish,  a book 
which  no  doubt  changed  the  destiny  of  his  whole  life. 
Through  that  volume  he  became  greatly  interested  in 
reading  all  he  could  find  about  America,  and  finally  be- 
came absorbed  with  a desire  to  go  to  that  country.  It 
was  his  father’s  intention  that  he  remain  at  home  and 
carry  on  the  business  at  his  retirement,  but  seeing  the 
lad's  craze  for  America,  he  concluded  to  cure  him  by 
letting  him  go,  and  the  more  so  because  at  this  time  he 
had  an  elder  son  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  thinking  the  boy 
would  be  glad  enough  after  a few  years  to  return  to  a 
good  home  and  a well  established  business.  He  reached 
Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  in  the  summer  of  1859,  and  went  to 
work  on  a farm  in  that  neighborhood.  He  attended  a 
cottage  prayer  meeting  maintained  by  converts  who  had 
been  brought  into  the  church  during  the  great  revival 
under  the  pastorate  of  John  Peate.  He  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  i860.  He  was  employed 


628 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


on  another  farm  at  Dewittville,  one  of  the  appointments 
on  the  Mayville  charge.  In  1861  he  left  the  farm  to  at- 
tend school  in  the  academy  at  Ellington,  where  W.  \Y. 
Warner  was  in  charge.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1870.  He  entered  the  army  in  the  fall  of  1862  and 
returned  after  the  war  was  over,  having  been  in  every 
engagement  that  his  command  participated  in,  and  hav- 
ing also  spent  three  months  in  Confederate  prisons,  from 
one  of  which  he  made  his  escape  by  means  of  a Confed- 
erate uniform  which  he  succeeded  in  securing.  T his  was 
Salisburv  prison,  North  Carolina,  where  he  made  his  es- 
cape in  October,  1864,  reaching  the  Union  lines  in  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  November  12. 

He  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in  1870.  He  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1870,  his  first 
appointment  being  Conneautville,  Pa. 

Albert  Russell  Rich  ought  to  be  of  the  “straitest  sect” 
of  the  Methodists.  His  parents,  Russell  and  Susannah, 
in  early  life  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
All  his  relatives  in  Canada  were  Methodists,  and  many 
of  them — some  among  the  most  prominent — were  min- 
isters of  the  gospel.  Such  is  still  the  case.  The  influences 
thrown  around  his  boyhood  were  Methodistic.  He  never 
even  visited  any  other  than  a Methodist  Sunday  school 
until  he  was  thirty-two  years  of  age.  I he  first  time  he 
entered  a church  of  any  other  denomination  he  was  fif- 
teen years  old,  and  then  he  went  to  hear  an  eminent 
Methodist  divine.  He  says : “My  friends  thought  I 

could  not  be  much  endangered  in  another  church  when 
listening  to  a Methodist  minister.  He  was  early  drilled 
in  the  catechism  of  the  church  and  never  saw  any  other 
until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  taught 
to  believe  that  one  could  not  be  a Christian  without  at- 
tending the  class  and  prayer  meeting.  He  bears  this  tes- 
timony to  the  influence  of  a Christian  home.  I he  fam- 
ily altar  was  an  institution  in  my  early  home  and  the 
most  hallowed  impressions  I ever  received  were  those 
made  under  the  influence  of  my  widowed  mother's  fer- 
vent prayers  at  the  family  altar.”  The  literature  of  his 
home  was  intensely  Methodist,  and  he  became  well  1 ead 
in  this  branch  of  sacred  literature.  He  was  taught  to 
hate  tobacco  as  an  agent  of  the  devil.  The  early  heroes 
of  Canadian  Methodism  were  frequent  visitors  at  his 


Sylvester  F idler,  James  A.  Hume . 


629 


home.  He  says:  “Under  such  influences  I could  not 

well  be  anything  but  a Methodist;  in  fact,  I was  told 
that  if  I were  ever  to  leave  the  church — meaning;  the 
Methodist  Church — I would  disgrace  the  family/’  Hence 
he  became  a Methodist  of  the  Methodists. 

Brother  Rich  was  born  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns, 
Welland  Co.,  Ontario,  Canada,  January  12,  1845,  and 
was  converted  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  John  Potts,  D.D., 
December  19,  1859.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1866. 
He  matriculated  in  Victoria  University  in  1864;  studied 
there;  taught  in  Kingsville,  Essex  Co.,  Ont.,  and  preached 
at  Sandwich,  the  county  seat,  until  1869,  when  he  was 
admitted  ad  eundern  statum  to  the  Provincial  University 
of  Toronto.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Binbrook, 
Wentworth  Co.,  Ont.,  in  December,  1863.  He  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1870,  and  eight 
days  later — September  27,  1870 — married  to  Miss  Isabel 
Adams,  of  Kingsville,  Canada.  He  was  secretary  of 
our  conference  from  1896  to  1902,  and  a delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  of  1900. 

John  Street  Russell  Rich,  son  of  A.  R.  Rich,  born  in 
Dicksonburg,  Pa.,  September  22,  1872,  graduating  from 
Allegheny  College  and  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  was 
received  by  transfer  from  the  East  Maine  Conference  in 

11900,  and  has  proved  himself  most  diligent  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry. 

Sylvester  Fidler,  James  A.  Hume. 

Sylvester  Fidler  was  born  in  Coolspring  township, 

(about  seven  miles  from  Mercer,  Mercer  county,  Pa., 
December  29.  1840.  His  father's  name  was  John  Fidler, 
born  in  Clarion  county.  His  mother’s  name  was  Mary 
Donaldson  Fidler,  born  in  Mercer  county.  When  Syl- 
vester was  nine  years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  James- 
town, where  he  attended  the  public  school.  He  taught 
school  a number  of  terms,  and  picked  up  a day’s  work 
here  and  there  where  he  was  able.  After  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.  He  was  three  times  se- 
verely wounded  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1862.  He  was  again  wounded  in  the  battle  be- 
fore Petersburg,  June  16,  1864.  He  received  his  dis- 


630 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


charge  May  31,  1865.  He  then  resumed  his  studies  at 
Jamestown  Seminary,  Pennsylvania,  and  Westminster 
College,  New  Wilmington.  From  the  latter  institution 
he  graduated  in  1868,  and  from  Drew  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  1870.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1867.  In  regard  to  his  call  to  the  ministry 
he  says:  “In  the  summer  of  1866  I was  hesitating  as 

to  whether  I ought  to  continue  my  course  of  study  which 
meant  to  preach,  or  to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine. 
A companion  and  fellow  student,  who  thought  I ought 
to  preach  said  to  me,  ‘The  world  is  physically  well,  but 
spiritually  sick.’  That  terse  sentence  fixed  the  matter 
with  me,  and  never  since  have  I doubted  that  I was 
where  God  wanted  me.” 

Mr.  Fidler  was  licensed  to  preach  about  1869,  and 
joined  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1870. 
He  has  ever  done  faithful  work  on  all  the  charges  which 
he  has  served. 

James  A.  Hume,  son  of  David  W.  and  Mary  A.  Hume, 
was  born  near  Cambridge  Springs,  Pa.,  July  8,  1842. 
After  attending  the  common  schools  he  studied  in  Cam- 
bridge Academy,  and  completed  his  education  in  Alle- 
gheny College.  He  was  considered  especially  proficient 
in  languages  and  mathematics.  He  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, September  4,  1862,  and  proved  himself  a most 
gallant  soldier.  He  received  his  discharge  June  23,  1865. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  James  W.  Lowe,  presiding 
elder  of  the  Meadville  District,  in  1866,  and  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1870.  After  serving 
the  church  in  the  effective  ranks  for  twenty-six  years 
he  was  given  the  supernumerary  relation,  and  in  1900 
he  superannuated.  His  present  residence — 1904 — is 
Pleasantville,  Pa.,  where  for  several  years  he  has  been  a 
popular  magistrate.  He  was  a good  preacher,  always 
drawing  large  audiences. 

Greece  City  and  Fagundas  City. 

During  the  autumn  of  1870,  at  the  request  of  Robert 
W.  Jamison,  Joseph  K.  Mendenhall,  then  in  charge  of 
the  North  Washington  Circuit,  came  to  the  locality 
known  as  Jamison’s  Mills,  but  now  as  Greece  City,  and 


Greece  City  and  Fagundas  City. 


631 


preached  in  the  Hazel  Dell  school  house.  Being  fully 
occupied  with  the  work  elsewhere,  he  was  unable  to 
make  this  a regular  appointment,  and  persuaded  John 
Smith,  a local  preacher,  of  Fairview  township,  to  take 
up  the  work.  He  preached  every  two  weeks  for  six 
months,  and  formed  a class  composed  of  the  following 
members:  Robert  W.  Jamison  and  wife,  Isaiah  Brown 

and  wife,  Jacob  Groover,  and  Mrs.  Marie  Redick.  Mr. 
Jamison  was  the  leader.  A new  circuit  was  formed,  in- 
cluding West  Monterey,  Miller’s  Eddy,  Fairview  and 
Hazel  Dell.  In  1871  E.  M.  Kernick  was  appointed  to 
the  circuit.  He  had  already  been  one  year  on  the  Fair- 
view  Circuit.  David  Morrison  was  putting  down  what 
became  his  famous  well,  and  Mr.  Kernick  had  suggested  to 
him — it  was  only  intended  as  a pleasantry — that  if  he 
got  a fifty-barrel  well  he  ought  to  give  a thousand  dollars 
towards  the  erection  of  a church.  To  this  proposition, 
half  in  earnest,  Mr.  Morrison  agreed.  The  well  was  a 
surprise,  and  Mr.  Kernick  received  the  thousand  dollars. 
Mrs.  Morrison  gave  a building  lot,  and  in  the  winter  of 
i872-’73  the  structure  was  completed  at  a cost  of  $3,000. 
Greece  City  was  now  made  a separate  station,  and  B.  F. 
Delo  sent  as  preacher  in  charge.  It  became  a part  of  the 
North  Washington  Circuit  in  1874,  and  in  1883  the 
building  was  removed  from  the  hill  to  its  present  site. 
It  now  forms  a part  of  the  Karns  City  Circuit. 

“Fagundus  City,  Rev.  P.  P.  Pinney,  pastor,  is  on  the 
Allegheny  river,  about  five  miles  from  Tidioute.  Last 
May  it  was  a wilderness;  now  it  has  a population  ap- 
proaching two  thousand.  Indeed,  the  name  shows  that 
cities  are  growing  so  rapidly  in  the  oil  regions  that  people 
are  reduced  to  the  utmost  straits  to  get  euphonious  names 
for  them.  But  the  Methodists  are  building  churches  as 
rapidly.  They  dedicated  a new  one  at  Fagundus  City  on 
Sabbath,  November  9.  Dr.  G.  Loomis  and  Rev.  N.  Nor- 
ton officiated  on  the  occasion.  The  congregation,  at  the 
close  of  the  morning  discourse,  pledged  about  $2,800 
to  meet  the  indebtedness  of  the  building.  This  was  more 
than  sufficient  for  the  purpose,  by  about  $800,  and  will 
enable  the  trustees  to  help  pay  for  a parsonage  recently 
purchased.  The  ground  on  which  the  church  stands  was 
donated  by  Mr.  Horace  Wilkins,  of  Cleveland,  whose 
additional  cash  contributions  on  the  day  of  dedication. 


632 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

with  those  of  his  family,  readied  the  sum  of  $700.  Others 
did  nobly,  too,  and  the  whole  enterprise  shows  a most 
liberal  spirit.” — (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  Novem- 
ber 26,1870.) 

The  following  is  taken  from  an  account  of  the  great 
revival  in  Greenville,  as  published  in  the  Greenville 
Argus : “The  feeling  now  became  intense.  Men  trembled 
in  their  seats  and  wept  like  children,  and  those  who  had 
been  given  up  for  lost,  came  forward,  bowed  at  the  altar, 
confessed  their  sins  and  went  away  rejoicing  in  the  Sa- 
vior’s love.  An  effort  was  made  to  close  the  meetings, 
but  without  success.  They  continued  with  unabated  in- 
terest. Heavy  draws  were  made  on  the  community  in 
the  shape  of  various  kinds  of  shows,  but  their  propri- 
etors looked  out  upon  small  audiences  and  paid  their  hotel 
bills  as  best  they  could.  Drinking  saloons  and  billiard 
tables  went  begging  for  customers,  and  the  universal 
remark  was,  ‘What  a change !’  Up  to  last  Sabbath  even- 
ing two  hundred  and  eighteen  persons  had  united  with 
the  church,  with  quite  a number  who  will  yet  unite  at 
the  earliest  opportunity.  The  pastor.  Rev.  John  O Xeal, 
has  been  most  earnest,  faithful  and  diligent  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  and  under  God  his  labors  have  been 
crowned  with  glorious  success.” — (Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  April  9,  1870.) 

Erie  Conference  in  1871. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  thirty-sixth  annual 
session  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  August  30,  1871,  Bishop  Mat- 
thew Simpson  in  the  chair,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

George  E.  Neville,  R.  J.  Hibbard,  Henry  Sims,  Orville 
G.  St.  John,  Harvey  Henderson,  James  M.  Foster,  Wil- 
liam Branfield,  Martin  L.  Eshbaugh,  Reuben  F.  Ran- 
dolph, Henry  Hunscher,  Matthew  Moses,  George  W. 
Beatty,  John  W.  Snyder,  Joseph  B.  Wright,  David  W. 
Chandler,  Clinton  Jones,  Martin  V.  Stone  and  Alexander 
W.  Taylor  were  admitted  on  trial,  and  Levi  B.  Castle  was 
re-admitted. 

J.  S.  Youmans  was  received  from  the  Canadian  \\  es- 
leyan  Conference,  and  W.  H.  Seeley,  E.  M.  Prosser,  \\ . 
W.  Ramsey  and  J.  N.  Fradenburgh  were  received  by 
transfer. 

Edwin  Chace  located;  and  when  the  names  of  Jared 


II 


Erie  Conference  in  1871.  633 

Howe  and  S.  S.  Stuntz  were  called,  it  was  announced 
that  they  had  died  during  the  year. 

Appointments  for  1871:  Cleveland  District,  Cyrus  Prindle, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  C.  N.  Grant,  J.  D. 
Norton;  Erie  Street,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Scoville  Avenue,  G.  W. 
Gray;  Kingsley  Chapel,  Moses  Hill;  Waring  Street,  J.  H.  Tagg; 
East  Cleveland,  Benjamin  Excell,  Samuel  Gregg;  Nottingham 
and  Glenville,  R.  D.  Waltz;  Willoughby,  J.  H.  Herron;  Mentor, 
David  Mizener;  Painesville,  J.  S.  Youmans;  Perry,  A.  J.  Lindsey; 
Madison,  J.  J.  Excell;  Mayfield,  Daniel  Rowland;  Geneva,  F. 
H.  Beck;  Saybrook,  Darius  Smith;  Grand  River,  J.  B.  Hammond; 
Thompson  and  Concord,  B.  C.  Warner,  Henry  Hunscher;  Char- 
don,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Montville  and  Hamden,  Hiram  Kellogg; 
Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  to  be  supplied;  Warrensville,  Robert 
Gray;  Chagrin  Falls,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Bainb ridge,  Henry  Sims; 
Chester  and  Munson,  R.  J.  Hibbard;  Chaplain,  House  of  Correc- 
tion, Cleveland,  G.  E.  Neville;  Agent  American  Bible  Society, 
Albert  Norton;  Agent  Bethel  Cause,  Dillon  Prosser.  Ravenna 
District,  James  Greer,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna,  W.  F.  Day; 
Akron,  W.  W.  Ramsey;  Middlebury  and  Pleasant  Valley,  George 
Elliott;  Tallmadge,  R.  S.  Borland;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  E.  A.  Squier; 
Kent,  W.  H.  Seeley;  Peninsula,  O.  G.  St.  John;  Hudson,  to  be 
supplied;  Twinsburg,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Bedford  and  Northfield, 
B.  F.  Wade;  New'burg,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Rootstown,  Harvey  Hen- 
derson; Edinburg,  John  Brown;  Charlestown,  A.  T.  Copeland; 
Windham,  John  Beetham;  Deerfield,  D.  W.  Chandler;  Braceville, 
N.  C.  Brown;  Jackson,  H.  A.  Cobbledick;  Canfield  and  Pendle- 
ton, E.  D.  McCreary;  Ellsworth  and  Berlin,  J.  G.  Hawkins; 
Mantua,  S.  B.  Torrey;  Burton,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Troy,  J.  K.  Shaffer. 
Warren  District,  John  Graham,  presiding  elder;  Warren,  O.  G. 
McEntire;  Youngstown,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Girard  and  Liberty, 
Thomas  Guy;  Niles,  Michael  Williams;  West  Farmington,  C.  T. 
Kingsbury;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  Harvey  Webb;  Windsor  and 
Hartsgrove,  J.  F.  Brown;  Williamsfield,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Cherry 
Valley,  J.  B.  Grover;  Jefferson,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Richmond,  Samuel 
Hollen;  Gustavus  and  Johnson,  T.  B.  Tait;  Kinsman  and  State 
Line,  Ezra  Wade;  Baconsburg,  J.  H.  Stoney;  Greensburg,  J.  S. 
Card;' Vienna  and  Brookfield,  Manassas  Miller;  Hartford  and 
Orangeville,  Asa  Falkner;  Ohlton  and  Mineral  Ridge,  E.  M. 
Prosser;  Southington,  L.  W.  Ely;  Nelson,  Matthew  Moses;  Mor- 
gan, Sylvester  Fidler;  Kelloggsville,  A.  L.  Miller;  Lenox,  to  be 
supplied;  Principal  of  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  G.  W.  Beatty. 
Erie  District,  D.  M.  Stever,  presiding  elder.;  Erie — First  Church, 
W.  W.  Wythe;  Simpson  Chapel,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  City  Mission,  R. 
F.  Keeler;  Wesley ville,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Green,  John  Akers; 
North  East,  John  Tribby;  Waterford,  W.  A.  Clark;  McKean, 
T.  J.  Baker;  Edinboro,  Washington  Hollister;  Fairview,  L.  L. 
Luce;  Girard,  A.  D.  Morton;  Girard  Station,  Albina  Hall;  Union 
City,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Wattsburg,  J.  O.  Osborne;  Greenfield,  L. 
E.  Beardsley;  Asbury,  Major  Colegrove;  Wayne,  P.  W.  Sher- 
wood; Kingsville,  G.  W.  Staples;  East  Ashtabula,  Allen  Fouts; 
Conneaut,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Springfield,  J.  A.  Kummer;  Albion,  J.  B. 
Corey;  Lockport,  N.  W.  Jones;  Ashtabula,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Prin- 
cipal of  Lake  Shore  Seminary,  J.  P.  Mills;  Agent  of  Lake  Shore 
Seminary,  R.  M.  Bear;  Assistant  Editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate,  E.  A.  Johnson.  Meadville  District,  W.  P.  Bignell,  pre- 
siding elder;  Meadville — First  Church,  Alfred  Wheeler,  L.  D. 


634 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Williams;  State  Street,  William  Sampson;  Saegertown,  Josiah 
Flower;  Townville,  J.  W.  Blaisdell;  Cochran  ton,  G.  H.  Brown; 
Cooperstown,  J.  B.  Wright;  Sunville,  Robert  Beatty;  Greenville, 
J.  S.  Lytle;  Salem,  John  Abbott;  Sheakleyville,  J.  F.  Perry; 
Evansburg,  John  Eckles;  Conneautville,  N.  H.  Holmes;  Spring, 
C.  W.  Foulke;  Harmonsburg,  A.  R.  Rich;  Rockville,  R.  C.  Smith; 
Mill  Village,  William  Rice;  Linesville,  Stephen  Heard;  Espy- 
ville,  I.  D.  Darling;  Jamestown,  Cyril  Wilson;  New  Lebanon, 
A.  S.  Goodrich;  Waterloo,  Orrin  Babcock;  Professors  of  Alle- 
gheny College,  James  Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde.  New  Castle  Dis- 
trict, R.  H.  Hurlburt,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  G.  W.  Maltby; 
Mt.  Jackson,  William  Branfield;  Mahoningtown,  J.  E.  Johnson; 
Lowell,  G.  W.  Anderson;  New  Wilmington,  H.  M.  Chamberlain; 
Pulaski,'  J.  K.  Mendenhall;  Harrisville  and  Centerville,  Lewis 
Wick;  Mercer,  L.  W.  Day;  Hendersonville,  Isaac  Scofield; 
North  Washington,  John  Crum;  Clintonville,  Ebenezer  Bennett; 
Poland,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Middlesex,  J.  S.  Albertson;  Sharon, 
J.  R.  Lyon;  Clarksville,  A.  H.  Domer;  Sharpsville,  J.  H.  Mer- 
chant; Fredonia,  D.  A.  Crowell;  Greenwood,  J.  M.  Foster;  Hub- 
bard, E.  R.  Knapp;  Coalburg,  John  Perry;  Wheatland,  B.  F. 
Delo;  Charlestown,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Mt.  Pleasant,  to  be  supplied. 
Clarion  District,  Orville  L.  Mead,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  C.  C. 
Hunt;  Troy,  O.  M.  Sackett;  Warsaw,  J.  M.  Zeile;  Brookville, 
David  Latshaw;  Callensburg,  I.  N.  Clover;  Rimersburg,  W.  M. 
Taylor;  Curllsville,  J.  W.  Davis;  Punxsutawney,  Clinton  Jones; 
Perrysville,  to  be  supplied;  Washington,  M.  L.  Eshbaugh;  Clar- 
ington,  to  be  supplied;  Brockwayville,  J.  L.  Mechlin;  Luthers- 
burg,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Reynoldsville,  J.  P.  Hicks;  President,  Ben- 
jamin Marsteller;  Putneyville,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Tionesta,  S.  S. 
Burton;  Rockland,  McVey  Troy,  one  to  be  supplied;  Shippen- 
ville,  J.  B.  Leedom;  Corsica,  J.  W.  Martin;  Hickory,  J.  A.  Hume; 
New  Bethlehem,  J.  M.  Groves;  Agent  Pennsylvania  Bible  So- 
ciety, Edwin  Hull.  Jamestown  District,  Alvin  Burgess,  presid- 
ing elder;  Jamestown,  R.  M.  Warren;  Ashville,  J.  H.  Starrett; 
Sugar  Grove,  A.  A.  Horton;  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington,  J.  F. 
Hill;  Frewsburg,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Kinzua,  J.  W.  Snyder;  • Shef- 
field and  Kane,  L.  F.  Merritt,  M.  V.  Stone;  Corry,  W.  F.  Wilson; 
Youngsville,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Warren,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Pleasant- 
ville,  C.  M.  Heard;  Tidioute,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Titusville,  D.  C. 
Osborne;  Irving  and  Deerfield,  Abraham  Bashline;  Riceville,  G. 
M.  Eberman;  Garland,  to  be  supplied;  Ridgway  and  Wilcox, 
to  be  supplied;  Randolph,  W.  N.  Reno;  East  Randolph,  A.  N. 
Kellogg;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission,  James 
Iverson;  Principal  of  Chamberlain  Institute,  J.  T.  Edwards. 
Fredonia  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder;  Fre- 
donia, A.  N.  Craft;  Dunkirk,  to  be  supplied;  Mayville,  J.  E. 
Chapin;  Sinclairville,  H.  W.  Leslie;  Delanti,  W.  M.  Bear;  Port- 
land, J.  C.  Sullivan;  Panama,  R.  W.  Scott;  Ellington,  George 
Moore;  Leon,  W.  H.  Hover;  Cattaraugus,  R.  F.  Randolph; 
Perrysburg,  Jephtha  Marsh;  West  Dayton,  T.  G.  McCreary; 
Hamlet,  James  Shields;  Forestville,  J.  G.  Townsend;  Sheridan, 
J.  M.  Bray;  Little  Valley  and  Salamanca,  Peter  Burroughs; 
Silver  Creek,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Irving,  to  be  supplied;  Westfield, 
J.  C.  Scofield;  North  Harmony  and  Summit,  Rufus  Pratt;  Rip- 
ley, A.  W.  Taylor;  Sherman,  Milton  Smith;  Clymer,  J.  W. 
Lowe;  Columbus,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Cherry  Creek,  to  be  supplied; 
Ellery,  T.  P.  Warner;  Professor  in  Fredonia  State  Normal 
School,  J.  N.  Fradenburgh;  Chaplain  of  Soldiers’  Home,  E.  A. 
Ludwick;  Missionary  to  Sweden,  B.  A.  Carlson. 


4 


Jason  Nelson  FradenburgJi.  635 

Jason  Nelson  Fradenburgh. 

Jason  Nelson  Fradenburgh,  son  of  Alexander  and 
Polly  Fradenburgh,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gouverneur 
St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  4,  1843.  His  grand- 
father came  from  Holland  and,  with  several  brothers, 
took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  mother  dying 
when  he  was  a child,  he  was  reared  in  the  family  of  an 
uncle  until  about  ten  years  of  age,  and  thereafter  for  a 
few  years  made  his  home  with  another  uncle  who  owned 
an  adjoining  farm.  His  early  school  advantages  were 
limited  to  three  or  four  summer  terms  of  school,  and 
several  winter  terms.  His  work  on  the  farm  began  be- 
fore he  was  “knee  high  to  a grasshopper/* 

Much  of  his  studying  was  done  on  the  farm,  before 
daylight  or  after  the  work  of  the  day  was  done,  a “candle- 
dip”  furnishing  the  light;  or,  deprived  of  such  patrician 
accommodations,  he  sat  on  the  floor  before  the  kitchen 
stove  and  read  by  the  light  which  shone  through  a crack 
in  the  stove  door,  illuminating  the  page  word  by  word 
and  line  by  line. 

He  graduated  from  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary  in 
1863,  boarding  himself  on  seven  cents  per  day,  and 
paying  his  room  rent  and  tuition  by  working  around 
the  seminary  building.  His  attendance  at  this  school  did 
not  exceed  one  full  year.  He  graduated  from  Genesee 
College  in  1866,  having  been  in  attendance  about  one 
year.  The  records  show  that  in  both  institutions  his 
standing  in  scholarship  was  the  highest  in  his  class.  He 
began  to  teach  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  taught  until 
1875,  except  one  year  and  a half  while  in  the  army. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  in 
cnrsu,  from  Syracuse  University;  that  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity pro  merit 0 , from  Mt.  Union  College,  and  that  of  Doc- 
tor of  Laws  from  Allegheny  College.  He  has  been  elected 
to  membership  in  many  learned  societies,  both  home  and 
foreign.  He  is  the  author  of  several  volumes  requiring 
wide  reading  and  patient  research : “\\  itnesses  from  the 

Dust;  or  the  Bible  Illustrated  from  the  Monuments;” 
“Living  Religions;  or  the  Great  Religions  of  the  Orient 
from  Sacred  Books  and  Modern  Customs ;”  “Old  Heroes ; 
or  the  Hittites  of  the  Bible;”  “Beauty  Crowned;  or  the 
Story  of  Esther  the  Jewish  Maiden;”  “Departed  Gods; 


636 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


or  the  Gods  of  Our  Fathers;”  “Fire  from  Strange  Al- 
tars; “Light  from  Egypt,”  and  “Life’s  Springtime,  or 
Life,  Its  Aim  and  Method.”  He  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Control  of  Allegheny  College. 
He  originated  the  plan  for  examination  in  the  confer- 
ence courses  of  study  which  needed  but  little  modifica- 
tion when  the  plan  recommended  by  the  General  Con- 
ference was  adopted.  He  was  the  first  person  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
Church  to  a great  Twentieth  Century  Offering  for  the 
cause  of  education. — (Journal  of  the  General  Conference, 
Vol.  XIII.,  pp.  135-137)  The  following  paper  was 
adopted  by  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  session  in  1903  : 

“The  entire  Christian  Church  is  to  be  greatly  congratu- 
lated upon  the  successful  culmination  of  the  Twentieth 
Century  Forward  Movement.  That  our  many  educa- 
tional institutions  and  allied  interests  have  reaped  such 
financial  and  other  benefits  is  deserving  of  special  men- 
tion. 

“Among  the  most  gratifying  results  of  the  movement 
our  own  Allegheny  College  has  an  enlarged  patronage 
and  usefulness  through  the  increase  of  her  financial  re- 
sources and  endowment  which  approximates  $400,000, 
made  possible  by  the  generosity  of  her  friends  and  the 
tireless  and  persistent  efforts  of  President  William  H. 
Crawford,  D.D. 

“It  is  also  creditable  to  this  conference  and  incumbent 
upon  us  to  put  in  suitable  form  for  permanent  record  the 
fact  that  it  was  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference,  Rev. 
J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  D.D.,  who  first  proposed  the  Twen- 
tieth Century  Forward  Movement  through  the  Church 
press,  and  it  was  he  who  also  drafted  a plan  and  intro- 
duced it  for  the  consideration  of  the  General  Conference 
of  1896.  Therefore, 

“Resolved,  That  this  paper  shall  be  engrossed  in  our 
conference  records  and  that  it  also  be  inserted  in  the  forth- 
coming History  of  the  Erie  Conference.”  This  paper 
was  signed  by  J.  M.  Crouch,  John  C.  Gillette,  T.  R.  Tho- 
burn,  H.  G.  Dodds,  O.  H.  Nickle,  and  G.  J.  Squier. 

Mr.  Fradenburgh  was  a member  of  two  Oecumenical 
Methodist  Conferences:  that  held  in  London  in  1881,  and 
that  held  in  Washington  in  1891.  He  was  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  General  Conferences  of  1896,  and  1904. 


—w 


I t 


Randolph,  Branfield,  Chandler.  637 

He  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Franklin  District  six 
years,  1899-1904. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucetta  M. 
Minor,  of  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  March  15,  1864. 

Mr.  Fradenburgh  enlisted  April  18,  1861,  and  became 
a member  of  Company  “D,”  Sixteenth  Regiment  N.  Y. 
S.  V.,  and  was  discharged  by  reason  of  surgeon  s cer- 
tificate of  disability  Nov.  12,  1862,  having  spent  six 
months  in  the  hospital  at  Fortress  Monroe.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  the 
Veteran  Legion. 

Ernest  Minor  Fradenburgh,  son  of  J.  N.  Fraden- 
burgh, born  September  15,  1874,  called  to  the  ministry 
from  boyhood,  a graduate  of  Lake  Forest  University, 
and  sometime  student  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Music, 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1896, 
and  is  doing  most  excellent  work. 

R.  F.  Randolph,  William  Branfield,  D.  W. 

Chandler. 

The  early  home  of  Reuben  F.  Randolph  was  in  Pa- 
nama, Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents  were  de- 
votedly religious,  being  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Subsequently,  owing  to  their  strong  sympathy 
with  Methodist  doctrine  and  spirit,  they  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Church  and  Reuben  grew  up  under  the  best  of  Meth- 
odist influences.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  ten 
years  and  became  a member  of  the  Church.  His  experi- 
ence at  that  time  was  very  definite  and  has  determined 
the  trend  of  his  whole  life.  He  was  trained  for  college 
under  the  tutorage  of  a very  learned  and  deeply  pious 
Presbyterian  minister.  After  the  completion  of  his  course 
in  Allegheny  College,  he  attended  the  law  school  of  the 
University  of  Michigan  from  which  he  graduated.  In 
obedience  to  the  desire  of  his  parents  and  the  promptings 
of  a deep  conviction  of  duty  he  accepted  a license  to 
preach  in  1870  and  after  supplying  a small  work  for  a 
year  he  was  admitted  on  trial  to  the  Erie  Conference.  In 
1894  he  became  a student  in  the  University  of  Berlin, 
where  he  listened  to  several  courses  of  lectures,  giving 
special  attention  to  church  history  under  Dr.  Adolph  Har- 
nack.  He  spent  a second  year  in  Italy  and  the  east  and  at 
a later  date,  made  a tour  of  western  Europe,  being  speci- 


4i 


638  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ally  attracted  to  conditions  in  Spain.  In  relating  his  ex- 
perience he  writes : “As  the  result  of  years  of  experi- 

ence in  the  Methodist  itineracy,  1 am  more  deeply  in  love 
with  it  and  prize  as  life’s  highest  privilege,  the  shaie 
have  had  in  its  splendid  opportunities.” 

William  Branfield  was  born  in  Blaina,  South  Wales, 
England,  April  26,  1847.  His  father  was  English  ; his 
mother,  Welsh.  At  the  age  of  about  fifteen.  William 
came  to  America.  He  had  been  converted  when  betw  een 
thirteen  and  fourteen  years  of  age.  His  father  was  a 
Wesleyan.  William  brought  a certificate  of  church  mem- 
bership to  this  country;  but  settling  in  a Welsh  com- 
munity where  there  were  none  but  Baptists,  he  united 
with  that  communion  at  Coalburg,  Ohio.  He  afterwards 
united  with  the  Youngstown  Baptist  church,  by  which  he 
was  licensed  to  preach.  His  father  and  sistei  came  to 
America  at  a later  date;  and  his  father,  with  Mr.  James 
Burnett  and  others,  built  a Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
Coalburg.  William  brought  his  letter  to  this  church,  and 
it  was  at  Coalburg  where  he  was  licensed  as  a Methodist 
local  preacher.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1871. 

David  W.  Chandler  was  born  at  New  Castle,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Jan.  20,  1851.  He  was  converted  and  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Sharon  m 1868.  . He 
Graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan  in  1870,  and  completed  a select  literature  course 
in  the  same  institution.  His  license  as  a local  preacher 
was  granted  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Sharon 
church  in  1870,  and  the  following  year  he  was  received  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference.  Soon  after  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Stanley,  of  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Mission,  Foo  Chow,  China,  in  1874,  and  in  1877  he  was 
transferred  to  organize  the  Foo  Chow  Conference,  bor 
eight  years,  he  was  engaged  in  “all  varieties  of  missionary 
work_preaciiing,  teaching  in  theological  school,  superin- 
tending districts,  superintending  work  of  publishing 
house,  assisting  in  the  organization  of  the  Anglo-Chmese 
College,  and  teaching  in  the  same.”  In  1882  he  was  or- 
dered home  on  account  of  ill-health,  and,  after  a year  of 
recuperation  in  Michigan  and  California,  was  transferred 
to  the  East  Ohio  Conference.  After  serving  several  ap- 


Wright , Eshbaugh,  James  M.  Foster.  639 

pointments,  he  superannuated  in  1898,  and  moved  to  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  where  he  still  resides — 1905 — “wait- 
ing.” He  suffers  from  “tubercular  disease  of  the  spine 
and  valvular  disease  of  the  heart.”  He  has  been  encased 
in  a plaster  cast  for  ten  years,  three  years  before  super- 
annuation and  seven  years  since.  He  writes  cheerfully: 
“Excepting  for  the  inconveniences  of  invalidism,  I am 
pleasantly  situated  here  and  have  great  reason  for  thank- 
fulness. While  life  continues,  it  is  intensely  interesting 
and  beautiful,  but,  being  very  tired,  when  the  end  comes 
rest  will  be  very  sweet.” 

Wright,  Eshbaugh,  James  M.  Foster. 

Joseph  B.  Wright  was  a conscientious  Christian.  He 
placed  all  upon  the  altar  at  his  conversion,  and  there  all 
remained  to  the  last.  “No  man  ever  acquired  the  confi- 
dence of  the  community  in  his  Christian  character  more 
fully  than  did  Brother  Wright.”  He  was  born  in  Conne- 
aut,  Ohio,  Sept.  18,  1844;  and  died  in  Petersburg,  Ohio, 
May  2,  1880.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1868,  and 
admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1871.  His 
ministry  covered  less  than  nine  years  on  five  appointments. 
Concerning  his  last  hours,  his  bereft  widow  writes : “For 
days  before  death  released  him  from  his  sufferings  he 
seemed  almost  constantly  in  a state  of  prayer.  And  when 
suffering  intensely  he  was  heard  to  say,  ‘When  will  vic- 
tory come?’  ‘What  a triumph  it  will  be!’  ‘Nothing  of  my- 
self, but  all  through  Jesus!’  The  Thursday  before  his 
death  I heard  him  in  prayer  with  our  little  boy,  and  after 
praying  for  him,  he  asked  if  it  was  the  ‘Lord’s  will  to 
spare  him,  if  otherwise,  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  go 
soon.’  The  morning  before  he  died,  at  his  request,  I read 
from  the  14th  and  15th  chapters  of  John,  when  he  said,  * 
‘that  will  do.’  I then  knelt  in  prayer  while  he  commended 
his  family  to  God,  with  an  earnestness  I shall  never  for- 
get. While  making  the  final  arrangements  with  me,  as 
well  as  he  could,  for  the  future,  and  when  we  could  not 
see  the  way  clear,  he  would  say,  ‘The  Lord  will  provide 
for  that/  and  thus  his  faith  was  unwavering  to  the  last 
that  our  every  want  would  be  supplied.” 

Martin  Luther  Eshbaugh  was  born  near  Squirrel  Hill, 
Clarion  Co.,  Pa.,  March  14,  1847.  His  parents,  Jacob 
and  Catharine  Eshbaugh,  were  strict  Lutherans.  His 


640  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

father  died  when  Martin  was  but  four  months  old.  While 
yet  a boy  he  went  forth  into  the  world  to  struggle  alone, 
but  God  watched  over  the  homeless  lad.  He  chose  the 
occupation  of  a carpenter.  He  was  a lovei  of  books  and 
gave  what  hours  he  could  spare  from  his  arduous  labois 
to  study.  He  was  converted  in  1867  at  a meeting  held 
by  the  Albright  Association  at  Knoxville,  Jefferson  Co., 
Pa,  He  became  a member  of  that  church,  but  the  next 
year  transferred  his  membership  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  was  received  into  the  Erie  Conference 
on  trial  in  1871.  His  term  of  service  was  brief.  He 
ended  his  labors  at  Putney ville.  Pa.,  Oct.  8,  1873.  1 hose 

who  knew  him  regarded  him  as  a young  man  of  ability 
and  much  promise.  He  was  the  third  young  man  who 
died  during  the  conference  year. 

James  M.  Foster,  son  of  James  and  Catharine  Smith 
Foster,  was  born  in  Sandy  Creek,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec. 
9,  1836.  Both  parents  were  born  and  raised  in  Venango 
County.  His  mother  dying  when  James  was  six  days 
old  he  was  brought  up  by  his  maternal  grandmother  in 
Rockland  Township.  Here  he  attended  the  district 
school  until  about  twelve  years  of  age.  He  attended  se- 
lect schools. and  taught  in  the  old  Academy  at  Franklin. 
He  then  spent  some  time  in  Allegheny  College  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Starling  Medical  College  in  1861.  He  was 
converted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  at  a protracted  meeting  held 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Rockland.  He  held 
various  offices  in  the  church  and  was  always  faithful  to  his 
trust.  He  early  felt  his  call  to  the  holy  ministry  but  was 
diverted  from  preparatory  study  by  pursuing  a medical 
course,  but  conviction  of  duty  brought  him  back  to  his 
work.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1871  at  Clintonville, 
Pennsylvania,  by  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  and  the  same  year  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  His  ministry  has 
been  uniformly  successful. 

St.  John,  Hunscher,  Snyder,  Youmans. 

Orville  G.  St.  John  was  born  in  Eden  Valley,  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  26,  1843.  The  family  settled  near  Edinboro, 
Pennsvlvania,  in  1849-  His  early  life  was  a busy  one. 
The  farm  and  the  shoe  shop  left  no  time  for  idleness. 
Mr.  St.  John  attended  Waterford  Academy,  and  Wil- 
loughby College,  graduating  from  the  lattei  institution. 


St.  John , Hunschcr,  Snyder,  Youmans.  641 

He  was  converted  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age  in 
Meadville,  under  the  preaching  of  W.  F.  Day.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Edin- 
boro  Circuit,  D.  M.  Stever,  presiding  elder,  in  1870,  and 
the  year  following  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  appointed  to  Peninsula,  Ohio.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the  division  in 
1876.  He  labored  in  the  effective  ranks  thirty-two  suc- 
cessive years,  and  was  then  admitted  to  the  superannuated 
relation.  He  resides  at  present — 1906 — near  Geneva, 
Ohio.  Mr.  St.  John  was  a preacher  of  faithful  and  suc- 
cessful service  in  all  departments  of  church  work.  He 
made  hosts  of  friends  wherever  his  lot  was  cast.  He  re- 
lates a number  of  most  remarkable  conversions  which  oc- 
curred during  his  ministry.  His  testimony  is:  “Now 

that  I have  retired  from  the  active  work  of  the  ministry, 
I yet  feel  that  I would  not  exchange  my  lot  as  a Methodist 
preacher  for  that  of  any  millionaire. ” 

In  the  sudden  death  of  Henry  John  Hunscher,  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference,  the  Church  loses  one  of  her  stal- 
wart men.  He  was  born  in  East  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 2 1,  1848.  He  was  of  German  parentage,  and  was 
baptized  in  infancy  in  the  German  Reformed  Church ; of 
which,  at  the  time  his  parents  were  members.  In  time, 
after  having  been  truly  regenerated,  they  united  with  the 
Evangelical  Association,  of  which  they  remained  promi- 
nent members  until  their  decease.  Consequently,  their 
son’s  early  training  was  in  harmony  with  the  doctrines 
and  discipline  of  said  Church.  His  conviction  for  sin 
was  deep  and  conversion  clear.  Having  become  interested 
in  a Sunday  School  of  the  community,  which  was  con- 
ducted by  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he 
united  with  the  Church  in  1868.  He  was  licensed  as  a 
local  preacher  in  1870,  by  James  Greer,  presiding  elder  of 
Ravenna  District.  He  was  received  on  probation  by  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1871 ; and  was  sent  to  Thompson  and 
Concord  Circuit  with  B.  C.  Warner  in  charge.  Being 
located  in  Ohio  at  the  time  of  the  division  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference he  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference. 

He  was  married  to  Kathryn  Gebauer,  a companion  of 
his  childhood,  Oct.  9,  1872,  who  has  been  a true  and  faith- 
ful sharer  with  him  in  the  triumphs  and  trials  of  his  min- 
isterial life. 


642  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Brother  Hunscher  attended  his  conference  at  Ashtabula 
Sept.  19,  and  returned  home  to  Mantua  Station,  on  Fri- 
day to  attend  a funeral,  and  Sunday  evening  was  taken 
sick  and  the  next  Friday  evening  had  passed  to  his  eternal 
reward.  On  the  next  Wednesday  his  youngest  son,  who 
at  the  time  of  his  father’s  illness  was  very  sick,  passed  to 
meet  his  fond  father  in  the  better  land.  Thus  this  home 
was  stricken  in  no  usual  way,  even  in  a world  where  death 
and  sorrow  are  so  common. 

One  who  knows  him  writes : “I  have  heard  him  preach 
some  of  the  mightiest  sermons  I have  ever  heard,  and  that 
to  small  rural  congregations.  Sermons  that  were  as  truly 
inspired  as  were  the  warnings  of  Jeremiah  or  the  visions 
of  Isaiah.  He  was  not  prepared  by  our  schools  to  suit 
a certain  temper  of  a refined  age,  but  was  prepared  by  the 
Almighty,  to  deliver  messages  of  burning  flame  to  hearts 
longing  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  Most  High.  Happy  has 
been  the  people  who  have  been  permitted,  at  times  to  hear 
the  true-hearted,  uncompromising  hero  of  a humble  but 
faithful  ministry.  He  was  modest  to  a degree  of  timidity, 
this  concealed  him  from  the  gaze  of  most  men.  He  was 
never  quarrelsome,  but  would  endure  to  the  last  degree  the 
abuses  of  men,  but  when  he  was  aroused  under  the  con- 
viction that  the  time  had  come  for  utterance  and  God  had 
sent  him  to  deliver  the  burning  words, , he  rose  to  a 
natural  eloquence  and  to  a flow  of  melting  fervor  that 
would  have  brightened  the  best  days  of  our  fathers.” 

“William  Hunt  Seely  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  New 
York  in  1820.  He  received  his  education  at  Norwalk 
Seminary,  and  entered  the  Methodist  ministry  in  1843. 
Joining  the  North  Ohio  Conference,  he  was  appointed  to 
Brooklyn,  now  a part  of  Cleveland.  . . . He  re- 

tired in  1895,  having  given  fifty-two  years  of  faithful 
service  to  his  Church.  His  labors  were  abundantly  blessed 
in  revivals  and  additions.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  the 
churches  he  served.  He  was  at  one  time  on  the  board  o 
control  of  Allegheny  College,  and  was  a delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  in  1884.  Until  his  last  sickness  he 
was  well  and  strong,  and  leaves  the  very  remarkable  rec- 
ord of  having  been  absent  from  the  pulpit  but  three  times 
in  fifty  years.”  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Caroline  D.  Foote  in  1847.  He  was  transferred  to  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1871,  and  became  a member  of  the 


St.  John , Hunscher,  Snyder,  Youmans.  643 

East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization.  He  was  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Youngstown  District  in  1880-1883. 
He  exchanged  labor  for  reward  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 17,  1898. — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XXVII, 
1898,  pp.  443, 444.) 

John  W.  Snyder  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, Dec.  18,  1842.  When  twenty  years  of  age,  he 
became  a subject  of  the  saving:  grrace  of  God,  and  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  R.  H.  Hurlburt  in  1866.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Kolb  in  1870.  He 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1871,  and 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  the 
division  in  1876.  His  first  appointment  was  Kinzua, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  called  home  from  Coalburg, 
Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  May  12,  1883.  Mr.  Snyder  “was  a 
man  singularly  modest  and  retiring,  doing  his  work  quiet- 
ly and  thoroughly,  content  to  leave  all  in  the  hands  of  his 
Master.  He  was  pious  and  wholly  devoted  to  his  work. 
He  impressed  the  Church  with  the  simplicity  and  purity  of 
his  life,  preaching  the  gospel  as  much  by  his  example  as 
from  the  desk.  And  God  honored  his  ministry.  He  was 
methodical  in  his  habits  and  business,  and  hence,  though 
filling  unpretentious  and  often  weak  charges,  he  left  his 
wife  and  children  something  with  which  to  begin  the  bat- 
tle of  life.” — (Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  XIX,  1883, 
p.  3 20  J 

Jay  S.  Youmans  was  a gift  of  Canada  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  was  born  in  Picton,  Canada,  in 
1831 ; converted  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years ; and  at  twen- 
ty-one entered  the  ministry  of  the  Wesleyan  Church.  Af- 
ter serving  five  important  churches  with  conspicuous  abil- 
ity he  removed  to  the  United  States;  was  admitted  to 
Erie  Conference  in  1871 ; and  was  appointed  to  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio.  His  next  appointment  was  to  the  First 
Church,  New  Castle,  Pa.  He  was  transferred  to  the 
North  Ohio  Conference  in  1877,  and  to  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  in  1880.  January  24,  1900,  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  after  a light  supper  served  in  his  room,  he  leaned 
his  head  back  in  his  chair,  and  was  not,  for  God  had  taken 
him.  Painless  and  instantaneous  was  the  transition.  It 
was  meet  that  a life  of  such  public  worth  and  private 
virtue  should  so  tranquilly  close. 


644 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Appointments  for  1872. 


In  1872  the  session  of  Erie  Conference  was  held  at 
Akron,  Ohio,  beginning  September  11,  with  Bishop  Ste- 
phen M.  Merrill,  presiding,  and  \V.  F.  Day,  secretaiy. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : James  H.  De- 

wart, Alfred  W.  Arundel,  Welty  J.  Wilson,  George  P. 
Preston,  Hezekiah  N.  Steadman,  Job  L.  Stratton,  Patrick 
O'Connor,  John  H.  Meek,  Curtis  R.  Watters,  Henry  C. 
Smith,  David  C.  Plannette,  Samuel  E.  Winger,  James  C. 
Rhodes,  Jeremiah  Garnett,  William  Martin,  William  L. 
Riley,  D.  H.  Snowden,  and  Edward  Brown;  and  Alva 
Wilder  was  re-admitted. 

Albert  H.  Kinney  was  received  from  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church;  Silas  M.  Cla^k  from  the  Free-Will 
Baptist;  and  William  W.  Painter  by  transfer. 

John  Bain  had  died  during  the  year. 


Appointments  for  1872:  Cleveland  District,  Cyrus  Prindle, 

presiding  elder;  Cleveland— First  Church,  to  be  supplied;  Erie 
Street.  E.  H.  Yingling,  J.  D.  Norton;  Scoville  Avenue  and  King- 
ley  Chapel,  Benjamin  Excell,  Moses  Hill;  Waring  Street,  J.  H. 
Tagg;  Broadway,  C.  N.  Grant,  E.  S.  Gillette;  East  Clevelan  , 
David  Latshaw,  Samuel  Gregg;  Nottingham  and  Glenville,  Ste- 
phen Heard;  Willoughby,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Mentor,  R.  D Waltz 
Painesville,  J.  S.  Youmans;  Perry  David  Mize^r ; Madison, 

J J Excell;  Mayfield,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Geneva,  F.  H.  Beck,  Say 
brook  Darius  Smith;  Grand  River,  J.  B.  Hammond;  Thompson 
and  Concord  B C.  Warner,  A.  W.  Arundel;  Montville  and  Ham- 
den  Henry  Hunscher,  R.  3.  Hibbard;  Chardon,  J H Dewart; 
Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  to  be  supplied;  Chagrin  Falls,  N.  H. 
Holmes;  Bainbridge,  Asa  Falkner;  Warrensville,  Hiram  Kellogg , 
Chester  and  Munson,  to  be  supplied;  Agent  American  Bible  So- 
ciety,  Albert  Norton;  Agent  Bethel  Cause  Dillon  Prosser  Ra- 
vennk  District.  James  Greer,  presiding  elder;  Ravenna  G W. 
Grav*  Akron — First  Church,  W.  W.  Ramsey,  Second  Chuich, 
W.  W.  Painter;  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore,  G.  P.  Pjeston; 
Tallmadge  and  Brimfleld.  John  Beetham;  Cuyahoga  F Hiuh 
a qniiipr  Kent  W H.  Seely;  Peninsula,  J.  L.  Stratton,  mia 
^on  to  bk  Supplied;  Twinsburg,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Bedford  and 
Xorthfield.  B.  F.  Wade;  Newburg,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Rootstown  and 
Rnriflolnh  Harvey  Henderson;  Edinburg  and  Atwater,  Beoig 
i"chfr!eJfown  A.  T.  Copeland;  Windham  D W^Chand- 
iPr • Deerfield  J W.  Snyder;  Braceville,  N.  C.  Brown,  Canfield, 
W J Wilson;  Ellsworth  and  Berlin.  H.  N.  Steadman;  Mantua, 
T T Hawkins-  Burton,  E.  M.  Nowlen;  Troy,  J.  K.  Shaffer,  Gai 
rettsville  and  Hiram,  John  Brown;  Nelson,  to  be  suPP'’e  • 
ren  District,  John  Graham,  presiding  elderj  Warren,  W.  ^ ; 

Kinsman,  1.  S,  M;  Ban."- 


Appointments  for  1872. 


645 


burg,  L.  W.  Ely;  Greensburg,  J.  B.  Corey;  Vienna,  Manassas 
Miller;  Brookfield,  Daniel  Rowland;  Hartford,  E.  M.  Prosser; 
Mineral  Ridge,  T.  B.  Tait;  Southington,  J.  H.  Meek;  Morgan, 
H.  N.  Stearns;  Rome  Mission,  Robert  Gray;  Kelloggsville,  J.  B. 
Grover;  Lenox,  Matthew  Moses;  Jackson,  Ezra  Wade;  Jeffer- 
son, Frank  Brown;  Principal  of  Western  Reserve  Seminary,  G. 
W.  Beatty.  Erie  District,  D.  M.  Stever,  presiding  elder;  Erie — 
First  Church,  Alfred  Wheeler,  Simpson  Church,  R.  N.  Stubbs, 
City  Mission,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Wesley ville,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Green, 
John  Akers;  North  East,  John  Tribby,  Albina  Hall;  Waterford, 
G.  W.  Chesbro;  McKean,  J.  O.  Osborne;  Edinboro,  Washington 
Hollister;  Fairview,  W.  A.  Clark;  Girard,  J.  H.  Herron;  Union 
City,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Wattsburg,  C.  R.  Waters;  Greenfield, 
L.  E.  Beardsley;  Asbury  and  Wayne,  N.  W.  Jones;  Kingsville, 
G.  W.  Staples;  East  Ashtabula,  Sylvester  Fidler;  Conneaut, 
T.  D.  Blinn;  Springfield,  J.  A.  Kummer;  Albion,  S.  M.  Clark; 
Lockport,  J.  W.  Lowe;  Ashtabula,  A.  D.  Morton;  Kane,  J.  P. 
Hicks;  Principal  of  Lake  Shore  Seminary,  J.  P.  Mills.  Mead- 
ville  District,  W.  P.  Bignell,  presiding  elder;  Meadville — First 
Church,  W.  W.  Wythe,  L.  D.  Williams;  State  Street,  J.  S.  Albert- 
son, Niram  Norton;  Saegertown,  G.  H.  Brown;  Townville,  John 
Eckles;  Cochranton,  to  be  supplied;  Cooperstown,  Josiah  Flower; 
Sun  ville,  John  Abbott;  Greenville,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Salem,  J.  A. 
Hume;  Sheakley ville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Evansburg,  Frederick  Fair; 
Conneautville,  Henry  Sims;  Spring,  J.  B.  Wright;  Harmonsburg, 
A.  R.  Rich;  Rockville,  R.  C.  Smith,  one  to  be  supplied;  Mill 
Village,  J.  W.  Blaisdell;  Linesville,  C.  W.  Foulke;  Espy  ville,  I. 
D.  Darling;  Jamestown,  A.  S.  Goodrich;  New  Lebanon,  Robert 
Beatty;  Waterloo,  Orrin  Babcock;  Fredonia,  A.  H.  Kinney; 
Clarksville,  John  Perry;  Professors  in  Allegheny  College,  James 
Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde.  New  Castle  District,  J.  S.  Lytle,  presiding 
elder;  Newr  Castle,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Mt.  Jackson,  William  Bran- 
field;  Mahoningtown,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Lowell,  J.  F.  Brown; 
New  Wilmington,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Pulaski,  J.  K.  Menden- 
hall; Harrisville  and  Centerville,  J.  M.  Foster;  Mercer,  E.  J.  L. 
Baker;  Hendersonville,  H.  C.  Smith;  North  Washington,  John 
Crum;  Clintonville,  Ebenezer  Bennett;  Poland,  Gabriel  Dun- 
mire;  Middlesex,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Sharon,  L.  W.  Day;  Sharps- 
ville,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Greenwood,  Lewis  Wick;  Hubbard,  Wil- 
liam Sampson;  Coalburg,  S.  B.  Torrey;  Wheatland,  J.  H.  Vance; 
Mt.  Pleasant,  to  be  supplied;  Charlestown,  D.  C.  Plannette; 
Wampum,  J.  E.  Johnson.  Franklin  District,  Joseph  Leslie,  pre- 
siding elder;  Franklin,  O.  L.  Mead;  Reno,  R.  S.  Borland;  Oil 
City— John  O'Neal,  South  Side,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Clapp  Farm,  S.  E. 
Winger;  Rouseville,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Pithole  and  Tarr  Farm, 
Thomas  Graham;  Petroleum  Center,  George  Moore;  Fagundus 
City,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Fairview,  E.  M.  Kernick;  Parker’s  Landing, 
R.  M.  Bear;  Brady’s  Bend,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Emlenton,  to  be 
supplied;  Rockland,  J.  W.  Wilson;  President,  J.  L.  Mechlin; 
Tionesta,  G.  F.  Reeser;  Hickory,  Benjamin  Marsteller.  Clarion 
District,  J.  R.  Lyon,  presiding  elder;  Clarion,  O.  M.  Sackett; 
Brookville,  B.  F.  Delo;  Brockway  ville,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Corsica, 
J.  W.  Martin;  Luthersburg,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Troy,  Cyril  Wil- 
son; Perry sville,  J.  M.  Groves;  Washington,  to  be  supplied; 
Punxsutawney,  J.  M.  Zeile;  Putney  ville,  M.  L.  Eshbaugh;  War- 
saw, Clinton  Jones;  Rimersburg,  W.  M.  Taylor,  one  to  be 
supplied;  Curllsville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Callensburg,  I.  N.  Clover; 
Reynoldsville,  to  be  supplied;  Shippenville,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Beth- 
lehem, J.  B.  Leedom;  Clarington,  J.  C.  Rhodes;  Agent  of  Penn- 


646 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


sylvania  Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull.  Jamestown  District,  Alvin 
Burgess,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  R.  M.  Warren;  Ashville, 
J.  H.  Starrett;  Sugar  Grove,  J.  H.  Stoney;  Pine  Grove  and 
Farmington,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Frewsburg,  W.  N.  Reno;  Kinzua, 
William  Martin;  Sheffield,  S.  S.  Burton;  Corry,  W.  F.  Wilson; 
Youngsville,  J.  F.  Hill;  Warren,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Pleasantville, 
A.  J.  Lindsey;  Tidioute,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Irvineton  and  Deer- 
field Abraham  Bashline;  Riceville,  L.  F.  Merritt;  Titusville,  D. 
C Osborne;  Garland,  M.  V.  Stone;  Ridgway  and  Wilcox,  J.  W. 
Davis;  Randolph,  A.  H.  Domer;  East  Randolph,  A.  L.  Kellogg; 
Spartansburg,  Jeremiah  Garnette;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove 
Swedish  Mission,  to  be  supplied;  Principal  of  Chamberlain  In- 
stitute J T Edwards.  Fredonia  District,  Richard  A.  Caruthers, 
presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  A.  N.  Craft;  Dunkirk,  L.  L.  Luce; 
Mayville  R.  W.  Scott;  Portland,  J.  C.  Sullivan;  Delanti,  Milton 
Smith;  Sinclairville,  H.  W.  Leslie;  Panama  and  Grant  Station, 
H H.  Moore;  Ellington,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Leon,  W.  H.  Hover; 
Cattaraugus,  R.  F.  Randolph;  Perrysburg,  James  Shields;  West 
Dayton,  D.  H.  Snowden;  Hamlet,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Forest ville, 
J G Townsend;  Sheridan,  E.  D.  McCreary;  Little  Valley  and 
Salamanca  Mission,  Edward  Brown;  Silver  Creek,  J.  M. Bray; 
Irving,  Peter  Burroughs;  Westfield,  J.  C.  Scofield;  North  Har- 
mony and  Ebenezer,  William  Rice;  Ripley,  J.  E.  Chapm;  Sher- 
man, W.  H.  Wilson;  Clymer,  W.  L.  Riley;  Columbus  and  Noith 
Corry,  A.  A.  Horton;  Cherry  Creek,  Alva  Wilder;  Ellery,  T.  P. 
Warner;  Professor  in  Fredonia  State  Normal  School,  J.  N. 
Fradenburgh. 


W.  W.  Painter. 

William  Warren  Painter  was  born  near  New  Castle, 
Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  September  8,  1843.  His  parents, 
having  asked  God  for  a son  who  might  become  a herald 
of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  dedicated  him  to  the 
ministry  from  his  birth.  There  was  no  word  spoken  to 
him,  but  the  atmosphere  of  prayer  in  which  his  early 
years  were  passed  was  not  to  be  resisted.  He  says ; “I 
was  early  impressed  that  I needed  a change  of  heart  and 
the  spirit  of  adoption  to  assure  me  of  my  acceptance 
with  God  as  His  child,  and  frequently  went  alone  to 
pray  for  this  witness.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  dur- 
ing a protracted  meeting  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Mercer,  Pa.,  E.  S.  Gillette,  pastor,  I earnestly 
and  openly  sought  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  and  aftei  three 
days  of  earnest  prayer  and  consecration  of  myself  to 
God,  I experienced  a clear  and  joyous  conversion.  Dur- 
ing those  days  of  earnest  seeking  it  was  forcibly  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind  that  to  find  peace  with  God  I 
must  change  my  plan  of  life  from  preparing  to  be  an 
attorney  at  law  to  a preparation  for  the  ministry  of  the 


W . W . Painter . 647 

gospel,  which  change  God  enabled  me  to  make,  and  one 
which  I have  never  for  one  moment  since  regretted.” 

From  Allegheny  College  Mr.  Painter  was  graduated 
in  1866.  The  same  year  he  entered  Garrett  Biblical  In- 
stitute, and  two  years  later  was  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1864;  admitted  to  the 
Wisconsin  Conference  on  trial  in  1868;  transferred  to 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1872 ; transferred  to  the  Wiscon- 
sin Conference  in  1886;  transferred  to  the  Rock  River 
Conference  in  1890;  and  he  passed  to  his  reward  from 
Winnetka,  111.,  September  16,  1902. 

“Consecration  and  concentration  marked  his  work 
from  the  beginning  and  were  in  him,  as  always  and 
everywhere,  sources  of  success.  In  school  they  gave  him 
rank  among  the  foremost  of  his  class;  in  his  ministry 
they  gave  him  the  confidence  of  all  classes  of  people,  who 
are  rarely  able  to  withstand  the  spiritual  urgency  of  the 
man  of  one  work.  He  had  an  unaffected  passion  for 
soul-winning.  The  care  of  his  people,  young  and  old, 
lay  with  him  night  and  day.  There  was  no  concern  in 
his  thought  comparable  with  it.  For  it  he  was  avaricious 
of  time,  economizing  every  hour  of  the  day  that  he  might 
not  fail  of  any  duty  or  opportunity  to  do  his  people  good 
and  to  make  them  good.  He  preached  to  win  souls  and 
every  sermon  was  instinct  with  the  warmth  and  power 
of  a heart  yearning  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
lost.  Into  all  his  preaching  he  put  always  the  very  best 
of  himself.  He  could  say  with  a clear  conscience,  T 
always  feel  when  I come  to  the  hour  of  service  on  Sunday 
that  I have  done  the  very  best  I could  with  the  time  I 
could  get  for  preparation.’  How  constant  and  gracious 
was  his  ministry  to  the  poor  and  sick,  the  penitent  and 
forlorn!  Truly,  the  blessing  of  many  that  were  ready 
to  perish  came  to  him.  It  is  not  a wonder  that  deep 
and  searching  and  widespread  revivals  attended  his  min- 
istry. Such  a man  is  a perpetual  challenge  to  revival 
work  and  revival  grace.  Not  less  conspicuous  than  the 
earnestness  of  the  minister  was  the  beautiful  simplicity 
and  purity  of  the  man.  If  one  were  asked  to  sum  his 
life  in  a single  phrase,  one  might  well  borrow  the  great 
sentence  of  Antony  upon  Brutus:  ‘His  life  was  gentle.’ 
Not  ‘gentle’  with  its  common  connotation  of  weakness  and 


648 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


inefficient  amiability,  but  ‘gentle'  in  its  original  robust 
meaning  of  one  with  all  manly  virtues  in  a noble  line  of 
descent.  It  shone  in  him  through  a high  intellectuality, 
fine  scholarship  and  charm  of  literary  expression; 
through  his  noble  thought  of  God  and  high-minded  view 
of  man ; through  his  rigid  repression  of  self  and  the  deli- 
cate consideration  of  others,  whom,  in  a refreshingly 
literal  following  of  the  high  apostolic  doctrine,  he  pre- 
ferred before  himself;  through  a blameless  life  and  guile- 
less temper  which  made  the  most  skeptical  believe  and 
long  for  the  blameless  life  and  guileless  temper;  through 
a knightly  devotion  to  the  Master  whose  call  he  answered, 
whose  sway  he  owned  and  whose  badge  he  wore ; 
through  a life-long  conflict  with  sin  in  which  he  never 
feared,  never  faltered,  never  yielded." — (Northwestern 
Christian  Advocate,  October  75,  1902.) 

G.  P.  Preston,  Jeremiah  Garnett. 

George  Prentiss  Preston,  son  of  Joseph  and  Philenda 
Preston,  was  born  in  Shalersville,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
November  1,  1848,  and  died  in  Brookville,  Jefferson  Co., 
Pa.,  September  22,  1873.  He  was  happily  converted  to 
God  in  December,  1866,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1869. 
In  1872  he  graduated  from  Mt.  Union  College,  and  the 
same  year  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clara  E.  Tribby, 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Tribby,  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
August  14,  1873.  He  spent  the  first  and  last  year  of 
his  ministry  on  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore  Ciicuit, 
where  he  labored  faithfully  and  successfully,  precious 
souls  having  been  brought  to  Jesus  as  the  result  of  his 
' consecrated  efforts.  He  was  a faithful  shepheid  of  the 
flock,  kind,  sympathetic,  exemplary,  diligent,  devoted  and 

true. 

Jeremiah  Garnett  was  born  at  Patmos  Terrace,  Eng- 
land, October  29,  1846,  and  departed  this  life  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Garnett,  Leon,  N.  Y.,  May 
20,  1899.  The  remains  were  conveyed  to  Cottage  for 
burial.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  born,  and  his 
father  when  he  was  two  years  old.  With  one  brother 
and  two  sisters,  he  came  to  America  in  August,  1857, 
and  the  little  family  settled  near  Sugar  Grove,  Warren 
Co..  Pa.  Here  Jeremiah  was  converted  at  the  age  of 


Wilson , Clark,  Winger,  Rhodes,  Smith.  649 


seventeen.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1870  by  the 
Garland  Quarterly  Conference,  Joseph  Leslie,  presiding 
elder.  In  1866  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Xancy 
Jane  Hill,  of  Wattsburg,  Pa.  He  was  effective  twenty- 
seven  years. 

Brother  Garnett  preached  a straightforward,  plain, 
simple  gospel.  He  was  a soul  winner,  and  led  many  to 
Christ,  and  was  eminently  successful  in  holding  the  con- 
verts whom  he  won.  His  preaching  and  conversation 
were  with  much  sweetness  and  love,  and  there  are  many 
who  revere  his  name  and  call  him  blessed.  When  the 
roll  of  faithful  heroes  shall  be  called  the  name  of  Jere- 
miah Garnett  will  be  found  among  the  number.  He 
loved  to  sing  the  songs  of  Zion.  He  was  most  compan- 
ionable, genial,  kindly,  loving  and  lovable.  He  had  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  brethren.  His  life  will 
ever  preach  eloquently  for  righteousness  and  purity. 

Wilson,  Clark,  Winger,  Rhodes,  Smith. 

Welty  J.  Wilson  was  born  in  W arren,  Ohio.  March 
11,  1839.  He  had  his  early  training  on  a farm.  He 
was  one  of  six  brothers,  all  of  whom  became  preachers 
of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  He  graduated  from 
Allegheny  College  in  1866,  and  for  six  years  was  en- 
gaged in  the  profession  of  teaching.  He  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1872,  and  appointed 
to  Canfield  Circuit  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio.  He  be- 
came a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization. During  his  pastorate  of  three  years  at  Mas- 
silon,  Ohio,  a church  edifice  was  erected  at  a cost  of 
$45,000.  In  1866  he  was  most  happily  married  to  Miss 
Emma  X.  Whittlesey,  of  Atwater,  Ohio.  He  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Allegheny  College 
in  1901. 

Silas  M.  Clark  was  born  at  Cherry  Valley,  Ashtabula 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  8,  1838.  His  great-grandfather  was 
Col.  Clark,  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  His  grandfather  was  born  on  the  site  of  the  battle- 
field of  Monmouth,  about  three  months  before  the  battle 
was  fought.  His  parents  were  earnest  Methodists.  He 
attended  Orwell  Academy,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  and 
Chester  Academy,  Geauga  county.  He  was  a student  in 
Hillsdale  College,  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  during  one  academic 


650 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


year.  He  was  converted  in  1850  at  the  John  Lupher 
camp  meeting,  near  Hannahville,  Venango  county,  Pa., 
and  joined  the  Reynolds  class,  Hendersonville  charge, 
now  Polk  charge.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1862, 
and  ordained  in  1863  at  Macedonia,  Ohio,  according  to 
the  usages  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  He  filled 
churches  at  Lockport  and  Wellsburg,  Erie  county,  Pa. ; 
Lenox,  Ohio ; Cairo,  111.,  and  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was 
received  in  the  Erie  Conference  by  recognition  of  orders 
in  1872.  He  had  previously  served  McKean  charge  as 
a supply. 

Samuel  E.  Winger  is  of  German  extraction.  He  was 
born  at  President,  Pa.,  December  3,  1850.  By  the  death 
of  his  father,  Samuel,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  assume  responsibilities  beyond  his  years.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age,  one  dark  and  cold  night,  while 
walking  along  the  streets  of  Oil  City  he  was  attracted 
by  singing  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
hymn  was,  “Come,  ye  sinners,  poor  and  needy.”  He 
was  convicted  of  sin,  entered  the  church  and  was  hap- 
pily converted.  He  now  felt  a strong  desire  to  secure 
an  education  and  entered  earnestly  upon  a course  of 
study.  There  came  also  the  impression  that  he  must 
preach  the  gospel,  but  he  stifled  conviction.  While  un- 
dergoing this  mental  struggle  he  received  exhorters  li- 
cense. He  prayed  earnestly  that  God  might  make  his 
duty  plain;  and  that  same  night  had  a dream  which  he 
calls  a “vision.”  We  will  permit  him  to  relate  the 
“vision 

“In  company  with  a local  preacher  I walked  down 
Seneca  and  Main  streets,  Oil  City,  and  halted  on  the  iron 
bridge  spanning  Oil  creek.  Leaning  over  the  railing  and 
peering  into  the  oily  waters  below,  my  friend  familiarly 
addressed  me,  ‘Samuel,  are  you  going  to  preach?’  ‘No, 
never,’  was  my  prompt  reply.  I was  instantly  precipi- 
tated to  the  starless  night  of  hell.  Stretching  my  hands 
toward  heaven,  I made  covenant  with  God  that  I would 
do  His  will.  I was  restored  to  earth.  The  second  time 
we  strolled  through  the  city,  talking  freely  upon  random 
topics.  We  stopped  at  the  same  place  on  the  same  bridge, 
and  my  friend,  in  grave  tones,  again  asked,  ‘Samuel,  are 
you  going  to  preach?’  With  emphasis  I replied,  ‘No; 
I will  never  preach  the  gospel.’  Immediately  I was 


Wilson , Clark,  Winger,  Rhodes,  Smith. 


hurled  amid  the  horrors  of  the  damned,  while  the  light- 
nings of  despair  played  their  forked  games  in  the  pitchy 
night  about  me.  The  windowless  caverns  of  mid-hell 
dismally  echoed  the  wail  of  my  woe.  At  length,  far,  far 
away,  I saw  a solitary  ray  of  glimmering  hope,  and 
cried,  ‘O,  my  Father,  trust  me  with  probation  but  once 
more  and  I will  preach  the  gospel.’  And,  O boundless, 
immeasurable  love ! O infinite  love  of  God ! by  special 
dispensation,  I was  permitted  to  return  and  prepare  and 
exhort  others  to  prepare  for  the  solemn  realities  of  judg- 
ment. It  was  midnight.  I left  my  bed,  and  none  but 
God  and  my  soul  can  ever  know  what  a heart-melting, 
will-subduing  and  self-emptying  time  I experienced  until 
the  morning  came.  That  ever  memorable  night  was  a 
great  epoch  and  crisis  in  my  life.” — (Autobiographic 
Notes.) 

Brother  Winger  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1870,  and 
admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1872. 

James  Calvin  Rhodes,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Bish 
Rhodes,  Pennsylvania  Germans  and  earnest  Methodists, 
was  born  January  28,  1841.  He  says  of  his  personal 
religious  experience : “I  was  gloriously  converted  in  the 
old-fashioned  way,  and  am  now  as  sure  of  it  as  I am 
that  the  sun  shines;  it  was  the  thirtieth  day  of  August, 
1857,  at  five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  at  a camp  meeting 
held  by  Josiah  Flower  at  West  Freedom,  Pa.,  and  joined 
the  Methodist  class  at  the  old  Martha  Furnace  in  Clarion 
county.”  His  call  to  the  ministry,  which  came  soon 
afterwards,  was  clear  and  definite.  He  was  licensed  as  a 
local  preacher  by  the  Rimersburg  Quarterly  Conference 
in  1871,  his  license  bearing  the  signature  of  O.  L.  Mead. 
The  following  year  he  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference.  During  an  active  ministry  of  twenty-seven 
years,  he  received  eleven  hundred  members  into  the 
church. 

His  educational  advantages  were  quite  limited,  but  he 
has  been  an  earnest  student  during  his  whole  life. 

Henry  C.  Smith  was  born  in  Rockland,  Venango  Co., 
Pa., — that  nursery  for  preachers — September,  1841,  and 
died  in  Hubbard,  Ohio,  July  1,  1877.  Blessed  with  pious 
parents,  he  was  soundly  converted  at  the  early  age  of 
twelve  years.  He  felt  an  early  call  to  the  ministry,  but  a 
sense  of  unworthiness  kept  him  from  it  until  he  was 


652  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

thirty  years  of  age.  He  had  begun  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, in  which  he  had  good  success,  but  gave  himself 
wholly  to  the  work  of  his  holy  calling.  During  six 
years  he  was  highly  successful  in  winning  souls  for  the 
Master  and  building  up  believers.  He  joined  the  Erie 
Conference  on  trial  in  1872,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  in  1876,  and  stationed  at  Hub- 
bard, where  he  died  in  triumph.  He  had  “kept  the 
faith, ” and  left  an  abiding  Christian  influence  as  a rich 
legacy  to  the  church. 

H.  N.  Steadman,  J.  L.  Stratton,  D.  C.  Planette. 

Hezekiah  N.  Steadman,  son  of  J.  J.  Steadman,  was 
born  at  Deerfield,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  at  Chag- 
rin Falls,  Ohio,  March  4,  1882.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  C.  Smith  in  1862,  and  the  same 
year  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Regi- 
ment of  Ohio  Volunteers  as  a private,  and  held,  at  the 
close  of  the  war  a captain’s  commission  with  the  rank  of 
major.  He  was  wounded  in  the  head  by  a fragment 
from  a bursting  shell,  which  continually  troubled  him, 
finally  causing  his  death.  In  1872  he  joined  the  Erie 
Conference  as  a probationer,  and  fell  into  the  East  Ohio 
Conference  at  the  division.  He  served  the  following 
charges:  Ellsworth  and  Berlin,  Pleasant  Valley  and 

Mogadore,  Hartford.  Garrettsville,  Garrettsville  and 
Nelson,  Rootstown,  Mentor  and  Chagrin  Falls,  from 
which  he  was  called  to  his  reward.  “He  was  an  able 
and  successful  preacher,  and  died  at  his  post  greatly  la- 
mented by  all  his  church.” 

Like  so  great  a number  of  Methodist  itinerants.  Job  L. 
Stratton  came  from  the  farm.  He  was  born  at  Patmos, 
Ohio,  in  1845.  His  early  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  a district  school  more  than  a mile  from  his 
home,  which  he  attended  only  during  the  winter  term, 
his  labor  being  required  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  sea- 
son. He  was  “awakened”  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Three 
years  later  he  was  matriculated  at  Mt.  Union  College. 
While  a student  he  was  “gloriously  converted,”  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1869.  He  graduated  in  1872,  and 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  the  same 
year. 


H.  N.  Steadman,  J.  L.  Stratton,  D.  C.  Plannette.  653 

“His  religious  experience  is  of  the  hopeful,  joyful  type, 
and  especially  so  since  he  has  known  the  blessed  Com- 
forter as  an  abiding  guest.” 

He  has  been  twice  married;  in  1872  to  Miss  Ella 
Shultz,  who  died  at  Waterloo  in  1881;  and  in  1882  to 
Miss  Mary  S.  McFall.  Since  entering  upon  his  life 
work  which  has  been  uninterrupted,  he  has  done  faithful 
service  for  the  Master. 

David  Charles  Plannette  was  born  in  Allegheny  City, 
Pa.,  December  25,  1850.  His  father  boasted  an  ancestral 
line  extending  back  to  the  French  Huguenots.  His  mother 
was  German  by  birth.  Both  parents  were  Methodists, 
and  David  united  with  the  old  Beaver  Street,  now  Arch 
Street  Church,  when  nine  years  of  age,  though  he  was 
not  converted  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixteen. 
Soon  after  his  conversion  he  felt  that  the  Lord  had  spe- 
cial work  for  him  to  do.  To  prepare  for  this  work  he 
entered  upon  a course  of  study  at  Westminster  College, 
New  Wilmington,  Pa. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1872,  and  the  same  year 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  A.  Chamber- 
lain,  daughter  of  H.  M.  Chamberlain,  of  the  Erie  Con- 
ference. He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence the  following  September.  During  the  eleven  years 
following  he  paid  church  debts,  erected  churches  and  par- 
' sonages,  and  had  revivals  wherever  sent.  He  won  es- 
pecial victories  at  DuBois  and  Reynoldsville.  The  church 
enterprise  at  DuBois  was  attended  with  many  difficulties. 
To  prepare  the  lumber  for  the  church  he  secured  the  use 
of  a room  that  had  been  temporarily  closed,  attended 
the  boiler  and  engine,  and  run  the  big  saw  and  planer — 
working  all  day,  and  preaching  every  night  ; a church 
edifice  and  a gracious  revival  were  the  result.  At  Rey- 
noldsville he  found  a handful  of  people  worshiping  in  a 
skating  rink.  To  build  a church  and  parsonage  he  helped 
Cjuarry  stone  for  the  foundation,  solicited  lumber  from 
the  mills  up  the  creek,  and  built  rafts  and  floated  it  down. 
In  one  instance  he  was  given  a standing  tree.  He  helped 
cut  it  down,  took  it  to  a mill,  helped  work  it  up,  and 
helped  haul  the  lumber  to  the  church — in  twenty-four 
hours  it  was  ready  to  be  put  into  the  building. 

He  entered  an  important  field  in  North  Dakota  in 
1883,  and  was  appointed  presiding  elder  in  North  Da- 

42 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


654 

kota  Mission  in  1884,  traveling  the  Grand  Forks  Dis- 
trict. In  four  years  he  missed  but  one  appointment,  and. 
to  this  he  arrived  at  ten  o’clock  at  night,  having  con- 
quered the  mighty  drifts  of  snow  which  made  travel 
next  to  impossible.  * In  his  work  on  this  distant  he 
he  made  a reputation  second  to  no  one.  He  had  confi- 
dence in  his  own  powers,  indomitable  energy,  an  iron 
will  a fixed  purpose  from  which  he  was  never  swerved, 
tremendous  tenacity,  great  capacity  for  work  and  faith 
in  God  He  preached,  organized  churches  and  extended 
the  work  with  the  march  of  the  settlements.  For  six 
years  he  published  the  “North  Dakota  Methodist  Pio- 
neer” which  was  a paper  of  vast  influence  among  our 
oeoole.  He  was  twice  elected  to  General  Confeience. 
But  it  is  beyond  our  purpose  to  follow  him  in  his  work 
in  the  great  northwest. 

Such  severe  labors  and  exposure  told  upon  his  con- 
stitution,  and  he  was  obliged  to  take  a rest.  He  and  his 

wjfe who  had  worked  with  him  with  almost  equal 

energy — traveled  abroad  for  a year,  visiting  our  mis- 
sions  in  Japan,  China.  India  and  the  principal  Bible  lands. 

Upon  his  return  he  was  transferred  back  to  the  Erie 
Conference,  and  has  since  labored  on  important  charge 
with  his  usual  energy  and  success.  The  greatest  triumph 
has  been  on  his  last  charge,  where  he  has  created^  rom 

nothing  a church  and  parsonage  property  worth  $i3,oo 

The  church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  C.  C.  McCa  e, 
cernber  t 1905, -he  called  its  erection  a miracle.  Be- 
tween Sharon  and  Wheatland  a large  steel  plant  had 
been  built  worth  twenty-five  million  dollars.  Ten  thou- 
S people  moved  into  South  Staton  >„  two  years.  There 
was  no  church,  no  pastor,  no  membership.  Mr  Plan 
nette  was  sent  to  this  field.  During  the  year  h & 
ered  a membership,  started  a subscription  for  a church 
secured  a site,  and  commenced  the  foundation.  The 
next  year  the  mills  shut  down,  and  many  people  le 
town'  Manv  who  remained  had  no  means  of  support. 
A relief*  committee  was  formed  with  Mrs.  Plannette  as 
president  and  nothing  could  be  done  but  endeavor  to  re- 
lieve the  needy.  But  Mr.  Plannette  did  not  lose  heart, 
and  with  the  permission  of  the  conference  gian  ec  m 
™4  to  visit  the  charges  of  the  conference  and  sol, at 


Advance. 


help,  he  compelled  success,  and  the  church  stands  as  a 
monument  of  his  faith  and  energy. 

Advance. 

The  date  of  the  first  Methodist  preaching  at  Fredonia, 
Pa.,  cannot  be  determined  with  certainty.  J.  H.  Mer- 
chant was  appointed  to  the  charge  in  1870,  and  the 
church  edifice  was  completed  in  1872,  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Albert  H.  Kinney. — (History  of  Mercer 
County , Brown , Runk  & Co.,  1888,  pp.  513-514.) 

The  first  Methodist  sermon  preached  in  St.  Petersburg, 
Pa.,  was  in  March,  1872,  by  Rev.  N.  G.  Luke.  It  was 
made  a regular  appointment  at  the  conference  of  that 
year,  and  the  first  class  was  organized  December  22. 
Rev.  N.  Fay,  who  was  supplying  Emlenton  charge, 
adopted  this  work.  The  following  persons  constituted 
the  first  organization : John  W.  Thompson,  class  leader, 
and  his  wife,  Dr.  C.  W.  France  and  wife,  John  Vogan 
and  wife,  Henry  C.  Wachter  and  wife,  J.  E.  Emerson 
and  wife,  Mr.  Greer  and  wife,  and  John  V.  Ritts. 

Near  the  first  of  the  year  1873  a hoard  of  trustees 
was  organized  and  a building  committee  appointed,  and 
the  new  church  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  I.  C.  Pershing, 
August  31,  1873. 

O.  L.  Mead,  about  to  close  up  his  work  as  presiding 
elder  of  Clarion  District,  writes : “We  have  built  and 

dedicated  twelve  churches,  and  notwithstanding  the  ter- 
rible drouth  and  financial  pressure,  we  are  now  erecting 
nine  others,  all  under  roof,  and  a part  nearly  ready  to 
dedicate.  Old  church  debts  all  paid  and  new  ones  pro- 
vided for,  save  one,  and  that,  through  the  energy  of  its 
pastor,  can  see  daylight.  All  these  churches  are  respect- 
able, and  a few  first  class.  One  to  cost  ten  or  twelve 
thousand  dollars.  Several  fine  parsonages  have  been 
erected  and  paid  for,  and  others  in  progress.  The  aver- 
age salaries  are  less  on  this  than  on  other  districts,  yet 
if  you  take  the  fat  stations  out  of  other  districts  the  aver- 
age pay  here  would  equal  that  of  any  in  the  Conference. 
Our  benevolent  collections  compare  favorably  with  other 
districts,  as  seen  in  the  minutes.  The  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  this  will  be  as  rich  and  desirable  as  any 
part  of  Erie  Conference.  May  God  continue  to  bless 
Clarion,  and  revive  spiritual  holiness  in  its  membership." 
— (Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  September  7,  1872.) 

“The  church  at  Centerville,  President  charge,  was  ded- 


656  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

icated  August  18,  1872,  by  Prof.  James  Marvin,  of  Alle- 
gheny College.  This  church  has  been  built  for  several 
years,  but  for  some  cause  had  not  been  paid  for.  At  a 
meeting  of  trustees  this  year  an  effort  was  made  for  the 
purpose  of  freeing  it  from  its  weight  of  debt.  After  do- 
ing all  they  thought  was  in  their  power,  and  just  at  the 
point  of  despair,  Mr.  Edwin  Clapp  came  to  their  relief 
with  $500,  saved  the  church  and  relieved  the  minds  of 
the  members.” — (Pittsburg  Christina  Advocate , Septem- 
ber 14 , 18J2.) 


Conference  in  1873. 


September  3,  1873,  the  Erie  Conference  met  at  Brook- 
ville  Pa.,  with  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven  in  the  chair,  and 
W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

There  were  admitted  on  trial  at  this  session  the  fol- 
lowing persons : Lewis  T.  Kirk,  W illiam  H.  Haskell, 

Ernest  A.  Simons,  Lucius  G.  Bennett,  Charles  W.  Dar- 
row,  Samuel  Collier,  Cearing  Peters,  Nathaniel  Morris, 
Edson  F.  Edmonds,  John  Lusher,  and  James  K.  Adams. 
Richard  Peet  and  Thomas  Burroughs  were  received  from 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  connection,  and  Henry  Baker, 
Henry  Olson  and  C.  V.  Wilson  were  received  by  trans- 
fer. 

R.  R.  Roberts  was  expelled.  _ 

When  the  names  of  Alvin  Burgess,  Rufus  Parker,  E. 
M.  Nowlen  and  McVey  Troy  were  called,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  they  had  died  during  the  year. 


Appointments  for  1873:  Cleveland  District  David  C.  Os- 

borne presiding  elder;  Cleveland-First  Churchy  Hem ry  Baker, 
Erie  Street  J.  C.  Sullivan,  Scoville  Avenue  and  Kingsley  Chapel, 
Benjamin  Excell,  Moses  Hill,  Waring  Street  J.  H.  Tagg,  Broad- 
way. E.  S.  Gillette;  Newburg,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  ^st  Cleveland, 
David  Latshaw;  Nottingham  and  Glenville,  T.  D.  Blinn, 
loughby,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Mentor,  R.  D.  Waltz;  Painesville,  J.  S. 
Youmans;  Perry,  David  Mizener;  Madison,  A W Arundel, 
Union  ville,  Allen  Fouts,  sup.;  Mayfield,  I.  B.  Goodrich -Geneva, 
E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Saybrook,  Michael  Williams;  Grand  River,  O. 
W.  Darrow;  Thompson  and  Concord,  B.  C.  Warner,  W.  • 

Haskell;  Montville  and  Hampden,  H.  J-  ^p^coiL^^hagrin 
rr  Thwart-  Huntsburg  and  Clandon,  S.  C.  Collier,  cnagrm 

Falls  N H.  Holmes;  Bainbrldge,  Asa  Falk  tier ; Warrensville, 
Hiram  Kellogg;  Kirtland  and  Munson  to  be  supplied  ^. 
Wnrti ev ■ TCinesville  G.  W.  Staples,  Ashtabula,  A.  D.  » 

East  Ashtabula,  Darius  Smith;  Conneaut,  R.  F.  Keeler;  Bedford 
and  Northfield,  John  Beetham;  Burton,  J.  W.  Snyder,  lroy,  J. 
K.  Shaffer;  Richmond,  Patrick  O’Connor;  Morgan  H_N.  Stearns 
Kelloggsville,  J.  B.  Grover;  Lenox,  O.  G.  St.  John,  jenerson, 


Conference  in  i8y j. 


657 


Daniel  Rowland;  President  of  Willoughby  College,  L.  T.  Kirk; 
Agent  of  American  Bible  Society,  Albert  Norton;  Chaplain  of 
Western  Seamen’s  Friend  Society,  Samuel  Gregg.  Akron  Dis- 
trict, John  Tribby,  presiding  elder;  Akron — First  Church,  W.  W. 
Ramsey,  Second  Church,  James  Greer;  Ravenna,  G.  W.  Gray; 
Cuyahoga  Falls,  E.  A.  Squier;  Kent,  J.  H.  Starrett;  Pleasant 
Valley  and  Mogadore,  H.  N.  Steadman;  Peninsula,  S.  B.  Torrey; 
Twinsburg  and  Hudson,  Harvey  Henderson;  Tallmadge  and 
Brimfield,  W.  W.  Painter;  Rootstown  and  Randolph,  John 
O’Neal;  Edinburg  and  Atwater,  George  Elliott;  Charlestown,  A. 
T.  Copeland;  Windham,  D.  W.  Chandler;  Deerfield,  J.  B.  Ham- 
mond; Braceville,  Cyril  Wilson;  Canfield,  W.  J.  Wilson;  Ells- 
worth and  Berlin,  G.  P.  Preston;  Nelson,  E.  A.  Simons;  Gar- 
rettsville  and  Hiram,  John  Brown;  Warren,  W.  F.  Day;  Niles, 
Gabriel  Dunmire;  West  Farmington,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Bloom- 
field and  Bristol,  Harvey  Webb;  Windsor  and  Mesopotamia,  T. 
J.  Baker;  Orwell  and  Colebrook,  G.  W.  Anderson;  Williamsfield, 
T.  B.  Tait;  .Gustavus  and  Kinsman,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Cortland, 
E.  H.  Prosser;  Greensburg,  J.  J.  Excell;  Vienna,  J.  B.  Corey; 
Brookfield,  J.  E.  Johnson;  Hartford,  J.  S.  Card;  Mineral  Ridge, 
John  McLean;  Southington,  J.  H.  Meek;  Mantua,  J.  G.  Hawkins; 
Jackson,  Matthew  Moses.  Erie  District,  Russell  M.  Warren,  pre- 
siding elder;  Erie — First  Church,  Alfred  Wheeler,  J.  H.  Whallon, 
Simpson  Church,  E.  H.  Yingling,  Tenth  Street,  R.  A.  Caruthers; 
Wesleyville,  John  Akers;  Green,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  North  East, 
W.  F.  Wilson,  Albina  Hall,  sup.;  McKean,  J.  O.  Osborne;  Fair- 
view,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Girard,  J.  H.  Herron;  Wattsburg,  J.  A. 
Kummer;  Greenfield  and  Mina,  Abraham  Bashline;  Asbury  and 
Wayne,  N.  W.  Jones;  Springfield,  W.  A.  Clark;  Albion,  S.  M. 
Clark;  Lockport,  Stephen  Heard;  Fredonia,  R.  F.  Randolph; 
Dunkirk,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Mayville,  R.  W.  Scott;  Portland,  H. 
W.  Leslie;  Delanti,  Milton  Smith;  Cattaraugus,  to  be  supplied 
by  P.  D.  Barnhart;  Perrysburg,  James  Shields;  Dayton,  W.  H. 
Hover;  Hamlet,  T.  G.  McCreary;  Forestville,  W.  H.  Seeley; 
Sheridan,  E.  D.  McCreary;  Silver  Creek,  J.  M.  Bray;  Irving, 
Peter  Burroughs;  Westfield,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Summit  and  Lin- 
den, L.  G.  Bennett;  Ripley,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Arkwright,  to  be 
supplied  by  J.  C.  Ridout;  Compton  and  Arks,  to  be  supplied  by 
J.  W.  Hill;  Professor  of  Fredonia  State  Normal  School,  J.  N. 
Fradenburgh.  Jamestown  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  el- 
der; Jamestown,  D.  M.  Stever;  Ashville  and  Busti,  J.  W.  Davis; 
Sugar  Grove,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington,  F.  A. 
Archibald;  Kinzua,  Jeremiah  Garnette;  Sheffield  and  Kane,  S.  S. 
Burton;  Ridgway  and  Wilcox,  William  Martin;  Warren,  A.  J. 
Merchant;  Youngsville  and  Irvineton,  J.  F.  Hill;  Garland,  Syl- 
vester Fidler;  Corry,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Spartansburg,  Thomas 
Burroughs;  Centerville,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Titusville,  A.  N.  Craft; 
Pleasantville,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Enterprise  and  Shamburg,  M.  V. 
Stone;  Tidioute,  Frank  Brown;  Frewsburg,  W.  N.  Reno;  Ran- 
dolph, A.  H.  Domer;  East  Randolph,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Sinclair- 
ville,  H.  H.  Moore;  Panama  and  Grant  Station,  T.  P.  Warner; 
Ellington,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Leon,  W.  L.  Riley;  Little  Valley  and 
Salamanca,  Edward  Brown;  North  Harmony  and  Ebenezer, 
Rufus  Pratt;  Sherman,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Clymer,  D.  H.  Snowden; 
Columbus  and  North  Corry,  A.  A.  Horton;  Cherry  Creek,  Alva 
Wilder;  Ellery,  William  Rice;  Cherry  Grove  Mission,  to  be 
supplied;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission,  Holger 
Olson;  Principal  of  Chamberlain  Institute,  J.  T.  Edwards. 
Meadville  District,  William  P.  Bignell,  presiding  elder;  Mead- 


658  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ville — First  Church,  W.  W.  Wythe,  State  Street,  J.  S.  Albert- 
son; Saegertown,  G.  H.  Brown;  Townville,  John  Eckles;  Coch- 
ranton,  John  Abbott;  Cooperstown,  Orrin  Babcock;  Sunville,  J. 
K.  Adams;  Greenville,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Salem,  J.  A.  Hume; 
Sheakley ville,  J.  F.  Perry;  Evansburg,  Frederick  Fair;  Conneaut- 
ville,  I.  D.  Darling;  Spring,  J.  B.  Wright;  Harmonsburg,  Josiah 
Flower;  Rockville,  R.  C.  Smith;  Mill  Village,  J.  W.Blaisdell  ; Lines- 
ville,  C.  W.  Foulke;  Espy  ville,  A.  R.  Rich;  Jamestown,  A.  S.  Good- 
rich; New  Lebanon,  Robert  Beatty;  Waterloo,  H.  M.  Chamberlain; 
Fredonia,  A.  H.  Kinney;  Union  City,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Watei- 
ford,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Edinboro,  B.  F.  Wade;  Professors  in  Alle- 
gheny College,  James  Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde.  New  Castle  District, 
John  S.  Lytle,  presiding  elder;  New  Castle,  G.  W.  Maltby; 
Youngstown,  John  Peate;  New  Castle  Circuit,  L.  E.  Beardsley; 
Girard  and  Liberty,  Thomas  Guy;  Mt.  Jackson,  William  Bran- 
field;  Mahoningtown,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Lowell,  Nathaniel  Mor- 
ris; New  Wilmington,  C.  R.  Waters;  Harrlsville  and  Centerville, 
J.  M.  Foster;  Mercer,  F.  H.  Beck;  Hendersonville,  H.  C.  Smith; 
North  Washington,  John  Crum;  Clintonville,  Cearing  Peters; 
Poland,  John  Graham;  Middlesex,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Sharon,  L.  W. 
Day;  Sharpsville,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Greenwood,  Lewis  Wick; 
Hubbard,  William  Sampson;  Wheatland,  J.  H.  Vance;  Harlans- 
burg  and  Mt.  Pleasant,  J.  L.  Stratton;  Charlestown,  J.  K.  Men- 
denhall; Clarksville,  John  Perry;  Wampum,  E,  F.  Edmonds. 
Franklin  District,  John  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Franklin,  O.  L. 
Mead;  Reno,  R.  S.  Borland;  Oil  City,  J.  G.  Townsend;  South 
Oil  City,  R.  M.  Bear;  Shaw  Farm  and  Plumer,  L.  F.  Merritt; 
Petroleum  Center,  Thomas  Graham;  Fagundus  and  Hickory,  J. 
L.  Mechlin;  Fairview,  Washington  Hollister;  Greece  City,  B.  F. 
Delcr  Petrolia,  to  be  supplied  by  G.  J.  Squier;  Parker’s  Landing, 
R.  N.  Stubbs;  Brady’s  Bend,  S.  E.  Winger;  Emlenton,  George 
Moore;  Rouseville,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Rockland,  E.  M.  Kernick;  St. 
Petersburg  J.  F.  Stocker;  President,  D.  C.  Plannette;  Tionesta, 
John  Lusher.  Brookville  District,  J.  R.  Lyon,  presiding  elder; 
Brookville,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Brockway  ville,  L.  G.  Merrill;  Corsica, 
J C Rhodes;  Luthersburg,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Clarion,  O.  M. 
Sackett;  Troy,  Cyril  Wilson;  Perrysville,  J.  M.  Groves;  Wash- 
ington, J.  W.  Martin;  Punxsutawney,  Manassas  Miller;  Putney- 
ville  M L Eshbaugh;  Warsaw,  W.  N.  Taylor;  Rimersburg,  J. 
M Zeile;  Curllsville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Callensburg.  I.  N.  Clover; 
Reynoldsville,  Richard  Peet;  Shippen ville,  E.  R.  Knapp;  New 
Bethlehem,  J.  B.  Leedorn;  Clarington,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Agent  of 
Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull. 

John  Lusher,  W.  H.  Haskell. 

John  Lusher  used  his  intellectual  equipment  to  the  best 
advantage  and  attained  an  honored  position  among  his 
brethren.  He  was  endowed  with  a full,  clear,  sympa 
thetic  voice  which  helped  him  to  become  one  of  the  orators 
of  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  born  in  Rockland  Town- 
ship, Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  24,  1842.  He  was  reared 
on  a farm.  He  says ; “I  knew  what  it  was  to  rise  early 
and  work ; yet  I had  a pleasant  home  with  many  a day  to 
hunt,  fish,  "go  nutting,  or  spend  as  I wished.”  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  near  his  home  and  had  some 


John  Lusher,  W.  H.  Haskell. 


659 


academic  advantages;  and  withal  possessed  a taste  for 
literature.  He  served  his  country  three  years  during  the 
Civil  War  in  the  Seventy-eighth  Regiment  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  and  had  a part  in  many  of 
the  great  battles  of  the  western  armies.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Pryor,  of  Rockland  Township,  in  1865.  He 
was  converted  in  the  Rockland  church  in  1866  under  the 
labors  of  John  Abbott.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1871,  his  license  bearing  the  signature  of  O.  L.  Mead, 
presiding  elder  of  Clarion  District ; and  was  admitted  to 
the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1873. 

In  February,  1896,  William  H.  Haskell  determined  to 
try  the  climate  of  Southern  California.  His  health  had 
failed  the  previous  year,  and  his  appointment  to  Epworth 
Memorial  Church  as  second  preacher  was  merely  nominal. 
In  April,  soon  after  reaching  the  land  which  he  hoped 
would  be  favorable  to  his  health,  he  began  to  decline 
rapidly  and  passed  awTay  triumphantly,  in  Ontario,  Cali- 
fornia, cn  the  nineteenth.  “The  last  words  understood 
by  his  wife  were  those  of  a prayer,  wherein  he  called  for 
the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  was  a man  of  great 
simplicity  of  character  and  of  deep  religious  experience. 
He  had  the  instincts  of  a student,  and  preached  always 
from  a full  mind  and  prepared  heart.  He  was  scrupulous 
in  the  performance  of  all  the  duties  of  a minister,  and 
whether  in  the  pulpit,  amid  the  social  life  of  the  people,  or 
at  the  bedside  of  the  sick  he  was  the  faithful  minister  of 
Christ.  During  his  sickness  he  was  full  of  faith  and 
cheer,  saying  he  never  knew  the  depths  of  Christ’s  power 
to  save  as  during  the  months  of  his  sickness.” — Minutes 
of  Conference,  Vol.  XXVI.,  1896,  p.  432.) 

Mr.  Haskell  was  born,  in  Perry,  Ohio,  Dec.  27,  1844. 
He  married  Frances  E.  Nash  in  1873.  He  was  converted 
early  in  life  and  from  that  event  looked  forward  to  the 
ministry  as  his  life-work.  He  graduated  from  Allegheny 
College  in  1869,  and  then  taught  two  years.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1870,  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1873,  and  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  the  division.  He  was  presiding  elder 
on  Cleveland  District  in  1888-1890.  Mount  Union  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1891. 


66o 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


J.  K.  Adams,  L.  J.  Bennett. 

James  K.  Adams,  son  of  Richard  and  Martha  C.  M. 
Adams,  was  born  on  the  Adams  farm  in  Poitei  Town- 
ship,  Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.,  April  5,  1848.  He  spent  Ins 
early  life  on  a farm,  attending  school  three  or  four  months 
during  the  winter  terms  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age, 
after  which  the  farm  demanded  all  his  time.  Desirous  of 
securing  an  education,  he  utilized  his  spare  moments  in 
study,  and  made  such  progress  that,  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
he  began  to  teach  in  the  public  schools.  1 hus,  by  teach- 
ing in  the  winter,  he  was  able  to  pay  his  way  at  Dayton 
Union  Academy  and  Allegheny  College  a portion  ot  each 
year  for  six  years.  When  but  a child  he  was  the  subject 
of  deep  religious  impressions,  and  at  the  age  of  thiiteen 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Ringgold, 
Pennsylvania,  under  the  labors  of  William  Grove,  a local 
preacher,  who  was  at  the  time  supplying  the  charge.  He 
held  various  offices  in  the  Church  until,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-four he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  his  home  Quaiterly 
Conference,  O.  L.  Mead  being  the  presiding  elder.  He 
was  received  on  trial  bv  the  Eiie  Confeience  in  1873* 
ing  the  first  of  a long'  list  of  ministers  received  into  the 
Erie  Conference,  recommended  from  the  Clarion  Dis- 
trict.” During  his  first  pastorate  on  the  Sunville  Circuit 
one  hundred  and  twelve  were  received  into  the  Church,  a 
parsonage  was  built,  and  a church  erected  at  East  Troy. 
During  his  second  pastorate,  at  West  Monterey,  nearly 
one  hundred  were  converted,  and  a parsonage  built.  A 
church  was  also  erected  at  Independence.  He  has  en- 
joved  many  revivals — that  on  Garland  Charge  resulting 
in  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  conversions;  at  Bethel,  on 
Cooperstown  Charge,  sixty  conversions;  on  Woodcock 
Charge,  more  than  one  hundred ; and  goodly  numbers  on 
several  other  charges.  He  writes  under  date  of  August 
6,  1903  : “I  am  now  closing  my  thirtieth  consecutive  year 
in  the  active  work  and,  thanks  to  a good  providence,  I 
have  never  missed  an  appointment  on  account  of  ill-health, 
and  very  few  for  any  other  reasons.”  During  this  time 
he  has  made  fifteen  thousand  pastoral  visits,  and  attended 
well  to  all  the  varied  interests  of  the  churches  which  he 
has  served. 

Lucius  Jones  Bennett  was  born  in  Hanover  Township, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  10,  1838.  He  was  converted 


Morris , Pcct,  Peters , Simons.  661 

tinder  the  ministry  of  Joseph  Leslie  in  the  town  of  Elling- 
ton in  1865,  licensed  to  exhort  in  1867,  and  licensed  to 
preach  in  1872.  He  enlisted  in  the  itinerant  ranks  in  Erie 
Conference  in  1873.  1883,  his  health  being  impaired,  he 

was  granted  a supernumerary  relation,  but  was  made  ef- 
fective in  1889.  In  1895  he  was  superannuated  and  has 
been  continued  in  that  relation,  making  his  residence  near 
Kennedy,  New  York. 

Mr.  Bennett  has  been  blessed  with  several  good  re- 
vivals, and  has  built  and  repaired  a number  of  churches 
and  parsonages.  At  Sinders,  on  the  “Summit  and  Sin- 
ders”  charge  the  conversions  numbered  one  hundred;  on 
the  Clymer  Charge,  one  hundred  and  fifty;  at  Sugar 
Grove,  forty;  on  the  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington  Charge, 
one  hundred  and  thirty.  While  traveling  Spring  Creek, 
under  the  presiding  elder,  1884,  1885,  1888,  he  had  one 
hundred  and  seventy  conversions ; and  there  was  a goodly 
number  on  other  charges  which  he  served. 

Morris,  Peet,  Peters,  Simons. 

Nathaniel  Morris  was  born  in  Wellington,  Ferndon, 
England,  Aug.  2,  1821 ; and  died  in  Fay,  Lawrence  Co., 
Pa.,  June  30,  1894.  When  a young  man  he  was  licensed  as 
a local  preacher  by  the  Burton-on-Trent  Circuit  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  He  was  a blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  kept  his  open  Bible  on  the  forge.  In  1850  he 
came  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  retained  his  member- 
ship in  that  communion  until  1859  when  he  was  recog- 
nized as  an  ordained  deacon.  In  1873  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  a successful 
preacher  of  the  gospel. 

“In  truth,  Nathaniel  Morris  was  very  much  greater 
than  ordinary  in  his  family,  in  society,  and  in  the  church. 
His  children  gave  him  that  spontaneous  love  and  care  that 
is  the  fruitage  of  wafm  affection  and  abiding  respect.  His 
influence  in  society  was  that  of  a truly  good  man ; he  was 
recognized  and  esteemed  as  one  whose  motives  were  pure 
and  impulses  just.  When  opposition  to  the  slave  power 
was  at  the  cost  of  sacrifice  and  persecution,  he  was  an  out- 
spoken abolitionist.  Hating  the  liquor  traffic,  he  was  an 
ardent  prohibitionist,  but  with  a zeal  that  was  governed 
by  wisdom.  In  local  matters  he  did  what  he  could  to 


662 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


make  politics  pure.  In  his  associations  with  men  he  con- 
demned evil,  and  gave  his  strength  to  the  good  of  the 
community.  By  integrity  and  steadfastness,  he  earned 
and  possessed  the  regard  of  all  good  men.  A great  tree 
has  fallen,  and  the  sound  was  heard  throughout  all  the 
forest.” 

Richard  Peet  was  born  in  1825.  ‘‘He  was  a man  of 
bright  mind,  and  was  inclined  to  be  quite  argumentative. 
His  earlier  life  was  spent  in  infidelity,  and  he  prided  him- 
self on  being  able  to  meet  and  defeat  in  debate  some  of 
the  brightest  men  of  the  church  in  his  locality.  He  was 
converted  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  Innocent  Ivinnear,  of 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  He  entered  the  ministry 
in  that  Church,  and  was  zealous  in  defending  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Church.  He  was  received  as  a traveling 
elder  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1873,  and  was  effective 
eight  years.  At  his  home  near  Fredonia,  Pennsylvania, 
his  earthly  life  came  to  a peaceful  close,  Sept.  6,  1894. 

Cearing  Peters  was  born  near  Elizabethtown,  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Pa.,  March  30,  1839.  His  parents,  Jonathan 
and  Katherine  Peters,  were  devoted  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Peters  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  Ride,  of  Jackson  Center, 
Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  October  29,  1857.  He  was  converted 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
winter  of  i862-'63  under  the  preaching  of  A.  H.  Bowers 
at  that  time  traveling  the  Deleware  Grove  Circuit, — now 
Fredonia,  Pa.  From  the  first  he  was  actively  employed 
in  the  various  departments  of  church  work.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1871  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1873,  having  labored  as  a supply  on  the 
Clintonville  Circuit  under  the  presiding  elder  the  preced- 
ing year.  Mr.  Peters  received  a fairly  good  English  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  has  always  been  a lover  of 
good  books,  and  given  much  time  to  study.  During  his 
ministry  he  has  enjoyed  several  gracious  revivals  especi- 
ally on  the  Clintonville,  Millerstown — now  Chicora — 
Reynoldsville  and  Clarion  Charges,  about  twelve  hundred 
persons  having  bowed  to  the  alter  and  nine  hundred  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Ernest  Alston  Simons  was  born  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula 
Co.,  Ohio,  June  10,  1849.  He  was  educated  at  the  Grand 
River  Institute,  Austinburg,  Ohio,  and  Mt.  Union  Col- 


I 


Methodism  in  Several  Places. 


lege.  Mount  Union,  Ohio,  graduating  from  the  latter  in- 
stitution in  1872. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Grand  River  Quar- 
terly Conference,  held  at  Harpersfield  in  1872,  Cyrus 
Prindle,  presiding  elder,  signing  the  license.  He  was  em- 
ployed as  a supply  on  Nelson  Charge  during  a part  of 

1872,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in 

1873.  He  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization  in  1876. 

Mr.  Simons  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cynthia 
A.  Reeve,  Rome,  Ohio,  Aug.  22,  1872. 

He  was  presiding  elder  of  Youngstown  District  in 
i884-’88.  I11  1897  he  was  elected  secretary  of  his  con- 

ference. 

Methodism  in  Several  Places. 

“One  year  ago  last  September  Garrettsville,  Ohio,  was 
put  under  the  care  of  the  presiding  elder  of  Ravenna  Dis- 
trict, and  E.  M.  Sanderson,  a layman,  who  had  recently 
moved  to  the  place,  came  to  the  seat  of  conference  to  say 
to  the  writer,  who  then  had  charge,  that,  after  much  diffi- 
culty, he  had  rented  an  old  hall  which  would  hold  near 
two  hundred  persons,  at  a cost  of  seventy-five  dollars  a 
year,  for  a place  to  preach,  and  that  he  and  a few  friends 
were  anxious  to  have  a preacher  sent  to  Garrettsville. 
There  were  then  thirteen  actual  members  of  our  Church 
at  Garrettsville,  with  some  six  or  seven  within  three  miles, 
who,  it  was  thought,  would  identify  themselves  with  the 
new  enterprise.  Conference  appropriated  $300,  mission- 
ary money,  and  Rev.  John  Brown  was  sent  as  the  mis- 
sionary. A Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  the  hall  the 
first  Sabbath  after  conference.  On  the  second  Sabbath 
the  pastor  was  in  his  place  welcomed  by  about  a hundred 
hearers.  The  Sunday  School  grew,  and  the  congregation 
grew,  and  everything  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  move- 
ment was  approved  of  God.  And  there  was  soon  a felt 
want  of  a new  church  building  in  which  to  worship.” 

We  break  off  the  history  of  the  progress  of  the  enter- 
prise, as  presented  by  Brother  Greer ; and  only  add  that — 
Hiram  Center  selling  their  church  and  uniting  their  half 
dozen  members — a new  ten-thousand-dollar  edifice  was 
erected  and  paid  for,  and  dedicated  to  the  services  of  Al- 
mighty God,  by  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Ramsey,  of  the  First 


664  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

Church,  Akron,  Ohio,  on  January  n. — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  Jan.  29,  18/4.) 

Millerstown — now  Chicora — was  for  long  years  a 
sleepy  little  village  of  a dozen  houses;  but  when  oil  was 
discovered,  it  awoke,  and  soon  grew  into  a place  of  several 
thousand  inhabitants.  With  the  people  came  also  the 
Methodist  preacher,  like  John  the  Baptist,  crying:  “Re- 

pent, for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.”  G.  J. 
Squier  preached  for  a few  months.  B.  F.  Delo  was  sent 
to  the  work  in  1873,  and  preached  in  the  English  Luther- 
an Church.  A large  hall  was  fitted  up  on  Slippery  Rock 
street,  and  a class  and  Sunday  School  were  organized — 
F.  M.  Small,  afterward  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
being  the  first  class  leader  and  the  first  Sunday  School  su- 
perintendent. The  following  constituted  the  first  class : 
Lydia  A.  Small,  Dr.  C.  E.  Peck,  G.  W.  Husselton,  Cath- 
arine Murphy,  C.  E.  Smith,  Frank  Cleminger,  Lizzie 
Cleminger,  Abraham  and  Rosanna  Hobbs,  and  F.  M. 
Small.  Brother  Delo  also  preached  at  Troutman  on  a 
dance  platform.  He  was  then  invited  into  the  dancing 
hall  where  he  organized  a class  of  six  members;  “Brother 
Perkison,  Brother  Terrill,  and  Brother  Wilson  with  their 
wives.”  In  1877  a Union  church  was  built  in  Troutman, 
and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  but  recently 
( 1902)  acquired  a title  to  the  church  property.  Mr.  Delo 
started  a subscription  for  the  erection  of  a church  at  Mil- 
lerstown, and  the  church  was  completed  in  the  pastorate 
of  R.  M.  Gwinn  in  1874.  R.  W.  Scott  followed,  and  a 
parsonage  was  built  during  his  pastorate.  Cearing  Peters 
— 1878-1880 — had  a glorious  revival,  and  hundreds  of 
souls  are  said  to  have  been  saved. 

In  1900  the  church  was  thoroughly  remodeled,  and  is 
now  a fine  edifice. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Petrolia  was  or- 
ganized September  1,  1873,  with  fourteen  members:  D. 

H.  Taylor  and  Jane  Taylor,  D.  N.  Amey  and  Adelia 
Amev,  L.  B.  Anderson  and  Fannie  Anderson,  H.  E.  Paine 
and  Jennie  Paine,  Isaac  Elliott  and  Charlotte  Elliott,  F. 
M.  Small  and  Lydia  Small,  E.  McCall  and  C.  McCall.  In 
the  same  year  a meeting  house  was  built  at  a cost  of  $2,- 
381.50;  and  a parsonage,  at  a cost  of  $491.75.  Both 
were  burned  in  the  fall  of  1884.  In  1885,  a new  church 
and  parsonage  were  erected  north  of  Squire  Fleming’s 


Conference  Appointments  in  18/4.  665 

house,  the  insurance  on  the  old  building  enabling  the  so- 
ciety to  rebuild. — (History  of  Butler  County,  R.  C. 

Brozvn  & Co.,  1895,  P • 547-) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Farmington — now 
Eau  Claire — belonged  originally  to  the  Clintonville  Cir- 
cuit and  meetings  were  held  in  groves,  tents,  and  private 
houses.  The  Blair  School  House  was  also  used  for  re- 
ligious services.  The  first  class  was  organized  by  Rev. 
Coxswain,  a local  preacher,  and  was  kept  alive  by  zealous 
leaders  until  1850  when  Edwin  Hull  was  appointed  to  the 
work  and  so  zealous  and  successful  was  he  in  its  prosecu- 
tion that  in  1851  a new  church  was  ready  for  dedication. 
This  housed  the  Methodist  flock  for  twenty-one  years 
when  under  the  ministry  of  J.  M.  Groves,  a larger  build- 
ing was  erected  at  an  outlay  approximating  four  thousand 
dollars.  The  congregation  and  membership  outgrew  the 
capacity  of  this  structure  and  a more  modern  building  was 
necessary.  This  was  completed  and  dedicated  during  the 
pastorate  of  Henry  Smallenberger. 

The  Grant  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized 
by  Cearing  Peters  in  1876,  and  a house  of  worship  erected 
the  following  year  on  John  Rosenberry’s  farm. 

The  Harrisville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  William  Carroll,  who  formed  Methodist 
classes  in  this  and  neighboring  townships.  Services  were 
held  in  the  school  house  until  1842  when  a meeting  house 
was  built  and  the  membership  increased  to  two  hundred. 
The  County  History  says:  “In  i860  seventy  members 

moved  westward  and.  with  the  exception  of  the  periods  of 
church  revivals,  the  membership  has  seldom  reached  one 
third  of  that  number.’’  In  recent  years  the  church  has 
been  more  prosperous  and  now  stands  at  the  head  of  a 
circuit. 

Conference  Appointments  in  1874. 

The  Erie  Conference  convened  at  Erie,  Pa.,  September 
2,  1874,  Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck,  presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day, 
secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial:  Samuel  L.  Ti- 

tus, Edwin  S.  Baker,  George  H.  Fairbanks,  John  C.  Rid- 
out,  Thomas  W.  Douglas,  John  A.  Ward,  Amos  M.  Lock- 
wood,  George  J.  Squier,  John  R.  Clark,  Russell  M.  Felt, 
and  Hiram  G.  Hall.  The  following  transfers  were  an- 


666  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

nounced  i Levi  L.  Luce,  A.  H.  W yhtt,  Chailes  W . Cush- 
ing, Peter  D.  Barnhart,  W.  B.  Holt,  and  E.  A.  Johnson. 

J.  G.  Townsend  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  mem- 
bership of  the  Church. 

The  decease  of  J.  W.  Hill,  James  Greer,  and  H.  W. 
Leslie  was  announced. 

Appointments  for  1874:  Cleveland  District,  David  C.  Os- 

borne, presiding  elder;  Cleveland  First  Church,  C.  W.  Cushing, 
Erie  Street,  J.  C.  Sullivan,  Moses  Hill,  Scoville  Avenue,  Benja- 
min Excell,  Kingsley  Chapel,  Dillon  Prosser,  Waring  Street, 
William  Sampson,  E.  S.  Gillette,  Broadway  Mission  J.  H.  Tagg; 
Newburg  A.  D.  Morton;  East  Cleveland,  G.  W.  Maltby;  Notting- 
ham and  Glenville,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Wickliffe,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Wil- 
loughby J.  H.  Dewart;  Mentor,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Painesville,  to 
be  supplied;  Fairport,  S.  L.  Titus;  Perry,  W.  A.  Clark;  Madison, 
A.  W.  Arundel;  Mayfield,  David  Mizener,  Geneva,  E.  J.  L. 
Baker;  Saybrook,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Grand  River,  E.  C.  Latimer, 
Thompson  and  Concord,  J.  W.  Snyder,  one  to  be  supplied, 
MontviUe  and  Hampden,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Chardon,  W N.  Reno, 
Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  Asa  Falkner;  Chagrin  ^ alls,  W.  F. 
Wilson;  Bainbridge,  S.  C.  Collier;  Warrensville,  C.  W.  Darrow, 
Kirtland  and  Munson,  to  be  supplied;  Kingsville,  H.  N.  S Stearns 
Aohtnhnla  L W.  Day;  East  Ashtabula,  O.  G.  St.  John,  Con 
neaut  R F Keeler;  Bedford  and  Northfield,  John  Beetham; 
Burton  G.  F.  Fairbanks;  Troy,  B.  C.  Warner;  Richmond  L E 
Beardsley  Morgan.  S.  B.  Torrey;  Kelloggsville,  Allen  Fouls, 
Lenox,  E.  S.  Baker;  Jefferson,  Daniel  Rowland;  Cleveland 
■Rethel  Samuel  Gregg;  Principal  of  Geneva  Normal  School,  L. 
T Kirk  S Akron  District.  John  Tribby.  presiding  elder;  Akron- 
FirS  Church,  Henry  Baker,  Second  Church  J H Merchant 
Davpnlla  Harvev  Webb;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  G.  W.  Gray,  Kent, 
L H.  Storrett;  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore  to  be  supphed; 
Peninsula  to  be  supplied;  Twinsburg  and  Hudson,  L.  W.  Ely, 
TaBmadge  and  Brimfield,  W.  W.  Painter;  Rootstown  and  Ran- 
™“orge  Elliott;  Edinburg  and  Atwater  P-W-  * Sherwood; 

ChR1^aters'JBraCevUlekiCS'vyWi^n?  Canfield  AV.”  j^WBso'n;' 

FJlsworth  and  Berhn  J S.  Card;  Nelson.  E.  A.  Simons;  Garretts- 
w Haskell-  Warren,  Alfred  Wheeler;  Niles,  Thomas 
Guy  WesY' Farmtagton  A H.  Domer;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol, 

LOTcnole“°rjaB  Gto\toPr0;aw?iham\nfire,dH“STrT|t7 
Gustavus  and 

?nhnson  Hartforf  H N Steadman ; Jackson,  J.  H.  Meek; 
Southtagtom  Matthew 

McLean;  Missionary  to  China,  u.  Tamestown  A H. 

^AsS  a?d°Ctl,T A’Horton;  Pffie  Gtove^nd  Farm- 

LnSt°nj  FdWStockCT°WwkrrenSaL ^“Merchant;  Kinzua,  Jeremiah 

Garnett' ^Ridgwav  and  Wilcox,  William  Martin;  Sheffield,  J.  H. 
Stoney'  Kane,  to  be  «.ppUe* 

Burton;  T^i0“‘e-garfatnkB® Sse  M V.  Stone;  Centerville,  J. 
TwZnt  TryZte  fnTSydeto^n,  Sylvester  Fidler;  Spar- 


Conference  Appointments  in  18/4. 


66  7 


tansburg,  Thomas  Burroughs;  Corry,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Columbus 
and  North  Corry,  G.  M.  Eberman;  Clymer,  J.  F.  Hill;  Sherman, 

D.  M.  Stever;  Panama,  T.  P.  Warner;  Freehold  and  Grant 
Station,  Major  Colegrove;  Ellery,  William  Rice;  Sinclairville, 
J.  W.  Davis;  Ellington,  P.  W.  Scofield;  Cherry  Creek,  Peter 
Burroughs;  Leon,  W.  L.  Riley;  Little  Valley,  W.  B.  Holt;  Sala- 
manca, H.  H.  Moore;  Randolph,  R.  S.  Borland;  East  Randolph, 
A.  S.  Goodrich;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove  Swedish  Mission, 
Holger  Olson;  Principal  of  Chamberlain  Institute,  J.  T.  Ed- 
wards; Missionary  to  Sweden,  B.  A.  Carlson.  Erie  District, 
Richard  M.  Warren,  presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church,  W.  W. 
Ramsey,  Simpson  Church,  E.  H.  Yingling,  Tenth  Street  Church, 
W.  W.  Wythe;  Wesley ville,  John  Akers;  Green,  Z.  W.  Shad- 
duck;  North  East,  N.  H.  Holmes,  Albina  Hall,  sup.;  McKean, 
J.  O.  Osborne;  Fairview,  A.  M.  Lockwood;  Asbury,  G.  J.  Bliss; 
Girard,  J.  H.  Herron;  Wattsburg,  J.  A.  Kummer;  Greenfield  and 
Mina,  Abraham  Bashline;  Asbury  and  Wayne,  G.  W.  Staples; 
Springfield,  J.  S.  Albertson;  Albion,  Michael  Williams;  Lock- 
port,  Stephen  Heard;  Fredonia,  R.  F.  Randolph;  Dunkirk,  E.  A. 
Squier;  May  ville,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Portland,  R.  W.  Scott;  De- 
lanti,  Milton  Smith;  Cattaraugus,  G.  J.  Squier;  Perrysburg,  N. 
W.  Jones;  Dayton,  J.  H.  Whallon;  Hamlet,  S.  M.  Clark;  Forest- 
ville,  P.  D.  Barnhart;  Sheridan,  R.  M.  Bear;  Silver  Creek,  J.  M. 
Bray;  Irving,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Westfield,  W.  H.  Seeley,  J.  E. 
Chapin,  sup.;  Summit  and  Sindens,  L.  G.  Bennett;  Ripley,  A.  J. 
Lindsey;  Arkwright,  J.  C.  Ridout;  Chaplain  of  Soldiers’  Home, 

E.  A.  Ludwick;  Principal  of  Mansfield  State  Normal  School,  J. 
N.  Fradenburgh.  Meadville  District,  William  P.  Bignell,  presid- 
ing elder;  Meadville — First  Church,  W.  F.  Day,  State  Street,  W. 
H.  Wilson;  Saegertown,  J.  F.  Perry;  Townville,  John  Eckles; 
Cochranton,  R.  C.  Smith;  Cooperstown,  Orrin  Babcock;  Sunville, 
J.  K.  Adams;  Greenville,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Salem,  J.  A.  Hume; 
Sheakleyville,  C.  W.  Foulke;  Evansburg,  W.  H.  Hover;  Con- 
neautville,  I.  D.  Darling;  Spring,  John  Abbott;  Harmonsburg, 
G.  H.  Brown;  Rockville,  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Mill  Village,  J.  W. 
Blaisdell;  Linesville,  T.  W.  Douglas;  Espyville,  A.  R.  Rich; 
Jamestown,  E.  D.  McCreary;  New  Lebanon,  J.  B.  Wright;  Sandy 
Lake,  A.  H.  Kinney;  Waterloo,  S.  E.  Winger;  Fredonia,  Fred- 
erick Fair;  Union  City,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Waterford,  G.  W. 
Chesbro;  Edinboro,  B.  F.  Wade;  Professors  in  Allegheny  College, 
James  Marvin,  A.  B.  Hyde.  New  Castle  District,  John  S.  Lytle, 
presiding  elder;  New  Castle— First  Church,  J.  S.  Youmans,  First 
Ward,  J.  A.  Ward;  Youngstown,  John  Peate;  Girard  and  Liberty, 
C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Mt.  Jackson,  Lewis  Wick;  Mahoningtown, 
John  Crum;  Lowell,  Nathaniel  Morris;  New  Wilmington,  Harvey 
Henderson;  Harrisville  and  Centerville,  J.  M.  Foster;  Mercer, 

F.  H.  Beck;  Hendersonville,  H.  C.  Smith;  North  Washington, 
William  Branfield;  Clintonville,  Cearing  Peters;  Poland,  John 
Graham;  Middlesex,  G.  W.  Clarke;  Sharon,  David  Latshaw; 
Sharpsville,  John  Perry;  Wheatland,  J.  H.  Vance;  Hubbard, 
A.  T.  Copeland;  Greenwood,  Patrick  O’Conner;  Harlansburg 
and  Mt.  Pleasant,  J.  L.  Stratton;  Charlestown,  J.  K.  Menden- 
hall; Clarksville,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Wampum,  E.  F.  Edmonds; 
Coalburg,  to  be  supplied.  Brookville  District,  John  R.  Lyon, 
presiding  elder;  Brookville,  R.  B.  Boyd;  Brockway  ville,  L.  G. 
Merrill;  Corsica,  J.  C.  Rhodes;  Clarion,  Cyril  Wilson;  Luthers- 
burg,  I.  N.  Clover;  Troy,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Perrysville,  H.  G. 
Hall;  Washington,  J.  W.  Martin;  Punxsutawney,  Manassas 
Miller;  Putney  ville,  Richard  Peet;  Warsaw,  W.  M.  Taylor;  Rim- 


668 


History  of  Brie  Conference. 

ersburg,  J.  M.  Zeile;  Curllsville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Callensburg,  O.  M. 
Sackett;  Reynoldsville,  R.  M.  Felt;  Salem,  E.  R.  Knapp;  New 
Bethlehem,  G.  W.  Anderson;  Clarington,  to  be  supplied;  Port- 
land, to  be  supplied;  Agent  of  American  Bible  Society,  Edwin 
Hull.  Franklin  District,  Joseph  Leslie,  presiding  elder;  Frank- 
lin, O.  L.  Mead;  Oil  City,  J.  C.  Scofield;  South  Oil  City,  Wash- 
ington Hollister;  Reno,  to  be  supplied;  Plumer  and  Pithole,  L. 

F.  Merritt;  Rouseville,  P.  P.  Pinney;  Petroleum  Center,  Thomas 
Graham;  Fagundus  and  Hickory,  J.  L.  Mechlin;  Fair  view,  D.  C. 
Plannette;  Millerstown,  R.  M.  Gwinn;  Petrolia,  A.  L.  Kellogg; 
Parker,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  Brady’s  Bend,  J.  M.  Groves;  Emlenton, 

G.  W.  Moore;  Rockland.  E.  M.  Kernick;  St.  Petersburg,  B.  F. 
Delo;  President,  Alva  Wilder;  Tionesta,  John  Lusher;  Monterey, 
John  R.  Clark. 

A.  M.  Lockwood,  John  A.  Ward,  T.  W.  Douglas. 

Amos  M.  Lockwood  was  born  near  Pleasantville,  Ve- 
nango Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  7,  1849.  His  father,  Amos  Lock- 
wood,  was  a native  of  Vermont,  and  his  mother,  of  Catta- 
raugus County,  New  York.  In  1865  the  family  moved 
to  Medina  County,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  four  years. 
They  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Erie 
County,  on  French  Creek,  between  Mill  Village  and 
Waterford.  Mr.  Lockwood  was  converted  at  the  Frisbee 
appointment  under  the  preaching  of  T.  J.  Baker,  during  a 
series  of  meetings  held  in  1869.  In  1871  he  felt  deep  con- 
victions that  he  ought  to  preach  the  gospel,  but,  realizing 
his  lack  of  preparation,  stifled  conviction,  and  fled  to  the 
oil  fields  in  search  of  riches;  but  no  rest  came  to  his  dis- 
quieted spirit  until  he  yielded  to  the  supreme  call.  He 
was  educated  in  common  and  select  schools,  and  ‘‘the  old 
stone  Academy”  at  Waterford.  He  was  received  on  trial 
in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1874,  having  been  licensed  to 
preach  the  previous  year. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  A.  C. 
Gregory,  in  1873. 

John  A.  Ward  was  born  in  Clymer,  N.  Y.,  August 
26,  1845,  and  died  m Ridgway,  Pa.,  November  30,  1886. 
The  family  moved  into  the  western  country,  and  John 
struggled,  under  many  discouragements,  to  fit  himself 
for  college,  and  entered  our  school  at  Evanston,  111.  He 
was  a hard  student.  It  is  related  of  him  that,  while 
sawing  wood  to  assist  in  paying  his  tuition  and  board,  he 
would  fix  his  Greek  or  Latin  book  on  a stick  and  thus 
be  able  to  study  his  conjugations  and  texts  while  at  work'. 
The  same  earnestness  and  thoroughness  characterized 
all  his  endeavors.  He  was  soundly  converted  at  the  age 


A.  M.  Lockwood , John  A.  Ward , T.  W.  Douglas.  669 

of  twenty  in  his  own  home,  while  his  mother  was  plead- 
ing for  salvation — mother  and  son  kneeling  side  by  side. 
His  intense  application  told  upon  his  health,  and  he 
came  to  Crawford  county,  Pa.,  for  rest.  He  had  already 
been  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1874  was  admitted  to  the 
Erie  Conference  as  a probationer.  Revivals  accompan- 
ied his  labors,  and  during  the  twelve  years  of  his  active 
ministry  more  than  one  thousand  souls  were  converted. 
Of  the  work  on  his  last  charge,  Rev.  W.  P.  Bignell,  D.D., 
says : “How  well  he  did  his  work — faithful  in  every  de- 
partment, manly  in  his  deportment,  uncompromising  in 
principle,  studious  and  industrious,  with  an  artist's  eye 
and  hand  throwing  light  on  scripture  teaching;  with  tele- 
scope sweeping  the  heavens  by  night  with  his  class  in 
astronomy  about  him ; his  beautiful  and  truthful  model 
of  Jerusalem  for  the  Sunday  school,  the  class  room  walls 
of  the  church  representing  prominent  scenes  from  the 
life  of  Christ;  his  sweet  disposition,  clear  exposition  of 
the  Word;  his  kindly  intercourse  with  the  people;  his 
love  of  his  fellow  pastors  of  Ridgway,  having  selected 
the  Rev.  T.  S.  Negley,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
preach  his  funeral  sermon;  the  sad  countenances  of  the 
large  congregation  at  the  church  at  his  funeral — all  an- 
swer that  he  did  it  well,  and  as  only  a true  servant  of  the 
Most  High  can.” 

Thomas  Washington  Douglas  was  born  near  New 
Castle,  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.  In  1854  the  family  moved 
to  the  State  of  Indiana,  but  returned  four  years  later. 
In  August,  1861,  Mr.  Douglas  enlisted  in  the  One  Hun- 
dredth Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers — known  as 
“Roundheads,”  and  after  serving  his  term  of  three  years, 
re-enlisted.  He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  was 
discharged  July  28,  1865,  having  taken  part  in  twenty- 
six  battles. 

He  graduated  from  the  New  Castle  High  school  and 
Edinboro  State  Normal  school,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
student  for  three  years  in  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
He  spent  six  years  in  teaching.  He  was  converted  at 
New  Castle  under  the  preaching  of  J.  C.  Scofield  in 
1866,  and  became  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Later  he  moved  to  Oil  City,  and  in  1873  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Grace  Church  recommended 
him  to  the  Franklin  District  Conference  for  license  to 

43 


i*rTr 


67o  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

1 Hk  license  bears  the  signature  of  Joseph  Leslie 
preach.  H,s  licen!t  Cottage  as  a supply  under 

presiding  eldei . He  ser  ° Cottage 

W.  P.  Bignell,  presiding  Helen  for  T*e 

was  then  a part  of  trej°^s  targe  recoiumended  him 
quarterly  conference  of  this  cha^e  admission  to  the 

^^r;?^:  ran^e  was  received  on 

from  Grove  'r"ag^with  Miss  Mary  Emory, 

He  was  united  in  marriage  vm 

of  Harlansburg.  Pa.,  June  8,  7 

Edwin  S.  Baker,  Hiram  G.  Hall. 

^ , . c o , r was  Korn  in  Mechanicsville,  Ashta- 

Edwin  S.  Baker  w a died  at  hjs  home  at 

bula  Co.,  Ohio.  Ju  y > ’ j_j£  was  converted  and 

Mechanicsville,  J™  • 9 + b hood.  He  grew  up  m 

united  with  j wisdom  and  efficiency  m 

that  relationship,  mcreas  g licensed  to 

»«  the  «'«h  J letra-elhtg  con- 

preach  in  i8?i,  a i an7^then  in  the  East  Ohio  Con- 
nection. first  ” s 'ent  twentv-seven  years  in  the  triumphs 
ferences.  He  spent  t'\eiiiy  - “His  ministry 

and  trials  ot  the  Metho  jncreasing  devotion  to  young 
was  characterized  b>  , Qf  Epworth  Leagues; 

KOP"-  Hr  Sfplan,  a”5  Uto.  and  «...  ns  «» 

took  a part  in  tb  , Pj^  a father  t0  the  young  people 

recently  said  ot  him,  ,1  Whatever  his  hands 

He  could  not  do  things  by  halves^  W ha  ed 

found  to  do  he  did  with  his  m ght. ■ * tQ  Ws  old 

himself.  Upon  his  suPe^”e  hg  lived  and  labored,  and 

home  at  Mechamcsv  , (Pittsburg  Christian 

was  loved  and  respected  by  all.  a 

^HM^ 

9,  1889:  “M> da£  Jersey  to  Clinton  county,  Pa.,  and 
emigrated  from  Le  J J tQ  Butler  county,  of  the 
from  there,  after  a brief  { h precise  dates 

same  state.  I have  no  knowledge  of  tj  x conclude 
of  these  changes,  but  from  must  have  settled  in 

that  my  grandfather  Ha  - Hg  was  0f  English 


Edwin  S.  Baker , Hiram  G.  Hall. 


671 


try.  They  came  from  Germany  to  this  country  the  lat- 
ter quarter  of  the  last  century,  about  1780  or  1790,  and 
settled  at  Bethlehem,  Pa.  The  exclusive  system  of  this 
sect  as  practiced  in  the  old  world  was  incompatible  with 
American  ideas  of  liberty  (a  system  now  entirely  aban- 
doned by  the  brethren),  hence  many  left  their  villages 
and  wandered  into  new  communities.  My  mother’s 
father  was  one  of  those  who  left  the  community,  and 
found  his  way  into  Butler  county  at  a date  none  of  us 
can  definitely  fix.  About  the  year  1832  my  father  and 
mother  were  married.  They  came  across  the  Allegheny, 
pushing  their  way  into  the  wilderness,  and  finally  locat- 
ing a farm  in  Jefferson  county,  near  what  is  now  known 
as  Baxter  station.  The  farm  lies  south  of  Red  Bank 
creek  and  about  five  miles  southwest  of  Brookville.  Here 
I was  born  in  the  year  1852,  and  here  I lived  until  I was 
grown  to  manhood.  My  father  died  before  I was  born, 
and  hence  the  entire  care  of  the  family  of  small  children 
rested  upon  my  widowed  mother.  The  success  that 
crowned  her  efforts  to  keep  her  children  together,  give 
them  a good  education,  and  inculcate  good  moral  prin- 
ciples, proves  the  determined  spirit  with  which  she  un- 
dertook the  task.  She  has  long  since  gone  to  her  rest, 
but  to  the  family  she  left,  her  memory  is  blessed  indeed. 

“I  was  converted  in  the  fall  of  1866  at  Mt.  Pleasant 
appointment  on  the  Troy  charge  under  the  labors  of 
Rev.  L.  L.  Luce.  I taught  my  first  school  in  my  seven- 
teenth winter  in  the  school  room  out  of  which  I had 
gone  as  a pupil  the  winter  before.  From  this  time  on 
for  four  years  I taught  in  the  winter  and  attended  school 
in  the  summer  until  the  spring  of  1873,  when,  owing  to 
ill  health,  I went  to  Colorado.  From  my  childhood  I had 
a frail  constitution  and  seemed  to  demand  a great  amount 
of  outdoor  life  to  feel  at  all  fit  to  work.  I found  that 
the  climate  of  Colorado  benefited  me  greatly,  so  I con- 
cluded to  remain  there  a while.  I was  licensed  as  an 
exhorter  in  1869  by  my  class,  Brother  William  Taylor 
being  my  pastor,  and  Brother  O.  L.  Mead,  presiding  el- 
der. I sustained  this  relation  to  the  church  until  1872, 
when  I was  given  a local  preacher’s  license,  Brother  O. 
M.  Sackett  being  my  pastor,  and  Brother  Mead  my  pre- 
siding elder.  I cannot  remember  the  time  when  I did 
not  believe  that  if  I were  true  to  myself  and  my  Savior 


672  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

I would  preach  the  gospel.  In  the  month  of  July,  1873, 

I was  recommended  by  the  Clarion  District  Conference, 
Brother  Cyril  Wilson,  pastor,  and  J.  R.  Lyon,  presiding 
elder  to  the  traveling  connection  in  the  Colorado  Con- 
ference. I was  admitted  and  sent  to  the  South  Arkansas 
Circuit.  I had  a large  field  of  labor,  mostly  a mountain- 
ous region.  After  about  six  months'  labor,  I was  taken 
sick  with  inflammatory  rheumatism  and  rendered  incap- 
able of  filling  my  work.  I came  home  in  the  month  of 
January,  1874.  and  in  the  autumn  following  entered 
Erie  Conference,  after  having  my  relation  to  Colorado 
Conference  discontinued  at  my  own  request  1 was 
married  in  August  of  this  year  to  Miss  Ida  H.  Carson, 
of  Madison  township,  Clarion  county,  Pa.  Our  first  ap- 
pointment was  Ringgold  and  Perrysville  Circuit.  In 
the  little  parsonage  at  Ringgold  we  began  tbe  life  of  an 
itinerant  ministry  in  the  church  of  our  choice,  full  o 
faith  and  zeal,  contented  and  happy,  ready  to  bear  and 
to  share  together  the  crosses  and  the  blessings  of  lite. 

W.  B.  Holt.  R.  M.  Felt. 

William  Burnham  Holt  was  born  in  Webster,  N.  Y., 
\u<nist  14.  1830.  His  parents  were  staunch  Presbyter- 
ians of  the  old  school,  and  his  father  died  suddenly  111 
the  house  of  God.  His  mother  also  died  when  ready  to 
go  to  church  and  the  carriage  at  the  door— the  chariot 
of  God  descending  and  bearing  her  away.  William  was 
converted  in  his  youth  at  a Methodist  revival,  and  his 
pious  mother  encouraged  him  to  join  the  church  at  whose 
altar  he  had  found  the  Savior.  He  graduated  at  Alle- 
ghenv  College  in  1856,  and  taught  school  during  parts 
of  the  three  years  following.  Having  been  licensed  to 
preach,  while  visiting  his  brothers  in  \\  isconsin,  he  sup- 
plied Stevens’  Point.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
East  Genesee  Conference  in  1859.  Later  lie  was  con- 
nected with  the  Michigan  and  Detroit  Conferences,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference  111  1874,  in  which 
he  successfully  served  several  important  charges.  He 
was  an  able  preacher  and  often  eloquent,  a good  man  and 
a true  friend.  He  died  at  Plumer.  Pa.,  July  14,  i892- 
Russell  M.  Felt  was  of  Scotch  lineage.  He  was  born 
in  Potter  county,  Pa.,  November  6,.  1839.  W hen  about 
six  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  into  Jefferson  county 


Blooming  Valley  and  Hydetozvn. 


6/3 


and  settled  on  a farm  near  Brockwayville.  His  first 
work  was  such  as  the  farmer  in  early  days  found  in 
abundance  for  the  boys.  When  older  he  worked  in  a 
saw  mill,  or  rafted  down  the  river  to  Pittsburg.  His 
early  education  was  sadly  neglected,  and  yet  by  diligence 
and  perseverance  he  acquired  a fair  knowledge  of  the 
English  branches.  In  his  boyhood  his  parents  were  Free 
Will  Baptists  and  he  was  instructed  in  this  faith.  Later 
they  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
says : “I  was  converted  when  a little  boy,  and  do  not 

remember  the  time,  place  or  circumstances.  I served  the 
church  as  Sunday  school  superintendent  two  years,  as 
steward  ten  years,  and  as  exhorter  two  years.  When 
quite  a small  boy  I felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  preach  the 
gospel  and  frequently  gathered  my  playmates  around  me 
and  in  my  childish  way  preached  to  them,  but  as  I grew 
up,  from  a sense  of  unfitness,  I shrank  from  the  work 
with  its  arduous  duties  and  grave  responsibilities.  At 
length,  encouraged  by  the  church  and  her  ministers,  I 
yielded.”  Mr.  Felt  was  licensed  to  preach  by  O.  L. 
Mead  at  Brockwayville  in  1870,  and  admitted  to  the 
itinerant  ranks  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1874,  and  the 
same  year  was  ordained  local  elder. 

Blooming  Valley  and  Hydetovvn. 

The  Methodist  class  at  Blooming  Valley  was  organ- 
ized in  a school  house  about  a mile  north  of  the  village, 
and  there  the  meetings  were  held  for  many  years.  Ser- 
vices were  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Advent  Church, 
which  was  free  to  all  religious  bodies.  A church  edifice 
was  erected  in  1874  at  a cost  of  $4,500.  and  was  sur- 
mounted by  a bell  which  cost  an  additional  $300.  Among 
the  early  members  were:  James  Wygant  and  wife,  An- 
drew Floyd  and  wife.  Miss  Sarah  Armstrong,  Airs.  John 
Rodebush  and  Mrs.  John  Robbins.  The  society  is 
(1899)  attached  to  Saegertown  Circuit. — (Bates,  Our 
County  and  Its  People,  1899,  p.  6j2.) 

The  Hy detown  Circuit  was  formed  in  1874,  and  em- 
braced the  Hydetown,  Bethel  and  Tryonville  classes.  The 
territory  was  taken  from  the  old  Titusville  Circuit.  In 
1877  East  Troy  was  added  from  the  Sunville  Charge.  It 
is  difficult  to  trace  the  early  history  of  these  appointments. 
The  class  at  Tryonville  was  organized  in  1833  and  for 


674 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

many  years  was  the  only  religious  society  in  Steuben 
Township.  The  original  membership  was  small  and  in- 
cluded James  Tryon  and  wife,  David  Tryon  and  wife  and 
Mrs.  Harriet  Matthews.  James  Tryon  was  the  leader  of 
this  class  for  forty  years.  Services  were  held  in  the  school 
house  until  1870,  when  a commodious  church  edifice  was 
erected  at  a cost  of  about  $7,000 .—(Brown,  History  of 
Crawford  County , p.  655.) 

The  Hy detown  class  was  organized  by  John  Abbott  in 
1847,  and  consisted  of  the  following  members:  Joseph 

Spalding  and  wife,  Oran  Davenport  and  wife,  Thomas 
Titus  and  wife,  and  “Sister  Baugher.”  Mr.  Davenport 
was  the  first  class-leader.  “The  progress  of  this  class  has 
been  mysteriously  changeable,  attaining,  thiough  unusual 
outpourings  of  the  divine  spirit,  to  a membeiship,  esti- 
mated from  fifty  to  a hundred  and  fifty ; and  falling  again, 
through  fluctuations  in  population,  occasioned  by  oil  ex- 
citement and  other  causes,  as  low  as  eight  or  ten. 

The  Bethel  class  has  existed  “since  the  earliest  recollec- 
tions of  the  earliest  inhabitants/’  The  church  was  built 
in  i8=;6  under  the  pastorate  of  George  M.  Eberman  and 
Jephtha  Marsh  of  the  Sunville  Circuit.  A class  had  been 
organized  as  early  as  1825,  and  the  following  are  men- 
tioned as  belonging  to  this  pioneer  class:  Andrew  Al- 

corn, Obed  Gardner  and  wife,  Isaac  Connell  and  wife, 
John  and  Martin  Zeley,  Barnett  Shelmadine  and  wife, 
Benjamin  Shelmadine  and  wife,  John  Colton  and  wife, 
and  “Charles  Fink  and  his  father.”  Early  meetings  were 
held  in  Fink’s  cabin,  then  in  Colton’s  School  House. 
Ouarterly  meetings  were  frequently  held  in  barns  and  in 
the  forest. — (Brown,  History  of  Crawford  County,  p. 

583-) 

A class  was  formed  at  Bromley  School  House  in  1850 
by  Thomas  Benn,  who  was  serving  Sunville  Circuit.  The 
place  of  meeting  was  changed  to  East  Troy  School  House 
which  was  occupied  until  the  erection  of  the  church  in 

1874- 

Appointments  IN  1875. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  session  of  1875  at 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  October  6,  with  Bishop  Levi  Scott, 
presiding,  and  W.  F.  Day,  secretary. 

David  H.  Lee  and  H.  C.  A.  Sedgerbloom  were  ad- 


Appointments  in  1875. 


675 


mitted  on  trial,  and  C.  N.  Grant  was  received  by  transfer. 
Benjamin  Marsteller  was  expelled  from  the  Church. 
The  decease  of  the  following  occurred  during  the  year : 
Ira  Eddy,  Darius  Smith,  David  King,  Josiah  Flower,  I. 
H.  Tackitt,  T.  G.  McCreary,  and  G.  W.  Maltby. 

Appointments  for  1875:  Cleveland  District,  David  C.  Os- 
borne, presiding  elder;  Cleveland — First  Church,  J.  N.  Fraden- 
burgh,  Erie  Street,  C.  W.  Cushing,  Scoville  Avenue,  Frank 
Brown,  Woodlawn  Avenue,  Moses  Hill,  C.  N.  Grant,  sup.,  War- 
ing Street,  A.  W.  Arundel,  Broadway,  J.  H.  Tagg,  South  Park, 
A.  D.  Morton;  East  Cleveland,  C.  H.  Stocking;  Nottingham  and 
Glenville,  F.  A.  Archibald;  Wickliffe,  R.  H.  Hurlburt;  Willough- 
by, J.  H.  Dewart;  Mentor,  I.  B.  Goodrich;  Painesville,  R.  F. 
Randolph;  Perry,  W.  A.  Clark;  Madison,  W.  H.  Seeley;  Geneva, 
J.  C.  Sullivan;  Saybrook,  Gabriel  Dunmire;  Ashtabula,  L.  W. 
Day;  Grand  River,  E.  C.  Latimer;  Thompson  and  Concord,  David 
Mizener,  one  to  be  supplied;  Montville  and  Hampden,  T.  B.  Tait; 
Chardon,  W.  N.  Reno;  Chagrin  Falls,  Benjamin  Excell;  Bain- 
bridge,  J.  W.  Snyder;  Mayfield,  J.  K.  Shaffer;  Kirtland  and 
Munson,  to  be  supplied;  Huntsburg  and  Claridon,  Asa  Falkner; 
Burton,  O.  G.  St.  John;  Troy,  B.  C.  Warner;  Warrensville,  S. 
C.  Collier;  Chaplain  to  Cleveland  Bethel,  Samuel  Gregg;  District 
Superintendent  of  American  Bible  Society,  E.  S.  Gillette;  Chap- 
lain of  Children’s  Aid  Society,  William  Sampson;  Agent  of 
Cleveland  City  Home  Mission  and  Church  Extension  Society,  Dil- 
lon Prosser.  Akron  District,  John  Tribby,  presiding  elder;  Akron 
— First  Church,  Henry  Baker,  Second  Church,  W.  H.  Wilson;  Ra- 
venna, G.  W.  Clarke;  Cuyahoga  Falls,  G.  W.  Gray;  Pleasant 
Valley  and  Mogadore,  Daniel  Rowland;  Kent,  J.  H.  Starrett; 
Peninsula,  J.  H.  Meek;  Twinsburg  and  Hudson,  L.  W.  Ely;  Bed- 
ford and  Northfield,  J.  H.  Merchant;  Tallmadge  and  Brimfield, 
Harvey  Webb;  Rootstown  and  Randolph,  George  Elliott;  Edin- 
burg and  Atwater,  P.  W.  Sherwood;  Charlestown,  E.  A.  Simons; 
Windham,  J.  P.  Mills;  Deerfield,  C.  R.  Waters;  Braceville,  J.  B. 
Corey;  Newton  Falls,  C.  V.  Wilson;  Canfield,  Thomas  Guy; 
Ellsworth  and  Berlin,  J.  B.  Card;  Nelson  and  Southington,  J.  J. 
Excell;  Garrettsville,  W.  H.  Haskell;  Warren,  Alfred  Wheeler; 
West  Farmington,  A.  H.  Dome.r;  Bloomfield  and  Bristol,  John 
Brown,  Ezra  Wade;  Windsor  and  Mesopotamia,  Henry  Hunscher; 
Orwell  and  Colebrook,  J.  B.  Grover;  Greensburg,  John  Beetham; 
Mantua,  T.  J.  Baker.  Erie  District,  Richard  M.  Warren,  presid- 
ing elder;  Erie — First  Church,  W.  W.  Ramsey,  Simpson  Chapel, 
P.  P.  Pinney,  Tenth  Street,  R.  M.  Gwinn;  Wesleyville,  J.  E. 
Chapin;  Green,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  North  East,  N.  H.  Holmes; 
McKean,  Abraham  Bashline;  Fairview,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Girard, 

E.  H.  Yingling;  Waterford,  B.  F.  Wade;  Greenfield  and  Mina, 
John  Akers;  Asbury  and  Wayne,  G.  W.  Staples;  Springfield, 
J.  S.  Albertson;  Union  City,  W.  H.  Mossman;  Wattsburg,  D.  S. 
Steadman;  Edinboro,  E.  A.  Squier;  Asbury,  J.  O.  Osborne; 
Lockport,  A.  M.  Lockwood;  Albion,  J.  H.  Vance;  Conneaut,  R. 

F.  Keeler;  Kelloggsville,  Allen  Fouts;  Richmond,  L.  E.  Beards- 
ley; Lenox,  E.  S.  Baker;  Kingsville,  H.  N.  Stearns;  East  Ashta- 
bula, J.  B.  Hammond;  Jefferson,  T.  D.  Blinn;  Morgan,  R.  W. 
Crane;  Principal  of  Lake  Shore  Seminary,  L.  T.  Kirk;  Agent 
for  Lake  Shore  Seminary,  Albina  Hall;  Agent  for  National  Sun- 
day School  Assembly,  W.  W.  Wythe.  Fredonia  District,  William 


676  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

F.  Wilson,  presiding  elder;  Fredonia,  J.  M.  Bray;  Dunkirk,  J.  A. 
Rummer;  Sheridan,  S.  M.  Clark;  Silver  Creek,  Milton  Smith; 
Irving,  to  be  supplied;  Portland,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  Westfield,  J.  H. 
Herron;  Ripley,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Arkwright,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Summit 
and  Linden,  J.  C.  Rhodes;  Sherman,  D.  M.  Stever;  Clymer,  L. 

G.  Bennett;  Mayville,  E.  J.  L.  Barker;  Ellery,  Jeremiah  Gar- 

nett; Sinclairville,  to  be  supplied;  Delanti,  T.  P.  Warner;  Catta- 
raugus, G.  J.  Squier;  Perrysburg,  N.  W.  Jones;  Dayton,  J.  H. 
Whallon;  Hamlet,  Stephen  Heard;  Forestville,  Harvey  Hender- 
son; Leon,  William  Rice;  Cherry  Creek,  Peter  Burroughs. 
Jamestown  District,  Niram  Norton,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown, 
T.  L.  Flood;  Ellington,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Salamanca,  H.  H.  Moore; 
Little  Valley,  W.  B.  Holt;  Randolph,  R.  S.  Borland;  East  Ran- 
dolph, A.  S.  Goodrich;  Kinzua,  J.  W.  Davis;  Frewsburg,  J.  F. 
Stocker;  Ashville  and  Busti,  A.  A.  Horton;  Panama,  Joseph 
Leslie;  Sugar  Grove,  D.  H.  Snowden;  Pine  Grove  and  Farming- 
ton  Edward  Brown;  Warren,  O.  G.  McEntire;  Sheffield,  J.  H. 
Stoney;  Kane  and  Wilcox,  to  be  supplied;  Ridgway,  William 
Martin;  Youngsville  and  Garland, .W.  L.  Riley;  Garland  and 
Spring  Creek,  Thomas  Burroughs;  Grant  and  Wrights ville, 
Major  Colegrove;  Freehold,  to  be  supplied;  Pleasantville,  P. 
W.  Scofield;  Enterprise,  to  be  supplied;  Titusville,  A.  N.  Craft; 
Tryon ville  and  Hydetown,  Sylvester  Fidler;  Centerville,  M.  V. 
Stone;  Spartansburg,  to  be  supplied;  Corry,  A.  S.  Dobbs;  Colum- 
bus and  North  Corry,  S.  S.  Burton;  Jamestown  and  Sugar  Grove 
Swedish  Mission,  H.  C.  A.  Sedgerbloom;  Principal  of  Chamber- 
lain  Institute,  J.  T.  Edwards;  Missionary  to  Sweden,  B A Carl- 
son Meadville  District,  John  Peate,  presiding  elder;  Meadville 
—First  Church,  W.  F.  Day,  State  Street,  R.  M Bear;  Saeger- 
town  J.  F.  Perry;  Town  ville,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Cochranton,  R. 
C Smith;  Cooperstown,  Orrin  Babcock;  Sunville,  S.  E.  Winger; 
Greenville,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Salem,  J.  L.  Mechlin;  Sheakley ville, 
C W Foulke;  Evansburg,  J.  A.  Hume;  Conneautville,  1.  D. 
Darling-  Spring,  L.  L.  Luce;  Harmonsburg,  W.  H.  Hover; 
Rockville  H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Mill  Village,  John  Eckles;  Lines- 
ville,  T.  W.  Douglas;  Espy  ville,  A.  R.  Rich;  Jamestown,  El D. 
McCreary;  Williamsfield,  Matthew  Moses,  Hartford,  H.  N.  Stead 
man-  Vienna  W.  J.  Wilson;  Cortland,  E.  F.  Edmonds;  Gustavus 
and  Kinsman,  R.  D.  Waltz;  New  Lebanon  J.  B Wright;  Fre- 
donia, Frederick  Fair;  Professor  in  A legheny , Coliege, , A.  B. 
Hyde.  New  Castle  District,  John  S.  Lytle,  presiding  elder,  New 
Castle — First  Church,  J.  S.  Youmans,  Second  Church,  J-  • 
Blaisdell;  Mahoningtown,  John  Crum;  Mt.  Jackson,  Lewis  Wick, 
Lowell,  G.  W.  Anderson;  Poland,  O.  L.  Mead,  Youngstown,  T. 
M House;  Girard  and  Liberty,  C.  T.  Kingsbury;  Niles,  J.  . 
Johnson;  Jackson  and  Ohlton,  James  Shields;  Brookfield,  J.  R. 
Clark-  Hubbard  A.  T.  Copeland;  Middlesex,  John  Graham, 
Wheatland  and  New  Virginia,  J.  F.  Hill;  D^vl(\1L1^sh^r; 

Sharnsville  John  Perry;  Charlestown,  J.  K.  Mendenhall,  Mer- 
cer F.  H.  Beck;  New  Wilmington,  H.  C.  Smith;  Harlansburg, 
to  be  supplied;  Clarksville,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Wamp urn,  G . 
Brown;  Greenwood,  C.  W.  Darrow;  Centerville  J.  A.  Ward 
Petersburg  to  be  supplied.  Franklin  District,  William  P.  g 
neU  pressing  elder;  Franklin,  W.  W.  Painter;  Oil  City,  to  be 
supplied;  South  Oil  City,  Washington  Hollister;  Plumer  and 
Pithole,  L.  F.  Merritt;  Rouseville,  to  be  supplied;  Petroleum 
Center,’  Thomas  Graham;  Fagundus  and  Hickory,  John  Abbott, 
Tionesta,  Alva  Wilder;  St.  Petersburg,  B.  F Delo;  Reno  to  be 
supplied;  Emlenton,  George  Moore;  Parker  City,  R.  N.  Stubbs, 


Theodore  L.  Flood. 


6 77 


Petrolia,  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Millerstown,  R.  W.  Scott;  Monterey, 
J.  K.  Adams;  Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove,  Nathaniel  Morris; 
North  Washington,  William  Branfield;  Farmington,  John  Lusher; 
Clintonville,  J.  L.  Stratton;  Waterloo,  J.  W.  Martin;  Hender- 
sonville, J.  M.  Foster;  Tidioute,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Karns  City, 
Cearing  Peters;  .Sandy  Lake,  A.  H.  Kinney.  Brookville  Dis- 
trict, John  R.  Lyon,  presiding  elder;  Brookville,  R.  B.  Boyd; 
Brockway ville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Corsica,  to  be  supplied;  Clarion, 
Cyril  Wilson;  Luthersburg,  I.  N.  Clover;  Troy,  L.  G.  Merrill; 
Perrysville,  H.  G.  Hall;  Washington,  J.  C.  Rhodes;  Punxsutaw- 
ney,  Manassas  Miller;  Putney  ville,  Richard  Peet;  Richardsville, 
to  be  supplied;  Rimersburg,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Curllsville,  D.  C. 
Plannette;  Callensburg,  O.  M.  Sackett;  Reynoldsville,  to  be 
supplied;  Emerickville,  R .M.  Felt;  Salem,  E.  M.  Kernick;  New 
Bethlehem,  to  be  supplied;  Rockland,  W.  M.  Taylor;  President, 
S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Brady’s  Bend,  J.  M.  Groves;  Clarington,  to  be 
supplied;  Portland,  to  be  supplied;  Agent  of  American  Bible 
Society,  Edwin  Hull. 

Theodore  L.  Flood. 

Theodore  L.  Flood  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  Blair 
county,  Pa.,  February  20,  1842.  He  was  educated  in 
the  academy  of  his  native  town  and  studied  two  years 
privately  under  Dr.  Ulysses  Hewitt,  of  the  same  place, 
and  for  a time  attended  Dickinson  Seminary  at  Williams- 
port, Pa.  He  received  his  theological  education  at  the 
Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  now  the  School  of 
Theology  in  the  Boston  University. 

His  parents,  Major  John  G.  Flood  and  Mrs.  Jane 
Flood,  were  both  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  but  Major  Flood  died  when  his  son  Theo- 
dore was  only  four  years  old.  At  sixteen  years  of  age 
Mr.  Flood  was  converted  in  a revival  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  his  native  town.  He  was  licensed 
to  exhort  when  eighteen  years  old  and  licensed  as  a local 
preacher  in  his  twentieth  year.  He  married  Miss  Annie 
M.  C.  Black  in  Huntingdon,  Pa.  He  served  in  the  Civil 
War  as  first  sergeant  and  then  as  lieutenant  in  Company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers.  He  joined  the  New  Hampshire  Con- 
ference in  1864.  He  was  superintendent  of  public  schools 
in  Salem,  N.  H.,  one  year,  and  was  elected  president  of 
the  New  Hampshire  State  Sunday  School  convention  in 
1874.  Failing  health  obliged  him  to  seek  a change  of 
climate,  and  he  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference. 

While  pastor  in  Jamestown  he  edited  and  published  the 
“Herald  of  the  Cross,”  and  in  Meadville  “The  Evangel,’' 
as  monthly  papers  in  the  interests  of  the  congregations 


678 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

he  served  He  retired  from  the  pastorate  and  latei  the 
Erie  Conference  to  give  all  his  time  to  his  work  as  editor. 

In  1874  Mr.  Flood  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Hamilton 
(now  bishop)  edited  and  put  to  press  at  the  Methodist 
Book  Concern  in  New  York  a book,  entitled  Lives  o 
the  Methodist  Bishops,”  a history  of  Methodism  from 
the  standpoint  of  an  active  episcopacy.  It  gives  the  life 
story,  together  with  a steel  engraving,  of  every  deceased 
bishop  in  every  branch  of  Episcopal  Methodism. 

When  pastor  in  Jamestown,  assisted  by  Mr.  M.  Bailey, 
he  founded  the  “Chautauqua  Assembly  Daily  Herald. 

Mr  Flood  was  owner  and  editor  of  this  periodical  for 
more  than  twenty  years.  While  pastor  at  Meadville  he 
founded  “The  Chautauquan,’  a magazine  which 
owned  and  edited  for  twenty  years  as  the  othcia  organ 
of  the  “Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific  Circle.  it 
trained  an  extensive  circulation  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe.  During  the  last  ten  years  of  his  ProP"etor^T 
he  paid  heavy  percentages  to  Chautauqua.  ^.  F o 
and  Dr.  George  E.  Vincent,  professor  in  the  Chicago 
University,  as  the  firm  of  “Flood  & Vincent,  published 
the  text  books  for  the  Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific 
Circle  and  paid  percentages  from  the  profits  on  the  sale 
of  these  books.  These  two  men  as  a company,  and  Mn 
Flood  in  percentages  on  his  magazine,  The  Chautau 
quan”  in  thirteen  years  paid  into  the  treasui  y at  Chau 
tauqua  two  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Broken 
health  followed  by  a severe  surgical  operation,  caused 
Mr.  Flood  to  terminate  his  work  as  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  Chautauqua  periodicals  and  retire  to  Prlvat®  ’ e . 

Mr  Flood  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divin  y 
from  Alt  Union  College,  and  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 

Laws  from  Dickinson  College.  He  \vas  a mlg'Ste^d 
delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of  1880,  1884  and 

l8Mr.  Flood  has  served  as  Superintendent  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal.  Sunday  school  twenty  years  in  the  same 
church?  where  he  formerly  served  three  years  as  Pasto  ’ 
St  which  church  h.  now  a®  a>  a ; »d^l 

nreacher  He  is  a trustee  of  Allegheny  College,  rr 
dent  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  the  Meadville  Commer- 
cial College,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been  President  o 
the  Board  of  Trustees  in  the  Pennsylvania  College 


Erie  Conference  Session  in  1876. 


679 


Music,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  board  in  the  Odd 
Fellows  Home.  He  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  a member  of  the  “Loyal  Legion.” 

Erie  Conference  Session  in  1876. 

The  1876  session  of  Erie  Conference  convened  in  Ti- 
tusville, Pa.,  October  4,  with  Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck  pre- 
siding, and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial:  James  G.  Town- 
send, William  G.  Williams,  Alfred  G.  Wilson,  Camden 
M.  Cobern,  John  Boyd  Espy,  John  M.  Crouch,  Charles 
M.  Morse,  O.  H.  Sibley,  Winfield  S.  Shepard,  Walter  O. 
Allen,  John  W.  Wright,  Edward  K.  Creed,  Arza  O. 
Stone,  W.  Watson  Woodworth,  William  M.  Martin,  Jo- 
seph H.  Laverty,  Clark  J.  Brown,  James  Clyde,  William 
W.  Cushman,  John  C.  McDonald  and  Thomas  H.  Shek- 
ler.  Jason  N.  Fradenburgh  and  O.  L.  Mead  were  re- 
ceived by  transfer. 

Warner  Bush,  D.  A.  Crowell  and  J.  R.  Shearer,  lo-  • 
cated. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  R.  B.  Boyd. 

Appointments  for  1876:  Erie  District,  William  F.  Wilson, 

presiding  elder;  Erie — First  Church,  W.  W.  Ramsey,  Simpson 
Chapel,  P.  P.  Pinney,  Tenth  Street,  W.  G.  Williams;  Wesley- 
ville,  J.  E.  Chapin;  Green,  I.  N.  Clover;  North  East,  A.  S. 
Dobbs,  Albina  Hall;  McKean,  Abraham  Bashline;  Fairview,  G. 
W.  Staples;  Girard,  E.  H.  Yingling;  Waterford,  B.  F.  Wade; 
Greenfield  and  Mina,  John  Akers;  Asbury,  J.  O.  Osborne;  Spring- 
field,  R.  M.  Gwinn;  Eureka,  Z.  W.  Shadduck;  Ripley,  G.  J. 
Squier;  Westfield,  J.  H.  Herron;  Portland,  A.  C.  Tibbetts;  May- 
ville,  J.  F.  Stocker;  Delanti,  S.  M.  Clark;  Summit,  J.  C.  Ridout; 
Arkwright,  J.  P.  Hicks;  Sheridan,  J.  S.  Albertson;  Fredonia,  J. 
M.  Bray;  Dunkirk,  J.  A.  Kummer;  Forestville,  Harvey  Hender- 
son; Hamlet,  H.  H.  Moore;  Silver  Creek,  Milton  Smith;  Broc- 
ton,  A.  G.  Wilson;  Irving,  W.  M.  Martin;  Professor  in  Lake 
Shore  Seminary,  L.  T.  Kirk.  Meadville  District,  John 
Peate,  presiding  elder;  Meadville — First  Church,  W.  F.  Day, 
State  Street,  Orrin  Babcock;  Saegertown,  D.  W.  Wampler;  Rock- 
ville, H.  M.  Chamberlain;  Mill  Village,  I.  D.  Darling;  Edinboro, 
E.  A.  Squier;  Union  City,  F.  H.  Beck;  Tryonville  and  Hyde- 
town,  Sylvester  Fidler;  Centerville  and  Riceville,  M.  V.  Stone; 
Spartansburg  Mission,  J.  W.  Wilson;  Townville,  J.  F.  Perry; 
Sunville,  T.  W.  Douglas;  Cooperstown,  J.  A.  Hume;  Cochranton, 
R.  C.  Smith;  Harmonsburg,  W.  H.  Hover;  Evansburg,  Lewis 
Wick;  Salem,  J.  L.  Mechlin;  Greenville,  J.  C.  Scofield;  Espy- 
ville,  John  Eckles;  Lineville,  L.  L.  Luce;  Conneautville,  A.  R. 
Rich;  Spring,  C.  M.  Coburn;  Albion,  J.  H.  Vance;  Lockport,  J.  F. 
Hill;  Wattsburg,  D.  S.  Steadman;  Professor  in  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, A.  B.  Hyde;  Financial  Secretary  of  Allegheny  College, 


68o 


680  History  of  Eric  Conference. 

W W Wythe.  New  Castle  District,  David  Latshaw,  presiding 
elder;  New  Castle— First  Church,  J.  S.  Youmans,  Second  Church, 

J W Blaisdell;  Mt.  Jackson  and  Mahoningtown,  R.  M.  Bear; 
Edinburg,  A.  M.  Lockwood;  Petersburg,  C.  M.  M'jrse;  Wampum 
and  Mt.  Pleasant,  John  Perry;  Croton  and  Greenwood  J.  O. 
Rhodes;  Harlansburg,  J.  M.  Crouch;  Centerville  J.  A Ward; 
New  Wilmington  and  Eastbrook,  J.  B.  Wright;  Middlesex  and 
Wheatland,  John  Graham;  Sharon,  O.  L.  Mead;  Sharpsville  and 
New  Virginia  W.  H.  Mossman;  Clarksville  and  Charleston, 
John  Crum;  Mercer,  N.  H.  Holmes;  Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove, 
Nathaniel  Morris;  Hendersonville,  J.  M.  Foster;  Sandy  Lake, 
G WT  Moore;  Fredonia,  Frederick  Fair;  New  Lebanon,  C.  W. 
Foulke ; Sheakleyville,  J.  W.  Crawford;  Jamestown,  Washing- 
ton Hollister;  Professor  in  New  Castle  College,  C.  W.  Darrow. 
Brookville  District,  Benjamin  F.  Delo,  presiding  elder;  Brook- 
viiie  A.  L.  Kellogg;  Corsica,  J.  H.  Laverty;  Clarion,  Manassas 
Miller-  Salem,  Jeremiah  Garnett;  Rockland,  W.  M.  Taylor, 
Washington,  E.  R.  Knapp;  Clarington.  T.  H.  Sheckler;  Richards- 
ville,  J.  M.  Groves;  Brockway ville,  C.  C.  Hunt;  Little  Toby,  o 
be  supplied;  Luthersburg,  D.  C.  Piannette;  Reynoldsville,  to  be 
supplied;  Emerickville,  R.  M.  Felt;  Bellview,  H G.  Hall;  Punx- 
sutawnev,  Cyril  Wilson;  Perrysville,  O.  H.  Sibley;  Troy,  J.  M. 
Zeile-  New  Bethlehem,  J.  C.  McDonald;  Putneyville  Thomas 
Graham;  Rimersburg,  Richard  Peet;  Curllsville  W.  S.  Shepard; 
Callensburg  O.  M.  Sackett;  President,  S.  L.  Wilkinson;  Bradys 
Bend  J.  Boyd  Espy;  Edenburg,  E.  M.  Kernick;  Shippenville, 
L G Merrill;  Agent  of  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society,  Edwin  Hull. 
Franklin  District,  William  P.  Bignell,  presiding  elder;  Franklin, 
W W.  Painter;  Reno,  to  be  supplied;  Oil  City,  J.  G.  Townsend, 
South  Oil  City,  E.  D.  McCreary;  Plumer,  James  Clyde;  Rouse- 
ville  J W Wright;  Fagundus,  John  Abbott;  Tionesta,  W.  O. 
\llen-  St.  Petersburg,  R.  S.  Borland;  Emlenton  J.  R.  Lyon; 
Tidioute,  A.  J.  Merchant;  Titusville,  J.  N.  Fradenburgh,  Pleas- 
antville  P.  W.  Scofield;  Enterprise,  A.  O.  Stone;  Parker  J.  S. 
Lytle;  Petrolia,  R.  N.  Stubbs;  Millerstown,  R.  W.  Scott;  North 
Washington,  William  Branfield;  Farmington,  John  Lusher;  Clin- 
ton ville,  J.  L.  Stratton;  Waterloo,  J.  W.  Martin;  Karns  City, 
Cearing  Peters;  Monterey,  J.  K.  Adams.  Jamestown  district, 
O G.  McEntire,  presiding  elder;  Jamestown,  T.  L Flood,  El 
ington,  G.  W.  Chesbro;  Ellery,  Alva  Wilder;  Sinclairville,  W. 
W Woodworth;  Cherry  Creek,  Peter  Burroughs;  Dayton  T.  P. 
Warner;  Cattaraugus,  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Perrysburg  N W.  Jones; 
Leon,  William  Rice;  Little  Valley,  J.  H.  Stoney  Salamanca,  . 
A Chapin;  Randolph,  William  Martin;  East  Randolph,  A.  S. 
Goodrich-  Frewsburg,  A.  J.  Lindsey;  Ashville  and  Busti,  A.  A. 
Horton;  Panama,  Joseph  Leslie;  Grant  and  Wrights^lle,  Thomas 
Burroughs;  Corry,  Niram  Norton;  Columbus  and  North  Corry 
S S Burton;  Clymer,  L.  J.  Bennett;  Sherman,  W.  B.  Holt, 
Garland  and  Spring  Creek,  Edward  Brown;  Sugar  Grove,  E.  K. 
Creed-  Pine  Grove  and  Farmington,  A.  H.  Bowers;  Youngsville 
and  Irvineton,  W.  L.  Riley;  Warren,  R.  M.  Warren  ;Kmzua\\-; 
W.  Cushman;  Sheffield,  L.  F.  Merritt;  Kane  and  Ludlow,  Miller 
Fording;  Ridgway,  Albert  Van  Camp;  Jamestown  and  Sugar 
Grove  Swedish  Mission,  H.  C.  A.  Sedgerbloom ; Principal  of 
Chamberlain  Institute,  J.  T.  Edwards;  Professor  in  Chamberlain 
Institute,  C.  J.  Brown. 


Andover. 


Andover,  O. 

The  first  organized  society  of  Methodists  in  Andover, 
Ohio,  dates  back  no  farther  than  about  1876.  Previous 
to  that  time  a few  Methodist  individuals  and  families 
worshiped  with  the  Congregationalists.  The  fact  that 
in  1875  a committee  was  appointed  by  the  Congregation- 
alist  Church  to  visit  the  Erie  Annual  Conference  and  ask 
for  a preacher — on  which  committee  there  were  one  or 
two  of  these  peculiar  people  called  “Methodists” — is  evi- 
dence of  a desire  to  fellowship  and  even  court  their  con- 
tinuance in  that  fold.  The  bishop  appointed  “a  young 
and  fiery  Englishman”  to  the  charge,  and  he  seemed  to 
have  created  a flame  too  fiery  for  Congregationalism. 
“Having  no  fire  brigade  or  engine,  aside  from  the  young 
Methodist  preacher  who  occupied  the  pulpit,  both  by  ap- 
pointment and  contract,  an  effort  to  pour  on  water  re- 
sulted in  the  organization  of  a class  and  its  seeking  an- 
other place  for  preaching.”  An  old  abandoned  Univer- 
salist  church  was  procured.  A church  edifice  was  pro- 
jected for  which  Capt.  H.  J.  Keene  deeded  a beautiful 
lot  on  South  Main  street.  The  same  year — 1877 — in 
September,  the  new  church  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Dr. 
I.  C.  Pershing,  President  of  Pittsburg  Female  College. 
Under  the  pastorate  of  W.  M.  Jeffers — 1897  to  1899 — 
the  church  was  extensively  repaired.  Edward  J.  Smith, 
the  present  pastor — I905-'o6- — reports  a plan  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  church  or  the  erection  of  a new  edi- 
fice. 

Creed,  Woodworth,  Shepard,  Chapin,  McDonald. 

Edward  K.  Creed,  son  of  William  H.  and  Xancy  Creed, 
was  born  in  Bellona,  Yates  Co.,  X".  Y.,  November  29, 
1847.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  a farm,  and  in 
teaching.  He  graduated  from  Genesee  W esleyan  Sem- 
inary in  1871 ; studied  two  years  in  Syracuse  University; 
graduated  from  x\llegheny  College  in  1875  5 and  spent 
one  year  in  Drew  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1870,  served  Sugar  Grove  as  a supply 
in  1876.  The  same  year  he  joined  the  Erie  Conference, 
and  was  returned  to  Sugar  Grove.  He  was  converted  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  and  from  that  time  felt  the  call  to 
preach.  He  was  transferred  to  the  New  York  East  Con- 
ference in  1895,  and  to  the  Wilmington  Conference  in 


682  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

1901.  In  1904,  from  a slight  abrasion  on  his  finger 
gangrene  set  in,  and  in  eight  days  it  had  done  its  work. 
He  died  in  the  Philadelphia  Methodist  Hospital  April  2 7. 

Mr.  Creed  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Fannie 
McMullen,  of  Warren,  Pa.,  in  1878. 

Watson  W.  Woodworth  was  born  in  Conewango,  N. 

Y.  August  8,  1843,  and  passed  to  his  reward  from  East 
Randolph,  N.  Y.,  October  8,  1883;  the  day  that  he  re- 
ceived appointment  to  Mayville.  He  was  converted  at  a 
camp  meeting  held  at  Napoli  when  he  was  fourteen  years 
of  ao-e.  He  was  educated  at  Chamberlain  Institute  and 
began  his  work  in  the  ministry  in  1875.  The  churches 
which  he  served  were  built  up  and  many  souls  were  won 
through  his  ministry.  Unassuming  and  quiet,  cheerful 
and  patient,  guileless  and  devoted,  he  faithfully  toiled  for 
his  Master.  In  physical  suffering  and  weakness  his  de- 
votion never  faltered,  and  even  while  m the  last ^ agony, 
he  smilingly  said,  “I  think  I shall  pull  through.  The 
funeral  service  was  not  a sad  one,  the  brightness  of  the 
faith  that  had  shed  its  light  over  the  life  so  suddenly 
closed  here,  still  shone  upon  his  coffin  and  illumined  his 

s Winfield  Scott  Shepard  was  born  in  Butler  county, 

Pa.,  February  4.  184 7-  His  earl>'  >:ear"  were  spent  011  a 
farm,  attending  the  district  school  in  the  winter  season. 
In  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age  he  enlisted  in  the  Four- 
teenth Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry,  passed  through 
thirty-two  regular  engagements,  and  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  converted  in  1867,  licensed  to 
preach  in  1872.  and  admitted  to  the  traveling  connection 
hi  1876  He  graduated  from  Western  Reserve  Semin- 
ary in  1873,  and  attended  Allegheny  College  one  year 
He  graduated  from  Scio  College  in  1875.  He  sorted  as 
a supply  on  the  Bloomfield  charge  in  1875,  and  on  the 
CurnsvUle  charge  in  1876,  to  which  charge  he  was  re- 
turned at  the  session  of  the  Erie  Conferei nee. 
supernumerary,  and,  after  twenty-five  years  of  active  se 
vice,  was  superannuated  in  1902. 

Lucius  Allen  Chapin  was  born  at  Wardsburg,  Wind- 
ham  Co.,  V.„  March  .8,7.  He  eaperi.ncecl  rcl.gron 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1837.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1842.  He  seems  to  have  been 
Tmployed  as  a supply  on  some  circuit  in  Illinois  previous 


L.  A.  Chapin , J.  C.  McDonald. 


683 


to  1844.  He  says:  “On  that  circuit  my  colleague,  John 
F.  Devore,  and  I had  to  ride  three  hundred  miles  on 
horseback  and  preach  thirty  times  every  month,  and 
swim  the  Illinois  river  twice  on  each  round.  My  salary 
was  $154,  but  the  ingathering  of  three  hundred  and 
forty-seven  souls  was  truly  encouraging.  At  the  first 
session  of  the  Rock  River  Conference  in  1844,  I was 
stationed  at  Dundee,  Chicago  District,  where  I received 
one  hundred  and  sixteen  into  the  church.” 

Owing  to  the  condition  of  Mrs.  Chapin’s  health  the 
family  moved  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  1854.  Brother  Chap- 
in labored  earnestly  in  and  about  Buffalo.  Two  of  his 
missions  grew  into  Plymouth  and  St.  Mark’s  churches. 
He  had  located  in  1850,  and  was  re-admitted  in  the  Gen- 
esee Conference  in  1857.  He  again  located  in  1870,  and 
was  re-admitted  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1876.  In 
1875  he  supplied  Salamanca,  under  Niram  Norton,  pre- 
siding elder,  and  was  appointed  to  the  same  charge  in 
1876.  In  1892  he  was  promoted  to  the  superannuate  re- 
lation. 

John  C.  McDonald  was  born  in  Richland  township, 
Venango  county,  Pa.,  in  March,  1851.  His  grandfather 
was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  father  enlisted 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  in  1861,  and  his  body  lies  in 
some  southern  grave.  His  mother,  two  sisters  and  two 
brothers  died  when  he  was  about  three  years  old;  his 
older  brother  enlisted  in  the  Tenth  Pennsylvania  Re- 
serves, was  wounded  and  died  in  the  service;  his  oldest 
sister  died  in  1864,  two  years  after  her  marriage.  After 
his  father’s  death  he  lived  with  his  grandfather,  who 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Venango  county.  His 
uncle,  Josephus  McDonald,  took  care  of  the  home.  This 
uncle  was  a man  of  fine  literary  tastes  and  had  a good  li- 
brary of  well  selected  books.  This  gave  John  a fine 
opportunity  to  cultivate  a taste  for  reading,  which  he 
was  not  slow  to  do.  The  first  books  in  which  he  was 
interested  were  the  Bible,  Pilgrim’s  Progress,  and  Rollin’s 
Ancient  History. 

The  district  school  of  Maple  Hollow,  Richland  town- 
ship, was  noted  for  its  fine  literary  society,  in  whose  ex- 
ercises the  men  and  women  of  the  country  as  well  as 
the  pupils  of  the  school  took  part.  John,  with  four  other 
boys,  organized  “The  Boy’s  Literary  Society,”  whose 


684 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

sessions  were  held  each  Tuesday  evening.  This  society 
became  very  prominent  in  the  community  and  was  a 
source  of  great  intellectual  and  social  improvement  to 

'tSHe\vas  converted  in  a meeting  held  by  Colonel  John 
A.  Danks,  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  in  Petersvi  e, 
Butler  county,  Pa.,  in  1869.  In  1874  the  Frankhn  Dis- 
trict Conference,  held  in  Tionesta,  Pa.,  Joseph  Leslie 
presiding  elder,  granted  him  license  to  preach.  He  was 
admitted  in  the  traveling  connection  in  the  Erie  Confe 
ence  in  1876. 

J.  H.  Laverty,  W.  W.  Cushman,  J.  M.  Crouch. 

John  H.  Laverty  was  born  in  Indiana  county,  Pa., 
Tu'lv  18  1848.  His  parents  were  God-fearing  people,  and 
gave  him  the  best  of  religious  training,  both  by  precept 
and  example.  He  was  a student  of  Mt  Union  College 
and  taught  various  schools  for  several  terms.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Hattie  K.  Kissel  in  1873-  He 
“gloriouslv  saved,  October  26,  1867,  and  licensed 
preach  in’  1872.  He  joined  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1876.  His  ministry  has  been  at- 
tended with  considerable  success.  He  was  transfeired 
to  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  within  whose  bounds  he  was 

brought  to  Christ,  in  1895.  tt  t * 

William  W.  Cushman  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Her  1- 
mer  county,  N.  Y„  April  10,  1831.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Vedder  of  Ellington  . 
Y September  n,  1861.  She  entered  the  heavenly  wor  d 
from  Woodcock,  Pa.,  September  8,  1901.  He  was  c°  ' 
verted  under  the  ministry  of  George  W.  Moore,  at  Ell- 
ington in  March,  1872.  He  was  licensed  to  pieach  in 
1875.  and  received  by  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  m 
1876  His  first  appointment  was  Kinzua.  Pa.  Atte 
twenty-seven  years  of  active  service  he  was  granted  a 
superannuate  relation,  but  did  not  at  that  time  ay  aside 
his  commission  to  preach  the  gospel,  but  was  evei  ready 
to  assist  in  evangelistic  work  wherever  opportunity  was 
offered.  He  passed  to  his  reward,  May  31,  1900. 

S H Prather  savs  of  Mr.  Cushman : “As  husband, 

father,  friend,  Brother  Cushman  was  a model.  His 
home  was  a miniature  heaven.  As  a pa: stoi  he  wa is 
at  his  best,  not  because  he  had  not  great  affectio 


/.  H.  Laverty,  W.  W.  Cushman,  J.  M.  Crouch.  685 

people,  for  that  he  surely  had,  but  for  two  reasons.  First, 
because  of  a natural  diffidence  growing  out  of  the  sweet 
humility  which  was  a prominent  element  in  his  character, 
he  hesitated  to  approach  people,  young  and  old,  on  the 
streets  and  in  public  places;  secondly,  he  was  of  a very 
studious  and  prayerful  habit  and  seldom  went  to  the 
postoffice  or  elsewhere  without  a great  thought  on  his 
mind  or  a prayer  on  his  heart.  Hence  often  he  failed 
to  see  those  who  passed  near,  especially  if  across  the 
street,  who  may  have  thought  he  lacked  sociability  and 
an  interest  in  the  affections  of  the  people.  But  those 
who  knew  him  best  can  testify  to  his  unusual  tenderness 
and  cordiality,  and  to  his  enjoyment  of  the  company  of 
both  young  and  old,  and  especially  that  of  youth  and 
children.  To  the  presiding  elder,  Brother  Cushman’s 
home  was  a place  of  relaxation  and  rest,  and  to  all  it  was 
a quiet  haven,  a shelter  from  the  storms  of  strife  and 
worldliness  without.  Wherever  he  lived  he  won  the  honor 
of  the  public  and  the  warm  affection  of  those  who  came  in 
touch  with  his  pure  mind  and  generous  nature.” 

John  M.  Crouch  was  born  in  Kittanning,  Armstrong 
county,  Pa.,  June  25,  1848.  His  parents  were  of  Ger- 
man-Irish  descent  and  belonged  on  the  parental  side  to 
the  “Pennsylvania  Dutch.”  They  moved  into  Mercer 
county  and  settled  in  Sharon  when  John  was  eight  years 
of  age.  Here  he  worked  in  the  rolling  mill.  While  liv- 
ing in  Sharon  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
A.  Williams,  who  came  to  this  country  from  England 
with  her  parents  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  her  age.  Rec- 
ognizing his  call  to  the  ministry  he  moved  to  West  Farm- 
ington, Ohio,  and  entered  the  Western  Reserve  Semin- 
ary, from  which  he  graduated  in  1875. 

At  a later  period  he  completed  a post-graduate  course 
in  philosophy,  and  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Phil- 
osophy from  Allegheny  College. 

The  Akron  District  Conference,  John  Tribby,  presid- 
ing elder,  licensed  him  as  a local  preacher  in  1874.  In 
1875  he  was  employed  as  a supply  on  Harlansburg  charge 
and  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  a year 
later. 

Levi  Bird,  born  in  England  in  1857,  converted  in 
1874,  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in  1888,  some- 
time member  of  Central  New  York  Conference,  and  a 

44 


586  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

number  of  years  engaged  in  temperance  work,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1906.  He  is  son-in-law 
of  Mr.  Crouch. 

James  Clyde. 

James  Clyde  was  born  in  New  York  City,  September 
20.  1820.  His  father  was  an  elder  in  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  thought  to  educate  James  for  the 
ministry.  This  plan  was,  however,  abandoned  and  he 
was  given  the  technical  training  of  a civil  engineer.  He 
practiced  his  profession  for  a short  time,  but  soon  re- 
moved to  Mercer  county,  and  engaged  in  business  in 
New  York  and  elsewhere.  His  conversion,  which  oc- 
curred in  1853,  changed  his  whole  career, .unchurch’ 
orace  and  usefulness  were  recognized  by  the  Church, 
which  licensed  him  to  preach  in  1866.  He  served  th 
Church  faithfully  in  this  relation  until  1876,  ™ 1 
was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
made  supernumerary  in  1891;  and  superannuate  in 
1893.  He  triumphed  over  death  and  ascended  o is 
coronation  from  Meadville,  Pa.,  May  10,  1894. 

James  Clyde  had  a deep  and  clear  religious  experience^ 

G„r,n°i  .t  S3 ' 

trials  but  clung  to  God.  leaning  on  His  strong  an 
U annroached  his  end  “like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery 
5 hKS  him  and  lie,  down  .0  f-n,  djeam,  _ 

During  his  last  sickness  he  was  llftec.  “ describe  in 
static  vision  and  saw  things  impossible  to  describe 
rnnrtal  language  His  peace  was  unbroken  his  joy  m 
descrlb^  and  his  countenance  radiant  with  unearthly 
S Brother  Clyde  was  a great  reader  and  hard  stu 
, TTp  thought  clearly,  and  so  expiessed  him 
. i=,-rT  an  intensely  earnest  man,  and 

his  discourses.  H whole  bein0*  He  was 

profound  conv“  th?Holy Gto£  One'of  his  sons 

a good  11  d f before  his  death,  after  a long  pe- 

wr\teS  ** TJerin-  he  grew  calm;  all  symptoms  of 

„od  of  his  evel’  were  closed,  his  face  was  lit  up 

pa,n  subsided  his  e.  of  liappineSs ; he  seemed 

”’lXwS  Cod’  indeed'  He  talked  with  loved  one. 


James  Clyde , J.  Boyd  Espy. 


687 


long  since  gone  before.  They  seemed  to  be  all  around 
him ; he  beckoned  to  them  with  his  hand.  When  he  had 
come  out  of  this  condition  he  called  for  the  elements, 
and  repeating  the  ritual,  he  devoutly  partook  of  the  Sac- 
rament of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  Soon  after  he  asked  if 
Dr.  Hassler  (whom  he  loved  both  on  account  of  his  per- 
sonal attentions  and  his  Christian  fellowship)  had  been 
in.  When  informed  that  he  had  not,  he  said  ‘O ! I have 
seen  a better  face — I have  seen  the  King  in  His  beauty !’ 
The  two  days  before  his  death  he  was  very  weak,  and 
could  not  speak  in  connected  sentences,  but  he  seemed 
contented  and  happy,  and  did  not  suffer  pain.  Once  he 
said  to  me,  ‘I  am  so  happy  to-day — the  Wise  man  said, 
“He  who  has  the  singing  birds  and  the  beautiful  earth 
about  him  and  is  not  happy” — here  sleep  overcame  him, 
and  the  sentence  was  never  finished.’  The  following 
verses,  in  his  own  handwriting,  were  found  among  his 
papers : 

‘“Hallelujah!  I believe! 

Now  life’s  mystery  is  gone; 

Gladly  through  its  fleeting  shadows, 

To  the  end  I journey  on, 

Through  the  tempest  or  the  sunshine. 

Over  flowers  or  ruins  led. 

Still  the  path  is  homeward  hastening 
Where  all  sorrow  shall  have  fled. 

“‘Hallelujah!  I believe! 

Now,  O Love,  I know  Thy  power. 

Thine  no  false  or  fragile  fetters — 

Not  the  rose-wreaths  of  an  hour; 

Christian  bonds  of  holy  union 
Death  itself  does  not  destroy. 

Yes,  to  live  and  love  fore\>  >r, 

Is  our  heritage  of  joy.’  ” 


John  Boyd  Espy. 

The  ancestors  of  John  Boyd  Espy  immigrated  from 
north  Ireland  and  settled  near  Harrisburg,  Pa.  John 
Boyd’s  grandfather.  Captain  George  Espy,  moved  into 
the  pine  forests  of  western  Crawford  county  in  1800  in 
the  locality  now  called  Espyville.  He  served  during  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  during  the  War  of  1812  com- 
manded a company  stationed  at  Erie.  His  son,  James 
Espy,  father  of  John  Boyd,  was  major  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania militia. 


688 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


From  his  sixth  year  John  lived  in  Espyville,  being 
employed  on  his  father  s farm,  and  in  his  log  mill,  wheie 
he  served  a few  years  as  engineer  and  head  sawyer.  He 
became  a student  in  Espyville  Academy  and  later  entered 
Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  graduated.  He  also 
completed  a course  in  psychology,  philosophy  and  anat- 
omy, for  which  a diploma  was  granted,  and  attended  a 
two  months’  course  of  lectures  on  heredity,  imbecility, 
insanity,  hypnotism  and  clairvoyance  in  the  City  of  New 
York.  * His  school  life  was  broken  into  by  enlisting  in 
the  Allegheny  College  Volunteers,  June  4,  1861.  This 
organization  afterwards  became  Company  I,  Tenth  Regi- 
ment. of  the  famous  Pennsylvania  Reserve  Corps.  He 
served  a year  in  this  company,  when  he  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
fifth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  a few  months  later 
was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  the  company.  He  was 
seriously  wounded  at  Bloody  Angle  at  Spotsylvania,  Va., 
May  12,  1864.  Returning  to  his  home  on  furlough,  and 
finding  it  would  be  impossible  to  enter  again  the  service, 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Espyville.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
in  1866,  and  was  re-elected  for  a second  term.  During 
his  business  life  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school  and  an  active  participant  in  all  departments  of 
church  work. 


After  business  hours  he  devoted  himself  to  the  study 
of  political,  scientific,  biblical  and  historical  subjects. 

He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  winter  of  1876, 
before  having  received  a local  preacher  s license.  He 
was  licensed  as  local  preacher  in  the  same  year  and  re- 
ceived on  trial  into  the  Erie  Conference.  His  labors 
were  blessed  with  gracious  revivals  on  several  charges. 
At  Brady’s  Bend  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  were 
converted,  among  whom  was  E.  O.  Excell,  the  revival- 
ist, singer  and  composer.  During  his  three  years  on 
this  charge  the  membership  in  East  Brady  increased  from 
fiftv-one  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  members.  At  State 
Street  Church,  Meadville,  there  were  sixty-five  conver- 
sions; on  the  Sheakleyville  charge  two  churches  were 
erected,  those  at  Hadley  and  Clark’s  Mills ; at  Grove  City 
a new  church  was  erected  and  two  hundred  and  fifty 
added  to  the  membership;  and  at  Fredoma,  N.  Y.,  two 


Sheckler,  Fording , Allen,  Brown. 


689 


hundred  and  fifty-six  were  received  into  the  church.  Af- 
ter this  pastorate  he  served  the  Erie  District  as  presiding 
elder  six  years. 

Mr.  Espy  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Esther 
A.  Collins,  of  North  Shenango,  Pa.,  October  14,  1864. 
He  was  a member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1904. 

Brother  Espy  was  called  to  the  higher  life  from  Ma- 
honingtown,  April  23,  1907. 

Sheckler,  Fording,  Allen,  Brown, 

Thomas  H.  Sheckler,  son  of  Frederick  and  Eliza  Sheck- 
ler,  was  born  in  Armstrong  county,  Pa.,  September  19, 
1851.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the  lumber  country, 
and  his  educational  advantages  were  few.  His  father 
was  killed  in  the  Civil  War,  and  Thomas,  being  the  old- 
est of  seven  children,  was  compelled  to  work  hard  to  as- 
sist his  mother  to  keep  the  family  together.  He  was 
early  taught  to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  pray.  He 
spent  one  term  at  Carrier  Seminary.  He  was  converted 
in  1869  at  the  Zion  appointment  of  the  Warsaw  charge 
under  the  preaching  of  I.  N.  Clover.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  J.  R.  Lyon  in  1874,  labored  as  a supply  on 
Clarington  charge  in  1875,  and  received  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1876.  He  preached  at  Devil’s  Lake 
in  i885~’86;  and  was  transferred  to  the  North  Dakota 
Conference  in  1887.  He  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Bis- 
mark  District  in  i890-’93,  was  transferred  to  the  Minne- 
sota Conference  in  1894,  and  to  the  Upper  Iowa  Con- 
ference in  1897. 

Miller  Fording,  third  son  of  Ewan  and  Christina  Ford- 
ing, was  born  at  Salem,  Ohio,  March  6,  1840.  He  was 
converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
the  age  of  seventeen.  He  graduated  from  Mt.  Union 
College  with  the  degree  of  “B.S.”  in  1868.  He  served 
about  one  year  and  a half  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  O.  V.  I.  After  his  gradu- 
ation he  was  employed  as  superintendent  of  public 
schools  in  Saegertown,  Pa.,  two  years,  and  in  Canfield, 
Ohio,  five  years.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1875, 
and  the  year  following  joined  the  itinerant  ranks  in  the 
Erie  Conference.  He  was  twice  married — in  1865  to 
Miss  Louisa  Flisher,  of  Saegertown,  who  passed  to  her 


690  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

reward  in  1872;  and  in  1879  to  Miss  Edna  A.  Wheeler, 
of  Salamanca. 

The  grandparents  of  Walter  Ozias  Allen  were  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  came  from  New  England.  He  says: 
“Mv  only  claim  to  ministerial  succession  is  based  upon 
my 'great-grandfather  on  my  father’s  mother’s  side  the 
Rev.  John  Spencer,  who  was  sent  as  a missionary  from 
Connecticut  to  the  Holland  Purchase  in  1808.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  ministers  who  traveled  on  horseback 
throughout  this  large  tract  of  land  in  western  New  York 
and  northern  Pennsylvania,  and  he  formed  many  Congi  e- 
gational  and  Presbyterian  churches.  My  parents  were 
both  natives  of  New  York,  emigrating  from  different 
parts  of  the  state  to  Wisconsin  before  their  marriage, 
which  occurred  November  7,  1842.  My  mother’s  maiden 
name  was  Minerva  C.  Bissel.  I was  born  in  Pewaukee 
county,  Wis..  April  13,  1849.  the  second  of  a family  of 
seven  children  who  reached  years  of  maturity.  At  the 
age  of  nine  years  my  parents  returned  to  the  homestead 
of  my  father  in  Sheridan,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y, 
where  I spent  the  next  eight  years  of  my  hie.”— (Auto- 
biographical Sketch.) 

Walter  attended  at  different  times  the  Fredonia  Union 
school,  the  Fredonia  Academy,  the  Forestville  Academy, 
and  the  Fredonia  State  Normal  school;  and  spent  sev- 
eral winters  teaching  district  schools.  He  graduated 
from  Allegheny  College  in  1876.  His  parents  were  for- 
merlv  members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  he 
owed  much  to  the  teachings  and  example  of  a Christian 
home.  He  had  been  a Christian  from  his  childhood.  His 
first  public  avowal  of  Christ  was  at  the  first  protracted 
meeting  he  ever  attended  in  the  spring  of  1862  this 
meeting  was  held  at  Sheridan,  N.  Y„  by.  Rev.  McBride. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  authority  of  the  Fredonia 
District  Conference  held  at  Dunkirk  in  1872,  the  license 
bearing  the  signature  of  R.  A.  Caruthers,  presiding  elder. 
He  supplied  the  appointment  of  Pine  Grove  on  Cochran- 
ton  charge  in  i874-’7S-  He  was  admitted  to  the  travel- 
ing connection  in  Erie  Conference  in  1876,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Des  Moines  Conference  in  1885. 

N C Brown,  writing  to  Samuel  Newkirk,  of  Sandy 
Lake,  Pa.,  under  date  of  October  4,  1877,  says : “Brother 
J C.  Sullivan  organized  your  society  and  I was  the  sue- 


Sandy  Lake. 


691 


ceeding  pastor  in  1861,  with  Brother  Milton  Smith  for 
my  colleague.  The  building  of  the  church  was  com- 
menced in  the  spring  of  1862.  All  the  subscriptions  we 
could  gather  amounted  to  something  near  $375.  The 
largest  amount  was  $50  by  Abram  Vorous,  payable  in 
leather.  All  our  members  did  the  best  that  could  be 
done  for  the  time.  We  obtained  the  gift  of  timber,  white- 
wood,  oak  and  chestnut,  and  with  the  assistance  of  my 
colleague,  Brother  Smith,  a large  volunteer  force  was 
gathered  with  axes,  cross-cut  saws  and  plenty  of  teams. 
Logs  were  cut  and  hauled  to  Sandy  Creek,  five  miles  from 
your  village;  and  sometime  afterward,  when  the  water 
was  up  yourself  and  several  others  went  up  and  floated 
the  logs  down  to  Clary’s  sawmill  to  be  sawed  into  scant- 
ling for  the  church.  Afterwards  we  raised  another  large 
force  who  generously  turned  out  and  the  timber  was 
hewn  and  hauled  to  the  place  of  our  building  for  the 
frame.  I borrowed  a scratch  awl  and  square  and  you 
hired  Def ranee  and  Frank  Dunn  and  the  church  was  soon 
nearly  ready  to  be  raised:  but  two  large  logs,  in  rafting 
down  the  creek,  had  lodged  in  the  riffle  above  the  pond. 
Our  church  could  not  be  raised  without  the  lumber  from 
those  logs.  The  day  of  raising  was  appointed.  I bid 
for  volunteers  and  Sam  Gardner  and  the  two  DeCoats 
brothers  went  with  me,  and  after  three  hours  of  severe 
labor  with  cant-hooks  and  levers,  and  up  to  our  hips  in 
water — this  was  in  April — we  succeeded  in  getting  the 
logs  over  the  riffles  and  floated  to  the  mill  and  soon 
sawed,  and  our  frame  was  ready  at  the  time  appointed 
for  raising.  On  the  day  of  raising,  before  commenc- 
ing the  main  work,  a short  address  was  delivered  by 
Brother  E.  Bennett,  now  in  heaven,  and  sincere  prayer 
was  offered  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  for  His 
blessing  on  the  work.  . . . We  persevered  in  our 

work,  gathered  material  and  means  from  all  possible 
sources,  till  near  July,  1863.  We  were  expecting  soon 
to  complete  our  church,  when  General  Lee  invaded 
Pennsylvania,  John  Morgan  made  a raid  into  Ohio,  the 
New  York  riot  to  resist  the  draft  was  raging,  we  all 
left  our  work  to  meet  the  enemy  of  our  country.  Early 
the  next  conference  the  church  was  completed,  and  I 
have  been  informed  the  debts  that  were  incurred  were 
soon  afterwards  all  paid.  . . . The  present  so- 




692  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

ciety  at  your  place,  under  God,  owes  very  much  indeed 
to  such  men  as  Thomas  Burns,  E.  M.  Latham,  A.  Vor- 
ous,  Joseph  Clary,  S.  Newkirk  and  many  others  in  the 
days  of  poverty  and  discouragement.” — (The  Sandy 
Lake  Breeze,  October  23,  1903.) 

Erie  Conference  in  1877  and  1878. 

October  1,  1877,  the  Erie  Conference  met  at  Fredonia, 
N.  Y.,  with  Bishop  "Randolph  S.  Foster  presiding,  and 
W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

J.  D.  Adams,  Amos  N.  Craft,  James  P.  Mills  and  Al- 
fred Anderson  were  received  by  transfer. 

Albert  Van  Camp  withdrew  from  the  Church;  and 
the  death  of  J.  H.  Whallon  and  Ebenezer  Bennett  was 
announced. 

Alfred  Anderson  was  born  in  Sweden,  March  3,  1851, 
and  was  converted  in  1869.  He  enlisted  in  the  itinerant 
ranks  in  the  Central  Illinois  Conference  in  1871,  and 
became  a member  of  the  North  West  Swedish  Confer- 
ence at  its  organization.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1877,  and  served  the  Swedish  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  for  three  years. 
He  was  then  transferred  to  the  North  West  Swedish 
Conference.  He  was  a member  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence in  1892. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  forty-third  annual 
session  in  Oil  City,  Pa.,  September  25,  1878,  Bishop 
Edwin  R.  Ames  presiding,  assisted  by  Bishop  Gilbert 
Haven.  W.  F.  Day  was  secretary. 

William  Penn  Graham,  Perry  A.  Reno,  Harvey  Mar- 
ion Burns  and  David  Rhodes  Palmer  were  admitted  on 
trial. 

Peter  D.  Barnhart  and  L.  T.  Kirk  located,  and  Levi 
L.  Luce  withdrew  from  the  Church. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  Niram  Nor- 
ton. 

1 

W.  P.  Graham,  H.  M.  Burns. 

William  P.  Graham  was  born  at  New  Wilmington, 
Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  February  2,  1853.  He  was  the  third 
son  of  Rev.  John  Graham,  of  the  Erie  Conference. 

The  ministry  of  his  father,  usually  being  in  towns  of 
some  size,  he  enjoyed  best  advantages  for  instruction 


W . P.  Graham , H.  M.  Barns. 


693 


in  the  common  English  branches.  He  enjoyed  the  train- 
ing of  very  pious  and  devoted  parents  who  sought  to 
bring  up  their  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonitions 
of  the  Lord,  and  not  without  glorious  consequences.  The 
earlv  years  of  his  manhood  were  spent  in  teaching  school, 
a profession  to  which  he  was  naturally  adapted  and 
which  he  followed  with  great  pleasure  and  profit  to  him- 
self. In  the  spring  of  the  year  1873  he  entered  Mt. 
Union  College  and  graduated  in  1877.  He  experienced 
a change  of  intention  at  a camp  meeting  held  at  Cuya- 
hoga Falls,  Ohio,  in  1869.  He  immediately  united  with 
the  church  on  probation.  At  the  close  of  his  probation 
he  was  received  into  full  membership.  After  over  four 
years  of  a formal  Christian  life,  which  presented  scarcely 
a distinguishing  feature  from  that  of  an  eminent  moral- 
ist, he  sought  and  obtained  a change  of  heart  at  a re- 
vival meeting  held  at  Mt.  Union,  Ohio,  in  the  winter  of 
1874,  under  the  preaching  of  G.  W.  Ball  and  Sheridan 
Baker.  Since  then,  notwithstanding  manifold  tempta- 
tions and  innumerable  discouragements,  the  love  of 
Christ  has  rendered  it  as  easy  for  him  to  do  right  as 
formerly  it  was  to  do  wrong.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  New  Castle  District  Conference  at  its  session  in 
Hubbard  in  1876.  Convinced  that  the  ministry  was  his 
divinely  allotted  work  he  was  recommended  for  admis- 
sion on  trial  to  the  Erie  Conference  at  its  session  at 
Fredonia  in  1877,  but  the  crowded  condition  of  the  work 
rendered  his  application  unsuccessful.  He  supplied 
Wheatland  that  conference  vear  under  the  presiding  el- 
dership of  David  Latshaw.  He  was  again  recommended 
for  admission  on  trial  in  1878  and  was  duly  received. 

He  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Meadville  District  in 
1895-1900,  and  a delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
of  1900. 

Harvey  M.  Burns,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Burns,  was 
born  in  Butler  County,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  27,  1843. 
While  yet  quite  young  his  parents  moved  into  Clarion 
County  where  the  greater  portion  of  his  life,  until  his 
entering  the  ministry,  was  spent.  His  early  educational 
advantages  were  such  as  the  public  schools  afforded  the 
youth  of  his  time.  “Fortunately  by  a misfortune,”  as  he 
expresses  it,  at  the  age  of  seven,  by  a disease  known  as 
“white  swelling,”  he  lost  the  use  of  one  leg,  which  has 


1 


694  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

sent  him  on  crutches  through  life.  “Fortunately,”  for  he 
received  the  advantages  of  schools,  of  which  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  deprived.  He  was  employed  in 
teaching  fifteen  years.  He  taught  seven  terms  in  his 
home  district,  and  five  in  an  adjoining  district.  He  had 
careful  religious  training  by  a devoted  Methodist  mother. 
His  father,  later  in  life,  was  converted  and  became  a 
Methodist,  but  at  the  time  of  which  we  speak  was  a 
wicked  man.  What  more  natural  than  when  he  reached 
young  manhood  the  boy  should  follow  the  father’s  ex- 
ample rather  than  the  mother’s  counsqj.  He  became,  as 
he  says,  “desperately  wicked.”  When  in  his  twenty-fifth 
year,  at  a revival  held  by  Rev.  R.  B.  Boyd,  then  pastor  of 
the  Rimersburgh  Charge,  the  convicting  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  seized  upon  him,  through  the  memory  of 
a mother’s  tears  and  prayers  and  the  entreaties  of  friends, 
he  yielded  to  offered  mercy.  He  now  felt  it  his  duty  to 
enter  the  holy  ministry,  but  resisting  fell  into  a back- 
slidden state.  * Through  the  efforts  of  his  pastor,  P.  W. 
Scofield,  he  was  brought  to  a renewal  of  his  vows,  and 
to  active  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Master.  He  now  en- 
tered Carrier  Seminary,  and  while  here  was  given  license 
to  exhort  by  C.  C.  Hunt,  the  pastor  at  Clarion.  He 
served  the  church  at  Clarion  in  several  offices  for  a num- 
ber of  years.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Clarion 
District  Conference  in  1875,  and  in  1877  supplied  the 
Brockport  Circuit  under  the  presiding  elder,  B.  F.  Delo. 
He  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1878. 

D.  R.  Palmer. 

We  know  .little  of  the  ancestry  of  David  R.  Palmer. 
His  father’s  friends  are  nearly  all  in  the  west,  and  are 
descended  from  Scotch-German  stock.  On  the  mother’s 
side  they  are  Scotch  and  Irish  descent.  His  father  was  a 
regular  Baptist,  Calvinistic  and  exclusive.  His  mother 
was  a Methodist  Episcopalian,  Arminian  and  liberal. 
He  was  born  near  Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan. 
2,  1842.  His  parents  moved  into  Erie  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, when  he  was  about  four  years  of  age  and  settled 
upon  a new  farm,  in  a log  house  with  an  old-fashioned 
fire-place  and  a great  stone  hearth.  His  early  life  was 
full  of  hard  work  in  clearing  up  the  farm,  with  corn 
bread  and  potatoes  for  chief  diet.  His  mother  was  in 


D.  R.  Palmer. 


695 


poor  health  for  a number  of  years  and  he  helped  her  in 
addition  to  his  outdoor  duties,  and  was  thus  brought 
into  closer  and  longer  contact  with  her  influence  and  life. 
Very  early  he  formed  definite  conceptions  of  truth  as  re- 
vealed in  God’s  word  and  of  a religious  life.  For  some 
time  his  only  educational  advantages  were  the  home  and 
common  school.  Later  he  attended  the  high  school  and 
select  schools  under  good  instructors.  He  taught  several 
terms  with  acceptability. 

In  the  autumn  of  1857  a revival  broke  out  in  the  school 
house  known  as  “Hemlock  College”  on  Amity  Hill,  near 
his  home,  and  he  was  thoroughly  and  pungently  convicted 
of  sin.  He  had  never  been  a very  wicked  boy,  as  the 
world  would  say,  but  his  conviction  was  so  deep  and  com- 
plete, that  he  felt  himself  an  awful  sinner,  and  groped  in 
darkness,  bearing  the  burden  of  guilt  and  condemnation 
for  two  months.  The  revival  effort  had  closed  and  he 
was  still  in  darkness.  He  prayed  in  secret,  and  read  the 
Bible,  but  his  burden  grew  heavier  and  the  darkness  more 
intense,  until  one  Thursday  evening  in  the  prayer  meeting 
he  was  persuaded  to  make  the  publican’s  prayer ; the  bur- 
den rolled  off,  the  darkness  fled  away,  the  Savior  took 
possession  of  his  heart  and  the  Spirit  gave  him  a clear 
and  bright  witness  of  pardoned  sin.  He  began  at  once 
to  work  for  the  Master.  In  prayer  and  exhortation  he 
grew  mighty  and  often  while  leading  the  prayer  meeting, 
sinners  would  come  forward  for  prayers  at  his  earnest 
appeals. 

In  1863  he  entered  the  army.  He  says : “In  the  dark- 

ness and  danger  of  the  picket  line,  on  the  long  and  weary 
marches,  in  the  privation  and  exposures  and  on  many  a 
battlefield  amid  the  awful  carnage,  God  was  very  near  to 
me,  giving  me  such  a sense  of  indebtedness  and  assurance 
that  I felt  God  was  caring  for  me  and  protecting  me  for 
some  special  work.”  The  war  closed  and  he  returned 
home  unscathed.  He  married  Miss  Lilia  L.  \\  ads  worth, 
Jan.  30,  1867,  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

A neighborhood  where  he  had  been  holding  Sunday 
School  in  the  afternoons,  insisted  that  he  come  out  and 
hold  prayer  meetings,  and  though  he  went  reluctantly, 
four  came  forward  for  prayers  the  first  night.  The  in- 
terest grew ; the  house  was  too  small  to  hold  the  people, 
and  in  about  three  weeks  forty  were  soundly  converted 


696 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


to  God,  without  a preacher.  He  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Wattsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
1878  was  licensed  to  preach. 

His  wife  died  in  Waterford,  Feb.  19,  1892;  and  he 
married  Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Culbertson,  March  21,  1893. 

Perry  A.  Reno. 

Jesse  Reno  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Francis  Reno,  one  of 
the  earliest  clergymen  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains 
who  was  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Rochestei , 
Pennsylvania,  for  many  years.  Jesse  Reno  married 
Elizabeth  Rebout.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Of  this  worthy  couple  was  born  in 
Jefferson  township,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  15,  1852, 
Perry  A.  Reno.  He  was  converted  in  1867  during  a 
meeting  held  at  Clarksville,  Pennsylvania,  by  R.  M.  Bear. 
He  graduated  at  Allegheny  College  in  1877.  He  had 
then  held  a local  preacher’s  license  three  years.  He  joined 
the  Erie  Conference  and  was  ordained  local  preacher  in 

1878 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Fannie  Mc- 
Knight,  of  Clarksville,  May  13,  1877.  He  was  principal 
of  Waterford  Academy  in  1882-1884;  and  professor  in 
Dakota  University  in  1887-1888.  He  had  leave  of  ab- 
sence in  1888,  and  went  to  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1892.  He  passed  into  the  august 

presence  of  his  Father— God,  March  4,  1906. 

R.  F.  Randolph,  his  presiding  elder,  gives  a discrimi- 

' nating  estimate  of  his  work  and  character. 

“He  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  successful  pastors 
of  the  conference,  and  had  greatly  endeared  himself  to 
the  people  wherever  he  served.  He  was  in  the  prime  ot 
life,  being  in  his  fifty-fourth  year,  and  had  acquired  that 
knowledge  of  human  nature  and  that  far-sighted  sense 
of  church  policy  which  added  to  a singularly  strong  and 
beautiful  devotion  to  duty,  made  him  a leader  in  every 
form  of  church  work.  He  was  a member  of  one  of  t e 
best  families  in  Mercer  County,  a family  whose  influence 
is  felt  in  several  churches,  and  whose  representatives  are 
everywhere  characterized  by  high-minded  and  faithlu 

service  to  Methodism.  . . • A 

“He  had  been  licensed  to  preach  in  1874,  and  so  gamed 

a large  experience  before  giving  himself  111  full  measure 


Perry  A.  Reno. 


697 


to  his  great  life-work.  From  the  time  of  his  admission  to 
the  conference  he  was  pre-eminently  a man  of  one  work. 
Though  appointed  for  several  years  to  educational  fields, 
and  left  at  one  time  for  three  years  without  appointment 
to  attend  school  for  the  purpose  of  more  thorough  pre- 
paration for  his  vocation,  he  was  earnest,  loyal,  and  very 
effective  in  reaching  and  blessing  the  people  in  all  re- 
lations. But  in  the  fourteen  years,  from  1892  until  his 
death,  his  growth  in  personal  power,  in  the  confidence  of 
his  brethren,  and  in  the  range  of  his  ministerial  successes 
was  very  great.  He  won  the  people  to  him  everywhere. 
He  was  simple,  but  attractive  and  eloquent  in  his  pulpit 
utterances,  indefatigable  in  his  pastoral  labors,  and  wise 
and  tactful  in  his  leadership.  The  writer  knew  him  di- 
rectly only  in  his  short  pastorate  in  Sharon,  but  here  he 
exhibited  at  his  best,  an  unusual  combination  of  noble 
qualities,  and  achieved  unqualified  success.  He  was  not 
permitted  to  perfect  his  plans  or  finish  his  work.  It 
seemed  to  his  friends  that  he  had  laid  down  his  staff  of 
office  when  his  service  was  most  needed.  But  his  work 
was  not  incomplete.  It  was  so  inspiring  in  its  breadth, 
and  so  loyal  to  Christ  in  every  element  of  influence,  that 
it  has  left  an  open  field  for  great  and  constant  progress  in 
the  scope  he  marked  out.  One  of  his  purposes,  to  which 
he  gave  his  last  days,  and  which  was  very  near  to  his 
heart,  the  planting  of  a new  church  on  the  east  side  of 
the  city,  has  since  been  carried  out,  and  with  such  unity 
and  enthusiasm  as  would  have  given  him  joy  could  he 
have  witnessed  the  scene.  He  was  greatly  beloved.  He 
was  recognized  as  the  friend  of  all,  and  the  general  sus- 
pension of  business  during  his  funeral  attested  how  wide- 
spread and  sincere  was  the  public  esteem  of  this  true  man. 

“Brother  Reno’s  home  life  was  peculiarly  beautiful  and 
attractive.  His  wife  was  a true  companion  in  all  his  am- 
bitions and  labors.  Loved  by  all  for  her  worth,  she  made 
the  home  a haven  of  rest  and  delight  to  all  who  entered 
its  doorway.  To  her  and  to  the  loved  daughter,  whose 
graduation  last  summer  in  the  Woman’s  College  of  Balti- 
more, was  such  a joy  to  her  father,  the  deep  sympathy  of 
all  goes  out.  The  blow  was  grievous,  but  the  Divine 
Spirit  has  graciously  sustained  them.  Brother  Reno  was 
laid  away  March  7,  1906,  with  warm  tributes  of  love. 
He  sleeps  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Sharon,  but  the 


698  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

rest  to  which  his  spirit  went  is  the  blessed  rest  of  heaven.” 

The  Erie  Conference  met  in  annual  session  at  Mercer, 
Pa.,  September  24,  1879,  with  Bishop  Thomas  Bowman 
in  the  chair,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

Wellington  Bowser  was  admitted  on  trial,  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  South  India  Conference. 

J.  W.  Davis  located,  and  Albina  Hall,  L.  D.  Williams, 
Edward  Brown  and  John  S.  Lytle  were  announced  as  de- 
ceased. 

Salamanca  and  Reynoldsville  . 

In  1867  “Little  Valley  and  Salamanca”  appears  in  the 
list  of  appointments  on  the  Fredonia  District.  C.  W. 
Reeves  was  the  preacher-in-charge.  Services  were  held 
in  school  houses.  A class  was  organized  in  1873,  L.  L. 
Luse.  pastor.  The  first  church  edifice  was  dedicated  Jan- 
uary'11,  1874.  The  cost  of  the  church  property  was 
$4,000.  The  trustees  were:  G.  B.  Stebbins,  S.  S.  Pal- 

mer, J.  B.  Shaw,  D.  E.  Seaver,  T.  L.  Newton,  J.  N. 
McKibben,  L.  H.  Jones,  L.  J.  Worth,  and  George  Town. 
H.  W.  Westinghouse  was  appointed  class  leader.  The 
other  members  were:  Jeannette  H.  Westinghouse,  H. 

Bloodgood,  C.  A.  Benson,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Benson,  Amelia 
Palmer,  A.  L.  Pickett,  Hattie  Pickett,  George  B.  Steb- 
bins, Lois  W.  Stebbins,  W.  H.  Stebbins,  Wilbur  Steb- 
bins, Frank  Smith,  Lizzie  Smith,  Phoebe  Tubbs,  Maria 
Williams,  Celia  Wright,  Lizzie  Zimmerman,  Thomas  Ing- 
strum,  Phoebe  Ingstrum,  Francis  Tice,  and  Emma  J.  Cup. 

In  1874  H.  H.  Moore  was  appointed  to  the  charge,  and 
found  the  church  in  danger  of  being  sold  for  debt.  By  a 
strenuous  effort,  paying  $300  himself  besides  part  of  his 
salary,  he  succeeded  in  saving  the  church.  At  this  time 
a church  was  organized  at  West  Salamanca,  and  since 
that  time  the  charge  has  consisted  of  Salamanca  and  West 
Salamanca.  The  members  of  the  original  class  were : S. 

H Jones,  Belinda  Jones,  Estella  Jones,  Noble  Jones,  L. 
J.  Worth,  Mary  Worth,  George  Town  and  wife,  Flora 
Bissell  Mrs.  Potter,  Mrs.  Lamb,  Eva  Wheeler,  Clara 
Wheeler.  Edna  Wheeler,  Mary  Wheeler,  Charles  Parker 
and  wife.  Mina  Warn,  Frank  Drake,  Lena  Drake,  Alonzo 
Drake.  Georgia  Drake,  Mrs.  Jepson,  Jonathan  Thompson, 
Mrs.  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  Peck,  Mrs.  Lindslay,  Mrs. 
Woodruff,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  others. 


Salamanca  and  Reynoldsvillc.  699 

During  the  pastorate  of  H.  S.  Bates — 1893-189 7 — the 
property  on  Church  street  was  sold,  and  a lot  secured  on 
the  corner  of  Broad  street  and  Park  avenue,  and  a brick 
church  erected  at  a cost  of  about  $12,000,  and  dedicated 
by  President  W.  H.  Crawford,  of  Allegheny  College,  Oc- 
tober 4,  1896.  “The  pastor  by  hard  work  and  great  faith 
undertook  a project  which  was  not  justified  from  a busi- 
ness standpoint,  owing  to  the  small  membership  and  limit- 
ed circumstances  of  the  people.  While  the  church  debt 
was  covered  by  subscriptions  at  the  dedication,  before  the 
time  for  which  the  bonds  were  given  had  expired,  many 
had  moved  away,  and  the  conditions  had  changed,  leav- 
ing a heavy  debt  unprovided  for.”  It  may  be  said,  how- 
ever, that  the  pastor  who  inaugurated  the  enterprise  could 
not  have  foreseen  the  changed  conditions.  In  1897  A.  S. 
M.  Hopkins  was  sent  and  struggled  six  years  with  the 
problem.  There  was  a re-opening  February  24,  1901, 
when  the  indebtedness  was  again  “covered”  by  subscrip- 
tions; but  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate  a debt  of  $2,250 
still  remained,  and  remains  unpaid — 1907.  A parsonage 
was  built  costing  $2,500  during  the  pastorate  of  K.  T. 
JaQuay,  who  was  appointed  to  the  charge  in  1904. 

“At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church  at  West 
Salamanca,  a church  building  was  bought  of  a sister  de- 
nomination and  thoroughly  remodeled,  the  amount  of  the 
indebtedness  having  been  raised  at  the  time  of  the  re- 
opening, and  paid  in  full.  The  membership  on  the  charge 
is  now  about  150.  There  being  a slow  but  permanent 
growth,  the  work  has  been  hard,  owing  to  the  place  being 
on  the  Indian  Reservation,  the  chief  industry  being  rail- 
roading, with  a constantly  changing  people.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  are  all  working  people,  there  is 
little  wealth  to  make  the  church  financially  strong;  but 
with  the  present  rapid  growth  of  the  place  which  has  be- 
come a large  village  with  a population,  including  the  su- 
burbs, of  7,000,  the  prospect  becomes  more  bright  and 
promising.” 

D.  C.  Plannette,  pastor  of  the  Reynoldsville  charge, 
writes : “We  came  here  last  September  and  found  about  35 
members,  poor  and  unable  to  do  anything  in  the  way 
of  church  building.  They  had  been  worshiping  in  the 
opera  house  for  which  they  had  been  paying,  and  are  still 
paying,  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  for  e^ch  service.  We 


700 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 

depended  very  much  upon  our  protracted  meeting  of  last 
winter  to  give  us  a start  both  numerically  and  financially, 
but  just  at  the  very  height  of  our  success,  and  when  fifteen 
persons  were  at  the  altar  for  prayers,  some  evil-disposed 
person,  sent  there,  doubtless,  by  Satan  for  that  special 
mission,  gave  the  alarm  that  the  building  was  giving  way, 
thus  causing  a stampede  that  greatly  endangered  many 
lives,  and  resulting  in  a perfect  stand-still  as  to  any  fur- 
ther aggressions.  Discouraging  as  the  circumstances 
were,  however,  we  still  had  good  hope  that  the  Lord 
would  not  let  us  fail.  Shortly  after  we  came  here  we 
saw  the  necessity  and  began  the  erection  of  a parsonage ; 
secured  a lot,  went  to  work  and  now  reside  in  our  ovvn 
parsonage  property.  We  then  began  taking  subscrip- 
tions for  the  erection  of  a church  building  on  the  same 
lot.  The  building  has  been  placed  under  contract,  to  be 
finished  for  something  over  three  thousand  dollars.  If 
we  can  secure  ten  or  twelve  hundred  dollars  outside  of 
our  home  subscriptions  we  shall  be  all  right,  but  that 
amount  we  must  have  to  secure  success.  The  building 
will  be  under  roof  in  a few  days,  and  we  hope  to  be  able 
to  dedicate  it  free  of  debt.  Reynoldsville  is  a place  with 
a population  of  about  1,800,  and  is  surrounded  by  in- 
exhaustive  coal  fields  now  being  worked  by  eastern  firms 
and  yielding  largely  for  shipment.  The  population  is 
rapidly  increasing ; the  business  of  the  place  is  extending 
and  Methodism  must  be  planted  here,  and  must  be  plant- 
ed now  or  never.  Other  churches  are  active  in  looking 
after  their  interests,  and  already  the  Presbyterians  are 
taking  subscriptions  for  the  erection  of  a house  of  wor- 
ship. We  are  now  going  over  the  country  and  soliciting 
donations  of  lumber.  We  take  a car  and  switch  it  off 
at  the  different  saw  mills  along  the  track,  getting  a 
thousand  feet  here  and  a thousand  feet  there , going  f 1 om 
the  railroad  where  the  mills  are  situated  at  a distance  and 
having  it  hauled  by  teams  to  where  the  car  stands,  and 
then  after  the  load  is  made  up,  couple  it  on  to  the  train 
and  take  it  home.  It  is  in  this  way  nearly  all  the  lumber 
has  been  secured  that  we  have  used  thus  far.’  (Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate , Thursday , July  17,  1879,  p.  5.) 

“Situated  remote  from  the  thriving  centers  where 
Methodism  has  become  as  deep  rooted  as  the  fundamental 
principles  of  our  language,  Ridgway  feels  herself  iso- 


Rid  gw  ay.  701 

lated  and  alone  in  her  arduous  and  precarious  struggle 
for  existence. 

“Her  field  in  the  earlier  days  was  widely  spread  over  a 
sparsely  settled  country  at  various  points  where  the  lum- 
ber interests  had  created  small  settlements.  These  places 
were  supplied  with  the  gospel  manna  by  the  pioneer 
preachers  of  the  Methodist  Church,  who,  making  Ridg- 
way  the  base  of  operations,  traveled,  at  intervals,  long 
distances  on  horse-back,  undergoing  the  many  privations 
incident  to  a rough  frontier  life  that  the  foundation  of 
Christianity  and  Methodism  might  be  well  and  surely 
laid.  Later  the  field  of  labor  was  confined  to  but  two 
of  the  many  points  before  visited.  These  were  Ridg- 
way  and  Wilcox. 

“On  the  appointment  of  Rev.  W.  Martin  to  this  charge, 
after  a brief  period,  a consultation  was  held  as  to  the  ad- 
visability of  severing  Wilcox  from  Ridgway  when  upon 
what  were  thought  well  founded  reasons,  Ridgway  be- 
came at  once  a self-supporting  station.  Up  to  this  time 
our  people  were  dependent  upon  the  commissioners  of 
Elk  County  for  a place  in  which  to  worship,  holding 
service  in  the  dingy  old  court  house,  and  at  times  suffer- 
ing great  inconvenience  and  annoyance.  The  propriety 
of  building  a church  had  been  discussed  at  various  times 
but  no  decisive  action  taken.  It  was  thought  that  the 
auspicious  moment  had  come.  A committee  of  our  lead- 
ing citizens  was  formed  and  the  enterprise  at  once  started. 
After  many  sacrifices  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  and  people 
the  work  was  completed  and  Ridgway  had  a beautiful 
temple  in  which  to  worship  God. 

“Ample  provisions  had  been  made  for  the  debt,  but  the 
severe  depressions  and  reverses  which  have  since  afflicted 
the  lumber  districts,  with  the  consequent  shrinkage  in 
values,  had  rendered  those  who  were  considered  abund- 
antly able  to  meet  any  obligation  they  would  assume,  un- 
able to  pay  their  subscriptions.  Some  were  forced  into 
bankruptcy  and  others  so  reduced  as  to  barely  obtain  the 
necessities  of  life.  The  slow  payments  which  were  made 
barely  covered  the  large  interest  we  were  paying  without 
reducing  the  principal. 

“Under  these  discouraging  circumstances  the  trustees 
who  had  given  their  personal  obligations  for  the  amount 
of  the  indebtedness,  becoming  alarmed,  and  no  help  of- 

45 


702 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


fering,  thought  to  release  themselves  by  effecting  a con- 
solidation of  the  two  elements,  Presbyterian  and  Meth- 
odist, which  at  this  time  composed  the  congregation  and 
Sabbath  School,  into  a congregational  society  and  thus 
unitedly  assume  and  pay  off  the  debt.  At  this  juncture, 
in  obedience  to  the  will  of  the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  Tal- 
bot appeared  upon  the  scene,  he  being  thought  the  most 
fitting  man  to  meet  the  emergency  and  harmonize  the  dis- 
cordant elements  and  wheel  again  into  the  line  the  shat- 
tered battalions  of  the  Church.  He  soon  proved  himself 
equal  to  the  work  assigned  him  and  with  the  same  un- 
doubted front  with  which,  in  the  late  war,  he  faced  the 
Rebels  did  he  meet  the  difficulties  which  presented  them- 
selves on  every  side.  When  logic,  when  argument  and 
reason  failed,  his  spontaneous  humor  won  the  day,  and 
thus  through  discouragements  which  would  have  ap- 
palled many  hearts,  has  he  labored  assiduously  in  the  pul- 
pit, among  his  people  and  abroad  amid  the  churches.  He 
has  bent  his  resistless  energies  to  the  accomplishment  of 
his  missions.  Royally  and  well  has  he  succeeded  beyond 
our  most  sanguine  expectation.  Peace  and  harmony 
reign  in  the  Church. 

“Despite  the  repeated  absence  of  our  pastor  on  his  col- 
lecting tours,  our  congregations  have  increased  in  num- 
ber. Several  accessions  were  made  to  the  Church  and 
there  was  a growing  interest  in  the  eventual  success  of 
our  cause. 

“Through  his  effort  our  debt  was  reduced  $1,380,45, 
and  the  accrued  interest  was  paid.” — (Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian Advocate , October  30 , 1879,  p.  6.) 


Note. 


Sylvester  Fidler — Licensed  to  preach,  1869;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1874, 
Peck.  Appointments:  1870,  Nelson;  1871,  Morgan;  1872,  East 

Ashtabula;  1873,  Garland;  1874-’6,  Tryonville  and  Hydetown; 
1877-’9,  Cooperstown;  1880-’l,  Harmonsburg;  1882-’3,  Spring; 
1884-’5,  Petrolia  and  Martinsburg;  1886-’7,  North  Washington; 
1888-’90,  Eau  Claire;  1891,  West  Monterey;  1892,  Asbury;  1893-6, 
Volusia;  1897-’8,  Byromtown;  1899-1900,  Karns  City;  1901-’4,  Har- 


lansburg;  1905-’6,  New  Lebanon. 

A R Rich — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial,  1870; 
full’ connection,  1872;  deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1874  Peck. 
Appointments— 1870,  Irving;  1871-’72,  Harmonsburg;  1873-  75,  Es- 
pyville;  1876,  Conneautville ; 1877-’79,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1880- 
*82  Sandy  Lake;  1883-’85,  West  Middlesex;  1886-’89,  Grove  City, 


Note. 


703 


1890- ’91,  Union  City;  1892-’94,  Ridgway;  1895-1901,  DuBois;  1892- 
’06,  Clarion  District. 

N.  H.  Holmes — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1874, 
Peck;  transferred,  Ohio  Conference,  1892;  transferred,  Pittsburg 
Conference,  1895.  Appointments — 1870-71,  Conneautville;  1872- 
’73,  Chagrin  Falls;  1874-75,  North  East;  1876-78,  Mercer;  1879- 
’80,  Westfield;  1881-’83,  Union  City;  1884,  Agent,  Allegheny  Col- 
lege; 1885-’89,  New  Castle,  First  Church;  1890-’91,  Franklin; 

1892- ’94,  Columbus,  O.,  Wesley  Chapel;  1895,  President,  Pittsburg 
Female  College;  1896-’97,  President,  Beaver  College  and  Musical 
Institute;  1898-1901,  Braddock;  1902,  Bellevue. 

I.  D.  Darling — Licensed  to  preach,  1867;  admitted  on  trial,  1870; 
full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1871,  Simpson;  elder,  1874,  Peck; 
deceased,  Ellington,  N.  Y.,  March  28,  1900.  Appointments— 1870, 
Cooperstown;  1871-72,  Espyville;  1873-75,  Conneautville;  1876- 

77,  Mill  Village;  1878-’80,  Saegertown;  1881-’82,  Spartansburg; 
1883-85,  Cambridge;  1886-’88,  Sheffield;  1889-’90,  Randolph;  1891- 
’94,  Youngsville;  1895-’98,  Little  Valley. 

J.  O.  Osborne — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1860,  Janes;  elder,  1870, 
Clark;  deceased,  McKean,  Pa.,  November  6,  1888.  Appoint- 
ments— 1870-71,  Wattsburg;  1872-74,  McKean;  1875-77,  Asbury; 
1878-’80,  Springfield;  1881-’83,  Green;  1884,  McKean;  1885-’88, 
superannuated. 

J.  W.  Crawford — Licensed  to  preach,  1869;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1874, 
Peck;  deceased,  May  26,  1900.  Appointments — 1870-71,  Charles- 
town, Pa.;  1872-73,  Mahoningtown;  1874-75,  Clarksville;  1876- 

78,  Sheakleyville;  1879,  St.  Petersburg;  1880-’81,  Pleasantville; 
1882-’84,  Frewsburg;  1885-’87,  Girard;  1888-’90,  Jamestown,  Pa.; 

1891- ’94,  Emlenton  and  St.  Petersburg;  1895-’96,  Reynoldsville; 
1897,  Forestville;  1898-’99,  Platea. 

A.  T.  Copeland — Admitted  on  trial,  Black  River  Conference, 
1859;  full  connection,  1861;  deacon,  1861;  elder,  1863;  trans- 
ferred to  Erie  Conference,  1870;  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Girard, 
Pa.,  February  25,  1897.  Appointments — 1859,  Martinsburg;  1860, 
Cape  Vincent;  1861-’62,  Clayton;  1863,  Baldwinsville;  1864-’65, 
Vienna;  1866’-67,  Gouverneur;  1868-’69,  Rensselaer  Falls;  1870, 
Kent;  1871-73,  Charlestown;  1874-75,  Hubbard;  1876-77,  Bloom- 
field and  Bristol;  1878-’80,  Bedford  and  Northfield;  1881-’82,  Can- 
field  and  Ellsworth;  1883,  Rootstown;  1884-’86,  Windsor;  1887, 
Elkton;  1888,  Greensburg;  1889-’90,  Freeport;  1891-’92,  Nelson; 

1893- ’S4,  superannuated. 

J.  T.  Edwards — Licensed  to  preach,  1864;  admitted  on  trial, 
Providence  Conference,  1867;  full  connection,  1869;  deacon,  1867, 
Baker;  elder,  1870,  Scott;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1870. 
Appointments — 1867-’69,  Principal,  Providence  Conference  Sem- 
inary; 1870-’91,  Principal,  Chamberlain  Institute;  1892,  Financial 
Agent,  Chamberlain  Institute;  1893-’97,  Principal,  McDonough 
School,  Baltimore,  Md.;  1898-1907,  superannuated. 

E.  M.  Kernick — Licensed  to  preach,  1864;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1874, 
Peck;  deceased,  Tidioute,  Pa.,  October  22,  1903.  Appointments — 
1870-72,  Fairview,  Butler  Co.;  1873-74,  Rockland;  1875,  Salem, 
Clarion  Co.;  1876,  Edenburg,  Clarion  Co.;  1877-79,  Callensburg; 
1880,  Fairview,  Erie  Co.;  1881-83,  Springfield;  1884-’86,  May- 


704 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


ville;  1887-’91,  Dunkirk;  1892-’95,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1896-’99, 
Rouseville  and  Plumer;  1900-’03,  Tidioute. 

J.  L.  Mechlin — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial, 
1870;  full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1874, 
Peck.  Appointments — 1870-71,  Brockway vHle;  1872,  President; 
1873-74,  Fagundus  and  Hickory;  1875-76,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.; 
1877,  Centerville,  Crawford  Co.;  1878-’80,  Rockville;  1881 -’82, 
Hendersonville;  1883-’85,  Edenburg,  Lawrence  Co.;  1886,  Cen- 
terville, Butler  Co.;  1887-’88,  Harlansburg;  1889-’90,  Wampum; 
1891-’95,  supernumerary;  1896-1907,  superannuated;  present  resi- 
dence, Grove  City,  Pa. 

J.  B.  Corey — Admitted  on  trial,  1870;  full  connection,  1872; 
deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1874,  Peck;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876.  Appoint- 
ments—1870,  Wesleyville;  1871,  Albion;  1872,  Greensburg;  1873- 
74,  Vienna;  1875-76,  Braceville;  1877,  Akron,  Second  Church; 
1878-’80,  Painesville;  1881,  Agent,  Conference  Board  of  Church 
Extension;  1882-’85,  Superintendent,  Cleveland  Home  Missions; 
1886,  Superintendent,  Cleveland  Alliance,  M.  E.  Church;  1887-’90, 
Cleveland,  Asbury;  1891,  Cleveland,  Miles  Park  and  Woodland 
Hills  (second  preacher);  1892-’97,  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
Cleveland  City  Church  Extension  Society;  1898-1902,  Missionary, 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 

J.  A.  Hume — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial,  1870; 
full  connection,  1872;  deacon,  1870,  Clark;  elder,  1874,  Peck. 
Appointments — 1870-71,  Hickory;  1872-74,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.; 
1875,  Evansburg;  1876,  Cooperstown;  1877,  Edinboro;  1878, 
Linesville;  1879-’80,  Sun  ville;  1881-’82,  Monterey;  1883-’85,  North 
Washington;  1886-’88,  Clinton  ville;  1889-’91,  Rouseville  and  Siv- 
erly;  1892-’95,  Pleasantville;  1896-’99,' supernumerary;  1900-’07, 
superannuated,  present  residence,  Pleasantville,  Pa. 

R.  F.  Randolph — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 
1871;  full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder, 
1875,  Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1876;  transferred  to  West  Virginia  Conference, 
1885;  transferred  to  Genesee  Conference,  1888;  transferred  to 
West  Wisconsin  Conference,  1891;  transferred  to  Erie  Confer- 
ence, 1896.  Appointments — 1870,  Cattaraugus  (supply);  1871- 
72,  Cattaraugus;  1873-74,  Fredonia;  1875-77,  Painesville;  1878, 
Akron,  Second  Church;  1879-’81,  Ravenna;  1882-’84,  Steubenville, 
Hamline  Church;  1885-’87,  Wheeling,  Fourth  Street;  1888-’90, 
Buffalo,  Asbury;  1891-’94,  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  First  Church;  1895, 
left  without  appointment  to  study  abroad;  1896-’99,  New  Castle, 
First  Church;  1900-’05,  New  Castle  District;  1906-’07,  Kane. 

William  Branfield — Licensed  to  preach,  1868;  admitted  on 
trial,  1871;  full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven; 
elder,  1875,  Scott.  Appointments — 1871-73,  Mt.  Jackson;  1874- 

76,  North  Washington;  1877-79,  Waterloo;  1880-’82,  Farmington; 
1883-’85,  Clinton  ville;  1886-’87,  Emlenton;  1888-’92,  Millerstown 
(now  Chicora) ; 1893-’96,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1897-1903,  Erie, 
Wayne  Street;  1904,  Portland;  1905-’06,  Hillsville. 

D.  W.  Chandler — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 
1871;  full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder, 
Missionary  Rule,  1874,  Peck;  became  a member  of  the  East 
Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  transferred  to  Foo 
Chow  Conference,  1878;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference, 
1883.  Appointments— 1871,  Deerfield;  1872-73,  Windham;  1874- 

77,  missionary  to  China;  1878,  Tieng  Sug  Tong  Circuit,  China; 
1879-’82,  Editor  Mission  Press,  Foo  Chow;  1883-’85,  Kinsman; 


Note. 


705 


1886-’89,  Niles;  1890-’91,  New  Lisbon;  1892-’93,  Bellaire;  1894-’97, 
St.  Clairsville;  1898-1907,  superannuated;  present  residence,  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich. 

J.  B.  Wright— Licensed  to  preach,  1868;  admitted  on  trial, 
1871;  full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder, 
1875,  Scott;  deceased,  Petersburg,  O.,  May  2,  1880.  Appoint- 
ments—1871,  Cooperstown;  1872-’73,  Spring;  1874-75,  New  Leb- 
anon; 1876-77,  New  Wilmington;  1878-79,  Petersburg. 

J.  M.  Foster — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial,  1871; 
full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder,  1875, 
Scott.  Appointments — 1871,  Greenwood;  1872-74,  Harrisville 

and  Centerville;  1875-77,  Hendersonville;  1878-79,  Harlansburg; 
1880,  Volant;  1881-’83,  Salem,  Mercer  Co.;  1884-’86,  Sheakley- 
ville;  1887-’89,  New  Wilmington;  1890-’91,  Mahoningtown;  1892- 
’96,  Sandy  Lake;  1897-1900,  Springboro;  1901-’05,  Pleasantville 
and  Enterprise;  1906-’07,  Robinson  Chapel. 

O.  G.  St.  John — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 
1871;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876.  Appointments — 1871,  Peninsula;  1872,  Cherry 
Creek;  1873,  Lenox;  1874,  East  Ashtabula;  1875-76,  Burton; 

1877,  Richmond  Center;  1878,  Niles;  1879,-80,  Rock  Creek  and 
Rome;  1881-’82,  Williamsfield  and  Wayne;  1883,  Burghill;  1884- 
’85,  Orangeville;  1886,  Mineral  Point;  1887-’88,  Nelson;  1889, 
Colebrook;  1890-’91,  Kelloggsville;  1892-’93,  Mechanicsville;  1894, 
North  Benton;  1895,  Piedmont;  1896,  Centenary;  1897,  Mineral 
Ridge;  1898-1900,  Chapel;  1901-’02,  Mesopotamia. 

H.  J.  Hunscher — Admitted  on  trial,  1871;  full  connection,  1873; 
deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder,  1875,  Scott;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  de- 
ceased, Mantua,  Ohio,  September  28,  1906.  Appointments — 1871, 
Thompson  and  Concord;  1872-73,  Montville  and  Hampden;  1874- 
76,  Windsor  and  Mesopotamia;  1877,  Huntsburg  and  Claridon; 

1878,  Huntsburg  and  Burton;  1879,  Troy;  1880,  Troy  and  Park- 
man;  1881-’83,  Mayfield;  1884-’86,  Bissells;  1887-’91,  Mechanics- 
ville; 1892-’94,  Kelloggsville.  After  Conference  of  1894  he  was 
transferred  to  Girard  and  Liberty;  1895,  Girard;  1896-’99,  Cleve- 
land, Asbury;  1900,  Cleveland,  Parkwood  Avenue;  1901-’04,  Can- 
ton, Dueber  Avenue;  1905-’06,  Mantua. 

W.  H.  Seely — Admitted  on  trial,  North  Ohio  Conference,  1845; 
full  connection,  1847;  deacon,  1847,  Janes;  elder,  1849,  Waugh; 
transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1871;  became  a member  of  the 
East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Cleve- 
land, O.,  August  17,  1898.  Appointments — 1845,  Brooklyn;  1846, 
Amherst;  1847,  Findlay;  1848-’49,  Wood;  1850-’51,  Bellevue;  1852- 
’53,  Milan;  1854,  Fremont;  1855,  Medina;  1856-’57,  Wooster;  1858- 
59,  Monroeville.  From  1859  to  1871  his  pastorates  were  at  Nor- 
walk, Cleveland,  Hanover  Street;  Cleveland,  Taylor  Street;  Ash- 
land, Tiffin  and  a second  pastorate  at  Monroeville;  1871-72, 
Kent;  1873,  Forestville;  1874,  Westfield;  1875-76,  Madison;  1877- 
78,  Unionville;  1879,  Perry;  1880-’83,  Youngstown  District;  1884- 
’85,  Jefferson;  1886,  Garrettsville;  1887-’88,  Windham;  1889-’92, 
Saybrook;  1893-’94,  Cleveland,  Kinsman  Street;  1895-’97,  super- 
annuated. 

J.  W.  Snyder— Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial, 
1871;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  full  connection,  1874;  elder, 
1875,  Scott;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at 
its  organization,  1876;  deceased,  Coalburg,  O.,  May  12,  1883. 
Appointments — 1871,  Kinzua;  1872,  Deerfield;  1873,  Burton; 


yo6 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


1874,  Thompson  and  Concord;  1875,  Bainbridge;  1876-’77,  Lenox; 
1878,  Orangeville  and  Burghill;  1879-’80,  Lowell  and  Coitsville; 
lS81-’82,  Coalburg  and  Brookfield. 

J.  S.  Youmans — Licensed  to  preach,  1853;  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  of  Canada,  1854;  ordained  as  a 
minister  with  deacon’s  and  elder’s  powers,  1857,  by  President 
Enoch  Wood.  Received  as  an  elder  from  above  named  church, 
1871;  transferred  to  North  Ohio  Conference,  1877;  transferred 
to  East  Ohio  Conference,  1880;  deceased,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
January  24,  1900.  Appointments — 1853,  Percy  (supply);  1854-’55, 
Percy;  1856,  Bath;  1857-’59,  Centerville;  1860-’61,  Newburg; 
1862-’64,  Morrisburg;  1865-’67,  North  Augusta;  1868-’70,  Brad- 
ford, all  of  these  appointments  being  in  Canada;  1871-73,  Paines- 
ville;  1874-76,  New  Castle,  First  Church;  1877-79,  Cleveland, 
Franklin  Avenue;  1880-’81,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1882-’83, 
Cleveland,  First  Church;  1884-’85,  Cleveland,  Euclid  Avenue; 
1886,  supernumerary;  1887-’88,  Steubenville,  Hamline  Chapel; 
1889-’94,  Youngstown  District;  1895-’96,  Salem;  1897,  Cleveland, 
First  Church,  second  preacher;  1898-’99,  supernumerary. 

J.  N.  Fradenburgh — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on 
trial,  Genesee  Conference,  1866;  full  connection,  1868;  deacon, 
1868,  Kingsley;  transferred,  Erie  Conference,  1871;  elder,  1872, 
Merrill;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1876.  Appoint- 
ments— 1866,  Principal,  Perry  Academy;  1867,  Belfast,  N.  Y.; 
1868,  Professor,  Mathematics,  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary; 
1869-72,  Professor,  Ancient  and  Modern  Languages,  State  Nor- 
mal School,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1873-74,  Principal,  State  Normal 
School,  Mansfield,  Pa.;  1875,  Cleveland,  First  Church;  1876-77, 
Titusville;  1878-’80,  Franklin;  1881,  supernumerary  (a  part  of 
this  year  traveling  in  Europe  and  the  last  half  of  it  supplying 
Townville,  Pa.);  1882,  Greenville;  1883-’84,  Titusville;  1885-’87, 
Oil  City,  Trinity  Church;  1888-’90,  Warren;  1891,  President,  Red 
River  Valley  University,  Wahpeton,  N.  D.;  1892-’93,  Union  City; 
1894-’95,  Greenville;  1896-’98,  Clarion;  1899-1904,  Franklin  Dis- 
trict; 1905-’06,  Tidioute;  1907,  superannuated. 

Clinton  Jones — Licensed  to  preach;  admitted  on  trial,  1871; 
discontinued,  1873;  admitted  on  trial,  1881;  full  connection,  1883; 
deacon,  1881,  Harris;  elder,  1885,  Merrill.  Appointments— 1871, 
Punxsutawney ; 1872,  Warsaw;  1881-’82,  Putneyville;  1883-’85, 
Emerickville;  1886-’88,  Rimersburg;  1889-’92,  Sigel;  1893-’96, 
Johnsonburg;  1897-’99,  supernumerary;  1900-’06,  superannuated; 
present  residence,  Johnsonburg,  Pa. 

Harvey  Henderson — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on 
trial,  1871;  full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven; 
elder,  1875,  Scott;  located  at  his  own  request,  1882.  Has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  which  he 
has  attained  marked  success.  He  has  also  served  the  church  ac- 
ceptably and  usefully  as  a local  preacher.  Present  residence, 
Allegheny  City,  Pa.  Appointments — 1871-72,  Rootstown  and 
Randolph;  1873,  Twinsburg  and  Hudson;  1874,  New  Wilmington; 
1875-77,  Forestville;  1878-79,  Clarion;  1880-’81,  New  Castle,  First 
Church. 

M.  V.  Stone — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial,  1871; 
full  connection,  1873;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder,  1875, 
Scott  Appointments — 1871,  Sheffield  and  Kane;  1872,  Garland, 

1873, 'Enterprise  and  Shamburg;  1874,  Enterprise;  1875,  Center- 
ville; 1876,  Centerville  and  Riceville;  1877-79,  Harmonsburg; 
1880-’81,  Cochranton;  1882-’83,  Townville;  1884-’86,  Espyville; 


Note. 


707 

1887- ’91,  Frewsburg;  1892-’94,  Saegertown;  1895,  Fredonia,  Pa.; 
1896-’97,  supernumerary;  1898-1900,  superannuated;  1901-’02,  Ash- 
ville;  1903-’05,  Sugar  Grove;  1906,  Frewsburg. 

D.  C.  Plannette — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Peck;  transferred  to  the  North  Dakota  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1887;  transferred  to  Erie  Conference,  1897.  Appoint- 
ments—1872,  Charleston,  Pa.;  1873,  President;  1874,  Fairview, 
Butler  County;  1875,  Curllsville;  1876-77,  Luthersburg;  1878-’80, 
Reynoldsville;  1881-’82,  East  Brady;  1883,  Bismark,  N.  D.,  North 
Dakota  Mission;  1884-’86,  Grand  Forks  District,  North  Dakota 
Mission;  1887,  Grand  Forks  District,  North  Dakota  Conference; 

1888- ’89,  Fargo  District;  1890-’91,  Fargo,  Second  Church;  1892, 
Fargo,  Roberts  Church;  1893-’95,  Fargo  District;  1896,  super- 
numerary; during  the  year  he  made  a tour  around  the  world; 
1897,  North  Clarendon;  1898-’99,  Parker’s  Landing;  1900-’01,  Erie, 
Tenth  Street;  1902,  South  Sharon;  1903-’07,  Sharon,  Spearman 
Avenue — the  same  as  “South  Sharon.” 

J.  L.  Stratton — Licensed  to  preach,  1869;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  elder, 
1876,  Peck.  Appointments — 1872,  Peninsula;  1873-74,  Harlans- 
burg  and  Mt.  Pleasant;  1875-77,  Clintonville;  1878-79,  Farming- 
ton;  1880,  Waterloo;  1881-’82,  North  Washington;  1883-’85,  As- 
bury;  1886-’90,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1891-’93,  New  Castle,  Epworth 
Church;  1894,  Brockway ville;  1895-’96,  Miles  Grove;  1897,  Water- 
ford; 1898-1900,  Hillville;  1901,  Stoneboro;  1902-’04,  Clark’s 
Mills;  1905-’06,  New  Castle,  Croton  Avenue. 

H.  N.  Steadman — Admitted  on  trial,  1872;  full  connection, 
1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio 
inference  at  its  organization,  1876;  elder,  1876,  Ames;  ae 
ceased,  Chagrin  Falls,  O.,  March  4,  1882.  Appointments — 1872, 
Ellsworth  and  Berlin;  1873,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore; 
1874-75,  Hartford;  1876-77,  Garrettsville;  1878,  Garrettsville  and 
Nelson;  1879,  Rootstown;  1880,  Mentor;  1881,  Chagrin  Falls. 

H.  C.  Smith — Admitted  on  trial,  1872;  full  connection,  1874; 
deacon,  1874,  Peck;  transferred  to  East  Ohio  Conference,  1876; 
elder,  1877,  Simpson;  deceased,  Hubbard,  O.,  July  1,  1878.  Ap- 
pointments— 1872-74,  Hendersonville;  1875,  New  Wilmington; 

1876- 77,  Hubbard. 

J.  C.  Rhodes — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;.  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Peck;  transferred  to  Minnesota  Conference,  1882;  transferred  to 
Erie  Conference,  1883.  Appointments — 1872,  Clarington;  1873-74, 
Corsica;  1875,  Washington;  1876,  Croton  and  Greenwood; 

1877- 78,  North  Washington;  1879-’81,  Karns  City  and  Fairview; 
1882,  Bismarck,  N.  D.;  1883,  Monterey;  1884-’85,  Pleasantville; 
1886-’89,  Mahoningtown;  1890-’91,  East  Randolph;  1892,  Frews- 
burg; 1893-’94,  Little  Valley;  1895-’96,  Youngsville;  1897,  Dayton 
and  Wesley,  (excused  from  going  on  account  of  ill  health) ; 1898, 
supernumerary;  1899,  Kinzua;  1900,  Lander;  1901-’02,  super- 
numerary; 1903,  Jamestown,  Brooklyn  Heights— released  after 
Conference  because  of  poor  health;  1904-’06,  superannuated; 
present  residence,  Gowranda,  N.  Y. 

S.  E.  Winger — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Peck.  Appointments— 1872,  Clapp  Farm;  1873,  Brady’s  Bend; 
1874,  Waterloo;  1875,  Sunville;  1876,  supernumerary;  1877, 
Clymer;  1878-79,  New  Bethlehem;  1880,  Luthersburg;  1881-’82, 
Missionary  to  Montana  and  stationed  at  Helena;  1883,  Harlans- 


708 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


burg;  1884-’86,  Salem,  Mercer  County;  1887-’88,  Clarksville; 
1889-’90,  New  Lebanon;  1891-’92,  Edenburg,  Lawrence  County; 
1893,  Pardoe;  1894,  Stoneboro;  1895,  Harlansburg;  1896-’98, 
Hydetown;  1899-1900,  Sunville;  1901-’02,  superannuated;  1903-’04, 
Frewsburg;  1905,  Spring  Creek;  1906-’07,  superannuated. 

S.  M.  Clark — Licensed  to  preach,  1860;  became  a minister  in 
the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church,  1863;  received  as  an  elder  from 
said  church  into  the  Erie  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  1872.  Appointments — 1872-’73,  Albion;  1874,  Hamlet; 

1875,  Sheridan;  1876-78,  Delanti;  1879,  Perrysburg;  1880-’81, 
Ridgway;  1882-’84,  Panama;  1885-’86,  Sharpsville;  1887-’88,  Mill 
Village;  1889-’92,  Springfield;  1893-’95,  Waterford;  1896,  McKean; 

1897- ’99,  Cooperstown;  1900-’03,  Ferdinand;  1904-’05,  Sheakley- 
ville;  1906,  Nazareth  and  Mount  Pleasant. 

W.  J.  Wilson— Licensed  to  preach,  1863;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876.  Appointments— 1872-74,  Canfield;  1875,  Vienna; 

1876,  Vienna  and  Brookfield;  1877,  Conneaut;  1878-79,  Hubbard; 

1880-’82,  Gustavus  and  Kinsman:  1883-’85,  Massilon;  1886-’87, 
New  Philadelphia;  1888-’92,  Canton,  Simpson  Church;  1893-'94, 
Cuvahoea  Falls;  1895,  Bedford;  1896-’97,  Kent,  last  nine  months 
at  Urichsville;  1898-’99,  Urichsville;  1900,  Martin’s  Ferry; 
1901-’02,  Cuyahoga  Falls.  . 

Jeremiah  Garnett — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  full  connection,  1874;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 
Peck;  deceased,  Leon,  N.  Y.,  May  20,  1899.  Appointments— 1872, 
Spartansburg;  1873-74,  Kinzua;  1875,  Ellery;  1876,  Salem,  Clar- 
ion County;  1877-78,  Curllsville;  1879-’80,  Rockland;  1881-’83, 
Washington;  1884-’86,  Hamlet;  1887-’88,  Russell  and  North  War- 
ren; 1889-’92,  Dayton;  1893-’96,  Frewsburg;  1897-’98,  Panama. 

G.  P.  Preston — Licensed  to  preach,  1869;  admitted  on  trial, 
1872;  deceased,  Brookville,  Pa.,  September  22,  1873.  Appoint- 
ment-1872, Pleasant  Valley  and  Mogadore. 

J H Dewart — Admitted  on  trial,  1872;  full  connection,  1874; 
deacon,  1872,  Merrill;  elder,  1875,  Scott;  became  a member  of 
the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  transferred 
to  Minnesota  Conference,  1882;  became  a member  of  the  Min- 
nesota Northern  Conference  at  its  organization,  1894.  Appoint- 
ments—1872,-73,  Chardon;  1874-76,  WiHoughby;  1877-79,  War- 
ren;  1880-’81,  East  Cleveland;  1882-’84,  Owatonna,  Minn.;  1885-  87, 
St  Paul,  Grace  Church;  1888-’90,  St.  Paul,  Bates  Avenue;  1891-  95, 
St.  Cloud,  First  Church;  1896-’97,  Minneapolis,  Franklin  Avenue; 

1898- 1901,’  Minneapolis,  Foss  Church. 

W W Painter — Licensed  to  preach,  1864;  admitted  on  trial, 
Wisconsin  Conference,  1868;  full  connection,  1870;  deacon,  18<0, 
Clark-  elder,  1873,  Gilbert  Haven;  transferred  to  Erie  Confer- 
ence, 1872;  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1886;  trans- 
ferred to  Rock  River  Conference,  1890;  deceased,  Winnetka,  111., 
Sentember  16  1902.  Appointments — 1868-70,  Waterford  and  East 
Troy,  Wis.;  1871,  Pewaukee,  Wis.;  1872,  Akron,  Second  Church, 
1873-74,  Tallmadge  and  Brimfield;  1875’707’  ^rnnklin;  1878-79, 
Titusville-  1880-’82,  Conneautville;  1883-  85,  Warren,  1886-  88, 
Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  Division  Street;  1889  Fond  du  Lac  District; 
1890-’04,  Chicago,  Park  Avenue;  1895,  Chicag°>  Qross 

vard;  1896-1900,  Rockford,  Centennial;  1901,  Chicago,  Gioss 

Park. 

E.  A.  Simons— Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 
1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames,  elder, 


Note. 


yog 


Simpson;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
organization,  1876;  elected  Secretary  of  Conference,  1897.  Ap- 
pointments— 1873-’74,  Nelson;  1875-’76,  Charlestown  and  Free- 
dom; 1877-’78,  Rootstown  and  Randolph;  1879-’80,  Tallmadge  and 
Brimfield;  1881-’82,  Bloomfield  and  Mesopotamia;  1883,  Bloom- 
field; 1884-’88,  Youngstown  District;  1889-’93,  Salem;  1894-’95,  Al- 
liance, First  Church;  1896-’97,  Urichsville.  Shortly  after  Confer-  * 

ence  of  1897,  appointed  to  Warren;  1898,  Warren;  1899-1900,  Bel- 
laire,  First  Church;  1901,  Cleveland,  Scoville  Avenue;  1902, 
supernumerary. 

Cearing  Peters — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial, 

1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1877,  Fos- 
ter. Appointments — 1873-74,  Clinton ville;  1875-’77,  Karns  City; 

1878-’80,  Millerstown;  1881-’83,  New  Castle,  Pearson  Street; 

1884-’86,  Reynoldsville;  1887,  East  Brady;  1888-’90,  Clarion; 

1891- ’94,  DuBois;  1895-’97,  Emlenton  and  Foxburg;  1898,  Chicora; 

1899-1903,  supernumerary;  1904,  Knox;  1905-’06,  Conference 
Evangelist. 

Richard  Peet — Licensed  to  preach,  admitted  on  trial,  into  full 
connection  and  ordained  deacon  and  elder  in  the  Wesleyan  Con- 
nection of  America,  at  dates  not  ascertainable.  Received  from 
said  church  as  a traveling  elder  into  the  Erie  Conference,  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  1873;  deceased,  Harthegig,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1894.  Appointments — 1873,  Reynoldsville;  1874-75,  Putney- 
ville;  1876-77,  Rimersburg;  1878,  Richardsville;  1879,  Perrys- 
ville;  1880,  supernumerary;  1881,  Enterprise;  1882-’83,  super- 
numerary; 1884-’93,  superannuated. 

Nathaniel  Morris — Licensed  to  preach  by  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dists in  England,  1846;  became  a local  preacher  in  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  Church  soon  after  his  removal  to  America  in 
1850,  in  which  church  he  was  ordained  deacon;  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1859,  his  license  as  a local  preacher 
and  his  orders  as  a deacon,  being  recognized;  admitted  on  trial, 

1873;  full  connection,  1875;  elder,  1877,  Foster;  deceased,  Fay, 

Pa.,  June  30,  1894.  Appointments — 1873-74,  Lowell;  1875-76, 

Harrisville  and  Pine  Grove;  1877,  Edenburg,  Lawrence  Co.;  1878- 
79,  Centerville,  Butler  Co.;  1880-’81,  Harlansburg;  1882-’83,  Vo- 
lant; 1884-’85,  Wampum;  1886-’69,  Pardoe;  1890-’93,  superannu- 
ated. 

L.  J.  Bennett — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 

1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1877, 

Foster.  Appointments — 1873-74,  Summit  and  Sindens;  1875-76, 

Clymer;  1877,  Sugar  Grove;  1878-79,  Pine  Grove  and  Farming- 
ton;  1880,  East  Randolph;  1881-’82,  Cattaraugus;  1883-’88,  super- 
numerary; 1884,  supply  at  Spring  Creek;  1885,  supply  at  El- 
lery; 1888,  supply  at  Spring  Creek;  1889-’90,  Spring  Creek;  1891, 

Cherry  Creek;  1892-’93,  Wesley  ville;  1894,  Centerville,  Meadville  x 

District;  1895-1906,  superannuated;  present  residence,  near  Ken- 
nedy, N.  Y. 

J.  K.  Adams — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 

1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1877, 

Foster.  Appointments— 1873-74,  Sunville;  1875-76,  Monterey; 

1877-78,  Grant  and  Wrightsville;  1879-’80,  Garland  and  Spring 
Creek;  1881,  Columbus  and  North  Corry;  1882-’83,  Cooperstown; 

1884-’86,  Woodcock;  1887-’89,  Callensburg;  1890-’91,  Rockland; 

1892- ’94,  Washington;  1895,  Salem;  1896-’97,  Big  Run;  1898-1900, 

Glen  Hazel;  1901-’03,  Hazen;  1904-’05,  Marien ville;  1906,  Sligo. 

W.  H.  Haskell — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial, 

1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1876, 


710 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


> 


Ames;  became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  or- 
ganization, 1876;  deceased,  Ontario,  Cal.,  April  18,  1896.  Ap- 
pointments— 1873,  Thompson  and  Concord;  1874,  Garrettsville; 
1875-’77,  Tallmadge  and  Brimfield;  1878-’80,  Geneva;  1881-’83, 
Chardon;  1884-’86,  St.  Clairsville;  1887,  Cleveland,  Miles  Park; 
1888-’90,  Cleveland  District;  1891-’93,  Steubenville,  Hamline 
Church;  1894,  Salem;  1895,  Cleveland,  Ep  worth  Memorial 
Church  (second  preacher). 

John  Lusher— Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial, 
1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1877, 
Foster;  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  1894;  transferred 
to  Erie  Conference,  1895.  Appointments — 1873-’74,  Tionesta; 

1875-77,  Farmington;  1878-’80,  Clintonville;  1881-’82,  Millerstown; 
1883-’85,  Parker  City;  1886-’88,  Brookville;  1889-’93,  Titusville; 
1894,  Appleton,  Wis.;  1895-’96,  New  Castle,  First  Church;  1897- 
’99,  Chautauqua;  1900-’07,  Mt.  Jewett. 


E.  F.  Edmonds — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial, 
1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organization,  1876;  elder, 
1877,  Simpson;  transferred  to  Ena  Conference,  1890.  Appoint- 
ments—1873-74,  Wampum;  1875-77,  Cortland;  1878-’80,  Kings- 
ville; 1881,  Poland;  1882-’84,  Girard  and  Liberty;  1885-’88,  Wil- 
loughby; 1889,  Steubenville,  First  Church;  1890-’94,  New  Castle, 
First  Church;  1895,  Busti  and  Farmington;  1896-’98,  Warren, 
First  Church;  1899-1904,  Meadville  District;  1905-’06,  Erie,  Simp- 
son Church. 

C.  W.  Darrow— Licensed  to  preach,  1873;  admitted  on  trial, 
1873;  full  connection,  1875;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1877, 
Foster;  transferred  to  Puget  Sound  Conference,  1891.  Appoint- 
ments— 1873,  Grand  River;  1874,  Warrensville;  1875,  Greenwood; 
1876-77,  Professor,  New  Castle  College;  1878,  Edenburg,  (New 
Castle  District);  1879-’81,  Sharpsville;  1882-’84,  Clarion;  1885-’88, 
Brockway  ville;  1889-’91,  supernumerary,  (supplying  Corsica, 
1889);  1891-’97,  Professor,  Puget  Sound  University;  1898,  super- 
numerary; 1899-1900,  Tacoma,  Wesley;  1901,  Tacoma,  Second 
Church. 


Thomas  Burrows — Licensed  to  preach,  1837 ; admitted  on  trial, 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Connection  of  America,  1842;  unable  to  as- 
certain the  dates  of  his  admission  into  full  connection  and  of 
his  ordination  as  deacon;  elder,  1841;  received  into  the  Erie 
Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1873.  Appointments 
1842-  to  1873,  unable  to  ascertain;  1873-74,  Spartansburg;  1875, 
Garland  and  Spring  Creek;  1876,  Grant  and  Wrightsville;  1877-78, 
Cherry  Creek;  1879-’83,  supernumerary;  1884-1906,  superannu- 
ated. 


R.  M.  Felt — Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial,  1874; 
full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder,  1878,  Gilbert 
Haven.  Appointments — 1874,  Reynoldsville;  1875-  76,  Emerick- 
ville;  1877,  President;  1878-’80,  Washington;  1881-’83,  Rockland; 
1884-’85,  New  Bethlehem;  1886-’87,  Belleview;  1888-92,  Sligo; 
1893-’99,  supernumerary;  1900-’06,  superannuated;  present  resi- 
dence, Sligo,  Pa. 

G.  J.  Squier — Licensed  to  preach,  1868;  admitted  on  J-874; 

full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1874,  Peck;  elder  1878,  Gdbert 
Haven.  Appointments — 1874-75,  Cattaraugus;  1876-77,  Ripley, 
1878-’80,  Silver  Creek;  1881-’83,  Portland;  1884-  85, 

1886-’88,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1889-’90,  New  Castle  Epworth  (^urch; 
1891-’93  West  Middlesex;  1894-’96,  Cochranton;  1897-99,  East 


Note. 


Randolph;  1900-’01,  Busti;  1902-’03,  Sheakleyville;  1904-’06,  Erie, 
Cascade. 

J.  C.  Ridout— Licensed  to  preach,  1873;  admitted  on  trial,  1874; 
full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1879,  Bowman. 
Appointments — 1874,  Arkwright;  1875-’76,  Summit  and  Sindens; 
1877-78,  McKean;  1879-’80,  Green;  1881-’82,  Wesley ville;  1883, 
Fairview;  1884,  Perrysburg;  1885,  supernumerary;  1886-’88,  Lock- 
port;  1889,  Volusia;  1890,  McKean;  1891-’92,  supernumerary; 
1893-’94,  Phillipsville;  1895,  Clarington,  (did  not  go);  1896,  Dick- 
sonburg;  1897-’98,  Sunville;  1899-1901,  supernumerary;  1902-’07, 
superannuated;  present  residence,  Brocton,  N.  Y. 

A.  M.  Lockwood — Licensed  to  preach,  1873;  admitted  on  trial, 
1874;  full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1879, 
Bowman.  Appointments — 1874,  Fairview;  1875,  Lockport;  1876, 
Edenburg,  Lawrence  Co.;  1877-78,  Corsica;  1879-’81,  Punxsutaw- 
ney;  1882-’83,  New  Bethlehem;  1884-’85,  Cooperstown;  1886-’88, 
Cambridge;  1889-’93,  Sheffield;  1894-’97,  Ellington  and  Kennedy; 
1898-1901,  Conneautville;  1902-’03,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1904- 
’06,  Panama. 

J.  A.  Ward — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial,  1874; 
full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1878,  Gilbert 
Haven;  deceased,  Ridgway,  Pa.,  November  30,  1886.  Appoint- 
ments— 1874,  New  Castle,  First  Ward;  1875-77,  Centerville,  New 
Castle  District;  1878,  Hendersonville;  1879-’81,  New  Lebanon; 
1882-’84,  Sharpsville;  1885-’86,  Ridgway. 

T.  W.  Douglas — Licensed  to  preach,  1873;  admitted  on  trial, 
1874;  full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1878,  Gil- 
bert Haven..  Appointments — 1874-75,  Linesville;  1876-78,  Sun- 
ville; 1879-’8l,  Albion;  1882,  Harmonsburg;  1883-’85,  Spartans- 
burg;  1886-’90,  Youngsville;  1891-’92,  Little  Valley;  1893-’95,  Con- 
neautville; 1896-’97,  Punxsutawney;  1898-1903,  Grove  City;  1904- 
’05,  New  Castle,  Mahoning;  1907,  New  Castle  District. 

E.  S.  Baker — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial,  1874; 
became  a member  of  the  East  Ohio  Conference  at  its  organiza- 
tion in  1876;  full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Ames;  elder, 
1878,  Merrill;  deceased,  Mechanicsville,  O.,  June  1,  1894.  Ap- 
pointments— 1874-75,  Lenox;  1876-77,  Kelloggsville;  1878-79, 
Richmond;  1880-’82,  Green  and  Mecca;  1883-’84,  Vienna;  1885-’86, 
Leavittsburg;  1887-’89,  Canfield;  1890-’92,  Edinburg;  1893-’94, 
Welshfield;  1895-’98,  Mayfield;  1899-’1900,  Saybrook;  1901-’03, 
superannuated. 

H.  G.  Hall — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial,  1874; 
full  connection,  1876;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1878,  Gilbert 


Haven.  Appointments — 1874-75,  Perrysville;  1876,  Belleview; 

1877-79,  Monterey;  1880-’82,  Emlenton;  1883-’85,  Youngsville; 


1886  Garland;  1887-’91,  Punxsutawney;  1892-’95,  Kane;  1896-1900, 
Franklin;  1901-’03,  Jamestown  District;  1904-’07,  Oil  City,  Grace. 


W.  B.  Holt — Admitted  on  trial,  East  Genesee  Conference,  1859; 
located,  1871;  re-admitted  into  the  Michigan  and  transferred  to 
the  Detroit  Conference,  1872;  transferred  to  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, 1874;  deceased,  Plumer,  Pa.,  July  14,  1892.  Appointments— 
Not  able  to  ascertain  his  appointments  from  1859  to  1870;  1870, 
Addison  N.  Y.;  1872,  appointment  not  given  in  General  Minutes; 
1873  Forrester,  Mich.;  1874-75,  Little  Valley;  1876-77,  Sherman; 
1878,  Youngsville;  1879,  Mayville;  1880-’81,  Perrysburg;  1882-’83, 
Busti  and  Farmington;  1884,  Luthersburg;  1885,  Belleview;  1886, 
Emerickville;  1887,  Richardsville ; 1888-’89,  Monterey;  1890,  St. 
Petersburg  and  Foxburg;  1891,  Plumer. 

T.  L.  Flood — Licensed  to  preach,  1862;  admitted  on  trial.  New 


i 


\ 


JI2  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Hampshire  Conference,  1864;  full  connection,  1866;  deacon, 
Simpson;  elder,  Baker;  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference,  1875. 
Appointments— 1864-’65,  Rumney;  1866,  Seabrook;  1867-’69,  Sa- 
lem; 1870-71,  New  Market;  1872-73,  Keene;  1874,  Concord  Dis- 
trict; 1874-76,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1877-79,  Meadville,  First 

Church;  1880-’81,  Oil  City,  Trinity  Church;  1882,  Chautauqua; 
1883,  Registrar,  Chautauqua  University;  1884-’88,  Editor,  Chau- 
tauquan. 

E.  K.  Creed— Licensed  to  preach,  1870;  admitted  on  trial,  1876; 
full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880,  E.  O. 
Haven;  transferred  to  New  York  East  Conference,  1895;  trans- 
ferred to  Wilmington  Conference,  1901;  deceased,  April  27,  1904. 
Appointments— 1875,  Sugar  Grove,  supply;  1876,  Sugar  Grove; 
1877,  Frewsburg;  1878-’80,  Sinclairville;  1881-’82,  Silver  Creek; 
1883-’85,  North  East;  1886,  Sandy  Lake;  1887-’89,  Mercer;  1890- 
*91,  Parker’s  Landing;  1892-’94,  Tidioute;  1895-’96,  Southington, 
Conn.;  1897,  Southold,  N.  Y.;  1898-’99,  Port  Jefferson,  N.  Y.;  1900, 
Farmingdale  and  Melville,  N.  Y.;  1901-’02,  Centerville,  Md. 

W.  W.  Woodworth — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on 
trial,  1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880, 
E.  O.  Haven;  deceased,  East  Randolph,  N.  Y.,  October  8,  1883. 
Appointments — 1876-77,  Sinclairville;  1878-79,  Frewsburg;  1880, 
Portland;  1881-’82,  North  East. 

W.  S.  Shepard — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880, 
Warren.  Appointments — 1876,  Curllsville;  1877-78,  Rockland; 

1879,  Corsica;  1880-’81,  Mt.  Jackson;  1882,  Harlansburg;  1883, 
supernumerary;  1884-’85,  Stoneboro;  1886-’88,  Clark’s  Mills;  1889- 
’91,  Fredonia,  Pa.;  1892-’94,  Volant;  1895-’97,  Clarksville;  1898- 
1900,  New  Castle,  Croton  Avenue;  1901,  Wesleyville;  1902,  super- 
annuated. 

J.  C.  McDonald — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1877,  Foster;  elder,  1880, 
E.  O.  Haven.  Appointments — 1876-77,  New  Bethlehem;  1878-’80, 
Rimersburg;  1881-’83,  Reynoldsville;  1884-’86,  East  Brady;  1887- 
’91,  Ridgway;  1892-’93,  Punxsutawney;  1894-’98,  Oil  City,  Grace 
Church;  1899-1903,  Warren,  First  Church;  1904-’06,  New  Castle, 
Epworth. 

L.  A.  Chapin — Licensed  to  preach,  1844;  admitted  on  trial, 
Rock  River  Conference,  1844;  full  connection,  1846;  deacon,  1846, 
Hamline;  located,  1850;  re-admitted,  Genesee  Conference,  1857; 
elder,  1858,  Baker;  located  at  his  own  request,  1870;  re-admitted, 
Erie  Conference,  1876.  Appointments — 1844,  Dundee,  111.;  1845, 
St.  Charles,  111.,  (Mr.  Chapin  speaks  of  it  as  “Aurora  and  Ba- 
tavia”) ; 1846,  Yellowhead  Mission,  111.,  (Mr.  Chapin  calls  it  “Kau- 
kakee  Mission”);  1847,  Chicago  Mission,  111.;  1848,  superannu- 
ated; 1849,  Newark,  111.;  in  1854,  supplied  Ninth  Street  Mission, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  1855,  Elk  Street  Mission,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  1857, 
Byron,  N.  Y.;  1858,  Lancaster,  N.  Y.;  1859,  East  Otto,  N.  Y.; 
1860-’61,  Byron,  N.  Y.;  1862-’63,  Hulberton  and  Clarendon,  N.  Y.; 
1864,  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.;  1865-’66,  Hamburg,  N.  Y.;  1867-’68,  Wil- 
liamsville  and  Bowman ville,  N.  Y.;  1869,  Potter’s  Corners  and 
Griffith,  N.  Y.;  1875,  Salamanca,  supply;  1876,  Salamanca;  1877, 
Dayton;  1878,  Kane  and  Ludlow;  1879,  Grant  and  Wrightsville; 
1880-’82,  Irving;  1883-’84,  Delanti;  1885-’87,  Perrysburg;  1888, 
Volusia;  1889,  Lockport;  1890-’91,  Irving;  1892-’94,  superannu- 
ated. 

J.  H.  Laverty — Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1877,  Foster;  elder,  1880,  E. 


Note. 


7i3 


O.  Haven;  transferred  to  Pittsburg  Conference,  1895.  Appoint- 
ments— 1876,  Corsica;  1877-’78,  Belleview;  1879-’81,  Emerickville; 
1882-’84,  Callensburg;  1885-’86,  Salem,  Clarion  Co.;  1887-’89, 
Woodcock;  1890-’92,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1893-’94,  Chicora; 
1895-’96,  Salem  and  Mars;  1897-’98,  Evans  City;  1899-1902,  Mo- 
naca. 

W.  W.  Cushman — Licensed  to  preach,  1875;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880, 
E.  O.  Haven;  deceased,  Conneautville,  Pa.,  May  31,  1906.  Ap- 
pointments— 1876-’77,  Kinzua;  1878-’79,  Ashville  and  Busti;  1880- 
’82,  Sheffield;  1883-’85,  Leon;  1886,  Little  Valley;  1887-’88,  Ham- 
let; 1889-’90,  Harmonsburg;  1891-’93,  Cochranton;  1894-’96, 
Springboro;  1897-’99,  Mill  Village;  1900-’02,  Woodcock  and  Ve- 
nango. 

J.  M.  Crouch — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1879, 
Bowman.  Appointments — 1876-77,  Harlansburg;  1878-79,  Mt. 

Jackson;  1880-’82,  Jamestown,  Pa.;  1883,  New  Wilmington;  1884- 
’85,  Pardoe;  1886-’87,  Evansburg;  1888-’89,  Townville;  1890-’93, 
Ripley;  1894-’95,  Edinboro;  1896,  Spartansburg;  1897-’99,  Volusia; 
1900,  Albion;  1901,  Dayton;  1902-’03,  West  Sunbury  and  North 
Hope;  1904-’06,  Polk. 

James  Clyde — Licensed  to  preach,  1866;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1880,  E. 
O.  Haven;  deceased,  Meadville,  Pa.,  May  10,  1894.  Appoint- 
ments— 1876-78,  Plumer;  1879-’80,  North  Washington;  1881-’82, 
Waterloo;  1883-’84,  Saegertown;  1885,  Cochranton;  1886-’87,  Sun- 
ville;  1888,  Edinboro;  1889,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1890,  Cen- 
terville, (Meadville  District);  1891-’92,  supernumerary;  1893,  su- 
perannuated. 

J.  B.  Espy — Licensed  to  preach,  1876;  admitted  on  trial,  1876; 
full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880,  E.  O. 
Haven;  deceased,  Mahoningtown,  Pa.,  April  23,  1907.  Appoint- 
ments— 1876-78,  Brady’s  Bend;  1879,  Meadville,  State  Street; 
1880-’82,  Sheakleyville;  1883-’85,  Grove  City;  1886-’89,  Erie,  Simp- 
son Church;  1890-’94,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.;  1895-’99,  North  East;  1900- 
’05,  Erie  District;  1906,  New  Castle,  Mahoning  Church. 

T.  H.  Sheckler — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1879;  deacon,  1879,  Bowman;  elder,  1881, 
Harris;  transferred  to  North  Dakota  Conference,  1887;  trans- 
ferred to  Minnesota  Conference,  1894;  transferred  to  Upper  Iowa 
Conference,  1897.  Appointments — 1876-77,  Clarington;  1878, 
Perry sville;  1879-’80,  Putneyville;  1881-’82,  Sherrett;  1883-’84, 
Salem,  Clarion  Co.;  1885-’86,  Devil’s  Lake,  N.  D.;  1887-’88,  West 
Point,  N.  D.;  1889,  Bathgate,  N.  D.;  1890-’93,  Bismarck  District; 
1894,  Luverne,  Minn.;  1895-’96,  Waseca,  Minn.;  1897-’99,  Nora 
Springs,  la.;  1900-’01,  Sabula,  la. 

Miller  Fording — Licensed  to  preach,  1875;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1880, 
E.  O.  Haven.  Appointments — 1876-77,  Kane  and  Ludlow;  1878- 
79,  Salamanca;  1880,  Columbu^  and  North  Corry;  1881,  Sinclair- 
ville;  1882-’84,  Sheridan;  1885,  Linesville;  1886-’87,  Harmons- 
burg; 1888-’89,  Ripley;  1890-’92,  Perrysburg;  1893-’97,  Springfield; 
1898-’99,  Greenfield;  1900-’06,  superannuated.  Since  his  super- 
annuation he  has  done  much  supply  work. 

W.  O.  Allen— Licensed  to  preach,  1872;  admitted  on  trial,  1876; 
full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1876,  Peck;  elder,  1880,  E.  O. 
Haven;  transferred  to  Des  Moines  Conference,  1885.  Appoint- 
ments—1876-77,  Tionesta;  1878-’80,  Sugar  Grove;  1881-’83,  Sher- 


i 


7H 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


man;  1884,  Meadville,  State  Street;  1885,  Shenandoah,  la.;  1886- 
’87,  Malvern,  la.;  1888-’89,  Missouri  Valley,  la.;  1890-’92,  Osceola, 
la.;  1893,  Corydon,  la.;  1894-’98,  Corning,  la.;  1899-1904,  Atlantic 
District. 

W.  G.  Williams — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial, 
1876;  full  connection,  1879;  deacon,  1879,  Bowman;  elder,  1881, 
Harris;  transferred  to  Ohio  Conference,  1889;  transferred  to 
New  York  East  Conference,  1893;  transferred  to  St.  Louis  Con- 
ference, 1894;  deceased,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  16,  1897.  Appoint- 
ments—1876,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1878-’81,  Professor,  Allegheny 
College;  1882-’83,  Jamestown,  N.  Y.;  1884,  Principal,  Genesee 
Wesleyan  Seminary;  1885-’87,  Professor,  Allegheny  College;  1888, 
President,  Allegheny  College;  1889-’92,  Columbus,  O.,  Broad 
Street;  1893,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  First  Church;  1894-’97,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  Union  Church. 

A.  O.  Stone — Licensed  to  preach,  1871;  admitted  on  trial,  1876; 
full  connection,  1878;  deacon,  1875,  Ames;  elder,  1880,  E.  O. 
Haven.  Appointments — 1876,  Enterprise;  1877,  Fagundus  and 

East  Hickory;  1878-79,  Tionesta  and  East  Hickory;  1880,  Mont- 
erey; 1881-’82,  Clinton ville;  1883,  supernumerary;  1884,  Green- 
wood; 1885-’86,  New  Wilmington;  1887-’88,  Sharpsville;  1889-’91, 
Salamanca;  1892,  Espyville;  1893-’95,  Spartansburg;  1896-’97,  su- 
pernumerary; 1898-’99,  Agent,  Anti-Saloon  League;  1900-’01, 
Sheakley ville;  1902-’03,  West  Middlesex;  1904-’05,  Volant;  1906, 
supernumerary. 

W.  P.  Graham — Licensed  to  preach,  1876;  admitted  on  trial, 
1878;  full  connection,  1880;  deacon,  1880,  E.  O.  Haven;  elder, 
1882,  Simpson.  Appointments — 1877-78,  Wheatland;  1879-’80, 

Rouseville;  1881-’82,  Reno  and  Sugar  Creek;  1883,  Tidioute;  1884- 
’85,  St.  Petersburg;  1886,  Karns  City;  1887-’88,  Westfield;  1889, 
Forestville;  1890-’91,  Knox;  1892-’94,  Cambridge;  1895-1900, 
Jamestown  District;  1901-’04,  Brookville;  190o-’06,  Mercer. 

H.  M.  Burns — Licensed  to  preach,  1873;  admitted  on  trial,  1878; 
full  connection,  1880;  deacon,  1879,  Bowman;  elder,  1882,  Simp- 
son. Appointments — 1877,  Little  Toby,  supply,  (Mr.  Burns  says, 
“Brockport  Circuit”);  1878,  Little  Toby;  1879,  Belleview;  re- 
moved by  P.  P.  Pinney  to  DuBois,  which  was  left  to  be  supplied; 
1880-’81,  DuBois;  1882,  Brockport;  1883,  Luthersburg;  1884-’86, 
Busti  and  Farmington;  1887-’88,  Little  Valley;  1889,  Westfield; 
1890-’91,  Ellington;  1892-’95,  -Sherman;  1896-’97,  Cattaraugus; 

1898- ’99,  Tidioute;  1900-’02,  Falconer;  1903,  Salamanca;  1904, 
Hillsville;  1905-’06,  New  Castle,  Grace  Church. 

D.  R.  Palmer — Licensed  to  preach,  1878;  admitted  on  trial, 
1878;  full  connection,  1880;  deacon,  1880,  E.  O.  Haven;  elder, 
1882,  Simpson.  Appointments — 1878-79,  Centerville,  Crawford 
Co.;  1880-’82,  Hamlet;  1883-’84,  Sugar  Grove;  1885-’87,  East  Ran- 
dolph; 1888-’90,  Panama,  1891-’92,  Waterford;  1893-’96,  Watts- 
burg;  1897-’99,  New  Wilmington;  1900,  supernumerary;  1901-’02, 
% New  Richmond;  1903,  Centerville;  1904-’05,  West  Sunbury  and 

North  Hope;  1906,  Rockland. 

P.  A.  Reno — Licensed  to  preach,  1874;  admitted  on  trial,  1878; 
full  connection,  1880;  deacon,  1878,  Ames;  elder,  1882,  Simpson; 
deceased,  Sharon,  Pa.,  March,  1906.  Appointments— 1878-79, 

Fairview;  1880-’81,  Erie,  Tenth  Street;  1882-’84,  Principal,  Wat- 
erford Academy;  1885-’86,  Westfield;  1887-’88,  Professor,  Dakota 
University;  1889-’91,  left  without  appointment  to  attend  school; 
1892,  North  East;  1893-’94,  Slippery  Rock;  1895-’98,  Dunkirk; 

1899- 1903,  Reynoldsville;  1904-’05,  Sharon,  First  Church. 


X. 


APPROACHING  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE 
CENTURY. 

Education. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  at  Corry,  Pa.,  September 
22,  1880,  with  Bishop  Erastus  O.  Haven  presiding,  and 
W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

Those  admitted  on  trial  were  the  following:  J.  A. 

Hovis,  J.  H.  Bates,  C.  A.  Knesal,  Sampson  Dimmick, 
J.  B.  Neff,  D.  M.  Carpenter,  Levi  Beers  and  H.  D.  Todd. 

H.  V.  Talbot  and  D.  H.  Muller  were  received  by 
transfer. 

When  the  names  of  Thomas  Benn,  Albert  Norton  and 
J.  B.  Wright  were  called  it  was  announced  that  they 
had  died  during  the  year. 

E.  A.  Squier  withdrew  from  the  Church,  and  A.  L. 
Kellogg  and  J.  M.  Zeile  were  located  at  their  own  re- 
quest. 

A.  S.  Dobbs,  J.  P.  Mills  and  R.  M.  Gwynn  were  re- 
moved by  transfer. 

J.  H.  Bates,  J.  A.  Hovis,  H.  V.  Talbot. 

John  Henry  Bates  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  No- 
vember 27,  1848.  His  parents  were  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  His  father  died  when  John  was 
three  years  of  age,  and  a few  years  later  his  mother 
married  Eldridge  Hartless,  a stock  raiser  and  merchant, 
whose  plantation  was  near  Corvallis,  Oregon.  Here 
John  spent  his  early  years,  attending  the  district  school, 
herding  stock,  and  working  on  the  farm.  Two  years  he 
spent  in  Willamette  University  and  one  year  in  Philo- 
math College.  While  at  the  university  he  was  converted 
under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  James  Crossman,  a mis- 
sionary of  the  Evangelical  Association.  He  was  li- 


7 16 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


censed  to  preach  by  the  Mission  Board  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  and  sent  to  Corvallis.  This  was  in 
1865.  He  successfully  served  several  churches  in  this 
denomination  until  1879,  when  he  took  work  in  the  Erie 
Conference  and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1880.  He  was 
a student  of  Boston  Theological  Seminary  from  1871  to 
1873,  and  graduated  from  Mt.  Union  College  in  1875. 

Mr.  Bates  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Callie 
Phillips,  October  2,  1873. 

Jacob  A.  Hovis,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Hovis, 
was  born  September  1,  1847,  011  the  old  homestead  near 
Clintonville,  Venango  Co.,  Pa.  Here  he  spent  his  early 
life  as  a farmer’s  boy.  Like  a majority  of  our  preach- 
ers, he  spent  some  time  in  teaching.  He  was  converted 
in  his  sixteenth  year  under  the  labors  of  Ebenezer  Ben- 
nett and  W.  A.  Clark,  and  licensed  to  preach  in  1872, 
at  the  hand  of  R.  H Hurlburt.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
S.  C.  Carroll,  of  Mechanicsville,  Pa.,  in  1869;  and  the 
worthy  couple  settled  on  a farm.  Moving  to  Meadville, 
he  entered  Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1878.  While  engaged  in  collegiate  studies  he  sup- 
plied the  Pine  Grove  and  Fee  Farm  appointments.  Af- 
ter graduation  he  supplied  Irving  and  Brockport 
charges.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on 
trial  in  1880,  was  transferred  to  the  North  Dakota  Con- 
ference in  1886,  to  the  Minnesota  Conference  in  1896, 
and  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1903.  He  was  four  years 
presiding  elder  on  the  Northwest  and  Devil’s  Lake  Dis- 
tricts in  North  Dakota,  and  two  years  vice  president  of 
Red  River  Valley  University. 

Hiram  V.  Talbot  was  a zealous  supporter  of  the  Union 
during  the  great  Civil  War.  He  earnestly  assisted  in 
raising  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Regiment  of 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  became  chaplain,  serving 
from  October  24,  1862.  until  February  11,  1865,  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  his  regiment. 

Mr.  Talbot  was  born  in  Edmeston,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  30,  1834,  and  died  in  Odessa,  Texas,  February  20, 
1888.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  eighteen  in  his 
native  place  under  the  pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  William 
Burnside.  He  was  married  June  20,  1854  to  Miss  Rosina 
Colegrove.  In  1859  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in 
1861  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Oneida  Conference, 


James  Bell  Neff. 


717 


and  became  a member  of  the  Wyoming  Conference  by 
change  of  conference  boundaries,  in  1868.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1880,  and  superannu- 
ated in  1886.  He  then  moved  to  Texas,  and  in  the  same 
year  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  which  seriously  af- 
fected his  brain  and  rendered  his  whole  right  side  power- 
less. 

Brother  Talbot  was  naturally  kind  of  heart  and  hope- 
ful in  disposition.  His  piety  was  cheerful,  and  he  knew 
how  to  comfort  the  sorrowing  and  inspire  the  despond- 
ent. He  had  the  faculty  of  making  friends  everywhere. 
His  sermons  were  a plain  presentation  of  the  gospel,  and 
were  effective  in  the  conversion  of  sinners.  His  was  a 
life  of  toil  and  self-sacrifice.  “Almost  every  charge  he 
served  showed  substantial  marks  of  his  zeal  in  building 
and  repairing  churches  and  parsonages  or  paying  off 
burdensome  church  debts.” 


James  Bell  Neff. 

James  Bell  Neff  was  born  in  the  borough  of  New 
Washington,  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  in  1853.  John  An- 
drew Neff,  his  father,  was  of  Swiss  nationality,  and 
Margaret  Bain  Neff  was  Scotch-Irish.  They  were  both 
ardent  Methodists.  James  Bell  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  attending  the  district  school  in  the  winter  and  a 
select  school  in  the  summer.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  entered  the  New  Washington  Academy,  where  he  was 
a student  four  years.  Later  he  studied  one  year  in  Carrier 
Seminary,  and  taught  school  twelve  terms.  While  teach- 
ing in  Troutville  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Marga- 
ret Reed,  a devoted  Christian  girl,  who  had  much  to  do  in 
quickening  a slumbering  conviction  that  he  ought  to  be  a 
Christian.  He  was  led  to  make  a public  confession  of  Christ 
in  a union  meeting  held  by  Cumberland  Presbyterians 
and  Evangelical  Lutherans.  This  was  in  October,  1877. 
He  united  with  the  Methodist  Church  in  Luthersburg,  six 
miles  distant,  there  being  no  class  in  Troutville.  D.  C. 
Plannette  gave  him  exhorter’s  license,  and  he  was 
granted  local  preacher’s  license  by  the  district  conference 
held  in  Belleview  in  1877,  his  license  bearing  the  signa- 
ture of  B.  F.  Delo,  presiding  elder.  He  was  received  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  1880.  Grove  City  Col- 

46 


I i 


718  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

lege  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
in  1898. 

September  28,  1881,  the  Erie  Conference  met  at 
Meadville,  Pa.,  Bishop  William  L.  Harris  presiding,  and 
W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial : Wil- 

liam Baker,  W.  J.  Barton,  George  Collier,  J.  M.  Ed- 
wards, Clinton  Jones,  J.  H.  Keeley,  C.  O.  Mead,  L.  O. 
Mead,  C.  W.  Miner,  S.  E.  Ryan,  W.  H.  Swartz,  P.  J. 
Slattery,  H.  A.  Teats  and  J.  M.  Thoburn. 

G.  W.  Clarke  and  W.  J.  Brockway  were  received  by 
transfer. 

C.  M.  Cobern  was  located  at  his  own  request. 

W.  M.  Martin  and  S.  S.  Burton  were  removed  by 
transfer. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death,  during  the 
year,  of  John  O’Neal  and  Cyril  Wilson. 

C.  O.  Mead. 

Charles  Orville  Mead  was  born  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y., 
March  12,  1854.  His  father,  O.  L.  Mead,  in  July  of.that 
year,  united  with  the  Erie  Conference  and  was  appointed 
to  do  the  work  of  a Methodist  minister  on  the  Elling- 
ton Circuit. 

So,  it  will  be  seen,  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
spent  his  infancy  and  youth  in  a Methodist  parsonage. 

The  migratory  life  of  the  father  brought  the  family 
to  Clarion  in  the  fall  of  1868,  the  father  at  that  time 
having  been  appointed  presiding  elder  of  the  Clarion 
District. 

During  a part  of  the  father’s  term  as  presiding  elder, 
C.  C.  Hunt  was  pastor  of  the  family. 

During  a revival  with  which  the  church  was  blessed 
during  that  pastorate,  Charles  O.  Mead  was  genuinely 
converted,  and  was  received  into  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  full  membership  on  August  13,  1871. 
The  revival  in  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
converted  was  one  of  real  old-time  power,  and  the  pas- 
tor and  his  faithful  wife  were  good  caretakers  for  the 
new  recruits. 

In  1872  O.  L.  Mead  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate  at 
Franklin.  Here  Charles  was  brought  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a strong  church.  David  Smith  became  the  boy’s 


C.  0.  Mead. 


7 19 


class  leader,  and  that  insured  the  strong  protective  in- 
fluence of  one  of  the  best  ‘‘drill  masters”  of  Methodism. 
During  a revival  which  came  to  the  church  in  Franklin 
in  February,  1873,  felt  a great  restlessness  of  soul. 
The  thought,  “You  are  not  doing  your  duty,”  rang  con- 
stantly in  his  inner  ear,  but  he  only  wondered,  not  being 
able  to  interpret  the  message.  One  night,  walking  alone 
from  the  revival  service,  there  came  a voice  that  spoke  as 
distinctly  as  human  voice  could  speak,  and  the  message 
was  all  in  one  word,  “Preach.”  In  that  instant  the  con- 
viction was  fastened  upon  his  soul  that  it  was  the  Divine 
call  to  duty,  and  that  for  life.  After  that  night  he  spent 
many  hours  asking  God  to  remove  the  conviction  from 
his  soul.  But  the  more  he  prayed  the  more  strongly  the 
conviction  was  fastened  upon  him.  Three  years  and 
more  after  the  call  to  preach  came  were  spent  in  trying 
to  get  rid  of  the  duty  laid  upon  him.  At  last,  after 
reaching  the  startling  conviction  that  he  must  preach 
the  gospel  or  lose  his  own  soul  he  consented  to  follow 
the  lead  of  the  Divine  hand. 

For  three  years  Charles  O.  Mead  had  been  working 
at  his  trade  (a  tinsmith)  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  where 
T.  L.  Flood  was  pastor.  One  afternoon  in  the  early 
spring  of  1877  he  went  to  call  upon  Mr.  Flood,  and  as 
they  two  knelt  together  in  prayer  the  first  perfect  peace 
he  had  known  for  years  came  and  filled  his  heart.  He 
had  in  that  hour  unconditionally  consecrated  his  life  to 
the  service  of  the  King  of  Kings.  Priceless  advice  was 
given  by  his  faithful  friend  and  pastor,  and  September 
13,  1877,  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Jamestown 

granted  him  a local  preacher’s  license,  which  was  signed 
by  O.  G.  McEntire,  presiding  elder. 

The  common  school  was  the  only  educational  privi- 
lege he  enjoyed  until  his  father  moved  to  Clarion,  where 
the  newly  created  “Carrier  Seminary”  was  just  begin- 
ning its  career.  Here  he  was  a student  for  four  years. 
After  leaving  Clarion  he  worked  at  two  trades — machin- 
ist and  tinsmith — until  he  was  licensed  as  a local 
preacher. 

In  the  fall  of  1877  C.  O.  Mead  matriculated  as  a stu- 
dent at  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  and  for  four  years 
devoted  all  the  energy  at  his  command  to  the  prepara- 
tion for  the  Christian  ministry.  Here  he  came  into  daily 


720  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

association  with  Drs.  J.  F.  Hurst,  John  Miley,  Daniel 
P.  Kidder,  Henry  A.  Buttz,  George  R.  Crooks  and 
Samuel  F.  Upham,  and  to  sit  under  the  tuition  and  in- 
spiration of  such  men  is  to  receive  a considerable  con- 
tribution towards  becoming  a man.  He  graduated  at 
Drew  in  1881.  By  a vote  of  the  class  he  was  elected 
one  of  the  seven  speakers  to  represent  the  class  on  com- 
mencement day,  and  thence  went  to  tell  the  Glad  Tid- 
ings. During  the  summer  of  1881  he  supplied  the  pul- 
pit of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Elyria,  Ohio,  the  pastor 
being  absent  in  Europe.  At  the  conference  held  in  Mead- 
ville  the  same  year  he  was  received  on  trial  and  or- 
dained deacon  by  Bishop  Harris,  and  was  appointed  to 
his  first  work  in  the  Erie  Conference — Sugar  Grove,  Pa. 

He  was  most  happily  and  helpfully  married  Decem- 
ber 22,  1 88 1,  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Reynolds,  of  New  Castle, 
Pa.,  she  sharing  with  him  his  labors  and  honors  until 
July  8,  1904,  when  she  was  welcomed  to  her  reward. 

Mr.  Mead  was  a member  of  the  General  Conference 
of  1900. 

William  A.  Baker,  George  Collier. 

William  A.  Baker  was  born  in  Clarington,  Forest  Co., 
Pa.,  November  1,  1855.  His  father  was  a local  preacher 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  William  received 
careful  religious  training.  He  attended  Reese  Institute, 

Iand  some  years  later  Carrier  Seminary.  He  had  studied 

medicine  and  entered  upon  its  practice,  but  his  conver- 
sion in  1877  changed  his  plans  for  a life-work.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1878;  the  two  following  years  he 
supplied  Canada  charge,  and  was  admitted  to  the  trav- 
eling connection  in  Erie  Conference  in  1881.  After 
serving  the  church  in  the  active  ministry  eighteen  years 
he  was  made  supernumerary,  and  in  1904  located  at 
his  own  request.  Since  his  retirement  from  the  active 
work  of  the  ministry  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine. 

George  Collier  was  born  at  Derley,  England,  April 
20,  1841.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  established 
church.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  George  became 
connected  with  the  press  and  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  seven  years,  filling  successively  almost  every  position 
on  a provincial  newspaper.  In  his  seventeenth  year  he 


J 


/.  H.  Keeley,  H.  A.  Teets.  721 

was  soundly  converted,  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church,  and  was  “received  on  trial  as  a local  preacher.” 
In  1871  he  came  to  America  and  was  employed  on  the 
Cleveland  Herald  and  in  the  publishing  house  of  the 
Evangelical  Association.  He  united  with  the  Waring 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Cleveland  District  Conference  in  1876, 
D.  C.  Osborne  presiding,  supplied  Glenville  for  four 
years,  and  was  ordained  local  elder  by  Bishop  Merrill 
in  1878,  and  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference 
in  1881.  For  a number  of  years  he  has  served  the  con- 
ference as  statistical  secretary.  W.  F.  Collier,  son  of 
George  Collier,  is  also  a member  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
and  is  doing  good  work. 

J.  H.  Keeley,  H.  A.  Teets. 

James  Hugh  Keeley  was  born  at  Hummelstown,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  May  12,  1857.  His  parents  were  of 
Irish  origin,  born  in  Galway  county,  Ireland,  and  immi- 
grated in  1852,  and  were  married  a year  later.  In  1858 
they  came  to  Elk  county  and  settled  on  a farm  near 
Kersly,  commonly  known  as  Centerville,  where  one  year 
later  his  father  died.  His  mother  lives  on  the  home- 
stead yet — 1906 — at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Mr.  Keeley  had  few  school  advantages,  having  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  attended  the  common  school  only 
four  months  each  winter,  a total  school  attendance  of 
thirteen  months,  but  being  ambitious  to  acquire  an  edu- 
cation he  applied  himself  diligently  to  study.  He  was 
for  some  time  a student  in  Chamberlain  Institute,  and 
later  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Edinboro.  He  was 
engaged  in  teaching  for  a number  of  terms.  His  par- 
ents were  devoted  Roman  Catholics,  to  which  his  mother 
and  all  his  family  relation  still  belong.  He  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  not  intending  to  go 
any  farther,  but  during  a revival  meeting  in  January, 
1878,  he  was  deeply  convicted,  and  a few  months  later 
entered  into  an  experience  of  joy  and  confidence.  It  was 
then  that  he  felt  an  irresistible  call  to  the  ministry.  He 
was  licensed  as  a local  preacher  at  the  Clarion  District 
Conference  in  1878.  The  next  year  he  entered  Pen- 
nington Seminary  at  Pennington,  N.  J.,  and  later  at- 
tended Dickinson  Seminary,  Williamsport,  and  enlisted 


u 


722 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


in  the  itinerant  army  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1881,  and 
served  charges  in  the  same  conference  six  years.  He  was 
then  transferred  to  the  North  Nebraska  Conference, 
and  served  Ponca  charge.  He  then  served  six  years  in 
the  North  Dakota  Conference  and  was  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  Prohibition  campaign  which  made  North  Dakota 
a Prohibition  state.  He  was  also  one  of  the  leaders  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Conference  school  at  Wahpeton, 
and  in  founding  the  “Chautauqua”  at  Devil’s  Lake.  He 
served  two  years  on  the  appointment  at  Rosario,  South 
America,  but  owing  to  the  continued  failing  in  the  health 
of  his  wife,  he  returned  in  1897,  and  in  February  fol- 
lowing, his  wife  died.  His  membership  was  now  in  the 
Pittsburg  Conference.  For  two  years  he  served  as  tem- 
perance agent  for  the  Anti-Saloon  League,  and  for  one 
year  as  superintendent  of  City  Evangelization  in  Alle- 
gheny. He  was  then  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference, 
and  after  serving  Polk  charge  for  two  years  was  ap- 
pointed conference  temperance  evangelist,  moved  to 
Franklin  and  established  a weekly  Prohibition  paper, 
The  Venango  Vindicator,  and  afterward  “The  Daily 
Herald,”  both  of  which  have  reached  a large  circula- 
tion. In  1905  he  took  a location  in  order  to  devote  his 
time  wholly  to  the  public  agitation  of  Prohibition  and 
general  reform  by  public  speaking,  and  public  work. 

Henry  A.  Teets,  son  of  Jesse  Teets  and  Anna  Maria 
Roshong  Teets,  was  born  in  Clarion,  Pa.,  August  9, 
1844.  His  parents  were  active  and  useful  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  nine  children.  The  family  lived  near  Callensburg 
during  his  boyhood. 

When  Henry  was  thirteen  years  of  age  they  removed 
to  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county,  known  as  Canada, 
and  settled  in  the  virgin  forest.  Thus  his  education  was 
largely  secured  in  “Brush  College,”  and  in  the  strenu- 
ous life  connected  therewith.  From  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, for  twenty  years,  he  attended  school  and  taught 
school  alternately — five  years  of  his  teaching  being  in 
the  Soldiers’  Orphan  school  at  Dayton.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  E.  Lawson,  of  a staunch  Methodist 
family,  August  3,  1870.  He  was  converted  when  about 
fifteen  years  of  age  under  the  labors  of  George  W.  Moore 
at  a meeting  held  in  Canada — a part  of  old  Troy  charge 


J.  M.  Thoburn,  S.  E.  Ryan,  C.  W . Miner.  723 


— in  Pierce’s  school  house,  near  the  site  of  which  for 
over  forty  years  a Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has 
stood.  Like  many  others  he  became  a prodigal,  but  was 
reclaimed  at  Cherry  Run  camp  meeting  in  September, 
1865.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1880  by  Henry  C. 
Deacom,  presiding  elder  of  Blairsville  District,  Pittsburg 
Conference,  and  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1881.  He  has  enjoyed  several  gracious  re- 
vivals, especially  those  on  the  following  charges : Salem, 
Summerville,  Siverly,  and  Stoneboro.  At  the  last  named 
place  some  two  hundred  were  converted,  and  the  whole 
community  wrought  upon  as  never  before. 

James  M.  Thoburn,  Samuel  E.  Ryan,  C.  W.  Miner. 

James  M.,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth,  and  nephew 
of  Bishop  James  M.  Thoburn,  was  born  at  St.  Clairs- 
ville,  Ohio,  June  23,  1856.  He  was  converted  at  the 
Sewickley,  Pa.,  camp  meeting  in  1874.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Allegheny  District  Conference  in  1876, 
having  been  recommended  by  the  Quarterly  Conference 
of  the  North  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Alle- 
gheny City.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  docker's 
school  house,  Batcher’s  Run,  March  4,  1876,  from  the 
text  John  3 :3b. 

Mr.  Thoburn  graduated  from  Allegheny  College  in 
1881,  and  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  by  the  same  institution  in  1892.  He  was  or- 
dained local  deacon  in  1880,  and  the  following  year  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  F.  Mer- 
chant, June  14,  1882. 

Samuel  E.  Rvan  was  born  in  the  town  of  Canonsburg, 
Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  May  6,  1861.  When  an  infant 
his  parents  moved  to  Louisville,  Ky.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  mother 
dying,  he  and  an  infant  sister  found  a home  with  his 
pious  Methodist  grandparents.  He  was  carefully  taught 
in  the  principles  of  religion,  and  cannot  remember  the 
time  when  he  did  not  pray.  He  was  happily  converted 
when  eleven  years  of  age.  He  spent  a short  time  in 
Waynesburg  College,  and  then  entered  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  sophomore 
year.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1878,  his  license 


72 4 History  of  Erie  Conference. 

bearing  the  signature  of  John  Peate,  presiding  elder  of 
Meadville  District.  He  was  employed  as  a supply  on 
Salem  charge.  Clarion  District,  under  the  presiding  el- 
der, P.  P.  Pinney,  where  he  labored  one  year,  and  was 
then — in  1881 — admitted  into  the  ranks  of  Methodist 
itinerants.  He  was  transferred  to  the  North  Dakota 
Conference  in  1889,  and  served  the  Grand  Forks  Dis- 
trict in  i894-'99.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1900. 

In  1339  Edward  the  Third,  King  of  England,  while 
fighting  the  French,  made  a march  through  Somerset- 
shire. Here  lived  Henry  Bullman,  who  joined  the  king, 
with  one  hundred  of  his  servants,  armed  with  battle- 
axes.  For  valiant  service  Henry  Bullman  was  knighted, 
granted  a coat  of  arms,  and  named  Henry  Miner. 
Thomas  Miner,  the  seventh  in  descent  from  Henry,  came 
to  this  country  in  1630.  The  fifth  in  descent  from  Thomas 
Miner  was  Philo  Sidney  Miner,  who  moved  from  Con- 
necticut to  Ohio  in  1837.  He  married  Charity  Webber 
in  1844.  The  family  settled  at  Kinsman,  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  where  Clement  Wellington  Miner  was 
born,  March  26,  1854. 

In  1873  Clement  Wellington  entered  the  East  High 
school  of  Cleveland  in  which  he  pursued  studies  for  four 
years.  He  matriculated  at  Allegheny  College  in  1877, 
and  graduated  in  the  classical  course  from  the  same  in- 
stitution in  1881.  In  1906  Allegheny  College  conferred 
upon  Mr.  Miner  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He 
also  pursued  a course  in  history  and  philosophy  follow- 
ing the  curriculum  required  by  Syracuse  University  and 
completing  the  same.  He  was  granted  a local  preacher’s 
license  by  the  Meadville  District  Conference  in  1880. 
He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  in  1881 
and  has  successfully  filled  some  of  the  more  important 
appointments  of  the  conference. 

The  conference  convened  for  its  session  of  1882,  Sep- 
tember 27,  at  Warren,  Pa.,  with  Bishop  Matthew  Simp- 
son in  the  chair,  and  W.  F.  Day,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial:  C.  H.  Framp- 
ton,  W.  H.  Bunce,  W.  W.  Dale,  S.  P.  Douglas,  F.  M. 
Small,  Frank  Peters,  and  J.  E.  Roberts. 

W.  N.  Reno  and  C.  E.  Hall  were  received  by  transfer. 

Harvey  Henderson  located  at  his  own  request. 


Wesley  W.  Dale,  C.  H.  Frampton.  725 

J.  W.  Wright,  W.  F.  Wilson,  D.  H.  Muller,  L.  O. 
Mead  and  J.  C.  Rhodes  were  removed  by  transfer. 

The  decease  of  John  Crum,  J.  S.  Albertson,  O.  M. 
Sackett,  Stephen  Hollen,  and  W.  C.  Henderson,  which 
had  occurred  during  the  year,  was  announced. 

Wesley  W.  Dale,  C.  H.  Frampton. 

Wesley  W.  Dale,  son  of  David  and  Katherine  Dale, 
was  born  at  Fryburg,  Pa.,  March  10,  1853.  His  parents 
were  English  Lutherans.  His  early  days  were  spent  on 
a farm,  and  later  he  was  employed  in  the  oil  business. 
At  ten  years  of  age  he  became  convinced  of  sin,  and 
this  conviction  never  left  him  until  the  age  of  eighteen, 
when  he  was  soundly  converted  at  South  Oil  City  under 
the  labors  of  Rev.  R.  B.  Boyd.  Immediately  following 
his  conversion  he  received  exhorrer's  license. 

Mr.  Dale  says:  “Even  before  conversion  I felt  a 

clear  call  to  the  ministry,  but  for  years  tried  to  avoid  this 
responsibility  by  going  into  business.  In  1876  I gradu- 
ated at  Scio  College,  and  in  the  summer  of  the  same 
year  I received  license  to  preach  at  Cherry  Run  camp 
meeting,  at  an  adjourned  quarterly  conference.  In  1876 
I was  appointed  to  Reynoldsville,  Pa.,  as  a supply.  Feel- 
ing the  great  need  of  a better  education  for  the  work,  I 
again  sought  employment  in  the  oil  country.  I then  en- 
tered Drew  Theological  Seminary,  where  I spent  four 
years,  and  graduated  in  1882.” 

He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  the 
same  year.  He  has  been  blessed  in  his  work  in  the 
conference  with  gracious  revivals  on  the  several  charges 
he  has  served. 

Mr.  Dale  was  married  to  Ella  F.  Taylor,  of  Norris- 
town, N.  J.,  in  1882. 

Cyrus  Hamline  Frampton  was  born  in  Perry  town- 
ship, Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.,  April  9,  1857.  He  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  being  of  the  fifth  generation  from  one  John 
Frampton,  who  fled  from  England  because  of  religious 
persecutions.  His  parents  were  Rev.  John  and  Margaret 
Matilda  Frampton.  His  mother’s  maiden  name  was 
Brooks.  He  was  educated  in  various  public  schools  and 
academies,  and  engaged  in  teaching  for  several  years. 
He  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  a good  Christian  home. 
He  says:  “I  shall  never  forget  the  truths  impressed  on 


726 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


my  mind  by  a Christian  father  and  mother.  What  I am 
religiously,  so  far  as  human  agencies  are  concerned,  I 
owe  to  the  training  of  my  parents.”  He  was  converted 
at  a meeting  held  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Laverty — then  only  an 
exhorter — in  the  Whitesville  school  house.  He  was  li- 
censed to  exhort  in  1877,  and  in  that  capacity  did  ef- 
fective service  for  nearly  four  years.  He  speaks  of  his 
call  to  preach:  “Previous  to  my  conversion  I contem- 

plated the  study  of  law.  When  I was  converted  all 
thought  of  that  profession  was  erased  from  my  mind 
and  I felt  irresistibly  convinced  that  I should  preach  the 
gospel,  but  did  not  make  it  known.  My  friends,  some 
of  them  ministers  of  the  gospel,  corroborated  my  con- 
victions by  saying  they  thought  it  was  my  duty  to  preach. 
Oftentimes,  as  the  congregation  were  singing  I have  felt 
forcibly  impressed  that  I should  rise  and  speak  to  the 
people,  and  sometimes  could  scarcely  refrain  from  doing 
so.” — (Autobiographical  Sketch.)  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Clarion  District  Conference  in  1881.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  traveling  connection  in  1882.  In 
i890-,93  he  was  left  without  appointment  to  attend 
school. 

F.  R.  Peters. 

Frank  Randolph  Peters  was  born  in  Moon  township, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  March  6,  1858.  He  was  converted 
under  the  pastorate  of  James  R.  Mills  in  1874,  and  united 
with  the  Sewickley  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
taught  school  several  years.  He  attended  school  at  the 
W estern  University  of  Pennsylvania,  McKeesport  Nor- 
mal School  and  Academy,  Wray’s  Academy  of  Sewickley, 
and  Mt.  Union  College.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
Rev.  W.  B.  Watkins  in  1877.  Upon  the  death  of  John 
Crum,  of  the  Volant  charge,  Mr.  Peters  was  employed 
by  the  presiding  elder,  J.  W.  Blaisdell,  to  supply  the 
vacancy.  The  same  year — 1882 — he  was  received  on 
trial  by  the  Erie  Conference. 

Mr.  Peters  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lizzie 
T.  Anderson,  of  Sewickley,  October  19,  1882. 

During  his  ministry  Mr.  Peters  has  enjoyed  several 
gracious  revivals.  On  the  Salem,  Mercer  county,  charge 
he  had  ninety-one  conversions;  at  Vrhite  Chapel  on  the 
Volant  charge,  sixty-five,  and  on  the  Polk  charge,  over 


Atwater,  0.,  Methodism. 


727 


one  hundred.  On  the  Mahoningtown  charge  he  built 
the  new  church  at  Hillsville  at  a cost  of  about  $7,000, 
and  was  successful  in  carrying  several  debt-raising  and 
church-repairing  enterprises  to  a successful  issue. 

The  oldest  records  now  in  the  possession  of  the  At- 
water Methodist  Episcopal  Church  date  back  to  August 
10,  1882,  during  the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Merchant.  Meth- 
odism, however,  began  in  Atwater  many  years  prior  to 
this  date.  A society  was  organized  and  met  for  worship 
at  the  Centre  in  1821,  when,  as  an  old  town  record 
states,  the  Methodists  built  a hewed  log  meeting  house 
“at  the  crossroads.”  Later  a better  building  was  erected. 
Henry  Shewell  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  early  preach- 
ers, and  also  a Mr.  Retter.  About  the  year  1869  the  so- 
ciety decided  to  move  to  the  station.  The  church  build- 
ing was  sold  to  the  township  trustees  for  a town  hall. 
The  lot  upon  which  the  new  church  was  erected  was  do- 
nated by  John  Whittelsey,  and  the  church  building  was 
the  gift  of  Homer  Hillyer.  While  the  new  church  was 
building  the  society  worshiped  in  Hillyer  Hall.  The 
church  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1870.  There  are  three 
other  names  deserving  a place  in  this  history  for  their 
long-time  devotion  to  the  church — Hezekiah  Betts,  Alar- 
son  Horton  and  Erbin  Elton.  In  1898  and  1899  there 
was  a great  revival  under  the  pastoral  labors  of  H.  H. 
Miller.  A new  parsonage  was  erected  during  the  fall 
of  1899.  The  lot,  valued  at  $350,  was  the  gift  of  Ran- 
dall Whittelsey,  and  the  parsonage  was  erected  by 
George  Stroup,  at  a cost  of  $1,600. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  forty-eighth  session 
October  3,  1883,  at  New  Castle,  Pa.,  Bishop  Randolph 
S.  Foster  presiding,  and  A.  J.  Merchant,  Secretary. 

W.  E.  Frampton,  W.  S.  Gearhart,  J.  B.  Gilfillan,  D. 
C.  Irwin,  J.  A.  Parsons,  D.  A.  Platt,  S.  H.  Prather,  W. 
A.  Merriam,  J.  G.  Ginader,  and  J.  M.  Edwards  were  re- 
ceived on  trial. 

A.  S.  Dobbs,  A.  W.  Decker,  J.  C.  Rhodes,  B.  P.  Linn 
and  J.  W.  Spangler  were  received  by  transfer. 

When  the  names  of  W.  F.  Day,  John  Prosser,  E.  J. 
L.  Baker,  D.  M.  Stearns  and  Thomas  Graham  were 
called,  it  was  announced  that  they  had  died  during  the 
year. 


History  of  Eric  Conference. 


S.  H.  Prather,  D.  A.  Platt,  J.  A.  Parsons. 


Silas  H.  Prather  was  born  in  Venango  county.  Pa., 
April  17,  1846.  The  farm  on  which  he  toiled  was  about 
five  miles  from  the  city  of  Titusville.  He  attended  the 
common  school,  and  being  an  apt  scholar,  mastered  Da- 
vies' arithmetic  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  When  Silas 
was  eleven  years  old  his  father  removed  with  his  family 
to  Dubuque  county,  Iowa.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
began  to  teach,  and  at  nineteen  was  principal  of  the  vil- 
lage school,  conducting  students  successfully  through 
several  branches,  the  mastery  of  which  he  had  accom- 
plished without  a teacher.  He  then  attended  Epworth 
Seminary,  Epworth,  la.,  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Rigbee,  to  whom  he  acknowledged  great  indebtedness. 
In  1872  he  came  east  and  taught  one  year  at  Cherry- 
tree  and  two  years  in  the  Sunville  Seminary.  He  was 
then  elected  county  superintendent  and  filled  this  office 
nine  years.  He  received  the  degrees  of  Master  of  Arts 
and  Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  Allegheny  College.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1872  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1883.  He  was  presiding  el- 
der of  the  Meadville  District  in  i893-’98,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  1896. 


Daniel  A.  Platt  was  born  at  Shippenville,  Clarion  Co., 
Pa.,  October  19,  1859.  His  parents,  Alexander  J.  and 
Mary  J.  Armstrong  Platt,  were  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
Daniel  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  county,  having 
few  educational  advantages,  and  doing  such  work  as 
was  common  for  boys  in  a new  lumbering  country.  Many 
a raft  he  assisted  in  guiding  down  the  Clarion  and  Alle- 
gheny rivers.  His  first  trip  to  Pittsburg  was  when  but  four- 
teen years  of  age,  and  it  was  an  event  in  his  young  life. 
His  father  died  when  Daniel  was  but  a lad,  and  the  re- 
sponsibility of  a large  family  fell  most  heavily  upon  his 
young  shoulders.  He  was  able  to  attend  Carrier  Sem- 
inary a few  terms,  and  taught  the  school  in  his  own  dis- 
trict. By  diligence  in  study  he  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
good  education.  He  was  converted  at  Fisher,  now  a 
part  of  the  Sigel  charge,  in  1878,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  at  the  District  Conference  held  at  Reynoldsville 
in  1881.  His  call  to  preach  reached  back  to  his  early 
boyhood,  and  returned  to  him  again  and  again,  at  last 


I' 


/.  B.  Gilfillan,  J.  G.  Ginader,  D.  C.  Irwin . 729 

with  a clearness  and  command  which  could  not  be  mis- 
understood. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Baker, 
daughter  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Baker,  of  Sigel,  August  1,  1883, 
and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  the 
same  year. 

Joseph  A.  Parsons  was  born  in  Cobourg,  Northum- 
berland Co.,  Canada,  July  16,  1853.  His  parents  came 
from  England  and  settled  on  a tract  of  land  near  the 
village  of  Fenella.  He  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 
On  this  farm,  surrounded  by  immense  forests,  broken  by 
an  occasional  clearing,  Joseph  spent  his  early  years.  In 
his  fifteenth  year  his  father  died,  his  mother  having 
passed  to  her  reward  ten  years  previously.  The  home 
was  broken  up,  the  farm  passed  into  other  hands,  the 
children  were  scattered,  and  Joseph  made  his  home  with 
his  eldest  brother.  In  1869  he  went  to  western  Ontario, 
worked  on  a farm,  and  in  a cheese  factory,  and  engaged 
in  teaching — successfully.  He  prepared  for  college  in 
the  Collegiate  Institute  in  the  city  of  Brantford,  studied 
two  years  in  the  Victoria  University,  and  taught  in  the 
Missionary  Institute  for  Indians  at  Muncey,  Ontario.  In 
July,  1883,  he  was  visiting  friends  in  Erie,  Pa.,  when 
he  was  persuaded  to  enter  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial. 
He  had  been  licensed  to  preach  in  1880,  and  had  used 
his  license  as  he  had  opportunity.  While  pastor  at  Saeg- 
ertown  he  studied  in  Allegheny  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1888.  In  1883  he  was  united  in  holy  wed- 
lock with  Miss  E.  Josephine  Peters,  of  London,  Ontario, 
Canada. 

J.  B.  Gilfillan,  J.  G.  Ginader,  D.  C.  Irwin. 

J.  Brewster  Gilfillan  was  born  near  North  Liberty, 
Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  March  1,  1830.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach,  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  and 
died — all  within  the  year  1883.  His  appointment  was 
Stoneboro,  Pa.,  which  he  served  but  two  weeks.  “On 
Monday  morning,  October  22,  while  standing,  in  ap- 
parently good  health,  conversing  with  a friend  near  the 
borders  of  the  beautiful  little  lake  at  Stoneboro,  the 
messenger  came.  He  suddenly  fell  in  death,  and  his 
pure  spirit  went  up  to  God:  His  life-work  was  done.” 


73°  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

On  the  same  morning  he  had  written  and  placed  in  his 
Bible  the  following  statement  of  his  faith:  “My  faith 

is  strong  in  the  atoning  merits  of  Christ.  His  promises 
are  yea  and  amen  to  them  that  believe.  I do  believe, 
and  soon  will  be  at  home  where  there  is  no  more  pain 
and  sorrow.’ ’ Brother  Gilfillan  came  to  us  from  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  and  made  a good  Metho- 
dist. For  several  years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  and 
was  regarded  as  a most  successful  educator.  He  was 
an  earnest,  consistent,  sweet-spirited  Christian,  and  en- 
tered heartily  into  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

John  George  Ginader  was  born  in  Clinton,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  December  18,  1857.  His  father,  John  George, 
was  a native  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Dann  came  from  Ireland. 

The  parents  of  John  G.  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  their  conversion  dating  subse- 
quent to  their  arrival  in  this  country,  and  their  children 
were  so  carefully  trained  in  this  faith  that  three  of  the 
sons  entered  the  Methodist  ministry.  John  George  was 
converted  in  boyhood,  and  soon  felt  himself  moved  to  the 
holy  calling.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Meadville 
District  Conference  in  1881,  his  license  bearing  the  signa- 
ture of  E.  D.  McCreary.  He  was  received  on  trial  by 
the  Erie  Conference  in  1883.  He  had  supplied  Ellery  in 
1881,  and  Sinclairville  in  1882. 

Daniel  C.  Irwin,  son  of  Peter  R.  Irwin  and  Annie 
Amelia  Knickerbocker  Irwin,  was  born  near  Kingston, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November  14,  1862.  In  1872  the  fam- 
ily moved  into  Elk  County,  Pa.,  and  settled  at  Ridgway. 
Daniel  was  converted  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  under 
the  ministry  of  William  Martin.  His  call  to  preach,  as 
in  many  other  cases,  preceded  his  conversion.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  Ridgway  High  School  in  1882.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1878.  The  same'  year  he  supplied 
Laona  Charge  under  appointment  of  presiding  elder  R. 
W.  Scott.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1883.  While  on  the  Mountain  Circuit,  he  or- 
ganized classes  at  Ludlow,  Wetmore,  Swamp  Lodge,  Jo 
Jo,  and  West  Kane.  Because  of  throat  difficulties,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  North  Dakota  Conference,  and 
from  thence  he  came  to  the  Genesee  Conference  where  he 
still  labors. 


B.  P.  Linn,  W.  A.  Merriam , A.  IV.  Decker.  731 


Mr.  Irwin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Inez  A. 
Dye,  October  15,  1884. 

B.  P.  Linn,  W.  A.  Merriam,  A.  W.  Decker. 

Beatty  Parks  Linn  was  born  in  East  Sandy,  Venango 
Co.,  Pa.,  May  6,  i860.  Reared  in  a Christian  home,  he 
was  converted  under  the  pastorate  of  E.  M.  Kernick,  in 
1874.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  C.  Anna 
Myers,  March  22,  1881,  and  received  on  trial  in  the  Up- 
per Iowa  Conference  in  1882,  soon  after  having  received 
license  to  preach.  One  year  later  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Erie  Conference.  While  pastor  at  Plumer  he  at- 
tended Allegheny  College.  “For  several  months  before 
leaving  college  his  health  began  to  decline,  yet  with  an 
extraordinary  fortitude  and  burning  zeal  for  his  Master, 
though  against  the  wish  of  his  friends,  he  undertook  the 
work  at  Karns  City.  His  earnest  efforts  in  preaching, 
pastoral  visiting  and  improving  the  church  property  very 
soon  won  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  he  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  the  work  of  the  Lord  prospering  in  his  hands. 
But  in  less  than  three  months  the  development  of  a new 
phase  of  his  disease  warned  him  that  he  must  seek  medical 
aid  in  the  hospital.  His  last  service,  held  in  Karrts  City, 
was  very  impressive.  His  test  was  1 John  iv.  7;  ‘Be- 
loved, let  us  love  one  another,  for  love  is  of  God.’  He 
preached,  supporting  his  feeble  body  by  holding  to  the 
desk  before  him,  to  a congregation  bathed  in  tears.  It 
seemed  sadly  evident  to  his  hearers  that  they  should  see 
his  face  no  more.  And  so  it  proved.  The  next  morning 
he  started  for  the  Methodist  Hospital,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
There  he  was  very  kindly  cared  for,  and  received  such 
medical  aid  as  could  be  rendered ; but  his  disease  had  pro- 
gressed so  far  that  the  case  was  hopeless.  He  died  at 
the  hospital  December  18,  1889.” 

William  A.  Merriam  was  born  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
April  14,  1838.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited 
to  the  public  schools  and  academy  at  Jamestown,  but 
these  he  well  improved.  He  was  converted  on  the  last 
day  of  1857,  and  was  immediately  recognized  by  the 
church  as  one  whom  God  had  qualified  for  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  He  was  not,  however,  persuaded  to  accept 
a license  to  preach  until  1871.  He  used  his  local  preach- 
er’s license  until  1883,  when  he  was  received  on  trial  in 


732 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


the  Erie  Conference.  He  had  conducted  revivals  of 
great  power,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of  large  num- 
bers and  in  the  strengthening  of  the  churches,  and  sup- 
plied Kinzua,  Ellery,  and  Leon  Charges.  He  went  forth 
in  the  regular  itinerant  ranks  well  equipped  with  gifts, 
grace,  and  usefulness — all  thoroughly  tested.  He  finished 
his  earthly  course  at  Edenburg,  Pa.,  March  2,  1895. 

Brother  Merriam  was  companionable,  warm-hearted, 
generous,  true,  kindly,  sympathetic.  He  was  a good 
preacher,  and  possessed  great  power  in  prayer.  He  was 
devoted  to  his  work,  having  an  eye  single  to  the  glory  of 
God.  During  his  last  illness,  his  sufferings  were  great; 
but  he  trusted  in  the  living  God,  calmly  made  arrange- 
ments for  his  funeral,  comforted  his  weeping  family,  and 
yielded  his  spirit  to  the  kiss  of  God. 

Mr.  Merriam  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Han- 
nah Jones,  died  in  1865.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Maria  Jones  in  1866. 

Alonzo  W.  Decker  was  born  in  Adamsville,  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  born  of  Methodist  parents, 
his  father.  Dr.  H.  Decker,  being  a most  efficient  steward, 
and  his  mother  a most  blessed  holy  woman.  He  was  a 
Christian  from  his  earliest  childhood,  taking  part  in  all 
the  services  of  the  church  as  opportunity  presented.  He 
entered  on  a business  career  in  the  city  of  Zanesville,  but 
God  had  a greater  work  for  him.  He  says:  “One  day 

after  spending  some  time  with  father  and  mother,  I 
started  back  to  the  city,  thirteen  miles  distant,  when  I be- 
came so  overwhelmed  and  burdened  for  myself  and  the 
salvation  of  the  world,  that  I fell  on  my  knees  under  a 
spreading  oak  and  poured  out  my  soul  to  God.  A great- 
er peace  came  into  my  soul  than  I ever  knew  before. 
Was  it  conversion?  Was  it  a 'second  blessing?’  To 
me  it  was  a call  to  the  ministry,  and  I was  not  dis- 
obedient.” Mr.  Decker  closed  his  business  and  spent  a 
year  in  Scio  College.  He  then  preached  one  year,  and 
saw  five  hundred  converted.  This  was  in  the  state  of 
Missouri.  This  success  so  encouraged  him  that  he  con- 
cluded not  to  return  to  his  studies,  but — in  1878 — was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Arkansas  Conference,  and  appointed 
to  Little  Rock.  Here  he  assisted  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Philander  Smith  College.  After  one  year  spent  in 
Dennison,  Texas,  he  was  compelled,  because  of  ill  health, 


O.  H.  Nickle,  A.  B.  Phillips. 


733 


to  take  the  supernumerary  relation  and  return  north.  He 
entered  Allegheny  College,  and  was  soon  called  to  supply 
the  State  Street  Church,  at  Meadville.  He  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1883,  and  after  five 
years  of  successful  work,  left  us  for  the  Genesee  Confer- 
ence, where  he  still  labors.  He  has  uniformly  met  with 
great  success  in  revival  work. 

The  first  Methodist  preaching  in  Kinzua  township  was 
of  early  date.  Services  were  held  in  private  houses  and 
barns.  In  the  first  class  we  find  the  names  of  John  Ham- 
lin, Jacob  Hamlin,  Comfort  Hamlin,  Samuel  Morrison, 
James  Morrison,  Elijah  Morrison,  Levi  Morrison,  John 
Campbell,  and  John  English,  with  their  wives.  About 
1848  John  English  gave  the  site  upon  which  a house  of 
worship  and  parsonage  were  erected  at  a cost  of  about 
$2,500. — (History  of  Warren  County,  D.  Mason  & Co., 
1887,  pp.  482,  483.) 

The  Erie  Conference  met  October  8,  1884,  at  Erie,  Pa., 
Bishop  Henry  W.  Warren  being  the  president  and  F.  H. 
Beck  the  secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : W.  P.  Ar- 

buckle,  Victor  Cornuelle,  T.  J.  Hamilton,  G.  H.  Huma- 
son,  C.  M.  Miller,  F.  M.  Mills,  O.  H.  Nickle,  S.  M. 
Nickle,  A.  B.  Phillips,  S.  M.  Sartwell,  L.  W.  Showers, 
and  C.  R.  Thoburn. 

J.  Z.  Armstrong,  J.  M.  Barker,  W.  M.  Canfield,  A.  E. 
Colegrove,  A.  C.  Ellis,  and  W.  H.  Pearce  were  received 
by  transfer. 

A.  L.  Brand  was  received  from  the  Evangelical  Ad- 
vent Association. 

J.  E.  Roberts,  at  his  own  request,  was  discontinued. 

C.  J.  Brown,  A.  N.  Craft,  E.  D.  McCreary,  J.  W. 
Spangler,  J.  M.  Thoburn,  and  J.  G.  Townsend  were  re- 
moved by  transfer. 

The  following  had  died  during  the  year:  • John  Ab- 
bott, J.  B.  Gilfillan,  Thomas  Stubbs,  A.  C.  Tibbetts,  and 
W.  W.  Woodworth. 

O.  H.  Nickle,  A.  B.  Phillips. 

Oliver  H.  Nickle  was  born  at  Nickleville,  Venango  Co., 
Pa.,  April  12,  1855.  His  father  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  and  a rigid  Calvinist  of  the  Presbyterian  faith ; 
his  mother,  Mary  A.  Myers  Nickle,  was  of  Methodist 


47 


734 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


parentage.  Oliver  was  born  and  raised  on  a farm,  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  pursuing 
studies  later  in  Corsica  Adcademy  and  the  Edinboro  State 
Normal  School.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  to 
teach,  and  taught  during  the  winter  for  eleven  years. 

He  was  converted  under  the  labors  of  W.  S.  Shepard 
assisted  by  Miss  Maria  Stratton  in  the  winter  of  1879, 
though  he  did  not  experience  the  peace  for  which  he  ar- 
dently longed  until  one  year  later.  He  had  “discovered' r 
during  the  year  that  he  was  a Methodist,  and,  hence, 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  call 
to  preach  followed  close  upon  his  conversion,  but  he 
opened  his  heart  to  no  one,  and  shrank  from  the  responsi- 
bility. The  call  became  louder  and  more  imperative. 
The  death  of  a brother-in-law  caused  him  to  review  the 
whole  question,  and  the  result  was  that  he  sought  his 
class-leader  to  whom  he  unburdened  his  heart.  His 
class-leader  responded  quickly  and  the  same  day  R.  M. 
Felt,  his  pastor,  gave  him  license  to  exhort.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  by  the  Rockland  Quarterly  Conference 
in  1883,  P.  P.  Pinney,  the  presiding  elder,  signing  the 
license.  He  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie  Conference 
in  1884. 

Asaph  B.  Phillips  was  born  in  Margaree,  Inverness 
Co.,  Cape  Breton,  September  22,  i860.  His  parents,  . 
Henry  and  Annie  Phillips,  were  for  many  years  promi- 
nent and  efficient  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Brother  Phillips  says:  “From  my  earliest  recollection  I 

have  endeavored  to  live  a Christian  life.  Special  re- 
ligious instruction  was  given  me,  not  only  in  the  Sunday 
School,  but  also  by  my  devoted  parents,  and  in  early 
childhood  I felt  a consciousness  of  my  sins  and  wept  over 
them  again  and  again,  and  prayed  for  forgiveness  and 
salvation.  My  burdened  soul  found  no  rest  only  at  the 
cross,  but  still  had  not  the  evidence  of  acceptance  with 
God.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  during  a sweeping  revival, 

I earnestly  sought  the  Lord,  and  at  the  midnight  hour 
while  in  the  pleading  prayerfulness  of  my  heart,  my  faith 
took  hold  on  God,  and  I experienced  the  mighty  change. 
My  soul  was  flooded  with  his  glory  and  the  joy  of  a new 
life  in  Christ  Jesus  was  inexpressible.  It  was  then  I 
felt  a call  to  the  ministry,  the  divinity  of  which  I have 
never  for  a single  moment  doubted,  and  from  that  day 


G.  H.  Humason,  W . P.  Arbuckle. 


to  the  present  I have  endeavored,  by  utilizing  my  time 
and  the  means  at  my  command  to  the  best  possible  ad- 
vantage, to  gain  a proficiency  for  that  work  which  is  as 
dear  to  me  as  life  itself.” 

Mr.  Phillips  came  to  America  in  1881.  In  1882  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Moore,  of  Luthersburg,  Pa.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1883,  his  license  bearing  the 
signature  of  P.  P.  Pinney,  presiding  elder  of  Clarion  Dis- 
trict. He  was  admitted  to  the  ranks  of  the  itinerant 
army  in  1884. 


G.  H.  Humason,  W.  P.  Arbuckle. 


George  H.  Humason  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Au- 
gust 3,  1850,  of  New  England  Puritan  parentage.  His 
parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
were  very  strict  Calvinists. 

He  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city.  In  1866  he  attended  the  Stamford  In- 
stitute, of  Stamford,  Conn.,  and  finished  his  schooling  at 
the  Buffalo  Academy  in  1869.  He  was  strongly  con- 
victed of  sin  in  a Methodist  prayer  meeting  in  1865,  and 
united  with  the  Lafayette  Street  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  March  21,  1866.  He  felt  called  to  the 
ministry  at  the  time  of  his  conversion,  and  began  to  pre- 
pare to  become  a Presbyterian  clergyman,  but  his  father 
met  with  financial  reverses  and  George  concluded  to  learn 
the  tanner’s  trade.  On  the  19th  of  September,  1872,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Smith,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
In  1884  he  united  with  the  Corry  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  its  Quarterly  Con- 
ference July  29,  1884.  In  1884  he  was  admitted  on  trial 
in ‘the  Erie  Conference  and  appointed  junior  preacher  on 
the  North  Corry  Circuit  by  Bishop  Warren. 

William  Perry  Arbuckle  was  born  in  Mercer,  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1862;  and  died  at  Plainville,  Conn.,  August  11, 
1894.  He  was  of  good  Methodist  parentage,  and  early 
instructed  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the  doctrines  of 
the  Church.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
graduated  at  Oberlin  College,  and  at  Boston  University 
School  of  Theology.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Erie  Conference  in  1884,  transferred  to  the  New  Eng- 
land Conference  in  1887,  re-transferred  to  the  Erie  Con- 
ference in  1888,  and  transferred  to  the  New  York  East 


«■ 


L.i^ 


736 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Conference  in  1890.  While  connected  with  our  confer- 
ence he  served  Meadville  Second  Church  and  Centerville 
on  the  New  Castle  District.  During  his  brief  ministry 
he  did  most  earnest  and  successful  work  for  the  Master. 

Mr.  Arbuckle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Whieldon,  of  Fredonia,  Pa.,  in  1886. 

R.  S.  Borland,  presiding  elder  of  Jamestown  District, 
writes:  “Rev.  J.  W.  Wilson  has  added  another  to  the 

long  list  of  churches  he  has  planned  and  provided.  The 
last  one  is  situated  at  Carter  Hill,  on  the  North  Corry 
and  Columbus  Charge.  The  people  of  that  neighborhood 
had  worshiped  in  private  dwellings  and  in  school  houses 
for  half  a century.  Under  Brother  Wilson’s  leadership, 
the  building  of  a church  was  undertaken  a few  months 
since.  It  was  dedicated  on  Thursday,  January  3.  It  is  a 
modest  structure,  very  substantial  and  very  neat,  costing 
about  $1,200.” 

“In  the  early  eighties  a little  company  of  men  and  wo- 
men, ‘having  the  form  of  godliness  and  seeking  the  power 
thereof’  met  in  the  school  house  at  Macedonia,  Pa. — An- 
son Postoffice.”  The  society  grew  and  flourished,  and 
the  school  house  became  too  small  for  their  accommoda- 
tion. On  February  2,  1886,  the  first  lumber  for  a new 
church  was  sawn.  However,  work  was  not  commenced 
on  the  building  until  the  summer  of  1889.  The  church 
was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  under  the  pas- 
torate of  F.  A.  Mills.  The  work  has  been  supplied  by 
the  conference  appointee  to  the  “Greenfield  and  Mina” 
Circuit — special  arrangements  being  made  with  the  pas- 
tor. When  this  charge  was  divided,  Macedonia  was  at- 
tached to  Greenfield  with  which  it  formed  Greenfield  Cir- 
cuit. The  following  are  the  names  of  the  original  mem- 
bers: Caleb  Bogue,  Sarah  Bogue,  Waity  Bogue,  Eddie 

Bogue,  May  L.  Brown,  Eliza  Emery,  Julia  May  Emery, 
Doll  Kimball,  Frank  Preble,  Timothy  Studivant,  Naomi 
Studivant,  May  Studivant,  and  Jennie  Studivant. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  fiftieth  session  at 
Sharon,  Pa.,  September  10,  1885,  Bishop  Stephen  M. 
Merrill  in  the  chair  and  F.  H.  Beck,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  received  on  trial : A.  C.  Bowers, 

J.  Palmer  Burns,  R.  A.  Buzza,  W.  K.  Crosby,  J.  C. 
Gillette,  M.  F.  Laughlin,  J.  R.  Miller,  C.  H.  Quick,  and 
J.  C.  Wharton. 


W . B.  Trevey,  J.  C.  Wharton. 


The  following  were  received  by  transfer:  L.  W.  El- 

kins, H.  E.  Johnson,  and  W.  B.  Trevey. 

Henry  E.  Johnson  was  received  from  the  Independent 
Methodist  Church. 

Washington  Hollister  was  permitted  to  withdraw  un- 
der charges. 

A.  B.  Hyde,  J.  W.  Martin,  C.  M.  Miller,  W.  H. 
Swartz,  and  C.  R.  Thoburn  were  removed  by  transfer. 

The  deaths,  during  the  year,  of  G.  M.  Eberman,  J.  K. 
Hallock,  E.  A.  Johnson,  Joseph  Lenlie,  J.  R.  Lyon,  and 
John  Perry  were  announced. 

W.  B.  Trevey,  J.  C.  Wharton. 

William  B.  Trevey  was  born  in  Amherst  County,  Va., 
September  26,  1855;  and  died  at  Saegertown,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1887.  His  conversion  occurred  in  early  child- 
hood; or,  shall  we  not  say  that  he  never  consciously  de- 
parted from  God?  His  religious  life  was,  in  its  charac- 
teristics, ideal — ardent  devotion,  heavenly  mindedness, 
constant  fellowship  with  the  Spirit,  a walk  close  with 
God,  active  service.  “He  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the 
attitude  and  spirit  of  prayer.  His  study  was  his  try- 
sting — place,  where  he  held  joyous  communion  with  God. 
His  family  altar  ever  bore  incense  to  heaven.  He  deeply 
impressed  all,  who  either  saw  or  heard  him,  that  he  was 
an  ambassador  from  the  skies.”  He  had  a cultured  mind 
and  a cultured  heart.  The  fields  where  he  labored  yielded 
abundant  harvests.  He  was  a “choice  young  man.” 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1876,  and  the  next  year 
entered  the  West  Virginia  Conference.  After  two  years 
he  was  discontinued  on  account  of  failing  health ; but  was 
readmitted  in  1881,  and  on  November  2d  of  same  year 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  I.  Taylor,  of 
Moundsville,  West  Virginia.  In  1884  he  entered  Alle- 
gheny College,  and  the  next  year  was  transferred  to  the 
Erie  Conference.  Inflammation  of  the  optic  nerve  com- 
pelled him  to  forego  his  studies ; and  he  supplied  State 
Street  Church,  Meadville,  the  latter  part  of  the  year.  At 
the  conference  of  1885,  he  was  appointed  to  Saegertown 
where  he  finished  his  earthly  course. 

“His  last  illness  was  of  seven  weeks’  duration.  Though 
his  sufferings  were  at  times  very  extreme,  he  bore  all 
with  a heroism  born  of  Christian  faith.  His  patience 


738 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


was  perfect.  His  hope  was,  indeed,  ‘like  an  anchor.’  His 
departure  was  triumphant.  He  leaves,  as  a rich  legacy, 
to  his  bereft  kindred  and  to  the  church,  the  aroma  of  a 
pure,  unselfish  Christian  life.” 

James  C.  Wharton  was  born  in  London,  England,  No- 
vember, 1851.  His  father  died  when  the  lad  was  about 
14  months  old;  his  mother  came  to  this  country  when  he 
was  two  or  three  years  of  age.  Some  time  after  coming 
to  New  York  the  mother  married  a journeyman  printer, 
Wm.  S.  Brazier.  They  lived  in  Brooklyn  for  a time, 
when  they  moved  to  Newbern,  N.  C.  About  three 
years  after  coming  to  Newbern  his  mother  died.  After 
the  death  of  his  mother,  the  stepfather  told  him  he  could 
take  care  of  him  no  longer.  Thus  he  was  turned  into 
the  streets  of  a large  town  hazing  nowhere  to  lay  his 
head.  But  He  who  promises  to  be  the  “Father  of  the 
fatherless’  watched  over  him,  and  before  night  one  of  His 
servants,  the  pastor  of  the  Episcopal  church,  found  the 
boy  and  provided  a temporary  home. 

He  was  afterwards  taken  to  live  with  a farmer  about 
sixteen  miles  out  of  town.  This  was  in  the  year  i860. 
In  February,  1862,  Newbern  was  captured  by  General 
Burnsides.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  James  ran  away  from 
the  place  where  he  was  living,  and  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
lines  and  reaching  the  Union  army.  He  fell  in  with  the 
soldiers  of  Co.  F,  58th  Regt.,  P.  V.,  and  remained  with 
the  army  until  June,  1864,  when  he  came  home  with  one 
of  the  soldiers,  Mr.  W.  E .Hewitt,  now  of  Brockwayville, 
Pa.  With  the  parents  of  this  then  young  soldier  he  found 
a kind,  Christian  home,  where  he  lived  till  he  was  nineteen 
years  old.  Previous  to  coming  north  he  had  but  little 
opportunity  to  go  to  school.  For  six  years  after  coming 
to  Mr.  Hewitt’s  he  attended  the  district  school  in  winter 
and  worked  on  the  farm  in  summer.  He  then  took  a 
course  of  study  at  Chamberlain  Institute,  and  one  term  at 
Edinboro  State  Normal  School.  From  1870  to  1879 
was  spent  in  attending  school  and  teaching. 

From  1879  to  1885  he  was  engaged  in  bookkeeping  and 
mercantile  life.  In  May,  1879,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Linda  P.  Meredith.  In  1884  his  wife 
was  taken  by  death,  leaving  three  small  children.  In 
1886  he  was  again  married  to  Miss  Lenora  J.  Whiting 
of  Sterling,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  united  with 


C.  C.  Rumberger,  R.  A.  McIntyre. 


739 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  under  the  pastorate  of 
F.  A.  Archibald,  and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie 
Conference  in  1885. 

After  fourteen  years  of  active  service,  he  superannu- 
ated in  1899. 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Grove  City — for- 
merly Wolf  Creek — Pennsylvania,  was  originally  a class 
connected  with  the  Harrisville  Circuit,  and  dates  back  to 
1845.  It  is  claimed,  however,  that  an  organization  had 
been  effected  in  connection  with  the  Clintonville  Circuit 
long  prior  to  this  date.  The  first  church  building  stood 
north  of  the  town,  and  was  inconvenient  for  the  later 
membership.  The  present  handsome  brick  structure, 
costing  $12,000,  was  dedicated  February  27,  1885. — 
(History  of  Mercer  County , Brown , Runk  & Co.,  1888, 

pp.  508, 509.) 

The  Erie  Conference  met  at  Brookville,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1886,  Bishop  Edward  C.  Andrews  presiding  and 
F.  H.  Beck,  Secretary. 

Thomas  Berry,  S.  M.  Gordon,  W.  P.  Murray,  T.  J. 
Pratt,  and  C.  C.  Rumberger  were  received  on  trial. 

S.  S.  Burton  was  received  by  transfer. 

B.  L.  Perry  was  readmitted. 

R.  A.  McIntyre  was  received  from  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ. 

W.  H.  Pearce  and  W.  W.  Painter  were  removed  by 
transfer. 

S.  P.  Douglas  was  located  at  his  own  request  and  Or- 
rin  Babcock  was  located. 

W.  M.  Taylor  was  permitted  to  withdraw  under 
charges  and  A.  S.  Dobbs  was  expelled. 

C.  C.  Rumberger,  R.  A.  McIntyre. 

Cyrus  Craig  Rumberger  was  born  March  24,  1851. 
He  received  his  academic  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Butler  County,  Pa.,  and  at  Westminster  College.  In 
1872  he  graduated  with  high  honors  from  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  prac- 
ticed medicine  for  fourteen  years.  He  was  generally 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  and 
surgeons  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  converted  under  the 
ministry  of  the  late  Manassas  Miller  and  almost  immedi- 
ately felt  the  call  to  preach.  He  who  had  been  a success- 


740  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

fill  physician  to  the  body  became  henceforth  a successful 
physician  of  souls  to  the  attestation  of  which  many  will 
rise  and  call  him  blessed.  He  was  strong  as  a preacher, 
popular  as  a pastor,  successful  as  a soul  winner  and  emi- 
nently so  in  bringing  men  to  Christ.  He  was  a man  of 
strong  character,  strong  convictions,  unswerving  adhes- 
ion to  principle,  unflagging  energies  and  close  application 
to  duty. 

As  treasurer  of  Erie  Conference  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  passed  through  his  hands  and  the  marvel  of  his 
brethren  was,  that  the  moneys  coming  into  his  hands  in 
such  large  sums,  the  treasurer's  reports  were  so  free  from 
error.  Genial  by  nature,  uniformly  courteous,  he,  through 
his  painstaking  attention  to  his  work  and  little  kindnesses 
to  all  having  business  with  the  treasurer,  became  a brother 
much  beloved. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Clark,  March  24,  1870. 

His  last  months  were  characterized  by  a brave  fight 
for  life  and  health.  He  traveled  in  the  South  with  the  hope 
of  being  helped.  It  seemed  that  he  would  be  restored  and 
he  returned  home  apparently  much  improved  in  health, 
but  his  hopes  were  not  well  founded  for  he  was  taken  to 
his  room  shortly  after  his  return  and  was  only  out  of  his 
home  once  before  the  end  came.  Through  pain,  failing 
powers,  and  even  delirium,  he  was  marvelously  sustained 
by  divine  grace. 

" Robert  A.  McIntyre  was  born  near  the  city  of  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  September  5,  1845.  He  was  the  oldest  of  his 
father's  family.  When  Robert  was  about  eight  years  of 
age,  the  family  came  to  America  and  a few  months  after 
their  arrival  in  New  York,  came  to  Pennsylvania.  In 
1856  his  parents  were  converted  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Clarksville,  Mercer  Co., 
Pa.  Robert  was  converted  at  West  Middlesex  through 
the  instrumentality  of  W.  H.  Mossman,  pastor.  He  unit- 
ed with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  has  re- 
mained within  her  fold  from  that  time  until  the  present, 
with  the  exception  of  five  years,  during  which  he  was  as- 
sociated with  the  United  Brethren.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  he 
completed  a course  of  study  in  Western  Reserve  Semin- 
ary, West  Farmington,  Ohio.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Middlesex  Quarterly  Conference.  In  1880  he 


Chamberlain  Collegiate  Institute. 


74i 


joined  the  United  Brethren  Church — that  Church  being 
the  most  convenient  to  his  new  home.  From  this  so- 
ciety he  also  received  license  to  preach,  and  practiced  his 
gifts  and  graces  as  opportunity  offered.  After  resisting 
the  calls  of  duty  for  some  time,  and  after  a serious  at- 
tack of  typhoid  fever,  he  was  willing  to  surrender  and  do 
the  Lord’s  will,  and  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Erie 
Conference  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  This  was  in 
the  fall  of  1882. 

Withdrawing  from  that  Church,  he  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Erie  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1886,  and  assigned  to  his  first  charge,  Center- 
ville, Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania. 

The  part  taken  by  the  Erie  Conference  in  the  encourag- 
ment  of  Christian  education  and  the  promotion  of  sound 
learning  has  been  a noble  one.  It  has  been  characterized 
by  a liberality  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  worthy  of  all 
praise.  The  fathers  builded  well,  and  the  children  have 
entered  upon  a goodly  heritage.  It  cost  faith  and  prayer, 
but  the  outlay  has  been  justified  by  the  results.  We  can- 
not speak  of  these  Methodist  schools  in  detail — Western 
Reserve  Seminary,  Willoughby  College,  Poland  Acad- 
emy, Lake  Shore  Seminary,  Carrier  Seminary,  and  others. 
We  confine  our  attention  to  Chamberlain  Institute,  and 
Allegheny  College. 


Chamberlain  Collegiate  Institute. 


Randolph  Academy  and  Female  Seminary  was  opened 
in  1850,  having  been  projected  at  a Fourth  of  July  cele- 
bration held  the  previous  year.  It  was  the  first  academy 
established  in  the  countv,  but  it  was  not  chartered  until 
the  following  January.  The  trustees,  under  the  act  of 
incorporation,  were  Hon.  Benjamin  Chamberlain,  Presi- 
dent ; T.  S.  Sheldon,  Secretary ; Addison  Crowley, 
Treasurer,  and  Rufus  Crowley,  J.  E.  Weeden,  A.  G. 
Dow,  Samuel  Ewing,  David  Benson,  Wm.  K.  Miller, 
Spencer  Scudder,  Samuel  Barrows  and  Merrick  Nutting. 
The  original  building  was  forty-four  by  eighty-four  feet, 
three  stories  high,  and  cost  practically  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. Prof.  Samuel  G.  Love  was  the  first  principal.  The 
school  opened  with  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  stu- 
dents, showing  that  it  was  truly  appreciated  by  the  peo- 
ple of  that  early  date.  Prof.  Love  held  his  position  for 


742  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

three  years,  during  which  time  the  school  was  kept  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  T.  Dur- 
land,  who  taught  one  year.  Prof.  Henry  S.  Welton  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Durland,  and  remained  one  year.  Rev.  J.  W. 

B.  Clark  taught  from  1855  to  1857,  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  W.  H.  Marsh  and  Rev.  O.  S.  Gibson,  who  each 
taught  one  year.  The  fall  of  1858  found  the  school  in  a 
depressed  condition,  with  few  students  in  attendance. 
Under  these  circumstances  Prof.  Love  was  invited  to 
return  and  look  the  ground  over  with  the  view  of  again 
taking  charge  of  the  school.  He  resumed  control  and  it 
very  soon  regained  its  popularity  under  his  efficient  man- 
agement, which  continued  for  six  years. 

The  excitements  of  the  war  had  their  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  the  young  men  of  the  academy.  A military 
company  was  formed  and  drilling  became  a part  of  the 
regular  work  of  the  students.  More  than  two  hundred 
of  the  old  Randolph  Academy  boys  went  out  from  the 
pursuit  of  their  studies  to  offer  their  lives  upon  their 
country’s  altar. 

In  order  to  avail  themselves  of  the  privileges  offered 
by  the  regents  of  the  university,  it  was  necessary  that  the 
academy  be  in  possession  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars’ 
worth  of  apparatus  and  maps.  Accordingly,  at  the  close 
of  the  first  term  of  school  in  1850,  Prof.  Love  went  to 
New  York  and  purchased  that  amount,  and  the  next 
year  the  Board  of  Regents  appointed  the  academy  one 
of  the  institutions  to  give  instruction  to  teachers’  classes, 
and  it  has  continued  so  to  do  to  the  present  time. 

There  have  been  in  attendance  about  nine  thousand 
students. 

In  1863  an  ell  was  added  to  the  academy  building, 
forty  by  sixty-six  feet,  and  two  stories  high,  at  a cost  of 
two  thousand  dollars. 

In  1867  Judge  Chamberlain,  a man  of  great  wealth, 
who  had  long  been  interested  in  the  school,  proposed, 
upon  certain  conditions,  to  give  it  a liberal  endowment. 
Having  been  a life-long  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  he  desired  to  place  the  institution  under 
the  general  supervision  of  the  Erie  Annual  Conference 
of  that  church,  and  the  conditions  upon  which  he  pro- 
posed to  give  the  endowment  were,  that  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  should  be  procured  authorizing  the  Erie  An- 


■nbhmbhbhi 


Allegheny  College. 


743 


nual  Conference  to  appoint  the  Board  of  Trustees  and 
exercise  other  supervisory  powers. 

The  next  year,  with  the  consent  of  the  old  Board  of 
Trustees  and  the  community  generally,  the  act  was 
passed  and,  in  honor  of  its  benefactor,  the  name  of  the 
school  was  changed  to  Chamberlain  Institute.  Since 
that  time  the  institution  has  been  under  the  two-fold  con- 
trol of  the  State  Board  of  Regents  and  the  Erie  Annual 
Conference. 

At  the  same  time  the  citizens  of  the  place  generously 
added  twenty  acres  to  the  campus  upon  which  Judge 
Chamberlain  erected  a beautiful  brick  boarding  hall  at 
a cost  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and,  in  addition,  gave  an 
endowment  of  forty  thousand  dollars. 

After  the  resignation  of  Prof.  Love  the  position  was 
held  successively  by  the  following  in  their  turn:  Rev. 

Charles  Hollaway,  Prof.  Erastus  Crosby,  Rev.  A.  S. 
Dobbs  and  Prof.  R.  E.  Post. 

In  1870  the  trustees  engaged  Prof.  J.  T.  Edwards,  of 
Rhode  Island,  as  principal  of  the  Institute.  Shortly  after 
this  time  the  beautiful  and  commodious  boarding  hall 
was  burned  to  the  ground,  involving  great  loss.  Dr. 
Edwards  at  once  gave  himself  untiringly  to  the  work  of 
rebuilding  and  complete  success  was  the  merited  result. 
In  1887  the  chapel  building  was  remodeled,  but  was 
later  destroyed  by  fire.  The  present  building  was  erected 
under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  E.  A.  Bishop,  who  in  1893, 
succeeded  to  the  position  of  principal,  which  for  twenty 
three  years  had  been  so  successfully  held  by  Dr.  Ed- 
wards. 

At  the  present  time  the  Chamberlain  Institute  is  con- 
ducted as  a military  school,  under  the  wise  and  magnetic 
leadership  of  Col.  J.  E.  Dunn. 

Allegheny  College. 

Following  is  a copy  of  the  first  advertisement  of  Alle- 
gheny College  ever  published.  It  appeared  in  a Mead- 
ville  paper  in  the  year  1816,  within  a few  months  after 
the  college  was  organized.  It  would  almost  seem  that 
the  Methodist  future  of  the  college  was  prophesied  in  the 
description  of  the  preparatory  students  as  “probation- 
ers.” It  will  be  seen  that  even  as  far  back  as  1816  the 


- - • — - - - • 


TheILibrary,  Allegheny  College, 


ii 

1 

1 

Allegheny  College.  745 

freshman  in  Allegheny  College  had  to  do  pretty  stiff 
work : 

“Allegheny  College. 

“This  institution  having  been  duly  organized  and  the 
subscriber  having  been  duly  appointed  President  and  a 
Professor  of  the  same,  takes  this  method  to  inform  the 
public  of  the  terms  on  which  students,  desirous  of  a lib- 
eral education  and  disposed  to  become  members  of  it, 
can  be  accommodated. 

“1.  Tuition,  $6  a quarter. 

“2.  Boarding,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a week,  or, 

“3.  Boarding,  washing,  lodging,  and  tuition  at  130 
dollars  a year. 

“Payable  quarterly,  and  no  extra  charge  during  the 
vacations,  if  any  should  find  it  for  their  convenience  to 
spend  them  in  Meadville. 

“Probationers  are  here  instructed  in  Latin,  Greek,  &c., 
preparatory  to  admission  into  the  collegiate  classes. 

“The  Freshman  class  is,  at  present,  attending  to  Sal- 
lust, Horace,  Xenophon's  Anabasis,  Homer's  Iliad,  the 
Hebrew,  French  and  English  languages,  arithmetic, 
Holme’s  Rhetorick,  &c.  “Timothy  Alden.” 

Travelers  from  Erie  to  Pittsburg  in  1815,  by  way  of 
the  Waterford  and  Allegheny  turnpike — now  called  Main 
street  in  Meadville — on  coming  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
which  overlooks  the  silvery  curve  of  French  creek  where 
the  Cussewago  falls  into  it,  saw  at  their  feet  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  stream,  a village  of  perhaps  a hundred  white 
wooden  houses  and  black  log  huts,  scattered  along  three 
or  four  parallel  and  cross  streets,  and  surrounded  by 
cleared  fields  thickly  dotted  with  stumps.  To  this  village 
of  less  than  five  hundred  people  came  in  June,  1815,  the 
Presbyterian  preacher  and  teacher,  Timothy  Alden,  from 
New  York  City,  to  visit  his  cousin,  Major  Alden,  one  of 
its  most  prosperous  and  progressive  citizens.  This  Tim- 
othy Alden  was  a graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  a 
lineal  descendent  of  John  Alden,  of  the  Mayflower.  He 
had  come,  five  hundred  miles  through  the  wilderness  not 
merely  to  pay  a visit,  but  to  found  a college.  He  had 
looked  over  a map  of  the  country,  and  concluded  that 
Meadville  would  be  a good  place  for  the  institution  he 
had  been  dreaming  of.  Major  Alden  favored  the  plan, 


/ 


.tv-.- 


iEGheny  College, 


Allegheny  College.  745 

freshman  in  Allegheny  College  had  to  do  pretty  stiff 
work : 

“Allegheny  College. 

“This  institution  having  been  duly  organized  and  the 
subscriber  having  been  duly  appointed  President  and  a 
Professor  of  the  same,  takes  this  method  to  inform  the 
public  of  the  terms  on  which  students,  desirous  of  a lib- 
eral education  and  disposed  to  become  members  of  it, 
can  be  accommodated. 

“1.  Tuition,  $6  a quarter. 

“2.  Boarding,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a week,  or, 

“3.  Boarding,  washing,  lodging,  and  tuition  at  130 
dollars  a year. 

“Payable  quarterly,  and  no  extra  charge  during  the 
vacations,  if  any  should  find  it  for  their  convenience  to 
spend  them  in  Meadville. 

“Probationers  are  here  instructed  in  Latin,  Greek,  &c., 
preparatory  to  admission  into  the  collegiate  classes. 

“The  Freshman  class  is,  at  present,  attending  to  Sal- 
lust, Horace,  Xenophon's  Anabasis,  Homer’s  Iliad,  the 
Hebrew,  French  and  English  languages,  arithmetic, 
Holme’s  Rhetorick,  &c.  “Timothy  Alden.” 

Travelers  from  Erie  to  Pittsburg  in  1815,  by  way  of 
the  Waterford  and  Allegheny  turnpike — now  called  Main 
street  in  Meadville — on  coming  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
which  overlooks  the  silvery  curve  of  French  creek  where 
the  Cussewago  falls  into  it,  saw  at  their  feet  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  stream,  a village  of  perhaps  a hundred  white 
wooden  houses  and  black  log  huts,  scattered  along  three 
or  four  parallel  and  cross  streets,  and  surrounded  by 
cleared  fields  thickly  dotted  with  stumps.  To  this  village 
of  less  than  five  hundred  people  came  in  June,  1815,  the 
Presbyterian  preacher  and  teacher,  Timothy  Alden,  from 
New  York  City,  to  visit  his  cousin,  Major  Alden,  one  of 
its  most  prosperous  and  progressive  citizens.  This  Tim- 
othy Alden  was  a graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  a 
lineal  descendent  of  John  Alden,  of  the  Mayflower.  He 
had  come  five  hundred  miles  through  the  wilderness  not 
merely  to  pay  a visit,  but  to  found  a college.  He  had 
looked  over  a map  of  the  country,  and  concluded  that 
Meadville  would  be  a good  place  for  the  institution  he 
had  been  dreaming  of.  Major  Alden  favored  the  plan, 


Allegheny  College. 


introduced  his  cousin  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  then 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  outcome 
was  the  historic  meeting  of  citizens  in  the  log  court  house 
on  the  evening  of  June  20,  1815. 

At  this  meeting  Major  Alden  was  called  to  the  chair, 
and  John  Reynolds  was  chosen  secretary  and  treasurer. 
It  was  voted  to  found  an  institution  of  learning,  to  be 
called  from  the  name  of  the  chief  river  of  the  region, 
Allegheny  College.  The  Rev.  Timothy  Alden  was  elected 
president,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  vice  president, 
and  the  former  was  directed  to  go  east  and  gather  what- 
ever he  could  of  value  for  the  new  enterprise. 

The  same  year  the  charter  was  conferred  (1817)  the 
first  commencement  was  held  in  the  old  log  court  house. 
For  here,  or  in  Doctor  Alden’s  house,  was  given  the  col- 
lege instruction  during  the  five  years  before  Bentley  Hall 
was  built.  A program  of  this  first  commencement  is  still 
preserved.  Four  Latin  orations  and  one  Hebrew  ora- 
tion were  delivered,  but  there  were  no  graduates.  In- 
deed, there  were  only  twelve  graduates  during  all  the 
fifteen  years  of  Dr.  Alden’s  administration. 

The  first  building  was  called  Bentley  Hall,  in  honor  of 
the  Rev.  William  Bentley,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  who  at  his 
death  in  1820  left  to  the  college  his  library,  valued  at 
$3,000.  There  is  a tradition  that  Harvard  had  her  eye  on 
this  rare  collection  of  books,  and  had  honored  its  owner 
in  anticipation  of  the  bequest,  but  was  supplanted  by  the 
little  college  on  the  frontier.  The  gift  was  due  to  Dr. 
Alden’s  personal  influence,  as  was  the  donation  soon  after 
by  the  Hon.  James  Winthrop,  LL.D.,  of  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  of  a library  valued  at  $6,400.  The  founder  of 
Allegheny  College,  being  a thorough  scholar  himself, 
evidently  realized  that  good  books  are  as  necessary  to 
higher  learning  as  good  instructors,  for  at  the  end  of  his 
administration  the  college  had  a library  worth  $20,000. 

The  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  it  looked  for  its 
main  support,  already  had  two  small  colleges  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  For  this  reason  Dr.  Alden’s  petition  that 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie  take  Allegheny  College  under  its 
patronage,  met  with  a strong  refusal.  The  enterprise 
which  had  absorbed  the  best  years  of  his  life  seemed  a 
failure.  With  a heavy  heart  he  resigned  and  gave  up 
all  relations  to  the  institution. 


Allegheny  College. 


747 


introduced  his  cousin  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  then 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  outcome 
was  the  historic  meeting  of  citizens  in  the  log  court  house 
on  the  evening  of  June  20,  1815. 

At  this  meeting  Major  Alden  was  called  to  the  chair, 
and  John  Reynolds  was  chosen  secretary  and  treasurer. 
It  was  voted  to  found  an  institution  of  learning,  to  be 
called  from  the  name  of  the  chief  river  of  the  region, 
Allegheny  College.  The  Rev.  Timothy  Alden  was  elected 
president,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  vice  president, 
and  the  former  was  directed  to  go  east  and  gather  what- 
ever he  could  of  value  for  the  new  enterprise. 

The  same  year  the  charter  was  conferred  (1817)  the 
first  commencement  was  held  in  the  old  log  court  house. 
For  here,  or  in  Doctor  Alden’s  house,  was  given  the  col- 
lege instruction  during  the  five  years  before  Bentley  Hall 
was  built.  A program  of  this  first  commencement  is  still 
preserved.  Four  Latin  orations  and  one  Hebrew  ora- 
tion were  delivered,  but  there  were  no  graduates.  In- 
deed, there  were  only  twelve  graduates  during  all  the 
fifteen  years  of  Dr.  Alden’s  administration. 

The  first  building  was  called  Bentley  Hall,  in  honor  of 
the  Rev.  William  Bentley,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  who  at  his 
death  in  1820  left  to  the  college  his  library,  valued  at 
$3,000.  There  is  a tradition  that  Harvard  had  her  eye  on 
this  rare  collection  of  books,  and  had  honored  its  owner 
in  anticipation  of  the  bequest,  but  was  supplanted  by  the 
little  college  on  the  frontier.  The  gift  was  due  to  Dr. 
Alden’s  personal  influence,  as  was  the  donation  soon  after 
by  the  Hon.  James  Winthrop,  LL.D.,  of  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  of  a library  valued  at  $6,400.  The  founder  of 
Allegheny  College,  being  a thorough  scholar  himself, 
evidently  realized  that  good  books  are  as  necessary  to 
higher  learning  as  good  instructors,  for  at  the  end  of  his 
administration  the  college  had  a library  worth  $20,000. 

The  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  it  looked  for  its 
main  support,  already  had  two  small  colleges  in  western 
Pennsylvania.  For  this  reason  Dr.  Alden’s  petition  that 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie  take  Allegheny  College  under  its 
patronage,  met  with  a strong  refusal.  The  enterprise 
which  had  absorbed  the  best  years  of  his  life  seemed  a 
failure.  With  a heavy  heart  he  resigned  and  gave  up 
all  relations  to  the  institution. 


748 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


For  two  years  after  1831  Bentley  Hall  stood  deserted. 
Then  the  eloquent  young  Homer  J.  Clark  came  to  Mead- 
ville  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Church.  He 
had  been  professor  and  agent  for  Madison  College,  at 
Uniontown,  Pa.,  a struggling  little  institution,  chiefly  re- 
membered now  as  the  Methodist  forerunner  of  Allegheny 
College  and  as  the  alma  mater  of  Matthew  Simpson.  It 
was  young  Clark  who  first  resolved  to  secure  the  deserted 
college  for  Methodism.  Through  his  influence,  and  to 
this  end.  the  Pittsburg  Conference  of  Methodist  preach- 
ers met  in  Meadville  in  July,  1833.  The  trustees  of  the 
college,  utterly  discouraged,  and  seeing  no  future  for  the 
institution  without  the  support  of  some  church,  offered 
to  turn  it  over  to  the  conference.  The  offer  was  accepted 
and  plans  were  made  to  raise  $20,000  for  endowment. 
The  institution  opened  in  November,  1833,  with  the  Rev. 
Martin  Ruter,  D.D.,  as  president;  the  Rev.  Homer  J. 
Clark  as  vice  president.  Only  thirty  students  were  en- 
rolled at  the  opening,  but  at  the  close  of  four  years  of 
Dr.  Ruter  s presidency,  the  number  of  students  for  the 
year  was  one  hundred  and  forty-six.  The  number  of 
gradutes  during  the  four  years  was  fourteen. 

The  most  notable  result  of  Homer  J.  Clark's  adminis- 
tration (i837-?47)  was  the  adding  of  $60,000  to  the  en- 
dowment. The  state  had  been  appropriating  $1,000  a 
year  for  six  years,  up  to  1844,  when  this  prop  fell  away. 
The  college  was  closed  for  a year,  while  Dr.  Clark  went 
begging  for  its  relief.  By  his  hard  labors  its  future  was 
made  secure. 

Then  came  the  gentle  Dr.  John  Barker.  He  had  suc- 
ceeded Matthew  Simpson  here  in  1839  as  professor  of 
natural  science,  and  gone  to  Transylvania  College,  Ky., 
seven  years  later  as  professor  of  ancient  languages.  The 
visible  memorial  of  his  presence  is  Ruter  Hall,  built  in 
1855,  and  paid  for  by  the  citizens  of  Meadville;  but  a 
more  enviable  memorial  of  him  is  the  invisible  one — the 
affection  for  him  which  lives  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
knew  him,  and  will  be  spoken  of  whenever  his  name  is 
mentioned  in  all  time.  He  was  at  home  as  a teacher  in 
all  departments,  and  students  were  equally  delighted  to 
pass  an  hour  with  him  in  mathematics  or  in  Greek.  As 
a preacher  and  lecturer  he  was  genial,  witty,  and  thor- 
oughly up  to  the  times.  Though  repeatedly  offered  other 


Allegheny  College. 


7 49 


positions  with  better  salary,  he  remained  true  to  Alle- 
gheny until  he  was  smitten  down  with  apoplexy  in  the 
twelfth  year  of  his  incumbency,  December,  1859. 

President  Barker’s  successor  was  Dr.  George  W. 
Loomis.  Soon  after  his  inauguration  came  the  Civil  War. 
Patriotism  ran  high  among  the  professors  and  students. 
A company  was  formed  to  go  from  the  college — Com- 
pany I,  Thirty-ninth  Regiment.  Ira  Ayer,  a student  and 
the  only  member  who  knew  tactics,  was  made  captain. 
Just  before  their  leaving,  Dr.  Loomis  addressed  the  stu- 
dent company  drawn  up  in  line,  and  told  them  that  if  any 
of  them  showed  the  white  feather  he  never  wanted  him  to 
come  back  to  Allegheny.  Twenty-eight  of  them  did  not 
come  back,  for  they  were  buried  in  southern  fields.  But 
their  old  flag  was  brought  back,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
most  precious  relics  in  the  possession  of  the  college. 

During  the  administration  of  Dr.  Loomis,  Culver  Hall 
— burnt  in  1884 — was  built  in  1864,  furnishing  dormi- 
tories for  one  hundred  students,  and  large  additions  were 
made  to  the  endowment.  Perhaps  the  most  notable  event 
during  his  term  was  the  admission  of  young  women  as 
students  (1870).  Allegheny  was  one  of  the  first  colleges 
in  the  country  to  make  this  innovation. 

The  next  president  was  Dr.  Lucius  H.  Bugbee,  who 
came  from  the  headship  of  the  Woman’s  College  at  Cin- 
cinnati*. At  the  beginning  of  his  term,  Alexander  Brad- 
ley contributed  an  additional  $6,000,  briging  the  total  of 
his  gifts  up  to  a sum  sufficient  to  endow  the  chair  of 
Latin.  During  this  time  also  Hulings  Hall  was  built, 
thus  carrying  to  practical  realization  the  policy  of  co- 
education adopted  by  the  preceding  administration.  The 
college  furnishes  to  young  women  the  highest  educational 
advantages  open  to  young  men,  and  also  the  best  features 
of  a distinctively  woman’s  college.  Hulings  Hall  has 
rooms  for  fifty  young  women.  It  is  provided  with  all 
modern  improvements  and  makes  an  ideal  college  home. 

Dr.  David  H.  Wheeler  succeeded  President  Bugbee  in 
1883  and  continued  in  office  for  ten  years,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  (i888-’89),  when  Dr.  Wilbur  G. 
Williams  was  president.  During  these  ten  years  the 
course  in  civil  engineering  was  established.  Wilcox  Hall 
of  Science  was  erected,  giving  to  the  departments  of 
Physics  and  Chemistry  ample  room  for  lecture  and  lab- 

48 


I 


750 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


oratory  work.  Its  equipment  is  complete  and  up  to  date. 
The  field  of  instruction  was  materially  broadened  and 
the  courses  of  study  modernized. 

In  1893  Rev-  William  H.  Crawford,  D.D.,  was  called 
to  the  presidency.  Since  then  the  college  has  made 
marked  progress  in  every  line.  The  buildings  have  in- 
creased from  four  to  eight.  The  great  natural  beauties 
of  the  campus  have  been  supplemented  by  care  and  wise 
improvements.  The  endowment  has  been  considerably 


more  than  doubled;  new  departments  of  instruction  have 
been  added ; greatly  increased  facilities  in  library  and 
laboratories  have  been  secured ; and  the  reputation  of  the 
college  for  sound  and  thorough  scholarship  has  been 
greatly  enhanced. 

In  1896  the  gymnasium  was  erected,  and  since  then 
regular  instruction  in  physical  training  under  skilled  and 
experienced  teachers  has  been  a part  of  the  curriculum 
for  all  students. 

In  1900  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Newton,  of  Batavia,  111.,  con- 
tributed funds  for  the  erection  of  an  observatory,  which 
is  named  in  honor  of  her  husband,  who  had  been  a stu- 
dent in  the  college. 

In  1901  Captain  John  B.  Ford  gave  money  for  the 
Ford  Memorial  Chapel.  In  the  richness  and  chasteness 
of  the  exterior  finish  and  interior  appointments  the  build- 
ing is  one  of  the  finest  college  chapels  in  the  country. 
Three  grand-daughters  of  Captain  Ford  contributed 
$6,000  for  a splendid  pipe  organ,  which  is  used  daily  in 
the  chapel  exercises.  The  beautiful  chapel  and  organ 
are  one  of  the  positive  educational  forces  of  the  college. 

Through  the  generosity  of  an  anonymous  donor  funds 
were  provided  for  the  imposing  library  building,  com- 
pleted in  September,  1902.  It  is  fireproof,  has  room  for 
one  hundred  thousand  volumes,  and  is  perfectly  adapted 
to  the  peculiar  uses  of  a college  library..  In  addition  to  a 
spacious  general  reading  room,  and  the  usual  stack  room, 
cataloguing  room,  and  librarian’s  rooms,  it  contains  a 
large  reference  reading  room,  and  several  seminar  rooms. 
Occupying  the  highest  point  of  the  campus,  it  is  the  most 
striking  of  the  whole  group  of  buildings. 

The  same  year  that  brought  the  new  chapel  and  li- 
brarv  witnessed  also  a large  increase  in  the  endowment 
of  the  college.  Mr.  Frank  A.  Arter,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 


Allegheny  College. 


751 


offered  $60,000  on  condition  that  the  total  sum  of 
$200,000  should  be  raised.  This  condition  was  more 
than  met. 

The  faculty  of  the  college  is  composed  of  professors, 
who  are  all  men  of  experience  and  have  had  special  train- 
ing for  their  different  departments.  They  are  all  special- 
ists, but  not  in  a narrow  sense.  They  are  first  of  all 
broad-minded,  cultured,  Christian  gentlemen.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  professorships  recently  established,  more  are 
to  follow  in  the  near  future. 

This  institution  is  a college,  not  a university.  Its  pur- 
pose is  to  prepare  students  for  any  kind  of  professional 
study,  but  it  does  not  undertake  to  prepare  a student  to 
enter  upon  any  profession  without  special  study.  Alle- 
gheny College  is  well  known.  For  nearly  a hundred 
years  it  has  rendered  a valuable  service  for  higher  edu- 
cation. The  college  never  offered  such  good  advantages 
as  it  does  now.  In  many  ways  it  has  broadened  its  work 
and  increased  its  list  of  friends.  Allegheny  College  is  an 
aggressive  institution,  and  is  abreast  of  the  times,  with- 
out dealing  in  “fads."  The  modern  method  of  making 
the  text  book  live  through  the  lecture,  the  laboratory,  and 
the  library,  is  being  successfully  employed. 

The  requirements  are  the  kind  which  tend  to  make 
strong  men  and  women.  They  are  rigid,  but  not  so  rigid 
as  to  discourage  any  student  of  average  ability  who  is 
ambitious  to  get  for  himself  a good  college  training.  The 
college  offers  a wide  range  of  studies.  There  are  five 
courses  of  study  in  the  college  department  proper,  be- 
sides those  offered  in  the  preparatory  school.  Special 
courses  are  arranged  for  those  who  are  not  candidates 
for  a degree. 

The  college  was  founded  by  Christian  men  for  the  pro- 
motion of  Christian  culture.  It  believes  that  education 
should  always  include,  as  its  highest  aim,  the  develop- 
ment of  Christian  character.  The  aim  is  to  make  the 
moral  and  religious  life  of  the  college  such  that  the  stu- 
dent will  be  under  as  helpful  influences  here  in  Meadville 
as  he  would  be  in  his  own  Christian  home.  The  college 
is  not  sectarian,  but  it  is  Christian. 

Allegheny  College  believes  in  and  fosters  only  one 
kind  of  athletics — athletics  which  is  pure  and  clean  and 
strictly  amateur.  No  money  or  other  compensation  is 


7 52 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


allowed  to  be  given  any  member  of  any  team  for  his 
services.  A student  who  should  accept  remuneration  of 
any  sort  would  be  immediately  dismissed  from  college. 
No  minor  is  allowed  to  play  on  the  football  team  without 
the  written  consent  of  his  parents,  and  no  student  is  per- 
mitted to  play  on  any  team  who  is  deficient  in  his  studies. 

Athletics  so  conducted  constitute  an  important  and 
valuable  feature  of  college  life.  They  help  to  develop 
manly  virtues  and  do  much  toward  making  the  all- 
around  man — the  man  with  a sound  mind  in  a sound 
body. 

Allegheny  College  has  no  invitation  to  send  out  to 
young  men  and  women  who  go  to  college  simply  “to  have 
a good  time.”  We  prefer  that  all  such  should  go  to  some 
other  college.  The  kind  of  students  we  want  are  hon- 
est, upright,  ambitious  young  people  who  have  an  earn- 
est purpose  in  coming  to  us,  and  who  desire  to  make  the 
best  use  of  their  opportunities.  This  class  of  students 
will  be  given  a hearty  welcome.  They  will  find  here  a 
congenial  atmosphere. 

Other  splendid  gifts  have  come  to  the  college,  and 
other  buildings  have  been  erected  or  are  in  process  of 
erection  since  the  above  writing — and  the  campaign  for 
larger  endowment  is  at  hand. 

William  Henry  Crawford. 

William  Henry  Crawford,  President  of  Allegheny 
College,  was  born  in  Will  county,  111.,  the  6th  of  October, 
1855.  On  his  father’s  side  his  ancestry  is  Scotch-Irish ; 
on  his  mother’s,  American  bred,  for  several  generations. 

He  was  educated  at  the  Joliet  High  school  and  at 
Northwestern  University,  where  he  graduated  in  1884. 
His  theological  course  was  taken  at  Garrett  Biblical  In- 
stitute. During  his  college  course  he  took  more  prizes 
than  had  ever  been  gained  by  a single  student,  winning 
in  1884  the  Kirk  prize  for  oratory.  He  was  elected 
from  his  class  by  the  faculty  to  membership  in  Phi  Beta 
Kappa. 

After  graduation  he  joined  the  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence and  was  appointed  to  Ravenwood  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  Chicago.  Two  years  later  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Fulton  Street  Church.  In  the  pastorate  the 
most  abundant  success  was  his.  The  three  years’  work 

. 


William  Henry  Crawford.  753 

at  Fulton  street  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a new  church, 
and  in  the  conversion  of  over  three  hundred  souls. 

From  the  full  tide  of  success  in  this  pastorate  he  was 
called  in  1889  to  the  chair  of  historical  theology  in  Gam- 
mon Theological  Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga.  Here  he  found 
work  that  was  at  once  congenial  to  his  tastes  and  suited 
to  his  particular  talents.  Endowed  with  fine  historical 
imagination  and  keen  insight  into  persons  and  events, 
having  a broad  outlook  over  the  whole  field  of  history 
and  ready  command  of  terse  and  expressive  English,  he 
succeeded  to  an  unusual  degree  in  making  his  subject 
live  and  in  rousing  the  deepest  interest  in  his  students. 
Outside  of  his  immediate  department  he  was  also  active 
in  promoting  the  various  interests  of  the  school. 

In  1891  several  months  were  spent  in  Europe  in  the 
study  of  Church  History.  In  Italy,  Germany,  France 
and  Great  Britain  he  pursued  his  investigations  and  gath- 
ered much  material  for  his  series  of  lectures  on  “Reform- 
ers Before  the  Reformation.”  These  lectures  on  Savon- 
arola, Hus  and  Wyclif,  were  first  delivered  before  the 
seminary.  They  soon  became  known  at  various  Chau- 
tauqua assemblies,  and  have  since  been  delivered  in 
many  towns  and  cities  of  the  country.  Popular  in  the 
sense  that  they  command  the  closest  attention  and  awak- 
en the  deepest  interest  in  audiences  of  every  character, 
these  lectures  contain  not  a trace  of  charlatanism  and 
sensationalism  which  so  often  characterize  the  platform 
utterances  of  to-day.  They  depend  for  their  popularity 
on  their  solid  merit  alone. 

In  1893  Northwestern  University  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

Called  to  the  presidency  of  Allegheny  College  and  as- 
suming charge  at  the  opening  of  the  current  year,  he  was 
not  long  in  making  his  presence  felt.  His  one  year  in 
this  office  must  speak  for  itself.  Let  only  this  be  said : 
The  auspicious  omens  of  inauguration  day  have  not 
proved  false,  and  none  of  the  hopes  then  inspired  have 
been  disappointed.  This  sketch  is  history  and  not 
prophecy,  else  much  more  would  be  said.  What  is 
prophecy  now  the  historian  of  the  future  may  record. 

An  executive  who  unites  fine  scholarship,  deep  spiritu- 
ality, brilliant  pulpit  and  platform  powers,  winning  per- 
sonality, and  wise  enthusiasm  in  planning  for  the  future, 


* 


Camden  M.  Cobern.  755 

he  has  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  friends  of 
the  college.  With  united  effort  on  the  part  of  all  inter- 
ested, there  can  not  fail  to  be  a decided  advance  in  the 
efficiency  and  reputation  of  the  institution.  This  proph- 
ecy penned  in  1894  has  been  abundantly  fulfilled.  The 
career  of  Dr.  Crawford  as  an  educator  has  become  an 
important  part  of  the  history  of  our  conference — and  of 
the  whole  church  as  well. 

Camden  M.  Cobern. 

Camden  M.  Cobern,  a new  .accession  to  the  faculty  of 
Allegheny  College,  was  graduated  from  this  institution 
in  1876  and  received  from  the  same  institution  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1899.  He  graduated  from 
the  theological  school  of  Boston  University  in  1883. 
During  1889  and  1890  he  pursued  studies  in  Europe. 
He  was  a member  of  the  General  Conference  in  1896, 
and  was  a member  of  the  joint  commission  for  preparing 
a common  hymnal  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  i900-*05. 
He  was  a member  of  the  ninth  International  Congress 
of  Orientalists,  London,  1892.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology  of  London;  a life  asso- 
ciate member  of  Victoria  Institute,  Great  Britain;  and 
sometime  local  honorary  secretary  of  the  Palestine  and 
Egyptian  Exploration  Funds.  Lie  is  the  author  of  “An- 
cient Egypt  in  the  Light  of  Modern  Discoveries,”  “Com- 
mentary on  Ezekiel  and  Daniel,”  “The  Stars  and  the 
Book,”  and  “Bible  Etchings  of  Immortality.”  He  has 
spent  eight . summers  studying  in  the  British  Museum 
and  at  Oxford,  has  contributed  to  leading  theological  and 
archaeological  reviews  of  the  United  States  and  England, 
and  to  Hasting’s  “Dictionary  of  Christ  and  the  Gos- 
pels.” 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ernestine  Craft  in 
1883. 

Dr.  Cobern  has  refused  many  flattering  offers  from 
both  church  and  school,  but,  feeling  that  he  is  especially 
called  to  the  profession  of  teacher  and  author,  has  ac- 
cepted a professorship  in  Allegheny  College,  that  he  may 
give  himself  more  fully  to  his  favorite  pursuits. 


T 


t 


Camden  M.  Cobern.  75 5 

he  has  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  friends  of 
the  college.  With  united  effort  on  the  part  of  all  inter- 
ested, there  can  not  fail  to  be  a decided  advance  in  the 
efficiency  and  reputation  of  the  institution.  This  proph- 
ecy penned  in  1894  has  been  abundantly  fulfilled.  The 
career  of  Dr.  Crawford  as  an  educator  has  become  an 
important  part  of  the  history  of  our  conference — and  of 
the  whole  church  as  well. 

Camden  M.  Cobern. 

Camden  M.  Cobern,  a new  .accession  to  the  faculty  of 
Allegheny  College,  was  graduated  from  this  institution 
in  1876  and  received  from  the  same  institution  the  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1899.  He  graduated  from 
the  theological  school  of  Boston  University  in  1883. 
During  1889  and  1890  he  pursued  studies  in  Europe. 
He  was  a member  of  the  General  Conference  in  1896. 
and  was  a member  of  the  joint  commission  for  preparing 
a common  hymnal  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  i900-'05. 
He  was  a member  of  the  ninth  International  Congress 
of  Orientalists,  London,  1892.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology  of  London ; a life  asso- 
ciate member  of  Victoria  Institute,  Great  Britain ; and 
sometime  local  honorary  secretary  of  the  Palestine  and 
Egyptian  Exploration  Funds.  He  is  the  author  of  ‘‘An- 
cient Egypt  in  the  Light  of  Modern  Discoveries,"  “Com- 
mentary on  Ezekiel  and  Daniel,’’  “The  Stars  and  the 
Book,"  and  "Bible  Etchings  of  Immortality."  He  has 
spent  eight . summers  studying  in  the  British  Museum 
and  at  Oxford,  has  contributed  to  leading  theological  and 
archaeological  reviews  of  the  United  States  and  England, 
and  to  Hasting’s  “Dictionary  of  Christ  and  the  Gos- 
pels.” 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ernestine  Craft  in 
1883. 

Dr.  Cobern  has  refused  many  flattering  offers  from 
both  church  and  school,  but,  feeling  that  he  is  especially 
called  to  the  profession  of  teacher  and  author,  has  ac- 
cepted a professorship  in  Allegheny  College,  that  he  may 
give  himself  more  fully  to  his  favorite  pursuits. 


756 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


H.  C.  Westwood,  W.  H.  Childs,  D.  W.  Thompson. 

Henry  C.  \\  estwood  had  been  connected  with  six  con- 
ferences, and  had  been  connected  with  the  ministry  of 
the  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  churches  before  his 
transfer  to  the  Erie  Conference  in  1888.  He  was  born 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  16,  1830.  He  joined  the 
North  Baltimore  station  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  In  1851 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1852  entered  the  Bal- 
timore Conference.  He  came  to  us  from  the  New  Eng- 
land Southern  Conference  to  supply  Fredonia,  N.  Y., 
left  vacant  by  the  transfer  of  J.  Z Armstrong  to  another 
held  of  labor.  He  served  the  church  at  Fredonia  for 
nearly  three  years.  He  was  called  to  his  eternal  home, 
September  3,  1890. 

“Brother  Westwood  was  an  indefatigable  student  and 
literary  worker,  and  few  men  of  our  church  possessed  a 
wider  or  better  knowledge  of  theology  in  general  than 
he  did.  His  sermons  were  excellent  as  to  logical  arrange- 
ment and  rhetorical  finish,  and  were  delivered  in  an  earn- 
est and  impressive  manner.  Princeton  College  conferred 
upon  him  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Al- 
though apparently  reserved,  he  was  of  a most  genial 
disposition  and  agreeable  manners,  generous  and  warm- 
hearted, winning  friends  wherever  he  went.”  His  death 
seems  to  have  been  caused  by  a slight  attack  of  paralysis 
about  a year  preceding  that  event.  The  evening  before 
his  departure  he  said : “This  has  been  such  a sweet, 

peaceful  day.”  He  went  to  sleep  that  night  in  peace  of 
soul,  and  slept  until  five  o’clock  the  following  morning, 
when  he  awoke,  saying,  “My  head!  My  head!”  In  a 
few  moments  he  was  unconscious,  and  in  an  hour  he 
passed  to  his  heavenly  rest.  His  remains  were  conveyed 
to  Baltimore  and  interred  in  Greenmount  cemetery. 

Wilfred  H.  Childs  was  born  in  Rome  township,  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Pa.,  April  8,  1849.  His  parents  were  devoted 
members  of  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ, 
and  Wilfred  was  converted  in  Oil  Creek  Chapel  in  the 
seventeenth  year  of  his  age.  He  served  the  church  in 
various  capacities,  and  always  with  great  efficiency.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1877,  and  soon  was  sent  to 
circuit  work.  In  1888  he  was  received  on  his  credentials 
by  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  transferred  to  the  St. 
Louis  Conference  in  1891,  hoping  that  a change  would 


Westwood , Childs , Thompson. 


757 


improve  his  declining  health.  Later,  as  a missionary, 
he  did  heroic  and  valuable  work  on  the  frontier  in  New 
Mexico,  Nevada  and  California.  Increased  debility  com- 
pelled him  to  seek  relief  in  a hospital.  Some  months  of 
treatment,  with  painful  operations,  only  revealed  how 
deep-seated  was  the  disease.  By  the  advice  of  his  physi- 
cians he  returned  east,  and  accepted  work  at  Russell,  Pa. 
A few  months  of  work  and  he  again  sought  relief  in  the 
hospital  in  Buffalo.  In  the  spring  of  1900  he  gave  up 
his  work  and  moved  his  family  to  Watts  Flats,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  released  from  years  of  suffering,  March  5, 
1902.  He  greatly  loved  the  church  and  her  doctrines 
and  polity,  and  did  heroic  service  for  the  Master. 

Brother  Childs  was  twice  married.  In  1869  he  mar- 
ried Martha  J.  Waite,  with  whom  he  lived  fifteen  years. 
Three  years  after  her  death  he  married  Cornelia  E. 
Blakeslee.  In  both  marriages  he  was  blessed  with  good 
companions. 

In  his  departure  a good  man  has  gone  to  rest. 

Daniel  Wellwood,  son  of  William  and  Eliza  Thomp- 
son, was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  March  15,  1845.  His 
parents  came  from  Ireland,  and  were  of  old  Methodist 
stock.  Methodist  preachers  always  met  with  a hearty 
welcome  at  their  home.  Daniel  was  the  youngest  of  five 
sons.  He  was  converted  at  an  early  age,  and  immedi- 
ately felt  an  irresistible  call  to  the  holy  ministry.  He 
attended  the  high  school  of  the  city  of  Bradford,  and 
for  more  especial  preparation  for  his  life-work  entered 
Coburg  College.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1868, 
served  Wingham  as  a supply  one  year  and  entered  the 
traveling  connection  in  the  Methodist  Church  of  Canada 
in  1869.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1887,  and  was 
employed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  supply  Panama.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Erie  Conference  on  trial  in  1888, 
and  his  orders  recognized.  The  following  year  he  was 
excused  from  the  course  of  study,  and  in  1890  received 
into  full  connection.  In  1901  he  superannuated  and  pur- 
chased a home  at  Seneca,  Pa.  He  supplied  President 
charge  in  1902,  and  preached  at  Hogue  Hill  from  1903 
until  stricken  with  paralysis,  March  10,  1904,  having 
served  the  church,  including  supply  work,  thirty-five 
years. 


758 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


Horace  G.  Dodds. 

Horace  G.  Dodds  is  the  son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Mary 
A.  Dodds.  He  was  born  in  1857  in  a log  house,  con- 
sisting of  one  room,  and  built  without  the  use  of  a single 
nail,  and  located  in  the  midst  of  the  tall  poplars  of  Scioto 
county,  Ohio,  with  not  an  acre  of  cleared  land  in  sight. 
He  is  the  third  of  six  children.  His  father  was  a man 
of  unusually  strong  patriotic  convictions.  He  served  his 
country  from  the  beginning  till  the  close  of  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  but  was  broken  in  health  by  this  service 
and  died  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  June,  1866,  leaving 
the  family  in  quite  poor  circumstances.  After  the  death 
of  the  father  the  family  returned  to  Butler  county.  Pa., 
where  the  children  had  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
common  schools. 

After  a time  the  mother  married  again,  and  Horace 
lived  with  his  step-father,  Enos  McDonald,  for  four  or 
five  years.  In  1873  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world,  and  during  the  next  four  years  worked 
for  a number  of  the  farmers  near  Prospect,  Pa.  He  then 
served  as  a carpenter’s  apprentice  with  his  brother.  More 
than  a year  was  then  spent  in  the  flour  and  feed  business 
in  Petrolia,  Pa.,  and  nearly  a year  on  the  farm  of  James 
McKnight,  near  Buena  Vista,  Pa. 

In  childhood  his  father  called  him  his  little  preacher, 
and  in  all  his  later  years,  however  sensibly  he  was  led 
to  feel  the  pinch  of  poverty  or  the  sting  of  sin,  the  im- 
pression that  he  must  preach  never  left  him.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  conviction  he  gave  his  heart  to  God  and 
united  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mt.  Chest- 
nut, Pa.,  in  1878. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  he  entered  Pine  Grove  Normal 
Academy,  now  Grove  City  College,  without  sufficient 
funds  to  bear  the  expense  of  a single  term.  But  by  the 
application  of  constant  effort,  close  economy  and  hard 
study  he  graduated  from  this  institution  in  the  scientific 
course  of  study  in  1884.  The  chief  employment  at  which 
he  made  his  way  through  college  was  that  of  teaching. 
In  1885  he  married  Miss  Emma  A.  Burns. 

In  1887  he  was  licensed  as  a local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  having  united  with  that 
church  the  previous  year,  and  preached  his  first  sermon 
on  the  New  Lebanon  Circuit.  The  discourse  was  care- 


Horace  G.  Dodds.  759 

fully  written  and  committed,  and  many  of  the  listeners 
had  the  privilege  of  hearing  it  recited  three  times  without 
the  slightest  variation  on  the  same  day.  In  the  autumn 
of  this  year  he  returned  to  Grove  City  College  to  com- 
plete the  classical  course  of  study.  He  was  soon  ap- 
pointed by  Presiding  Elder  Alfred  Wheeler  to  supply 
the  unexpired  year  of  Richard  M.  Bear  on  the  Volant 
charge.  During  this  year  he  was  pastor  of  a charge  of 
four  appointments,  did  a very  heavy  year’s  work  in 
college,  and  at  the  same  time  did  his  own  cooking  and 
housekeeping,  while  his  wife  taught  a class  in  music  near 
Bradford. 

In  1888,  upon  his  graduation,  he  was  elected  to  a po- 
sition in  the  faculty  of  the  college  and  accepted  on  con- 
dition that  he  be  granted  leave  of  absence  from  college 
work  each  year  a sufficient  time  to  enable  him  to  mirsue 
a course  of  study  in  some  school  of  theology.  He  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference,  the  session  be- 
ing held  this  year  at  Greenville.  The  sermon  by  the 
bishop  on  this  occasion  put  an  end  to  the  longing  of 
young  Dodds  for  a return  to  his  former  Calvinism  and 
fixed  him  firmly  in  the  Methodist  faith.  He  graduated 
from  Drew  Theological  Seminary  in  1892. 

During  his  college  work  he  preached  at  Balm  and 
Chestnut  Ridge,  where  prosperity  attended  his  labors, 
and  money  and  material  were  collected  together  for  a 
new  church  at  Balm. 

In  the  fall  of  1892  he  resigned  his  work  in  the  college 
to  enter  the  ministry  and  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  Fredonia  charge  in  Mercer  county.  Pa.  He  served 
this  appointment  two  years,  and  in  1894  was  appointed 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Epworth  Church,  New  Castle, 
Pa.  During  the  four  years  of  service  in  this  church  ex- 
tensive improvements  were  made  and  the  membership 
largely  increased. 

In  1898  he  was  graduated  from  Grove  City  College 
in  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  at  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  where  the  people  under 
his  leadership  within  two  years  from  the  time  of  his 
arrival  completed  and  dedicated  a fine  stone  church  which 
cost  over  $30,000. 


A. 


760 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


In  1900  his  alma  mater  honored  him  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

The  kindly  leading  of  the  Divine  hand  has  been  clearly 
manifest  in  all  his  past  life,  and  his  experience  teaches 
him  that  God  has  not  yet  lost  the  power  to  make  some- 
thing out  of  nothing. 

Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  July,  1819,  a number  of  ladies  met 
at  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  in  Forsyth  street,  New  York 
City,  and  organized  the  “Female  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,”  with  Mrs.  Thomas 
Mason  as  first  director.  In  their  address  to  the  sisters 
of  the  church,  they  say : “Shall  we,  who  dwell  in  ease  and 
plenty,  whose  tables  are  loaded  with  the  bounties  of  Provi- 
dence, and  whose  persons  are  clothed  with  fine  wrought 
materials  of  the  eastern  loom,  shall  we,  who  sit  under 
the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary,  and  are  blessed  with  the 
stated  ordinances  of  the  house  of  God,  thus  highly,  thus 
graciously  privileged,  shall  we  deny  the  small  subscrip- 
tion solicited,  to  extend  the  bare  necessities  of  life  to  our 
dear  brethren  who  are  spending  their  strength  and  wast- 
ing their  health  in  traversing  dreary  mountains  and  path- 
less forests  to  carry  the  glad  tidings  of  free  salvation  to 
the  scattered  inhabitants  of  the  wilderness?  From  the 
days  of  Joanna,  the  wife  of  Chusa,  and  other  pious  wo- 
men, who  ministered  of  their  substance  to  the  Lord,  to  the 
present  period,  female  charitable  institutions  have  ex- 
perienced the  peculiar  smiles  of  a gracious  Providence. 
We  are  not  called  to  the  more  arduous  employments  of 
active  life  ; we  are  exempted  from  the  toils  and  cares  of 
official  stations  in  the  church;  but  God  has  nevertheless 
required  of  us  that  our  all  should  be  devoted  to  His 
service. 

“Let  us  imitate  the  pious  Phoebe,  who  was  a servant 
of  the  church ; Mary  and  Persis,  who  labored  much  in 
the  Lord;  and  those  other  godly  women  of  the  apostolic 
age  whose  memory  still  lives  in  the  page  of  inspiration; 
let  us  leave  nothing  unattempted  that  promises  to  pro- 
mote the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer’s  Kingdom.” — 
(Historic  Sketches  of  Women's  Missionary  Societies , pp. 

77-78.) 

The  first  minute  book  of  this  society  has  been  scrupu- 


Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 


761 


lously  preserved  in  the  archives  of  our  mission  room  in 
the  record  of  the  first  minute  book  of  the  parent  board. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1848,  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  was 
organized  “The  Ladies’  China  Missionary  Society.”  This 
society,  in  its  time,  did  much  good  work  worthy  of  rec- 
ord. It  will  be  seen  that  the  “Women’s  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society”  had  worthy  predecessors.  A call  for  a 
meeting  of  ladies,  to  be  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Thomas 
A.  Rich,  of  Tremont  Street  Church,  Boston,  in  the  month 
of  March,  1869,  failed  to  reach  the  pulpits  and,  as  a 
consequence,  but  few  persons  were  present.  Another 
meeting  was  held  at  the  church,  March  22,  but,  owing  to 
a furious  storm,  but  nine  persons  were  present.  An  or- 
ganization was  effected  with  Mrs.  Bishop  Osmond  C. 
Baker,  President,  and  Mrs.  B.  J.  Pope,  Recording  Sec- 
retary. The  first  missionary  sent  out  by  this  society 
was  Miss  Isabella  Thoburn.  The  General  Conference  of 
1872  adopted  the  following  resolution: 

“Resolved,  That  we  hereby  recognize  the  Women’s 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  as  an  efficient  agency  in  the 
spread  of  the  gospel,  and  that  we  encourage  our  sisters 
to  prosecute  their  work  with  no  other  restrictions  than 
at  present,  and  that  they  be  permitted  to  publish  their 
report  in  connection  with  the  report  of  the  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.” 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the 
Church  contains  the  following : “To  the  special  and  in- 

finitely wise  Providence  of  God  we  believe  the  church  is 
indebted  for  the  organization  of  this  institution,  which 
we  regard  as  destined  to  be  an  agency  of  great  power 
in  spreading  the  gospel  throughout  India  and  China.  Al- 
though its  origin  is  so  recent,  it  already  has  six  hundred 
auxiliaries,  and  nine  missionaries  in  the  field.  The  funds 
and  resources  are  rapidly  increasing.  It  eminently  de- 
serves the  fostering  care  of  the  whole  church.’’ — ( Gen- 
eral Conference  Journal,  Vol.  VII.,  1872,  pp.  294-432.) 

The  Erie  Conference  was  among  the  first  to  see  the 
importance  of  this  organization.  The  first  organization 
after  the  action  of  the  General  Conference  was  that 
formed  at  Reno,  Pa.,  with  Mrs.  J.  S.  Austin  as  corre- 
sponding secretary,  and  fifty  members.  This  society 
contributed  during  the  year  $231.07.,  the  largest  amount 
in  the  conference.  The  next  largest  amount  was  con- 


762 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


tributed  by  the  society  at  Meadville — $152.21.  Previous 
to  the  action  of  the  General  Conference,  societies  had  been 
organized  at  Sheakleyville,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Smith,  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  and  Espyville,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Collins,  Cor- 
responding Secretary.  Mrs.  Cyrus  Clark  was  made  a 
life  member  in  1871,  the  first  of  a long  list  of  noble 
women. 

Mrs.  Flora  Best  Harris  was  sent  to  Japan  by  the  Mead- 
ville Auxiliary.  Returning  to  this  country  on  account 
of  poor  health,  she  did  efficient  work  in  awakening  new 
interest  in  the  cause.  In  1878  she  again  returned  to  her 
work  in  Japan.  Of  the  farewell  meeting  held  at  Mead- 
ville on  the  Sabbath  evening  previous  to  her  departure, 
it  is  said : “A  crowded  house  listened  to  her  address  on 

the  religions  of  Japan.”  The  Thursday  following  a mis- 
sionary tea  was  served  in  the  parlors  of  “Stone  Church’’ 
amidst  beautiful  decorations,  sweet  music  and  inspiring 
addresses.  In  1874  Miss  Sigourney  Trask,  of  Youngs- 
ville,  Pa.,  was  sent  as  a medical  missionary  to  Foo  Chow, 
China.  In  1890  Dr.  Rachel  R.  Benn,  of  Troy  Center, 
Pa.,  was  sent  to  Tien  Tsen,  China.  In  1895  Dr.  Emma 
D.  Hodge,  of  Greenville,  Pa.,  was  sent  to  Beroda,  India, 
and  in  1897  Miss  Amy  G.  Lewis,  of  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
was  sent  to  Tokio,  Japan,  by  the  Baltimore  branch.  In 
1872  Louise  E.  Blackmar,  of  West  Springfield,  Pa.,*  was 
sent  by  the  Topeka  branch  to  Raipur,  India.  In  1900 
Miss  Mary  E.  Williams,  of  Grove  City,  Pa.,  was  sent  to 
Beroda,  India.  In  1888  Miss  Lillian  Black,  of  Oil  City, 
Pa.,  was  sent  to  Rangoon,  Burmah,  and  later  became  a 
missionary  among  the  Karens. 

The  first  special  work  of  which  any  record  can  be 
found  was  undertaken  in  1886  by  the  Titusville  young 
ladies  in  supporting  Miss  Lucetta  M.  Fradenburgh  at 
Bareilla,  India,  until  her  graduation  and  engagement  as 
a missionary  teacher. 

In  1900  there  were  eighty-four  societies,  with  a mem- 
bership of  two  thousand  and  eleven,  contributing  $6,- 
028.80. 

The  space  at  our  command  will  not  permit  a detailed 
history  of  the  work  of  the  society.  We  may,  however, 
record  a few  of  the  representative  names  who  have  stood 
at  the  forefront  of  the  work  in  our  conference:  Mrs. 

Cyrus  Clark,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Hyde,  Mrs.  Alfred  Wheeler, 


Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  763 


Mrs.  C.  V.  Culver,  Mrs.  E.  J.  L.  Baker,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Tarbell,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Kummer,  Mrs.P.  P.  Austin,  Miss  E.  A. 
Dundam,  Mrs.  Wesley  Chambers,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Showalter, 
Mrs.  D.  S.  Steadman,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Main,  Mrs.  W.  V. 
Hazeltine,  Mrs.  J.  N.  Fradenburgh. 

The  annual  reports  are  full  of  interest.  A single  para- 
graph from  the  twenty-ninth  annual  report — 1900 — 
made  by  Mrs.  W.  V.  Hazeltine,  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary of  the  Erie  Conference  Society,  must  suffice : 

“Trying  to  make  a report  which  will  do  justice  to  the 
individual  auxiliaries  is  like  gathering  up  the  beams  of 
sunshine.  We  have  Marthas  who  are  ‘careful  and 
troubled  about  many  things,’  but  whose  hearts  respond 
to  calls  for  help  and  give  sweet  and  loving  service;  and 
we  have  Marys  who  have  broken  the  box  of  precious 
ointment  and  poured  it  at  the  Master’s  feet.  Whether 
it  be  the  ointment  of  toil,  of  prayer,  of  denial,  or  encour- 
aging words,  of  faithful  performance  of  duty,  of  pov- 
erty, or  of  abundance,  whatsoever  is  brought  ‘in  His 
name,’  and  ‘for  His  sake’  is  equally  acceptable  to  Him. 
As  He  received  and  blessed  the  loaves  and  fishes  of  the 
little  lad,  so  will  He  and  so  has  He  received  and  blessed 
even  the  smallest  gift  when  given  according  to  His  will. 
If  we  could  name  each  society;  tell  how  its  meetings  are 
conducted;  how  its  money  is  raised;  what  fervent  pray- 
ers have  been  offered ; what  information  of  our  work  has 
been  disseminated ; we  might,  in  a small  way,  tell  of  the 
actual  work  of  the  membership;  how  mite  boxes  are  se- 
cured ; public  meetings  addressed  by  -local  talent ; of  the 
interest  taken  by  young  people ; of  the  efforts  of  presi- 
dents to  secure  workers  on  programs ; and  of  treasurers 
to  secure  promised  money;  of  investigation  and  search 
for  news  from  the  field  of  consequent  interest  and  en- 
thusiasm, and  of  hearts  touched  to  give  a little  more  lib- 
erally. These  faithful  workers  come  to  the  aid  of  the 
district  secretaries  in  planning  and  executing  the  pro- 
grams for  their  district  meetings;  they  write  papers 
which  we  wish  we  could  tell  you  about ; take  part  in  the 
discussion  of  important  questions;  help  to  distribute  lit- 
erature, and  in  every  way  help  to  make  the  meetings 
valuable.  To  them  is  due  the  credit  of  the  financial  stand- 
ing of  the  conference.  Pastors  have  welcomed  our  work s 


764  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

in  their  churches,  and  have  given  us  substantial  aid,  es- 
pecially at  evening  services,  by  speaking  for  us.” 

Women's  Home  Missionary  Society. 

Every  crisis  in  history  develops  great  characters — God 
always  has  in  preparation  some  one  to  promote  the  earth 
side  of  His  great  scheme  of  salvation.  So,  when  the 
time  was  ripe  He  placed  the  burden  of  the  home  land  on 
the  hearts  of  a few  Christian  women  whose  interests  in 
corresponding  channels  had  opened  their  eyes  to  the  fact 
that  our  own  land  was  as  much  in  need  of  missionary 
attention  as  any  foreign  country. 

We  have  black  men  just  as  black  as  can  be  found  in 
Africa;  the  Chinese  in  our  large  cities  just  as  pagan  as 
in  China;  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  are  not  a purifying 
process  to  emigrants — they  bring  their  ignorance,  vice 
and  uncleanness  along  with  them;  and  Utah,  with  her 
wanton  effrontery  puts  our  whole  nation  to  shame  while 
we  are  considering  the  ethical  reform  of  the  zenana  and 
harem  of  the  Orient. 

No  land  offers  better  conditions  for  missionary  enter- 
prise. Bishop  Vincent  is  reported  as  saying : “Our  own 
coasts  are  crowded  with  the  foreign  subjects  we  cross 
the  sea  to  seek  and  save.”  Bishop  Taylor  said:  “For 

every  missionary  sent  abroad  God  has  sent  ten  thousand 
heathen  to  our  own  land.” 

Every  new  idea  confronts  discouragements,  but  when 
the  Lord  is  back  of  a great  enterprise  it  is  sure  of  a suc- 
cessful outcome.  In  great  “travail  of  soul”  those  heroic 
women  insisted  and  persisted  until  it  was  no  longer 
merely  an  idea  but  a living,  organized  body — baptized 
with  many  prayers  and  tears  and  named  “The  Wo- 
man’s Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.” 

Working  under  the  thorough  system  of  the  present 
organization  we  can  scarcely  appreciate  the  labors  of 
those  pioneer  women. 

As  soon  as  organized  the  cause  was  presented  at  sev- 
eral conferences,  and  on  September  25,  1880,  at  the 
Erie  Conference  held  at  Corry,  Pa.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  L. 
Rust  organized  the  “Erie  Conference  Woman’s  Home 
Missionary  Society.” 


Women’s  Home  Missionary  Society.  765 

The  women  of  Erie  Conference  are  excusable  if  some- 
what inflated  with  pride  at  the  thought  that  ours  was  the 
first  conference  organization. 

From  its  very  inception  the  success  of  the  movement 
proclaims  its  Divine  guidance. 

The  primary  thought  of  the  society  was  to  help  the 
colored  people  and  poor  whites  in  the  South. 

God  implanted  that  purpose  as  a seed-thought  and  like 
the  grain  of  mustard  seed  it  grew  and  flourished  until 
its  branches  spread  to  every  part  of  our  “ain  countrie.” 
Like  Ezekiel’s  vision,  it  is  “a  body  full  of  eyes” — so 
there  is  not  a social  condition  in  our  land  that  is  not 
under  the  eye  of  the  Woman’s  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety. Italians,  Bohemians,  Japanese,  Chinese — all  na- 
tions are  wards  of  the  W.  H.  M.  S. 

Erie  Conference  has  kept  pace  with  the  great  strides 
of  the  society.  We  work  along  all  lines:  Industrial 

homes  and  schools  in  the  South — scholarships,  special 
fund — like  loyal  daughters  we  meet  every  request  of  the 
mother  society.  We  contributed  largely  to  Rust  Hall. 
Bennett  Home  honored  us  by  naming  a room,  “Erie  Con- 
ference Parlor."  We  more  than  met  our  apportionment 
of  the  Twentieth  Century  Fund. 

The  first  year  our  conference  society  was  hardly  in 
good  working  order,  but  in  the  second  year  the  executive 
board  so  systematized  the  work  that  there  has  since  been 
a marked  progress. 

In  1880  the  first  auxiliary  in  our  conference  was  or- 
ganized at  Reno,  Pa.,  the  home  of  Mrs.  C.  V.  Culver, 
who  was  a charter  member. 

The  first  conference  officers  were  as  follows : Presi- 

dent, Mrs.  E.  J.  L.  Baker;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  W.  P. 
Bignell;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  C.  V.  Culver. 
Mrs.  Culver  performed  double  duty  until  1885,  when 
Mrs.  F.  H.  Beck  was  elected  Treasurer. 

Mrs.  Baker  occupied  the  presidency  for  twenty  years. 
With  the  encroachments  of  age  the  burden  became  too 
great,  and  after  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  lay  aside 
the  mantle  that  fitted  her  so  well  the  society  very  re- 
gretfully accepted  her  resignation,  retaining  her  as  hon- 
orary president. 


49 


1 


766  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

Mrs.  Baker  died  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  January  29,  1902. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  held  in  Cincinnati,  October, 
1882,  our  conference  secretary,  Mrs.  Culver,  reported  12 
auxiliaries,  287  annual  members,  three  life  members. 
Financial  statement:  $482.85;  supplies,  $100.50;  total, 
$583*35-  October,  1903,  our  secretary,  Mrs.  Clark,  car- 
ried to  the  annual  meeting  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  the 
following  report:  73  auxiliaries,  1,914  annual  mem- 

bers. Add  to  this  members  of  circles,  bands  and  jewels, 
676 — total,  2,590;  198  life  members,  7 honorary  man- 
agers, 1 honorary  patron,  644  subscriptions  to  Woman's 
Home  Missions,  396  Children’s  Home  Missions.  Finan- 
cial statement:  Cash  sent  treasurer,  $3,841.15;  supplies, 

$3,847.26;  total  for  fiscal  year  ending  July  31,  1903, 
$7,688.41. — ( Contributed  by  Mrs.  R.  N.  Stubbs.) 

A few  Methodists  had  moved  from  Sullivan  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  made  their  homes  in  the  village  of  Rolfe. 
They  soon  began  to  hold  meetings  in  a school  house.  A. 
C.  Goodrich,  while  pastor  at  Ridgway — 1882-' 84 — 
preached  for  them  occasionally.  In  1888  J.  E.  Brown 
was  appointed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  supply  the  work. 
During  the  year  a “Union  Church”  was  built  and  a 
Methodist  class  organized.  Just  at  the  time  when  Edd 
Platt  was  appointed  to  the  work,  the  town  of  Johnson- 
burg  sprang  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  he  be- 
gan to  hold  services  in  the  new  village  in  a little  school 
house.  A tabernacle  was  then  built  to  accommodate  all 
the  churches ; later  services  were  held  in  a hall  on  the 
third  floor  of  the  Zierden  block.  In  1893  Clinton  Jones 
succeeded  in  erecting  a Methodist  Chapel.  A good  par- 
sonage was  also  built.  A commodious  church  edifice  was 
erected  under  the  pastorate  of  J.  H.  Jelbart,  and  dedi- 
cated May  19,  1901. 

Clarion  District  and  Clarion  Methodism. 

The  first  settlements  made  within  the  bounds  of  Clar- 
ion District  were  at  the  locating  of  land  warrants  by  the 
Peters,  Holland,  Bingham  and  Pickering  Land  compa- 
nies, between  1792  and  1794.  One  of  the  first  white 
settlers  was  Joseph  Barnett,  who  came  into  the  vicinity 
of  Brookville  in  1797.  In  1806  or  1807  John  and  Nancy 
Range  removed  from  Maryland  to  the  present  “Bill 
Neely  farm,”  near  Bortalph’s  Corners  on  the  Clarion 


Clarion  District  and  Clarion  Methodism.  767 

river.  “As  far  as  known,  Nancy  Range  was  the  first 
Methodist  to  settle  within  our  bounds.”  In  1808  Henry 
and  Sarah  Myers,  both  Methodists,  came  from  Mary- 
land and  built  a grist  mill  on  the  Clarion,  near  Alum 
Rock.  Rev.  F.  A.  Montjar  preached  at  Mr.  Myers'  and 
“Billy  Youngs,”  between  Clarion  and  Strattonville.  Mr. 
Young’s  house  was  a regular  preaching  place  for  some 
years.  In  1812  William  Connelly,  a local  preacher, 
preached  at  Father  Harrells’  and  Monks  in  Curllsville. 
At  about  the  same  time  the  preachers  of  the  Mahoning 
Circuit  held  services  along  the  southern  border.  In  the 
summer  of  1814  or  1815  Christopher  Frye,  presiding 
elder  of  the  Monongahela  District,  and  James  Wilson, 
preacher  on  the  Mahoning  Circuit,  held  a protracted 
meeting  at  the  home  of  Henry  Benn  in  Curllsville.  Nancy 
A.  Burns,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Myers,  Jr., 
joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1823.  Her 
parents  did  all  they  could  to  prevent  her  becoming  a 
Methodist.  “Her  desire  to  join  the  church  ended  in  her 
walking  alone  from  her  home  on  the  Clarion,  carrying 
her  baby  all  the  way,  over  a slippery  road,  in  winter,  ten 
miles  to  a quarterly  meeting  held  by  Dennis  B.  Dorsey 
and  T.  M.  Hudson  at  Armstrong  school  house.  She 
reached  the  place  by  running  part  of  the  way,  just  in 
time  to  hear  Brother  Dorsey  announce  for  his  text, 
‘Alexander,  the  coppersmith,  did  me  much  harm.'  " — 
(C.  W.  Darrozv,  in  the  District  Methodist,  V ol.  I.,  1888 , 
No.  1.) 

The  first  church  erected  in  Clarion  county  was  on  the 
site  of  the  Seceders  Church,  near  Mechanicsville — the 
date  about  1808.  It  was  called  “Rehoboth.”  At  an 
early  date  the  German  Reformed  Church  erected  a house 
of  worship  near  Jefferson.  The  Methodists  were  the 
next  in  the  field.  B.  F.  Delo  writes:  ‘ From  the  most 

reliable  information  to  be  obtained,  it  appears  that  the 
first  preaching  place  and  the  organization  of  a society  of 
Methodists  was  at  Mr.  Young's,  on  the  turnpike,  two 
miles  east  of  Clarion.  This  was  thirty  years  before  the 
town  of  Clarion  was  thought  of.  About  the  same  time 
a preaching  point  was  established  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Henry  Myers,  in  what  was  called  the  ‘loop,’  near  the 
present  site  of  Martin’s  mill,  on  the  Clarion  river.  The 


■■M 


Camp  Meetings.  769 

other  places  of  preaching  at  this  early  date  are  given  as 
‘Liester’s,  John  Lawson’s,  Stoner’s  and  Harolds’.” 
Francis  Asbury  Montjar  preached  in  the  vicinity  of 
Clarion  possibly  as  early  as  1809.  The  first  appointment 
to  this  territory  was  made  by  the  Baltimore  Conference. 
Clarion  appears  in  the  minutes  as  a circuit  in  1831.  Job 
Wilson  was  the  first  preacher  on  this  circuit  and  did 
heroic  work  for  the  Master.  The  first  class  was  organ- 
ized in  1840,  with  John  R.  Clover  as  leader.  In  1841 
“Clarion”  appears  among  the  Erie  Conference  appoint- 
ments, and  H.  M.  Stearns  was  sent  to  the  work.  The 
first  church  building  was  commenced  in  1843,  dedicated 
the  following  year,  and  incorporated  in  1851.  There 
were  notable  revivals  in  1842,  1850  and  1851.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  the  cornerstone  of  the  present  edifice  was 
laid,  and  the  church  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives, 
D.D.,  August  25,  1889.  The  total  cost  of  building  and 
parsonage,  with  che  lot,  was  $35,000,  of  which  $10,000 
remained  to  be  raised.  On  the  day  of  dedication  this 
amount  was  subscribed  and  eighty-three  probationers  were 
received  into  full  membership.  Services  were  held 
throughout  the  week  of  dedication,  closing  with  the 
Lord’s  Supper  on  the  first  day  of  September.  The  church 
is  built  of  native  sandstone,  and  is  104x75  feet,  with  a 
tower  84  feet  high,  in  which  hangs  a bell  weighing  1,458 
pounds.  The  style  of  architecture  is  Roman  and  the 
outer  walls  are  so  broken  up  by  angles  and  circles  as  to 
present  a most  beautiful  appearance.  A fine  stone  par- 
sonage, adjoining  the  church,  has  recently  been  erected 
at  a cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars. 

Camp  Meetings. 

B.  F.  Delo  was  appointed  the  presiding  elder  of  the 
Clarion  District  in  1876,  and  the  next  year  held  a camp 
meeting  at  Cherry  Run.  The  gates  were  open  on  the 
Sabbath  day  and  the  great  multitude  were  invited  to 
attend.  Ten  thousand  people  were  present.  Nearly  all 
of  the  preachers  of  the  district  were  there.  There  was 
considerable  complaint  about  the  location,  and  Samuel 
Wilson,  of  Strattonville,  said  he  had  a better  place.  A 
meeting  of  those  interested  was  called  to  form  a District 
Camp  Meeting  Association  and  to  select  a location.  This 
resulted  in- the  purchase  of  the  ground  at  Strattonville. 


M.  E.  Church  and  Parsonage,  Clarion,  Pa 


II 


Camp  Meetings.  769 

other  places  of  preaching  at  this  early  date  are  given  as 
‘Liester’s,  John  Lawson’s,  Stoner's  and  Harolds’.” 
Francis  Asbury  Mont  jar  preached  in  the  vicinity  of 
Clarion  possibly  as  early  as  1809.  The  first  appointment 
to  this  territory  was  made  by  the  Baltimore  Conference. 
Clarion  appears  in  the  minutes  as  a circuit  in  1831.  Job 
Wilson  was  the  first  preacher  on  this  circuit  and  did 
heroic  work  for  the  Master.  The  first  class  was  organ- 
ized in  1840,  with  John  R.  Clover  as  leader.  In  1841 
“Clarion”  appears  among  the  Erie  Conference  appoint- 
ments, and  H.  M.  Stearns  was  sent  to  the  work.  The 
first  church  building  was  commenced  in  1843,  dedicated 
the  following  year,  and  incorporated  in  1851.  There 
were  notable  revivals  in  1842,  1850  and  1851.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  the  cornerstone  of  the  present  edifice  was 
laid,  and  the  church  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives, 
D.D.,  August  25,  1889.  The  total  cost  of  building  and 
parsonage,  with  che  lot,  was  $35,000,  of  which  $10,000 
remained  to  be  raised.  On  the  day  of  dedication  this 
amount  was  subscribed  and  eighty-three  probationers  were 
received  into  full  membership.  Services  were  held 
throughout  the  week  of  dedication,  closing  with  the 
Lord’s  Supper  on  the  first  day  of  September.  The  church 
is  built  of  native  sandstone,  and  is  104x75  feet,  with  a 
tower  84  feet  high,  in  which  hangs  a bell  weighing  1,458 
pounds.  The  style  of  architecture  is  Roman  and  the 
outer  walls  are  so  broken  up  by  angles  and  circles  as  to 
present  a most  beautiful  appearance.  A fine  stone  par- 
sonage, adjoining  the  church,  has  recently  been  erected 
at  a cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars. 

Camp  Meetings. 

B.  F.  Delo  was  appointed  the  presiding  elder  of  the 
Clarion  District  in  1876,  and  the  next  year  held  a camp 
meeting  at  Cherry  Run.  1 he  gates  were  open  on  the 
Sabbath  day  and  the  great  multitude  were  invited  to 
attend.  Ten  thousand  people  were  present.  Nearly  all 
of  the  preachers  of  the  district  were  there.  There  was 
considerable  complaint  about  the  location,  and  Samuel 
Wilson,  of  Strattonville,  said  he  had  a better  place.  A 
meeting  of  those  interested  was  called  to  form  a District 
Camp  Meeting  Association  and  to  select  a location.  This 
resulted  in*  the  purchase  of  the  ground  at  Strattonville. 


770 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  first  meeting  on  these  grounds  was  held  in  1878.  A 
fine  cottage,  erected  for  that  purpose,  afforded  ample 
accommodations  for  the  preachers.  On  Sunday  about 
seven  thousand  people  were  present.  The  order  was  ex- 
cellent, the  preaching  evangelistic,  and  the  conversions 
many. 

At  the  camp  meeting  at  Cherry  Run  in  1880  the  trus- 
tees decided  to  close  the  gates  at  ten-thirty  Sunday  morn- 
ing. The  audience  that  morning  numbered  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred.  Mr.  Delo  was  preaching,  and 
when  he  had  fairly  entered  upon  his  discourse  a loud 
crash  startled  the  congregation  and  many  of  the  audi- 
ence rose  to  their  feet.  Mr.  Delo,  instinctively  recogniz- 
ing the  cause  of  the  disturbance,  called  out : “He  that 
meddleth  with  a quarrel  not  his  own  is  like  him  that 
taketh  a dog  by  the  ears.”  The  audience  became  quiet 
and  he  finished  his  discourse  without  further  interrup- 
tion. It  was  found  that  one  of  the  gates  had  been  broken 
down  by  those  who  came  late  to  the  service. 

The  meetings  at  Strattonville  were  productive  of  the 
best  spiritual  result. 

Under  the  administration  of  David  Latshaw  the  dis- 
trict association  at  Strattonville  became  an  assembly, 
after  the  Chautauqua  plan.  Bishops  Andrews  and  Tho- 
burn  both  remarked  to  Mr.  Delo  that  this  was  a mistake, 
and  the  grounds  should  have  been  kept  for  purely  evan- 
gelistic purposes.  Gates  were  closed  on  Sunday,  the  au- 
diences dwindled  into  small  proportions,  the  assembly 
was  involved  in  debt  by  the  erection  of  a large  auditor- 
ium, and  the  end  came — the  property  was  sold  on  the 
mortgage  for  its  debt. 

The  administration  at  Cherry  Run  surrendered  its  di- 
rection to  the  district  conference,  the  three  circuits  giv- 
ing up  their  control.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  fairly 
successful  in  its  line  of  work. 

Beginning  in  1844  the  iron  interests  in  Clarion  county 
became  of  great  importance.  In  1850  there  were  thirty- 
two  blast  furnaces  for  the  manufacture  of  pig  iron,  and 
at  nearly  all  of  these  Methodist  preachers  held  services. 
At  Jefferson  Furnace  a small  church  building  was  erected, 
but  when  the  furnace  was  abandoned,  the  church  ceased 
to  be  of  use.  There  is  standing  at  present  at  East  Fox- 
burg  the  building  erected  in  those  days.  A church  was 


Parker's  Landing  Methodism.  771 

dedicated  at  Mariasville,  Venango  county,  at  the  Clar- 
ion county  line,  July  4,  1855.  This  church  belonged  to 
Franklin  District.  The  class  at  Jefferson  Furnace  was 
incorporated  with  that  at  Mount  Joy.  The  Polk  Fur- 
nace class  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Monroe  Church  on 
Sligo  charge. 

"Two  Feet/' 

“In  early  times  on  Shippenville  Circuit,  as  elsewhere 
in  Pennsylvania,  whisky  was  first  among  disturbing  ele- 
ments. Plenty  of  little  distilleries  had  crept  into  every 
neighborhood,  and  among  the  community  of  furnacemen 
and  lumbermen  it  fomented  a plentiful  crop  of  disturb- 
ance and  woe.  Rev.  James  Shields,  who  had  previously 
preached  on  the  circuit,  wTas  driving  down  the  pike  from 
Clarion  with  another  minister  in  his  buggy,  and  as  he 
struck  the  top  of  the  hill  looking  down  into  Shippenville, 
he  drew  up  more  tightly  the  lines,  cracked  his  whip  at 
his  jade,  and  went  spinning  down  through  the  town. 
Looking  straight  ahead  he  still  urged  his  horse  to 
greater  speed.  The  minister  by  his  side  became  alarmed, 
thinking  Brother  Shields  was  going  mad,  and  inquired, 
‘What  in  the  world  is  the  matter,  Brother  Shields?’  Not 
a word  could  he  get  out  of  Brother  Shields,  but  his  ‘go 
along  there’  to  his  horse,  already  going  at  a rapid  gait, 
until  they  reached  the  down  hill  near  Baker’s  grist  mill, 
when  Shields  replied,  ‘Two  feet.’  ‘What  do  you  mean 
by  “Two  feet?’  ” inquired  his  companion.  ‘Why,’  says 
Rev.  Shields,  ‘don’t  you  know  that  hell  is  only  two  feet 
below  the  surface  in  the  middle  of  Shippenville?’  We 
are  glad  to  be  able  to  state,  in  connection  with  the  above, 
that  to-day  there  is  not  a more  sober  town  in  Pennsylva- 
nia than  Shippenville.” — (M.  E.  Hess , c‘The  District 
Methodist Vol.  IV.,  1891,  No.  10.) 

. Parker's  Landing  Methodism. 

In  1836  D.  C.  Richey  was  appointed  to  the  Lawrence- 
burg  Mission.  The  work  was  continued  until  1841,  when 
the  appointment  disappears  from  the  records.  In  1859 
M.  S.  Adams,  a local  preacher,  held  a series  of  meetings, 
resulting  in  a goodly  number  of  conversions.  A class 
was  formed  with  Elisha  Myers  as  leader,  and  Lawrence- 
burg  became  an  appointment  on  North  Washington  Cir- 


772  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

cuit.  We  take  the  following  from  an  old  church  recoid: 

“At  the  session  of  Erie  Annual  Conference  held  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  September  14-19,  1870,  Parker’s  Land- 
ing was  constituted  a charge  by  itself  under  the  name  of 
‘Lawrenceburg  station,’  and  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Crane  ap- 
pointed pastor.  A beautiful  lot  situated  on  Washing- 
ton street,  was  secured  by  deed  and  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice  40  by  60  feet,  was  commenced  September 
22,  1870. 

“On  the  evening  of  January  4,  1871,  the  ladies  of  our 
congregation  held  a festival  in  the  unfinished  church,  the 
proceeds  to  aid  in  building  and  furnishing  the  church. 
The  enterprise  was  a success  and  $640  net  cash  was 
realized  for  the  purpose  specified. 

“The  church  was  dedicated  January  15,  1871,  by  Rev. 
I.  C.  Pershing,  D.D.,  who  conducted  the  service  in  a very 
able  and  efficient  manner.  Notwithstanding  a severe  rain- 
storm continued  unceasingly  from  Saturday  morning  till 
Monday  morning,  leaving  us  with  less  than  one-third 
of  a congregation,  the  first  call  for  material  aid  was  re- 
sponded to  most  nobly  by  pledges  to  the  amount  of 
$1,578,  a sum  sufficient  to  meet  all  liabilities. 

“During  a series  of  meetings  commenced  by  a tem- 
perance lecture  at  Robinson’s,  January  18,  followed  by 
religious  services  which  were  later  transferred 
to  Lawrenceburg,  the  Lord  blessed  the  instrumental- 
ities used  and  favored  this  charge  with  a gracious 
outpouring  of  His  Holy  Spirit.  1 he  hearts  of  be- 
lievers were  revived  and  blessed,  backsliders  were  re- 
claimed and  once  more  sat  at  Jesus’  feet,  testifying,  'He 
restoreth  my  soul,’  while  a great  company  of  sinners 
were  converted  to  God  through  the  saving  grace  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  giving  testimony  to  the  fact  'He  hath 
power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins.’  Eighty-six  gave  their 
names  to  the  church  here,  and  many  more  who  were 
happily  converted  and  went  on  their  way  rejoicing  to 
join  the  church  and  work  in  the  Master’s  vineyard  else- 
where as  duty  and  business  called  them.  'This  is  the 
Lord’s  doing  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes.’  ’’ 

In  1879  the  name  was  changed  to  “Parker  City,”  and 
later  “Parker’s  Landing.”  During  this  year,  under  the 
labors  of  E.  D.  McCreary,  two  hundred  were  added  to 
the  membership  of  the  church. 


L.  O.  McElhattan,  J.  W . Wakefield.  773 

There  had  been  Methodist  services  in  the  Elisha  Rob- 
inson neighborhood — at  first  in  a house  still  standing 
near  Mr.  Robinson’s  present  residence,  and  later  in  the 
school  house — from  the  beginning.  In  1904  Mr.  Robin- 
son built,  on  his  own  land,  a very  fine  stone  church,  per- 
fect in  all  its  appointments,  at  a total  cost  of  about 
$17,000.  This  has  been  made  a station,  and  is  a most 
beautiful  Methodist  home  for  God’s  people  in  that  vicin- 
ity. A fine  parsonage  has  since  been  erected. 

L.  O.  McElhattan,  J.  W.  Wakefield. 

Levi  O.  McElhattan  was  born  near  Mt.  Joy,  Clarion 
county,  Pa.,  October  10,  1857.  He  was  converted  in 
1874,  and  immediately  engaged  in  the  activities  of  Chris- 
tian service.  He  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Hahn  in  1877. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1890,  and  the  same  year  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was  appointed 
to  Putneyville  charge,  which  he  served  five  years ; he 
was  then  sent  to  Glen  Hazel.  Though  with  impaired 
health,  he  entered  upon  his  work  with  enthusiasm,  afid 
soon  won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  people.  His 
overtaxed  frame  broke  in  the  midst  of  his  labors,  and 
on  the  25th  day  of  May,  1896,  the  wheels  of  life  stood 
still,  and  the  good  man  found  rest.  He  was  a true  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ,  a good  preacher,  a faithful  pastor. 

Peter  Wakefield,  the  grandfather  of  John  Wesley 
Wakefield,  came  to  this  country  from  England  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  in  which  he  took  part,  and  settled 
in  New  Hampshire.  He  married  Kezia  Burns,  full  cou- 
sin of  Robert  Burns.  He  was  so  strong  in  the  Universal- 
ist  faith  that  he  named  his  first-born  son  Elhanan  Win- 
chester, after  the  celebrated  Universalist  divine,  but  at  a 
later  period  he  became  so  strong  a Methodist  that  he 
named  the  son  of  Elhanan,  the  first  born  after  his  revolt 
from  Universal  ism,  John  Wesley.  The  authorities  of 
New  Hampshire,  which  then  supported  the  state  church, 
levied  a tax  for  church  purposes.  This  Peter  W akefield 
refused  to  pay  and  was  cast  into  prison.  After  some 
time,  much  against  his  own  wishes,  his  neighbors  paid 
the  tax  and  he  was  released.  “This  started  an  agitation 
which  eventually  resulted  in  the  separation  of  church 
and  state.” 

The  grandparents  of  John  \\  esley  moved  into  what  is 


774 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


now  Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  in  1806,  where  Elhanan 
grew  up  to  manhood.  He  was  converted  at  a Methodist 
revival,  and  soon  appointed  class  leader.  He  married 
Candice  Gillette,  a lady  of  French  descent. 

The  earliest  impressions  of  John  Wesley  Wakefield 
were  religious,  and  his  call  to  the  ministry  was  in  early 
boyhood.  He  was  converted  in  his  fourteenth  year,  “as 
were  his  four  brothers  and  four  sisters.”  Three  of  his 
brothers  became  local  preachers,  and  the  fourth  a great 
worker  in  the  church.  His  school  opportunities  were 
limited,  but  he  so  diligently  occupied  his  spare  time  in 
study  that  he  acquired  a large  store  of  knowledge.  Hard 
work  disciplined  him  for  the  hardships  of  the  itinerancy. 

Mr.  Wakefield  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  quarterly 
meeting  held  in  New  Zion  Church,  Gallia  Circuit,  Ohio 
Conference,  in  1857,  and  was  received  on  trial  by  the 
same  conference  the  same  year.  He  was  received  by 
transfer  into  the  Erie  Conference  in  1890. 

Mr.  Wakefield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria 
R>.  Yallette  while  traveling  the  Richmondale  Circuit  in 
the  early  part  of  his  ministry.  While  pastor  of  the  Sea- 
men’s Bethel,  Erie,  Pa.,  his  wife  died,  and  two  years 
later  he  married  Mrs.  Ann  J.  Welch,  who  also  preceded 
him  to  the  better  land. 

He  took  a superannuate  relation  in  1902,  but  since 
this  date  he  has  been  very  busy  in  Christian  work  in  the 
Erie  and  the  Missouri  Conferences.  He  has  seen  three 
thousand  souls  converted  during  his  ministry,  and  thir- 
teen of  these  have  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

He  died  at  Carthage,  Mo.,  April  13,  1907. 

Charles  L.  Pappenhagen,  James  Riveous  Burrows. 

Charles  L.  Pappenhagen  comes  to  us  as  a gift  from 
Germany.  He  was  born  near  Hamburg,  December  31, 
1853.  At  the  age  of  three  years  he  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  near  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  His 
early  school  life  was  limited  to  about  five  years.  His 
father  entered  the  army  in  1863,  and  shortly  afterward 
died  in  Annapolis  Hospital.  Charles  being  the  eldest 
child,  was  compelled,  when  ten  years  of  age,  to  work  to 
help  his  mother  support  the  family.  A thirst  for  knowl- 
edge led  him  to  employ  all  his  spare  moments  in  study. 
While  learning  the  boilermaking  business  in  Meadville, 


C.  L.  Pappenhagen,  J.  R.  Burrows. 


775 


to  which  the  family  moved  in  1863,  he  attended  a night 
school.  After  working  at  his  trade  several  years  he  en- 
tered Allegheny  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 

1881. 

In  early  life  Charles  felt  that  he  was  called  to  preach 
the  gospel,  and  this  conviction  never  left  him,  but  the 
call  became  more  and  more  imperative.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1871. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1881,  and  was  received  on 
trial  by  the  North  Ohio  Conference  in  1891 ; the  next 
year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Erie  Conference.  He  was 
twice  married.  He  married  Miss  Ella  Burroughs  in 

1882.  She  died  in  1892,  and  a year  later  he  married 
Miss  Mary  L.  Abell. 

James  Riveous  Burrows,  son  of  William  and  Eppy  N. 
Burrows,  was  born  near  New  Vernon,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
February  15,  1864.  He  attended  the  district  school, 
working,  after  he  had  reached  the  age  of  ten  years,  on 
the  farm  in  summer.  He  graduated  from  the  McElwain 
Institute  at  New  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1887.  He  was  con- 
verted at  a revival  meeting  held  at  New  Vernon  during 
the  pastorate  of  J.  A.  Ward,  and  united  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  parents  were  mem- 
bers. 

From  childhood  James  felt  that  his  life-work  would 
be  that  of  the  ministry,  and  after  conversion  he  struggled 
long  against  this  strengthened  conviction  and  kept  it  all 
a secret  in  his  own  heart.  Through  the  urgency  of  his 
pastors,  R.  A.  Buzza  and  W.  A.  Merriam,  and  the 
church,  he  was  finally  prevailed  upon  to  accept  a local 
preacher’s  license.  This  was  given  in  1887.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Grove  City  College  in  1893.  In  I^9I  he  sup- 
plied Corduroy,  Elk  county — a lumber  camp  and  oil  re- 
gion— organizing  Sunday  schools  and  preaching  places 
in  school  houses  in  the  neighborhood.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  what  was  known  for  several  years  as  the 
“Corduroy”  charge.  During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1891- 
’92  he  supplied  the  work  at  Balm  and  Chestnut  Ridge, 
near  Grove  City.  He  was  ordained  deacon,  having  com- 
pleted the  local  preacher’s  course  of  study,  in  1893,  anc* 
the  same  year  was  received  on  trial  -in  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence. He  then  entered  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1896. 


rr- 


I 


776  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E.  Daugherty, 
of  Grove  City,  in  1897. 

Mr.  Burrows  died  in  Spartansburg,  March  17,  1907. 

Mr.  Burrows  was  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  busi- 
ness ability.  To  him  there  opened  unsought,  flattering 
opportunities  to  make  money.  T his  quality  enabled  him 
to  provide  the  means  for  his  own  education;  he  was  a 
self-made  man.  While  he  enjoyed  rare  gifts  in  this  di- 
rection, nothing  could  lead  him  to  swerve  from  his  pur- 
pose to  obey  the  voice  which  called  him  to  the  work  of 
the  Christian  ministry.  He  was  a thoroughly  consecrated 
good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost ; an  ardent  foe  of 
the  saloon  power,  a firm  believer  in  Methodist  doctrine 
and  polity,  an  ardent  lover  of  manhood,  and  a practical 
shepherd  of  souls.  He  was  a man  whose  life  preached 
even  louder  than  his  lips,  and  one  whose  fidelity  to  the 
principles  of  integrity  wTas  regarded  as  almost  heioic. 

D.  E.  Baldwin,  T.  C.  Beach. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Darius  E.  Baldwin  was 
Josiah  Baldwin,  a New  England  physician,  who  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Burr,  whose  brother,  Rev. 
Aaron  Burr,  D.D.,  was  president  of  Princeton  College, 
and  the  father  of  Aaron  Burr,  third  vice  president  of 
the  United  States.  The  father  of  Darius,  Alonzo  Bald- 
win, married  Eliza  Carrier  and  settled  in  I roy,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Pa.  Darius  was  born  July  31,  1841.  The  town 
is  now  called  Summerville,  from  his  uncle,  Summers  Bald- 
win, who  surveyed  the  site.  Mr.  Baldwin  enlisted  in  the 
Eleventh  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry  in  1861,  and 
served  three  years.  His  education  was  limited  to  what 
the  common  schools  afforded. 

He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  found  the  skill 
gained  in  this  work  very  useful  when  in  his  work  in  the 
northwest  he  had  no  money  to  pay  for  shoeing  his  horse 
or  repairing  his  buggy. 

His  mother  was  a “shouting  Methodist,  and  he  was 
converted  under  her  influence  in  early  boyhood.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  E.  Cable,  of 
Dayton,  Pa.,  June  23,  1867.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Clarion  District  Conference  in  1884,  his  license 
bearing  the  signature  of  P.  P.  Pinney.  He  then  engaged 
in  revival  work  until  1887,  when  he  went  to  North  Da- 


D.  E.  Baldwin , T.  C.  Beach. 


777 


kota  and  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  North  Dakota  Con- 
ference in  1888.  His  work  in  this  conference  was  full  of 
privations,  exposures,  trials,  and  yet  glorious  triumphs. 
He  was  in  the  thick  of  the  fight  to  enforce  the  prohibition 
law,  his  house  was  attacked  by  a mob,  he  was  compelled 
to  handle  a saloonkeeper  “roughly”  who  attempted  to 
“punish”  a prohibition  lawyer  who  was  walking  by  his 
side;  he  visited  the  east  several  times  to  solicit  aid  for 
the  famishing  people  when  their  crops  failed ; he  begged 
lumber  and  other  material  to  help  build  churches  and 
parsonages,  and  left  new  or  repaired  churches  and  par- 
sonages behind  him  everywhere  he  went.  He  enjoyed 
gracious  revivals  and  endeared  himself  to  the  hearts  of 
the  people.  Upon  his  transfer  to  the  Erie  Conference  in 
1897  he  continued  the  same  successful  work  of  building 
wherever  he  went.  At  the  present  writing  he  has  nearly 
thirty  churches  and  parsonages  to  his  credit. 

Theodore  Charles  Beach  was  born  at  Bristol,  Conn., 
February  21,  1841.  His  parents  were  strict  Methodists, 
as  their  parents  were  before  them,  and  so  he  came  hon- 
estly by  his  enthusiastic  Methodist  principles.  From  his 
childhood  he  attended  the  various  services  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  After  graduating  from  a high 
school  he  attended  Wilbraham  Academy,  Mass.,  where 
he  made  his  preparation  for  college.  He  earned  his  own 
money  to  pay  his  bills  by  working  in  the  clock  shops  in 
his  own  town,  which  was  then  the  great  seat  of  clock 
business  in  the  country.  At  Wilbraham  he  boarded  him- 
self, living  on  crackers  and  milk,  as  he  also  did  at  a later 
period  at  Middletown.  This  only  shows  that  a boy  who 
is  worth  his  salt  and  craves  an  education  can  get  it.  He 
graduated  at  Wesleyan  University  in  1865  and  the  same 
year  became  a member  of  the  New  York  East  Confer- 
ence. 

He  relates  the  story  of  his  conversion  and  call  to  the 
ministry : 

“In  the  winter  of  1857  a great  revival  swept  the  whole 
country  and  the  blessed  wave  touched  my  native  town. 
The  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Church  was  John  W.  Simp- 
son, a godly,  earnest,  consecrated  soul,  and  greatly  be- 
loved by  the  people.  He  labored  for  the  conversion  of 
the  people  day  and  night  and  held  meetings  both  in  the 
church  and  the  outlying  school  districts.  Multitudes 


77&  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

thronged  to  hear  the  \\rord  and  many  were  pricked  in 
heart  and  began  a religious  life.  I was  interested  of 
course.  I had  always  belonged  to  the  Sunday  school  and 
was  trained  in  the  Bible  and  the  doctrines  of  the  Church. 
I expected  to  come  out  sometime  and  join  the  church 
of  my  fathers.  I was  a strictly  moral  boy  with  no  bad 
habits,  but  with  honest,  sincere  convictions  and  a life  of 
prayer,  but  I held  back  from  open  confession.  Brother 
Simpson  was  wise  he  did  not  urge  me  at  all,  nor  did  my 
parents.  My  young  comrades  were  daily  coming  forward 
into  the  new  life  and  seemed  to  be  full  of  enthusiasm. 
Finally  one  evening  Mr.  Simpson  called  at  our  house 
and  before  going  just  said,  ‘Theodore,  it  is  time  now  for 
you  to  start,'  but  I gave  no  promise.  There  was  a meet- 
ing that  evening  at  a school  house  a few  miles  out;  a 
young  man  who  had  always  been  my  closest  friend  and 
is  to-day,  came  for  me  and  we  attended  the  meeting. 
Brother  Simpson  preached  a very  earnest  sermon  and 
gave  the  invitation;  I felt  it  was  my  hour;  a word  from 
my  friend  and  I was  on  my  feet  asking  the  prayers  of 
the  people.  I had  surrendered  my  will  and  have  never 
been  sorry  from  that  hour  to  this.  What  glorious  days 
those  were.  What  noble  souls  worked  in  perfect  har- 
mony with  the  pastor.  Nearly  all  are  now  gone  to  their 
reward,  but  their  work  remains.  A great  church  is  now 
standing  in  that  town  as  the  direct  fruit  of  that  revival, 
and  there  is  one  of  the  strongest  societies  of  the  New 
York  East  Conference.  Two  young  men  converted  in 
that  Pentecost  went  into  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
Church;  Henry  Eddy,  who  joined  the  New  England 
Conference,  and  myself.  As  soon  as  I came  forward, 
preacher  and  people  began  at  once  to  talk  of  me  as  a 
coming  preacher  and  so  urged  me  to  take  an  exhorter  s 
license.  It  seemed  to  me  perfectly  absurd.  I was  a quiet, 
bashful,  modest  boy,  whose  stammering  tongue  could 
hardly  frame  a dozen  sentences  before  a little  class,  and  to 
think  of  preaching  seemed  perfect  absurdity,  nevertheless 
an  exhorter’s  license  was  thrust  upon  me.  Then  of  course 
a local  preacher’s  license  was  treated  the  same  way,  and  I 
was  licensed  by  dear  old  Heman  Bangs,  our  presiding  el- 
der, and  I was  launched  upon  the  sea,  where  I must  sink 
or  swim  whether  or  no.  I had  not  then  made  up  my  mind 
fully  that  I would  preach.  All  my  inclinations  pointed 


W . B.  Linn. 


779 


■ 


to  the  law,  but  at  length  I consented  to  do  what  seemed 
to  be  the  will  of  God,  and  made  preaching  my  life  work, 
for  at  least  forty  years,  and  this  I am  ready  to  continue 
till  the  end.” 

In  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Beach,  he  filled  some  of  the  best 
appointments  in  his  conference.  The  extreme  timidity 
which  was  with  him  when  a youth  clung  to  him  with 
tenacity  through  his  whole  life  and  checked  his  power. 
Under  great  pressure  from  Meadville,  Pa.,  he  consented 
to  a transfer  to  the  Erie  Conference  and  was  appointed 
to  the  Stone  Church  in  Meadville.  Later  he  was  strongly 
convinced  that  his  transfer  was  a mistake.  In  1866  Mr. 
Beach  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Luann  F.  Mer- 
ritt, of  Williamsburg,  Mass.,  who  has  been  his  most  effi- 
cient helper  all  these  years.  Of  this  noble  woman,  Mr. 
Beach  says:  “She  has  been  a true  minister’s  wife;  she 

has  been  my  strong  right-hand  everywhere  ; she  has  drawn 
the  people  to  me,  and  has  made  me  what  I am;  she  has 
always  been  popular  and  sheltered  me  from  many  a 
blow.” 


W.  B.  Linn. 

William  B.  Linn  was  born  August  15,  1867,  and  died 
at  his  father’s  home,  near  Rockland,  Pa.,  April  19,  1902. 
His  parents  were  eminently  pious  and  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Georgeville.  One  of 
his  brothers,  B.  P.  Linn,  a member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, died  some  years  ago,  and  one  sister  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  O.  H.  Nickle.  Early  in  life  William  was  called  to 
the  ministry;  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1890  and  sent 
as  a supply  to  Brockport  charge,  and  in  1891  he  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  in  the  Erie  Conference.  He  served  Brock- 
port  two  years,  and  then  went  into  business,  intending, 
after  securing  larger  educational  preparation  for  the 
work,  to  return  to  the  pastorate.  A great  spiritual  awak- 
ening brought  duty  again  prominently  before  his  con- 
science. He  said:  “I  just  had  to  preach  or  be  lost;  my 
soul  was  in  the  balance.”  He  had  been  discontinued  in 
1892,  and  was  again  admitted  on  trial  in  1900.  In  1899 
he  had  been  appointed  to  supply  Nansen,  Pa.,  a new  lum- 
ber town,  and  was  sent  to  the  same  work  in  1900.  In 
eighteen  months  he  had  organized  a society  and  built  a 
church  and  parsonage.  In  1901  he  was  appointed  to 


!| 


History  of  Eric  Conference „ 


Hazelhurst  but  in  February  he  was  prostrated  by  sick- 
Ssf  He  went  to  his  father’s  home,  lingered  on  for  two 

work  of  the  Christian  ministry. 

The  following  table  shows  the  members  for  the  lw 
decades,  beginning  1801 : „ , 8nn.  lS20 

1801,  130;  1805.  585:  >810,  1,141;  1815, ( 1-809-  » - 
,82c  5,834;  1830,  10,137;  1835,  16.87b,  164  , 
t8ms;i84\52II48:  1850.  21,458;  i8S5.  23-309;  i860, 
29.407;  1865.  27.806;  1870,  35.558;  1875.  40,475.  1 ’ 

30.404;  1885, 32,247;  1890,  36,384 , 1895,  43.457.  y 
46.5x1 : 1905.  49.648. 


APPENDIX. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1 887,  with  Bishop  William  X.  Ninde  presid- 
ing, and  F.  H.  Beck,  Secretary. 

A.  S.  M.  Hopkins,  Washington  Hollister,  H.  F.  Miller, 
D.  E.  S.  Perry  and  M.  A.  Rigg  were  received  on  trial. 

Lucien  Clark  was  received  by  transfer. 

A.  E.  Colegrove  and  T.  J.  Pratt  were  discontinued  at 
their  own  request,  and  M.  F.  Laughlin  was  discontinued. 

Sampson  Dimmick  withdrew,  and  W.  L.  Riley  was 
located  at  his  own  request. 

I.  N.  Clover,  L.  W.  Elkins,  J.  H.  Keeley,  D.  C.  Plan- 
nette,  J.  A.  Hovis  and  T.  H.  Sheckler  were  removed  by 
transfer. 

John  Akers,  Edwin  Hull,  W.  B.  Trevey  and  J.  A. 
Ward  were  announced  as  having  died  during  the  year. 

Greenville,  Pa.,  was  the  seat  of  the  Erie  Conference 
session  which  began  September  19,  1888,  Bishop  Ran- 
dolph S.  Foster  presiding,  and  F.  H.  Beck,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  received  on  trial:  W.  H.  Childs, 
H.  G.  Dodds,  J.  D.  Knapp,  F.  S.  Neigh,  Thomas  Pol- 
lard and  D.  W.  Thompson. 

Naphtali  Luccock,  J.  M.  Thoburn  and  H.  C.  Westwood 
were  received  by  transfer. 

Thomas  Berry  and  J.  M.  Edward  were  discontinued 
at  their  own  request. 

Victor  Cornuelle  and  J.  M.  Leonard  were  located  at 
their  own  request. 

J.  Z.  Armstrong,  C.  A.  Knesal,  W.  J.  Barton,  S.  M. 
Gordon  and  A.  W.  Decker  were  removed  by  transfer. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the 
year  of  Robert  Beatty,  J.  L.  Holmes,  John  Robinson, 
Z.  W.  Shadduck  and  H.  V.  Talbot. 

At  the  session  of  Erie  Conference  held  at  Franklin, 
Pa.,  October  2,  1889,  Bishop  Cyrus  D.  Foss  presided, 
and  F.  H.  Beck  was  secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : H.  S.  Bates, 


50 


782  History  of  Erie  Conference. 

J.  E.  Brown,  J.  H.  Clemens,  J.  M.  Dobson,  S.  R.  Ellson, 
J.  M.  Farrell,  W.  F.  Flick,  W.  A.  Heath,  Rowland 
Hughes,  J.  H.  Jelbart,  J.  A.  Lavely,  A.  G.  Mills,  Edd 
Platt,  J.  R.  Rankin,  F.  A.  Shawkey,  E.  J.  Stinchcomb, 
and  C.  R.  Thompson. 

W.  J.  Barton,  C.  J.  Brown,  W.  H.  Faroat  and  S.  M. 
Gordon  were  received  by  transfer. 

M.  A.  Rigg  was  discontinued. 

Lucien  Clark,  S.  E.  Ryan  and  W.  G.  Williams  were 
removed  by  transfer. 

T.  L.  Flood  was  located  at  his  own  request. 

Joseph  Allen,  R.  M.  Bear,  John  Eckels,  J.  O.  Osborne 
and  P.  W.  Scofield  had  died  during  the  year. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  for  its  fifty-fifth  session  in 
the  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Oil  City,  Pa., 
September  10,  1890,  Bishop  Willard  F.  Mallalieu  presid- 
ing. and  F.  H.  Beck,  Secretary. 

J.  G.  Harshaw,  L.  O.  McElhattan,  C.  E.  McKinley, 
W.  H.  Fenton,  V.  F.  Dunkle,  G.  T.  Robinson  and  G.  S. 
W.  Phillips  were  received  on  trial. 

J.  W.  Wakefield  and  L.  W.  Elkins  were  received  by 
transfer. 

S.  R.  Ellson  and  J.  M.  Dobson  were  discontinued. 

A.  L.  Brand  withdrew,  and  W.  J.  Brockway  located. 

H.  E.  Johnson  was  permitted  to  withdraw  under  com- 
plaints. 

W.  P.  Arbuckle  and  L.  F.  Merritt  were  removed  by 
transfer. 

When  the  names  of  the  following  were  called  it  was 
announced  that  they  had  died  during  the  year:  A.  M. 

Brown,  G.  H.  Brown,  B.  S.  Hill,  B.  P.  Linn,  G.  W. 
Staples  and  H.  C.  Westwood. 

September  9,  1891,  the  Erie  Conference  convened  at 
Meadville,  Pa.,  Bishop  Charles  W.  Fowler  presiding,  and 
W.  P.  Graham,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : E.  N.  Askey, 

W.  O.  Calhoun,  J.  D.  Clemriions,  W.  B.  Linn,  J.  A.  Mc- 
Camey,  O.  B.  Patterson,  Joel  Smith,  G.  W.  Strong  and 
G.  D.  Walker. 

E.  F.  Edmonds  and  C.  L.  Pappenhagen  were  received 
by  transfer. 


G.  T.  Robinson  was  discontinued. 


Appendix.  783 

Joel  Smith  was  received  from  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion. 

The  following  were  removed  by  transfer:  J.  M.  Bar- 
ker, C.  J.  Brown,  W.  M.  Canfield,  W.  H.  Childs,  C.  W. 
Darrow  and  C.  E.  Hall. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  Henry  Elliott  and  A.  L.  Miller. 

The  Erie  Conference  convened  at  Warren,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1892,  with  Bishop  John  P.  Newman  in  the 
chair,  and  W.  P.  Graham,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : W.  R.  Buzza, 
H.  H.  Clare,  G.  W.  Corey,  T.  W.  English,  Anthony 
Groves,  E.  E.  Higley,  J.  E.  Hillard,  H.  W.  Kennedy,  W. 
P.  Lowthian,  W.  H.  Robinson,  A.  E.  Ryan,  O.  H.  Sib- 
ley, F.  D.  A.  Sutton  and  J.  C.  Weaver. 

C.  C.  Albertson,  W.  A.  Clark,  L.  H.  Eddleblute  and 
A.  C.  Spencer  were  received  by  transfer. 

W.  A.  Heath,  W.  B.  Linn  and  G.  W.  Strong  were 
discontinued. 

A.  C.  Ellis,  N.  H.  Holmes  and  W.  P.  Murray  were 
removed  by  transfer. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  A.  H.  Bowers,  G.  W.  Clarke,  W.  B.  Holt,  David  Lat- 
shaw  and  Alfred  Wheeler. 

The  Erie  Conference  convened  at  DuBois,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1893,  with  Bishop  John  F.  Hurst  presiding, 
and  W.  P.  Graham,  Secretary. 

J.  F.  Black,  J.  R.  Burrows,  G.  B.  Carr,  B.  A.  Ginader, 
K.  T.  JaQuay,  S.  L.  Mills  and  E.  D.  Mo  wry  were  ad- 
mitted on  trial. 

H.  A.  Cleveland,  W.  H.  Crawford  and  A.  C.  Ellis 
were  received  by  transfer. 

O.  B.  Patterson  was  discontinued. 

Rowland  Hughes,  Naphtali  Luccock,  C.  H.  Quick,  J. 
M.  Thoburn  and  F.  A.  Shawkey  were  removed  by  trans- 
fer. 

The  death  of  J.  E.  Chapin,  Major  Colegrove  and  A. 
S.  Goodrich  had  occurred  during  the  year. 

The  Erie  Conference  session  of  1894  was  held  at  Fre- 
donia,  N.  Y.,  beginning  September  12,  with  Bishop 
Daniel  A.  Goodsell,  President,  and  W.  P.  Graham,  Sec- 
retary. 


784 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


H.  H.  Bair,  James  Campbell,  J.  E.  lams,  and  R.  A. 
Parsons  were  admitted  on  trial. 

S.  D.  Hutsinpiller  was  received  by  transfer. 

When  the  names  of  Peter  Burroughs,  Alva  Wilder, 
O.  G.  McEntyre,  Richard  Peet,  Nathanial  Morris  and 
Janies  Clyde  were  called  it  was  announced  that  they  had 
died  during  the  year. 

A.  C.  Spencer  and  H.  D.  Todd  withdrew  from  the 
church. 

The  sixtieth  session  of  the  Erie  Conference  convened 
in  Simpson  Church,  Erie,  Pa.,  September  n,  1895,  with 
Bishop  John  H.  Vincent  in  the  chair,  and  W.  P.  Gra- 
ham, Secretary. 

D.  G.  Latshaw,  Horace  McKinney,  M.  B.  Riley  and 
J.  K.  Whippo  were  admitted  on  trial. 

The  following  were  received  by  transfer:  A.  M. 

Courteney,  John  Lusher,  E.  B.  Patterson  and  T.  R.  Tho- 
burn. 

The  following  were  removed  by  transfer:  C.  C.  Al- 

bertson, H.  A.  Cleveland,  E.  K.  Creed,  G.  H.  Humason 
and  J.  H.  Laverty. 

Edd  Platt  was  permitted  to  withdraw  under  complaints. 

The  death  during  the  year  of  Stephen  Heard,  Wash- 
ing Hollister  and  W.  A.  Merriam  was  announced. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  at  New  Castle,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1896,  Bishop  John  M.  Walden  being  the  president, 
and  A.  R.  Rich,  the  secretary. 

S.  T.  Davidson,  E.  M.  Fradenburgh,  A.  J.  Rinker, 
G.  H.  Stuntz  and  C.  J.  Zetler  were  admitted  on  trial. 

T.  R.  Yates  was  re-admitted. 

R.  F.  Randolph  was  received  by  transfer. 

When  the  names  of  J.  H.  Herron  and  L.  O.  McElhat- 
tan  were  called,  it  was  announced  that  they  had  died 
during  the  year. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  September  8,  1897,  in  Grace 
Church,  Oil  City,  Pa.,  with  Bishop  Charles  H.  Fowler 
presiding,  and  A.  R.  Rich,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  received  on  trial:  H.  A.  Ellis, 

F.  A.  Redinger,  E.  C.  Rickenbrode,  Ira  Scott,  L.  H. 
Shindledecker,  W.  J.  Small,  G.  A.  Sutton  and  Albert 
Sydow. 

E.  C.  Rickenbrode  was  received  from  the  Evangelical 
Association. 


r 


Appendix. 


7«s 


D.  E.  Baldwin,  L.  S.  Rader  and  C.  E.  Byram  were  re- 
ceived by  transfer. 

G.  W.  Corey,  T.  W.  McKinney  and  J.  H.  Miller  were 
removed  by  transfer. 

J.  E.  Brown  was  expelled. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  J.  W.  Lowe,  G.  F.  Reeser,  and  W.  N.  Reno.  - 

The  Erie  Conference  met  September  21,  1898  at 
Franklin,  Pa.,  Bishop  Steven  M.  Merrill  presiding,  and 
A.  R.  Rich,  Secretary. 

E.  A.  Bishop,  L.  H.  Bugbee,  F.  H.  Frampton,  R.  J. 
Montgomery,  W.  H.  Overs,  and  N.  A.  White  were  re- 
ceived on  trial. 

S.  H.  Day  and  D.  C.  Plannette  were  received  by  trans- 
fer. 

L.  S.  Rader,  A.  M.  Courtney  and  L.  W.  Elkins  were 
removed  by  transfer. 

It  was  announced  that  John  Graham,  S.  K.  Paden  and 
J.  A.  Kummer  had  died  during  the  year. 

September  27,  1899,  the  Erie  Conference  met  at  James- 
town, N.  Y.,  with  Bishop  Willard  F.  Mallalieu  in  the 
chair,  and  A.  R.  Rich,  Secretary. 

The  following  were  admitted  on  trial : J.  C.  A.  Bor- 
land, R.  E.  Brown,  J.  E.  Drake,  R.  L.  Foulke,  G.  N. 
Gage,  S.  G.  Gillett,  W.  L.  Hazen,  W.  H.  Lofthouse,  H. 
E.  Phipps,  Henry  Smallenberger,  S.  A.  Smith  and  H.  K. 
Steel. 

The  following  were  received  by  transfer : C.  J.  Baker, 
H.  M.  Conaway,  W.  W.  Cookman,  W.  H.  Childs,  E.  O. 
Minnigh  and  W.  P.  Murray. 

C.  E.  Byram  was  discontinued. 

C.  M.  Morse  was  located  at  his  own  request. 

W.  H.  Bunce  withdrew  under  charges. 

The  following  were  removed  by  transfer:  A.  E. 

Ryan,  O.  B.  Patterson,  E.  B.  Patterson,  S.  D.  Hutsin- 
piller,  H.  W.  Kennedy  and  D.  G.  Latshaw. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  during  the  year 
of  H.  M.  Chamberlain,  Jeremiah  Garnett,  N.  W.  Jones, 
John  McComb,  Manassas  Miller,  D.  M.  Stever  and  S.  L. 
Wilkinson. 

The  Erie  Conference  met  at  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1900,  with  Bishop  Cyrus  D.  Foss  in  the  chair, 
and  A.  R.  Rich,  Secretary. 


786 


History  of  Erie  Conference. 


The  following  were  received  on  trial:  A.  G.  A.  Bux- 
ton, J.  S.  Kittell,  W.  B.  Linn,  T.  A.  Lyons,  T.  E.  Roberts, 
S.  L.  Todd  and  H.  C.  Weaver. 

The  following  were  received  by  transfer : A.  G.  A. 

Buxton,  J.  H.  Keeley  and  J.  R.  Rich. 

The  withdrawal  from  the  church  of  D.  M.  Carpenter 
and  P.  J.  Slattery  was  annnounced. 

The  death  of  the  following  had  occurred  during  the 
year:  F.  H.  Beck,  S.  S.  Burton,  J.  W.  Crawford,  I.  D. 
Darling,  E.  R.  Knapp,  A.  J.  Merchant  and  G.  W.  Moore. 


4 


INDEX. 


Abolitionism,  I. — 793,  794. 

II. — 501-505;  507-524. 
Allegheny  College,  II. — 743-752. 


Appointments,  I. — 

-1800, 

140; 

1801, 

146; 

1802, 

161; 

1803, 

164; 

1804, 

181;  1805, 

182; 

1806, 

184; 

1807, 

189; 

1808, 

190; 

1809, 

194; 

1810, 

201; 

1811, 

233;  1812. 

234,  251;  1813,  244,  295 

; 1814, 

295;  1815. 

298; 

1816, 

331; 

1817, 

317, 

340; 

1818, 

320, 

354; 

1819, 

365; 

1820, 

389; 

1821, 

449; 

1822, 

470; 

1823, 

480; 

1824,  491; 

1825, 

507; 

1826, 

514; 

1827, 

520;  1828, 

552; 

1829, 

594; 

1830, 

601; 

1831,  629; 

1832, 

651, 

652; 

1833, 

685, 

686;  1834, 

704,  705;  1835,  739,  740;  1836,  792,  793; 
1837,  818,  819. 

II. — 1838,  13,  14;  1839,  24,  25;  1840,  33, 
34;  1841,  66;  1842,  96,  97;  1843,  121, 
122;  1844,  142,  143;  1845,  152,  153; 

1846,  171,  172;  1847,  181,  182;  1848, 

189,  190;  1849,  199,  200;  1850,  221,  222; 
1851,  233,  234;  1852,  261,  263;  1853,  275, 
276;  1854,  290,  291;  1855,  312,  313; 

1856,  328,  329;  1857,  337,  338;  1858, 

351,  353;  1859,  375,  377;  1860,  386,  387; 
1861,  401,  402;  1862,  411,  412;  1863,  415, 
416;  1864,  448,  450;  1865,  461,  463;  1866, 
.543,  545;  1867,  550,  552;  1868,  565.  567; 
1869,  580,  582;  1870,  617,  619;  1871,  633. 
634;  1872,  644,  646;  1873,  656,  658; 

1874,  665,  668;  1875,  674,  677;  1876, 

679,  680. 

Avery,  Dr.  Amos  R.,  I. — His  character 
drawn  by  friends,  112-116. 

Brown,  Richard,  I. — 130,  131. 

Camp  Meetings,  I. — Origin  of,  195-198. 
Camp  Meetings,  I. — Block  School  House, 
230;  Canadaway,  316;  Clarion,  408-412; 
Forestville,  229;  Geneva,  450-456; 
Grand  River,  317;  Hamlet,  230;  Lake 
Circuit,  319;  Lexington,  340;  Mead- 
ville,  243;  North  East,  340;  Rockville, 
340;  Salem,  513;  Villenovia,  526-533; 
Yankee  preaching  at,  419-412;  Youngs- 
ville,  340;  Zuvers,  317. 

II. — Cherry  Run,  769,  770;  Clarion,  287; 
Clarksville,  92,  93;  Cleveland  District, 
487;  Ellington,  347;  Jamestown  Dis- 
trict (Blockville),  410,  411;  North 

Washington,  260,  261;  Panama  Circuit, 
347;  Strattonville,  770. 

Caughey,  Esther  Roberts,  I. — 90. 
Centenary  Fund  Society,  The  Constitu- 
tion, II.,  99,  100. 

Centenary  Funds,  Report  of  Committee 


Appointed  to  Direct  in  Appropriating, 
II.,  602,  603. 

Chamberlain  Collegiate  Institute,  II.,  741, 
743. 

Christian  Devotion,  Incident  of,  I. — 323, 
325. 

Churches,  Classes  and  Societies: 
Akinsville,  I.,  543. 

Akron,  I.,  676,  678;  II.,  113,  115. 

Albion,  II.,  326. 

Andover,  II.,  681. 

Annandale,  II.,  372,  373. 

Arkwright,  I.,  112.  , 

Asbury,  Erie  Co.,  I.,  504;  II.,  597. 
Asbury,  near  Pithole,  I.,  469,  470. 
Asbury,  Corsica  Circuit,  II.,  286. 

Ash  appointment,  I.,  298. 

Ashtabula,  I.,  277,  278. 

Atwater,  II.,  727. 

Aurora,  I.,  503. 

Austinburg,  I.,  revival,  730. 

Bacon  Hill,  I.,  170,  297. 

Baltimore  Conference,  I.,  146,  147,  161, 
164,  181,  182,  184,  189,  190,  194,  237. 
Barnes,  I.,  630. 

Barton  Chapel,  II.,  231. 

Beaver  Center,  II.,  30. 

Beaver  Dam,  I.,  579;  II.,  598. 

Beech  Woods,  I.,  542,  687. 

Beman’s,  I.,  688. 

Benn’s,  Class  at,  I.,  108. 

Bethel,  Delaware  Grove  Circuit,  II., 
605. 

Bethel,  Salem  Circuit,  I.,  83. 

Bethel  Class,  II.,  674. 

Big  Bend,  Eau  Claire  Charge,  I.,  784. 
Big  Bend,  Delaware  Grove  Circuit,  II., 
608. 

Bissells,  I.,  477,  478. 

Bloomfield,  I.,  357;  II.,  63. 

Blooming  Valley,  II.,  673. 

Braceville,  I.,  477. 

Brady’s  Bend,  I.,  359,  360. 

Brainard’s,  I.,  487. 

Brakeman,  I.,  361. 

Brimfield,  I.,  479. 

Bristolville,  II.,  149. 

Brockwayville,  I.,  687. 

Brocton,  I.,  121,  122. 

Brookfield,  I.,  777. 

Brookville,  II.,  232,  259,  260,  384. 
Brown’s  Chapel,  I.,  289. 

Brush’s  Meeting  House,  I.,  92,  93. 

Bully  Hill,  I.,  568,  570. 

Burton,  I.,  138. 


788 


INDEX, 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 

Cambridge  Springs,  I.,  679,  680. 

Campfield  School  House,  I.,  818. 

Canfield  Class,  I.,  450. 

Carthage,  I.,  616. 

Cattaraugus,  I.,  544. 

Center  School  House,  Girard,  I.,  339; 
first  Sunday  School  in  Erie  Co.,  339. 

Centerville  Class,  I.,  613. 

Centerville,  Harrisville  Circuit,  II.,  405. 

Centerville,  President  Charge,  II.,  655, 
656. 

Centerville  Circuit,  Butler  Co.,  I.,  781; 
classes,  782. 

Centre,  II.,  147. 

Chapinville,  II.,  597. 

Chapmanville,  II.,  148. 

Chardon,  I.,  781;  revivals,  732,  779. 

Charleston,  Mercer  Co.,  I.,  490,  491; 
II.,  63. 

Charlestown  Class,  O.,  I.,  503. 

Chautauqua  Circuit,  I.,  extent,  263, 
264;  pioneers  of,  39,  46;  plan  in  1825, 
514;  quarterly  meeting  conference, 
368,  372. 

Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus  Cos.,  II., 
257,  258. 

Cherry  Run,  I.,  615,  617. 

Clarington  Charge,  II.,  594. 

Clarion,  camp  meeting,  I.,  408,  412. 

Clarion  District,  II.,  655,  766,  769. 

Clarksville,  I.,  365,  367;  names  of  early 
class,  365;  old  class  book,  365,  367. 

Cleveland,  I.,  Brooklyn  class,  423;  cele- 
brated picture  in  Epworth  Memorial, 
427,  428;  Central,  427;  Christ,  426; 
class  at  Hubbards,  424;  Doan’s  Cor- 
ners, 426;  early  workers,  423;  Ep- 
worth Memorial,  427;  Erie,  426;  Eu- 
clid Creek  class,  423;  first  settlers, 
421;  German  Methodism,  430,  431; 
Hanover  street,  426;  meetings  at  the 
“Academy,”  424;  new  church  on 
Euclid  Avenue,  425,  426;  new  First, 
432,  434;  pioneer  class  of  First,  424; 
Scoville  Avenue,  430;  St.  Clair,  425; 
survey,  421;  union  of  Wesley  Chapel 
and  Calvary,  431,  432;  Willson  Ave- 
nue, 430;  II.,  604. 

Clintonville,  I.,  562,  563;  II.,  593. 

Columbus,  I.,  617. 

Concord,  I.,  359. 

Conewango  Circuit,  I.,  487. 

Conneaut,  I.,  620. 

Conneautville,  I.,  163,  596. 

Connecticut  Land  Company,  I.,  22. 

Coon’s  Corners,  I.,  164. 

Cooperstown  Circuit,  II.,  287. 

Corry,  I.,  783. 

Corsica  Circuit,  II.,  286,  287,  384. 

Cottage  Chapel,  I.,  83. 

Cottage  Class,  I.,  362. 

Cottage,  Springfield  Circuit,  I.,  94. 

Cranshaw  Class,  I.,  688. 

Curllsville,  I.,  615. 

Curtis  School  House,  I.,  728. 

Cussewago,  I.,  163,  450. 

Cuyahoga  Falls,  I.,  593;  revival,  777. 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 
Dayton,  I.,  112;  II.,  167,  168. 

Dayton  Summit,  I.,  362. 

Deer  Creek,  II.,  117. 

Deerfield,  I.,  169,  170,  175,  177,  354,  355, 
444;  revival,  731. 

Delanti,  II.,  406,  407. 

Dewittville,  I.,  518. 

Dicksonburg,  I.,  163,  164. 

Doan’s  Corners,  I.,  518,  519. 

“Donation  Lands,”  I.,  24,  25. 

Dunkirk,  I.,  619. 

East  Brady,  I.,  304,  306. 

Eastbrook,  I.,  123;  II.,  60. 

East  Claridon,  II.,  608. 

East  Cleveland  Ridge,  I.,  839. 

East  Fairfield  Twp.,  II.,  61. 

East  Randolph,  I.,  479,  600;  II.,  148. 
East  Salem,  II.,  371. 

East  Springfield,  I.,  94. 

East  Troy,  II.,  674. 

Edenburg,  I.,  678,  679. 

Edinboro,  II.,  597,  598. 

Elgin  Cnarge,  II.,  598. 

Ellicottville,  I.,  546. 

Ellington,  I.,  817. 

Elm  Creek  Class,  I.,  600. 

Emlenton,  II.,  408. 

Enterprise,  I.,  464,  466. 

Espyville,  I.,  505. 

Erie,  I.,  609,  et  seq. ; early  preaching, 
609;  First  Church,  610,  612;  revival, 
682;  Tenth  street,  612;  Wesley 
Chapel,  610. 

Erie  Circuit,  Old,  I.,  159,  161;  revivals, 
579,  580. 

Erie  Conference,  I.,  organized,  791, 
792;  church  membership,  387;  sec- 
ond session,  818,  819. 

Erie  County,  I.,  earliest  churches,  602; 
historic  notes,  602,  609;  Euclid  class, 
450;  revivals,  549. 

Evansburg,  II.,  61,  62. 

Fagundus  City,  II.,  631,  632. 

Fair  Haven,  I.,  93,  302,  303;  II.,  287. 
Fairview,  II.,  147,  309. 

Fallowfield,  I.,  83,  84. 

Farmington,  II.,  665. 

Finley  Lake  Charge,  II.,  371,  372. 
Firman’s  Class,  I.,  687. 

Forestville,  I.,  112;  revivals,  682,  778, 
779. 

Franklin  Class,  O.,  I.,  331. 

Franklin  Mills,  O.,  I.,  616. 

Franklin,  I.,  94,  103;  centennial  anni- 
versary, 97,  103;  first  preaching,  95; 
George  Washington  at,  95;  preach- 
ing by  Andrew  Hemphill,  98. 
Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  I.,  235. 

Fredonia,  Pa.,  II.,  655. 

Frey’s,  I.,  163,  361,  362. 

Frostburg,  838. 

Galloway,  II.,  565. 

Garland,  II.,  169. 

Garrettsville,  II.,  663,  664. 

Geneva,  O.,  I.,  341;  camp  meeting  at, 
450,  456;  new  churches,  342;  re- 

vivals, 729,  730. 


INDEX, 


789 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 
Geneva,  Pa.,  I.,  446,  447. 

Georgeville,  II.,  563. 

Gerry,  I.,  372. 

Girard,  I.,  339,  340. 

Golinza,  I.,  467. 

Grand  River  Circuit,  I.,  357;  revivals, 
651,  652. 

Grant,  II.,  665. 

Gravel  Run,  I.,  223. 

Greece  City,  II.,  630,  631. 

Greenfield,  I.,  818. 

Greenville,  Pa.,  I.,  591,  593;  II.,  287. 
Greenwood,  Pa.,  II.,  404,  405. 

Gregg  family,  I.,  146. 

Grove  City,  Grace,  II.,  739. 

Grove  Summit,  II.,  285,  286. 

Gustavus,  I.,  735,  841,  842. 

Guy’s,  I.,  478. 

Hamlet,  I.,  227,  et  seq. ; names  of 
class,  227. 

Hampden,  I.,  360,  361;  II.,  604. 

Hanna’s  Corners,  II.,  596. 

Harbor  Creek,  I.,  revivals,  549,  550. 
Hare  Creek,  I.,  783. 

Harmon  Hill,  I.,  122. 

Harmonsburg,  I.,  163,  597,  598;  II.,  61. 
Harmony,  I.,  361;  revivals,  732,  736. 
Harpersfield,  I.,  469. 

Harrisville,  I.,  727;  II.,  665. 

“Harry  of  the  West,”  I.,  83. 

Hartford  Circuit,  I.,  233. 

Hartstown  Class,  I.,  505,  506. 

Hatch  Hollow,  II.,  597. 

Hayfield,  I.,  164;  II.,  274. 

Hazen  Charge,  II.,  444,  446. 

Henderson  Circuit,  II.,  63,  64. 
Hendersonville  Circuit,  I.,  574,  577. 
Hickernell’s,  I.,  163. 

Holland  Purchase  and  Caledonia  Cir- 
cuit, I.,  234. 

Holland  Purchase  Circuit,  I.,  192,  193. 
Holland  Purchase  I.  Gives  Land  for 
Churches,  I.,  441,  443. 

Hollopeter,  I.,  541. 

Holton’s,  I.,  163. 

Home  Missionary  Society  I.  at  Frank- 
lin, 776. 

Horatio  Class,  I.,  838. 

Hubbard,  I.,  178. 

Hudson  Class,  I.,  479. 

Huntley’s,  I.,  163. 

Huntsburg,  I.,  542,  543. 

Hydetown,  II.,  673,  674. 

Irishtown,  I.,  403,  405. 

Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  I.,  434,  et  seq.; 

Crane,  Lyman,  438;  debate  with 
Luther  Lee  and  founding  of  Wes- 
leyan Church,  436,  437;  early  pro- 
moters, 434,  435;  great  revival  under 
John  Peate,  434,  435;  rebellion  in 
choir,  435,  436;  Work  Edward,  437. 
Jamestown,  Pa.,  II.,  326. 

Jarvis,  I.,  224. 

Johnston  Charge,  II.,  602. 

Kane,  II.,  458,  459. 

Kennedy,  I.,  818. 

Kent,  O.,  I.,  616.. 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 
“King’s  Chapel,”  I.,  182. 

Kees’  Store,  I.,  542. 

Kingsville  Class,  I.,  506. 

Kinzua,  II.,  733. 

Knox,  I.,  678,  679. 

Lawson’s,  I.,  341. 

Leon  Center,  I.,  785. 

Linesville,  II.,  598,  599. 

Linn  School  House,  I.,  833. 

Little’s  Corners,  I.,  164. 

Little  Valley,  I.,  486,  490;  first  church, 
487;  new  church,  489;  present  church, 
489,  490. 

Lordstown,  Ohio,  II.,  138. 

Lupher  Chapel,  I.,  618. 

Luthersburg,  I.,  541,  542. 

Macedonia,  Pa.,  II.,  736. 

Mahoning  Circuit,  I.,  515. 
Mahoningtown,  II.,  563,  564. 

Mantua,  I.,  184,  185. 

Maple  Furnace,  II.,  308. 

Maple  Shade,  II.,  563. 

Mayville,  I.,  517. 

McCray’s,  II.,  598. 

McDowell’s,  I.,  163. 

McKean,  I.,  373. 

Meadow,  II.,  371. 

Meadville,  I.,  dedication  of  “Stone 
Church,”  111;  Methodism  in,  108, 
111;  names  of  first  class,  109;  re- 
vivals, 544,  580;  settlement,  107. 
Mechanicsville,  II.,  60,  61. 

Mentor,  I.,  362,  363. 

Mercer,  I.,  445,  446;  first  house  of  wor- 
ship, 446;  revival,  729. 

Mesopotamia,  I.,  363,  364. 

Methodism,  I.,  first  class  of,  54. 
Middlebury,  I.,  593,  594. 

Middlesex,  II.,  407. 

Milk  School  House,  I.,  728. 

Millbrook,  I.,  332. 

Miller  School  House,  I.,  818. 
Millerstown,  II.,  664. 

Milton,  I.,  176,  232. 

Mina,  I.,  revival,  579;  II.,  371. 
Monongahela  District,  I.,  201. 

Monroe  Class,  I.,  616;  II.,  259. 
Montville,  I.,  360,  361. 

Morehouse,  I.,  163. 

Morgan,  O.,  II.,  200. 

Mount  Hope,  I.,  478. 

Mount  Jackson,  I.,  123,  563. 

Mount  Pleasant  Class,  I.,  568;  II.,  405. 
Mount  Zion,  II.,  228,  229. 

Mumford’s,  I.,  108,  223. 

Napoli,  I.,  728;  II.,  608. 

Nashville,  I.,  112;  II.,  595,  596. 
Nazareth,  I.,  357,  359;  II.,  405. 
Nebraska,  I.,  467. 

Nelson,  I.,  288. 

New  Albion,  I.,  544. 

Newburg,  O.,  I.,  361. 

New  Bethlehem,  II.,  306. 

New  Lebanon,  II.,  260. 

New  Ireland,  I.,  403,  405. 

New  Richmond,  I.,  224,  479. 


790 


INDEX. 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 

New  Castle,  I.,  122,  126;  churches,  123, 
126;  Epworth,  126;  first  class,  123; 
King’s  Chapel,  122. 

New  Connecticut  Circuit,  I.,  422. 

New  Vernon,  II.,  138,  260. 

New  Wilmington,  II.,  59,  60. 

Newton  Falls,  II.,  21,  23. 

Nicklin,  I.,  570,  573. 

North  Bank,  I.,  Erie  Co.,  505. 

North  Bloomfield,  I.,  343. 

North  Corry  and  Columbus  Charge,  II., 
736. 

North  East  Circuit,  I.,  revivals,  578, 
729. 

North  East,  I.,  272,  273;  revivals,  578, 

625,  682,  842,  843. 

North  Salem,  I.,  83. 

Ohio  District,  I.,  364,  365;  formed,  234. 

Oil  City,  II.,  Early  Days,  253,  255; 

Trinity,  255,  257;  Grace,  257. 

Old  Richmond,  I.,  224. 

Old  Salem,  I.,  83,  84. 

“Old  Sandy  Church,”  I.,  563,  566. 
Orange  Class,  I.,  449. 

Orange  Center,  II.,  606. 

Oswell  Class,  I.,  490. 

Painesville,  I.,  443,  444;  revivals,  625, 
683. 

Parker’s  Landing,  II.,  771,  773. 

Penn  Line,  I.,  163. 

Perrysburg,  I.,  112,  372;  II.,  116. 
Petersburg  Class,  I.,  784. 

Petrolia,  II.,  664,  665. 

Pierpont,  I.,  163. 

Pine  City,  II.,  595. 

Pine  Grove,  Crawford  Co.,  I.,  513,  514. 
Pine  Valley,  I.,  228,  229. 

Pinney’s,  I.,  224. 

Pioneer,  II.,  602. 

“Pisgah  Church,”  I.,  478. 

Pithole,  I.,  96. 

Pleasantview,  II.,  60. 

Pleasantville,  I.,  463,  464. 

Poland,  I.,  revival,  778. 

Polk  Circuit,  I.,  563,  et  seq. 

Polk  Township,  II.,  231. 

Pope  School  House,  I.,  revival,  231. 
Portland,  I.,  121,  122. 

Punxsutawney,  I.,  467;  present  church, 
468,  469;  II.,  384. 

Radcliffe  School  House,  I.,  838. 

Randall  Class,  I.,  341. 

Randolph,  I.,  599. 

Ravenna,  I.,  297,  674,  675;  first  class, 
675,  676;  revival,  731,  734. 

Reno,  II.,  564,  565. 

Reynolds,  I.,  567,  568. 

Reynoldsville,  II.,  699,  700. 

Riceville,  I.,  613,  614. 

Ridgway  Mission  appointments,  I., 
686;  II.,  599,  602,  700,  702. 
Rimersburg,  I.,  342,  343. 

Ringgold,  II.,  288. 

Ripley,  I.,  445;  revival,  579. 

Rockland,  II.,  562,  563. 

Rockville,  I.,  223;  revival,  841;  II.,  326. 
Rootstown,  I.,  170,  298. 

Round  House,  I.,  revival,  231. 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 
Saegertown,  II.,  31,  32. 

St.  Petersburg,  II.,  655. 

Salamanca,  II.,  698,  699. 

Salem  Circuit,  I.,  83,  616,  617;  revival, 
552;  II.,  229. 

Salem  Cross  Roads,  I.,  122. 

Salem,  Old,  I.,  83,  84. 

Salina,  II.,  229. 

Sandy  Lake,  II.,  690,  692. 

Saybrook,  I.,  231,  232. 

Seavy’s,  I.,  519. 

Sharon,  I.,  221,  223;  original  members, 
222. 

Sharps,  I.,  298. 

Sharpsville,  I.,  785. 

Sheakleyville,  I.,  619. 

Sheffield,  II.,  564. 

Shenango  and  Salem  Class,  I.,  81,  90. 
Sheridan,  I.,  112,  116,  117. 

Sherman,  I.,  680,  682. 

Sherrett  Charge,  II.,  169,  170. 
Shippenville  Circuit,  II.,  287. 

Sherrod  Hill,  II.,  447. 

Sibley  Class,  I.,  542,  687. 

Silver  Creek.  I.,  112,  839;  the  class, 
235,  236. 

Skelton,  II.,  139. 

Sligo,  I.,  616. 

Smith’s,  I.,  163,  164. 

Snyder  Hill  Class,  I.,  543. 

Southington,  I.,  341. 

Spartansburg,  I.,  543  . 

Spring,  I.,  163. 

Springboro,  I.,  562. 

Springfield,  I.,  91,  94. 

Springfield  Cross  Roads,  I.,  94. 

State  Line,  I.,  367,  368. 

Sterretania,  I.,  817. 

Stockton,  II.,  407. 

Stoneboro,  II.,  594. 

Strattonville,  II.,  286. 

Sugar  Grove,  I.,  83,  598,  599. 
Summerhill,  I.,  163;  circuit,  appoint- 
ments, 596. 

Sunville  Circuit,  II.,  147,  148. 

Swedish  Mission,  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
II.,  409,  410. 

Tallmadge,  I.,  519. 

Thickett  Class,  I.,  505. 

Thomas’,  I.,  163. 

Tidioute,  I.,  464. 

Tionesta,  I.,  466. 

Titusville,  II.,  398,  401. 

Townville,  II.,  168. 

Treat  School  House,  I.,  600. 

Troy,  I.,  618;  II.,  593. 

Tryonville,  II.,  673,  674. 

Twinsburg,  I.,  518. 

Union  City,  II.,  596,  597. 

Unionville,  I.,  477. 

Utica,  I.,  577. 

Valier,  I.,  838. 

Van  Scoder’s,  I.,  224. 

Venango,  II.,  117. 

Vernon,  I.,  172,  173,  178;  II.,  139. 
Versailles,  I.,  373;  II.,  116. 

Victory,  II.,  370,  371. 


Churches,  Classes,  Etc. — Continued. 
Villenovia,  I.,  112,  225,  232;  Leonidas 
L.  Hamline  converted,  226. 

Volusia,  II.,  596. 

Wallaceville,  II.,  148,  457,  458. 
Walston,  I.,  838. 

Warren,  O.,  I.,  385;  early  class,  386. 
Warren  Circuit,  O.,  Classes,  I.,  783. 
Warren,  Pa.,  I.,  692;  first  class,  692; 
early  date  of  preaching,  693;  present 
church,  693,  694;  oldest  quarterly 
conference  record,  694. 

Warrensville,  I.,  837. 

Washington  Circuit,  II.,  169. 
Washington,  D.  C.,  II.,  335. 

Waterford,  I.,  298. 

Wesleyville  Circuit,  II.,  459,  460. 

West  Ellery,  II.,  405,  406. 

West  Middlesex,  II.,  30,  31. 

West  Mina,  II.,  371. 

West  Perrysburg,  II.,  116. 

West  Sunbury,  II.,  230,  231. 

Westville,  I.,  614,  615. 

Wheatland,  II.,  580. 

Willoughby,  I.,  335;  first  class,  335; 
class  on  the  Ridge,  335;  first  church, 
335;  new  church,  336;  present  church, 
338. 

Willoughby  Ridge,  I.,  469. 

Windham,  II.,  137. 

Windsor,  I.,  287. 

Windsor  Corners,  II.,  308,  309. 

Worden  Chapel,  II.,  565. 

Wright’s  Corners,  I.,  229;  231,  233,  234. 
Youngstown,  I.,  126,  134;  first  class, 
127;  first  Sunday  school,  130;  Bel- 
mont avenue,  131;  Grace,  133;  Rich- 
ard Brown,  130,  136;  settled  by  John 
Young,  126;  Shadrack  Bostwick  at, 
128;  Trinity,  129;  Wilson  avenue, 
134. 

Youngsville,  I.,  105,  106. 

Country,  the  State  of,  II.,  524,  529. 

Erie  Conference  and  the  Freedmen,  II., 
539,  541. 

Fairies,  Story  of,  I.,  403,  405. 

Goodrich,  Jabez,  I.,  109,  111. 

Hillman,  Colonel,  I.,  35,  et  seq. 
Instrumental  Music,  Resolution,  II.,  138. 
Irish  Deputation,  Report  on,  II.,  334. 
Leech,  Hon.  John,  I.,  87,  88. 

Log  Cabin,  the,  I.,  30,  et  seq. 

McFetridge,  George,  I.,  86,  87. 
McGranahan,  John,  I.,  89,  90 
McLean,  William,  I.,  84,  86. 

Methodism,  I.,  Influence  in  Early  Times, 
17,  20. 

Moravians,  I.,  26,  27,  422. 

“Mourner’s  Bench,”  I.,  198,  199. 

Mumford,  David,  I.,  224. 

Phelps  and  Gorman  Tract,  I.,  25. 
Pittsburg  Conference  divided,  I.,  791. 
Powers,  Isaac,  I.,  meeting  with  Dr.  El- 
liott, 137,  138;  wife’s  conversion,  135, 
137. 

Preachers: 

Abbott,  John,  II.,  101,  102. 


Teachers — Continued. 

Abbott,  William,  I.,  833;  appointments, 
883. 

Abel,  Asa,  I.,  480,  481;  appointments, 
481. 

Adams,  James  K.,  II.,  660;  appoint- 
ments, 709. 

Adams,  Samuel,  I.,  354. 

Aiken,  John  E.,  I.,  632,  633;  appoint- 
ments, 633. 

Aikin,  John  Wesley,  II.,  380,  381. 

Akers,  John,  II.,  237,  238. 

Albertson,  Joseph  S.,  II.,  556;  appoint- 
ments, 612. 

Allen,  Joseph,  II.,  333. 

Allen,  Walter  O.,  II.,  690;  appoint- 
ments, 713. 

Anderson,  Alfred,  II.,  692. 

Anderson,  E.  A.,  II.,  328. 

Anderson,  George  W.,  II.,  553;  appoint- 
ments, 611. 

Arbuckle,  William  P.,  II.,  735,  736. 

Archbold,  W.  D.,  II.,  337. 

Archibald,  Francis  A.,  II.,  480. 

Armstrong,  Richard,  I.,  647,  648;  ap- 
pointments, 648. 

Askins,  George,  I.,  165,  167. 

Aylworth,  Reuben  A.,  I.,  814,  815;  ap- 
pointments, 815. 

Ayres,  J.  C.,  I.,  523;  letter  to  R.  C. 
Smith,  523,  525;  appointments,  523. 

Ayres,  Samuel,  I.,  521;  appointments, 
521. 

Babcock,  James,  I.,  508,  510. 

Babcock,  Orrin,  II.,  462. 

Babcock,  Samuel  E.,  I.,  620. 

Babcock,  William  R.,  I.,  510;  appoint- 
ments, 511;  resolution  by  Genesee 
Conference,  510,  511. 

Badger,  Joseph,  I.,  42. 

Bain,  John,  I.,  762,  763;  appointments, 
764;  character,  764,  766;  wife  of, 
763,  764. 

Baird,  Samuel,  II.,  199. 

Baker,  Edwin  S.,  II.,  670;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Baker,  E.  J.  L.,  I.,  761;  appointments, 
761. 

Baker,  G.  C.,  I.,  800. 

Baker,  Henry,  I.,  333. 

Baker,  Thomas  J.,  II.,  545;  appoint- 
ments, 609. 

Baker,  William  A.,  II.,  720. 

Baldwin,  Darius  E.,  II.,  776,  777. 

Barnhart,  Clinton  L.,  II.,  483,  484. 

Barris,  Alexander,  I.,  conversion,  229; 
II.,  25,  26. 

Bartlett,  A.  J.,  II.,  462. 

Bascom,  Henry  B.,  I.,  273,  et  seq.;  at 
camp  meeting  on  Oil  Creek,  275;  con- 
version, 273,  274;  kindness  to  by  Mr. 
Connelly,  276,  277;  with  James  Gill- 
more,  274,  275. 

Bashline,  Abram,  II.,  432,  433. 

Bassett,  John  E.,  I.,  806;  appointments, 
806. 

Bates,  John  H.,  II.,  715,  716. 

Beach,  Theodore  C.,  II.,  777,  779. 


792 


INDEX, 


4 


« 


Preachers — Continued. 

Bear,  Charles  W.,  II.,  381. 

Bear,  Jacob,  I.,  563. 

Bear,  Richard  M.,  II.,  69. 

Bear,  William  M.,  II.,  172,  173. 

Beardsley,  Leonard  E.,  II.,  346. 

Beatty,  Robert,  II.,  267,  268. 

Beavins,  William,  II.,  261. 

Beck,  Francis  H.,  II.,  426,  427. 

Beech,  L.  R.,  II.,  14. 

Beers,  Hiram  W.,  II.,  143,  144. 

Beetham,  John,  II.,  572;  appointments, 
613. 

Benn,  Jesse  P.,  II.,  21. 

Benn,  Thomas,  I.,  813,  814;  appoint- 
ments, 814. 

Bennett,  Ebenezer,  II.,  364,  365. 

Bennett,  Lucius  J.,  II.,  660;  appoint- 
ments, 709. 

Bentley,  Jairus  J.,  II.,  391,  392. 

Best,  C.  C.,  I.,  743;  appointments,  743. 

Best,  David,  I.,  182,  183;  appointments, 
183. 

Bettes,  Milo  H.,  I.,  833,  834;  appoint- 
ments, 834. 

Bevens,  J.  S.,  I.,  495,  496. 

Bigelow,  Russell,  I.,  320,  321. 

Bignell,  William  P.,  II.,  238,  240;  wife 
of,  240,  242. 

Bird,  Levi,  II.,  685,  686. 

Birkett,  Edward,  I.,  740,  741;  appoint- 
ments, 741. 

Black,  Mnton,  II.,  375. 

Blackford,  Ira.,  II.,  156,  157. 

Blackmar,  Ransom  L.,  II.,  112. 

Blaisdell,  John  W.,  II.,  568;  appoint- 
ments, 613. 

Blinn,  Theodore  D.,  I.,  820;  appoint- 
ments, 820,  821. 

Bliss,  George  J.,  II.,  426. 

Booth,  Ezra,  I.,  344,  347;  embraces 

Mormonism,  345;  ends  in  scepticism, 
346,  347;  Millerism  excitement,  345, 
346. 

Borland,  Robert  S.,  II.,  558;  appoint- 
ments, 612. 

Bostwick,  Dr.  Shadrack,  I.,  167,  170; 

appointments,  169. 

Bowers,  Abraham  H.,  II.,  252,  253. 

Boyd,  Robert  B.,  II.,  345. 

Boyle,  John  T.,  II.,  243,  244. 

Brainard,  William,  II.,  337. 

Branch,  Thomas,  I.,  267,  271;  at  North 
East,  267,  268;  death,  268;  grave  vis- 
ited by  Bishop  Hedding;  monument, 
271,  272. 

Branfield,  William,  II.,  638;  appoint- 

ments, 704. 

Bray,  James  M.,  II.,  557;  appoint- 

ments, 612. 

Bredberg,  James  II.,  312. 

Briggs,  Martin  C.,  II.,  157,  159. 

Brockunier,  Samuel  R.,  I.,  347,  350; 
account  of  meeting  near  Dunkirk, 

349,  350;  character,  350;  on  Chau- 
tauqua circuit,  348. 

Brooks,  Lorenzo  D.,  II.,  290. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Brown,  Arthur  M.,  I.,  660,  663;  appoint- 
ments, 663. 

Brown,  “Billy,”  I.,  on  Holland  Pur- 
chase, 220,  221. 

Brown,  Caleb,  I.,  590,  591;  appoint- 
ments, 591. 

Brown,  Edward,  574;  appointments, 
613. 

Brown,  Frank,  II.,  424,  425. 

Brown,  George  H.,  II.,  342. 

Brown,  James  F.,  II.,  320,  321. 

Brown,  Nelson  C.,  II.,  278,  279. 

Brown,  Orsemus  P.,  II.,  102,  103. 

Brown,  Samuel,  I.,  296. 

Browning,  T.  W.,  171. 

Brownson,  Ira,  I.,  460,  461. 

Brownson,  Alfred,  I.,  397,  et  seq.;  ac- 
count with  Ben  Stokeley,  405,  408;  a 
remarkable  incident  in  his  ministry, 
398,  399;  at  Zanesville  camp  meet- 
ing, 402;  camp  meeting  at  Clarion, 
fun  and  religion,  408,  412;  cure  for 
hypochondria,  398;  did  not  go  to 
Franklin,  414,  416;  in  the  army,  398; 
Meadville,  400;  mission  to  the  In- 
dians, 418,  421;  the  sick  healed,  416, 
418;  preaches  temperance,  414,  416; 
story  of  the  fairies,  403,  405;  trus- 
tee of  Allegheny  College,  413,  415. 

Bump,  William  H.,  I.,  760,  761;  ap- 
pointments, 761. 

Burdick,  Enoch,  I.,  272,  273. 

Burgess,  Alvin,  II.,  36,  37. 

Burns,  Harvey  M.,  II.,  693;  appoint- 
ments, 714. 

Burroughs,  Peter,  I.,  803,  806;  appoint- 
ments, 804;  letters  from  his  daugh- 
ters, 804,  806. 

Burrows,  James  R.,  II.,  775,  776. 

Burrows,  Thomas,  II.,  710. 

Burton,  Lewis,  I.,  836;  appointments, 
836,  837. 

Burton,  Simon  S.,  II.,  273. 

Burwell,  Judge  Joel,  I.,  325,  330. 

Bush,  Warner,  II.,  374. 

Butler,  Milo,  II.,  133,  134. 

Butler,  William,  I.,  191,  192. 

Butt,  William,  I.,  583,  584;  appoint- 
ments, 584. 

Callender,  Aurora,  I.,  552,  553;  ap- 
pointments, 553. 

Callender,  Nathaniel,  I.,  557. 

Card,  Silas,  I.,  742. 

Carey,  Sylvester,  I.,  472;  appoint- 

ments, 472. 

Carlson,  B.  A.,  II.,  610. 

Carr,  Thomas,  I.,  476;  appointments, 
476. 

Carroll,  William,  I.,  648,  649;  appoint- 
ments, 648. 

Caruthers,  Richard  A.,  II.,  193,  197. 

Carver,  Oliver,  I.,  295. 

Case,  W.  W.,  II.,  375. 

Caughey,  Francis,  II.,  375. 

Chamberlain,  Henry  ML,  II.,  159,  162. 

Chandler,  David  W.,  II.,  638;  appoint- 
ments, 704. 


INDEX. 


793 


Preachers — Continued. 

Chandler,  John,  I.,  511,  513;  appoint- 
ments, 513;  fields  of  labor,  512. 

Chapin,  J.  E.,  I.,  715,  717;  account  of 
first  circuit,  716,  717;  appointments, 
717,  718. 

Chapin,  Lucius  A.,  II.,  682;  appoint- 
ments, 712. 

Chapman,  C.  R.,  I.,  821,  822;  appoint- 
ments, 822. 

Charles,  James,  I.,  192. 

Chesbro,  George  W.,  II.,  235,  236. 

Childs,  Wilfred  H.,  II.,  756,  757. 

Church,  Thomas,  I.,  190. 

Churchill,  Samuel,  II.,  101. 

Clapp,  Ralph,  I.,  707,  711;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Clark,  Homer  J.,  I.,  786,  789;  appoint- 
ments, 789;  president  of  Allegheny 
College,  788. 

Clark,  Lewis,  II.,  34,  35. 

Clark,  Silas  M.,  II.,  649;  appointments, 
708. 

Clark,  William  A.,  II.,  397,  398. 

Clarke,  G.  W.,  I.,  766,  768;  appoint- 
ments, 768,  769. 

Clock,  Jacob  W.,  II.,  73. 

Clyde,  James,  II.,  686;  appointments, 
713. 

Cobbledick,  Henry  A.,  II.,  619. 

Cobern,  Camden  M.,  II.,  755. 

Cole,  Harmon  D.,  II.,  123,  124. 

Colegrove,  Major,  II.,  330,  331. 

Collier,  George,  II.,  720,  721. 

Collins,  William  H.,  I.,  473. 

Colt,  Milton,  I.,  690,  692. 

Colton,  Addison  P.,  II.,  547;  appoint- 
ments, 609. 

Connelly,  William,  I.,  96. 

Coon,  Samuel,  II.,  337. 

Coons,  Andrew  N.,  II.,  414. 

Copeland,  Alanson  T.,  II.,  624;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Corey,  J.  B.,  II.,  704. 

Coston,  Zerah  H.,  I.,  664,  et  seq.;  ap- 
pointments, 666,  667;  work  for  Alle- 
gheny College,  664,  667. 

Coxon,  J.  K.,  II.,  101. 

Craft,  Amos  N.,  II.,  478,  480. 

Crane,  Robert  W.,  II.,  298,  299. 

Crawford,  John,  I.,  474,  475;  appoint- 
ments, 4<o. 

Crawford,  John  W.,  II.,  625;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Crawford,  William  H.,  II.,  752,  755. 

Creed,  Edward  K.,  II.,  681;  appoint- 
ments, 712. 

Crockwell,  Thomas  J.,  I.,  265,  266. 

Crosby,  Obed,  I.,  172,  174. 


Crouch,  John 
ments,  713. 

M., 

II., 

685; 

appoint- 

Crow,  Moses, 
ments,  760. 

I., 

759, 

760; 

appoint- 

Crowell  D.  Allen, 

II., 

546; 

appoint- 

ments,  609. 

Crum,  John,  I.,  801,  802;  appointments, 
802. 

Cullison,  John,  I.,  162. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Cummings,  Edwin  B.,  II.,  416,  417. 

Cummings,  Thomas  H.,  II.,  145,  146. 

Cushman,  William  W.,  II.,  684;  ap- 
pointments, 713. 

Dale,  Wesley,  W.,  II.,  725. 

Danforth,  E.  H.,  II.,  312. 

Daniels,  Abraham,  I.,  189,  190. 

Darling,  Ira  D.,  II.,  626;  appointments, 
703. 

Darrow,  C.  W.,  II.,  710. 

Davidson,  Daniel  D.,  I.,  333;  appoint- 
ments, 334. 

Davis,  A.  D.,  II.,  385. 

Davis,  Joseph  W.,  I.,  498,  499;  appoint- 
ments, 499. 

Davis,  Peter  B.,  I.,  141,  144;  appoint- 
ments, 141. 

Day,  David  E.,  II.,  222,  223. 

Day,  Leland  W.,  II.,  395. 

Day,  William  F.,  162;  appointments, 
165. 

Decker,  Alonzo  W.,  II.,  732,  733. 

Deem,  R.  K.,  II.,  418. 

Delo,  Benjamin  F.,  433;  appointments, 
435. 

Demming,  John,  I.,  801;  appointments, 
801. 

Dewart,  J.  H.,  II.,  708. 

De  Woody,  J.  M.,  II.,  374. 

Dighton,  Francis  A.,  I.,  695,  696;  ap- 
pointments, 696;  converted,  229. 

Dimmick,  S.  L.,  II.,  462. 

Divers,  Timothy,  I.,  189. 

Dobbs,  Abram  S.,  II.,  251,  252. 

Dodds,  Horace  G.,  II.,  758,  760. 

Domer,  Abraham  H.,  II.,  443,  444. 

Douglas,  Thomas  W.,  II.,  669;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Dowell,  Jacob,  I.,  195. 

Draper,  Gideon,  I.,  389. 

Dunham,  Sylvester,  I.,  481. 

Dunmire,  Gabriel,  II.,  344,  345. 

Earl,  Dr.  Thomas,  II.,  149,  151. 

Eason,  David,  II.,  377. 

Ebbert,  John  H.,  I.,  633,  634. 

Eberhart,  W.  A.  P.,  II.,  375. 

Eberman,  George  M.,  II.,  324. 

Eckels,  John,  II.,  549;  appointments, 
609. 

Eddy,  Ira,  I.,  350,  355;  appointments, 
353,  354;  conversion,  350;  conversion 
of  a blacksmith,  352,  353;  student 
life,  351. 

Edmonds,  E.  F.,  II.,  710. 

Edwards,  James  T.,  II.,  622;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Edwards,  Reuben  J.,  II.,  129,  130. 

Ege,  Oliver,  I.,  687,  689. 

Elkins,  Moses,  II.,  66. 

Elliott,  Charles,  I.,  391,  397;  at  camp 
meetings,  396,  397;  editor,  392;  on 
Ohio  District,  391;  peculiarities,  392, 
393;  writer,  395. 

Elliott,  George,  II.,  610. 

Elliott,  Henry,  I.,  746;  appointments, 
746. 

Elliott,  John,  I.,  296. 


794 


INDEX. 


« 


Preachers — Continued. 

Elliott.  John,  II.,  351. 

Ely,  Leander  W.,  II.,  134,  135. 

Espy,  John  B.,  II.,  687;  appointments, 
713. 

Eshbaugh,  Martin  L.,  II.,  639,  640. 

Ewen,  James,  I.,  210. 

Excell,  Benjamin,  II.,  271,  272. 

Excell,  J.  J.,  II.,  611. 

Fair,  Frederick,  II.,  560;  appointments, 
612. 

Felt,  Russell  M.,  II.,  672;  appoint- 
ments, 710. 

Ferris,  John,  I.,  621;  appointments,  621. 

Fidler,  Noah,  I.,  164,  165;  appoint- 
ments, 165. 

Fidler,  Sylvester,  II.,  629;  appoint- 
ments, 702. 

Field,  Elijah  H.,  I.,  483,  485;  appoint- 
ments, 485,  486. 

Fillmore,  Glezen,  I.,  456,  459;  appoint- 
ments, 459;  crosses  the  river,  459; 
travels  Holland  Purchase  Circuit, 
457. 

Finley,  James  B.,  1.,  304,  et  seq.;  a 
sister  exhorts,  314,  315;  at  Cane 
Ridge  camp  meeting,  305,  306;  con- 
version, 306,  307,  322,  323;  handling 
banditti,  316;  handling  Calvinism, 
316;  later  labors,  322;  on  the  Ohio 
District,  309,  et  seq.;  reclamation, 
308;  “the  New  Market  Devil,”  307. 

Finley,  John  P.,  I.,  322,  373. 

Fisher,  I.  O.,  II.,  275. 

Fleming,  Thornton,  I.,  147,  et  seq.; 
conversion,  148,  149;  death,  150;  me- 
moir, 148,  151;  travels,  150. 

Flood,  Theodore  L .,  II.,  677;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Flower,  Josiah,  I.,  757,  759;  appoint- 
ments, 759. 

Foljambe,  Samuel  W.,  II.,  146,  147. 

Fording,  Miller,  II.,  689;  appointments, 
713. 

Forest,  Samuel  N.,  II.,  156. 

Foster,  Caleb,  I.,  799. 

Foster,  James  M.,  II.,  640;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Foulke,  Charles  W.,  II.,  583;  appoint- 
ments, 614. 

Fouts,  Allen,  I.,  823,  824;  appointments, 
824. 

Fowler,  William,  I.,  498. 

Fradenburgh,  Jason  N.,  II.,  635;  ap- 
pointments, 706. 

Frampton,  Cyrus  H.,  II.,  725,  726. 

Frear,  Sweeney  C.,  II.,  68. 

French,  Wareham,  I.,  402,  403;  ap- 
pointments, 403. 

Gardner,  Rouse  B.,  I.,  703;  appoint- 
ments, 704. 

Garnett,  Jeremiah,  II.,  648;  appoint- 
ments, 708. 

Gee,  Nicholas,  I.,  486. 

Gehr,  William  R.,  II.,  323. 

Gilfillan,  James,  II.,  284. 

Gilfillan,  J.  Brewster,  II.,  729,  730. 

Gillette,  Ezra  S.,  II.,  329,  330. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Gillmore,  Hiram,  I.,  745;  appointments, 
745. 

Gillmore,  James,  I.,  279,  281,  558;  ap- 
pointments, 562;  influence  and  work, 
559,  562. 

Gillmore,  Orin,  I.,  481. 

Ginader,  John  G.,  II.,  730. 

Goddard,  Curtis,  I.,  332. 

Goddard,  Dennis,  I.,  357. 

Goodrich,  Archibald  S.,  II.,  456. 

Goodrich,  Ira  B.,  II.,  486. 

Goodwin,  Timothy,  I.,  795,  796;  ap- 
pointments, 796. 

Gorwell,  Jacob,  I.,  267. 

Graham,  John,  I.,  286,  287;  appoint- 
ments, 287. 

Graham,  John,  II.,  40;  appointments,  42. 

Graham,  Thomas,  I.,  747,  748;  appoint- 
ments, 748;  character,  750;  debate 
with  Mr.  Underhill,  752,  755;  wife 
of,  748,  750. 

Graham,  William  P.,  II.,  692;  appoint- 
ments 714. 

Grant,  Cornelius  N.,  II.,  428. 

Grant,  Loring,  I.,  233. 

Graves,  James  B.,  II.,  233. 

Gray,  George  W.,  II.,  389,  390. 

Gray,  Robert,  II.,  285. 

Green,  Philip,  I.,  382;  appointments, 
384;  faithful  worker,  383,  384. 

Greene,  J.  M.,  II.,  312. 

Greer,  James,  II.,  211,  213. 

Gregg,  Samuel,  I.,  654,  et  seq.;  appoint- 
ments, 657;  conversion,  655,  657;  ex- 
perience on  Smethport  circuit,  672, 
674. 

Griffith,  Warren,  I.,  795;  appointments, 
795. 

Grover,  Joshua  B.,  II.,  319. 

Groves,  James  M.,  II.,  475. 

Gruber,  Jacob,  I.,  et  seq.;  memoir,  207, 
210;  peculiarities,  202,  205;  rules  for 
a preacher,  205;  sermon  at  Brush’s 
meeting  house,  92. 

Guert,  Job,  I.,  191. 

Gurwell,  Jacob,  I.,  54. 

Guthrie,  Francis,  II.,  14 

Guy,  Thomas,  II.,  200,  201. 

Hall,  Albina,  I.,  810,  811;  appoint- 
ments, 811. 

Hall,  Hiram  G.,  II.,  670;  appointments, 
711. 

Hall,  Joseph,  I.,  181. 

Hallock,  J.  A.,  I.,  726;  appointments, 
726. 

Hallock,  J.  K.,  I.,  631,  632;  appoint- 
ments, 632. 

Hamline,  Leonidas  Lent,  I.,  525,  539; 
Ayres’  account,  523,  525;  conversion, 
525,  et  seq.;  description  of  the  camp 
meeting,  526,  533;  reads  the  law  to 
the  congregation,  533,  534. 

Hammond,  Alexander,  R.,  II.,  261. 

Hammond,  James  B.,  II.,  144. 

Hanna,  Matthew,  I.,  742. 

Hanson,  James  M.,  I.,  194;  appoint- 
ments, 194. 


i 


I 


INDEX. 


795 


Preachers — Continued. 

Haskell,  William  H.,  II.,  659;  appoint- 
ments, 709. 

Hawkins,  Gaylord  B.,  II.,  110,  112. 
Hawkins,  J.  G.,  II.,  461. 

Hayes,  J.  L .,  II.,  385. 

Hayes,  William,  II.,  289. 

Haynes,  Nathaniel  C.,  I.,  837. 

Hatton,  Robert  C.,  I.,  284;  peculiarities, 
284,  286. 

Heard,  C.  M.,  II.,  375. 

Heard,  Stephen,  I.,  825,  828;  appoint- 
ments, 828;  reminiscences,  827,  828. 
Height,  Adam,  II.,  336. 

Hemphill,  Andrew,  I.,  103,  104,  181. 
Hempstead,  Samuel  P.,  II.,  19,  20. 
Henderson,  Harvey,  II.,  706. 
Henderson,  H.  P.,  II.,  247,  250. 
Henderson,  S.  A.,  II.,  66. 

Henderson,  William  C.,  I.,  494,  495;  ap- 
pointments, 495. 

Henry,  Calvin  P.,  I.,  650,  651;  appoint- 
ments, 651. 

Henry,  John  N.,  I.,  651;  appointments. 
651. 

Henry,  Nelson,  I.,  649,  650;  appoint- 
ments, 650. 

Herron,  James  H.,  II.,  588;  appoint- 

ments, 615. 

Hicks,  J.  P.,  II.,  610. 

Hildebrand,  Josiah,  II.,  143. 

Hill,  Benjamin  P.,  I.,  374. 

Hill,  Bryan  S.,  I.,  711,  712;  appoint- 

ments, 712. 

Hill,  Ensign  B.,  I.,  744;  appointments, 
744. 

Hill,  John  F.,  I.,  813;  appointments, 
815. 

Hill,  John  W.,  I.,  502,  503;  appoint- 

ments, 503. 

Hill,  Joseph  F.,  II.,  421,  422. 

Hill,  Moses,  I.,  829,  832;  appointments, 
832;  his  will,  832. 

Hills,  Gustavus,  I.,  727;  appointments, 
727. 

Himebaugh,  Benjamin  D.,  II.,  221. 
Himebaugh,  Matthias,  II.,  28,  29. 
Hitchcock,  H.  S.,  I.,  800. 

Hitchcock,  James,  I.,  626,  627;  appoint- 
ments, 627. 

Hollen,  Samuel,  II.,  175,  176. 

Hollister,  Washington,  II.,  379,  380. 
Holmes,  J.  L.,  I.,  669;  appointments, 
669. 

Holmes,  Nicholas  H.,  II.,  627;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Holt,  Jonathan,  I.,  520,  521.  . 

Holt,  William  B.,  II.,  677;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Hopkins,  Robert  Finley,  I.,  481,  482; 

appointments,  482,  483. 

Horton,  Almon  A.,  II.,  454,  456. 

Horton,  Peter  D.,  I.,  496,  497;  appoint- 
ments, 497. 

Horton,  William,  I.,  359,  360. 

Hover,  William  H.,  II.,  477,  478. 

Hovis,  Jacob  A.,  II.,  716. 

Howe,  Jared,  II.,  284,  285. 


I 


Preachers — Continued. 

Hubbard,  Stephen,  I.,  769;  appoint- 
ments, 769. 

Hull,  Edwin,  II.,  47,  48. 

Humason,  George  H.,  II.',  735. 

Hume,  James  A.,  II.,  630;  appoint- 
ments, 704. 

Hunscher,  Henry  J.,  II.,  641;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Hunt,  C.  C.,  II.,  461. 

Hunter,  James,  I.,  182. 

Hunter,  William  H.,  I.,  811,  813;  ap- 
pointments, 813. 

Hurlburt,  Russell  H.,  II.,  223,  224. 
Hyde,  Ammi  B.,  II.,  450,  452. 
Ingraham,  Samuel  W.,  I.,  696;  appoint- 
ments, 696;  first  experience  as  an 
itinerant,  696,  700;  journey  to  Tio- 
nesta,  773,  776. 

Irons,  Charles,  II.,  289. 

Irwin,  Daniel  C.,  II.,  730,  731. 

Jack,  David  H.,  II.,  124. 

Jackson,  Abner,  I.,  667;  appointments, 
667;  wife  of,  667,  668. 

Jamison,  Thomas,  I.,  647. 

Janney,  Lewis,  I.,  744;  appointments, 
744. 

Jenks,  Jacob,  I.,  583. 

Jennes,  Charles  S.,  II.,  182,  183. 
Jennings,  Thomas,  I.,  669;  appoint- 

ments, 669. 

Johnson,  Edwin  A.,  II.,  277,  278. 
Johnson,  John,  I.,  520. 

Johnson,  John  E.,  II.,  556;  appoint- 
ments, 612. 

Johnson,  William  R.,  II.,  244,  245. 
Jones,  Clinton,  II.,  706. 

Jones,  Cornelius,  I.,  522,  523;  appoint- 
ments, 523. 

Jones,  Ezra,  II.,  167. 

Jones,  Joel,  I.,  555. 

Jones,  Noble  W.,  II.,  268,  269. 

Keeler,  Russell  F.,  II.,  363,  364. 
Keeley,  James  H.,  II.,  721,  722. 

Keller,  Ahab,  I.,  657,  658;  appoint- 
ments, 658;  in  1832  and  1833,  659. 
Kellogg,  A.  L.,  II.,  418. 

Kellogg,  Hiram,  II.,  124,  125. 

Kendall,  Luther,  II.,  14. 

Kennedy,  Benjamin  J.,  II.,  395,  397. 
Kent,  John  P.,  I.,  332,  333. 

Kernick,  Edward  M.,  II.,  620;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Keyes,  Josiah,  I.,  471. 

King,  David,  II.,  153,  155. 

Kingsbury,  Chester  T.,  II.,  269,  271. 
Kingsley,  Bishop  Calvin,  II.,  74;  ap- 
pointments, 87. 

Kinnear,  Gideon  D.,  I.,  706;  appoint- 
ments, 706. 

Kinney,  Edwin  J.,  I.,  770,  771;  appoint- 
ments, 771. 

Kinsley,  Hiram,  I.,  515,  517;  appoint- 
ments, 517;  character,  515,  517. 
Knapp,  Ezra  R.,  II.,  365,  366. 

Knapp,  Henry,  I.,  463. 

Knox,  William,  I.,  264. 


- 


796 


INDEX. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Kummer,  J.  A.,  II.,  590;  appointments, 
615. 

Lake,  Valorus,  II.,  225,  226. 

Lake,  Waldo  W.,  II.,  20. 

Lane,  Ebenezer  B.,  II.,  70,  72. 

Lane,  George,  I.,  112,  193;  thrilling  ex- 
perience, 117,  120. 

Lane,  Isaiah,  II.,  303. 

Lane,  Lemuel,  I.,  234,  287,  288;  ap- 
pointments, 288;  lost  in  the  woods, 
288. 

Langdon,  Benjamin  F.,  II.,  217,  218. 
Latimer,  Eliezer  C.,  II.,  202. 

Latshaw,  David,  II.,  454. 

Laverty,  John  H.,  II.,  684;  appoint- 
ments, 712. 

Lee,  Joseph  E.,  I.,  660. 

Leech,  John,  I.,  89. 

Leech,  Joshua,  I.,  88,  89. 

Leech,  Joshua,  II.,  66. 

Leech,  Samuel,  I.,  88,  800. 

Leonard,  J.  M.,  II.,  461. 

Leslie,  Henry  W.,  II.,  589;  appoint- 
ments, 615. 

Leslie,  Joseph,  I.,  807,  809;  appoint- 
ments, 808,  809. 

Lewis,  John,  I.,  361. 

Limerick,  Daniel,  I.,  521;  appoint- 

ments, 522. 

Lindsey,  Anthony  J.,  II.,  418,  421. 

Linn,  Beatty  P.,  II.,  731. 

Linn,  William  B.,  II.,  779,  780. 

Little,  G.  L.,  II.,  199. 

Lloyd,  Sylvester  W.,  II.,  484. 

Lloyd,  Watts  B.,  I.,  772;  appointments, 
772. 

Locke,  James  R.,  I.,  744;  appointments, 
744. 

Lockwood,  Amos  M.,  II.,  668;  appoint- 
ments, 711. 

Loud,  Henry  M.,  II.,  221. 

Lowe,  James  W.,  I.,  809,  810;  appoint- 
ments, 810. 

Luccock,  John,  I.,  668;  appointments. 
668,  669. 

Luce,  Hiram,  I.,  703;  appointments, 
703. 

Ludwick,  Ephraim  A.,  II.,  412,  414. 
Luke,  N.  G.,  II.,  289,  290. 

Lund,  William,  II.,  289. 

Luse,  L.  L.,  II.,  461. 

Lusher,  John,  II.,  658;  appointments, 
710. 

Lyon,  John  R.,  II.,  173,  174. 

Lytle,  John  S.,  II.,  245,  247. 

Mack,  Wilder  B.,  I.,  554,  555;  appoint- 
ments, 555. 

Maltby,  Benjamin  K.,  I.,  807;  appoint- 
ments, 807. 

Maltby,  George  W.,  II.,  130,  131. 
Maltby,  William  A.,  II.,  457. 

Maltby,  William  W.,  II.,  35,  36. 
Marsh,  Jephtha,  II.,  289. 

Marsteller,  Benjamin,  II.,  275. 

Martin,  John  W.,  II.,  622. 

Marvin,  James,  II.,  422,  424. 

Matson,  William  A.,  II.,  202,  203. 


Preachers — Continued. 

McArthur,  John  J.,  II.,  221. 

McCammon,  Andrew,  I.,  633;  his  grave, 
272. 

McCarty,  J.  H.,  II.,  311. 

McCaskey,  George,  I.,  726;  appoint- 
ments, 726. 

McClelland,  Isaiah  C.  T.,  II.,  27. 
McClelland,  Thomas,  I.>  54. 

McComb,  John,  II.,  294,  295. 

McCormick,  William,  II.,  173. 

McCreary,  Edward  D.,  II.,  562;  ap- 
pointments, 612. 

McCreary,  Thomas  G.,  II.,  191,  192. 
McDonald,  John  C.,  II.,  683;  appoint- 
ments, 712. 

McElhattan,  Levi  O.,  II.,  773. 

McEntire,  Obed  G.,  II.,  378,  379. 
Mcllhattan,  Elijah  C.,  II.,  547;  appoint- 
ments, 609. 

McIntyre,  Robert  A.,  II.,  740,  741. 
McLean,  John,  I.,  584;  appointments, 
590;  experience,  585,  590. 

McMahon,  James,  I.,  281,  282;  appoint- 
ments, 283,  284. 

McMahon,  John,  I.,  281,  282;  appoint- 
ments, 284. 

McMechen,  James  H.,  I.,  686,  687. 

Mead,  Charles  O.,  II.,  718,  720. 

Mead,  S.  L.,  II.,  289. 

Meade,  Orville  L.,  II.,  291,  293. 

Mechlin,  Joseph  L.,  II.,  620;  appoint- 
ments, 704. 

Mendenhall,  James  K.,  II.,  322,  323. 
Merchant,  Andrew  J.,  II.,  340,  341. 
Merchant,  James  H.,  II.,  549;  appoint- 
ments, 608. 

Merriam,  Wdlliam  A.,  II.,  731,  732. 
Merrill,  L.  G.,  II.,  610. 

Merritt,  Lucien  F.,  II.,  582;  appoint- 
ments, 614. 

Mershon,  Israel,  II.,  48. 

Mershon,  John,  I.,  180,  181. 

Metcalf,  Elijah,  I.,  233,  234. 

Miller,  Alexander  L .,  I.,  834,  836;  ap- 
pointments, 836. 

Miller,  Almeron  G.,  II.,  72,  73. 

Miller,  Manassas,  II.,  575;  appoint- 
ments, 613. 

Mills,  J.  P.,  II.,  614. 

Milroy,  Samuel  A.,  II.,  302. 

Miner,  Clement  W.,  II.,  724. 

Mix,  Lorenzo  D.,  I.,  727;  appointments, 
727. 

Mizener,  David,  II.,  234,  235. 

Moffitt,  John  H.,  I.,  557,  558. 

Monks,  William,  II.,  113. 

Monroe,  Joshua,  I.,  210,  et  seq. ; con- 
version, 212,  213;  character,  212; 

early  life,  218;  experience  on  Erie 
circuit,  159,  161,  214,  217;  journey  to 
Erie  circuit,  210,  212;  reminiscences, 
213,  214;  illness,  216,  217;  wife  of, 
219  220. 

Moore,  George  W.,  II.,  297,  298. 

Moore,  Homer  H.,  II.,  176,  179. 

Moore,  H.  J.,  I.,  800. 

Moran,  R.  S.,  II.,  199. 


INDEX. 


797 


Preachers — Continued. 

Morris,  Nathaniel,  II.,  661;  appoint- 
ments, 709. 

Morrison,  Chester,  I.,  712,  713;  appoint- 
ments, 714;  preaches  to  Mr.  Coston, 
713,  714. 

Morse,  Fortes,  II.,  112. 

Mortimer,  John,  II.,  33. 

Morton,  Aaron  D.,  II.,  265,  267. 

Mossman,  William  H.,  II.,  367,  368. 

Murray,  James,  I.,  382. 

Muse,  Fauntly,  II.,  199. 

Neff,  James  B.,  II.,  717,  718. 

Newman,  S.  B.,  II.,  385. 

Nickle,  Oliver  H.,  II.,  733,  734. 

Norris,  Ira,  I.,  742. 

Norris,  John,  I.,  281,  741,  742. 

Norton,  Albert,  II.,  74., 

Norton,  John  D.,  II.,  184,  185. 

Norton,  Niram,  II.,  17,  19. 

Norton,  Roderick,  II.,  192,  193. 

Nowlen,  Edward  M.,  II.,  296,  297. 

Nye,  S.  S.,  II.,  336,  337. 

O’Neal,  John,  II.,  431,  432. 

Orwig,  James  B.,  II.,  265. 

Osborne,  David  C.,  II.,  282,  283. 

Osborne,  Josiah  O.,  II.,  626;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Osborne,  Philip,  I.,  794,  795. 

Paddock,  Benjamin  G.,  I.,  251,  et  seq. ; 
a dangerous  river,  254,  255;  encoun- 
ters wolves,  252;  experience  at  Erie, 
260,  261;  Block  House,  262,  263; 

Franklin,  262;  Meadville,  261;  rea- 
sons with  a bear,  256,  257;  “Shetock- 
way”  circuit,  251;  Waterford,  262, 
263. 

Paddock,  Zachariah,  I.,  461,  462;  ap- 
pointments, 462. 

Paden,  Samuel  K.,  II.,  224,  225. 

Painter,  William  W.,  II.,  646;  appoint- 
ments, 708. 

Palmer,  David  R.,  II.,  694;  appoint- 
ments, 714. 

Pappenhagen,  Charles  L.,  II.,  774,  775. 

Parker,  Oreb  D.,  II.,  203,  204. 

Parker,  Rufus,  I.,  795;  appointments, 
795. 

Parks,  Simeon  W.,  I.,  705;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Parsons,  Joseph  A.,  II.,  729. 

Pattee,  Calvin  R.,  II.,  313,  317. 

Patterson,  G.  W.,  II.,  448. 

Patterson,  William,  II.,  15,  16. 

Peacock,  Thomas,  II.,  190. 

Peate,  John,  II.,  204;  appointments, 
208. 

Peck,  Andrew,  I.,  472,  473;  appoint- 
ments, 473. 

Peck,  Reuben,  I.,  705;  appointments, 
705. 

Peet,  Richard,  II.,  662;  appointments, 
709. 

Perry,  John,  II.,  555;  appointments, 
611. 

Perry,  J.  F.,  II.,  318,  319. 

Peters,  Cearing,  II.,  662;  appointments, 
709. 

5i 


Preachers — Continued. 

Peters,  Frank  R.,  II.,  726,  727. 

Phillips,  Asaph  B.,  II.,  734,  735. 

Pinney,  Philo  P.,  II.,  281,  282. 
Plannette,  David  C.,  653;  appoint- 

ments, 707. 

Plant,  James  M.,  II.,  28. 

Platt,  Daniel  A.,  II.,  728,  729. 
Plimpton,  Allured,  I.,  594,  595;  appoint- 
ments, 595. 

Plimpton,  Billings  O.,  I.,  499,  501;  ap- 
pointments, 501. 

Post,  Christian  Frederick,  I.,  95,  96. 
Prather,  Silas  H.,  II.,  728. 

, Pratt,  Rufus,  II.,  390,  391. 

Preston,  Benjamin,  I.,  630;  appoint- 
ments, 630. 

Preston,  David,  I.,  556;  appointments, 
556. 

Preston,  George  P.,  II.,  648;  appoint- 
ments, 708. 

Prindle,  Cyrus,  II.,  552;  appointments, 
611. 

Pritchard,  Daniel,  I.,  700;  appoint- 

ments, 700. 

Prosser,  Dillon,  I.,  718;  appointments, 
718. 

Prosser,  E.  H.,  II.,  614. 

Prosser,  John,  I.,  669,  671;  appoint- 
ments, 671,  672. 

Prosser,  L.  D.,  I.,  553,  554;  appoint- 
ments, 554. 

Purcell,  Ashbel,  II.,  171. 

Quinn,  James,  I.,  memoir,  151,  156;  ap- 
pointments, 150;  conversion,  154,  156. 
Radcliff,  Thomas  R.,  II.,  216. 

Ragan,  Zachariah,  I.,  505. 

Randolph,  Reuben  F.,  II.,  637;  appoint- 
ments, 704. 

Rawson,  Silas,  II.,  447,  448. 

Reed,  Albert  M.,  II.,  107,  108. 

Reeder,  Nathaniel,  I.,  460. 

Reeser,  George  F.,  II.,  48;  appoint- 
ments, 51. 

Reeves,  Asahel,  I.,  769,  770;  appoint- 
ments, 770. 

Reeves,  Charles  W.,  II.,  295. 

Reeves,  Lemuel,  I.,  798;  appointments, 
798,  799. 

Reid,  James,  I.,  188r  189. 

Reno,  Perry  A.,  II.,  696;  appointments, 
714. 

Reno,  William  N.,  II..  213,  214. 
Reynolds,  Caleb,  I.,  189;  appointments, 
189. 

Reynolds,  Samuel,  II.,  214. 

Rhodes,  James  C.,  II.,  651;  appoint- 
ments, 707. 

Rice,  William,  II.,  546;  appointments, 
609. 

Rich,  Albert  R.,  II.,  628;  appointments, 
702. 

Rich,  Justus  O.,  I.,  757;  appointments, 
757. 

Richards,  William,  I.,  122,  181. 
Richardson,  Albert  G.,  I.,  475,  476. 
Richey,  Daniel  C.,  I.,  595,  596;  appoint- 
ments, 596. 


798 


INDEX. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Richmond,  Dr.  Lawton,  I.,  121. 

Ridout,  J.  C.,  II.,  711. 

Roberts,  Richford  R.,  I.,  adventures, 
51,  56;  character,  67;  conversion,  48, 
49;  itinerant,  60,  62;  early  life,  47; 
education,  49;  letter  to  from  Thomas 
McClelland,  56,  59;  modesty,  77,  80; 
preaching  in  barroom,  259,  260;  She- 
nango  life,  49,  et  seq.;  sugar  mak- 
ing, 55;  sympathy  for  pioneers,  66, 
67. 

Roberts,  R.  R.,  II.,  275. 

Robinson,  Abel,  I.,  295. 

Robinson,  George  W.,  I.,  521. 

Robinson,  John,  I.,  622;  a church  quick- 
ly built,  624,  625;  appointments,  625. 

Robinson,  J.  B.,  II.,  461,  462. 

Rockwell,  Calvin  D.,  I.,  743;  appoint- 
ments, 743. 

Rodgers,  D.  M.,  II.,  351. 

Rodgers,  Lorenzo,  I.,  707;  appoint- 
ments, 707. 

Rowen,  Joseph,  I.,  144,  146;  appoint- 
ments, 145. 

Rowland,  Daniel,  II.,  20. 

Rowland,  Daniel,  II.,  554;  appoint- 
ments, 611. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Shewel,  Henry,  I.,  170,  172,  232,  297, 
298. 

Shields,  James,  II.,  279,  280. 

Shinn,  Asa,  I.,  162,  163. 

Shurick,  N.  M.,  II.,  328. 

Sibley,  Reuben  J.,  II.,  14,  15. 

Simons,  Ernest  A.,  II.,  662;  appoint- 
ments, 708. 

Sisson,  George  W.,  II.,  261. 

Smith,  Amos,  I.,  179,  180;  sudden 

death,  402. 

Smith,  Darius,  I.,  700,  702;  appoint- 

ments, 702. 

Smith,  Friend  W.,  II.,  280,  281. 

Smith,  Henry  C.,  II.,  651;  appoint- 

ments, 707. 

Smith,  Milton,  II.,  430. 

Smith,  Reuben  C.,  II.,  439,  443. 

Smith,  Salmeron,  II.,  25. 

Snyder,  John  W.,  II.,  643;  appoint- 

ments, 705. 

Solomon,  John,  I.,  295. 

Squier,  E.  A.,  II.,  418. 

Squier,  G.  J.,  II.,  710. 

Stannard,  Henry  B.,  I.,  745. 

Staples,  George  W.,  II.,  264. 

Starrett,  John  H.,  II.,  387,  388. 


Rumberger,  Cyrus  C.,  II.,  739,  740. 

Ruark,  Shadrack,  I.,  304. 

Ruter,  Calvin  W.,  I.,  356. 

Ruter,  Martin,  I.,  719,  et  seq.;  appoint- 
ments, 725,  726;  book  agent,  721; 

death,  723;  in  New  England  Confer- 
ence, 719,  720;  mission  to  Texas, 
721,  723;  President  of  Allegheny 

College,  721;  published  works.  725. 

Ruter,  Philander  S.,  I.,  727. 

Ryan,  Samuel  E.,  II.,  723,  724. 

Sackett,  Orsemus  M.,  II.,  567;  appoint- 
ments, 614. 

St.  John,  Orville  G.,  II.,  640;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Sampson,  William,  II.,  185,  186. 

Scofield,  Isaac,  I.,  824,  825;  appoint- 
ments, 825. 

Scofield,  John  C.,  II.,  339. 

Scofield,  Platt  W.,  II.,  453. 

Scott,  John,  I.,  497;  appointments,  498. 

Scott,  Robert  W.,  II.,  360,  363. 

Sears,  Stephen  S.,  II.,  392,  394. 

Seely,  William  H.,  II.,  642;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Sehon,  Edward  W.,  I.,  555;  appoint- 
ments, 555. 

Shackelford,  Joseph  A.,  I.,  158,  163. 

Shadduck,  Zaccheus  W.,  II.,  346,  347. 

Shaffer,  James  K.,  II.,  343,  344. 

Shane,  Joseph,  I.,  158,  159. 

Sharp,  David,  I.,  492,  494;  appoint- 
ments, 494. 

Shearer,  J.  R.,  II.,  448. 

Sheckler,  Thomas  H.,  II.,  689;  appoint- 
ments, 713. 

Shepard,  Winfield  S.,  II.,  682;  appoint- 
ments, 712. 

Sherwood,  Parker  W.,  II.,  215,  216. 


Steadman,  Darius  S.,  II.,  353;  appoint- 
ments, 356. 

Steadman,  Elkanah  P.,  I.,  660;  appoint- 
ments, 660. 

Steadman,  Hezekiah  N.,  II.,  652;  ap- 
pointments, 707. 

Steadman,  John  J.,  I.,  634,  et  seq.;  ap- 
pointments, 646;  character  drawn, 
636,  646;  debate  with  Luther  Lee, 
639;  memoir,  635,  636;  sermon  at 
camp  meeting,  644,  646;  great  speech 
on  slavery,  639,  641. 

Stearns,  Daniel  M.,  I.,  663,  664;  ap- 
pointments, 664. 

Stearns,  Horatio  N.,  I.,  771,  772;  ap- 
pointments, 772. 

Stevens,  Edward,  I.,  508. 

Stevens,  William,  I.,  756;  appoint- 

ments, 756,  757. 

Stever,  David  M.,  II.,  174,  175. 

Stewart,  John,  I.,  356. 

Stocker,  James  F.,  II.,  394,  395. 

Stocking,  George,  II.,  190. 

Stogdill,  John  W.,  II.,  425,  426. 

Stone,  A.  O.,  II.,  714. 

Stone,  M.  V.,  II.,  706. 

Stowe,  Theodore,  I.,  630;  appoint- 

ments, 630. 

Stratton,  Job  L.,  II.,  652;  appoint- 
ments, 707. 

Stubbs,  Robert  N.,  II.,  429,  430. 

Stubbs,  Thomas,  I.,  652,  654;  appoint- 
ments, 654. 

Stuntz,  George,  I.,  conversion,  92,  232, 
233. 

Stuntz.  Stephen  S.,  II.,  293,  294. 

Sturgis,  Alfred  G.,  I.,  702,  703;  appoint- 
ments, 703. 

Sullivan,  J.  C.,  II.,  337. 

Sullivan,  Potter,  II.,  155,  156. 


r 


INDEX. 


799 


Preachers — Continued. 

Sullivan,  Samuel  B.,  II.,  187,  188. 

Summerville,  John,  I.,  266,  267. 

Swayze,  John  J.,  I.,  621;  appoint- 

ments, 621. 

Swayze,  William,  I.,  appointments,  381, 
382;  conversion,  374,  376;  great  pul- 
pit power,  377;  on  his  farm,  389,  390; 
on  the  Ohio  District,  377;  reminis- 
cences, 379,  381;  superannuated,  378, 
379. 

Tackitt,  Ignatius  H.,  I.,  507,  508;  ap- 
pointments, 508. 

Tagg,  John  H.,  II.,  122,  123. 

Tait,  Thomas  B.,  II.,  108,  109. 

Talbot,  Hiram  V.,  II.,  716,  717. 

Taylor,  Edward  H.,  I.,  343,  344,  473; 
appointments,  474. 

Taylor,  William  M.,  II.,  574;  appoint- 
ments, 613. 

Teets,  Henry  A.,  II.,  722,  723. 

Thoburn,  James  M.,  II.,  723. 

Thomas,  Samuel  C.,  II.,  109,  110. 

Thompson,  Daniel  W.,  II.,  757. 

Thompson,  John  G.,  II.,  250,  251. 

Thompson,  Thomas,  I.,  647. 

Thorn,  Charles,  I.,  501,  502;  appoint- 
ments, 502. 

Tibbetts,  Almanson  C.,  II.,  317,  318. 

Tipton,  William,  I.,  475;  appointments, 
475. 

Todd,  William,  I.,  746;  appointments, 
747. 

Torrey,  Seneca  B.,  II.,  548;  appoint- 
ments, 609. 

Towne,  Eli,  I.,  195. 

Townsend,  James  G.,  II.,  485. 

Trescott,  Charles,  I.,  462,  463. 

Trevey,  William  B.,  II.,  737,  738. 

Tribby,  John,  II.,  186,  187. 

Troy,  McVey,  II.,  573;  appointments, 
613. 

Tucker,  H.  F.,  II.,  289. 

Uncles,  Joseph,  II.,  132,  133. 

Van  Camp,  Albert,  II.,  610. 

Vance,  John  H.,  II.,  226,  228. 

Van  Horn,  John,  II.,  34. 

Vaughn,  Tillinghast,  I.,  583. 

Vernon,  Frederick,  II.,  296. 

Vorse,  David  W.,  II.,  26,  27. 

Waddle,  Charles,  I.,  334. 

Wade,  Benjamin  F.,  II.,  429. 

Wade,  Ezra,  II.,  242. 

Wakefield,  John  W.,  II.,  773,  774. 

Walker,  Alden,  II.,  126. 

Wampler,  Daniel  W.,  II.,  579;  appoint- 
ments, 613. 

Ward,  Elijah,  I.,  477. 

Ward,  John  A.,  II.,  668;  appointments, 
711. 

Warner,  Benjamin  C.,  II.,  342,  343. 

Warner,  Elisha,  I.,  539;  his  examina- 
tion by  the  judge,  539,  541. 

Warner,  Samuel  N.,  II.,  263. 

Warner,  T.  R,  II.,  299,  301. 

Warner,  W.  W.,  II.,  381,  383. 

Warren,  Russell  M.,  II.,  331,  333. 

Waterman,  John  A.,  I.,  303,  304. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Watts,  James,  I.,  185,  186;  account  of 
Erie  circuit,  186,  187;  Rev.  William 
Osborne  speaks  of  his  work,  188. 

Webb,  Harvey,  II.,  590;  appointments, 
615. 

Webber,  Ansel,  I.,  742. 

Weigley,  Wellington,  I.,  726;  appoint- 
ments, 726. 

Weldon,  Joseph  W.,  II.,  280. 

Westlake,  Burrows,  I.,  296,  297. 

Westlake,  William,  I.,  475. 

Westwood,  Henry  C.,  II.,  756. 

Whallon,  J.  H.,  I.,  796,  797;  appoint- 
ments, 797. 

Wharton,  James  C.,  II.,  738,  739. 

Wheeler,  Alfred,  II.,  585;  appoint- 
ments, 614. 

Wheeler,  Elisha  T.,  II.,  218. 

Whipple,  Lorenzo,  I.,  806,  807;  appoint- 
ments, 797. 

Whippo,  John,  II.,  183,  184. 

Whitely,  Jonathan,  II.,  275. 

Wick,  Lewis,  II.,  590;  appointments, 
615. 

Wilder,  Alva,  II.,  103;  appointments, 
104. 

Wilkinson,  Samuel,  II.,  302. 

Wilkinson,  Samuel  L.,  II.,  301. 

Williams,  Darius,  I.,  687. 

Williams,  Lorenzo  D.,  II.,  38,  40. 

Williams,  Michael,  II.,  378. 

Williams,  W.  G.,  II.,  714. 

Wilson,  Cyril,  II.,  322. 

Wilson,  James  E.,  II.,  481,  483. 

Wilson,  Job,  I.,  486;  appointments,  486. 

Wilson,  John  W.,  II.,  126,  129. 

Wilson,  Welty  J.,  II.,  649;  appoint- 
ments, 708. 

Wilson,  William  F.,  I.,  822,  823;  ap- 
pointments, 823. 

Wilson,  William  H.,  II.,  367. 

Winans,  H.  S.,  I.,  797,  798;  appoint- 
ments, 798. 

Winans,  Isaac,  I.,  595;  appointments, 
595. 

Winger,  Samuel  E.,  II.,  650;  appoint- 
ments, 707. 

Wood,  John  O.,  I.,  820;  appointments, 
825. 

Wood,  Madison,  II.,  233. 

Woodworth,  Charles  E.,  II.,  417,  418. 

Woodworth,  Watson  W.,  II.,  682;  ap- 
pointments, 712. 

Worrallo,  William  S.,  I.,  714,  715;  ap- 
pointments, 715. 

Wrigglesworth,  John,  II.,  144,  145. 

Wright,  Dean  C.,  II.,  192. 

Wright,  Joseph  B.,  II.,  639;  appoint- 
ments, 705. 

Wright,  Richard  I.,  471,  472;  appoint- 
ments, 472. 

Wythe,  William  W.,  II.,  475,  477. 

Yingling,  Elliott  H.,  II.,  320. 

Youmans,  Jay  S.,  II.,  643;  appoint- 
ments, 706. 

Young,  Alcinous,  I.,  627;  appointments, 
629. 


800 


INDEX. 


Preachers — Continued. 

Young,  David,  I.,  298;  character,  299, 
302. 

Young,  Jacob,  I.,  236;  among  the 

rowdies,  243,  244;  an  exhorter,  237; 
at  Warren,  239;  a war  scare,  241, 
243;  his  birth,  236;  his  memoir,  248, 
251;  work  on  the  Ohio  District,  237, 
et  seq. 

Young,  John  A.,  II.,  132. 

Young,  William,  I.,  284,  285. 
Presbyterians,  I.,  early  churches,  27,  28. 
Puritanism  in  Ohio,  I.,  20. 

Quarterly  Conference  Records,  I.,  289, 
295,  815,  817. 

Rattlesnakes,  I.,  28,  30. 

Ravenna  District  Resolutions,  I.,  839, 

844. 

Remarkable  Conversions,  II.,  95,  96,  117, 
118. 

Remarkable  incident,  a,  I.,  780,  781. 
Reports  of  Districts,  1865,  II.,  464,  474. 
Resolutions,  Conference  of  1841,  II.,  67. 
Revivals,  Edwin  Hull  on,  II.,  136. 

Riley,  John,  I.,  89. 

Revivals: 

Ashtabula,  II.,  198. 

Austinburg,  I.,  730. 

Beaver  Dam,  I.,  579. 

Braceville  Circuit,  II.,  137. 

Brookfield,  I.,  777. 

Brookville,  II.,  348,  606. 

Callensburg,  II.,  406. 

Cambridge  Circuit,  II.,  90,  94. 

Chardon,  I.,  732,  779. 

Clarion  District,  II.,  383. 

Cleveland  Circuit,  I.,  577,  578,  729,  734; 

II.,  89,  370. 

Clintonville,  II.,  607. 

Corsica  Circuit,  II.,  325,  607. 

Cuyahoga  Falls,  I.,  777. 

Curllsville  Circuit,  II.,  188,  219,  325. 
Dayton  Summit,  II.,  603. 

Deer  Creek,  II.,  92. 

Deerfield,  I.,  731. 

Delanti,  II.,  369. 

Delaware  Township,  II.,  94. 
Ellicottville,  I.,  546. 

Ellsworth  Circuit,  II.,  87,  88,  198. 

Erie,  I.,  682;  II.,  88,  89. 

Erie  Circuit,  I.,  579,  580. 

Euclid,  I.,  549. 

Evansburg  Circuit,  II.,  304. 

Forestville,  I.,  682,  778,  779. 

Franklin,  II.,  605. 

Geneva,  O.,  I.,  729,  730. 

Grand  River  Circuit,  I.,  551,  552. 
Greenville,  II.,  198,  432,  632. 

Gustavus,  I.,  735,  841,  842;  II.,  117. 
Harbor  Creek,  I.,  549,  550. 

Harmony,  I.,  732,  736. 

Hartford  Circuit,  II.,  89. 
Hendersonville  Circuit,  II.,  136,  137 
605. 

Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  II.,  370. 

Kirtland,  II.,  138. 

Lake  Township,  II.,  348,  349. 

McKean  Circuit,  II.,  63,  89,  304. 


Revivals — Continued. 

Mayville  Circuit,  II.,  232. 

Meadville,  I.,  544,  580. 

Meadville  District,  II.,  189,  197,  198. 
Mentor,  II.,  288. 

Mercer,  I.,  729. 

Mesopotamia  Circuit,  II.,  32. 

Millville  Charge,  II.,  606,  607. 

Mina,  I.,  579. 

Morgan  Circuit,  II.,  198. 

Mount  Jackson  Circuit,  II.,  303. 

Napoli  Circuit,  II.,  90,  91,  118. 

New  Castle,  II.,  604,  605,  607. 

Newburg  Circuit,  II.,  219. 

North  East  Circuit,  I.,  578,  729. 

North  East,  I.,  578,  625,  682,  842,  843. 
Northampton  Circuit,  II.,  402,  403. 
Orwell,  II.,  606. 

Painesville,  I.,  625,  683;  II.,  138,  403. 
Painesville  Circuit,  II.,  219. 

Panama,  Pa.,  II.,  368,  369. 

Parkman  Circuit,  II.,  90. 

Perry,  II.,  198. 

Perry  Chapel,  II.,  605. 

Philipsburg,  II.,  349. 

Pine  Grove  Circuit,  II.,  303. 
Pleasantville,  II.,  603. 

Poland,  I.,  778. 

Pope  School  House,  I.,  231. 

Power’s  Corners,  II.,  607,  608. 
Punxsutawney  Charge,  II.,  458. 
Ravenna,  I.,  731,  734;  II.,  607. 

Ravenna  District,  II.,  370. 

Richmond,  II.,  94,  95. 

Rimersburg  Charge,  II.,  446,  447. 
Ripley,  I.,  579. 

Rockville,  I.,  841;  II.,  189. 

Round  House,  I.,  231. 

Salem,  I.,  552. 

Salem  Circuit,  II.,  230. 

Sheridan,  II.,  606. 

Sheridan  Charge,  II.,  88. 

Shippenville  Circuit,  II.,  369,  370. 
Springfield  Circuit,  II.,  188. 

Sunbury,  II.,  220. 

Tallmadge,  II.,  606. 

Venango,  I.,  578. 

Venango  City,  II.,  605. 

Villenovia,  I.,  551. 

Wallaceville,  II.,  258,  259. 

Warren,  O.,  I.,  733. 

Washington  Circuit,  II.,  303,  304,  325. 
Waterford,  I.,  684. 

Watterson’s  Ferry,  II.,  349. 

Wattsburg,  II.,  369. 

West  Farmington,  II.,  457. 
Williamsfield  Circuit,  II.,  90. 
Willoughby,  O.,  II.,  119,  120,  137. 
Willoughby  Circuit,  II.,  220. 

Windsor,  I.,  732,  733,  736. 

Youngstown  and  Poland  Charges,  II., 
230. 

, Youngstown  Circuit,  II.,  29,  30,  91,  92, 
118. 

Youngsville,  I.,  684. 

Youngsville  Circuit,  I.,  735,  736. 

Zion,  II.,  605. 

Siggins,  George,  I.,  104,  105. 


INDEX. 


801 


Slavery,  II.,  Early  Conferences  On,  491,  War  Spirit,  The,  II.,  403,  404,  529,  535. 
497;  Erie  Conference  on,  497,  501;  Fur-  Western  Reserve,  I.,  Introduction  of 
ther  Resolutions  and  Legislation,  505,  Methodism,  172,  179. 

507;  In  Pennsylvania,  489,  491;  The  Women’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
Last  Great  Report,  535,  539.  II.,  760,  764. 

Stokeley,  Ben,  I.,  405,  408;  account  with  Woman’s  Home  Missionary  Society,  II., 
Mr.  Brunson,  407,  408.  764,  766. 


I